Lu Wangchuan left the Divine Water Sect Martial Hall, telling Xiao Wu to go back and deliver a message to his sister that he would be out for two days before returning, and then vanished straight into Chen Zhou City.
It wouldn't be long before the news of his arrival in Chen Zhou City spread; with the major sects currently competing against one another, there was no guarantee that there wouldn't be Heavenly Martial Sect spies in Chen Zhou City.
Before the enemy could possibly get their hands on his dossier, he still needed to strike first to gain the upper hand, completely annihilating them all while they were caught off guard—that was the only way to be safe.
Over at the Chen family courtyard, Chen Haoming had already returned, though he had gained quite a few scars on his body and one side of his face was bruised.
Seeing her husband injured, Lu Xiaoqin instantly started shedding tears of distress.
Husband, how did you get such a heavy injury?
Chen Haoming parted his lips in a reassuring smile.
The Liu and Qin families withheld our grain boats, and I had a fight with them. It was a one-versus-two, but they're hurt worse than I am.
It's getting harder and harder to stay in Chen Zhou City right now. I really don't know how things are going to go on like this.
My wife needn't worry. Even if I have to risk this life of mine, I'll keep the two of you safe and sound, and I'll never let you suffer the slightest grievance.
But if you were to suffer any misfortune, wouldn't Luo Er and I be heartbroken? Husband, why don't we just resign ourselves to fate, sell off the family properties, and look for some mountain wilderness to peacefully live out our lives?
Chen Haoming heaved a deep sigh.
How could I not want to till the fields in the mountain wilderness with you and escape these worldly struggles? It's just that chaos currently rules the land; where can one find peace anywhere?
Just as he was speaking, a domestic servant suddenly ran up quickly from outside courtyard.
Master, Madam, the heads of the Qin and Liu families have come.
What? So fast?
Chen Haoming suddenly stood up, and Lu Xiaoqin's expression changed drastically.
Master, are they here to fight the Chen family to the death?
Chen Haoming's gaze flickered.
Wife, don't worry. Take Luo Er to the back courtyard. If there are any unusual movements, the two of you can escape at any time to find Wangchuan. He's a disciple of the Divine Water Sect now, and with his protection, the two of you will be safe and sound.
Lu Xiaoqin's eyes filled with tears.
No, I'm not leaving. In this life, whether in life or death, I'm staying with you. Have Xiao Yue and the others take Luo Er to find Wangchuan.
Wife.
With his beloved's life-or-death devotion, at this moment Chen Haoming suddenly felt as though the pressure on his chest weren't quite so heavy.
A man's courage came from love.
He drew a deep breath, his expression solemn as he spoke.
All right! You and I will go to the front gates together.
Lu Xiaoqin nodded, and hand in hand, the two of them came before the main gate.
Chen Haoming had originally been secretly speculating in his heart that a fierce battle might break out, but to his unexpected surprise, before his left foot even had time to step out of the gates, the heads of the Qin and Liu families—upon catching sight of his figure—instantly dropped to their knees in a flattering manner.
Patriarch Chen, just now the two of us lacked manners and offended you. We beg you not to blame us!
We will fully compensate the Chen family for their losses—no, double compensation.
From this day forth, this Chen Zhou City shall still be under the Chen family's rule as head. We await your orders and harbor no complaints whatsoever.
Lu Xiaoqin was utterly bewildered, completely unable to understand what was going on with them.
Husband, what's wrong with them?
Chen Haoming pondered for a moment, and upon seeing Xiao Wu driving the carriage back, he finally let out a long breath of relief.
I never would have thought that the one who ultimately saved the Chen family would be Wangchuan, this child who has only just grown up.
By evening, in Li Zhou City.
Lu Wangchuan had already changed into ordinary clothing and sat in a corner of the city, calculating the defensive deployment of the Heavenly Martial Sect in Li Zhou City, while the corpses of two Heavenly Martial Sect disciples lay in the corner beside him.
There are a total of twenty-four martial artists garrisoning Li Zhou City for the Heavenly Martial Sect—two in the Condensing Truth Realm, six in the Dantian Realm, and all the rest in the Open Source stage. No wonder our fellow sect members in Chen Zhou City felt pressured.
The two cities closest to Li Zhou City are both within a hundred miles, and their garrisoned forces are much the same; their reinforcement speed should be within half an hour.
To live a long life, one must not only act like a hidden veteran, but also learn to objectively and steadily analyze the enemy situation and strike ahead of time.
It wasn't that Lu Wangchuan couldn't act recklessly now that he was already in the late Transforming Sea Realm; in fact, the stronger one was, the more one needed to cherish their own life.
He only had one life, and after finally cultivating to such strength, he couldn't afford to die. Being steady could never go wrong.
After a brief calculation, determining the enemies' locations and the order in which to strike, Lu Wangchuan's figure quickly melted into the dark night.
On the main streets of Li Zhou City, people came and went. With it currently being the evening mealtime, many restaurants were packed to capacity, and even those brothels and pleasure quarters that made people linger with fond memories were bustling with business.
At this moment, in a corner outside a brothel, two Open Source martial artists of the Heavenly Martial Sect were sitting at a table enjoying fine food and wine, their gazes sweeping uninhibitedly over the girls dressed in translucent gauze.
That old Peak Master really knows how to enjoy himself. Every single girl in this Spring Warmth Pavilion is full of exotic charm, so isn't that top beauty bound to reach the heavens?
Hehe, the Peak Master is a famously known One Night Ten Times Man; I reckon he won't be able to come out until noon tomorrow. Should we brothers go find ourselves some fun?
That sounds—
Before the words had even faded, a fatal pressure suddenly struck. The fine hairs on the two men's bodies had just stood on end and their consciousness hadn't yet had time to react when two large hands clamped onto the backs of their necks. With a slight exertion of force, only two crisp sounds of crack were heard, and the two men instantly lost their lives.
Like wraiths, those two large hands dragged the pair into the shadows. Everything happened completely silently, and not a single person noticed.
It was none other than Lu Wangchuan who had struck. He swiftly looted the storage bags off the two men and then severed both of their necks with a sword slash.
A professional assassin had to know how to deliver the coup de grâce; this was a high-wulin world, and any detail that was not taken seriously could bring about a fatal blow.
Killing people was a high-end art that demanded professionalism!
On the top floor of the Spring Warmth Pavilion, a robust and powerful figure and a graceful figure were chatting, having entered a state of self-forgetfulness, when suddenly a silver flash pierced straight through both of their hearts.
The two people's movements and voices abruptly stopped. Their four eyes widened as they stared at each other in utter disbelief, failing to understand what on earth had happened.
Another flash of silver swept past, and their heads tumbled under the bed along with the cold light.
Before completely losing consciousness, the corner of the Heavenly Martial Sect Peak Master's eye caught a young figure fishing his storage bag out from the clothing by his bed.
Damn it, where did this crafty little bastard crawl out from? Launching a sneak attack at a time like this—don't let me run into you in my next life, or I'll slaughter your whole family!
Having cursed this single sentence in the depths of his mind, his consciousness quickly plunged into darkness.
Yet this was merely a prelude. In his wake, the martial artists of the Heavenly Martial Sect garrisoned in Li Zhou City died one by one in utter silence; no one discovered it, no one grew alert, and everything seemed as though it had never happened at all.
Thanks to book friend Hong'en Gege, book friend Yuejin Qunshu, and book friend Wangluo Bapaoshi for the tips. Immense gratitude.
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