Curtain Call

With Master Mo Nan's surrender and Yan Qitian's death, the Yan Family was completely finished.

Such a grand manor was suddenly filled with the sounds of wind and birds, and the remaining family members of the Yan estate hid in various side rooms, trembling.

"The Yan Family is finished, but that eldest young master is still alive. Seven Kill Squad, follow my orders and find Yan Guifu. Bring him back alive or dead!" Tian Long said with a chilling tone.

In this operation, only ten of the thirteen members of the Seven Kill Squad remained. Two had died at Yan Xu's hands, and another had died at Mo Nan's.

The remaining ten all had a deep, blood-feud with the Yan Family, and eradicating them was their greatest desire.

Li Qing opened his mouth, wanting to ask them to spare the lives of the Yan family's female relatives, but seeing the bloodshot eyes of the Seven Kill Squad members, he ultimately didn't say it.

Master Mo Nan, however, couldn't bear it and spoke up, "Spare the women. They are innocent, after all. Just drive them out of Obsidian City."

As soon as he said this, Tian Long let out a cold laugh. He spoke, "Master Mo, which of my Seven Kill Squad members hasn't had their family destroyed by the Yan Family? When you were a retainer for the Yan Family, did you ever speak of anyone's innocence?"

The elderly Mo Nan was momentarily speechless, and in the end, he could only sigh and say nothing more.

Not long after, from the side rooms in the back courtyard of the Yan estate, sounds of terrified, piercing screams could be heard.

In response, Li Qing simply closed his eyes and softly said, "If you haven't experienced someone else's suffering, don't preach kindness. If anyone from the Yan Family survives and seeks revenge later, I will accept it."

Hearing this, Tian Long burst into hearty laughter, "Hahahaha, Brother Li truly sees things clearly. Old Man Mo, you're old and still don't understand as well as he does!"

"Well said, if any Yan Family members survive and seek revenge later, they'll have to deal with me first. If you have the ability!"

Tian Long used Outer Strength as he shouted this, his resonant voice echoing far and wide, reaching inside and outside the manor.

"Brothers, take whatever you like, eat whatever you want, just don't stuff yourselves to death!"

With this command, all the Righteous Gang members present had their eyes light up.

It was time to share the spoils of war, and everyone was extremely enthusiastic. Even though they had just gone through a fierce battle, they immediately became energetic.

Li Qing, however, had no intention of looting the Yan estate. He walked up to Jing Tai.

This former retainer of the Yan Family was now barely clinging to life, his breath shallow and weak.

Li Qing leaned on the Peerless Hammer with one hand, looking down at him.

"I never expected... you'd actually achieve something..." Jing Tai said weakly, his words broken.

Li Qing asked calmly, "Were the three martial arts the Yan Family gave me back then, the ones you chose?"

"Yes. I thought you wouldn't be able to master even one. This is truly beyond my expectations."

In an era where even getting enough to eat was difficult, and eating meat was a luxury, Li Qing's ability to reach the Outer Strength level in such a short time was beyond Jing Tai's comprehension.

He looked at Li Qing as if he were looking at a martial arts prodigy.

His gaze was complex, filled with envy, regret, and a hint of pity.

Finally, his eyes completely dimmed, and the last breath he was holding on to finally gave out.

Next, Li Qing walked over to the corpse of the Yan Family patriarch.

Or rather, it could no longer be called a corpse, as it was unrecognizable.

Under the hatred and fury of the Seven Kill Squad, the head of the Yan Family had now been reduced to a bloody pulp mixed with tattered cloth.

Li Qing squatted down, frowning slightly, and picked up a small piece of Yellow Talisman Paper from the ground.

"Gang Leader Tian Long, Master Mo Nan, do you know what technique caused the golden light to envelop Yan Qitian?"

Tian Long said dismissively, "How would I know? Probably some wandering Taoist tricking him. It looked scary, but it was useless."

Could a wandering Taoist produce something like this? And if they had such a skill, why would they only trick the Yan Family patriarch?

Li Qing didn't believe it at all. He then looked at Mo Nan, who had been a retainer for the Yan Family for many years. Perhaps he would know something.

"I've been in the Yan Family for so many years, and I don't know what this technique is, nor where the patriarch got it from. Perhaps it was from when the sun was still out."

"However..."

Mo Nan paused here, seeming hesitant to continue.

"However what?" Tian Long and Li Qing asked simultaneously.

"However, in the past few years, the Yan Family often sent people to a place called Heavenly Measure Mountain, and they would send a lot of grain there periodically. But in recent years, they've been going less and less," Master Mo Nan said, narrowing his eyes.

Heavenly Measure Mountain.

Li Qing silently etched these three words into his mind, labeling them as unfathomable.

"Master Mo, Gang Leader Tian Long, how much do you know about Heavenly Measure Mountain?" Li Qing pressed.

However, both of them just shook their heads, indicating they had never heard of the name, nor did they know of any mountain nearby called Heavenly Measure Mountain.

Seeing that neither of them knew, Li Qing didn't ask further.

"Hahahaha, who cares about Heavenly Measure Mountain or Earth Measure Mountain! Today, we'll hold a celebration banquet right here in the Yan manor. Bring out all those Blood Jade Mushrooms and White Meat Mushrooms and have a good feast!"

Tian Long was a simple-minded man and didn't want to bother with so many details.

Now that the Yan Family was gone, the Righteous Gang was the largest power in the city. The land and grain outside the city would all be taken over by the Righteous Gang.

Under Tian Long's command, Zhao Kou and Wei Tian immediately tore down the plaque at the entrance of the Yan manor, smashing it to pieces. Then, they brought over their own Righteous Gang plaque and hung it up.

From this day on, the Yan Family was truly gone.

That evening, a lively bonfire blazed in the main courtyard of the Yan residence, its intense flames illuminating the entire mansion.

Dishes were brought out table after table. Notably, the Yan Family's granary surprisingly held a good amount of preserved meat, and even some fresh meat was found!

Beyond that, there were even some grains and flour, items unseen in this era.

Mo Nan and Tian Long, both survivors of the Sunrise Era, trembled with excitement upon discovering these provisions, tears even welling up in their eyes.

Unfortunately, the amount of grains, flour, and meat was very small, barely enough for three to five people for two to three months. For martial artists with hearty appetites like Tian Long and Li Qing, it would last at most a month.

At the table laden with fragrant food, Tian Long, Li Qing, and Mo Nan sat together.

"Brother Li, I'm a man of my word. From today on, you are the second-in-command of the Righteous Gang. After I die, the Righteous Gang will be yours to lead. What do you say?" Tian Long asked, devouring a piece of meat.

To everyone's surprise, Li Qing simply shook his head and refused the offer. "Thank you for the honor, Gang Leader, but I prefer a quieter life. I'll pass on being second-in-command. Just let me be an elder in the Righteous Gang from now on."

Being the second-in-command of the Righteous Gang?

It wasn't that he had no interest at all; it was more that Li Qing wanted to avoid it at all costs.

Before he understood the true origins of Heavenly Measure Mountain, Li Qing had no intention of getting too deeply involved in this murky affair. Being an elder would allow him to withdraw at any time, which was the best option.

"Hahahaha, Brother Li, since you're unwilling, I won't force you. Wei Tian!" Tian Long slammed the table and shouted towards the backyard.