Huang Gongdu

"Uncle, even if we kill those people now, the Huang Clan of Hundred Leaf probably still won't let this go. One of their Treasure Refiners died in Deer Mountain, and sooner or later they'll pin it on us. And what should we do with the families of those dead soldiers? If we kill them, we have to kill them all."

Faced with the bloodshed, Sanbao felt little fear. That was simply how survival worked in this world.

"That may be our only choice. Feng'er, you handle this personally. Make sure nothing goes wrong," Luo Dingyi replied helplessly.

"Hmph. So what if it's the Hundred Leaf Sect? If they really push us too far, we'll fight them. Didn't Father say he was going into seclusion to break through? Once he reaches Spirit Emperor, what have we got to fear?" Luo Kaifeng's spirits rose, and he spoke with bold confidence.

"Right. When the soldiers come, we'll block them; when the water comes, we'll dam it. We're not afraid!" Sanbao was young and hot-blooded, his courage even more boundless.

"Ah, easier said than done," Old Luo said with a bitter sigh. Each breakthrough in Spirit Cultivation was a struggle, and the higher one climbed, the harder it became. Without some special opportunity, even ten Spirit Sovereigns at their peak might not produce a single Spirit Emperor.

The next morning, grim news spread through Lushan Town, a blow to the Luo Mansion: Widow Tian and her daughter had been brutally murdered. The finger of blame pointed straight at the Luo Clan. After all, Widow Tian had gone to the Luo Mansion to make a scene the night before.

They had undoubtedly been killed by the Treasure Refiner's accomplices and the Yan Clan. Why the Yan Clan dared to frame them so brazenly was anyone's guess.

It looked as though the Yan Clan truly intended to tear off all pretense. But where did their confidence come from? Did they not realize that if the Luo Clan really went all out, they could wipe out the Yan Clan to the last person?

As the Luo Clan puzzled over this, the Yan Clan was entertaining several mysterious guests in the reception hall of Yan Mansion.

Yan Huishan was beaming, clearly celebrating some great joy. Only a handful of the Yan Clan's inner circle knew that their clan head had broken through to the Spirit King realm two months earlier. The news had filled them with elation.

The humiliation the Luo Clan had dealt him a year earlier had driven Yan Huishan to the brink. He had shut himself away in bitter cultivation—and actually broken through to the Spirit King realm. The Yan Clan now had a Spirit King expert, so when they faced the Luo Clan again, they would no longer be utterly defenseless. With the Yan Clan's large numbers, they would not be much weaker than the Luo Clan if it came to a fight. What was more, Yan Wuji had now persuaded the Huang Clan of Hundred Leaf to join in striking at the Luo Clan. The guests in the hall were the very people he had brought in.

"Clan Head Yan, have you gotten any news about my son? Why haven't I seen him yet?" A dark-faced man in the hall demanded coldly.

He was the father of the purple-robed young man Luo Kaifeng had killed the day before: Elder Huang, a member of the Huang Clan of Hundred Leaf and a Spirit King expert.

"Elder Huang, don't worry. The young master must have been bored and gone somewhere to enjoy himself last night. He's probably still asleep," Yan Huishan said with a smile.

"I hope so. But is the news you told us true or not? If it's false, I'd say your Yan Clan had better find somewhere else to live in the Yunli Kingdom!" Huang Gongdu demanded sharply.

"Elder Huang, the source of the news is absolutely—" Yan Huishan began to explain, but a sudden report interrupted him.

"Report! This is bad, my lords! Someone saw Young Master Huang dead at Lichun Brothel!"

With a crack, Huang Gongdu struck the stone table beside him and smashed it to rubble.

"What? Who killed my son? I'll wipe out his entire clan!"

By the time the group reached Lushan Town's biggest brothel, Lichun Brothel was already in chaos. Only a group of Yan Clan guards stood around it, barring anyone from entering or leaving.

In the room of Lanxiang, Lichun Brothel's top courtesan, the eldest Huang young master lay naked and dead. Lanxiang, naked beneath him, had also long since breathed her last.

When Huang Gongdu pushed open the door, he saw that his son's entire back had been stabbed dozens of times. Every single wound was fatal.

"Bitch!"

Huang Gongdu seethed with rage. He lifted his son's body, then struck Lanxiang with a palm, crushing her into a lump of flesh. Afterward, he clutched his son and wept aloud.

"What happened?" Yan Huishan asked, his expression dark, as he turned to the madam kneeling outside. With the Huang family's young master dead in Deer Mountain, the Yan Clan could hardly escape blame.

"My lords, I don't know either. A mysterious guest booked Lanxiang for the night. There was no sound from the room this morning, so we went in and saw..."

"That's enough. Get out!" Yan Huishan snapped, furious. He waved the brothel's madam away, then went to console Huang Gongdu.

"Elder Huang, please accept my condolences. This... this..."

"Condolences, my ass! Find the murderer as soon as possible. I'll tear him limb from limb!"

"Elder Huang, your son was a Spirit Commander. In Deer Mountain, apart from the Luo Clan, I'm afraid..." Yan Huishan murmured, giving him a pointed reminder. Secretly, he was gloating. Luo Clan, let's see how you explain this.

"Fine! Take men to the Luo Clan. Now!" Huang Gongdu screamed.

Half an hour later, several hundred people had gathered outside the Luo Mansion. Huang Gongdu and Yan Huishan stood at their head.

Before long, Luo Kaifeng came out of the Luo Mansion with Sanbao and the others.

"Yan Huishan, what kind of show are you putting on today? Or have you forgotten what happened a year ago? Is your skin itching for another beating?" The youthful Caiguang called out with a laugh.

"You—you people..."

At the mention of that disgrace from a year ago, Yan Huishan's veins bulged. He gritted his teeth before speaking. "This is Elder Huang of the Hundred Leaf Sect. Someone stabbed his son to death last night. Was it your Luo Clan? Don't even think of denying it. There's no one else in Deer Mountain with the strength to do it..."

"What a joke. Why not say your Yan Clan did it? I'd say you have the strength, too." Luo Kaifeng replied calmly, as if he knew Yan Huishan wasn't the real player here today.

Sure enough, Huang Gongdu stepped forward and asked loudly, "My son was a Spirit Commander. No ordinary person could have killed him. If your Luo Clan has any guts, admit it."

"We didn't do it. Before this, I didn't even know who you were. We had no grudge against you, so why would we do such a thing? Elder Huang, think carefully. Don't fall for someone's scheme to drive a wedge between us." Luo Kaifeng explained without losing his composure, seemingly unwilling to offend Huang Gongdu.

Huang Gongdu was no fool. He knew Yan Huishan was trying to sow discord, but his beloved son was dead, and grief overwhelmed him. Even if he couldn't find proof against the Luo Clan, he wouldn't let this opportunity pass. After all, if the news proved true, the Luo Clan would have to be dealt with sooner or later.

"If that's so, then I'll trouble you all to come with me to Lishan. If you didn't kill my son, I'll apologize and bring you back myself. How does that sound?"

"You think we're three-year-olds? We didn't kill anyone, so why should we go to Lishan?" Sanbao shouted back.

Coming from someone as young as Sanbao, the argument was impossible to refute. Even a child could see how far-fetched the demand was.

"Exactly. What's there to be angry about when a man dies between a woman's legs?" Caiguang couldn't resist adding another taunt.

"You—you..."

Huang Gongdu had no answer. In his heart, he could only curse his son for being such a disappointment.

"Whether you go or not isn't up to you. Today, you're going with me one way or another!" Seeing that reason wouldn't work, Huang Gongdu decided to use his fists.

"Is that so? Then we'll see whether you have the strength to make us." Just then, a tall, broad-shouldered figure emerged from the Luo Mansion.

"That's Luo Dingyi, head of the Luo Clan. He's very powerful," Yan Huishan hurriedly warned Huang Gongdu.

"Is that so? Then I'll have to ask Clan Head Luo for a few pointers." Confident in his own strength, Huang Gongdu thought little of the head of such a small clan.

"None of you move. I'll capture this man first," Huang Gongdu ordered his subordinates. Then he glided forward, a slender green treasure sword in his hand.

"First, let me make this clear: my son's death has nothing to do with the Luo Clan. If Elder Huang insists on believing slander, then I have no choice but to see this through." Old Luo kept a grave expression and lowered his posture.

To outsiders, the Luo Clan was clearly acting in self-defense. Even Huang Gongdu hesitated: perhaps the Luo Clan truly hadn't done it. Their only reward for such a deed would be making an enemy of the powerful Hundred Leaf Sect. There was nothing to gain.

However clever Huang Gongdu might have been, he could never have guessed what had really happened the night before. Since he had come today, he wasn't going to leave without a fight.

He would have to deal with the Luo Clan sooner or later. He might as well test their strength today.

"Watch my sword—Azure Cloud Sword Technique!"

Huang Gongdu looked relaxed, but deep down he was quite nervous. He had already learned from the Yan Clan roughly how strong Luo Dingyi and his two sons were: at least Spirit King experts.

As Huang Gongdu unleashed his sword technique, layer upon layer of swordlight swept toward Luo Dingyi, blotting out the sky. It was a Spirit Weapon; otherwise, it could never have produced so many sword auras.

But Old Luo avoided engaging him directly, relying on his footwork to keep dodging and evading. When he could no longer get out of the way, he simply flicked out two streaks of golden light, dispelling the entire attack.