Night of the Clan Annihilation

"The Prefecture Office has withdrawn its troops."

"Why? There was no notification sent to the county..."

A young man spoke, his voice sounding somewhat parched.

Li Mu shook his head and said, "You ask me, but who can I ask? The most urgent priority for everyone here is to consider how you and I might preserve our own lives when the Demons eventually breach the county city."

"I have gathered you all here today."

"It is precisely for this matter."

"The Li Family wishes to form an alliance with all parties to resist the Demon calamity. I hope you will all return and inform your elders; those interested may come to the Li Family at noon tomorrow to discuss the details with my father."

"I wonder if you have any other information to add?"

As his words fell.

At this moment.

Qin Jiu looked toward the other scions of the noble families, hoping someone might share information he did not yet know. However, the faces before him were all filled with expressions of panic, unease, and bewilderment; it did not appear that any of them possessed further intelligence.

After about a quarter of an hour.

He led his men and departed from the Hundred Flower Pavilion.

Night fell.

A secret chamber within the Li Family estate.

"Father, I have already disclosed the news as you instructed. Furthermore, only the eldest legitimate daughter came from the Han Family today. I spoke with her and found nothing unusual. As for the Qin Family... that Qin Jiu is quite overbearing; he gave the young master of the Chai Gang a brutal beating."

"I wonder if the incident with the Fisher Gang has anything to do with the Qin Family..."

"There is no need to rush to a judgment on that matter."

Inside the chamber.

A middle-aged man, whose appearance bore a slight resemblance to Li Mu and who also carried a scholarly air, pondered aloud, "That Qin Jiu has always been an arrogant wastrel, so such behavior fits his character. It does not prove that last night's incident with the Fisher Gang was related to the Qin Family."

"After all, if it truly were the work of the Qin Family."

"That brat should be keeping a low profile right now."

"Then what shall we do now?"

"Tomorrow, we shall first win over the various factions, eliminate the Han, kill the Qin, and then... take control of the Inner City."

On the other side.

The west side of the Outer City.

Within a pavilion belonging to the Chai Gang.

"Bang!"

The sound of a vase shattering and the crashing of tables and chairs being smashed echoed, accompanied by constant roars of rage.

Outside the room.

Two servants knelt on the ground, trembling all over.

A somewhat aged figure with a troubled expression stepped up to the door and sighed, "Xuan'er, calm your anger. A great man knows when to bend and when to stretch..."

"Get out, get out!"

"Are you even my father?!"

An angry, twisted roar erupted from the room, the voice laced with venom: "That Qin Jiu humiliated me so, yet you remain indifferent! Do you know what those noble scions are calling me now?"

"Pig-head Xuan, Pig-head Xuan—ahhh!!!"

"Boom!"

As he spoke.

A solid wooden chair was suddenly hurled out.

It slammed violently into a servant.

The latter was sent flying backward instantly, crashing straight into a pillar and losing all signs of life on the spot.

"My son has good aim."

Seeing this, the aged figure revealed a smile and said to the figure inside, "Rest assured, in two days' time, I will personally break the limbs of that little brat from the Qin Family and throw him before you, so you can vent your anger properly."

"As for the others who insulted you."

"I will also give you an explanation."

"However, this matter must wait until I have discussed it in detail with the Li Family before we can act. Try to suppress your temper for these next two days. If you truly cannot hold it in, I will call for a few more servants for you to vent on. Also, that little girl you have been pining for—Hall Master Hong of the gang has already brought her over for you."

At the same time.

Qin Mansion, East Wing.

Qin Jiu summoned Qin Xuanzhou and got straight to the point: "This morning, I asked you to investigate the strength of the Chai Gang and the Li Family. Have you made any progress?"

"It has been largely clarified."

Qin Xuanzhou pondered for a moment and said, "First, the Chai Gang. Its leader is a Three Refinements martial artist. The remaining members are much like the Fisher Gang; ten of their core Second Refining members were drafted into the Demon Suppression Bureau, and their current casualty status is unknown. There are thirteen Second Refining members remaining stationed at the Chai Gang."

"As for the Li Family..."

As he spoke, his brows furrowed slightly. "This family was previously only an Outer City clan. By annexing the Zhao Family's assets, they became a major family in the Inner City in one fell swoop. The decline of the Qian Family also had the Li Family's shadow behind it."

"They have three Three Refinements martial artists in their household."

"However, due to the Demon Suppression Bureau's drafting, aside from the family head, the other two have both been recruited into the Bureau."

"There is one more thing..."

"They seem to be a branch family from the Ning'an Prefecture Li Family."

Qin Xuanzhou hesitated. "But they shouldn't be a major clan from Ning'an Prefecture. Although they have Internal Strengthening martial artists holding down the fort, I have never heard of them having any martial artists above the Internal Strengthening realm."

"Is that so."

Qin Jiu nodded slightly, then asked another question.

"When will you be able to step into the Internal Strengthening realm?"

"At least three years."

Qin Xuanzhou sighed slightly and said, "This realm requires internal energy to penetrate the meridians throughout the body. The most time-consuming part is the eight main meridians; each one takes nearly a year to open. I still have three main meridians left to clear."

"However, in terms of strength."

"I am a genuine Three Refinements master at the peak."

"Even if I were to face all three of the Li Family members at once, there would be no problem. Of course, if it truly came to that, I doubt I could kill any of them."

He spoke the truth.

At this moment, he had already vaguely sensed Qin Jiu's intentions.

The latter did not shy away from it, nodding: "Go find three more Second Refining martial artists from the guard team, then change your clothes. Tonight, you will accompany me on an outing. Remember to call Huang Jing and Qin Xudong."

"Understood."

Qin Xuanzhou's expression turned solemn.

He immediately hurried out of the East Wing.

Late at night, dark clouds obscured the moon.

Chai Gang, West of the city.

Meng Xuan walked out of his room looking completely satisfied, clutching a naked, scarred corpse in his hand.

"Send another one to me."

"This little wench couldn't handle the tossing."

Thud.

As he spoke, he casually tossed the corpse outside the door, but his brows soon furrowed.

Because no one answered him.

Moreover, the surroundings had become unusually quiet, starting from who knows when.

A faint scent of blood.

As the night wind blew, it lingered in Meng Xuan's nostrils. He first glanced at the corpse on the ground, then frowned and walked downstairs. However, the scent of blood did not dissipate; instead, it grew increasingly pungent.

Until he reached the first-floor hall.

Meng Xuan suddenly felt his entire body turn cold and stiff.

A chill seeped into the gaps of his bones.

At this moment, inside the hall.

Corpses lay scattered across the floor, the wooden floorboards nearly soaked through with black-red blood. In the center of the hall, a figure stood with their back to the staircase, leaning on a blade beside a headless corpse.

In their hand, they held an elderly head.

They seemed to be examining it to confirm something.

Creak.

Meng Xuan's legs went weak.

He couldn't help but stumble forward, the sound of his boots stepping on the floorboards echoing clearly throughout the hall.

And in that instant.

The figure that had been facing away from him.

Suddenly turned their head slowly.

"Young Gang Leader."

"We meet again so soon."