A Night of Slaughter

Night fell beneath a sky thick with dark clouds, while a gentle breeze swept through.

The Lei Clan Courtyard blazed with lights and bustled with activity.

For the Lei Clan, today was a special occasion—and a joyous one.

A little over a month ago, Lei Bao had taken a fancy to a mysterious woman and used near brute force to make her submit and become his concubine. Though she was unwilling, Lei Bao's threats had left her no choice but to comply.

And so, Lei Bao planned to formally take the woman as his concubine on his birthday.

"Clan Head Lei has arrived..."

At the announcement, the Lei Clan fell silent. Everyone rose of their own accord, their faces full of respect as they turned toward the entrance.

A man dressed in a red robe came slowly through the gate, grinning from ear to ear. Dozens of people followed behind him, all of them high-ranking members of the Lei Clan.

"Clan Head Lei, congratulations!"

"Congratulations on taking such a beautiful woman!"

The congratulations continued without end, and Lei Bao's smile grew even brighter. The woman's looks and figure were peerless among all the women he had ever seen. Taking her as his concubine was the happiest thing that had happened to him in recent days.

"Brother Lei, congratulations."

Just then, Xie Qian hurried over, smiling as he offered his congratulations.

"Thank you, thank you. Brother Xie, please, have a seat."

Lei Bao burst into laughter and ushered the Xie Clan's people to their seats.

Xie Yingying followed behind Xie Qian. Unsurprisingly, she sat beside Lei Li, but neither of them showed any desire to speak to the other.

After the hunt, both had lost face, and they had grown somewhat disgusted with each other. The fondness they'd once shared had vanished in an instant, leaving them the most familiar of strangers.

"Brother Xie, how has the Lin Clan been lately?"

At the banquet, Lei Bao leaned closer to Xie Qian and asked in a low voice.

Xie Qian shook his head slightly and answered quietly, "There hasn't been any movement so far."

His answer made Lei Bao frown deeply. With both their clans putting the Lin Clan under such pressure, how could the Lin Clan possibly swallow its anger and do nothing?

"What do you think the Lin Clan is plotting?" Lei Bao pondered for a long while, but couldn't make sense of the Lin Clan's actions, so he decided to ask Xie Qian.

Xie Qian furrowed his brow as well, unease showing on his face.

"Lin Zhentian used to belong to the Inner Clan of the Lin Clan, one of the Four Great Clans of the Great Yan Dynasty. Do you think he might have gone to seek help from the Lin Clan?"

At once, the smile vanished from Lei Bao's face. His brow knitted, and his heart grew troubled.

The Lin Clan was one of the mightiest superclans in the entire Great Yan Dynasty, far beyond anything the Lei Clan could afford to provoke.

"I don't think so. If the Lin Clan were truly willing to help, they wouldn't have waited decades to do it."

Thinking back on the decades Lin Zhentian had spent in Green Sun Town, Lei Bao had never once seen anyone from the Lin Clan. Certain that they would never help Lin Zhentian, he spoke in a low voice.

"In any case, we have to deal with the Lin Clan soon. Otherwise, I won't be able to rest easy." Thinking of that young boy, Lin Ge, a look of worry crossed Xie Qian's brow, and a trace of killing intent entered his eyes.

"What do you plan to do?" Lei Bao noticed the killing intent in Xie Qian's eyes and vaguely guessed what he was thinking. He asked in a calm voice.

"I've already discussed it with the elders of my clan. We've decided to wipe out the entire Lin Clan in one fell swoop. Especially that brat named Lin Ge—he has to die!"

Xie Qian's face twisted with malice, murderous fury in his eyes.

Lei Bao wasn't surprised. He knew exactly what kind of person Xie Qian was.

"You're thinking the same thing I am. In a few days, we'll destroy the Lin Clan!"

"But what about the Mad Blade Martial Hall?" Xie Qian thought of Luo Cheng and frowned. The Mad Blade Martial Hall was incredibly powerful; otherwise, it wouldn't have become one of Green Sun Town's top forces.

"That's why we need to deal with the Lin Clan quickly and decisively, before the Mad Blade Martial Hall has time to react."

With the combined strength of the Lei and Xie Families, destroying the Lin Clan wouldn't be difficult for the two men. Lei Bao was therefore brimming with confidence.

"But make sure you keep an eye on that brat named Lin Ge. Don't let him escape the Lin Clan, or he'll become a thorn in our side!"

"Don't worry. I already have people watching the Lin Clan closely. Whoever leaves the Lin Clan, I'll hear about it right away."

Xie Qian let out a cold laugh and replied evenly.

"Good."

Lei Bao nodded, a hint of relief in his voice.

"The bride has arrived!"

Just then, a voice rang out across the Lei Clan Courtyard. Lei Bao's face lit up with delight, and his gaze fixed on the figure emerging from the Lei Clan's rear courtyard.

It was a woman dressed in a red gown, with a phoenix coronet and wedding veil atop her head.

Her face was hidden behind a veil, making her features impossible to see. But judging by her graceful figure, she was surely a beautiful woman.

Lei Bao watched her approach, a fierce desire rising in his eyes as his grin widened.

"Begin the ceremony!"

An elderly man stepped before the crowd and called out cheerfully. Lei Bao and the woman walked toward him and stood side by side.

"First, bow to Heaven and Earth!"

As soon as the old man finished speaking, the woman couldn't help but tremble. Even now, her heart was still torn with struggle.

Lei Bao noticed her movement. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he threatened her in a low voice. "Don't make me look bad. Hurry up."

With no choice, the woman bowed slightly toward the sky with Lei Bao.

"Oh, there's no need to be polite. I'm not one of your ancestors."

A teasing voice came from the roof. In an instant, everyone in the Lei Clan's courtyard was startled and looked up. A young man in a blue-green robe sat atop the roof, gazing down at them with a mocking expression.

"Lin Ge!"

At the sight of him, Lei Bao's face turned murderous, and he spoke Lin Ge's name in a frigid voice.

"Lei Bao, I didn't realize today was your big day. What a pity."

Lin Ge shook his head regretfully, his words tinged with sorrow.

"You're not afraid I'll kill you for coming here?" The elemental energy inside Lei Bao surged into motion, but his expression remained cold.

"Kill me? Heh..."

Hearing such a ridiculous claim, Lin Ge let out a series of cold laughs and gestured behind him.

Several figures had silently appeared behind them, looking down at them in silence.

"You..."

Lei Bao turned around. Seeing those familiar figures, his heart sank.

"Lin Zhentian, Luo Cheng, what are you doing here today?" Xie Qian had noticed something was wrong as well. Suppressing his unease, he asked in a low voice.

"Xie Qian, stop pretending. We're here today to settle things once and for all with your Lei and Xie Families!"

As Lin Zhentian finished speaking, the formidable aura of the Heaven Origin Realm erupted from him. Everyone's expression changed at once.

"Kill!"

Luo Cheng wasn't a man of many words. He swept his gaze over the Lei Clan's people and barked an order. At once, the thunderous sound of footsteps rose from the Lei Clan's outer courtyard.