The Curtain Falls

A silent night, still as water.

Rumble, rumble.

A deafening explosion shook heaven and earth. A beam of light shot skyward from somewhere, followed by a torrent of air that swept toward every corner of Green Sun Town like a gale.

Half an incense stick later, the beam of light vanished. Lei Clan Courtyard had been flattened, and countless bodies lay across the ground. Only two people stood in the middle. One of them held a broken iron sword, his expression calm.

"Is it over?"

A clear voice came from behind him, trembling with fear.

Lin Ge glanced over the nine fallen figures and nodded slightly. His eyes were utterly still as he said, calm as water, "It's over. From this day on, there will be no more Lei Clan or Xie Clan in Green Sun Town."

As he spoke, Lin Ge glanced at the iron sword in his hand. A flicker of nostalgia crossed his eyes, then he planted the broken sword in the earth.

The woman paused for a few seconds at his words, then slowly raised her hand and gently removed the veil from her head, revealing a beautiful face.

Such a woman belonged only in heaven; how rarely could one encounter her in this world?

For some reason, a line of poetry suddenly came to Lin Ge's mind.

Looking at the woman before him, Lin Ge couldn't help but lose himself in her beauty.

The woman didn't seem at all displeased by Lin Ge's gaze. Instead, a hint of inexplicable delight appeared in her eyes.

"Thank you for saving me."

The woman smiled gently, her eyes curving into crescent moons. An air of nobility slipped from her, almost imperceptibly, only to vanish the next second.

Though lost in her beauty, Lin Ge had still keenly caught that fleeting moment. A few suspicions stirred in his heart, and he said evenly, "You're no ordinary person."

Surprise flashed in the woman's eyes, but her face took on a puzzled look, as if she didn't understand what Lin Ge meant.

Lin Ge smiled to himself. He knew she was putting on an act, but he didn't expose her.

"Xiao Ge, are you all right?"

Just then, Lin Zhentian and the others hurried over, concern in their eyes.

Lin Ge had been alone all these years. Faced with Lin Zhentian's affection, he felt a little awkward, but said nothing. He merely nodded to show that he was unharmed.

Luo Cheng, beside Lin Zhentian, glanced around and quickly spotted Lei Bao and the others lying motionless on the ground. Shock and relief flashed across his face.

He was shocked that the two local powers of Green Sun Town, the Lei and Xie Families, were about to be wiped out just like that. He was relieved that he had made the right choice.

"And this is...?"

Lin Zhentian glanced at the woman beside them, a look of admiration in his eyes. But having lived for decades, his self-control far surpassed that of an ordinary person, and he quickly composed himself.

Lin Ge shrugged, indicating that he didn't know her name either.

The woman shot Lin Ge a coy glance and gently gave her name.

"Qin Xue."

"So you're Miss Qin Xue. A pleasure, a pleasure."

Lin Zhentian clasped his hands apologetically. He couldn't help taking another look, and his heart brightened.

"I didn't know Xiao Ge was so lucky with the ladies."

After a quiet sigh, Lin Zhentian warmly invited her to stay at the Lin Clan for a few days. Qin Xue didn't refuse, but smiled and accepted.

Nearby, Lin Ge narrowed his eyes and thought over the prominent Qin families in the area, but came up with nothing.

Then he suddenly remembered the Qin Family, one of the Four Great Clans of the Great Yan Dynasty. He looked at Qin Xue with a more scrutinizing gaze.

"Could she be from the Qin Family?"

The Four Great Clans of the Great Yan Dynasty were the Wang Clan, the Lin Clan, the Qin Family, and the Huangpu Clan.

In this world, apart from the detailed descriptions of Lin Langtian of the Lin Clan, the other three great clans had barely been introduced. Lin Ge had no idea what kind of clan the Qin Family was.

But one thing was certain: the Qin Family must have a Nirvana Realm expert guarding it. The Lin Clan had one, after all, and as one of the Four Great Clans, how could the Qin Family be any weaker?

"What should we do about the other survivors from the Lei and Xie Families?"

As Lin Ge pondered, Luo Cheng interrupted his thoughts and asked.

Lin Zhentian looked troubled as well.

Kill them?

The Lei and Xie Families had existed for a hundred years and had tens of thousands of people. Killing them all might cause the other powers to panic. After all, no one would like a bloodthirsty, powerful clan sitting on their heads.

Spare them?

If they let those people live, they would leave trouble behind. After all, it was the Lin Clan and Mad Blade Martial Hall that had destroyed their families.

"Kill the leaders of both families, along with those who show exceptional talent. Let the rest go. I believe they won't be able to stir up any trouble."

After a moment of silence, Lin Zhentian sighed.

"No need. Let them all live," Lin Ge said, shaking his head.

"Why? Aren't you worried?"

Luo Cheng frowned at his words and asked.

What Lin Zhentian had just suggested was much the same as what Luo Cheng had in mind: kill the leaders of both families and the talented children to prevent future trouble. But Lin Ge wanted to spare them all, which would surely leave a huge hidden danger for the future.

"Worried about what? That their descendants will destroy the Lin Clan?"

Lin Ge gave a wry smile and continued, "A life that's too comfortable only makes people lose themselves. Having enemies like this will remind the Lin Clan's descendants to stay vigilant at all times, to strive to grow stronger and never sink into complacency."

Lin Ge's words didn't convince Luo Cheng. If anything, they made his brow furrow even more.

He felt it was far too dangerous. But when he thought of Lin Ge's strength and talent, he held his tongue, despite his misgivings.

Lin Zhentian felt the same way. Leaving behind such a great hidden danger still made him uneasy.

Lin Ge, however, wasn't bothered. In his heart, the Lin Clan and Mad Blade Martial Hall would only grow better and stronger. No one could stop the two families from advancing.

This wasn't a promise from Lin Ge. It was simply inevitable—after all, the Lin Clan had a person of great destiny.

"It'll be light soon. We should leave," Lin Zhentian said, glancing at the first glimmer on the horizon.

"Indeed, we should head back. Though we managed to deal with the Lei and Xie Families this time, we paid a heavy price too."

Luo Cheng looked at the bodies strewn across the ground, his heart heavy. These disciples were his family. With so many of them dead in battle, how could he possibly feel happy?

"Today's sacrifice is so we can go further tomorrow. There's no need to grieve."

Lin Ge was perfectly calm, not a trace of emotion in his eyes.

Luo Cheng understood the reasoning, but the grief still wouldn't go away.

"Let's go."

At first light, news that Lei Clan Courtyard had been flattened quickly spread throughout Green Sun Town, setting the whole town abuzz. Everyone turned their attention to the Lin Clan and Mad Blade Martial Hall, because those two were the most likely to have done it.