Citywide Lockdown

Night had not yet fully receded.

When that shrill scream from Golden Slough tore through the sky, all of Qingyang City erupted like a pot of boiling oil.

Countless people were jolted awake from their dreams, and countless lamps lit up in the darkness.

An invisible panic spread rapidly from South City like a plague.

At dawn, Qingyang City's four gates were tightly shut.

Squads of murderous guards clad in Wang Family attire stormed into the streets like mad dogs, roughly searching every passerby, every inn, and every corner that could possibly serve as a hiding place.

On the city walls, the wanted notices for the "Chen Family Remnant" had been replaced with brand-new versions. The portrait remained unchanged, but the reward beneath it had doubled in full!

Two thousand taels of gold, one Mysterious Tier Low-grade Martial Skill, and the position of Wang Family Guest Elder!

Such a lavish reward was enough to drive any martial artist below the Qi Condensation Realm mad.

The wind filled the tower before the mountain rain arrived.

All of Qingyang City lay beneath the Wang Family's shadow of rage and fear.

In a dilapidated courtyard in the west of the city.

Chen Chen sat cross-legged with his eyes shut, the blood and qi within his body flowing slowly along the circulation route of the Asura God Transformation Art. The power at the peak of the Ninth Level of Body Tempering surged through his limbs and bones, continually stabilizing and condensing.

The scent of blood on him had long since been washed away. He had changed into clean, coarse linen clothes, his aura restrained to the utmost. He looked like nothing more than an ordinary boy next door.

To him, last night's assassination seemed no more than a trivial matter, leaving not even the faintest ripple upon the lake of his heart.

"Creak—"

The courtyard gate was gently pushed open. Uncle Fu hurried in carrying a steaming bowl of meat porridge. Excitement, worry, and a trace of irrepressible awe were tangled across his face.

"Young Master, eat something while it's hot." Uncle Fu placed the bowl on the stone table, his voice still trembling slightly.

He had not slept a wink last night. When he heard the news from Golden Slough, as well as word of that bloody character for "Chen," tears of excitement had streamed down his aged face.

Wang Fugui! The executioner who had personally chopped off the head of his third son on the night of the massacre!

He was dead!

His death was deeply satisfying!

Chen Chen opened his eyes. There was not the slightest ripple in them. He nodded, picked up the meat porridge, and began eating it mouthful by mouthful.

The consecutive journeys and battles had left him with an immense need for food and energy.

"How are things outside?" Chen Chen asked as he ate.

Uncle Fu drew a deep breath, his expression turning grave. "The entire city is under lockdown. That old dog Wang Wei has gone completely mad. Not only has he sealed the four gates, he has also sent out every Wang Family guard and spy to search the entire city for you. They say that at the Wang Family Mansion last night, seven or eight servants were beaten to death by him alive."

"He has also contacted the Li Family and the Zhao Family, promising them great benefits in exchange for sending people to assist in the search. Now there is a guard post every three steps and a sentry every five; even a fly would struggle to get out."

Chen Chen's movements paused slightly. He swallowed the final mouthful of porridge, his gaze turning icy.

"As expected."

Wang Wei's reaction was within his plans. The death of a Foreign Affairs Manager was enough to send the wounded beast that was the Wang Family completely into madness.

"Young Master, the city is under such tight scrutiny right now. Shouldn't we lie low for a while?" Uncle Fu asked worriedly. "The Wang Family Mansion is like an iron barrel now. Experts have gathered there, and there are formations guarding it as well. We should make plans for the long term."

"Lie low?" Chen Chen set down the bowl, rose to his feet, and walked into the courtyard.

He raised his head and looked at the square patch of sky above, carved into shape by the high walls. His voice was indifferent yet resolute.

"Why should I?"

"The crazier he becomes, the more it proves the fear in his heart. A beast ruled by fear will only expose more flaws."

"I'll strike while he's sick and take his life! I'll let everyone in Qingyang City see what fate awaits those who stand against my Chen Family! I'll make those lackeys who took part in the massacre and still sell their lives to the Wang Family live in endless terror, one by one, until I... personally twist off their heads!"

A bone-piercing killing intent spread from him, dropping the temperature of the surrounding air by several degrees.

Uncle Fu only felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head. As he looked at the young master before him, that youthful face bore a coldness and resolve utterly at odds with his age.

He knew that the once gentle and refined young master of the Chen Family had already died completely in that bloody massacre.

What had survived was an avenging Asura returned from hell.

"This old servant... understands." Uncle Fu bowed and no longer tried to persuade him. "Young Master, these are what you asked for."

From his robes, he took out a list wrapped in oilcloth.

Chen Chen accepted it and unfolded it.

The list was densely covered with dozens of names. Behind every name were detailed notes on their identity, cultivation, and the crimes they had committed on the night of the massacre.

Wang Fugui's name had already been crossed out with a glaring streak of blood.

Chen Chen's gaze swept slowly across the list like that of a hawk.

At last, his finger stopped on the second name.

Wang Hu.

Commander-in-Chief of the Wang Family guards, Eighth Level of Body Tempering.

This man was Wang Wei's confidant and the overall commander of the Wang Family's guard forces. On the night of the massacre, he had led the guard squad at the forefront. Twenty-three named members of the Chen Family had died by his hand alone! Among them were two of Chen Chen's uncles.

"Where is this man now?" Chen Chen's voice carried not a trace of emotion.

Uncle Fu hurriedly replied, "Wang Hu is in charge of commanding the citywide search. He has made the Black Cloud Martial Hall in the east of the city his temporary base. It was originally a Wang Family property, but it has now been converted into a command center. Nearly a hundred Wang Family guards are stationed there, including no fewer than thirty skilled fighters in the Body Tempering Realm."

"Besides that, Wang Wei has sent ten of his most elite Blood Guards over there. They are there in name to assist, but in truth to monitor and protect him. Those ten Blood Guards are all experts at or above the Sixth Level of Body Tempering. They work together seamlessly and are extremely difficult to deal with."

Uncle Fu paused, then added, "It can be said that the current Black Cloud Martial Hall is the most heavily guarded place in all of Qingyang City apart from the Wang Family Mansion. Young Master, this man... will not be easy to touch."

Nearly a hundred guards, thirty Body Tempering Realm martial artists, ten Blood Guards, and a commander-in-chief at the Eighth Level of Body Tempering.

With such a lineup, even an expert of the Qi Condensation Realm would have to weigh matters carefully before launching a frontal assault.

Yet Chen Chen's face showed not the slightest fear.

Instead, a cold curve rose at the corner of his lips.

"Heavily guarded?"

"Good. Very good."

"I want the hardest bone to gnaw on!"

"I'll let Wang Wei know that his so-called iron-barrel defense is nothing but a joke in my eyes!"

He put away the list and turned his gaze back to Uncle Fu.

"Uncle Fu, I need you to do one more thing for me."

"Please give your orders, Young Master!"

"I need a detailed structural map of the Black Cloud Martial Hall—the more detailed, the better. Every entrance and exit, hidden passage, guard shift schedule, and... Wang Hu's daily routine."

Uncle Fu's expression changed. "Young Master, you intend to..."

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles." Chen Chen cut him off, his eyes as deep as an abyss.

"Tell Wang Wei that I'll be the one moving the pieces in this game."

"The slaughter has only just begun."