Xuan Zi? Who Was That?

The two men's eyes went wide, their mouths open enough to fit an egg, their faces full of disbelief.

Their entire bodies stiffened, leaving nothing in their eyes but utter shock and reverence. They no longer dared fool around in the slightest.

"Heh heh, you two idiots, now you know what's important, don't you?"

Lu Yun snorted, his expression turning solemn again.

"Remember this, damn it. There can't be the slightest mistake in anything Elder Xuan personally entrusted to us!

Get it done cleanly and beautifully for me. Absolutely no screwups!"

"Yes, sir! We will never delay the assignment!" The two clasped their fists in unison, their voices booming like bells, their attitudes utterly respectful.

"If the Zhang Family is clean, then so be it. There's no need to disturb them at all."

Lu Yun's gaze sharpened, killing intent fully on display.

"But those ghosts and monsters lurking in the shadows, eyeing the Zhang Family and plotting against them—investigate every last one of them.

Root them out completely for me. Whether they're the masterminds or anyone connected above or below them, not a single one is to be spared!"

Han Zhong cautiously asked, "Sir, should we compile all the names and evidence uncovered later into a dossier and submit it to Elder Xuan for review?"

"No need." Lu Yun waved a hand, his tone calm yet forceful.

"These petty rats aren't worthy of dirtying Elder Xuan's eyes or troubling his heart.

We can handle the rough work of killing and clearing out threats ourselves."

After a brief pause, he added with careful emphasis, "Elder Xuan came out this time to relax and recuperate. He does not like bloodshed and slaughter.

We should keep it from him as much as possible and quietly eliminate all hidden dangers.

Be clean and decisive. Leave no future trouble behind. We absolutely must not disturb Elder Xuan."

Wei Shan immediately thumped his chest and made a military pledge, brimming with confidence. "Rest assured, sir! Give us two days, and we'll turn Azure Mist City upside down!

No matter how deeply they hide, the two of us are confident we can wipe them out completely."

"Of course I trust you. Go. Keep your actions secret, and do not alert the enemy."

"Yes!"

Having received their orders, the two figures flickered and transformed into two shadows once more, silently darting out through the rear window and vanishing into the night.

The study returned to silence.

Lu Yun raised a hand and lit the oil lamp on the desk. Its dim yellow glow spread outward, illuminating the entire map of Azure Mist City.

His gaze slowly settled on the Zhang Residence in the south of the city, and his eyes softened somewhat.

"Zhang Lexuan, Zhang Lexuan..." he murmured, an envious smile unconsciously curling across his lips.

"At such a young age, to receive the favor of an unrivaled powerhouse like Elder Xuan... that kind of fortune is simply heaven-defying."

Over the next two days, Chen Xuan lived quite comfortably.

During the day, he disguised himself as an old beggar and went to "run into" Zhang Lexuan near the Zhang Residence.

That little girl had such a soft heart that she stopped every time she saw him.

Sometimes she stuffed a few copper coins into his hand. Other times, she gave him a few pieces of osmanthus candy.

Once, she even secretly brought out a piping-hot meat pie from home, claiming the kitchen had made too many and she could not finish it.

Chen Xuan did not refuse. He accepted it with an overwhelmed expression, though inwardly, he was quietly delighted.

After all, no one disliked a kind child, especially when she called you Grandpa in that sweet, childish voice.

Once his daytime act was over, Chen Xuan changed back into his elder's robe at night and went to the pleasure boats on the Azure Mist River to drink and listen to music.

After Lu Yun's near-threatening instructions, no one aboard the boats dared show the slightest neglect again.

The moment Chen Xuan arrived at the riverbank, the boat owner led everyone out to welcome him, the smile on his face brighter than if he had seen his own father.

His attentiveness was so excessive that Chen Xuan even suspected the boat owner had never treated his own father so well.

The wine was aged osmanthus brew, the dishes were freshly prepared by a famous chef from the south of the city, and even the singers had been replaced with those best at performing southern folk tunes.

Chen Xuan leaned back against a soft cushion, half-closing his eyes as he listened to music and drank tea, utterly at ease.

"Watching song and dance while fine wine keeps me company—that's what life is all about." He began to let himself go as well.

While Chen Xuan enjoyed himself, Lu Yun was not idle.

That very night, Han Zhong and Wei Shan thoroughly investigated the Zhang Family and the Zhao Family.

"The Zhang Family is clean," Han Zhong said. "For generations, they've kept themselves in line. Even their family head has never evaded a single tax.

Other than competing with a few small families over shopfronts in their early years, there's nothing else."

Lu Yun nodded and looked toward Wei Shan.

Wei Shan placed a list on the table. "We've also investigated their enemies. The Zhao Family, in the north of Azure Mist City.

They have three Soul Douluo, and their family head, Zhang Zhaokun, is an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo.

The Zhao Family is considered a prominent clan in Azure Mist City.

They set their sights on the Zhang Family's ancestral property years ago, and their moves have become more frequent over the past two years."

Lu Yun picked up the list and glanced over it.

"Three Soul Douluo, with an Eight-Ring family head." He smiled, but the smile was chillingly cold.

"In this little corner of Azure Mist City, they do count for something. What a pity..."

He paused and tossed the list back onto the table.

"You, Zhao Family, offended someone you should never have offended. So you can only be asked to disappear."

Han Zhong and Wei Shan exchanged a glance, then clasped their fists together. "Understood, sir."

That night, no flames rose in the north of Azure Mist City, but the stench of blood was so thick it would not disperse.

One of the Zhao Family's estates outside the city was surrounded completely.

With Han Zhong and Wei Shan joining forces and Lu Yun personally overseeing the operation, the Zhao Family's three Soul Douluo did not even last half an hour before being slain on the spot.

Those who resisted were killed immediately. The rest had their Soul Power crippled and were taken away overnight.

The charges were ready-made: secretly raising soul masters, plotting rebellion, forcibly seizing family property, and driving people to their deaths.

There was solid evidence for every charge, and every one of them was enough to condemn the Zhao Family to death several times over.

By the time dawn approached, the Zhao Family residence, which had stood in Azure Mist City for nearly a century, was completely empty.

Lu Yun stood before the Zhao Family gates, watching as the plaque was taken down, his expression indifferent.

"Do not blame me for being ruthless," he said softly. "If you must blame someone, blame yourselves for provoking someone you should never have provoked."

Chen Xuan still knew nothing about any of this.

He was still on the pleasure boat, leaning against a cushion, drinking osmanthus brew, and listening to music with rapt attention.

"These days really are becoming more and more ridiculous."

He laughed at himself. "I, the grand Taotie Douluo, pretend to be a beggar outside during the day, then come onto a boat at night to listen to little tunes.

If word got out, I'm afraid this old man would make Sea God Pavilion lose all its face."

Though he said that, he had no intention of restraining himself in the slightest.

He raised his wine cup and took another sip of osmanthus brew. Then he suddenly remembered something important and muttered inwardly.

"I wonder how Little Yun is doing over there. He probably hasn't finished yet.

Then again, it's only been one day. Investigating the Zhang Family and the Zhao Family is no easy task.

I can't be so demanding of them. I'll wait until tomorrow or the day after."

What Chen Xuan did not know was that Lu Yun had not only finished investigating, but had already handled the matter neatly.

"Tomorrow, I'll go see that little girl again." Half-closing his eyes, he calculated inwardly. "It's about time this old grandpa act came to an end too."