After only two steps, Chai Hu suddenly stood rooted to the spot. Then a flying sword plunged into his back and burst out through his chest, bringing a spray of blood with it. His body slowly crumpled.
Xu Qingtong swiftly gathered the two men's Storage Bags, picked up the magical artifacts they had dropped, and took the Talisman Treasure they had not had time to activate.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, he suddenly noticed something glinting in the grass a short distance away. With a beckoning gesture, he drew a fine needle into his hand.
Without time to examine it, he hurriedly put the needle away, flicked out two fireballs to reduce the two men to wisps of smoke, then mounted his flying sword and hastily departed.
Chai Family Fort lay about two hundred li southwest of Gloomwind Valley, near the Thousand-Cloud Mountain Range. Inside a large house in the fort, the family head, Chai Zhengde, was meditating with his eyes closed. Suddenly, something resembling a butterfly flew up before him.
Chai Zhengde caught it and swept it with his divine sense. His expression changed drastically, and he sprang to his feet. "Someone, come!"
A young attendant dressed in blue hurried inside. "Family head, what are your orders?"
"Never mind. I'll go myself!"
Chai Zhengde strode out in two steps and headed straight for the Soul-Life Hall at the rear. As it happened, a blue-robed man guarding the Soul-Life Hall was rushing toward the front. Seeing Chai Zhengde, he said in a panic, "Family head, something terrible has happened! The eldest young master's and third young master's Soul-Life Tablets have shattered!"
Chai Zhengde staggered and nearly fell. He steadied himself, his teeth clenched and his eyes wide, as though flames were about to shoot from them.