"Please give your orders, Young Master," Hei Shisan said slowly after a moment of silence.
"The head of the Situ Family, Situ Yuntian," Xu Zimo said softly.
"I understand," Hei Shisan said, startled for a moment. He slowly nodded, then vanished from the room.
Xu Zimo looked at the room as it fell silent, then slightly raised his head toward the bright moon gradually emerging from the clouds.
"What a pity. What I want is a Lineage obedient as a watchdog, yet you have far too many ideas of your own."
In the Situ Family's inner courtyard, Situ Yuntian had just undressed, his mind still lingering on the day's events.
He always felt things would not end so easily. Xu Zimo's attitude was impossible for him to fathom.
Just then, a fierce gust swept in and extinguished the lamps in the room.
Situ Yuntian's gaze sharpened as he saw a black figure suddenly appear before the window.
Before this, he had not sensed anything at all.
The overwhelming power of the Empty Meridian Realm shrouded the entire room, and the bed curtains swayed gently in the breeze.
"Who are you?" Situ Yuntian took a deep breath, the aura of the True Meridian Realm around him rising bit by bit.
He sensed killing intent. His heart seemed to be beating far faster than usual.
Tangible killing intent flooded the entire room. The Man in Black slightly raised his blade, and his figure left an afterimage in the air.
Situ Yuntian's eyes sank deep. His face changed drastically, and before he could even react, a chill ran through his entire body.
He lowered his head slightly and saw that his waist had been severed clean through, his body split into two halves.
He raised his head again and looked at the Man in Black, but could not utter a word. A great mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips, and he collapsed to the ground.
Inside Linjiang Restaurant, Xu Zimo listened to Hei Shisan's report and nodded slightly. "Now that the man is dead, someone has to take the blame."
"Young Master means?" Hei Shisan asked, puzzled.
"The Situ Family's three elders would be a fine choice," Xu Zimo said to himself.
"But why would they willingly take the blame?" Hei Shisan asked doubtfully.
"Everyone living in this world has something they seek. Wealth? Status? Beauty? Or power?" Xu Zimo said with a smile.
"I understand." Hei Shisan nodded. Seeing Xu Zimo wave his hand, his figure gradually vanished as well.
The night passed without a word. Early the next morning, gloom shrouded the entire Situ Family.
Situ Yuntian was dead. The death of this Zhouque City tyrant shocked far too many people.
The entire Situ Family was steeped in despondency. Situ Yuntian had three sons, and with Situ Yunqing included, he had four children in total.
At this moment, Xu Zimo had just entered the Situ Family with Lin Ruhu and Xiao Guizi when he saw a crowd gathered around a stretcher, mourning bitterly.
Situ Yuntian's corpse had been sewn back together and wrapped in white cloth.
"Father, your son will surely find the murderer and comfort your spirit in heaven," Situ Yuntian's eldest son, Situ Bo, vowed solemnly.
Situ Yunqing knelt off to one side. She looked over every face in the crowd, studying each person's expression, hoping to discover something.
Her gaze then fell upon the man on the stretcher. Though they had not known each other for long, ever since she had come to the Situ Family, Situ Yuntian had doted on her immensely.
She had once been somewhat cold toward Situ Yuntian, resenting him for failing to care for her and her mother all these years.
But that had mostly been the indignation of a young girl. In truth, she had long accepted him as her father in her heart.
Yet now, her father lay bloodied on the stretcher, and she could not help but feel sorrow.
At this moment, Xu Zimo looked at the scene before him. He pushed aside the people surrounding the stretcher, leaned over Situ Yuntian's corpse, and said mournfully, "Brother Yuntian, though we met only once, heroes cherish heroes—there is no need to ask where one comes from.
"I never got the chance to speak with you freely about life. Who would have thought that after only one night, we would now be separated by yin and yang?
"As they say, good people do not live long. Fate toys with men, fate toys with men!"
"Senior Brother, don't be too sad either. The dead cannot return to life," Xiao Guizi hurriedly comforted him from the side.
"How could I not understand? It is only that it is ultimately a pity for a hero like Brother Yuntian." Xu Zimo took a deep breath, his eyes brimming with sorrow.
He then looked toward Situ Yunqing, who was sobbing softly at the side, and advised, "Don't be too upset either. The urgent matter now is to quickly find the murderer and avenge your father."
Situ Yunqing slowly nodded, looking at Xu Zimo expectantly. "I know you are a person of great ability. Can you help me?"
No matter how formidable Situ Yunqing had been in her Previous Life, she was now only a weak young girl.
She had no one to rely on and no force supporting her. Relying on herself alone to find the murderer was simply unrealistic.
"It is not that I do not wish to help, but this is an internal matter of the Situ Family. If an outsider like me intervenes, it could easily stir up rumors," Xu Zimo said awkwardly.
Situ Yunqing fell silent for a moment, not knowing what she should say.
"Arrange your father's funeral as soon as possible. Though I cannot directly involve myself in the investigation, I will secretly keep an eye out for the murderer for you." After offering a few words of comfort, Xu Zimo left with Lin Ruhu and Xiao Guizi.
"Brother Zimo, do you want to take over the Situ Family?" Lin Ruhu asked curiously on their way back.
"You saw through it?" Xu Zimo asked with a smile.
"I'm not certain. I only felt that you were a little too concerned about the Situ Family," Lin Ruhu said.
"More or less. But now is not the time yet. The fire is not burning fiercely enough," Xu Zimo said with a smile.
"What should we do?" Xiao Guizi asked from the side.
"Go find the Wang Family and the Wan Family. Have the two families join forces to suppress the Situ Family's businesses," Xu Zimo said to Lin Ruhu.
Within Zhouque City, only those two families could contend with the Situ Family. Now that Situ Yuntian, their main pillar, was gone, those two families would surely take an interest in the Situ Family, this fat piece of meat.
"Xiao Guizi, go find someone to sow discord among Situ Yuntian's three sons. Make them slaughter one another over the position of family head," Xu Zimo said.
"Rest assured, Young Master. I will definitely throw the entire Situ Family into utter chaos," Xiao Guizi replied confidently.
"When the time comes and everything is beyond control, I will step out and clean up the mess." Xu Zimo spoke unhurriedly. "I want Situ Yunqing to willingly join my forces."
"Brother Zimo, why not just attack them directly? Is all this trouble really necessary?" Lin Ruhu asked, perplexed.
"You must understand one thing. Though we are villains, we are absolutely not brainless," Xu Zimo said with a smile. "What I want is not merely Situ Yunqing herself, but her heart as well.
"And the Situ Family truly is an excellent springboard. Besides, Hei Shisan, go to Tianjian City and find Shili Changkong. Tell him to come here."
Before you continue