Life Is Like A Play

"You," Situ Yunlei looked at the three elders of the Situ Family in disbelief. He hadn't expected his own people to betray him at such a crucial moment.

Situ Yunlei spat out a mouthful of blood. He seemed to understand something and gave Xu Zimo a deep look.

"Everyone, I don't think I need to say who it was that wanted to kill the Situ Family Head," Xu Zimo said with a smile, looking at the three elders of the Situ Family and then at the crowd.

"It was the three elders," someone murmured in disbelief.

"I know, it must be that the three elders coveted the Family Head's position and colluded to kill him," a disciple said with wide eyes, analyzing.

"Young Master Xu, this matter originally had nothing to do with you. Why did you have to interfere?" the First Elder asked, a sinister smile on his face as he walked step by step towards Xu Zimo.

"I can't help it, I'm just a warm-hearted person," Xu Zimo said with a smile.

Then, he snapped his fingers. An extremely powerful pressure descended from above. Everyone present changed their expressions.

Hei Shisan stood in the sky, his black robes rustling, a long saber on his back. His aura was imposing, and he simply watched the three elders.

Under this pressure, the three elders found they couldn't even move. They were filled with shock, and beads of sweat dripped from their foreheads.

Xu Zimo smiled and walked up to Situ Yunqing, saying, "Do you want to avenge your father?"

Situ Yunqing was stunned. She looked at the long sword Xu Zimo offered and took it dazedly.

"It's time for everything to end," Xu Zimo said seriously, patting Situ Yunqing's shoulder.

Situ Yunqing nodded heavily, holding the long sword and slowly walking towards the three elders.

The faces of the three elders changed drastically. Then, the First Elder roared, "I have lived a lifetime of glory, but I admit defeat this time.

However, even if I die, I will not die by the hands of a little girl like you."

The three elders exerted their strength simultaneously. Waves of spiritual energy surged from their bodies, one after another, temporarily breaking through Hei Shisan's pressure.

The three elders all raised their long swords and thrust them into their own abdomens.

With a "poof" sound, the swords pierced their flesh. All three spat out blood and collapsed to the ground.

"The Situ Family is finished," onlookers murmured as they watched the scene.

The Situ Family's high-level combat power was all gone, making it difficult for anyone to carry the burden.

Xu Zimo turned around and looked at Wan Cangqiong and Wang Cheng. "Gentlemen, the Situ Family will be my territory from now on.

Do you want to go to war, or develop peacefully?"

The two men glanced at Hei Shisan, who was treading on air, quickly swallowed, and said with a smile, "Young Master Xu is joking. Since the Situ Family belongs to you now, we should naturally support each other."

"Yes, yes, we're neighbors, and harmony brings wealth," Wang Cheng added with a smile.

"Alright, have your people clean this place up," Xu Zimo said to Wan Cangqiong and the other man.

Then, he looked at Situ Yunqing and asked, "I want to hand over the management of the Situ Family to you. Are you interested?"

Situ Yunqing was stunned, her large, clear eyes widening in disbelief.

"Don't answer in a hurry. Think about it carefully tonight and give me your reply tomorrow," Xu Zimo said with a smile, and then left with Lin Ruhu and Xiao Guizi.

Although the great battle of today had ended, its repercussions were still spreading throughout Zhouque City.

Inside the Linjiang Restaurant, Xu Zimo listened to Xiao Guizi's report.

"Young Master, I've already spoken with the Wang Family and the Wan Family. They helped us put on this act. Later, I will select two talented disciples from their clans to enter the True Martial Sacred Sect."

"It doesn't matter if those two disciples are talented, but they must be their direct descendants. Once they go to the sect, they will be tied to our warship," Xu Zimo nodded and said.

"I understand," Xiao Guizi nodded and continued, "Situ Yuntian's three sons died in today's battle. Now, the only one qualified to inherit the position of Family Head in the Situ Family is Situ Yunqing."

"Handle this matter discreetly, don't let anyone catch a handle," Xu Zimo said. "I don't care about Zhouque City, but the main thing is not to let the First Elder's people know, so he doesn't go to my father to complain."

"I understand. The manager of the Sacred Sect's branch hall in Zhouque City is from the First Elder's faction. He will definitely pay attention to this matter," Xiao Guizi nodded.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

Xu Zimo paused and said, "Come in."

The door opened, and the three elders of the Situ Family walked in unharmed, smiling.

"Young Master Xu," the three elders greeted him with smiles.

"Weren't you dead?" Xiao Guizi, who was standing nearby, was stunned. He had personally seen the three elders draw their swords and stab themselves in the abdomen today.

"Does stabbing yourself in the abdomen mean you'll die? Are martial artists that fragile, let alone martial artists in the True Meridian Realm?" Xu Zimo said, shaking his head.

"This was all just an act?" Xiao Guizi was stunned. He thought he had understood Xu Zimo's plan completely, only to realize he had only grasped a part of it.

"Otherwise, why would I have asked the Wan Family and the Wang Family to clean up the mess afterward? It was to avoid exposure," Xu Zimo said.

"Young Master, then what you promised us before?" the First Elder asked with a fawning smile.

"Don't worry, I will let you join the Sacred Sect and help you break through to the Empty Meridian Realm. You can go back first. Later tonight, I'll have Hei Shisan take you back to the Sacred Sect under the cover of darkness. Try not to be seen by anyone, to avoid exposure," Xu Zimo said.

"Then thank you, Young Master," the three men nodded quickly and then withdrew.

"They killed Situ Yunlei to break through to the Empty Meridian Realm, and then they took the blame for killing Situ Yuntian?" Xiao Guizi said in disbelief.

"Breaking through to the Empty Meridian Realm not only causes a surge in strength but also adds a hundred years to one's lifespan. Furthermore, joining the Sacred Sect offers them a brighter future. Aren't these things enough?" Xu Zimo retorted. "Compared to all this, what does a mere Situ Family mean to them?"

Xiao Guizi fell silent. His father was an outer elder of the True Martial Sacred Sect, and he had grown up within the sect, so he wasn't very familiar with many things outside.

But now, this incident seemed to have opened a cruel window to the world for him.

In fact, Xu Zimo had planned from the beginning that neither Situ Yunlei, Situ Yuntian, nor his three sons, including the three Grand Elders, could remain in the Situ Family.

This was because Xu Zimo was determined to hand over his influence to Situ Yunqing to manage. If even one of these people remained, it would be a huge problem.