162: Chapter 162 Lai Yuechan

A black shadow descended from the sky, and with a flash of its claws, these Qi Refining Cultivators met their ends one after another.

As for those fleeing further away, the black shadow caught up to them in just a few breaths and slaughtered them all.

Xie Yuzhu had also just arrived at the lakeside and witnessed the final scene of Xu Changsheng slaying Lai Tianxiang with a single sword strike; she was currently watching Ink Shadow's bloody massacre in astonishment.

The previously oppressive feeling vanished into thin air.

But a different kind of feeling welled up in her heart; years ago, she had once rejected her elder sister's intention to arrange a marriage alliance with this man.

She hadn't expected that after not seeing him for several years, he would now be a Senior at the Foundation Establishment Stage, easily slaying Lai Tianxiang, who was also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

Regret filled her heart: "If I had agreed back then, would there be a different result now?"

She secretly shook her head.

She couldn't be blamed; back then, Xu Changsheng was merely a minor Middle Stage Qi Refining Cultivator. Even with his talisman-making skills to support him, he would most likely have remained stuck at the Qi Refining stage.

At that time, any clan woman with a certain status in the Family would not have agreed.

A sliver of hope suddenly rose within her heart.

Even if the old flame couldn't be rekindled, her beauty was still intact; perhaps she could still attract this man.

However, at that moment, the scene before her eyes abruptly broke her heart.

She saw Xie Wantang fly down gracefully and go directly to Xu Changsheng.

The latter put away the golden sword in his hand and opened his arms.

And then...

Xie Wantang threw herself directly into his embrace.

Under the slanting light of dusk, the two slender figures gradually drew closer, finally merging into one shadow, making it difficult to distinguish one from the other.

Xie Yuzhu suddenly recalled the words Xu Changsheng had spoken earlier.

"family heads husband?"

At that time, she was still immersed in the joy of surviving a disaster and hadn't scrutinized the term Xu Changsheng used, nor did she take the surrounding talk to heart.

She thought it was just Xu Changsheng's words to bolster his courage. As a high-ranking member of the Xie Family, if her sister really had some involvement with Xu Changsheng, how could she not know?

But the situation before her completely shattered her assumptions.

Her sister really was having an affair with Xu Changsheng!

And they looked deeply in love!

"How did I not know at all!"

...

Holding the beauty in his arms, Xu Changsheng showed a hint of guilt: "I came late!"

Burying her head in his broad chest, she murmured: "Who... who asked you to come?"

He didn't argue with her: "I sent you a message, why didn't you reply?"

"I was afraid..."

"Don't worry, in the current Ancient Wood Mountain Range, except for those few Rank Three Yao Beasts in the depths, nothing can stop me."

After saying that, he reached out and wiped away Xie Wantang's tears: "Look at you crying like this, where is the bearing of a Family head? If people see you, you'll lose your authority."

Realizing she had lost her composure, the latter broke free from Xu Changsheng's embrace.

Looking around and seeing the Lai Family Disciples lying scattered on the ground, she breathed a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, even if they saw it, they won't be able to tell anyone."

Just then, she saw a disheveled figure at the edge of the forest.

"Yuzhu..."

She flew forward to untie her.

Xie Yuzhu stared blankly as her sister gently untied the ropes on her hands, then looked at Xu Changsheng not far away, her lips trembling slightly.

Noticing the strange gaze, Xie Wantang gently stroked her hair: "This is a long story, I'll tell you in detail after we reunite with everyone."

With a complex expression, she finally said nothing and nodded.

Xu Changsheng took Lai Tianxiang's Storage Pouch and came over to them.

Seeing this, Xie Wantang asked softly: "Husband Xu, what do you plan to do next?"

Resting his chin in thought, his eyes were cold: "Destroy the Lai Family."

He had come on this trip with that purpose in mind, but he hadn't expected to happen upon the Lai Family striking first.

Xie Wantang was worried: "The Lai Family indeed has a blood feud with us. I think about destroying them day and night, but..."

"But what?"

"The Mo Family..."

She recounted how Mo Qingxue had assisted in breaking the formation earlier.

"I'm afraid it will invite retaliation from the Mo Family."

Xu Changsheng smiled calmly: "It's fine, do you think I didn't see Mo Qingxue?"

Her willow-like brows furrowed slightly: "What do you mean?"

"Guess who Mo Qingxue went to find when she left halfway?"

"Could it be the Zhou Family?"

He tapped her forehead: "You're not that stupid."

Her cheeks puffed up: "I'm not stupid."

Xie Yuzhu watched the man and woman before her with a dazed expression.

"Are they... flirting?"

This wasn't right; she had never seen her sister like this since they were young. Her sister had always been dignified and proper.

She rubbed her eyes hard, momentarily doubting if the person standing before her was just someone else wearing her sister's painted skin.

Xu Changsheng lightly stroked Xie Wantang's black hair: "Let's go, first return to Donglin Fortress to settle the Family's Disciples."

Ink Shadow obediently crouched before them, several Storage Pouches clutched in its beast claws.

He tossed the Storage Pouches to Xie Yuzhu: "Miss Yuzhu, you handle these and add them to the Family's public assets."

"Okay."

He led the two women onto Ink Shadow's back.

Wings flapped, a gale rose, and they quickly disappeared from the spot.

...

Three hours later.

Lai Family base, Qianqiu Ridge.

Below Qiyun Cliff was a vast, continuous mining area with crisscrossing mountain paths, where laborers pushed carts up and down.

Dozens of captives from the Xie Family and other families wore bracelets that suppressed their spiritual power, having been reduced to pure slaves.

"Hurry up!"

A Lai Family Disciple who looked like a manager...

...had sharp eyes and saw a frail young man in front of him who was struggling.

Snap!

A whip lashed out.

The whip had bone barbs and contained a trace of magic power. It was not something the young man, who had no spiritual power to protect his body, could withstand; he was instantly sent flying.

Sent flying by the whip, he fell heavily to the ground, his life or death unknown.

"Get up! You useless thing!"

Just then, a cold pressure descended from the sky.

Startled, he suddenly looked up, and his sour face instantly reversed, putting on a smile.

In mid-air was a slender figure, back straight and eyes indifferent.

Her face was fair with a shallow scar on her lip; as the mountain wind blew, she looked like a solitary, noble wild orchid.

The manager stepped forward and bowed: "Grand Elder, why have you come?"

This woman was none other than the Lai Family's second Foundation Establishment Cultivator—Lai Yuechan.

Lai Yuechan opened her pale lips and said coldly: "The mine's harvest this month is less than seventy percent of previous months. Are you slacking off?"

He immediately broke into a cold sweat: "No, Grand Elder, we are also worried about this matter. You see, I've personally come to the mine to watch them."

He pointed to the young man not far away: "It's all because of these useless things, getting lazier by the day."

Lai Yuechan's narrow eyes looked at the youth, and her cold brows furrowed: "It is time to change a batch of people."

"Coincidentally, my brother is off to subjugate the Xie Family this time. At my suggestion, the captured Xie Family members will be sent to the mines."

"Good, good, thank you, Grand Elder."

Suddenly.

Lai Yuechan's expression changed drastically.

"Grand Elder, what's wrong?"

She took out a jade pendant, only to see the spiritual light on it flashing incessantly.

She looked incredulous: "Brother has fallen? How is this possible!"