55: Chapter 55 The He Family's Wrath

Huoyang Commandery, the He Family residence.

Inside the brightly lit main hall, the suffocating atmosphere made it hard to breathe.

Crack!

A fine celadon jade cup was crushed ruthlessly, turning into powder that slipped through the fingers.

Patriarch He Wanshan, the head of the He Family, was a lean man with an aquiline nose. His face was livid. Staring intently at the manager kneeling in the hall, his voice was raspy, and the words were squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Eight people—one Qi Refining Layer 9 and seven in the Late Stage of Qi Refining—and they all perished in a newly opened Medicinal Pill shop without even making a splash?"

"P-Patriarch, it's true." The manager trembled all over, not daring to raise his head. "The shop's proprietress is a woman wearing a veil. With just... one move, she killed them all. I saw it clearly from across the street. It was so fast that they couldn't react at all."

One move.

Patriarch He Wanshan's eyelids twitched violently.

How many years had it been?

Since the He Family relied on the Medicinal Pill business to firmly grasp the Huoyang Commandery market and become one of the four major families, how many years had it been since anyone dared to boldly provoke them like this?

A newcomer had killed He Family members and, instead of running, dared to keep the doors open for business.

This was a provocation, a blatant rubbing of the He Family's face into the dirt.

"A permit from the Commandery Lords Mansion?" Patriarch He Wanshan sneered, his smile devoid of any warmth. "In the western district of the city, what does the Commandery Lords Mansion even amount to?"

"Interesting, truly interesting." He slowly stood up and paced the hall, each step feeling as though it were treading on everyone's hearts. "I'd like to see what kind of deity dares to disregard my He Family so completely."

"Second Brother, Third Brother." Patriarch He Wanshan stopped pacing and cast his gaze toward the two figures in the shadows of the hall.

The two had been standing quietly without saying a word from beginning to end. Hearing the call, they stepped forward in unison, the spiritual energy fluctuations radiating from their bodies far exceeding those of the goatee-wearing manager who had just died.

Qi Refining Great Perfection.

They were only a single step away from Foundation Establishment.

Aside from him, the Early Stage Foundation Establishment Patriarch, they were the top combat power of the He Family.

"Tonight, the two of you shall make a trip." Patriarch He Wanshan's voice was cold and ruthless. "I don't want to hear any explanations, nor do I need any survivors. Burn that shop down, and leave no one alive inside, regardless of whether they are man or woman."

"Yes, Patriarch." The two replied in dry, emotionless voices, turning and vanishing into the night.

Patriarch He Wanshan sat back down in the main seat, picking up the freshly replaced tea from the maid and gently blowing on the steam.

He could already see it—the reckless Qixia Alchemy Pavilion reduced to ashes in the flames.

...

At the same time.

The residences of the other three major families in Huoyang Commandery also received the news almost simultaneously.

Upon hearing the report, the Old Ancestor of the Zhao Family merely stroked his beard, smiling without a word.

The head of the Zhou Family simply waved his hand and ordered, "Wait and see. The He Family's behavior has been too unsightly these years, raising the prices of Medicinal Pills again and again. It's a good thing someone has come out to teach them a lesson."

Only the Qin Family.

In the study, Patriarch Qin Hai of the Qin Family listened to the secret agent's report, and his finger, which had been tapping on the desk, suddenly stopped.

"Qixia Alchemy Pavilion? A proprietress with unfathomable strength? And a more mysterious man behind her?"

However, Patriarch Qin Hai did not care about these matters; he did not think much of a small Medicinal Pill market.

"How is the investigation into Feng'er's matter going?" Speaking of Senior Brother Qin Feng, Patriarch Qin Hai's face showed some desolation.

"Could this matter be related to the Jiang Family of Jiangyuan City? It is said that the Jiang Family has an Old Ancestor who has been in seclusion for many years, with strength at least at the Late-stage Foundation Establishment," an Elder said.

"Go to Jiangyuan City and investigate everything about the Jiang Family."

"Yes."

A dark shadow vanished from the spot.

...

Midnight.

In the backyard of the Qixia Alchemy Pavilion, all was silent.

Two dark shadows landed silently on the courtyard wall. Exchanging a glance, both saw a hint of ease in each other's eyes.

Aside from a few rooms still lit with faint candlelight, there was no movement in the entire courtyard, not even a decent guard or any fluctuation of a Formation.

This was it?

Both of them revealed contemptuous expressions at the same time.

It seemed that the woman from earlier today had merely relied on a bizarre Cultivation Technique to catch their brothers off guard.

With a sway of their bodies, they drifted into the courtyard. One rushed straight toward the lit main room, while the other prepared to set fire first.

However, the very instant their feet touched the ground—

The Cultivator who was preparing to set the fire had just pulled out a fire starter when his movements froze.

He felt his neck being gripped by an invisible, giant hand.

At this moment, he couldn't muster even a shred of his body's spiritual energy.

The other Cultivator rushing toward the main room fared no better.

Just as he rushed to the door, he saw the door curtain being lifted by a pale, delicate hand.

Inside, an exquisitely beautiful woman stared at him quietly, without the slightest ripple in her eyes.

He wanted to open his mouth to sound an alarm, but found himself unable to move, unable to even make a sound.

He could only watch as a barely perceptible, emerald-green flame flickered from the woman's fingertip.

The flame was tiny and beautiful.

But when it landed on his body, it instantly burned him, along with his Divine Soul, into nothingness.

Under the courtyard wall, Yuan Chu, who was gripping the other person's neck, yawned listlessly and exerted a slight force with her small hand.

Snap.

With a soft sound, the world fell completely silent.

She casually threw the corpse into a corner, clapped her hands, and with a flash of her figure, slipped into Jiang Feng's room.

...

Inside, the candlelight flickered.

Jiang Feng was sitting cross-legged on the bed, comprehending the mysteries of the nine prisons peak.

Yuan Chu had already sat down beside him with a grin, her lively large eyes blinking as she stared straight at him.

"What is it?" Jiang Feng opened his eyes, looking at her with a mix of amusement.

"Those two little bugs outside, I helped you deal with one of them, you know." Yuan Chu extended a fair, tender finger and waved it in front of him.

"And so?" Jiang Feng had a rough idea of what she wanted.

"A reward, of course." Yuan Chu spread her palm open righteously.

"You want another spirit gathering pill?"

"I don't want that." Yuan Chu pouted, a sly glint in her eyes. "I heard it, you know."

"Heard what?"

"Sister Yao is pregnant with a baby, and you're overjoyed. The System gave you so many good things, including the 'hua zhen pill', right?" Yuan Chu leaned close to his ear, her voice kept very low, yet carrying a smug "I know everything" tone.

"You... misheard." Jiang Feng decided to make a last-ditch struggle.

"I don't care, I want that hua zhen pill. Give me one to taste." Yuan Chu began to act spoiled, wrapping her arms around his and shaking it gently. However, the force she used made Jiang Feng feel as though his bones were creaking.

Looking at her gorgeous face paired with her childish expression, Jiang Feng truly felt a mix of love and exasperation.

Facing this clever little devil, he was truly helpless.

He couldn't hit her, nor could he scold her. Crucially, she was also carrying his child in her belly, so he didn't even have the chance to mount up and discipline her properly with Family rules.

What else could he do?

Pamper her, of course.

Jiang Feng sighed helplessly, retrieved a jade bottle from his storage ring, and poured out a glowing, fragrant Medicinal Pill.

"Just one, okay?"

"Heehee, Husband is the best!" Yuan Chu snatched the Medicinal Pill. Like a little cat, her eyes curved into crescent moons. Without a second thought, she stuffed it into her mouth and crunched it down.

Looking at her satisfied appearance, Jiang Feng could only shake his head, but he was already calculating in his heart.

The He Family, it seemed, could no longer sit still.

That was fine too, saving him the trouble of paying them a visit himself.

It was about time the muddy waters of Huoyang Commandery were thoroughly stirred up.