163: War of the Clans

Hearing this, Chu Qinhui's eyes flickered, "Our Chu Family currently has no interests in the town. Even if the Zhang Family acts recklessly, it doesn't have much to do with our Chu Family. Let them be, what else can we do?"

Upon hearing Chu Qinhui's response, Shi Jingtai was silent for a moment, yet he knew that this was not what the Chu Family truly wanted; otherwise, they would not have opened a Medical Clinic in town a while ago.

He collected his thoughts and continued, "It hasn't been long since the incident with the Liu Family, and now the Zhang Family is imitating them. Once they grow powerful, won't they treat both of our families like fish on a chopping block?

Why not take advantage of the fact that their power hasn't fully formed yet and join forces to dampen their arrogance?"

"How do we dampen it? Their daughter is a concubine of the County Magistrate, and she is pregnant. That is the County Magistrate's first child. Who would dare to touch the maternal Family of that concubine now?"

Shi Jingtai smiled lightly, "We people from small places might not dare to touch them, but who says that just because she is pregnant, she will definitely be able to give birth? You must know that the County Magistrate also has in-laws among the three old Eighth-Grade Magnate Family in town.

How would they let a concubine from a small town safely give birth to the County Magistrate's first child?"

"In that case, we have even less need to join forces. We just need to wait, because according to your logic, the Zhang Family won't be in power for many more days."

Chu Qinhui's words made Shi Jingtai's expression darken instantly, but he immediately adjusted his emotions,

"That may be true, but the Zhang Family is arrogant now that they have gained power; they are truly not easy to get along with. The Chu Family has always had a reputation for being generous, and forming an alliance would be beneficial for both sides. Young Master Chu, perhaps you should consider it carefully."

Chu Qinhui stood up, his gaze fixed on the flickering flame inside the lantern, "Forming an alliance is possible, but what do allies need to do? We can't just click our lips together and say we're allies; that relationship wouldn't be solid."

"I understand Young Master Chu's concerns. The Zhang Family has a mineral deposit in Yuyang Village under their jurisdiction, which is guarded by the current Family Head's third uncle. He is considered one of the Zhang Family's top combat forces.

Tomorrow, my Shi Family is willing to take the lead and cut off his head as a token of our sincerity. I wonder if the Chu Family can believe in the sincerity of my Shi Family with this?"

Killing someone, and killing a Contract Master of a Noble Family within the Realm.

It seems this Shi Family is nearing madness. If the murder is successful, they surely have many ways to attribute the cause of death to something else. If it fails, the Shi Family will inevitably face the Zhang Family's frantic retaliation.

Chu Qinhui narrowed his eyes, not knowing if Shi Jingtai was testing him or if he truly had such determination, "Then we shall wait for the good news from the Shi Family."

In the end, Chu Qinhui did not refuse. He also wanted to see if the Shi Family could actually do what they said, and having one more enemy of the Zhang Family was not a bad thing for their Chu Family.

Hearing Chu Qinhui's response, Shi Jingtai spat internally. He had already said this much, yet he didn't see the Chu Family offering any sincerity at all. He could only bite the bullet and say:

"Since we are allies, both sides should naturally show sincerity."

Chu Qinhui naturally understood the subtext of his words; he wanted the Chu Family to do something equivalent to them so they could hold leverage over each other.

"Your Shi Family doesn't even have a single Spirit Rank Contract Master. To form an alliance with our Chu Family, a token of sincerity is naturally required. If your Shi Family accomplishes this, the alliance will be established."

These words were not spoken by Chu Qinhui, but by Chu Jingyu, whose figure appeared at the front hall entrance like a ghost, though no one knew when he had arrived.

Seeing Chu Jingyu, Shi Jingtai stood up from his chair with a twisted expression. This Chu Family was not easy to deal with either; every word and implication was just wanting to hold leverage over their Shi Family, while they didn't want to contribute anything of their own.

However, facing this Spirit Rank Contract Master, he was no longer as natural as he had been when facing Chu Qinhui. Under the pressure of Chu Jingyu's gaze, he gritted his teeth and promised:

"Head of the Chu Family, wait for the good news from our Shi Family."

Chu Jingyu nodded slightly, neither saying yes nor no.

After Shi Jingtai left, Chu Jingyu stood under the eaves, gently squatting down to stroke the head of the [Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast] that had appeared to bask in the moonlight.

He said softly, "Just now, Golden Jade told me that the Aura on Shi Jingtai is somewhat similar to the Aura of the black medicinal powder that corroded the roots of the medicinal herbs."

Chu Qinhui frowned deeply, never expecting that they would unearth the person who destroyed the medicinal field at this time, "Does this Shi Family want to play both sides? Or is this alliance simply meant for other purposes?"

Chu Jingyu's lips curved slightly, "I'm afraid the cooperation is real, and causing trouble for both families is also real. The more chaotic the Chu and Zhang families are, the more beneficial it is for the Shi Family.

Of course, it's also possible they want us to blame the Zhang Family for the destruction of the medicinal field, thereby facilitating this cooperation."

Chu Qinhui was speechless, and after a long while, he managed to squeeze out two words, "Truly dirty."

Chu Jingyu looked up at Chu Qinhui with a complex gaze, "This is nothing; there are plenty of things much dirtier than this. After all, there are people who would even plot against the life of their own nephew."

Three days later, waves were stirred up in Heyu Town again.

A major event occurred in the flourishing Zhang Family: the current Family Head's third uncle died, and along with him, all the Zhang Family members guarding Yuyang Village were wiped out overnight.

That day, residents in the town noticed that the Zhang Family Head flew into the sky and only returned after a long while.

Less than a quarter of an hour after he returned to the Family, the Zhang Family's gates were thrown wide open, and their elite Family disciples, accompanied by various Source Beasts, marched in a grand procession toward the direction outside the town.

Looking at that direction, some residents had guesses in their hearts; the path along that road seemed to lead to the Chu Family outside the town.

With this formation, could it be that these two families are about to go to war?

This speculation swirled in the minds of the residents, but they had no excitement for watching the spectacle, only fear at the prospect of the two major families going to war.

Once these two Noble Families started fighting, regardless of the outcome for them, the common people would not have an easy time.

The Zhang Family's forces were still on the road, and the Chu Family also received the news.

Without hesitation, Chu Qinhui gave the order for the villagers working in the fields to return to their homes.

He instructed the Head Steward to summon all the servants and Guards who had contracted with Source Beasts, and he himself went to the Taici Courtyard to report to his father that the Zhang Family's elites were on their way.

Ten minutes later, at the foot of Qixia Mountain, Chu Qinhui stood in the middle of the road with a stern expression. Behind him were mostly servants and Guards of the Mortal Rank, with only two scattered individuals—the steward poached from Sun Chunchen—being of the Uncommon Rank.

The Chu Family, after all, had a weak Foundation. In terms of the number of Uncommon Rank members, not to mention being unable to compare with the Zhang Family, they didn't even seem able to compare with the Shi Family.

However, the Chu Family's backbone, Chu Jingyu, was floating in mid-air, looking toward the end of the road with an unfathomable gaze.

His hair was mixed with a hint of gray, but his back was straight, as if he could bear any wind and frost single-handedly, capable of safely protecting this peaceful world of the Chu Family.

The Chu Family Members had not been waiting there for more than a few minutes when a commotion came from the road ahead, and the figures of the Zhang Family people slowly became clear.

Perhaps because they saw Chu Jingyu standing in the Void Realm, a figure also rushed out from the teeming crowd of the Zhang Family and stood in the Void Realm.

That figure's face was exceptionally young compared to Chu Jingyu's, looking like someone around thirty years old, but now his expression was sinister, and his gaze fixed on Chu Jingyu seemed to want to drink blood.

"The Head of the Chu Family really knows how to do big things quietly. Regarding my third uncle's matter, today your Chu Family must give me an explanation."

The voice came from afar, and one of Chu Jingyu's sleeves fluttered gently in the strong wind,

"Why does the Zhang Family Head think it was our Chu Family that harmed your third uncle? To come to our door to argue without distinguishing right from wrong, is that not a bit too much? Or is it that your Zhang Family is just using this as a pretext to attack our Chu Family?"

The [Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast] broke through the ground, standing across the middle of the road, glaring at the approaching Zhang Family group.

The Aura and pressure unique to the Spirit Rank swept over, causing the Zhang Family members to stop from afar, and the two groups glared at each other from a certain distance.

Facing Chu Jingyu's successive questions, the Zhang Family Head Zhang Qingyuan's eyes seemed to be burning with flames.

For the Zhang Family, cultivating an Upper Tier of the Extraordinary Rank Contract Master consumed a great deal of resources and held the hope of the Family giving birth to a second Spirit Rank Contract Master. Now that he had died so inexplicably, how could he not be angry?

"In the entire Heyu Town, besides the Town Chief, you, Chu Jingyu, are the only Spirit Rank Contract Master. Moreover, only your Chu Family has long-standing grievances with my Zhang Family. If it wasn't you, Chu Jingyu, acting in secret, then who could it be?"

Chu Jingyu snorted, "Source Beast invasion, or perhaps a big shot from the county city traveling here, who didn't like the look of your Zhang Family members and wiped them out with a wave of their hand. Why blame my Chu Family without any investigation? Zhang Family Head, you have gone too far."

"I have no intention of arguing with you about right and wrong. My third uncle's life must be repaid with the blood of the Chu Family Members."

As he spoke, a White Crane behind Zhang Qingyuan spread its wings. In mid-air, dense black feathers quietly gathered, and then after Zhang Qingyuan finished speaking, these black feathers pierced toward the area of the Chu Family Members and Guards like arrows shot from a bowstring.

The [Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast] standing in front of the Chu Family Members slammed its pincers onto the ground, and a layer of golden light swept over the ground. Large swathes of golden gravel flew backward, instantly gathering into a golden storm, striking the incoming black feathers into shattered feathers in mid-air or forcing them to change direction.

The first round of probing attacks and defense between the two ended in a draw.

However, this first attack signaled the start of the war. The Zhang Family members, who had been waiting for a long time, commanded their own Source Beasts and charged toward the Chu Family side.

The iconic Source Beasts are the [Black Feather Crane] and the [White Feather Crane]. These two types of Source Beasts are two forms before and after evolution, and their skills are very similar.

What charged over before the Zhang Family members were the white feathers summoned by these two types of crane Source Beasts. Dense white feathers tore through the Void Realm and attacked again.

The [Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast] spread its pincers, and the golden gravel turned into a sturdy 'city wall' once again, blocking all the incoming white feathers outside.

Zhang Qingyuan, standing in the air, fixed his gaze on Chu Jingyu, "Putting the Source Beast on the ground to block my Zhang Family members, regardless of your own safety? That's perfect, die."

The [Black Feather Crane] behind him, which had not evolved but had forcibly broken through racial limitations to reach the Spirit Rank, flapped its wings slightly and arrived in front of Chu Jingyu at a terrifying speed.

Its wings were coated with a layer of cold light, like the toughest weapon. If one were to be grazed by it, the result would likely be death or severe injury.

Watching the [Black Feather Crane]'s close-range attack, a smile curled on the corner of Chu Jingyu's mouth. He spread out his only remaining palm, and an ice-blue flower spread out.

White ice energy instantly spread over an area. When the ice energy touched the [Black Feather Crane]'s wings, a layer of ice crystals instantly spread across its wings, and the speed of its attack toward Chu Jingyu's neck became slower and slower.

A pale blue river of ice crystals flowed out from the heart of the [Extreme Ice Snow Lotus], and the surrounding temperature dropped rapidly.

The [Ice River] in the air was like a thin ribbon, trying to wrap around the body of the [Black Feather Crane].

Zhang Qingyuan, who was at a distance, saw the second Spirit Rank Source Beast in Chu Jingyu's palm, and his heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly opened his mouth, "Keep your distance."

The [Black Feather Crane] reacted quickly, flapping its wings slightly, and the ice crystals that had condensed on it due to the cold air instantly turned into debris and fell off. It flapped its wings again, and its speed received an explosive boost once more. In the blink of an eye, it retreated from the encirclement of the [Ice River].

Zhang Qingyuan took a look at the ice crystals on the [Black Feather Crane] and found that there was no major impact, so he breathed a sigh of relief. However, when he turned his head to look at the snow lotus in Chu Jingyu's hand, his expression became exceptionally ugly.

"[Extreme Ice Snow Lotus]."

He never expected that Chu Jingyu had not broken through to the Spirit Rank long ago, yet he already had a second Spirit Rank Source Beast. The one on the ground was merely standing in the middle of the road.

No matter how many Uncommon Rank Contract Masters the Zhang Family had, they couldn't cross it, and they were even occasionally killed by the [Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast]. Right now, it was just the Foundation of the Zhang Family's five Upper Tier of the Extraordinary Rank members, urging eight Upper Tier of the Extraordinary Rank Source Beasts to circle around the [Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast], and the [Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast] also had to protect the Chu Family Members behind it, so the situation appeared to be a stalemate for the time being.

And looking back at the sky, the Ice Lotus in Chu Jingyu's hand seemed to cast the shadow of being ruled by the Liu Family over his heart once again.

"Is your Chu Family a Puppet left behind by the Liu Family? No wonder, the Liu Family had just moved out of Heyu Town, and your Chu Family immediately established a clan."

Chu Jingyu raised an eyebrow; this young Zhang Clan Chief seemed to have imagined something, "Thinking too much is also a disease. Now the offense and defense should be reversed, right?"

A storm of ice crystals suddenly surged around Chu Jingyu, and his whole body was submerged in the ice crystals, making his figure no longer visible.

The ice crystal storm capable of scraping flesh and shaving bones, carrying the [Ice River] hidden within it, was like a small natural disaster, spreading to Zhang Qingyuan's side at an extremely fast speed.

The [Black Feather Crane] let out a sharp cry, and several wind walls with ripples instantly stood in front of the ice crystal storm.

The incoming ice crystals were directly carried away from their original direction by the mysterious wind within the wind walls.

Zhang Qingyuan looked at the ground, where the Zhang Family members were becoming increasingly unable to hold on under the leisurely attacks of the [Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast], and some Contract Masters had even begun to lie on the ground forever.

He knew that this siege on the Chu Family had failed. Continuing would only increase the Zhang Family's losses. A trace of hesitation appeared in his eyes, and he was about to call for the Zhang Family members to retreat.

At this moment, a dark cloud came from the direction of Heyu Town, and from that dark cloud came the voice of Town Chief Tang Cheng, "Good, good, good, two Noble Families, actually engaging in private armed conflict again. In your eyes, there is truly no Town Chiefs Mansion, no imperial court of the Dynasty."