216: Chapter 216 The Fall of the Zhao Family's Agent

The morning in Jianghai City was enveloped by a sudden cold snap.

On a day that should have been bright and sunny, fine ice crystals drifted through the air.

The alloy gate of the Zhao Family compound, once a symbol of power and majesty, had now turned into a pile of shattered ice shards.

Su Qingxue stood quietly in the center of the ruins.

The ice sword in her hand had not yet dissipated, its blade shimmering with a soul-chilling cold light.

Surrounding her were lifelike ice sculptures.

These were the guards of the Zhao Family, as well as the arrogant Zhao Family head, Zhao Tianxiang, from just a few days ago.

Zhao Tianxiang remained in a posture of sheer terror, every wrinkle and pore on his face frozen instantly by the extreme cold.

His eyes still held traces of the fear of death, as well as disbelief at Su Qingxue's strength.

The entire Zhao Family hall now resembled a dead, frozen world.

There was not much scent of blood, only a bone-chilling cold permeating the air.

"Hoo~"

Su Qingxue gently exhaled a breath, the white mist condensing in the air.

The ice sword in her hand dissipated into specks of blue light.

The power of her S-Rank Talent, Extreme Cold Domain, was even more terrifying than she had imagined.

Opponents that previously required a hard-fought battle now couldn't even withstand a single move from her.

This was the difference between a Grandmaster and a Martial Master.

And this was the weight of the gift Lin Fan had given her.

Just then.

A burst of hurried and noisy footsteps broke the silence here.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Be sharp!"

"Brother Fan said this is called resource recovery, not robbery!"

"Don't drop that vase, it's an antique and can be traded for several blind boxes!"

A group of people dressed in strange clothes rushed into the Zhao Family compound.

Leading them was Hou San, with his peach-blossom eyes, and Iron Bull, whose build was as sturdy as an iron tower.

This Villain Squad, assembled by Lin Fan, had arrived at the scene immediately after receiving Lin Fan's remote instructions.

Hou San carried a massive storage bag in his hand, his eyes gleaming with greed.

Seeing the ice sculptures filling the courtyard, he couldn't help but shiver.

"Goodness... Miss Su is way too fierce."

"She's practically a walking human refrigerator."

Iron Bull scratched his head foolishly and reached out to tap a nearby ice-sculpted guard.

"Crack."

The arm of the ice sculpture snapped off and fell.

"Don't mess around!"

Hou San glared at him.

"These are all Miss Su's trophies; we need to show some respect."

After saying this, he turned to look at Su Qingxue, his face immediately filled with a sycophantic smile.

"Miss Su, Brother Fan sent us to help you... cough cough, clean up the battlefield."

"See, just leave the rough and tiring work to us."

Su Qingxue nodded slightly, her expression remaining cold and aloof.

"Thank you for the trouble."

"No trouble at all! No trouble! It's our honor to serve the boss's wife!"

Hou San, quick-tongued, blurted it out.

A rare blush flashed across Su Qingxue's eternally frozen, iceberg-like face.

However, she didn't refute it, simply turning to look outside the gate.

There, a black motorcade was slowly approaching.

The car doors opened.

An elderly man with a vigorous spirit stepped out, supported by others.

It was none other than the Su Family elder who had just woken up, Su Zhentian.

After consuming the top-grade Rejuvenation Dew and Gene Completion Liquid sent by Lin Fan, not only had Su Zhentian's injuries healed, but his cultivation had also benefited from the misfortune, showing signs of a breakthrough to Grandmaster.

Watching the frozen Zhao Family compound before him, his eyes grew slightly moist.

The behemoth that once made the Su Family unable to breathe had now vanished like smoke.

"Qing Xue..."

Su Zhentian walked tremblingly towards his granddaughter.

"Grandfather."

Su Qingxue stepped forward quickly to support the old man.

"Is the Zhao Family... gone?"

Su Zhentian looked at the ice sculpture of Zhao Tianxiang, his tone carrying a hint of unreality.

"It's gone."

Su Qingxue's voice was calm, yet filled with unquestionable firmness.

"From today on, there is no more Zhao Family in Jianghai City."

Su Zhentian took a deep breath, his cloudy eyes erupting with a sharp light.

He patted the back of Su Qingxue's hand.

"Good! Very good!"

"That kid Lin Fan... he truly is a noble benefactor to our Su Family."

"Pass on my order!"

Su Zhentian turned abruptly and shouted to the Su Family members behind him.

"From this moment on, take full control of all Zhao Family assets!"

"Every shop, warehouse, and mine under the Zhao Family's name is to be sealed with the Su Family's seal!"

"Anyone who dares to interfere, kill them without mercy!"

At this moment, this long-slumbering lion of the Jianghai finally bared its fangs.

With Su Qingxue, a Grandmaster, holding the fort, and the armed support of the Villain Squad provided by Lin Fan, everything that followed became a matter of course.

The entire commercial landscape of the Jianghai underwent earth-shaking changes in just half a day.

The plaques of the medicine chain stores under the Zhao Family were taken down and replaced with "Myriad Treasures Pavilion Branch" signs.

The Zhao Family's building material warehouses were emptied by Hou San and his men so thoroughly that not even a mouse was left behind.

Those small families that had attached themselves to the Zhao Family, upon seeing the tragic state of Zhao Tianxiang, were scared out of their wits and rushed to the Su Family overnight with gifts to beg for forgiveness.

Inside the Su Family hall, phone rings rang one after another.

They were all calls from various forces coming to express their goodwill.

Su Qingxue sat at the head of the table, dealing with the mountain of documents.

Although she didn't enjoy business, under Lin Fan's influence, she began to understand one truth.

Resources are the fuel for martial arts.

Only by mastering enough resources can one survive in the chaotic times to come.

"Ding-dong."

Her phone suddenly chimed.

It was a WeChat message.

The sender was labeled: Shrewd Merchant.

[Lin Fan: Congratulations to President Su for obtaining the trial card for the richest person in the Jianghai. Remember to save the rare metals in the Zhao Family warehouse for me; I have great use for them. Also, if those old geezers dare to disobey, tell them my blind boxes are not sold to disobedient people.]

The corners of Su Qingxue's mouth lifted slightly.

She replied with one word.

[Okay.]

...

Meanwhile.

Thousands of miles away in Kyoto.

Inside a quiet courtyard of the main Kyoto Zhao Family residence.

A middle-aged man wearing a Tang suit was sitting by a stone table, sipping tea.

His movements were elegant and composed, radiating the majesty of a superior in every gesture.

He was the current head of the Kyoto Zhao Family, Zhao Haokun.

A true Martial King-level powerhouse.

"Family Head."

A black-clad shadow guard appeared silently in the courtyard, kneeling on one knee.

His body was trembling slightly, as if trying hard to suppress his fear.

"Speak."

Zhao Haokun gently blew the floating leaves off his teacup without raising his head.

"Over in the Jianghai... something happened."

The shadow guard's voice was a bit dry.

"Zhao Tianxiang... has fallen."

"All the Zhao Family's assets in the Jianghai have been... swallowed up by the Su Family and the Myriad Treasures Pavilion."

"Crack."

A crisp cracking sound rang out.

The priceless purple clay teacup in Zhao Haokun's hand instantly turned into powder.

The scalding tea flowed down between his fingers, but he seemed completely unaware.

The surrounding air became incredibly thick in that instant.

A terrifying pressure radiated from him, forcing the shadow guard to lie flat on the ground, his bones creaking under the unbearable weight.

"Su Family... Lin Fan..."

Zhao Haokun slowly stood up, his face terrifyingly gloomy.

He hadn't expected that a small branch family in the Jianghai would be uprooted.

This was not just a slap in the face to Zhao Tianxiang, but to the entire Kyoto Zhao Family!

"What a Su Qingxue, what a Lin Fan."

"Do they really think that with a few lucky encounters, they can challenge the majesty of my Zhao Family?"

Zhao Haokun pulled a handkerchief from his bosom and slowly wiped the tea stains from his hands.

His eyes flashed with a sinister light.

"Military suppression is not appropriate right now."

"That kid Lin Fan is currently protected by the military and the General Ye Canglan."

"A head-on collision will only let those old rivals reap the benefits."

Zhao Haokun threw the handkerchief on the ground, a cold sneer curling his lips.

"Since I can't kill him openly, then... I will destroy his spirit."

"Pass on my order."

"Activate all our media resources in Kyoto."

"I want the name Lin Fan to become a rat crossing the street by tomorrow morning."

"I want him to know that in this world, killing... sometimes doesn't require a knife."