134: Chapter 134 The Heavenly Gang Sect is too ruthless!

The next day, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

Golden sunlight filtered through the shimmering leaves of the wutong treasure tree and passed through the carved window lattices, casting mottled shadows across the floor.

Shen Qingyuan lay lazily on a soft couch, his eyes slightly closed and his breathing long and steady. His entire being radiated an air of indolence that seemed to reach his very bones.

Luo Qingyue sat kneeling nearby, her white clothes as pure as snow, quietly brewing tea.

The tea's aroma curled upward, blending with the fresh scent of the Wutong leaves, refreshing the mind and soul.

The Phoenix was still perched on the highest branch of the wutong treasure tree. The crimson-gold cocoon pulsed slightly, its surface flowing with dense runes, and the faint aura of Nirvana True Fire diffused from within.

After several days of recuperation, the cocoon was slightly larger than before, and the runes on its surface had become clearer.

Clearly, under the nourishment of the wutong treasure tree, the Phoenix's injuries were slowly recovering.

Shen Qingyuan opened his eyes and glanced at the cocoon above him.

"A Phoenix's Nirvana, Rebirth through fire—it can be considered a blessing in disguise."

He sat up, stretched, and took the spiritual tea handed to him by Luo Qingyue, taking a sip.

The cool Spiritual Qi dissolved on the tip of his tongue and slid down his throat into his stomach, making him feel much more refreshed.

"Nothing to do today. Let's go to the brothel to listen to some music!"

"Is the Young Master going to the Yicui Pavilion?" Luo Qingyue asked softly, her cool eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.

Shen Qingyuan nodded. "Mm, I haven't been there for several days. I quite miss that girl Lian Yue."

Luo Qingyue lowered her gaze. "If the Young Master likes her, you could just bring her into the courtyard as well."

"Hmm?" Shen Qingyuan glanced at Luo Qingyue and smiled. "This music only has the right flavor when listened to at the Yicui Pavilion."

Was he lacking a dancer?

What he wanted was the atmosphere!

Shen Qingyuan stood up, straightened his robes, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and lazily walked out of the courtyard.

Luo Qingyue quickly followed, her white clothes like snow and her steps light.

The two left the Shen Mansion and headed toward East Street.

Early morning Guangnan City was already bustling.

Breakfast stalls by the roadside were steaming, vendors selling spiritual fruits shouted at the top of their lungs, and Cultivators moved through the streets in groups of two or three—some in a hurry, others leisurely.

However—

Shen Qingyuan keenly sensed that today's atmosphere was somewhat off.

The Cultivators were gathered in small groups, whispering to one another, their faces filled with shock and unease.

Whispers rose and fell, and one could vaguely hear words like "Zhao Family," "Chen Family," and "Tiangang Sect."

"Have you heard? The Zhao Family and the Chen Family were completely wiped out overnight!"

"What?! Completely gone? What do you mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like! The Zhao Residence and the Chen Residence were burned to the ground. Not even a ghost can be seen!"

"Hiss—who did it? These are among the Four Great Families of Guangnan City! Noble families with hundreds of years of Legacy!"

"I heard it was the Tiangang Sect!"

"The Tiangang Sect? One of the Seven Great Sects of the Southern Region? Why would they strike the Zhao and Chen Families?"

"Who knows... but I heard that the Tiangang Sect suffered a great loss in the Secret Realm a few days ago. Even Senior Brother Sun Zhengyang, that Primal Chaos Realm Elder, perished inside. Some say the Zhao and Chen Families were secretly plotting, and the Tiangang Sect has come for revenge!"

"Tsk tsk, a great Sect is indeed a great Sect. Their methods are ruthless! Two families completely exterminated in a single night!"

Shen Qingyuan walked lazily down the street with his hands in his sleeves. Listening to the surrounding discussions, a slight curve formed at the corner of his mouth.

Third Uncle and the others certainly worked cleanly and efficiently.

The blame for the destruction of the Zhao and Chen Families was firmly pinned on the Tiangang Sect.

"Young Master, these rumors..." Luo Qingyue asked softly, a strange light flashing in her cool eyes.

"They're spreading quite fast," Shen Qingyuan smiled. "But not fast enough. In another two days, they should spread across the entire Southern Region."

Luo Qingyue nodded thoughtfully and didn't ask further.

The two continued toward East Street.

The further they went, the more discussions they heard, and the heavier the atmosphere became.

"Do you think the Tiangang Sect will also make a move against the Shen Family?"

"It's hard to say... The Shen Family is the number one Family in Guangnan City, with an eight-thousand-year Legacy and deep roots. If the Tiangang Sect even wiped out the Zhao and Chen Families and is truly coming for Guangnan City, the Shen Family definitely won't escape!"

"The Shen Family wouldn't be afraid, right? I heard a Void Piercing Realm expert recently emerged in the Shen Family!"

"Void Piercing Realm? The Tiangang Sect has Primal Chaos Realm Elders! How can the Shen Family compete with them?"

"Sigh... the heavens are about to change in Guangnan City..."

Shen Qingyuan's expression remained indifferent as he listened to these words.

Luo Qingyue, however, frowned slightly, a hint of chilliness flashing in her cool eyes.

"Young Master, should I..." she whispered, her tone carrying a bit of coldness.

"No need." Shen Qingyuan shook his head, his lips curling slightly. "Let them talk."

The two crossed several streets and arrived in front of the Yicui Pavilion.

The front of the building was packed with various carriages, and Cultivators were constantly entering and leaving.

Inside the main hall, cups were clinking, the sound of string and wind instruments was incessant, and the air was thick with the scent of wine and rouge.

Shen Qingyuan stepped over the threshold of the Yicui Pavilion, and the mixture of wine, rouge, and music hit him in the face.

"Oh! The Young Master is here!"

A waiter at the door was sharp-eyed and recognized this regular customer at once. He quickly plastered on a smile and came forward to greet him. "The private room on the third floor is reserved for you! The usual spot!"

Shen Qingyuan nodded, casually tossed a Spirit Stone to the waiter, and led Luo Qingyue upstairs.

The waiter caught the Spirit Stone, his eyes narrowing into slits from his smile, and he eagerly led the way.

The three passed through the main hall and went up the stairs to the third floor.

Pushing open the door to the private room, the bead curtains were half-rolled, sandalwood incense curled in the air, and sunlight from the window spilled in, casting a golden glow on the soft couch.

Shen Qingyuan walked to the couch and lay down lazily, hands behind his head, looking up at the carved beams and sighing comfortably.

Luo Qingyue sat kneeling beside him, her white clothes like snow and her features cool. She took her tea set from her sleeve and began brewing tea.

Her movements were as smooth as flowing water, calm and composed.

The tea's aroma curled up, blending with the music from downstairs, making for a pleasant scene.

A moment later, the sound of light footsteps came from outside the room.

"Young Master—"

A soft, sweet voice came from outside the door, carrying a hint of joy.

The door was gently pushed open, and a slender figure walked in.

The woman looked to be about eighteen or nineteen years old, wearing a light pink long dress, with a slender waist and a graceful figure.

She had an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and watery peach-blossom eyes.

She was the top courtesan of the Yicui Pavilion—Lian Yue.

She held a pot of wine in her hand, a beaming smile on her face as she walked toward Shen Qingyuan with light steps.

"Young Master, you haven't been here for quite some time. Lian Yue missed you dearly."

Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of coquettishness.

Shen Qingyuan took the wine pot, poured himself a cup, and took a sip.

The amber liquid swayed slightly in the cup, reflecting the sunlight with a warm luster.

"Mm, after drinking too much tea, drinking wine occasionally has its own unique flavor."

He praised it, his gaze sweeping across the room, when his eyebrows suddenly twitched slightly.

"By the way, where is Old Xu?"

The last time he came, that old man Xu Jianan was here freeloading wine, with rouge marks all over his face that hadn't even been wiped clean.

Why was there no sign of him today?

Lian Yue was stunned for a moment, a flash of confusion appearing in her eyes.

"Old Xu? He... hasn't been seen for several days."

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