"Who could do something so ruthless?"
Sha Lifei's voice carried a trace of disbelief as he heard the news.
Even Li Yan's brow furrowed tightly.
Wiping out an entire family was a grave taboo in the martial world!
The conflict between the two sides was merely a matter of competing interests. Though relations had soured, both parties still adhered to the unwritten rules of the martial world, never daring to cross the line that would provoke the authorities.
No matter how fierce the current disputes, there was always a chance for reconciliation in the future.
That was why Li Yan had deliberately played the fool, announcing his intent to assassinate Vice Minister Zuo, acting like a reckless hothead. He wanted to avoid getting too entangled with the Zhang family and their schemes.
After all, talk of "old family alliances" meant nothing when betrayal loomed.
But how could things have spiraled into such chaos just one day after his departure?
The Zhang family father and son weren't foolish enough to pull something like this, were they?
"That's the problem!"
Manager Wan shook his head with a tsk. "No one knows who did it. It was the neighbors who noticed something was amiss this morning and reported it to the authorities. That's when it came to light."
"The entire household—old and young, including several close disciples serving nearby—had their throats slit. And the weapon used was a Guanshan blade!"
Li Yan's brow creased again. "A swordsman?"
"Who can say?"
Manager Wan gave a scornful chuckle. "Everyone knows swordsmen kill for coin. If they want to hide their identity, framing someone else is easy enough. Guanshan blades aren't exactly hard to come by."
"Just today, the Zhou family stormed the Zhang clan's martial hall, demanding the culprit be handed over. Naturally, the Zhangs denied everything, and now both sides are locked in a heated dispute."
"What's more, Zheng Xianhuai's status complicates things. The authorities wanted to turn a blind eye, but now they've been dragged into the mess."
Li Yan nodded, recalling Zheng Xianhuai's identity.
The Zhou family's eight great lieutenants each held distinct roles.
Zheng Heibei and Yuan Qu controlled the city's two largest thug gangs, raking in wealth for the Zhou family through unsavory deeds unfit for public scrutiny.
Wang Yao ran a medical clinic, treating injuries for the Zhou family's faction and their two gangs, while also offering free care to build a good reputation.
Zhou Peide oversaw the operations of the Zhou family's martial hall.
The remaining four lieutenants included two who served as head escorts in the city's largest escort agency, while the other two were instructors for the Divine Fist Society, traveling to villages to teach martial arts.
Together, these men dominated both the underworld and legitimate circles, weaving the Zhou family's intricate web of influence.
Zheng Xianhuai was one of the Divine Fist Society's instructors—a semi-official figure.
The Xianyang authorities couldn't ignore this case, no matter how much they wished to.
Sha Lifei scoffed in exasperation. "The Zhang family would have to be out of their minds to target him."
Manager Wan nodded in agreement. "Exactly. But things have reached this point, and even Zhou Pan is struggling to keep a lid on it. There was already a bloody street brawl earlier today."
"The court, hoping to quell the unrest, has tacitly accepted that a swordsman is responsible. They've sent constables out to scour the city for suspects, and you, young Li, are one of them."
"This morning, constables ransacked the Inquiry Hall, claiming you fled out of guilt and planning to issue a warrant for your arrest. Thankfully, Captain Guan Wanche intervened, and the matter was dropped for now."
Sha Lifei's temper flared at this. "This is clearly just pinning the blame on someone convenient!"
Manager Wan shook his head. "What can you do? When the authorities speak, guilty or not, you're in trouble. For now, stay out of the city."
"You all can rest easy here. Once the storm passes, I'll personally vouch for you and clear this up."
"Many thanks, Brother Wan," Li Yan said.
"Fellow wanderers of the martial world should help each other," Manager Wan replied courteously. He then ordered food and lodging arranged for them before busying himself with dismantling a piece of lightning-struck wood.
Inside the room, the three men exchanged glances.
"Good thing we left early," Sha Lifei said, still shaken. "If we'd stayed one more day, those constables would've caught us at dawn, thrown us in jail, and with the Zhou family pulling strings, we'd be facing execution by autumn!"
Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan nodded in agreement.
As veterans of the martial world, they knew the constables' ways all too well—capable of anything to close a case.
At this point, the real culprit was irrelevant.
What mattered was finding someone to take the fall to restore calm.
To clear their name, the Zhang family might well play deaf and let them die unjustly in prison.
"Let's lay low for a few days," Li Yan said thoughtfully. "I suspect someone orchestrated this to stir discord and profit from the chaos."
"They might even strike again…"
Despite the situation, the three weren't overly worried.
Such was the way of the world—everyone had enemies. Besides, they'd already planned to watch the conflict from the sidelines. For now, they'd rest in Shangyi Village for a while.
Having not slept the previous night, they ate a quick meal and turned in early.
Of course, as seasoned martial wanderers, they never let their guard down.
All three slept fully clothed, taking turns keeping watch through the night…
In the dim flicker of candlelight, a woman's sobs filled the room.
Zhou Bai lay in bed, awake but pale as death, his lifeless eyes fixed on the ceiling beams, as if he were already a corpse.
His heart, too, felt dead.
From childhood, he'd borne the title of genius, surrounded by flattery, his pride soaring. He'd dreamed of winning a grand tournament and then roaming the martial world, his name echoing across the land.
At the foot of Songshan in the Central Plains, martial traditions ran deep, with masters as numerous as clouds…
The head escorts of Jinzhou's agencies each had their signature skills…
Jiaozhou, Xiangxi, Jiangnan… the eight sects, both open and hidden, were home to extraordinary talents.
These stories had fueled his ambitions since youth.
But now, it was all reduced to nothing.
He was a cripple, unable even to stand and relieve himself!
A plump woman sat by his bedside, wiping tears—his mother, Madam Jia.
Zhou Peide stood at the doorway, his face dark with gloom. The woman's crying grated on him, and he snapped irritably, "What's the use of crying?"
His words were like a spark to tinder. Madam Jia, known in Xianyang for her sharp tongue and unyielding nature, leapt up like a cat with its tail stepped on. "You old fool! Your son's been beaten to this state, and you say nothing, but you dare take it out on me?"
She lunged at him, clawing wildly.
Zhou Peide, already simmering with frustration, was caught off guard as her nails raked his face. Furious, he struck her twice across the face.
Madam Jia fell to the floor, pounding her chest and wailing loudly.
The commotion snapped Zhou Bai out of his daze. His face flushed, veins bulging on his forehead, his trembling hands clutching the blanket as he glared at Zhou Peide and growled through clenched teeth, "Father… avenge me!"
"Rest easy, Bai'er. I'll bring you that boy's head!"
A sinister fire blazed in Zhou Peide's eyes as he stormed out.
Outside the courtyard, he hadn't gone far when a patrolling disciple stopped him, cautiously saluting. "Third Master, where are you headed?"
Zhou Peide's voice was icy. "Do I need to report my movements to you?"
The disciple's face flushed with embarrassment, and he quickly apologized. "Please don't take offense, Third Master. After what happened to Uncle Zheng, Master warned that someone might be fishing in troubled waters. We're to stay vigilant at night—no one leaves."
"I have urgent business. Step aside!"
Zhou Peide shoved the disciple aside, took a few steps, then turned back with a menacing glare. "Pretend you didn't see me. If you breathe a word, you know the consequences."
"Yes, Third Master," the disciple mumbled, not daring to speak further.
Zhou Peide snorted and slipped out through a side gate, vanishing into the night.
His steps were swift, and soon he arrived at a brightly lit residence—the home of Yuan Qu.
Disciples stood guard outside. With a shout, Yuan Qu hurried out, personally ushering Zhou Peide into the courtyard.
Zhou Peide's face remained grim. Wasting no words, he took the main seat in the hall and demanded coldly, "Well? Have you found anything?"
Yuan Qu hesitated, his expression uneasy. "We've uncovered some leads, but the matter's tricky…"
"Speak plainly! Stop stammering!" Zhou Peide slammed the table, his voice sharp with rebuke.
Truth be told, he looked down on Yuan Qu, especially since the man's actions had indirectly led to Zhou Bai's injury. Not attacking him outright was already a courtesy.
But he had no choice. Zhou Peide managed the martial hall, and since the disciple he'd sent lost track of Li Yan's group, he was left in the dark, forced to rely on Yuan Qu.
"Yes, sir."
Yuan Qu wiped the sweat from his brow and saluted. "The information came from Taixing Carriage House. As you know, Senior Brother, they've always been at odds with us and cozy with old man Zhang. I planted a man inside."
"My agent just learned today that the three rented horses to Chunhua County for some unknown purpose. They've since returned and are hiding in Shangyi Village, just outside Xianyang."
"Then go seize them!" Zhou Peide roared.
Yuan Qu gave a bitter smile. "Please calm yourself, Senior Brother. Shangyi Village isn't ordinary. Manager Wan of Hearken Pavilion is not only a craftsman of the Mysterious Sect with ties to the Taixuan Orthodox Sect but also an elder of the Xianyang Craftsmen Guild."
"Things are already chaotic. The Craftsmen Guild may seem unassuming, but they have many skilled fighters. If we drag them into this, I'm afraid Master won't forgive us."
Zhou Peide's brow furrowed at this.
The Craftsmen Guild, part of the "Eight Trades" in the martial world, oversaw the city's carpenters, masons, and bricklayers.
They appeared to be mere merchants, focused on profit, but Zhou Peide knew of their hidden ties to the Mysterious Sect—formidable and difficult to provoke.
Demanding someone from the village would be futile if the guild denied their presence.
Besides, seeking revenge after a tournament loss was already unjustifiable.
His scowl deepened as he fixed Yuan Qu with a cold stare. "I know you're full of schemes. Since you've spoken, you must have a plan."
"This…"
Yuan Qu glanced around, dismissing his disciples before saluting again. "There is a way. If it succeeds, not only can we take revenge, but the Craftsmen Guild will have no grounds to interfere. It depends on whether you dare, Senior Brother."
Zhou Peide gave a bleak laugh, his eyes filled with bitter resolve. "At this point, what wouldn't I dare?"
Yuan Qu lowered his voice. "I know a master of the Dharma lineage. If he acts, he can lure Li Yan out of the village. Then, we send swordsmen to ambush him, ensuring he dies without a grave."
"But this master's price isn't cheap."
Zhou Peide shot him a cold glance. "How much? I've saved some money over the years, and I have a treasured heirloom. If it's done, I can offer that too."
"He doesn't want money."
Yuan Qu's voice dropped to a whisper. "He… wants virgin boys and girls."
*(End of Chapter)*