Chapter 20: They all believed, even to their deaths, that you would come to save them

Black Tiger Mountain, located at the southeastern border of Morning Sun County and White Cloud County, got its name years ago from a black tiger.

In a hidden valley at the mountain's base stands a small tree completely black, its trunk covered with red veins like blood vessels.

Amidst the black leaves, several dozen red fruits appear and disappear faintly.

Under the tree stand two people: one is the master of the Zhang family, Zhang He; the other is a black-clothed man, Zhang He's youngest son, Zhang Zhi.

Zhang Zhi looked up at the red fruits, his eyes unable to hide his longing.

"Dad, this time the fruits are much better—not only is the quantity double that before, but their size is also considerably larger."

Zhang He laughed heartily and stroked his beard.

"What blood did we use before? Pig and dog, human corpses—long since lost their spiritual essence."

"But this time we used living people's blood."

"The effect is naturally different."

Zhang He said while carefully stroking the trunk with his hand.

Zhang Zhi's eyes, however, gained a hint of worry.

"Dad, but aren't we using too many living people this time? A full ten persons."

"Moreover, our affairs in White Cloud County were not clean, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard has already caught a whiff..."

These years we have always used livestock blood, occasionally stealing corpses, keeping our deeds clean.

Every two months it bears fruit, eight or nine each time; our family takes ninety percent, the remaining ten percent is soaked in water for others to drink.

Although the efficiency is somewhat slower, its advantage lies in safety and stability.

In four years, everyone's cultivation has doubled.

The five brothers have all broken into the Acquired Realm, and the parents have even reached the late stage of the Acquired Realm.

With seven Acquired Realm cultivators in one family, such standing would count as a major clan even in Autumn Water City.

But since the beginning of the year, the family has grown increasingly impatient, starting to use living people.

Zhang Zhi has had a special intuition since childhood, simply put, to seek fortune and avoid misfortune.

His sense of danger is especially keen.

Since the start of this year, he has constantly had bad premonitions, especially today, when this feeling reached its peak.

Zhang He shouted in rebuke.

"Being timid and hesitant, how can one achieve great things?"

"The White Cloud County Embroidered Uniform Guard? Chief Banner Sun Yan? Nothing but a worthless waste."

"And those Embroidered Uniform Guard you recruited will be left for your third and fourth brothers to deal with."

"Wait until dawn, when I break through to the Innate Realm, we will leave Yongning Prefecture, change our identities, and even the Embroidered Uniform Guard will find it hard to pursue us."

Zhang Zhi stared for a moment, then his voice rose a few notes, his joy evident.

"Dad! You're about to break through to the Innate Realm?"

Zhang He stood with his hands behind his back.

"Not bad; I felt the bottleneck at the year's start, and over these months that layer has become as thin as a cicada's wing."

"As long as we take the Holy Fruit tonight, breaking through to the Innate Realm is nine out of ten sure."

In the Yongning Prefecture martial world, the Innate Realm is the pinnacle; the number of Innate Realm masters in Autumn Water City can be counted on two hands, and many of them are government officials.

For example, the Embroidered Uniform Guard Company Commander, the garrison commander-general, etc.

As long as our family flees Yongning Prefecture, changes identities, finds a city comparable to Autumn Water City, establishes a foothold, it won't be long before our Zhang family can also be considered an aristocratic clan.

However, the joy did not cloud Zhang Zhi's mind; the sense of danger never dissipated, not even when hearing his father would break through to the Innate Realm.

He only felt as if an invisible hand were choking his throat; his intuition told him to run now, and that fleeing Yongning Prefecture was the only way to survive.

Yet after weighing his thoughts, the allure of becoming an Innate Realm family ultimately prevailed.

He constantly reassured himself, acknowledging that intuition can sometimes be wrong.

"Dad, I will guard your breakthrough tonight! Go ahead and break through with peace of mind!"

"Good son!"

Zhang He looked at his supportive son before him and felt very pleased.

Among his five sons, he was most satisfied with Zhang Zhi—the smartest, highest talent, and most filial.

Since childhood, whatever Zhang Zhi affirmed never went wrong, so before undertaking any major matter he would always ask Zhang Zhi's opinion.

Having received his son's affirmation, he only felt that this attempt was secure.

Yongning Prefecture martial world? Embroidered Uniform Guard? Nothing special!

Just as father and son were deep in their affection.

From the forest came He Lian's shrill shriek: "Old Zhang, Ah Zhi, run!"

Zhang He and his son immediately recognized the voice as He Lian's, their faces drastically changing.

"Dad, is that mother's voice?"

Zhang He said nothing, merely rushing quickly into the forest toward the source of the sound, with Zhang Zhi closely following.

In the woods, a black dog slapped He Lian's face repeatedly with its paws.

Beside them, a skinny Embroidered Uniform Guard stood there in panic.

"Sir, it was my negligence—I failed to restrain this thief, allowing her to cry out..."

Putting it bluntly, this already counts as delaying the fighter, disturbing the capture target.

Shen Qing glanced toward the depths of Black Tiger Mountain, waved his hand, and turned to walk toward He Lian.

"Go back—I'll dock you a month's pay, make you stand night watch for three months; if you offend again, just get out of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

The skinny Embroidered Uniform Guard stared at Shen Qing in disbelief, thinking the punishment was too light.

He was transferred from Luoshui City; in Luoshui City, this crime would be enough to cost him his head.

But he was only fined one month's salary and made to stand night watch for three months?

This is nothing short of Arabian Nights.

The thin Embroidered Uniform Guard fell to his knees with a thud.

"Thank you, sir! I will never offend again; if I do, I will surely kill myself to atone."

Shen Qing stood before He Lian; her face had already been whipped red by the black dog.

"As expected of someone at the Acquired Realm, your skin is thick."

Saying that, he grabbed He Lian's heavenly spirit cover; with a slight force, He Lian let out a painful scream.

"Since you're eager to die, I'll grant your wish."

He Lian's face twisted, and she squeezed out a few words from her mouth.

"Even as a ghost... I will never... let you go."

Shen Qing's face showed no expression; truly a cliché threat.

"You had better bring your whole family, or else there won't be enough for me to kill."

He Lian's face turned ferocious; her skull had already been slightly deformed by Shen Qing's pinch, the immense pain preventing her from uttering any more harsh words.

"Stop!"

Zhang He burst out from the woods, shouting until his throat was raw.

Shen Qing's mouth curled slightly; he suddenly exerted force with his fingers, and He Lian's head exploded like a watermelon.

Shen Qing had been waiting for this moment; crushing He Lian's head took no time at all, but he waited for Zhang He to arrive so that Zhang He could personally witness He Lian's head being crushed.

Turning around, Shen Qing's face showed a gentle smile.

"You are Zhang He?"

"Let me tell you, oh, as He Lian lay dying, she kept murmuring your name."

"Besides, your four sons believed to their dying breaths that you would come to save them."