Chapter 31: Swear to Flatten the Wang Residence in Three Days?

The atmosphere in the Wan Family Branch Hall was very oppressive.

It was even more gloomy than when Zhao Qian and the others returned after their failure last time.

Wan Hong sat in the main seat, his complexion extremely grim, as if water might drip from his face.

His fingers kept tapping the armrest, a "thud, thud" sound that made people uneasy.

The probe of the Wang Family failed; not only did they not uncover the Wang Family's details, they also lost manpower.

This made the self‑confident Wan Hong feel embarrassed.

He originally thought that, with the Wan Family's strength, subduing the Wang Family would be an easy task.

He did not expect that the old man Wang Shan, who seemed near death in his eyes, would be so hard to deal with.

"Hmph, old thing, you've got some skill."

Wan Hong let out a cold laugh, his gaze turning even harsher.

He is not the type to give up easily.

Since ordinary probing didn't work, he'll use another method.

He doesn't believe that the old turtle of the Wang Family can be exhausted!

The next morning, the person fetching water from the back yard of the Wang Family Courtyard noticed something was wrong.

The deep well, which usually had plenty of water, now had none.

Moreover, the soil around the well opening emitted a foul smell.

The odor was faint, hardly detectable unless one sniffed closely, but a cultivator's nose is keen enough to sense the problem.

"Father! It's bad! The back‑yard well… has no water! It seems… it seems someone tampered with it!"

A young clan member hurriedly ran to the inner hall to report to Wang Shan.

Wang Shan was resting inside; upon hearing this, he slowly opened his eyes.

His expression was calm, as if he had long anticipated this.

"I understand."

He said lightly.

"Notify everyone: temporarily stay away from the back‑yard well."

"Also, watch the courtyard walls and ventilation openings; be careful that someone doesn't throw poison or commit mischief through the cracks."

Wang Shan's tone was steady, not a hint of panic, calming the slightly uneasy clan members.

"Yes!"

The clan member left after hearing the order.

Wang Zhize stood nearby, furrowing his brows, and said, "Father, the Wan Family is terrible! They actually used the trick of cutting water and poisoning!"

Wang Shan smiled faintly, a trace of coldness in his expression.

"For their goal, they can't do anything?"

His disgust toward the Wan Family deepened.

Such unscrupulous methods for personal gain are what he despises most.

"Rest assured, we have long prepared."

Wang Shan waved his hand, telling his son not to worry.

He had long anticipated various adverse scenarios, including water being cut off or polluted.

Therefore, the cellar not only stored food but also enough clean water for the whole family to drink for several months, all sealed in jars.

Wan Hong's plan to force the Wang Family to submit with this method was nothing but a dream.

However, the Wan Family's tactics did not stop there.

Cutting water and poisoning didn't work; a new scheme emerged.

This time it was an invisible sword—rumors.

Soon, throughout Luo Bay County, various slanders about the Wang Family began to spread.

"Did you hear? The old family head Wang Shan of the Wang Family is not a good person; he practices demonic arts! He needs to suck living people's blood to survive!"

"And that's not all! I also heard the Wang Family has long colluded with the mountain bandits outside the city! They've stockpiled plenty of food and weapons, planning to seize Luo Bay County!"

"The most terrifying rumor is that the Wang Family secretly captures children, using their hearts and livers to refine pills! No wonder the Wang Family hasn't gone out lately…"

These rumors were detailed and highly convincing.

Moreover, they spread rapidly, covering Luo Bay County in an instant.

It must be the Wan Family pulling the strings behind the scenes.

They used their influence in Luo Bay County to deliberately disseminate these rumors.

Especially the claim of "capturing children to refine pills" was extremely vicious.

It was essentially framing the Wang Family with crimes the Wan Family might commit themselves—truly the villains crying first.

In an instant, the people of Luo Bay County were all very frightened.

Some people were more sober, or knew Wang Shan, realizing the rumors were false and absurd.

But the Wan Family was formidable; no one dared to speak up for the Wang Family.

Everyone fell silent.

This made the Wang Family's situation in Luo Bay County even more difficult.

The Wang Family's reputation suffered a huge blow.

It was as if, in an instant, the Wang Family went from a respected clan to a universally despised villainous family.

These slanders also reached the besieged Wang Family Courtyard.

Although Wang Shan had already said that clan members should not concern themselves with outside affairs.

But the rumors spread quickly, everywhere.

Some clan members who are not steadfast, or are usually timid—especially women and children—when they hear outsiders speaking so badly of their own family, are surely affected in their hearts.

Fear, doubt, wavering… these negative emotions begin to appear.

What if… what if what they say outside is true?

What if the old Family Head really…

Fortunately, Wang Shan is highly respected at home.

Moreover, earlier he produced pills, Talisman, and demonstrated the power of the Array, already making him seem very formidable in the clan's eyes.

Wang Zhize and several other important descendants also stepped forward, loudly refuting the rumors, soothing everyone, so that panic didn't arise and a major problem was avoided.

After Wang Shan learned the specific content of the rumors, he didn't get angry; instead, he smiled.

"The donkey's tricks are exhausted!"

He said coldly to Wang Zhize and the others during a small‑scale family meeting.

"Aside from these lowly tricks, Wan Hong is only that capable!"

"He's so frantic, using these despicable methods. That precisely shows his insecurity. He can't handle our Array!"

Wang Shan's voice wasn't loud, but it was full of confidence. He seemed to see through everything, very composed.

"Tell the clan members that the mad dogs outside are just barking, no need to pay attention. Stay peacefully at home. When it's time to cultivate, cultivate; when it's time to be on guard, be on guard. Guarding our own home is more important than anything."

"Yes, Father!" Wang Zhize and the others replied together, their worries lessened considerably.

The Family Head's composure is their greatest reliance.

But the Wang Family's calm made Wan Hong in the Wan Family Branch Hall even more urgent.

Cutting off water and poisoning both failed.

Spreading rumors also seemed useless.

After several days passed, the misty light dome over Wang Family Courtyard still covered it steadily.

The people inside acted as if nothing were wrong, doing what they needed to do, completely unaffected by the outside.

Wan Hong felt powerless, wasting his effort.

This feeling made him especially irritable, even a bit uneasy inside, though he didn't want to admit it.

That old fox Wang Shan, how many tricks does he still have up his sleeve?

Can he really stay hidden in his shell forever?

"Chen Tianfeng!"

Wan Hong called Chen Tianfeng over again.

"Go check again for me! Does the Wang Family have any other secret water sources? Or perhaps any special storage Magic Artifact that can hold a lot of water and food?"

Chen Tianfeng was startled by Wan Hong's grim face, quickly bowed and said, "Elder Hong, um… I've already sent people to inquire. Near the Wang Family Old Residence there's only that main well, indeed no other water sources were found."

"As for storage Magic Artifacts… a declining small clan like the Wang Family probably doesn't have any valuable storage treasures, right? Even if they did, could they hold enough for dozens of people to eat and drink for so many days? I think… perhaps that old Wang Shan had prepared in advance. He stockpiled a lot beforehand."

Chen Tianfeng also couldn't figure it out, could only guess like this.

Wan Hong's complexion grew even worse upon hearing that.

Prepared in advance? This old guy's mind is actually that meticulous?

Storms are about to arrive in Luo Bay County. Wan Hong's patience is running out.

At this moment, hundreds of li away, someone was trudging painfully on a rugged mountain path.

It was Qian Bo.

He is an old handyman at the Heavenly Confucian Academy, his cultivation only at Body Refining Third Layer.

In his arms he carried the Righteous Qi Talisman entrusted by Wang Xuanqing.

This Talisman can change the tide of battle.

He is hurrying all the way toward Luo Bay County.

He knows his cultivation is low; if discovered, not only would he die, but he might also ruin the young master's affairs.

Therefore, he chose the most remote, most dangerous mountain route. Hiding by day, rushing by night, avoiding all towns and official roads.

Along the way, poisonous insects, fierce beasts, treacherous terrain, and occasional bandits blocking the road all gave him a lot of trouble.

Several times he nearly lost his life.

But relying on his loyalty and promise to Wang Xuanqing, as well as years of experience and vigilance from living among the lower strata, he evaded danger time after time.

The pale gold Talisman in the oilcloth gave him strength. It granted him boundless courage.

He doesn't know whether he can arrive in time.

He only knows that he must arrive!

Luo Bay County is getting closer and closer.

Wan Family Branch Hall.

Wan Hong sprang up from his chair.

He has had enough of this waiting, this passivity.

A fierce glint appeared in his eyes.

"Relay my orders!"

His voice was cold and cruel, echoing in the hall.

"All Wan Family Descendants, Offering, and Guest Officials, gather immediately!"

"Three days later, launch the total assault!"

He looked at the subordinates below who dared not speak, and said word by word:

I will act personally! I want to see just how hard Wang Shan's turtle shell really is!

"This time, I'm going to crush the Wang Family and that eyesore of a great formation into powder!"

"Wang Shan, I want to see what tricks you can still pull!"

"The General Attack's order, like a bomb, quickly spread to all of the Wan Family's forces in Luo Bay County."

"It also hung over Luo Bay County like black clouds, completely covering the sky."

"Everyone understood that the Wan Family's Family Head was about to act seriously."

"The final blood battle that will decide who will control Luo Bay County afterward and the Wang Family's survival is set to be fully launched in three days!"

"The atmosphere across Luo Bay County instantly grew tense to the extreme."

"The mountain rain is about to come, and the wind fills the building!"