Chapter 70: What exactly has happened?

Zhuo Xingji's voice fell.

The atmosphere in the meeting hall became even heavier and more oppressive.

"Fortunately, we considered that our Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong and Lian'er hadn't returned yet; if we left, we would only implicate them, so we stayed put for the time being. Otherwise, I fear we would have been unable to escape this disaster!" Liu Xiao Qiang stroked her chest, her face filled with relief and lingering fear.

"The Ji Clan and the Dong Clan took the lead, uniting many factions to form a force that cannot be underestimated. They caught the four major factions off guard, which is the only reason they were forced to let them leave Li Cheng for now.

But now that the four major factions have temporarily set aside their conflicts to join forces and purge the Ji Clan and the others, once they return, we will no longer be able to delay. We must make a choice between the alliance of the three major factions, including the Ding Clan, and the Xu Clan." Jiao Yongbao said with a heavy expression, his usual smiling demeanor long gone.

"The three major factions combined, whether in terms of combatants or the number of experts, are definitely superior to the Xu Clan. Moreover, we have some history with the Ding Clan, so logically, we should choose them. But as long as the Xu Clan's ancestor does not fall, the outcome is hard to determine!" Yuchi Xiao sighed, his heart heavy with worry.

"Discussing this now is meaningless. Daoming should be returning in these next few days; everything will be decided once he returns. If he says we leave, we leave; if he says we stay and who we should rely on, we rely on them!

In any case, you all should prepare to either stay or leave in these coming days. Don't wait until Daoming returns and find you still have a mess of things to deal with." Liang Jingtang said in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Liang Jingtang with shocked and surprised expressions.

They were all very clear that Xia Daoming held great weight in their Master's heart, and he was already the clearly designated successor.

In fact, in their own hearts, Xia Daoming's weight was also very heavy!

But they never dreamed that Xia Daoming's weight in their Master's heart would be so great.

A decision concerning the rise and fall of their four families and the Hidden Dragon Qianjiao Wu Guan would ultimately be decided by Xia Daoming alone!

"Master, Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong is still too young; how can such a major matter be decided by him alone! Look, shouldn't you, as the elder, first draft a preliminary plan so we can have some idea in advance?

Once Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong returns, we can just discuss and inform him." After a long while, everyone regained their senses, and Zhuo Xingji thought for a moment before speaking.

He was the head of the Xingyou Escort Agency, managing a large group of people and frequently escorting goods. He was knowledgeable and experienced, and in terms of the big picture and handling affairs, only Liang Jingtang could compare to him in the entire Hidden Dragon Qianjiao Wu Guan.

This time, when the Ji Clan and the Dong Clan took the lead in uniting various factions to withdraw from Li Cheng, Zhuo Xingji sensed the crisis immediately. He specifically sent out many escorts and scouts to gather information outside the city, all to get first-hand news so they could prepare a response as quickly as possible.

"He is too young?" A self-deprecating look appeared on the corner of Liang Jingtang's mouth.

When he entered the Vast Mountain, he had thought the same thing.

And the result?

So many people worked hard, with more than half dead or injured, yet it all served as a wedding dress for him.

Even that old fox Xu Zhiji fell into his hands, and afterwards, his corpse was casually tossed into the valley by him.

To call such a person cunning and calculating would not be an exaggeration at all.

Still young? Young my foot!

"Yes, Master, although Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong's strength is very powerful and he is already a sixth-rank Great Wu Shi at such a young age, he is ultimately too young, and his handling of affairs is inevitably impulsive and reckless.

For such a major matter, I think it still needs to be decided by you and Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong Zhuo." Yuchi Xiao saw his Master pondering in silence and was truly afraid he might be senile and hand over such great authority to Xia Daoming, so he hurriedly chimed in.

"Sixth-rank Great Wu Shi? You all underestimate Daoming too much; he was already sixth-rank when he entered the Vast Mountain with me." Liang Jingtang said.

"Ah!" Everyone was so shocked upon hearing this that their mouths hung wide open, unable to close for a long time.

"This guy actually fooled us all!" After a long time, Yuchi Xiao said with some indignation.

"Now you know, don't you? In terms of shrewdness and scheming, let alone you, even I am far inferior to him.

I must wait for him to come, not only out of concern for him, worrying that we would implicate him if we left, but also because I want to wait for his return and ask him to help make the decision." Liang Jingtang said.

Zhuo Xingji and the others were speechless after hearing this.

Just at this moment, everyone heard hurried footsteps coming from the front courtyard.

"Could it be that Daoming has returned?" Liang Jingtang stood up abruptly, excited.

"Master, Xu Shixiong, Xu Shixiong Sister, you are all here! Has something major happened in Li Cheng? I don't see many people on the streets outside, and the soldiers at the city gate are also on high alert." Xia Daoming and Liu Qiaolian, leading two horses laden with saddlebags, walked in, dusty and travel-worn, while asking impatiently.

"Why did you bring the horses into the inner courtyard?" Before Liang Jingtang and the others could answer, Yuchi Xiao frowned and asked.

"Don't worry about that for now; tell me first if something major has happened in Li Cheng?" Xia Daoming said, brooking no argument.

Now that he had so many good things in his possession, it could be said that he was "without desire" at this moment; he just wanted to hole up, eat, drink, and cultivate in peace to improve his strength, and did not want to get involved in any conflicts.

If Li Cheng were truly about to fall into chaos, he would definitely pack up and leave immediately, staying far away from the place of trouble.

"You've returned just in time; I was just telling Yuchi Xiao and the others that I was waiting for you to return to make the decision!" Liang Jingtang said.

"I make the decision?" Xia Daoming was slightly stunned.

"Yes, the situation is very urgent now, and any decision carries great risk. I dare not make the call; you must be the one to decide." Liang Jingtang said.

"What exactly has happened?" Xia Daoming's expression suddenly became serious.

"After you left, the Lin Clan, the Ding Clan, and the Tyrant Blade Sect officially announced an alliance. Soon, the three-clan alliance and the Xu Clan began forcing all parties to declare their stance.

Factions like the Ji Clan, the Dong Clan, and several other relatively large ones were the primary targets of the four major factions. It is said that both the Ding Clan and the Xu Clan successively proposed marriage to Ji Wenyue, an elder of the Ji Clan."

"What? They actually proposed marriage to Ji Wenyue?" Upon hearing this, Xia Daoming's face was instantly filled with murderous intent, his eyes flashing with ferocity.

Yuchi Xiao and the others couldn't help but shudder at the sight, their gazes toward Xia Daoming carrying a trace of fear.

All along, Xia Daoming's impression on them had been that of a gentle and refined Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong with a smile on his face.

They never expected that he would seem like a completely different person the moment Ji Wenyue was mentioned.

"Could it be that you have a relationship with Ji Wenyue?" Liang Jingtang's heart stirred at the sight, and he blurted out the question.

"We'll talk about that later; please continue with what you were saying."

"Ji Yuanzhen, on one hand, used the excuse that Ji Wenyue only recruits a son-in-law and does not marry out to decline, while on the other hand, he secretly joined forces with the Dong Clan to take the lead in uniting some factions in the city that were unwilling to take a side.

Three days ago, they suddenly gathered their forces to force the issue, stating they were unwilling to participate in the struggle of the four major factions and intended to move out of Li Cheng and go far away.

The matter happened suddenly, and they were numerous, so the four major factions had to let them leave for the time being. In reality, this was nothing more than their delaying tactic.

Just now, your Xu Shixiong Zhuo brought news that the four major factions have temporarily set aside their conflicts and joined forces to ambush the Ji Clan and the other factions at Eagle Eye Mountain."

"What? How is the Ji Clan? How is Ji Wenyue?" Xia Daoming's face changed again upon hearing this.