Chapter 172: Do You Want to Replace the Fang Family?

Suddenly, a shrill scream rang out as a pale-faced loyal guard rolled and scrambled into the courtyard.

"What now?" Fang Hongtu turned, glaring angrily at the screaming guard.

"L-Lord… Lord Quan… Lord Quan…"

"What happened to Hongquan?" Fang Hongyi's heart lurched, a premonition of doom rising within him.

"Lord Quan… he… he's dead! His body's been left at the front gate!"

"What?!"

Fang Hongyi, Fang Hongtu, and the others were struck as if by lightning; in the next instant, they shot outside and rushed to the front gate.

There, beyond the threshold, Fang Hongquan's corpse lay stiffly on the ground, his face ashen, his chest caved in, his death gruesome—clearly dead for some time.

"Hongquan!"

Fang Hongtu's eyes bulged with rage; he stepped forward, confirmed the truth, then slammed a fist into the ground, shattering the blue stone slabs.

Fang Hongyi's body turned icy, shocked and furious, "He… wasn't he supposed to be on patrol last night? How did he die outside?"

Fang Hongdao, ever meticulous, knelt and carefully examined Hongquan's clothing and shoe soles, then said gravely, "Look—Hongquan was wearing civilian clothes, and his soles are caked with yellow mud from outside the city. Last night… he probably tried to sneak away, and the assassin caught him, ambushed and killed him outside!"

This guess struck like a sledgehammer, hammering each person's heart.

After a brief, deathly silence came greater fury—and a chilling dread that seeped into their bones.

"Fang Hongquan! That cowardly traitor!" Fang Hongtu roared, enraged by Hongquan's desertion.

But more than anger, there was an indescribable dread and fear.

The assassin had precisely ambushed Fang Hongquan while he was fleeing—this meant the killer had been lurking like a venomous snake, watching every move the Fang family made!

This omnipresent threat choked the air.

Amid the suffocating atmosphere, Fang Ronghe appeared at the gate.

He studied Fang Hongquan's corpse, his face unreadable; after a long silence, he spoke slowly, "Better he's dead—saves us the trouble of killing him. But he's shown us a path."

All turned to look at Fang Ronghe.

Fang Ronghe's eyes flashed with resolve, "Since we can't hold, can't lure him out, then we leave! We follow the path Hongquan wanted to take!"

"Third Uncle, you mean…?" Fang Hongyi seemed to understand.

"After dark, divide all core descendants and loyal guards willing to die for us into five squads, slip out of the mansion quietly from different directions, and scatter toward the city's outskirts!"

Fang Ronghe's voice carried coldness.

"As long as one squad escapes, our Fang bloodline won't be extinguished. If all five groups flee together, the enemy will surely notice."

He looked up at the sky, his eyes gleaming with frost, "Once we move, I'll rise into the air and observe all directions. If any squad is attacked and the killer shows himself, I'll reach him in the fastest possible time and capture and kill him!"

"I want to see if he dares show his face!"

"…."

Fang Hongyi and the others exchanged glances, seeing complexity in each other's eyes.

This was undoubtedly the only possible way to turn defeat into victory—or at least preserve part of their bloodline—but it carried immense risk.

Yet the situation had reached this point; they had no choice but to try.

"Yes!"

All responded in unison, beginning tense preparations for evacuation.

…

Outside the Fang estate.

In the shadow of a quiet alley, Chen Mu clung to the wall like a gecko, activating his "Listen to the Wind" skill.

Fang Ronghe's decisive words—spoken without effort to lower his voice—and the responses of Fang Hongyi and the others reached his ears, clear and complete.

"Split into five routes? Force me to reveal myself?"

Chen Mu frowned slightly, his mind racing.

Quickly, he devised a countermeasure.

…

Changlong Prefecture, Sun family estate.

Compared to the Fang family's panic-stricken, bird-scarred atmosphere, the Sun estate's mood was far more relaxed.

Patriarch Sun Chengye, rare in having a moment of peace, sipped tea in his study, pondering how to protect himself amid the turmoil sparked by the Fang family.

Suddenly, an extremely faint thud came from outside the window.

Sun Chengye's heart clenched violently; his teacup nearly slipped from his hand, and he barked sharply.

"Who?!"

A shadow appeared soundlessly in the study like a ghost—Chen Mu, disguised.

He gazed calmly at Sun Chengye, yet the invisible pressure made Sun Chengye's hairs stand on end, sweat pouring down his face.

"It… it's you!"

Sun Chengye recognized those eyes—the assassin who had stood beside his bed before!

He quickly dismissed the guards and servants rushing in, shut the door tightly, and asked in a dry voice, "My lord, what… what do you require?"

"I've come to deliver a message."

Chen Mu cut straight to the point, his voice hoarse but commanding, "Within half an hour, bring the Han family patriarch, the Biao Feng Martial Hall master, and the other key leaders in the city—all of them—to your residence."

"Remember—keep it secret!"

Sun Chengye was filled with shock and suspicion—he had no idea why this demon wanted to gather everyone—but he dared not ask, bowing and scraping frantically.

"Yes, yes! I'll arrange it at once!"

Saying this, he turned swiftly, stepped outside, summoned his most trusted confidant, whispered instructions, and the man bowed and hurried off.

Half an hour later, inside a highly secret chamber in the Sun estate.

The head of the Han family, the master of the Whirlwind Martial Hall, and the leaders of the other factions all gathered together, their faces filled with confusion and unease.

They had been secretly summoned by Sun Chengye on the grounds that it concerned "the very survival of their families."

"Fatty Sun, what on earth is so mysterious? The Fang family is going crazy over there — don't you go getting us killed!" The Whirlwind Martial Hall master, the most impatient by nature, asked in a deep, muffled voice.

Sun Chengye was just about to speak when the door of the secret chamber was pushed open and Chen Mu walked in with unhurried steps.

In an instant, everyone's gaze converged on Chen Mu. Feeling that bone-chilling killing intent, every one of them shuddered inwardly and instinctively dropped into a guarded stance.

"Honored gentlemen."

Chen Mu's gaze swept across the crowd, and his voice, flat yet clear, reached every ear: "Would you like your families, your sects, to truly rise within Wulong Prefecture — to replace the Fang family and become the masters of this Wulong Fucheng?"

One sentence — earth-shattering!

Sun Chengye, the head of the Han family, the master of the Whirlwind Martial Hall, and the others were all dumbfounded, their faces written over with shock and disbelief.

"Re… replace the Fang family?"

The head of the Han family swallowed hard, feeling the words were too absurd: "Sir, surely you jest? The Fang family has a Tiangong realm ancestor guarding them. Granted, he's in seclusion…"

"Tiangong realm ancestor?"

Chen Mu gave a cold laugh. "Let me tell you something — that Tiangong realm ancestor of the Fang family may appear to be in seclusion, but in truth, he was already dead half a year ago! The Fang family sealed this news tight on purpose, to preserve their former prestige and continue to overawe all sides!"

"What?!"