Chapter 360: Stolen Home

The Xiao Family is Xiao Jia Ji, and Xiao Jia Ji is the Xiao Family.

But here now it's just a blank expanse, an empty city.

When Chen Wuji and his group entered this village stronghold, what met their eyes, besides broken walls and ruins, were corpses.

The only thing that could barely be considered good news was that the corpses weren't many.

Chen Wuji and the others walked through most of the village stronghold, and the corpses they saw added up to about ten or so.

In this village stronghold that housed over a thousand people, this proportion is indeed very low, very low.

According to the refugees who fled to the city today, the allied forces of the Gu, Li, and Xue families employed extremely cruel tactics.

They would never be this merciful……

From the moment Xiao Zong stepped into Xiao Jia Ji, he lost his soul.

He stared blankly at the village stronghold reduced to a white wasteland, muttering constantly, 'Why? How could this happen? This is absolutely impossible……'

He found it hard to believe that what lay before his eyes could be real.

He even took a moment to slap himself a few times, just to confirm whether what lay before his eyes was really real.

Seeing him like that, Chen Wuji really didn't know what to say for a moment.

Some things, he had already said before.

He naturally didn't want this to happen either.

Everyone hopes their good dreams come true, and doesn't want those awful thoughts to become reality.

Chen Wuji actually really wanted to give Xiao Zong, this old fogey, a few heavy slaps.

What about that absolutely certain promise you swore back then?

This is your so-called absolutely certain plan?!

The reasoning and causes, Chen Wuji had practically broken them down and explained them to Xiao Zong days ago.

The Gu, Li, and Xue families have formed an alliance and already deployed troops.

How could they allow someone weaker than them to linger nearby, neither declaring allegiance nor taking any concrete action?

Even if they weren't brutal, they would absolutely not allow a weak force to stand aside and watch the spectacle.

But Xiao Zong's reply to Chen Wuji was that there was no need to worry—he had everything under control, with wisdom firmly in hand.

When Chen Wuji needed manpower, a simple greeting sufficed; Xiao Zong would immediately send troops to reinforce.

His words were spoken with the decisiveness of cutting nails and slicing iron.

But reality, too, was as hard as iron.

A stinging, icy pain on the face.

Chen Wuji shouldn't have believed the words of such a research-obsessed lunatic.

However……

Even if he didn't believe it, there seemed to be no alternative.

Other people arrange their own people however they wish.

It's just a pity for these commoners, and for his business.

He'll suffer another loss.

Xiao Yuji's fur workshop is located in Xiao Jia Ji.

"These damned bastards, how could they do this, how could they!!" Xiao Zong suddenly roared, punching the earthen wall beside him; the wall remained unharmed, and his fingers instantly split open.

Chen Wuji glanced over, 'You still have the nerve to shout?'

"I need to go back to the village for a trip; you go back to the city first." Chen Wuji said.

Xiao Zong glared with reddening eyes, gritted his teeth, and said: "I want to avenge the people of Xiao Jia Ji! I'll go with you!"

"Just do your own duty; warfare doesn't need you!" Chen Wuji retorted with a grim face.

Bringing him along would only cause trouble, with no benefit at all.

If he suddenly comes up with another foolish idea, who knows what will happen?

Given Xiao Zong's brain that can still conjure up creations, he has been desperately restraining himself.

"Although I'm a scholar, I can also wield a knife in battle; Deputy Commander Chen can treat me as a mere foot soldier!" Xiao Zong clenched his teeth and shouted loudly, "I will surely demand justice for the dead of Xiao Jia Ji!"

Chen Wuji suddenly turned, grabbed Xiao Zong's collar, and said, "Haven't I told you to prepare early?"

"You're merely my ally, not my subordinate, so I really have no reason to boss you around. But now shut your bird mouth—Xiao Jia Ji has lost so many commoners, you bear half the blame!"

"What can that knife you can lift exchange for in terms of commoners' lives? Get lost, don't make me slap you!"

Xiao Zong froze.

Some memories he had previously dismissed suddenly surged forth from his mind.

Chen Wuji had indeed reminded him.

And not just once.

But he……

Xiao Zong painfully closed his eyes, his arms trembling uncontrollably.

It was his carelessness……

"Without a doubt, send him to the city; we'll meet up in the village." Chen Wuji ordered.

"Yes!"

After Xiao Zong was forcibly taken away by Chen Wuyi, Chen Wuji also quickly left Xiao Jia Ji shortly thereafter.

He found Yang Tiejiang, temporarily handing over command to the old duo of Xu Zengyi and Yang Tiejiang.

He needed to see Xiao Yuji to confirm the situation in Xiao Jia Ji.

At the same time, he also needed to talk with Chen Bushi.

The battle situation has undergone a great change; he must prepare a more secure backup plan.

Once the treacherous scheme of the Gu, Li, and Xue families succeeds, Chen Wuji can already foresee what will happen next.

Within three months, even without a single enemy, Yunan City will collapse from within.

There will be absolutely no leeway.

Now the battle to block the allied forces of the Gu, Li, and Xue families must be fought, but other matters also need to be started simultaneously.

The fire started by the Gu, Li, and Xue families has already spread throughout Yunan; even if his reaction were quicker, it would be impossible to extinguish this fire in a short time.

What comes next will inevitably be a prolonged struggle full of uncertainties.

He cannot lose in momentum, but Chen Wuji cannot always just be a firefighter.

This will be exhausting to death.

Having arranged the next battle direction, Chen Wuji took Chen Wushuang and twenty-eight personal guards, and via remote small paths he reached Xishan Village.

The sunset in Xishan Village remains beautiful and intoxicating, but lacking the wispy cooking smoke and children's laughter.

Here, now it is also an empty village.

Chen Wushuang led people to scout around; after confirming there were no enemy scouts nearby, the group entered the village.

Chen Wuji did nothing else and went straight home.

He pushed open the big door whose lock had been pried, and first looked at the pets raised by Huo Sanniang.

Fortunately, these little critters are still alive.

Those ignorant things probably don't know what Five Spirit Fat looks like, and didn't dare to harm them.

Chen Wuji fed these little pets some food and added water.

Only then did he enter the courtyard.

Everything is in disarray.

The already ancient old residence, after being damaged, is near collapse.

Chen Li and others silently tidied up the things in the courtyard, putting what should be organized in order.

All valuable things were swept clean; even the ground was almost completely overturned.

Those bandit soldiers probably thought that as the Family Head of the Chen family and the Provincial Soldier Captain of Yunan, Chen Wuji surely hid valuables at home, so they searched especially thoroughly, even stripping the wall plaster.

The thoroughness of the search made Chen Wuji unable to help but utter a word of admiration.