Chapter 306: The War Begins (Part 1)

Dark clouds obscured the moon, making the night appear exceptionally dark and oppressive.

At the foot of the mountain where the Gu Family estate was located, Chen Che gathered with the Martial Dao families, such as the Fang Family, and members of the Jinling elite families led by the Ma Family.

Chen Che and Ma Zijun exchanged a smile and did not say much, but he cast an appreciative glance at Ma Zicheng.

The patriarchs and representatives of the other elite families stepped forward and bowed to Chen Che.

"We have long heard of Mr. Chen's great name. Seeing you today, you are truly a young hero, and your reputation is well-deserved!"

"Previously, we were deceived by the Gu Family, causing heavy losses to our families' young members. Fortunately, Mr. Chen brought the truth to light; otherwise, we would still be kept in the dark by the Gu Family!"

"That's right! Since the Gu Family acts against the natural order, they are no longer fit to be the leaders of Jinling!"

"We are willing to follow Mr. Chen to bring the Gu Family to justice and act on behalf of Heaven!"

Resonant and powerful words spread throughout the area; Chen Che had already become the backbone of everyone present.

Chen Che cupped his hands in return and said, "Thank you all for your trust. I won't say much else; let us... begin the war!"

………

The Gu Family estate was towering and magnificent. On the pavilion in the center of the courtyard, Gu Yuanzong hunched his back, silently watching the figures rushing up from the mountain like a torrent.

"Dad, they are about to come up."

Gu Zhengying reported the situation from the side.

Gu Yuanzong's expression remained normal as he asked, "Is everything prepared?"

"The guards are already lying in ambush inside the pavilion, and Azure Dragon and White Tiger are guarding the courtyard with the Martial Artists of the Martial Arts Alliance."

Gu Zhangsheng said slowly, "In addition, the Ding Family and the Huang Family have already taken people down the mountain; they will be the first line of defense."

"Ma Zicheng published the video recorded by Chen Che online. Although we controlled it so it couldn't spread further, some of the families in Jinling that originally relied on us have defected to Chen Che, though more are remaining neutral, taking a wait-and-see attitude."

Gu Yao added.

"Betrayed by all, the mansion is about to collapse." Gu Yuanzong let out a sigh that sounded like a lament, but his tone did not sound like regret at all.

"The Ouyang Family is ready. As soon as we give the signal, Ouyang Guilin and Ouyang Feng will arrive instantly with soldiers armed to the teeth."

Gu Yao gave a disdainful laugh, "Those shrimp soldiers and crab generals down the mountain are simply vulnerable to a single blow."

"Is there any news from the Inspection Bureau?"

Gu Yuanzong suddenly asked.

"Xue Zhangming has made no moves, nor is there anything unusual."

Gu Zhengying replied.

"It seems he is also watching, but it doesn't matter."

Gu Yuanzong coughed twice, his voice becoming hoarse and gloomy, "Chen Che must die! I will use his head as the key to open the Ritual. At that time, anyone who dares to stop me will die!"

………

Chen Che's group encountered the obstruction of the Huang Family and the Ding Family at the mountainside.

"Grandfather, Uncle, do you really have to go this far?"

Ma Zijun stared at his close relatives blocking the way and asked indifferently.

Huang Shili sneered, "You are not worthy of being my grandson, nor are you worthy of calling me grandfather!"

"Since that's the case, there is nothing more to say."

Ma Youxiang patted Ma Zijun and Ma Zicheng on the shoulders and instructed, "Do what you believe is right."

The brothers nodded heavily and signaled the Ma Family Martial Artists to launch the attack first.

"Leave this to us. Chen Che, you and the Fang Family Head and the others continue up."

Ma Zijun shouted to Chen Che.

Chen Che gazed at the Huang Family and Ding Family members opposite; everyone's expression was ferocious and insane, and the True Qi within their bodies during the battle displayed abnormal brutality.

"These people have taken the Martial Arts Alliance's medicine; you must be careful."

Chen Che gave a word of caution, then led the members of the Martial Dao families, including the Fang Family, past the mountainside and continued to head toward the summit.

………

"Boom!!!"

The gate of the Gu Family estate was easily breached. Chen Che and the others rushed into the courtyard. Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and the other kept Martial Artists, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately swarmed up, blocking the progress of Chen Che and the others.

Chen Che looked up at the pavilion and locked eyes with Gu Yuanzong.

"Dad, your injuries haven't healed yet; go down and rest first. We'll keep an eye on things here."

Gu Zhangsheng said from the side.

Gu Yuanzong kept staring at Chen Che, looking down from above with a ferocious smile, "No matter. I am indeed severely injured, but the Great Red Sun Poison that Vermillion Bird left on Chen Che is still there. It is far too early for him to want to kill me!"

"Whoosh!"

As soon as the words fell, a sound of breaking air suddenly exploded.

Gu Zhengying, Gu Zhangsheng, and Gu Yao were all shocked and quickly covered their heads to hide.

Gu Yuanzong froze for a moment, then his smile became excited and twisted; he circulated his True Qi and dodged to the side.

The wooden windows and walls of the pavilion shattered, and Chen Che, with his arms wrapped around his knees, curled into a ball and crashed in.

"Good lad!"

Gu Yuanzong steadied himself and looked at Chen Che, "Don't forget, the hostages are still in my hands. Are you going to disregard their lives?"

Chen Che remained unmoved; True Qi overflowed from his body as he raised his fist to strike at Gu Yuanzong.

"Good! Since the outcome was not decided on Moon Shadow Island, now is just the right time for me to see how much ability you have?!"

Gu Yuanzong stepped forward to meet him, catching Chen Che's smashing fist with one hand, while his other hand formed a blade with his fingers, sweeping horizontally with lightning speed, forming a crescent moon.

"Clang... rumble rumble rumble..."

Chen Che's head fell off, rolling back and forth on the floor.

Gu Yuanzong was dumbfounded, and Gu Zhengying, Gu Zhangsheng, and Gu Yao were also dumbfounded.

However—

Even though the head had fallen off, the body still stood in its original spot; instead of blood spraying out from the neck as expected, countless multicolored wires extended from it.

And that fallen head rolled its eyes mockingly, sticking its tongue out at Gu Yuanzong.

"Look out—"

Someone shouted, but before the words had faded, a blinding white light suddenly flared up, and immediately after, the decapitated Puppet exploded into a fireball.

"Boom!!!"

The pavilion collapsed, and the Gu Family father and sons, along with the Imperial Guards lying in ambush in the pavilion, were all buried beneath the ruins.

Azure Dragon and White Tiger could not spare the effort to block Fang Shaoyi and the others at this moment, and hurriedly checked on the condition of Gu Yuanzong and the others.

However,

Before outsiders could rescue them, a violent surge of True Qi rampaged outward, and the ruins of the pavilion flew into the sky in an instant.

Everyone injured by the debris of the ruins, whether they were Martial Artists from Fang Shaoyi's camp or the Martial Artist thugs raised by the Gu Family, were either killed or maimed.

Gu Yuanzong, with his white hair and white eyebrows, now had a face blackened with soot; he stomped hard on the Puppet head beside his foot and cursed viciously, "The little brat, I was actually played by him again!"

His eyes darted around, and Gu Yuanzong suddenly realized something, immediately shouting, "Quickly, go to the dungeon!"

Gu Zhengying, Gu Zhangsheng, and Gu Yao, who had climbed out from the ruins, immediately took the Imperial Guards and ran toward the dungeon.

"Kill them!"

Gu Yuanzong turned his head to glance at Fang Shaoyi and the others, left a sentence for Azure Dragon and White Tiger, and then also dashed toward the direction of the dungeon.

………

Chen Che leaped between the uneven, scattered houses of the Gu Family, galloping toward the dungeon with a clear objective.

Gu Yuanzong had sent Lin Su's head to provoke Chen Che, and the effect was quite good. But what he did not know was that, at the moment of her death, Lin Su had stored the locations where the others were imprisoned within a wisp of True Qi.

When Chen Che opened the box, this wisp of True Qi entered Chen Che's mind.

Thus, taking advantage of the chaotic scene during the charge up the mountain, and with the cover provided by Fang Shaoyi and the others, Chen Che successfully swapped places with the Puppet that Cheng Kexin had left for him.

His primary goal was never to kill Gu Yuanzong, but to rescue the people being held as hostages.

After a few more leaps and dashes, guided by the True Qi map and assisted by his Pupil Technique, Chen Che successfully found the location of the dungeon.