Chapter 102: The Xu Family's Methods

At the mention of Xu Mingwei, the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master's body couldn't help but tremble.

He recalled over ten years ago, when the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall was first established in Qingjiang County.

At that time, Xu Mingwei had not yet reached his twentieth year, yet with a single battle he shocked all of Qingjiang, his peerless brilliance overwhelming the Black Wind Hall Master.

The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master had just entered the mid-innate stage at that time, and even when he and the Black Tiger Hall Master joined forces, they were defeated by Gu Yiping.

He didn't know if it was the shadow left by that battle that prevented him from breaking through to the late innate stage even to this day.

"Xu Mingwei, ah."

The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master let out a long sigh, "With his talent, he must have touched upon the threshold of the grandmaster realm by now, or perhaps even entered the grandmaster realm."

"Absolutely impossible." Wu Zhan's eyes nearly split with rage as he said in shock, "I've heard that even the prodigies of the commandery city, no matter how exceptional their endowment, still need to temper themselves for fifteen or sixteen years in the innate realm.

A grandmaster at the age of thirty? Does such a monster truly exist in this world?"

"Uncle makes a valid point, we must estimate Xu Mingwei's strength with the greatest possibility." The Wu family head's expression was serious.

"If that's the case, why don't you uncle and the others just say he's already at late grandmaster stage or even grandmaster perfection."

Wu Zhan still insisted on his own opinion, "With such a powerful enemy, which clan in the commandery city would dare act rashly? Once they fail to eliminate him, their own families will face catastrophic disaster."

"Early grandmaster is already the limit, late grandmaster or above is truly an exaggeration."

The Wu family head waved his hand, telling Wu Zhan not to speak nonsense anymore.

"But even if he's only early grandmaster, the Zhong family won't act rashly upon hearing this, unless several seventh-rank clans join forces."

The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master glanced at the Wu family head and said thoughtfully, "That would require an extraordinary fortune, otherwise it definitely wouldn't move the hearts of the various clans in the commandery city.

And if we cannot confirm it and are merely speculating, then even if the Xu family is ultimately destroyed, if they cannot find what they want, our Wu family will also follow in the Xu clan's footsteps."

Wu Zhan said, "Wu Rushan's aptitude is inferior to mine, yet she glimpsed the innate realm at the age of twenty-seven or twenty-eight. How could such a fortune be ordinary?"

The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master nodded slightly.

Women practicing martial arts were inherently a notch weaker than men, and they also had to bear and raise children. Even in the commandery city, it was rare to hear of women entering the innate realm.

The Wu family head pondered for a moment, his gaze flowing between the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master and Wu Zhan, "I understand what cousin and Zhan'er mean. You support contacting the commandery city's Zhong family to destroy the Xu family and seize their fortune, correct?"

The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Then, little uncle, what about you?"

Magistrate Wu said lightly, "In my opinion, we should avoid the Xu clan's edge and retreat three measures. If the situation is unfavorable, we might even become their vassals."

"Become vassals of the Xu clan?!" Wu Zhan stood up with a sweep of his sleeves, his angry voice reverberating through the study like tearing silk, "Uncle, where does this place the efforts of our Wu family ancestors? Are you letting it all go to waste?"

The Wu family head seemed thoughtful but didn't say much, wanting to hear Magistrate Wu's views instead.

"Do you know how many families have been buried in the dust of history during the years our Wu family has developed in Qingjiang County?"

Wu Zhan was slightly stunned, turning his head to the side with disdain, "How would I know of such ancient matters?"

"Yes, the families that have already been destroyed, who would remember them? Yet our Wu family is currently in such a position. One wrong step and we'll end up with an unknown fate."

Magistrate Wu sighed with emotion and explained in detail, "Our Wu family was originally a household servant of the Jiang clan, once the foremost prominent family in Qingjiang. The Jiang clan had great ambitions, wanting to break free from Qingjiang's shackles and enter the commandery city, but ultimately ended up with their clan destroyed."

"Our Wu family ancestors obtained part of the Jiang clan's family foundation, which is why we have our current achievements."

"Even if we become vassals again, as long as our Wu family has a breath left, we'll have the opportunity to rise again."

Upon hearing these words from Magistrate Wu, the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master fell silent but Wu Zhan's eyes had already been blinded by the Xu family's fortune, and he couldn't listen at all. He looked at the Wu family head, "Family head, what is your decision?"

The Wu family head was silent for a long while, "I support little uncle."

The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master let out a heavy sigh, also feeling hesitant, "If that's the case, let's observe the situation quietly for now."

"Mm." The Wu family head and Magistrate Wu nodded in agreement.

"Yes, father." Wu Zhan clasped his fists.

After Wu Zhan returned to his room, he sat alone under the green lamp, his fist pressing against the desk, sinking in inch by inch, his heart full of unwillingness.

The fortune was clearly within reach. If he obtained it, he might even have hope of reaching the grandmaster realm, and the Wu family would thereafter have a constant stream of powerful martial artists.

"No, if you won't do it, then I will!"

Suddenly Wu Zhan sneered to himself, "A bunch of old fogeys, the older they get, the softer their bones become. They even propose becoming vassals of the Xu family? Truly laughable to the extreme!"

His mind was made up, but to dispel the Wu family head's wariness, he stayed home practicing martial arts wholeheartedly for several days before going out and heading outside the city.

As soon as Wu Zhan left the city, someone immediately rushed to the Xu family on horseback to report this matter.

"The Wu family." A cold smile appeared at the corner of Xu Mingyuan's mouth, "You return to Qingjiang and continue monitoring the movements of the other Wu family members."

"Yes, Second Master."

Xu Mingyuan went to the Jade Cold Pool and told Xu Mingshu about this matter.

"I'll have to trouble Xueji. He's already left for over half an hour. I'm afraid only Little White can catch up."

"Capturing him won't be a problem, but what about second sister-in-law's side..."

"It's fine." Xu Mingyuan waved his hand.

"Alright, then I'll go. Little White, Ah San, let's go."

Xu Mingshu twisted her slender waist and leaped gracefully as a startled swan onto the tiger's back.

The white tiger raised its head and roared furiously, the sound shaking the forest. As its four legs exerted force, the ground sank three inches, and in a flash it leaped over ten zhang away.

One could see a snowy silhouette cutting through the twilight mist, vanishing without a trace in an instant, leaving only Xu Mingyuan standing alone in place, his sleeves fluttering in the fierce wind stirred up by the tiger's roar.

"Second uncle, where is aunt going?"

Just as Xu Mingyuan shook his head lightly and prepared to descend the mountain, Xu Dezhao appeared behind him, his eyes flashing with light as he asked, "She's not going demon beast hunting again, is she?"

"What are you thinking? Demon beasts are so ferocious, how could your second uncle let your Aunt Xueji venture into danger alone?"

Xu Mingyuan said, "Don't think wildly. Focus properly on comprehending the power of heaven and earth and break through to the innate realm as soon as possible. When your Aunt Xueji and the others go demon beast hunting again, they'll definitely bring you along."

"I understand."

Xu Mingyuan descended the mountain to find Xu Mingwei.

Naturally, Xu Mingwei should know something about the Wu family matter.

"Let's wait until Xueji captures him and brings him back before discussing anything else. Perhaps he's just traveling to the commandery city or visiting friends." Xu Mingwei pondered briefly, "After all, Wu Zhan is an innate martial artist. Just to deliver a message wouldn't require him to make the trip personally."

"The subtleties in this matter shouldn't be taken lightly." Xu Mingyuan smiled faintly, "Why don't we make a bet?"

"Bet on what?"

"It seems there really isn't anything good to bet on." Xu Mingyuan rubbed his chin, then said after a moment, "Shan'er's third child is about to be born. As the eldest uncle, you can personally make a gift and give it to him as a full moon banquet present."

"That's only proper." Xu Mingwei smiled warmly.

Xu Mingshu rode the white tiger, racing like the wind. She also had the Azure Fire Eagle Ah San search for a similar person in the air.

A cup of tea's time, an eagle's cry came from the air, the sound bright and clear, resounding through the long sky.

"Is that so? Just several tens of li ahead? Ah San, well done."

Screech~

Roar~

The white tiger roared with jealousy.

Xu Mingshu gently patted its head as if coaxing a child, saying softly, "Of course your contribution is the greatest, Little White. You and I have grown up together since childhood. How could anyone compare?"

The crimson-gold pupiled white tiger squinted its eyes, and in its excitement, its speed increased by more than thirty percent, immediately leaving afterimages in place.

In just a short while, Xu Mingshu also spotted the person riding a fast horse ahead.

"Wearing crimson-gold brocade, riding a fine steed with four snow-white hooves. It seems to be him without a doubt."

"Little White, stop him."

The white tiger leaped over the head of the snow-stepping fine horse and landed steadily in front of it.

Seeing such a terrifying creature, Wu Zhan was greatly alarmed and immediately pulled the reins tight, stopping.

"Who are you? Why do you block my path?"

"Are you Wu Zhan?"

"Oh, young lady, you know me."

Seeing that on the white tiger's back was a young and beautiful woman in red clothes with a single ponytail bound with crimson Wu silk, and the heroic spirit between her brows, Wu Zhan's eyes lit up, and the anger in his heart immediately dissipated by half.

"That's all I need to know."

Xu Mingshu leaped down, her form as swift as lightning.

One could see a red shadow float past, and Wu Zhan only had time to raise his arm horizontally across his chest.

In an instant, he was kicked off his horse by an irresistible tremendous force.

That force directly broke two of his ribs, causing him to cough up blood violently.

"What are you doing? I have no grievances with you, young lady."

"Someone asked me to capture you. If you behave, you can suffer less."

"Damn it!" Wu Zhan cursed under his breath.

Xu Mingshu's brow furrowed slightly, and she delivered another punch and kick, severely injuring him, then bound him with rope and held him in her hand then she walked over, gently stroking the horse's face, saying softly, "Good horse, come with me."

Whinny~

The snow-stepping fine horse neighed once.

Xu Mingshu twisted her slender waist and flipped onto the tiger's back.

The snow-stepping fine horse followed behind the white tiger and started running.

The speed was even three parts faster than when they came.

Seeing that they were getting closer and closer to Qingjiang County, Wu Zhan suddenly remembered the rumors about the Xu family's crimson-gold pupiled white tiger and immediately said with eyes nearly splitting, "You're from the Xu family?"

Xu Mingshu didn't respond, only sneering and glancing at him.

The look made him feel as if he'd fallen into an ice cellar, his heart going cold.

"Riding a white tiger, could this person be the rumored Xu Mingshu of the Xu family?"

But he glanced at the nearly one zhang tall white tiger and couldn't help but wonder, "Is the white tiger in the rumors this huge?"

"Is this still within the category of fierce beasts?"

"And I had no ability to resist her strength. Late innate stage or perhaps innate perfection?"

"If I remember correctly, this woman Xu Mingshu should not yet be twenty-five?!"

Beads of sweat the size of beans seeped from his forehead, constantly sliding down his cheeks to the ground.

He held a sliver of hope in his heart until he saw the stone tablet of the Dongxi Xu clan. Then he felt darkness ahead with not a glimmer of light remaining.

The Xu clan's great hall.

After Xu Mingshu returned, someone went to notify family head Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan.

They arrived at the great hall almost simultaneously.

"Second brother, I've brought the person for you. I'll leave now."

"Mm, go ahead."

Xu Mingshu exited the main gate and called for the white tiger and Azure Fire Eagle Ah San to return to the Jade Cold Pool.

"Are you Wu Zhan?" Xu Mingyuan circled around him once and asked calmly.

Wu Zhan broke out in cold sweat but still forced himself to appear composed, "That's right. I'm the cousin of your Xu family Second Master's wife. My Wu family and your Xu family are related by marriage. How dare you treat me like this?"

Xu Mingyuan laughed in spite of himself, "The Second Master's wife's cousin, yet you don't even recognize me. It seems the relationship between you isn't close."

"You, you're Xu Mingyuan?!"

"That's me."

Wu Zhan's heart skipped a beat, but he forced a smile, "So it's cousin-in-law. When I came, sand got in my eyes and I couldn't see clearly, so I didn't recognize you for a moment. No offense, no offense."

He looked again at the man seated at the head, composed and as imposing as Mount Tai, "Then this person must be the Xu family head, Brother Mingwei."

"I wonder what matter you two asked my younger sister to bring me here for?"

"If there's something, you could just send word directly to the Wu family, and I would come immediately. Why such methods?"

"If we didn't do this, I'm afraid you would have brought certain clans from the commandery city to our door together."

"What is cousin-in-law saying? I don't quite understand."

Wu Zhan's heart was in chaos. How did they know I was going to the commandery city?

"Speak. Which clan in the commandery city were you planning to find, and how does your Wu family plan to deal with our Xu family? What is each person's attitude?" Xu Mingyuan's eyes were icy cold as he said coldly, "Speak now, and you can still keep your life today. If you insist on remaining silent, then you can only be fed to our Xu family's white tiger."

"When that time comes, not even a bone will remain. Even if the Wu clan wants to recover your corpse to demand justice, they won't find a grave!"

"Your Xu family is also a great clan of Qingjiang. How can you treat human life so carelessly?!" Wu Zhan's body trembled, and his speech became incoherent.

"What about your Wu family? In these one or two hundred years, how many lives have died at the Wu family's hands? The Wu family is still a great clan in Qingjiang, living in splendor."

Wu Zhan fell silent.

The Great Wei's laws only had binding force on ordinary commoners and wealthy households. For powerful clans that could cover the sky with one hand in the county city, what use were laws?

It was nothing more than the law of the jungle, relying on fists to speak.

If officials were upright, commoners could live better. Otherwise, they were simply living in dire misery.

"Someone come, first break one of his arms!" Xu Mingyuan said calmly.

Immediately a late Postnatal guard holding a black wooden club as thick as an arm walked in.

At this moment, Wu Zhan's acupoints were sealed and couldn't be broken through in a short time. He was no different from a Postnatal martial artist.

"No, I'll talk, I'll talk."

Xu Mingyuan didn't speak, and that guard kicked Wu Zhan to the ground, then stepped on his body and struck down hard with the club.

Crack~

"Ah~"

With a wail spreading out, Wu Zhan's right arm bone was directly broken.

Xu Mingyuan waved his hand, and the guard immediately retreated to the side, his eyes emotionless.

"Now you can speak. If you can't convince me and my eldest brother, one sentence equals one arm or one leg. If you spout complete nonsense, then..."

"I'll talk, I'll talk everything. Cousin-in-law, for the sake of our two families being related by marriage, spare this dog's life."

Immediately after, Wu Zhan revealed everything about when the Wu family head summoned him and his father to discuss matters previously.

During this, he discussed his and his father's disagreements with the family head and Magistrate Wu, and even mentioned the Wu clan's ancestral origins, omitting nothing in detail.

Xu Mingyuan paced back and forth in the hall. When Wu Zhan finished speaking, he exchanged glances with Xu Mingwei.

The latter nodded slightly, and only then did Xu Mingyuan speak, "The commandery city's Zhong family, a top-tier seventh-rank martial Dao clan. Quite the powerful backing."

"I wouldn't dare call it backing. How could a clan like the Zhong family compare with the Yang family?"

Xu Mingyuan was silent briefly, then said, "Our Xu family is not unreasonable. And considering my wife's face, I'll spare your life this time. Scram."

"Yes, yes, yes. Thank you for cousin-in-law's magnanimity. I'll leave now, I'll leave now!"

Wu Zhan crawled and rolled out of the Xu family's main gate, mounted his horse, and directly fled from the Dongxi region.