Chapter 105: The Xu Family Behind It All

"Has Li Zhi prepared everything thoroughly?" Xu Mingwei gazed toward where the Wu family was located.

In the night, he was the only one who could clearly see the situation several li away. The others could only vaguely see scattered firelight to determine the general direction.

"After the four families made their move, I had someone notify Li Zhi. He'll bring the government officers to wait near the Wu family." Xu Mingyuan smiled faintly and turned to look at Xu Mingshu, "Once eldest brother determines the right timing, have Xueji send Ah Da to notify them."

Xu Mingshu met his gaze and patted her chest, "Leave it to me."

High in the sky, an Azure Fire Eagle circled continuously.

Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingxuan glanced at it and scratched their faces. They really couldn't tell which of the three Azure Fire Eagle brothers was which.

The sounds of battle shook the heavens, reaching even to them.

Xu Mingshu sighed softly, "I wonder how second sister-in-law will feel when she hears this news. She's still pregnant right now and will give birth in another month or so.

Second brother, why don't you wait until after second sister-in-law gives birth to tell her?"

Moreover, with her innate martial artist's physique, such a minor blow won't affect childbirth."

"Second brother, you're really ruthless." Xu Mingxuan said, "Good thing the Zhang family is just a small household that follows our Xu family's lead. Otherwise, I'd end up in the same situation as you."

"Speaking of which, eldest brother fell out with the Yang family, and you did the same, second brother. I won't be next, will I?"

Xu Mingyuan smiled faintly, "If you truly reached such a situation, what would you choose?"

"Naturally I'd put the Xu family first." The corners of Xu Mingxuan's mouth lifted, his eyes showing not a trace of hesitation, "Of course, I definitely wouldn't treat Qing'er poorly either."

"Sister-in-law is remarkably talented. In the future, she'll surely be a core member of our Xu family. On this point, eldest brother and I envy you two as a couple. You can both walk the immortal path together. I've heard there are even dual cultivation methods in immortal cultivation."

"What is dual cultivation?" Xu Mingshu asked curiously.

"For that, you'd first need to find a husband." Xu Mingxuan grinned.

Xu Mingshu huffed twice and stopped speaking.

A cup of tea's time later.

"It's about time. The Wu family's elite guards are down to scattered remnants. Many direct line and collateral branch members with good martial arts talent have also died in battle. What's left is just a massacre."

"Understood, eldest brother." Xu Mingshu nodded, "Ah Da, go notify Li Zhi."

The Azure Fire Eagle transformed into a blue streak of light like lightning, instantly flying to the vicinity of the Wu estate, then spread its wings and cried out.

Li Zhi looked up at the sky, then immediately turned to the dozens of government officers behind him, "The Wu family is being besieged by bandits. How can we government officials ignore this? Follow me to provide rescue."

"Yes, County Deputy Li!"

All the government officers clasped their fists. They were all first- or second-rate martial artists, which was considered quite capable in Qingjiang County.

Li Zhi used lightness skill to scale walls and directly charged into the battlefield, slashing his blade toward a certain black-clothed, masked innate martial artist.

After forcing him back, he shouted loudly, "Audacious bandits! This official is Li Zhi, County Deputy of Qingjiang County. You dare take advantage of the night to slaughter the Wu family? This official will definitely bring all of you to justice!"

Three of the innate martial artists exchanged glances, their eyes showing ruthless intent. Without saying much, they surrounded and attacked Li Zhi together.

However, Li Zhi was only one step away from the late innate stage, and these several people had just experienced a great battle. Therefore, for the moment, they couldn't gain any upper hand at all.

Xu Mingwei sneered, "The four families are truly ruthless. Even though Li Zhi publicly announced his identity, they still don't want to give up this fat piece of meat that's reached their mouths."

As he spoke, Xu Mingwei had already drawn his bow with three iron arrows nocked.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh~

Three arrows shot together, cutting through the long sky.

In the blink of an eye, they pierced through the chests of the three innate martial artists, pinning them to the ground.

"Brother Li Zhi, spare me, I'm..."

One of the innate martial artists tried to beg for mercy, but an arc of cold light flashed, and all three had their throats sealed, blood spraying and splashing.

Moments later, they fell silent.

"Eldest brother, if Shan'er's mother and siblings are in trouble, please take action." Xu Mingyuan clasped his fists.

"They should all be hiding. I haven't discovered them."

Hearing this, Xu Mingyuan sighed softly.

Xu Mingwei turned his head, "Let's go, back to Dongxi. The four families have no innate experts. Li Zhi is sufficient to suppress everything. The aftermath can be left to him."

"Yes, eldest brother."

That night blood flowed like rivers at the Wu family.

Those who died, died. Those who fled, fled. The sounds of begging for mercy, crying out, and wailing echoed through the sky above the Wu family estate.

After Li Zhi arrived, he cleaned up the aftermath.

The older generation of all five families almost all perished in this, including the five family heads.

Each family fell to the bottom overnight.

Li Zhi imprisoned all those who hadn't died and comforted the Wu family, issuing a public announcement severely denouncing the four families of Fang, Wang, He, and Cao.

For a time, in teahouses and taverns throughout Qingjiang County city, people everywhere were discussing this matter.

"County Deputy Li is truly a good official. With one misstep, he could have been killed on the spot by the four families of Fang, Wang, He, and Cao. Fortunately, his strength is formidable, and he captured most of them."

"The Wu family suffered the greatest losses. Their martial artist foundation has been completely exhausted. They can no longer bear the name of a clan.

Although they weren't swallowed by the four families this time, those wealthy merchants will inevitably have many schemes. After all, people died, but martial techniques, medicinal diets, and other foundations weren't seized by the four families."

"Not only that, the family head died suddenly. The surviving Wu family descendants will inevitably face a disaster of family property disputes."

"The four families of Fang, Wang, He, and Cao are the same."

"There'll be excitement to watch for a while."

The decline of Qingjiang's five great clans gave opportunities to other families.

If someone could seize the opportunity, they could rise with the momentum and become Qingjiang's next clan.

Like the Xu family, who became a clan through their own accumulation, they were truly in the minority.

In this turmoil, the Xu family wasn't implicated at all. Even when they were mentioned, it was to praise the Xu family's keen insight and wisdom in protecting themselves.

Soon, news of the disaster befalling the five great clans spread to neighboring counties.

Some innate martial artists began harboring thoughts of seeking military official positions in Qingjiang.

Magistrate Wu hadn't died. After waking up a day or two later and seeing the Wu family's situation, he was grief-stricken. With his heart failing, even with his innate martial artist physique, he didn't have more than two years to live.

Xu Mingyuan told Wu Rushan about the Wu family and the four families' matter. Wu Rushan was anxious and immediately went with Xu Mingyuan to the Wu family.

At the Wu family, everywhere the eye could see was mourning white.

Wu Rushan, with her pregnant belly, entered the Wu family's main gate accompanied by Xu Mingyuan and four late peak Postnatal guards.

The sounds of sobbing and low crying could be heard everywhere.

She immediately stopped a maid passing before her eyes, "Is my mother, Madam Zheng, still alive?"

"This servant doesn't know. These past few days have been too chaotic. Those who died, died. Those who fled, fled."

"Who is now in charge of the Wu family?" Xu Mingyuan asked.

"It's Young Master Ruliang."

"Third brother? Where is he now?" Wu Rushan asked again.

"At Feixia Pavilion, caring for Fifth Grand Uncle."

"This servant will take her leave now." The maid bowed slightly and walked straight away.

"How could this happen?"

Wu Rushan still found it hard to believe that the powerful Wu family had fallen in a single night.

"Magistrate Wu is still alive. In this misfortune, that's a great fortune. With the old man present, the Wu family won't completely collapse." Xu Mingyuan comforted her softly.

At Feixia Pavilion, when Wu Ruliang saw Wu Rushan and Xu Mingyuan, he was immediately surprised.

"Fifth sister, Brother Mingyuan."

His eyes were severely darkened with circles, his face ashen, but he still cupped his hands toward the two.

"Third brother, what exactly happened?" Wu Rushan's face showed grief as she inquired softly.

"Sigh~" Wu Ruliang sighed softly, "I don't know either. The night the incident happened, I happened to be out. But everyone says the four families of Fang, Wang, He, and Cao joined forces and broke in, killing everyone they saw."

"I suppose the accounts of those who experienced it firsthand are mostly credible."

"Fang, Wang, He, Cao, I won't let them off!" Wu Rushan said through gritted teeth in anger.

"Fifth sister, your condition isn't convenient. You shouldn't get angry. As for those four families..." Wu Ruliang sneered, "They're not doing much better either."

"The four family heads all died. Their innate martial artists were killed by County Deputy Li. Those who survived were also imprisoned in the government jail. Half a month from now, they'll be publicly executed."

"They truly deserve it!"

Hearing these words, the anger in Wu Rushan's heart dissipated slightly. She looked at Xu Mingyuan, "Husband, why didn't you tell me about the four families?"

"Wife, when you heard the Wu family had trouble, you rushed here anxiously. On the road, you were in a distracted state. How could I tell you?"

After speaking, Xu Mingyuan looked at Wu Ruliang, "Brother Ruliang, if the Wu family needs anything, just speak up. We're very sorry the Xu family couldn't help the Wu family."

"No one could have expected the four families of Fang, Wang, He, and Cao to act so quickly, and at night too."

"Yes indeed." Wu Ruliang sighed.

"Who's come?"

At this moment, an aged voice came from the inner room.

"Grand Uncle, it's Rushan and her husband Xu Mingyuan who've come."

Hearing the name of someone from the Xu family, Magistrate Wu's body couldn't help but tremble.

He knew everything that had happened these past two days. Wu Ruliang only knew that the four families of Fang, Wang, He, and Cao had broken into the Wu family, attempting annihilation.

But he didn't know about the Zhong family from the commandery city coming previously to plot against the Xu family.

It was precisely Wu Zhan's decision to invite the wolf into the house that brought today's disaster.

The Xu family hadn't been involved in this matter at all and were beyond reproach. But knowing the whole story from beginning to end, he was certain it couldn't be unrelated to the Xu family.

The Zhong family feared the Xu family.

He understood the Xu family's foundation better than the Wu family did.

Only this could explain why the Zhong family killed the Wu family's innate martial artists and most of their elite guards.

Only such a powerful Xu family could lay out such a chess game in secret.

Planning strategies, manipulating people's hearts.

Silently resolving Qingjiang's former five great clans.

"Come in."

Magistrate Wu coughed twice, his voice aged and weak.

"Grand Uncle, are you alright?"

Wu Rushan wasn't particularly close with Magistrate Wu, but he was already the Wu family's highest-ranking elder by seniority. With such a thing happening to the Wu family, she should naturally show respect.

"I'm fine. I won't die just yet." Magistrate Wu replied and looked at Xu Mingyuan, "Second Master Xu has come. Forgive this old man for being too severely injured to go out and welcome you from afar."

"Magistrate Wu, you jest. Just call me Mingyuan. You're Rushan's elder, which makes you my elder. Naturally, the younger generation should come to pay respects to you, elder."

"I wonder how many Wu family descendants remain after this blood disaster."

Magistrate Wu sighed, "Mingyuan, I entrust you to help me deliver a message to the county deputy. Tell him this old man is severely injured and doesn't have many years left to live. Ask him to temporarily take the position of magistrate and govern Qingjiang."

"For this matter, this old man will write a letter to report to the commandery city, requesting approval. As for the new county deputy and county commandant candidates, please trouble him to think of ways. This old man's broken body is truly powerless."

"If Magistrate Wu insists, this junior will handle it." Xu Mingyuan cupped his hands.

"Much obliged. This old man is a bit tired and wants to sleep. You all leave first."

Wu Ruliang, Wu Rushan, and Xu Mingyuan all withdrew from the room.