Chapter 400

Where are they? Have you found them?

“My young master, they did not stay at the Guan residence but lodged at the city’s inn. Afterwards, Fang Ruoming and Fang Ruoyao parted ways; Fang Ruoyao and the other three rested at the inn, while Fang Ruoming went—no one knows why—to the western city peach grove.”

As dusk settled, outside the Guan family’s immortal mansion, on the main street of Gengyang City.

More than ten people led by Fang Jintu stood on the street, coldly listening to their family servant’s report, eyes brimming with murderous intent.

Among the immortal clans of Qingyun Realm, face was paramount—and the Fang family stood at the very top.

To mock the Fang family in broad daylight, especially using Ji You as the target—how could they possibly allow such a person to live?

After hearing the servant’s report, Fang Jintu turned to the group of Guan family youths who had accompanied him.

“How many exits does the western peach grove have?”

“The grove’s western side borders the city wall, now under curfew; the southern end leads to a cliff—no escape there. If we encircle from the northeast, not a single one will slip away.”

Fang Jintu smiled coldly: “Even the Northern Garrison Army wouldn’t dare defy us. What if it were the Northern Garrison Divine General himself? Still, he’d show our family due respect. A mere soldier dares to mock us with Ji You’s name? He deserves to die.”

Fang Jinyu let out a cold, tinkling laugh: “To speak without restraint deserves punishment—it’s no one’s fault but his own. But I truly can’t fathom how a lowly soldier summoned such boldness.”

“Can’t you see? During the years Ji You monopolized Fengzhou, the young men of Fengzhou thought they had a patron. They lost their fear of our immortal clans, forgot their place as ants—and grew foolishly arrogant, blind to hierarchy.”

“No wonder he’s about to meet Ji You.”

After hearing his cousin’s words, Fang Jintu glanced sidelong at Guan Peng, who had remained silent: “I nearly forgot to ask—what do you think, Guan Brother?”

Guan Peng half-lowered his eyes: “One must answer for one’s words and deeds…”

“So you still understand reason. I thought you truly had feelings for that woman of the Microillumination realm.”

“At my age, I should find a Dao companion—but I wouldn’t marry a mortal woman as my lady. Besides, Fang Ruoming treats me with indifference. A soldier, yet he carries himself with more arrogance than Ji You himself—I’ve long grown weary of him.”

The Fang family’s power is immense; a single word could crush the Guan family forever.

Though Fang Jintu appears mild and bright, after half a day’s contact, Guan Peng confirmed he shares the same cruel, reckless nature as Fang Jincheng.

He believed anyone else would make the same choice—no one would risk offending such a great clan over a mortal family.

He only hoped that when the killing began, Fang Ruoming wouldn’t recognize him and beg for mercy by invoking his name—that would make things unbearable for him.

As Guan Peng thought this, his gaze unconsciously flickered toward Fang Jinyu.

The next instant, Fang Jintu stepped forward, soaring into the air with a roar, heading west.

The Fang family’s young masters and ladies immediately followed, and the Guan family youths trailed closely behind.

The combined aura of over thirty people intertwined into a vast, crushing force. As they soared across the sky, a violent wind howled behind them—seen from afar, they resembled a dark cloud slamming toward the west.

Beneath the cold, icy night, the red lanterns of Xinyuan still glowed faintly along the long street.

They followed the lights westward, soon reaching the northeast edge of the western peach grove.

Because it was winter, the grove had no leaves—only bare, orderly trees planted on the ground, offering unobstructed sightlines.

The thirty-plus entered, cultivating spiritual energy, drawing swords and blades, eyes sharp, making no effort to hide their footsteps.

This was no assassination—it was a massacre.

Rustle-rustle-rustle—

After the sound of footsteps crushing fallen leaves, the heirs of the Fang and Guan families reached the grove’s center. Directly ahead stood a teahouse beside a willow pond.

This place was used annually during the Peach Blossom Festival for immortal clans to admire blossoms and discuss Dao—but now, in winter, it stood empty.

Yet inside the teahouse stood five armored soldiers, their scaled armor glinting with icy moonlight.

As for Fang Ruoming, he sat at the teahouse table, slowly pouring hot tea into a cup—only pausing when they stood before him.

“Fang Ruoming, surprised to meet us again? You needn’t be—it’s precisely why we came.”

Fang Jintu spoke coldly, the cold gleam of his iron sword fully exposed.

As he finished speaking, Fang Ruoming slowly turned his head—but said nothing, merely staring at him for a long while.

Seeing no reply, Fang Jinyu couldn’t help but cry out: “You have no sense of hierarchy, you insult our Fang family, yet still have the leisure to sip tea? Do you truly believe you’ll live to see tomorrow?”

“Ruoming, do you know your words in the teahouse today were a capital offense?”

Guan Peng barked: “You were born mortal, then joined the military. Perhaps you didn’t understand the authority of our clans—but now that you see us here, you must know the gravity. Too bad—I can’t save you.”

Suddenly, a chilling wind swept through the peach grove.

Yet inside the teahouse, silence remained unbroken.

Seeing this, the crowd frowned—could it be that this man, realizing his imminent death, had been paralyzed by terror, unable to speak?

But what they didn’t expect was the next instant: Fang Ruoming’s hand moved slightly, lifting the cup to his lips. The sight made them all erupt in furious laughter.

They now understood—he wasn’t terrified into silence. He simply ignored them.

Are all the people of Yuyang County this ignorant of their place? Or does he still believe his position in the Northern Garrison grants him immunity—that no one would dare kill him?

“Why waste words? Kill him—let him learn that speaking out of turn costs your life!”

With a sharp cry, three elder Fang family youths drew their swords at once. They were at the peak of the Fusion Dao realm; their thick spiritual energy surged into their blades, unleashing razor-sharp killing intent straight toward the teahouse.

For these noble clan youths, who believed their status should awe the world, killing outright wasn’t the most satisfying way to assert dominance—it was to make the victim beg, then shatter him in his deepest terror.

But they judged this man’s vision too low—talking to him was like speaking to a cow.

Seeing this, the remaining Fang family youths surged forward, and the Guan family youths eager to please the Fangs charged even more fiercely.

“Don’t kill him outright—cut off his limbs, then ask him the same questions again. See how he reacts then!”

Fang Jinyu cried out, her eyes flashing with haughtiness.

The roaring killing aura closed in on the teahouse; the three leading Fang youths even pushed forward in competition, as if afraid someone else would kill him first.

But then—without warning—a blade of icy light erupted from within the teahouse.

The leftmost of the five armored soldiers drew his sword in an instant, and a vast aura surged forth like a tidal wave.

At this moment, some felt the oppressive pressure and realized something was wrong.

“Pfft—”

In the blink of an eye, three corpses crashed to the ground, hot blood spraying out—splattering the bare branches, drenching the cold earth, steaming crimson in the cold night.

All three were at the peak of Fusion Dao. The pursuers instantly paled, eyes wide with horror, screaming as they fled.

Even Fang Jinyu shrieked, her face draining of color as she spun and ran.

But to their despair, before they’d taken more than a few steps, the remaining four armored soldiers had appeared behind them—two to the east, two to the west.

【The western side of the peach grove borders the city wall—now under curfew.】

【The southern end leads to a cliff—no escape.】

【Encircle from the northeast—no one will slip away.】

Hum!

Blade-light—came.

The Guan family youths were the first to die. As they fled, their necks suddenly grew cold—their heads flew upward, their headless bodies lurched forward several steps before collapsing.

Then came the Fang family youths—struck through the chest by iron blades, limbs severed, heads rolling across the ground.

Screams, wails, mixed with the stench of blood—transformed the entire peach grove into a nightmarish hell.

Guan Peng couldn’t react—he never imagined things would turn this way. His face twisted in utter terror, his whole body trembling as hot blood splashed across his face.

Before his eyes, the figure behind the teahouse still sipped tea calmly, as if utterly indifferent to the slaughter.

“Sister, save me!”

“Second sister!!”

In her panic, Fang Jinyu suddenly saw her younger sister trip over a corpse—she instinctively reached out to grab her.

But the moment her hand extended, searing pain erupted—before her eyes, only two stumps remained.

A piercing, shrill scream tore from her throat.

Before the scream faded, a massive fist smashed into her, sending her crashing to the ground.