Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Bloodthirsty Guard, Son of Xiao Jianxin

Below.

"Old fool, gold, silver, treasures, cultivation techniques, treasure medicines, bring them all out, now, immediately."

Lang Jin kicked open the Zhou family elder and sat on the high seat of the ancestral hall.

"And you few, come over, entertain me." He pointed at a few Zhou family women kneeling on the ground.

Those women were trembling with fear.

"Didn’t you hear Lord Lang Jin tell you to go over? Are you all deaf?" An elderly Zhou family member cursed, leaning on his cane.

"Elder..." the women sobbed.

During the day, they were still the ladies and mistresses of the Zhou family...

"Go when you’re told, whoever cries again will face family punishment!" Another elder reprimanded.

"Sister, hurry up, or they’ll start killing again." A Zhou family member urged quietly.

"Madam, it’s all for the Zhou family."

"Yes, Auntie, Big Brother will understand."

"..."

The women walked out, numb and mechanical.

"Haha," Lang Jin pulled them into his arms, groping around them.

Then, seemingly still dissatisfied, he looked at the kneeling Zhou family members, his mouth curling into a sinister smile: "Hungry."

"My lord, I’ll immediately order someone to prepare a feast." Two Zhou family elders hurriedly flattered.

"No, no, no..." Lang Jin waved his hand dismissively, looking at a young man among the crowd, "Eat him."

Eat...who?!

The Zhou family members looked on in shock.

"I...I..." Zhou Hao froze in place, his face ashen.

"Old fool, what are you dawdling for? Didn’t you hear what I said?" Lang Jin mocked and scolded.

The faces of the two Zhou family elders were as unpleasant as dead wood.

But after only a few breaths, their eyes turned fierce.

"Zhou Hao, come here!"

"Elder...elder..."

"Zhou Tong, bring Zhou Hao over."

"...Yes." A sturdy man lifted Zhou Hao and brought him over.

"Rip his heart out." Lang Jin spoke timely: "All you old fools together, and you, what’s your name, Zhou Tong, help your elders."

Clang clang—

A short blade was thrown in front of the three, the metal clanging against the ground, striking straight to the heart.

The cold gleam was reflected in every Zhou family member’s eyes.

Zhou Tong hesitated only for a moment and grabbed the blade, ruthlessly stabbing Zhou Hao.

"Ah—"

A harrowing scream echoed through the Zhou family ancestral hall.

The two elders quickly joined in, tearing out the hot organs and respectfully offering them to Lang Jin.

"Hehe, not bad, very good." Lang Jin grabbed the organs, smirked sinisterly at the crowd, "Such good meat shouldn’t be wasted, everyone take a bite."

It seemed they had resigned to their fate, or perhaps this was the nature of the Zhou family all along.

This time, without hesitation, the two elders led the way, each biting a piece of flesh from Zhou Hao, who hadn’t completely stopped breathing.

After that, none of them were humans anymore, but man-eaters like the Wolf Race and Blood Evil Sect.

From high above, on the eaves.

Chu Ming watched coldly.

Slaughtering kin for self-preservation.

Major clans of Xirong County?

His figure merged into the night, Chu Ming left the Zhou family’s ancestral hall and went to the Zhou Family Treasure Vault.

Gold, silver, jewels, treasures, cultivation techniques, anything portable, he stored in the Golden Fragments.

By the time the Zhou family led the Wolf Race and Blood Evil Sect followers to the treasure vault, only a few empty chests remained.

"Good for you, Zhou family, daring to trick us!"

Squelch—

Squelch—

A cold glint flashed, and Zhou family members fell to the ground.

In the shadows, Chu Ming watched with cold eyes.

"Don’t waste it, this kid was in the Strong Bone Realm, rip out his organs."

The Wolf Race tore open the Zhou family member’s chest, pulling out the organs and devouring them like wild beasts.

Once finished, they kicked aside the Zhou family bodies, cursing as they left.

Chu Ming emerged from hiding, approached one of the Zhou family’s bodies, unfolded its palm, and picked up a piece of torn cloth.

This piece of cloth was torn from the clothing of a Wolf Race member by a Zhou family member before dying.

He took out a Tracking Bead, infusing it with the fabric’s scent.

[Tracking] activated; the Tracking Bead responded.

Now, he could monitor the movements of these Wolf Race members.

After a quick glance around, Chu Ming did not linger and left the Zhou family.

With the Blood Evil Sect invading the Zhou family, a major clan of Xirong County, does this mean other families will face the same fate?

He wasn’t sure; he didn’t have time to find out.

But he could sense the Blood Evil Sect’s actions would not be minor this time.

After some thought, he felt it was not the time to alert the enemy.

Inform the commandery mansion, let Xiao He, the county magistrate, handle the direct confrontation.

In a hurry, Chu Ming returned to The Medicine Maniac’s Treasure Medicine Tower.

"Benefactor." The Medicine Maniac was grinding herbs, and upon seeing the figure, he immediately approached.

Jiaang Jing and Jiaang Yan were not present.

"Benefactor, Jiaang Jing, and Jiaang Yan went to Jingyan County at the mouth of the White River." The Medicine Maniac quickly said.

Chu Ming nodded slightly.

One of the two women is in the Strong Bone Realm, and the other is in the late stage of Blood Circulation Realm; there should be no problem picking up Shen Yi.

"Yao Qi, there is another matter."

"Benefactor, please speak."

"Investigate Baiyun Pier."

"Baiyun Pier? Sure, I’ll handle it right away."

"..."

...

Morning, slightly chilly.

Chu Mansion.

This morning, Shen Yu didn’t practice martial arts; instead, he sat under the pavilion, worried.

"Chu Ming, if it is really like this, then the issue is serious."

"To control the officials and major clans of Xirong County, the Blood Evil Sect’s move is a risky one."

"If they succeed, Xirong County may face a great calamity."

"No, I must quickly inform Old Xiao."

Shen Yu hurriedly stood up.

"Grandpa Shen, you haven’t had breakfast yet." Little Shan carried porridge and pastries.

"I won’t eat." Shen Yu had no appetite for food.

Chu Ming stared at Shen Yu rushing in, his eyes deep and solemn.

The calamity for Xirong County... is probably here.

"Sit down and eat."

After receiving the morning porridge from Little Shan, and gulping down a few bowls, he returned to his room to study books and infer cultivation techniques.

...

In a pavilion at the center of a lake, two people sat underneath.

"The environment here at the Counselor’s place is really nice."

A hoarse voice sounded from beneath the bronze mask.

"If Pei Blood Guard likes it, feel free to stay," the person opposite spoke.

"Haha, I wish I could be like the Counselor."

"The Zhou Family, Wang Family, He Family, and several major clans are all controlled, Jingyan has been restarted, what is Pei Blood Guard worrying about?" Another voice said slowly.

"Hundred Strategies Envoy, these major clans are of little importance; the key is the An Family and the Commandery Mansion." The voice pierced through the ominous mask, icy cold.

"Pei Blood Guard, behind the An Family is An Guang, the Commander of Tiger Armor Army, he must be properly utilized."

"As for the Commandery Mansion... Xiao Jianxin has made a breakthrough."

"Oh?" From the bronze mask shot refined brilliance, "Xiao Jianxin trapped in the Upper Realm for decades, has actually taken that step at this time!"

"Does Pei Blood Guard want to take action personally?"

"Does the Hundred Strategies Envoy think it’s inappropriate?"

"Not appropriate, one Xiao Jianxin isn’t worthy of Pei Blood Guard’s action."

"Great Qin’s Celestial Observation Bureau oversees thirteen counties, if Pei Blood Guard kills Xiao Jianxin, how will he escape afterwards?"

"Indeed... then how does the Hundred Strategies Envoy plan to handle Xiao Jianxin?"

"Lure him into showing himself, and set up a Killing Array."

"What kind of Killing Array?"

"With four Bloodthirsty Guards forming the Blood Evil Array."

"The Hundred Strategies Envoy foresaw everything, did you already know I brought four Bloodthirsty Guards here?" Pei Yan clapped his hands, and five figures emerged from the shadows.

One of them knelt and saluted, while the other four remained motionless, without even a change in expression.

These five were Pei Yan’s real killer move prepared for Xiao Jianxin.

"Hundred Strategies Envoy, his name is Lang Xi, from the Wolf Clan, he has opened all Twelve Major Meridians."

"Lang Xi has met the Envoy."

"Rise."

Baili Xinghua merely glanced at Lang Xi, then turned his gaze to the four Bloodthirsty Guards.

"Who do these Bloodthirsty Guards resemble?" Blood Guard Pei Yan pointed at one.

This was the tallest Bloodthirsty Guard, muscles bulging all over, blood-red veins like crawling insects across his face.

"Very much like someone." Baili Xinghua looked at the tall Blood Guard’s brows and said in a deep voice.

"Has the Hundred Strategies Envoy discovered?" Pei Yan sneered.

"Xiao Jianxin’s son, Xiao Wu."

"Haha, exactly, what else does the Hundred Strategies Envoy need?"

"Nothing."

"Then I’ll trouble the Hundred Strategies Envoy with matters in Xirong County."

"Part of my duty."

"One more thing." Pei Blood Guard spoke again.

"Chu Ming?"

"Mm, there must be an expert behind this young man, when does the Hundred Strategies Envoy plan to take action?"

"Chu Ming chose the Canal Transport Bureau instead of the Ritual Supervisor."

"Canal Transport Bureau?" From under the bronze mask flashed a savage radiance, "That’s even easier, recently there’s a batch of grain transportation, the young man is sure to be responsible, right?"

"..."

...

Xirong County, Commandery Mansion.

"Old Shen, this isn’t something to joke about, how did you know?" Xiao He looked serious, his face etched with lines.

"Don’t worry about how I know; you better think of a way quickly."

"If those major clans are controlled by the Blood Evil Sect, Xirong County is doomed."

Shen Yu gulped down some tea, panting heavily.

"This matter is of great importance, let me think." Xiao He was worried.

"You better hurry..." Shen Yu looked around and suddenly asked, "Why isn’t there anything to eat?"

"... It’s in the front hall."

"I’ll go grab a bite, I didn’t eat breakfast, nearly starving."

Ever since condensing Qi Blood, Shen Yu’s appetite had opened up, missing a meal made him unbearably hungry.

"Okay." Xiao He answered absent-mindedly.

But just as Shen Yu was about to step out, Xiao He called him again.

"Old Shen, take this document to Chu Ming."

"What document?"

"The document for transporting grain from Pingzhong County, Chu Ming is now at the Canal Transport Bureau, he needs to oversee personally."

"Grain? For the Tiger Armor Army?"

"Yes, the directive from Qin Capital should arrive in two days; take this document to Chu Ming first."

"..."

...

Commandery Mansion, a courtyard.

"Sword Heart, what should be done about this?"

Xiao He informed Xiao Jianxin about the Blood Evil Sect’s secret control over the major clans in Xirong County.

Xiao Jianxin furrowed his brows tightly.

"Blood Evil Sect is so audacious!"

As if an anger ignited, he clenched hard, the cup in his hand turned to powder.

"Don’t worry, elder brother, I have experienced an epiphany a few days ago, now reaching the Lower Meridian Unlocking Realm!"

"This time, I will act personally."

"Do you need General Han Ji’s help?" Xiao He’s white eyebrows lifted.

"No need, this matter can’t be made public, otherwise the county city will fall into chaos."

"General Han Ji should remain stationed at the Imperial Examination Hall."

"Moreover, elder brother, this matter needs to be quickly reported to Qin Capital; Blood Evil Sect might have major plans."

"..."

...

Chu Mansion.

Chu Ming sat at the desk, swiftly flipping through books.

A black short dagger hovered above the desk, on the right were several jade pendants and jade beads.

He extended his right hand, picked up a jade pendant, guiding his Primordial Consciousness into the Primordial Qi within the pendant.

After a few attempts, a Primordial Qi Jade Pendant was created.

Subsequently, he repeated the process, transforming all the jade pendants and jade beads on the desk into Primordial Qi Objects.

These Primordial Qi Objects didn’t have much use to him, but they allowed him to hone his skill in controlling Primordial Qi.

The more proficient he was in controlling Primordial Qi, the more powerful his Primordial Techniques would be, and the better his chances of creating new Primordial Techniques.

A ring floated above his right palm, followed by a second ring, a third ring...