Xu Tieshan looked at his son with great satisfaction. The boy remained cautious in the face of great profit, only biting off what he could chew, ensuring he had room to advance or retreat while seeking victory through stability. This was an excellent trait.
"Alright, go make the arrangents. I don’t know why He Shujun is making a move against the Lu Family, but how can our Xu Family miss out on such a good thing?"
"Yes!" Xu Yuandong suppressed his excitent, cupped his fists in a salute, and left.
「Southeast City Street, the Qiu Family estate.」
In a similar study, Patriarch Qiu Fengxing, his eldest daughter Qiu Wan’Er, his second son Qiu Chuning, and his third son Qiu Chu’an were also in the middle of a discussion.
But the debate was only between the three children.
The most emotional was the second son, Qiu Chuning, who advocated for war. The third son, Qiu Chu’an, was only sixteen and listened quietly to the debate between his older sister and second brother.
But in his eyes, with his second brother’s impassioned fervor contrasted against his older sister’s calm indifference, there was no way his second brother could win.
They had never won against their older sister. So he knew very well that the Qiu Family would not be able to gain any advantage from this sudden incident between the He Family and the Lu Family.
"...So what exactly are you afraid of! How can we accomplish anything if you’re always so hesitant!"
Qiu Chuning finally asked, unconvinced, his eyes locked on his older sister.
Qiu Wan’Er replied, still calm:
"Second Brother, as a direct descendant of the main line, those words should not have co from you.
Steadiness is what you should be learning! If even you are this aggressive, how can the clan mbers of the future act with reason?
As I just said, the Cheng Family’s shadow is surely behind this conflict between the He and Lu Families. Furthermore, the Xu Family, which borders the He Family, will definitely make a move.
Our territory is a bit farther away. If we send too few people, we won’t gain much; we might even return empty-handed or suffer losses. If we send too many, our own clan will be left vulnerable.
Never mind a potential counterattack from the Cheng, He, and Xu Families. Just consider the few families around us. If they see that the manpower on our territory has been greatly reduced, it’s highly likely they’ll team up to carve up our lands.
Second Brother, you’re willing to ddle in this affair for the chance at a profit. If you were in their shoes and saw our Qiu Family in such a state, wouldn’t you be willing to carve it up?"
Instantly, Qiu Chuning opened his mouth but found himself unable to retort. In the end, he forced himself to say stubbornly:
"The Cheng and Xu Families might not even get involved! Besides, if the Cheng Family does, it’ll just be that brat Cheng Zongyang. They have no one else to send. And that so-called Celestial Break Gang is just for show!"
However, Qiu Chu’an spoke up at this mont.
"Second Brother, that’s not necessarily true. I’ve investigated. The Cheng Family has nearly thirty Eighth Grade Martial Artists, and that’s just what I was able to find out. That number isn’t much different from our own.
Also, while the Celestial Break Gang has few Martial Artists, they have many ordinary mbers. If our Martial Artists get tied up, what’s to stop the Gang from overwhelming our regular clansn?"
"Enough." At this, Qiu Fengxing spoke, looking at his second son. "I can understand your ambition," he said lightly, "but your sister is right. While being ambitious, you must also be mindful of our position.
Right now, none of the families have fully settled in yet, so the possibility of sudden changes and conflict is extrely high. Once things stabilize later, it will be much harder for anyone to fight for more. There’s no need for further discussion. We will simply wait and see how things develop."
Seeing this, no one said anything more, but Qiu Chuning left unhappily.
"Sigh." Seeing this, Qiu Wan’Er let out a small sigh.
’After all this ti, his temperant still hasn’t changed much.’
"Big Sister, don’t worry," Qiu Chu’an said, walking over.
Hearing her third brother’s comforting words, Qiu Wan’Er smiled knowingly. "You’re still the sensible one."
Qiu Fengxing also felt a sense of helplessness.
’If only my eldest daughter were a son. The family would surely prosper in her hands.’
Suddenly, a thought popped into his head.
’What about recruiting a son-in-law?’
But he quickly tossed the thought aside.
「At the sa ti」
The other families were also holding their own discussions after receiving news about the Lu and He Families.
But in the end, due to the distance and the situations in their own territories, they all chose to wait and see.
They also wanted to see who would be weakened by the conflict first, before deciding on their own course of action.
However, Liu Chengdong, whose territory was on South East Street, had other ideas!
After learning about the situation in the north of the city, Liu Chengdong had no intention of getting involved there. Instead, he set his sights on West City.
「The Liu Family estate, a rear courtyard hall.」
"...Are you sure the intelligence is correct? Has there been any news from that side?" Liu Chengdong asked, looking at a scout dressed in Night Clothes.
"Certain! The news ca from our man inside the Celestial Break Gang. The Lu and He Families have already clashed. But the West City side hasn’t made a move.
As for our man planted in the Lu Family, we couldn’t contact him. He’s probably been sent out on a mission."
Now, Liu Chengdong was a little uncertain.
’I thought the He and Cheng Families were teaming up to destroy the Lu Family. Why isn’t the Cheng Family making a move?’
Earlier, a man he had bribed in the He Family sent word that Cheng Zongyang had entered the He estate.
He had his suspicions then, but he hadn’t expected things to move so quickly that he had no ti to react.
With trouble brewing in the north, he had assud the Cheng Family would coordinate with the He Family. He had planned to use that opportunity to seize a portion of West City’s territory, then swap it with the Ding Family, allowing the Liu Family’s territory to beco a single, contiguous piece.
But unexpectedly, only the He Family had made a move.
"How did that kid manage to abduct Lu Yan?" Liu Chengdong frowned. "Why not just kill him on the spot and be done with it?"
"Patriarch, are we still going to make a move?" a Steward asked.
Liu Chengdong didn’t answer. His mind was already racing, weighing the pros and cons.
After a long mont, he shook his head and sighed.
"I thought this would be an opportunity, but who knew the Cheng Family would be so cautious and not make a move! What a sha!"
He knew very well that his own neighbors were no saints either. If he dared to lead his n out, the possibility of his own backyard catching fire was extrely high.
If he could take all of West City, or even half, it would be fine. But if he failed, the losses would far outweigh the gains.
So, Liu Chengdong could only order his n to keep scouting for news from West City and the north, holding his position for now.
If the situation changed, he really wouldn’t mind paying the Ding Family a visit to discuss taking down West City together.
「North City, the He Family’s rear courtyard.」
Vaulting the wall again, Cheng Zongyang saw He Shujun still waiting where the table had been. The original table was gone, however, replaced by a new wooden table and chairs.
’It was obvious what that guy had done.’
THUD. Cheng Zongyang tossed Lu Yan’s corpse aside. The body tumbled a few tis before coming to rest on its back.
Cheng Zongyang dusted off his hands, casually sat down in a chair, and said lightly, "I brought him to you."
However, He Shujun’s brow remained tightly furrowed as he stared at the corpse.
He was thoroughly confused.
’Why wasn’t the Sub-Insect dead?’
After Cheng Zongyang had left earlier, he had checked the Mother Insect again, and it was still extrely agitated.
But then it had gradually cald down, which ant the Mother Insect had sensed the Sub-Insect again. The Sub-Insect wasn’t dead!
’So what happened before?’
He ignored Cheng Zongyang and walked over to the corpse. He gave it a quick glance, checking it over and confirming the appearance was correct, then ripped open the man’s clothes.
By the firelight in the courtyard, he could vaguely make out the scar on the chest. At this, He Shujun was finally relieved.
’At least it’s the right person!’
Although he didn’t know what had happened to the Sub-Insect before, he was relieved that it was now safe and absorbing the last of the vital blood essence.
He was about to lift Lu Yan’s corpse and carry it into the room. But in the next mont, Cheng Zongyang’s voice drifted over, as casual as a stranger making small talk:
"I’ve given you the man. If the Martial Artists I want aren’t delivered, I imagine the other families wouldn’t want to find out their neighbor is soone who uses the thods of a Poison Physician."
He Shujun’s expression changed drastically. He whipped his head around to stare at Cheng Zongyang, his eyes radiating killing intent!
Poison Physician. The na was a taboo! And also a hot commodity!
No one wanted to be a Poison Physician’s target, but everyone wanted to control a Poison Physician!
Cheng Zongyang paid his gaze no mind. Instead, he t it with a dry chuckle. "Rember, no fewer than twenty Martial Artists. Or you’ll bear the consequences!"
With that, he left under He Shujun’s gaze—a gaze filled with gritted-teeth fury, venomous hatred, and helpless resignation.
He desperately wanted to kill Cheng Zongyang to silence him, but he knew he was no match for him!
He himself had been at a slight disadvantage when he fought Lu Yan. And it was confird that Lu Yan had been repeatedly defeated by Cheng Zongyang, and now, he was dead, his throat crushed!
"Once I break through to the Sixth Grade tonight, I will definitely take your dog’s life!" He Shujun tilted his head back slightly, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath to suppress the rage in his heart, only then slowly calming down.
Then he turned back and continued to drag Lu Yan’s body into the room.
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