Three days later.
Zhou Shaocheng visited the Yang family again.
Yang Wenfeng discussed with him for nearly half an hour, settling the terms of the Zhou family's promised compensation.
News of the Zhou family's second visit naturally reached the Su family's ears.
As the former hegemon family of Yuehu Commandery, they had numerous informants.
Therefore, they could roughly guess the Yang family's decision.
"It seems the Yang family has chosen to side with the Zhou family. Send people to monitor the Yang family's movements. Once an opportunity arises, kill without mercy. Also increase surveillance on all other sixth-rank and above families.
"I want to know every family that stands opposed to our Su family."
"Yes, Family Head."
Though nearly mad, they knew that if they truly went on a killing spree and stood against all families, the Su family would truly have no way out.
Win over the families that sided with the Su family and give them benefits, suppress those that stood opposed. Only this way would they leave room for maneuver.
Another five or six days passed.
Yang Shidao and Yang Zhao, along with their families, secretly left the commandery city.
As for the commandery captain's duties, there was naturally no time to attend to them.
With the two great hegemons of Yuehu Commandery about to go to war and the Yang family potentially facing destruction, who would worry about the commandery city's ordinary affairs?
Though the commandery city officials nominally governed Yuehu Commandery, who among them didn't put on a smiling face when meeting immortal cultivation families?
The commandery city's immortal officials were also members of various families. Now with the storm brewing, they had all returned to their respective families.
Only ordinary families and commoners continued living their daily lives.
…
Su Family.
"Yang Shidao and Commandery Captain Yang Zhao from the Yang family left together with their families?"
The Su Family Head heard the guard's report and fell into contemplation.
"Yes, Family Head. Moreover, they were being very careful. Unfortunately, we have informants among the city gate guards." The middle-aged guard said.
"I understand. You may leave."
"Yes, Family Head."
Shortly after, the Su Family Head summoned a sixth layer Qi Refining immortal cultivator from the clan.
"Family Head, you summoned me?" Su Taiyuan cupped his fists.
"The Yang family has sided with the Zhou family. Two of their clan members have left the commandery city with their families. They should be trying to avoid disaster while preserving a bloodline for the Yang family."
"Is that so? The Yang family really doesn't know what's good for them. Do they really think our Su family can't deal with a mere sixth-rank family?" Su Taiyuan said, "Family Head, let me go to the Yang family right now and slaughter every last one of them!"
"Don't be rash!" The Su Family Head glanced at him and raised his hand to stop him, "We're at a critical juncture right now. At the very least, there must be no mass slaughter in the commandery city."
"Then does the Family Head want me to hunt down the Yang family members who fled?"
The Su Family Head nodded slightly, "Those arranged to flee at this time must be important figures of the Yang family. Take their heads and throw them into the Yang family's ancestral residence. Let them know the consequences of standing against our Su family."
"However, don't be hasty to kill them. First observe their movements. Wait until they meet up with their accomplices, then strike with thunderous force to eliminate future troubles.
"If they have no accomplices, then simply bring back the heads of those Yang family members who fled."
Su Taiyuan's eyes lit up. He cupped his fists with a smile, "The Family Head is farsighted. Taiyuan will go handle this immediately."
The Su Family Head then informed him of Yang Zhao and the others' direction, as well as the number of accompanying carriages, making it easy for Su Taiyuan to quickly locate them.
Su Taiyuan left the Su family and flew on his sword, pursuing along the official road from the commandery city's east gate.
In just a moment, he spotted Yang Zhao's group.
Along the way, they had lodged at an inn in some county seat.
Su Taiyuan took the opportunity to descend from the sky and gathered some information.
Using an immortal cultivator's divine sense for reconnaissance was naturally unimpeded.
"Uncle Yang Zhao, how much longer until we reach Qingjiang County?" Yang Shidao asked.
Yang Zhao thought for a moment and said, "At our current pace, we'll definitely arrive before noon the day after tomorrow. Let's rest well today. Even if we can endure, our families need rest too."
"As Uncle Yang Zhao says." Yang Shidao nodded slightly.
"So they're going to Qingjiang County. What's worth going to in that backwater place? That's already one of the most distant counties from the commandery city."
Killing intent stirred in Su Taiyuan's heart. He wanted to slaughter them all right here but then he thought about it. His Family Head's words made sense.
To truly intimidate, it would be best to include their accomplices. They were specifically going to such a remote county as Qingjiang, so there must be accomplices there.
"Then I'll let you live two more days."
Early morning, the day after tomorrow.
Xu Chuan performed his daily divination of the family's fortune.
[Today's hexagram: Lower-middle. At the hour of si, Yang Zhao and Yang Shidao arrive with their families. A Su family immortal cultivator follows secretly behind, intending to kill them along with the Xu family. Yang Zhao and the others are instantly slain, and many Xu family guards also die.]
Seeing this hexagram, Xu Chuan was astonished, his brow furrowing involuntarily.
"Why are Yang Zhao and the others suddenly coming, and together with Yang Shidao?"
He was confident that currently no one could possibly know the Xu family's true situation. Could it be related to the people the Yang family sent to gather information two years ago?
Xu Chuan pondered for a moment and sighed softly.
"Forget it. It seems the conflict between the Su and Zhou families in the commandery city is imminent. Perhaps in a few months, at most half a year, a great battle will definitely erupt. The sixth-rank and above families in the commandery city probably can't avoid it."
"Even if they don't want to join, there's no guarantee the victor won't give them trouble afterward."
"A Su family immortal cultivator following means they must have sided with the Zhou family."
"Did Yang Wenfeng have them come here to take shelter?"
With slight thought, Xu Chuan could see through the threads of this incident to understand its full picture.
"Yang Shidao's talent should be the best in this generation. They want him to become the future Grand Elder of the Yang family. As for Yang Zhao..."
"Brother Yang, even if you're unwilling, when the family's survival is at stake, how can you avoid it?"
Xu Chuan believed that Yang Wenfeng was certainly preparing to have Yang Zhao assume the position of Yang family head.
"Even if the Yang family suffers heavy losses this time, with those two present, the Yang family still has hope for recovery."
"As for the Su family..."
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Xu Chuan's lips. "Wanting to exterminate my entire Xu family? Truly tyrannical!"
The hour of mao.
"Mingwei, come to my study."
Shortly after Xu Chuan got up, he sent a divine consciousness transmission to Xu Mingwei, who had also risen and was sitting in meditation cultivating qi.
"Father, you summoned me."
"Your father-in-law and Yang Shidao are coming to our Xu family with their families to take shelter. There's a Su family tail behind them. Go deal with it secretly so they have a smooth journey. After you return, have someone prepare guest rooms for them to stay in."
"Father-in-law and the others are coming? And there's someone from the Su family following?" Xu Mingwei's face showed surprise.
"It's an immortal cultivator." Xu Chuan said indifferently. "The Yang family has probably sided with the Zhou family. The Su family is displeased. The Yang family sent them here to take shelter and avoid this great battle, but the Su family discovered them. They probably intend to kill them along with whoever takes them in."
"A mere Su family Qi Refining cultivator thinks he can exterminate our Xu family?!"
Killing intent showed in Xu Mingwei's eyes, a cold gleam flashing past.
"Father, leave this matter to me."
"Mm. They'll arrive around the hour of si. Estimate the time and find a suitable place to wait."
Xu Mingwei cupped his fists, "Yes. Your child will go and return quickly. I should still make it back for breakfast."
Xu Chuan smiled faintly.
Xu Mingwei left the study and soared into the air on his sword.
Besides cultivating the Breath Concealment Technique, he was also cultivating the Nine Flames Formula. This divine sense control secret technique was also useful for his archery skills.
Xu Mingyuan and the others didn't need to rush. The plan was to wait until they cultivated to the seventh or eighth layer of Qi Refining before teaching them this technique.
Even just achieving Three Thoughts as One would benefit them.
Xu Mingwei raced along the official road from Qingjiang County toward the commandery city.
Through his eagle eyes, he saw Yang Shichang on horseback more than ten li away and immediately darted into the mountain forest not far to the side.
Shortly after, he spotted the figure in the sky about a li behind them.
Killing intent flickered in his eyes. His left hand brushed over his storage bag, and the Ink Flood Dragon Bow flew out, expanding to its normal size and settling in his hand. An Ink Flood Dragon Arrow automatically nocked itself on the bowstring.
The next moment, he sank his waist and lowered his stance, rooted like an old pine. Drawing the bow like a crescent moon, his five fingers gripped the string like a golden eagle seizing a rabbit. Then magical power circulated as killing intent fully manifested!
This was Xu Mingwei's full-power strike using magical power!
The Ink Flood Dragon Arrow shot forth like black lightning, piercing through clouds and sky, instantly flying more than ten li.
Su Taiyuan's attention was entirely on Yang Zhao and the others. By the time he sensed something and turned to look, his skull was instantly pierced by the black lightning.
His soul was utterly destroyed.
His corpse fell from the sky.
"Boom~"
"What was that sound?" Yang Shichang asked with alarm.
"What happened?" Yang Zhao's voice came from inside the carriage.
"There seemed to be movement behind us."
"I heard it too." Yang Shidao turned to look back, but couldn't see clearly at all.
"Don't mind it. Let's hurry on our way to avoid complications."
"Yes, Father." Yang Shichang said.
The group continued on their journey.
Xu Mingwei went to loot the corpse, then carried the body into the mountain forest. With a simple hand seal, a fireball condensed and fell onto Su Taiyuan's body.
Only after it was completely incinerated did he leave.
Returning to the Xu family in just a moment, he was just in time to have breakfast with Yang Ronghua, Xu Dezhao, and the others.
"Father, where did you go?" Xu Dezhao asked in surprise.
"Don't ask unnecessary questions. After you finish eating, go cultivate." Xu Mingwei said with a stern face.
Yang Ronghua smiled faintly and had someone bring another set of bowls and chopsticks. "Husband, don't push the children too hard either."
Xu Dezhao nodded and said, "Father, we know what we should do. Don't worry."
"Good that you know."
Then the family enjoyed a harmonious breakfast together.
At the very moment Su Taiyuan died, the person guarding the Su family disciples' life lamps hurried to report to the Su Family Head.
"What? Taiyuan's life lamp went out?"
"How could this be?!"
The Su Family Head couldn't figure it out despite racking his brain. Yang Shidao and Yang Zhao were only at innate perfection, and Su Taiyuan couldn't possibly be foolish enough to engage them in close combat on the ground.
"It's even more impossible for there to be anyone capable of killing Su Taiyuan in a county seat. Could it be the Zhou family?" The Su Family Head's eyes showed suspicion as he muttered with a shifting expression, "But would the Zhou family really do this for a mere Yang family?"
Whether it was the Su family or the Zhou family, they both treated other families as subordinates and chess pieces. How could they possibly protect their clansmen to such a degree?
"Could this have been a condition the Yang family negotiated with the Zhou family?"
"Forget it. Just two fish that slipped through the net, yet our Su family lost a sixth layer Qi Refining cultivator. Damn it!
"After this battle, if our Su family wins, I'll make sure not a single dog or chicken is left of the Yang family!"