Chapter 107 - 106: All the Light in the World Is Not Worth a Fraction of Him
Rong Yichu stared at that blood-soaked hand, his expression growing extremely grim.
At this moment, no matter how high his cultivation, he could no longer maintain composure. He simply could not conceal the fury in his heart, and through clenched teeth, he said, "Lin Fang, I swear I will wipe out your entire Lin Family!"
Facing Rong Yichu’s threat born of rage, Lin Fang didn’t take it to heart. Smiling, he answered, "Nephew, I believe you are a rational and perceptive man. The lives of one hundred and six Rong Family members in Qingping Lane depend entirely on your decision."
Rong Yichu took a deep breath and said, "What do you want?"
Lin Fang spoke slowly, "I don’t need you to do much today. I only ask that the Hundred Households Office maintain total lockdown. No matter what happens outside, not a single man moves from the office. You should be able to manage that; after all, Gu Zhan trusts you very much. While he’s gone, what you say in the Hundred Households Office is law."
At that moment,
A member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard rushed in from outside, his expression panicked. He ran directly to Rong Yichu’s side and whispered, "Mr. Rong, something’s happened. The Prefecture Government’s Inspection Bureau, together with people from the Six Great Families, have suddenly surrounded four Hundred Households Offices in the city. They say it’s for some inspection, found all sorts of excuses, and now they’re in a standoff. Several of the Hundred Households have sent men to ask what to do."
Rong Yichu’s face grew even darker. After sending the Embroidered Uniform Guard officer out, he fixed his gaze on Lin Fang and said coldly, "You plan to move against my lord?"
Although he was asking,
Rong Yichu’s tone was utterly certain.
He had already known the Six Great Families would never tolerate Gu Zhan, but he hadn’t expected they’d make their move when the Imperial Censorate arrived. Neither he nor Gu Zhan had anticipated this.
Now, Gu Zhan had gone to the Prefecture Government,
The Six Great Families clearly intended for him to never return, to wipe out all of Gu Zhan’s influence within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, rooting him out completely.
"Nephew Yichu," Lin Fang looked at Rong Yichu and smiled faintly. "Let us not speak in riddles. Today, Gu Zhan must die, and all his foundations will be torn out by the roots. Do not destroy yourself. Sometimes, a man must be selfish!"
Rong Yichu spoke in a low voice, "Do you believe I wouldn’t have you and your daughter hacked to pieces right now?"
"I don’t believe it," Lin Fang smiled. "If I can’t walk out of this Hundred Households Office alive, not a single one of the Rong Family’s one hundred and six souls will survive. Nephew Yichu, think carefully. Don’t ruin everything for a moment’s impulse.
Would you really see the Rong Family exterminated for Gu Zhan’s sake? Besides, even if you abandon the Rong Family now, you cannot save Gu Zhan. But if you cooperate, I promise your family will rise again. Nephew, think carefully, the Rong Family is your true root!"
Rong Yichu’s face turned deathly pale. In an instant, all spirit seemed drained from him, and he slumped into his chair, slowly closing his eyes.
For a moment,
He bit his lip hard, eyes streaked with blood, and screamed hoarsely, "Guards!"
Immediately, several Embroidered Uniform Guard officers entered.
Rong Yichu raised his trembling hand, veins bulging in his neck, and forced out each word: "Pass down the order—seal off the Hundred Households Office..."
As the last word left his mouth,
Rong Yichu’s strength was spent, his soul seemingly gone, an empty shell.
At once, several Embroidered Uniform Guard officers went to carry out the order,
The Hundred Households Office fell into a tense atmosphere.
All the Embroidered Uniform Guards mustered, every courtyard began to assemble squads and take head counts.
Soon enough, two Hundred Households led squads of elite men inside, cupping their fists. "Mr. Rong, the Hundred Households Office is now fully sealed off and under martial law."
Rong Yichu asked quietly, "Has everyone been counted?"
"Count complete. What next?"
Rong Yichu closed his eyes briefly, and slowly said, "Good, good..."
At this moment,
Lin Fang and Lin Xue’Er rose to their feet.
Lin Fang smiled as he spoke, "Nephew Yichu, our Lin and Rong families are old friends, your father and I have been close for many years. We should remain on good terms from now on. I have some instructions to give to my men outside the office, so I shall take my leave. Nephew, you are a smart man!"
With that,
Lin Fang and Lin Xue’Er turned and strode away toward the exit.
Rong Yichu watched their departing backs, hatred overflowing in his eyes. He raised his hand and roared, "Embroidered Uniform Guard, hear my command—hack them to death!"
At the sound,
The Lin father and daughter turned ashen-faced in shock.
Lin Fang spun around and shouted, "Rong Yichu, are you mad? Will you see the Rong Family exterminated for Gu Zhan alone?"
Rong Yichu’s eyes blazed crimson, "Kill!"
In an instant,
Dozens of elite Embroidered Uniform Guards pounced on the Lin father and daughter like a pack of starving wolves.
Though Lin Fang was not a martial arts master, with the Lin Family’s support, his cultivation in the Postnatal Realm was not weak. He fought back immediately.
But surrounded by so many experts from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he could only hold out briefly before a hail of blades brought him down. As for Lin Xue’Er, she had no strength to resist, collapsing grievously wounded into a pool of blood.
Fallen to the ground, Lin Fang shouted, "Rong Yichu, you’re insane, you—"
Rong Yichu staggered forward, step by step toward the Lin father and daughter. As he walked, he said coldly, "The Rong Family... should have been wiped out long ago. It was my lord who gave us a new lease on life. The entire Rong Family has long since sworn that we would charge through fire and water for my lord, die a hundred deaths without complaint. If the Rong Family perishes for Gu Zhan, then that is the fate we deserve!"
Lin Fang howled, "You’re out of your mind, truly out of your mind..."
Rong Yichu continued, "Besides, the Rong Family has long since bound our fate to Lord Gu. Without him, our destruction is certain. As for your Lin Family, do you really expect they’d let me go after this blood feud?"
Lin Fang pleaded, "Nephew Yichu, believe me, I am not lying—I truly will see your Rong Family rebuilt—"
"Heh," Rong Yichu sneered. "In this world, only one person’s promise I believe, and that is my lord’s!"
With that, Rong Yichu turned to the Embroidered Uniform Guards and commanded coldly, "Hack them into mince and feed the dogs!"
"Rong Yichu, you... Ah!"
"..."
With a scream, cut abruptly short,
Lin Xue’Er, lying in the blood, could feel nothing. Still in shock, yet strangely wistful for having survived,
Rong Yichu did not kill her, after all,
Rong Yichu, in the end, still remembered their past affection,
She stared blankly at Rong Yichu, struggling to speak: "Yichu, I..."
But Rong Yichu abruptly turned his head, looked at the Embroidered Uniform Guards, and growled, "Why leave this bitch alive? Hack her to death too!"
Lin Xue’Er’s eyes flew open wide, but she had no chance to utter another sound.
The Lin father and daughter were slashed to death in a frenzy. Several Embroidered Uniform Guards swiftly dragged their mangled corpses away.
Gazing at the mutilated bodies of the Lin family pair,
Rong Yichu took a deep breath and muttered:
"The Rong Family, and Rong Yichu, long ago took Gu as our name!
You could never understand—when I was plunged into the abyss, about to be devoured wholly, it was my lord who pulled me from the depths and let me see the light again. But all the light in this world pales beside even a thousandth of him!
I, Rong Yichu, could betray anyone in this realm—but never him!"
The stench of blood filled the air,
Rong Yichu slowly took a broadsword, fastening it onto his hand with a cloth strip. His gaze frosted over; in a deep voice, he commanded, "Pass the order—summon all Embroidered Uniform Guard and men from every major gang. Assault the Prefecture Government! Whoever stands in our way—hack them to death!"