Chapter 349: Hongfeng Lake Xing Family!
The next morning, all of Zun City was shaken. This was because just last night, the family of real estate tycoon Tan Zhenhong had been slaughtered down to the third generation!
Tan Zhenhong, Tan Feiyang, and Tan Lun were all beheaded.
The rest of the Tan Family were fortunate enough to have escaped.
As soon as the news broke, Zun City was rocked, and the entirety of Southern Sky was rattled. Everyone was speculating which major power the Tan Family had offended to warrant such a fate—the annihilation of three generations.
Meanwhile, Lin Mu was already deep within Thunder Mountain, standing before Bai Miao Village.
Lin Mu stood at the entrance to Bai Miao Village, observing the gate. In the time that had passed, Bai Miao Village had grown much stronger. This was evident from the gate alone, which was taller and more magnificent than before.
Before he could enter, a chorus of shouts echoed from within. The gate boomed open, and Li Xuan emerged, leading a group of the village’s elders.
"Li Xuan of Bai Miao Village greets the Miao King!"
"We greet the Miao King!"
Upon seeing Lin Mu, Li Xuan and the others immediately knelt, addressing him as the Miao King.
"Rise."
Lin Mu glanced at Li Xuan. The Great Elder of Bai Miao Village looked even older now; his strength had been greatly diminished ever since his arm was severed.
"Miao King, please, come in!" With a deferential expression, Li Xuan stood to the side to clear a path.
Lin Mu nodded and walked into Bai Miao Village.
Within a vast square in Bai Miao Village, many young members of the Li Clan were practicing their boxing. Even more were striking their bodies with logs as thick as a thigh, letting out grunts of exertion from time to time.
Seeing this, Lin Mu nodded in approval. They were tempering their bodies using the body refinement technique he had passed down, and in just a short time, the results were already significant.
"Li Xuan, you have managed the Li Clan well and earned a reward." Lin Mu took out a porcelain bottle and tossed it to him. "These are Essence Cultivating Pills. Distribute them, but remember: only one per person. While it can’t regenerate your arm, granting you another ten years of life will be as easy as flipping a hand."
Catching the porcelain bottle, Li Xuan was so shocked he immediately fell to his knees again. "Thank you for the pills, Miao King!"
"Rise. All of you, return to your duties. Do not disturb me unless I summon you. If a matter arises that you cannot decide on, have my disciple, Li Lai, relay it to me."
With that, Lin Mu’s figure flickered and vanished from sight.
Seeing Lin Mu’s sudden disappearance, the People of the Li Clan were stunned into silence, remaining on their knees with fervent expressions.
Li Lai, still kneeling, showed a subtle change in expression and said respectfully, "Yes, I will obey my Master’s command!"
...
「Yang City, Provincial Capital of Southern Sky」
Within the Xing Family estate at Hongfeng Lake, the Family Head, Xing Yong, smashed a porcelain vase in his room, roaring, "Send men to Zun City immediately! I want a thorough investigation!"
"Dig three feet into the ground if you have to, but find the man who killed Tan Zhenhong!"
Xing Yong’s fury, of course, was because three generations of the Tan Family had been wiped out. Everyone in Southern Sky knew that Tan Zhenhong was a dog of the Xing Family—their most loyal one at that.
And now, someone had slaughtered that dog! This was a blatant show of disrespect for the Xing Family! You have to consider the master before you beat his dog. Xing Yong didn’t particularly care about Tan Zhenhong’s death itself; what enraged him was the perpetrator’s audacity. They had shown no regard for the Xing Family’s prestige whatsoever.
With Xing Yong’s command, a large number of Xing Family members were mobilized and rushed to Zun City.
That same afternoon, the news came back.
The one who had wiped out three generations of the Tan Family was a local bigwig from Zun City named Xiao Qian!
"Xiao Qian!" Xing Yong smiled grimly. "Xing Ling, go and bring me his head! No, on second thought, don’t bring it back. Hang it directly from the Zun City gate. I want everyone in Southern Sky to know the price for daring to kill a dog of the Xing Family!"
"Yes, sir!" a young man replied, immediately accepting the order and rushing toward Zun City.
However, that very night, Xing Ling returned, gravely injured.
"Family Head, please forgive me! I failed to kill Xiao Qian!" Xing Ling knelt on the floor, his face deathly pale.
"Hmm? What happened? For even you to fail..." Xing Yong was slightly surprised.
Xing Ling was one of the most talented of the Xing Family’s younger generation, his strength having reached the External Strength Peak. How could he fail to kill a mere gang leader from Zun City? Could there be some hidden complication?
Gritting his teeth, Xing Ling said, "I was about to succeed, but I didn’t expect that Xiao Qian was from a branch of the Southern Sky Xiao Family. He had several experts protecting him."
"I have failed the task you entrusted to me, Family Head. Please punish me!"
Xing Yong had been furious, but after hearing Xing Ling’s explanation, he just gave a cold laugh. "So, Xiao Qian is from a branch of the Xiao Family. No wonder."
"Family Head, you aren’t punishing me?" Xing Ling was taken aback. According to family law, he should have had an arm severed.
"Go and receive fifty strikes with the iron rod. You will no longer be involved in this matter." Xing Yong waved his hand dismissively. After sending Xing Ling away, he rose and walked out of the hall.
The Xiao Family? Hmph, it seems you’re all eager to die! Relying on the backing of some so-called Miao King, you’ve already started to disrespect my Xing Family. Very well, then don’t blame me for being ruthless!
...
「Hongfeng Lake」
This place was the most famous scenic tourist area in all of Southern Sky. But no one knew it was the property of the Xing Family.
In the middle of Hongfeng Lake, a pavilion had been built. At this moment, a young man sat cross-legged in the center of the pavilion. Ethereal streams of power from the heavens and earth seemed to flow into his body.
On his bare skin was a tattoo. As the power poured into him, the tattoo writhed slightly, taking the form of a giant axe.
This was the Xing Family’s totem: the Xing Tian Axe!
After an unknown amount of time, the young man suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of crimson vanishing from his gaze.
At most, I’ll be able to take that step in half a year.
The young man smiled faintly and shook his head. His shoulder-length hair gave him a strangely captivating charm.
He stood up abruptly and dove straight into Hongfeng Lake. Half an hour later, he emerged on the shore. A servant handed him his clothes, which he put on to cover his powerful, muscular physique.
"Chong is truly the Dragon of the Xing Family, a man of exceptional talent. At this rate, it won’t be long before he takes that step," Xing Yong said as he approached, waving away the servant.
Xing Chong twisted his body slightly, and the water on his skin instantly evaporated. Hearing his father’s words, he sighed. "To take that step, both opportunity and good fortune are indispensable."
It will probably take another three years. Though Xing Chong’s tone was flat, it was filled with immense confidence. To reach the Grandmaster realm in three years would be considered a monstrous talent anywhere.
Xing Yong was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. "In that case, won’t our Xing Family have two Grandmasters presiding over it? When we go to the Li Clan to propose marriage, will they still dare to refuse?"
Xing Chong gave a cold smile. Three years? I can’t wait that long.
Xing Yong was confused. "This is a critical period. Why can’t you even wait three years, Chong?"
Xing Chong glanced at the lake’s surface. "Uncle said that if I can marry the Saintess of the Li Clan, I can reach the Grandmaster realm within half a year!"
"What?" Xing Yong was thunderstruck, his heart pounding.
Xing Chong looked deeply at his father. "So, until I have married the Saintess of the Li Clan, the Xing Family needs to keep a low profile when necessary. As for everything else... I will deal with it after I become a Grandmaster."
Xing Chong’s gaze drifted toward a distant point, and a sinister, contemptuous arc formed on his lips. The Miao King? Heh. When the time comes, I’ll show you who is truly qualified to be the king of the Southern Border!