C20 Settle down

Gazing upon the gruesome demise of Liu Yunsheng, Wang Pengfei stood frozen, murmuring to himself in disbelief, "This can't be real, this can't be real!"

Zhang Sen looked upon Wang Pengfei, who had lost all will to fight, with no trace of sympathy. Those who take lives must be prepared to have theirs taken. With a swift motion, his sword fell, and a lifeless head with vacant eyes rolled aside.

"The head of our family has been slain! Avenge our leader!" cried out the die-hard supporters of both the Liu and Wang families. Yet, the majority scattered like monkeys when the tree falls, fleeing at the first chance.

"Kill them all! Leave no one alive!" commanded Zhang Yu, his vitality partially restored. Sword in hand, he joined the counter-assault. Had he not returned in time today, the Zhang family would have faced utter destruction. No mercy could be shown; only blood could end this bloodshed.

What does it matter if I'm seen as a bloodthirsty demon? If it means protecting the ones I love, I willingly embrace the darkness.

"Father, take some men and purge the Wang family of any remaining forces. I'll lead others to the Liu family. In two hours, we'll regroup. Mr. Lei, Uncle Biao, let's move."

Meanwhile, in the Liu family's courtyard, where preparations for a victory feast were underway, chaos erupted as a blood-soaked member of the Liu family burst in, screaming, "The patriarch is dead! The Zhangs are coming! Run for your lives!"

"Liu Yue, have you lost your mind? Weren't you with the patriarch to annihilate the Zhangs? Why are you back alone?" someone who recognized Liu Yue demanded, blocking his path.

"The patriarch has been killed by Zhang Yu! Run, just run!" Liu Yue cried out, shaking off the man's grasp and disappearing into the dust.

"What? Zhang Yu? That Zhang family reject? What kind of nonsense is this?" the man yelled after Liu Yue's retreating figure, cursing loudly.

"Every warrior and above, no matter their age or gender, is to be killed," Zhang Yu commanded without mercy as he led his men to the scene.

"Kill!"

The Zhang family's followers, eyes red with vengeance, stormed into the unguarded Liu family courtyard, their roars echoing as they unleashed their fury. With the Liu family's main forces already decimated at the hands of the Zhangs, there was no hope for resistance. Zhang Yu stood by, silently observing the relentless slaughter, choosing not to intervene.

In just a short while, the battle neared its conclusion. Lei Ming and his group approached, escorting seven or eight members of the Liu family. "Mr. Zhang, these are the ones who surrendered. How should we handle them?"

Zhang Yu straightened up, a glint of ice flashing in his eyes. He spoke deliberately, "Kill them all."

"Yes, sir!" In that moment, everyone regarded Zhang Yu as their guiding spirit. No sooner had his words fallen than several Zhang family members descended upon the captives like ravenous wolves, lining them up for execution. Witnessing Zhang Yu's ruthlessness, the Liu family prisoners alternated between cursing and pleading for mercy, their cries echoing loudly. Yet, the Zhang family enforcers were unmoved. Blades rose and fell without hesitation, blood sprayed, and lives were extinguished in an instant.

In this world, life was as delicate as a blade of grass, so easily snuffed out that merely existing was sometimes a luxury. To master one's fate, one had to constantly strive, to grow stronger. Strength was everything.

"Young Master, these items were retrieved from the Liu family's vault. Please, have a look," someone called out, snapping Zhang Yu from his reverie.

He nonchalantly opened one of the black chests, revealing a neat stack of Low Grade Spirit Stones. There were ten chests in total, each containing a thousand stones—ten thousand in all. This was the Liu family's accumulation over many years. Zhang Yu gave the contents a cursory glance before turning away, uninterested. To someone of his wealth, such treasures barely registered.

The rest of the haul was an assortment of medicinal herbs and martial arts techniques, mostly of lower quality and of no use to him now. However, they would be valuable to many in his clan of lesser means. After a brief examination, Zhang Yu instructed, "Record these and take them back to the clan."

"Yes, sir!" The procession of riches stretched out like a dragon, winding its way to the Zhang family estate.

...

In the Zhang family's Martial Practice Hall, the assembly was nearly halved compared to before the battle. Aside from a few who were too gravely wounded to attend, the others had perished in combat. A somber mood permeated the hall, a silent testament to the cost of war.

"Friends and family, the departed have moved on, and those of us who remain must carry on their legacy. I am certain that our kin who gave their last breath for our family would prefer to see us rise in strength, rather than remain as we are now. This time, we owe a great debt to my son, Zhang Yu, for pulling us back from the brink. But he is just one of us; the family's strength depends on our collective effort. Having cleared all hurdles to become the preeminent family in Yishui Town, it's time for all of us to channel our passion into building and honoring our family," Zhang Sen declared, lifting the somber mood that had settled over us.

Zhang Sen's words resonated with everyone; none of us were fools. We grasped the truth in his message, and a glimmer of hope sparked in our eyes. With enough strength, who would dare challenge us? After enduring great turmoil, our family is poised for a rebirth, ready to ascend even higher.

Zhang Yu then rose to speak, "Esteemed elders, it was a stroke of miraculous fortune that enabled me to rescue our clan from peril. Yet, the clan's future cannot rest on my shoulders alone. What if I were to fall? Thus, with the spoils from the Liu and Wang families, we must hasten our training and grow stronger. Here are some of the treasures I've acquired, which I now offer to the family."

With a flourish, he revealed an array of spirit weapons, thousands of Middle Grade Spirit Stones, and a selection of low-level Medicine Pills. Zhang Yu's generosity was measured, not out of stinginess, but caution—too much wealth could attract unwanted attention from powers beyond our reach.

The Zhang family members present were visibly moved by the display, their breaths quickening at the sight of the spirit weapons and the energy they exuded. For a cultivator, nothing is more alluring than the prospect of advancing one's own power.

"When has our family ever known such wealth? The Zhang family is truly on the cusp of greatness," we all thought, the shadows of grief dispelled from our hearts.

"These items will be entrusted to my father, who will distribute them based on each person's contributions to the family. Together, let's forge a brilliant future for the Zhang family!" Zhang Yu's voice rang out with conviction. Seeing the surge of enthusiasm he had inspired, he quietly stepped back, content to let his actions speak for themselves.

Zhang Sen was well aware that Zhang Yu's retention of the distribution rights was largely to bolster his own prestige. Casting a glance at his son, a thought crossed his mind, "Yu has truly come into his own."

The meeting dragged on for another four hours, focusing on the division of the Liu and Wang families' assets and the Zhang family's strategic path forward. Once everyone, clear on their responsibilities, had dispersed, Zhang Sen breathed a deep sigh of relief. The mantle of the patriarch was not just about immense power; it carried an equally heavy weight of responsibility.

"Yu, come here and sit with me. Let's have a chat. In just a month, you've matured so much. Honestly, I still feel like I'm in a dream."

"Father, you've endured so much." Zhang Yu, observing his father's premature signs of aging despite his prime years, couldn't hold back his concern.

"My boy, what are you talking about? Come, tell me about your past month."

"Well, since the day I left the clan, I ventured into the Demon Beast Mountain Range, and then..."

It took Zhang Yu two hours to briefly recount his recent experiences to Zhang Sen, deliberately omitting the reasons behind his ability to cultivate. Despite Zhang Yu's understated account, glossing over all the perils in a few words, Zhang Sen understood the hardships his son must have faced to reach his current achievements, stirring a pang of emotion within him.

"By the way, Father, this is a Profound Artifact, the Thunder God Hammer. Take it for your seclusion and refinement, and use it to focus on your cultivation. It's time for you to make a breakthrough." Zhang Yu recognized his father's innate talent, which had been overshadowed by the relentless demands of family affairs, resulting in his neglected training.

"A Profound Artifact! No, Yu, it's far too valuable. I can't accept it. Besides, it's not the right weapon for me. You're the one who can truly wield its power," Zhang Sen protested, fully aware of the artifact's worth, yet he felt compelled to decline.

"Father, my sword is already a top-tier Profound Artifact. I have no need for another weapon. Please, take it. I'm giving it to you not only to help you grow stronger but also because I'm ready to venture out and face the wider world."