Chapter 168
Chapter 168: You Seek Revenge?
“From the looks of things, the Murong family seems to have confronted that general from Sheng Province and even set themselves against the other martial families in Prefecture City. Honestly speaking, the situation couldn’t be worse.”
Hu Rui An spoke bluntly, completely disregarding Murong Xiao Ya, who sat quietly inside the carriage.
Murong Xiao Ya, however, said nothing in response. She simply lowered her head and let out a soft sigh.
Li Mu Sheng had no interest in the political struggles unfolding within Sheng Province’s Prefecture City. He glanced briefly at Hu Rui An and waved dismissively.
“Lord Hu, if you can’t find something good to say, then it’s better to stay silent.”
Hu Rui An closed his mouth awkwardly and did not speak again.
Thus, the carriage rolled steadily away from Murong Manor, continuing down the winding streets.
Murong Xiao Ya had lived in Prefecture City since childhood and knew it thoroughly. She understood perfectly which places were best for sightseeing and leisure.
Though shy by nature, she was conscientious and responsible, aware of her duties on this outing. Peering carefully out the window, she guided Cao Gao Shan, Wu Shang, and the others along their path.
But due to the mobilization of troops by the Four Great Families, the farther they went from Murong Manor, the greater the chaos in the streets became.
People rushed about in panic, fleeing in all directions. Shops hurriedly closed their doors, none wishing to be caught in the coming storm.
Seeing this, Murong Xiao Ya guided the carriage toward less crowded alleys, attempting to avoid encountering the martial families altogether.
Yet fate clearly had other plans.
…
Three hundred black-armored cavalrymen and two thousand elite soldiers thundered across the cobblestone streets. Horseshoes hammered sparks from the stones, the bright embers flickering like snakes’ tongues.
War drums echoed, and shields marched forward in perfect rows, flooding the entire street like an unstoppable tide, presenting a sight both terrifying and fierce.
Seven martial masters rode at the forefront. Leading them was Baili Chang Feng, whose face appeared carved from cold iron. His cheeks were hollow, and his features sharp as blades. A ruthless aura surrounded him.
The six warriors at his side also breathed calmly yet deeply, exuding a mighty martial presence that pressed upon all nearby.
The citizens fled hurriedly, not daring to block their path. The street ahead quickly emptied.
“The Yuan, Zhu, and Cen families have already surrounded Murong Manor from three sides. Each has deployed their strongest forces. Today, we must seize that old Murong villain!”
Baili Chang Feng’s eyes were filled with murderous rage. Ever since witnessing his own son’s death, whose body was disgracefully whipped and hung upon the city walls for all to mock, he had been consumed by hatred.
He vowed in his heart that the humiliation inflicted by the Murong family would be repaid tenfold.
After retrieving the body of his son, Baili Chang Feng immediately contacted the other three Great Wu Dao families. Troops had been summoned urgently overnight, and now they planned a single devastating strike against the Murong family.
Hearing this, a middle-aged martial master beside him hesitated, then cautiously cupped his fists and said, “Patriarch, nearly all martial masters of the Four Great Families have departed their mansions. If Murong’s people take advantage of this moment to strike back…”
Before he finished, Baili Chang Feng raised a hand sharply and cut him off. “No need to worry. The Old Ancestor guards our home, and General Han has sent strong warriors as well. Nothing will happen.”
The middle-aged martial master nodded slowly and said no more.
Just then, an older clansman rode forward, worry written clearly across his face. He spoke earnestly, “Chang Feng, today’s action feels far too hasty. The Murong family isn’t so easily subdued. If we retreat now and plan further, victory might be safer.”
Baili Chang Feng shook his head solemnly. “What I want is exactly this unexpected strike. Murong’s family believes we won’t move so soon, leaving them poorly prepared. With General Han’s backing and our careful preparations, now is precisely the right moment to attack.”
He continued with dark determination, “Besides, the Murong family has gone too far. I, Baili Chang Feng, must let all of Sheng Province Prefecture City understand clearly the price of humiliating our Baili clan!”
As he spoke, a chilling glint flashed in his eyes, murderous intent radiating from his entire being. Even the armored cavalrymen behind him shivered, feeling as if icy blades hovered at their backs.
Suddenly, a cold wind gusted through the street. A figure in black robes appeared directly before Baili Chang Feng.
Seeing him, Baili Chang Feng narrowed his eyes and raised a hand, signaling his troops to halt. Turning toward the newcomer, he said, “Shadow Crow, what news do you bring?”
The black-robed man immediately bowed his head. “Our spies watching Murong Manor reported that the group suspected of killing the young master just left the manor. They seem deliberately avoiding areas controlled by the Four Great Families.”
Baili Chang Feng’s expression darkened instantly. “Are you certain?”
Shadow Crow nodded firmly. “We have confirmed their carriage and identified their faces from our previous records. There is no mistake.”
He continued, “The Murong family likely already knows we’ve taken action. Allowing that group to leave now might be their attempt to spare them from the impending attack.”
Baili Chang Feng sneered coldly. “They dare kill my son and still think of escape?”
His murderous aura surged fiercely. Turning to his older clansman, he commanded sharply, “Third Uncle, take our forces swiftly to Murong Manor. Join the other three families and seal every escape. Let no one survive!”
After giving this order, he selected three martial masters and one hundred black-armored cavalrymen to accompany him, then turned back to Shadow Crow.
“Lead the way quickly. I shall personally avenge my son!”
Shadow Crow acknowledged briefly and darted forward without further delay. Baili Chang Feng followed immediately, bringing his troops.
The older clansman opened his mouth to speak, but seeing Baili Chang Feng’s resolve and confidence, he decided it was unnecessary. With such skilled martial masters accompanying Chang Feng and considering his own powerful martial prowess, he reasoned there would be no danger.
Thus, he silently urged his forces forward to Murong Manor.
…
Meanwhile, as the Baili clan and the other martial families moved their forces, the city filled with anxious rumors. Fear spread among both martial artists and common people alike, leaving everyone unsettled and tense.
The streets grew noticeably emptier as Li Mu Sheng’s carriage rolled along. Those who remained hurried quickly, sensing great turmoil approaching.
“Lady Murong, please show us the way,” Li Mu Sheng said calmly. “We’ll head directly to the Sheng Province government office first.”
Considering the city’s state, Li Mu Sheng knew it was no longer a good time for sightseeing.
He simply decided to fulfill Hu Rui An’s request first, joining him to handle the matter with Provincial Governor Zhu Zi Ming.
After all, he had promised Fu Qi Wen he would do at least something, lest he be accused of always leaving matters to others.
Moreover, Hu Rui An and the other two were in a peculiar situation right now; indeed, without him, they couldn’t accomplish anything.
Upon hearing this, Murong Xiao Ya glanced at Li Mu Sheng, who sat just inches away beside her. She didn’t ask for any reasons, merely blushed and softly nodded her consent.
Across from them, Hu Rui An’s expression lit up in delight. He thought to himself,
[Eighth Prince appears cold but has a warm heart. Though he often dislikes managing affairs and seems aloof, he genuinely cares for his subordinates.]
Just as Hu Rui An was thinking this, a tremendous noise suddenly echoed from the street behind them.
Cao Gao Shan, leading at the front, frowned deeply and turned to look. He saw a wave of cavalrymen surging forward like a dark tide. Their iron-hoofed horses thundered in perfect harmony, like a storm god beating drums, causing leaves to shiver and fall from the roadside trees.
The metallic scraping of their black armor sounded like countless venomous snakes hissing. Flashes of sharp brilliance glimmered from their armored scales as they rapidly approached.
These Black Armored Heavy Cavalrymen uttered no battle cries, their synchronized, muffled breathing creating a deeply oppressive battle aura.
Seeing this, Cao Gao Shan’s expression immediately changed. He prepared to steer his horse around toward the carriage’s rear. Wu Shang and Cheng Zhong, also sensing the threat behind them, similarly intended to halt the carriage.
But just then, Li Mu Sheng, still inside the carriage, raised an eyebrow and calmly spoke,
“Keep moving forward. There’s no need to stop. Perhaps they aren’t here for us after all.”
Hearing this, Cao Gao Shan and the other two hesitated briefly but said nothing. They simply obeyed Li Mu Sheng’s command, continuing their journey without disruption.
However, whether outside—Cao Gao Shan, Wu Shang, Cheng Zhong—or inside—Hu Rui An, Shen An Ran, Murong Xiao Ya—all six were fully alert, their minds tightly focused on the approaching cavalry behind them. Feeling the Black Armored Heavy Cavalry rapidly closing in, everyone prepared themselves to act at a moment’s notice.
At this very instant, a deep voice rang out from behind, resonating clearly above the carriage in which Hu Rui An and the others rode.
“Was it you who killed my son?”
Baili Chang Feng’s voice surged with fierce martial Qi, booming like thunder, causing their blood to surge and ears to ring painfully.
Immediately afterward, five figures, led by Baili Chang Feng, soared high into the sky from among the cavalry. They moved as swiftly as lightning bolts, reaching the vicinity of the carriage in an instant.
However, these five did not immediately strike. Instead, they encircled the carriage from different positions, using terrifying martial Qi to tightly seal all escape routes.
According to Shadow Raven’s information, this carriage indeed matched the description of the one used by those who killed Baili Xu yesterday. Yet, Baili Chang Feng wasn’t certain if those inside were truly the murderers of his son.
Of course, he planned not to spare anyone here today. Still, he needed clarity. If these people weren’t the true culprits, he would continue to investigate until he found the murderers, vowing to grind their bones into dust.
If they denied responsibility, no matter—everyone present would die regardless.
But then, something unexpected happened. From within the carriage came a very youthful voice, calm yet steady, asking quietly, “Do you seek revenge against me?”
The voice was soft but clearly audible to everyone, including Baili Chang Feng and his four companions.
Surprise briefly flickered across Baili Chang Feng’s murderous face. He had thoroughly examined the bodies of Baili Xu and his three companions, confirming each had died instantly by a single finger strike.
Though he hadn’t witnessed the act himself, he understood that such skill required martial dao strength surpassing White-Haired Yama Baili Xue by at least one minor Heavenly Union realm. Throughout the entire Martial World, no martial master at such a level was younger than forty years old.
Yet, the voice he now heard sounded undeniably young, far younger than he’d anticipated.
Considering this, Baili Chang Feng’s eyes grew even more ferocious. Staring coldly at the carriage, he radiated a dangerously intense aura as he demanded, “Are you the one who killed my son?”
The next moment, a single word came from the carriage:
“Yes.”
Hearing this, Baili Chang Feng hesitated no longer, striking immediately with thunderous force.
To him, regardless of the truth, the moment the person inside uttered that word, they had to die!
Instantly, the surrounding spiritual Qi froze in place. Baili Chang Feng’s body crackled with wind and thunder. His terrifying martial Qi, merging with spiritual energy rushing in from all directions, transformed into two massive wind serpents that intertwined before him.
Despite the youthful voice’s arrogance, Baili Chang Feng had no intention of holding back. He struck with all his might, determined to shatter those before him into dust.
With a slight movement of his hand, the two wind serpents surged downward like a torrential river unleashed from its banks.
The massive river of Qi crushed the very air around the carriage, threatening to completely erase Hu Rui An’s carriage from existence.
At the same time, the three martial experts and Shadow Raven encircling the carriage watched silently, not moving to attack, leaving vengeance entirely to Baili Chang Feng.
They were confident that no one could survive such a powerful strike. Even if someone miraculously resisted, with them present, escape was impossible.
However, in the very next instant, something utterly astonishing happened. The powerful river of Qi, which seemed ready to obliterate the carriage, abruptly disappeared, as if Baili Chang Feng had suddenly withdrawn it.
The four Shadow Ravens turned in confusion toward Baili Chang Feng, only to freeze mid-motion.
At that moment, Baili Chang Feng stood paralyzed in place, his expression filled with disbelief.
Then, once again, that youthful voice echoed softly, “Do you still wish to seek revenge against me?”