bookbashuk Chapter 21 Triumphant Return to the City, the Wang Family Falls Silent
Chapter 21 Triumphant Return to the City, the Wang Family Falls Silent
In the afternoon.
Dust billowed outside the city gates of Qingyun County.
The guards who were guarding the city were dozing against the wall when they suddenly heard the sound of horses' hooves and wheels in the distance. They quickly looked up.
A procession was slowly approaching.
Ahead stood more than twenty riders, their swords stained with blood, their imposing presence awe-inspiring.
Several carts in the middle were loaded with weapons, grain sacks and miscellaneous items, while more than ten bandits, bound hand and foot, were being escorted behind them.
The most eye-catching thing was the black flag with wolf patterns that had been temporarily erected at the very front.
The flagpole hangs upside down, and the flag drags on the ground.
The flag of Black Wind Stronghold!
The constables instantly snapped to attention, their eyes wide with shock.
"Isn't that...that the Black Wind Stronghold's flag?"
"The Li family?!"
"Black Wind Stronghold has been attacked?!"
⸻
Crowds quickly gathered around the city gate.
The news spread like wildfire.
"The Li family is back!"
"They're taking people from Black Wind Stronghold as captives!"
"Really? Wasn't Black Wind Stronghold supposed to be going to wipe out the Li family?"
"Look! Isn't that Xing Bao's spiked club?"
The more people looked, the more shocked and confused they became.
No one expected that Black Wind Stronghold, which had descended the mountain with a fearsome reputation this morning, would become a prisoner in just half a day.
⸻
At the very front of the line.
Li Yuanlie, carrying a blood-stained longsword, grinned broadly.
"Young clan leader, look at their expressions."
"It's like seeing a ghost."
Li Yuanshan sat in the car with the account book in his arms, busy counting the spoils of war, without even looking up.
"Ghosts aren't worth that much."
"Eight horses, thirty-seven knives, six hundred and thirty-two spirit coins..."
Li Yuanlie rolled his eyes.
"You're obsessed with money."
⸻
Li Xuan sat calmly on his horse.
This is exactly the effect he wanted.
If Black Wind Village dies in the valley, it's just one battle.
Only by bringing them into the city can their authority be established.
Let everyone in the county see:
The Li family is not a small clan that can be easily manipulated.
Whoever reaches out will have their hand cut off.
⸻
As the procession passed through the long street, shopkeepers on both sides poked their heads out.
Some felt awe, some were amazed, and some were quick-witted.
Several managers of the Zhao family stood at the door, bowing respectfully from afar.
Even a few small businesses that originally relied on the Wang family secretly showed ingratiating smiles.
The wind direction has changed.
⸻
In front of Wang's Grain Store.
Wang Fu was standing behind the counter, lost in thought, when he heard the commotion outside. Annoyed, he cursed:
"What's all the noise about!"
A waiter stumbled in, his face pale.
"Shopkeeper!"
"Black Wind Stronghold...Black Wind Stronghold was destroyed by the Li family!"
Wang Fu was taken aback.
"What did you say?"
"The Li family has brought the people into the city! Xing Bao is dead!"
Wang Fu felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, and only managed to stay upright by grabbing the counter.
It’s over.
It's really over.
⸻
The Wang family ancestral home.
The atmosphere in the council chamber was deathly silent.
Wang Tonghai sat in the main seat, his face as gloomy as the sky before a storm.
The elders below the hall lowered their heads and even held their breath.
No one dared to speak first.
After a while, a servant walked in tremblingly.
"Master...there are more and more rumors circulating in the city."
"They said the Wang family hired bandits to harm people, but the Li family turned the tables and killed them instead..."
Snapped!
The teacup shattered instantly at his feet.
The servants were so frightened that they knelt down on the ground, trembling.
Wang Tonghai's chest heaved violently, and his eyes were bloodshot.
"Five thousand spirit coins."
"I spent five thousand spirit coins to buy a joke."
⸻
An elder, steeling himself, spoke:
"Master, the most important thing now is to stabilize people's hearts."
"The Zhao family has already started contacting several shops..."
Another elder whispered:
"A few independent practitioners who were also offering their services resigned this morning."
Wang Tonghai slowly raised his head, his gaze as cold as a knife.
"Everyone thinks the Wang family is doomed, right?"
No one dared to answer.
Because the answer lies in everyone's hearts.
⸻
The Black Stone Mountain team had by then arrived in the East City.
Li Xuan reined in his horse and looked at the crowd gathered on the street.
"Black Wind Stronghold has committed evil for many years and has now been brought to justice."
"The remaining sixteen men were handed over to the county government to receive their reward."
"The captured provisions and weapons will be auctioned off at a later date."
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"Young Clan Chief Li is mighty!"
"The Li family is acting on behalf of Heaven!"
"The Wang family hired the bandits, the Li family eliminated them; the difference in their abilities is immediately apparent!"
The calls grew louder and louder.
Li Yuanshan was so excited that his face turned red.
"Young Clan Chief!"
"They've really made a fortune in terms of fame!"
Li Yuanlie, carrying his sword, said:
"I told you that killing people would be effective."
⸻
Just then.
From the direction of the county government office, a group of yamen runners hurried over.
The leader was Zhou Cheng, a retainer of the county government, who was at the eighth level of Qi Refining and rarely showed his face.
His gaze swept over the bandits in the car, and his expression changed slightly.
"Are they really from Black Wind Stronghold?"
Li Xuan nodded slightly.
"The corpses are in the valley, the survivors are here."
Zhou Cheng remained silent for a moment, then suddenly cupped his hands in greeting.
"Zhou admires Chief Li for eliminating the troubles in the county town."
These words caused another uproar among those around them.
Even the county government officials have publicly expressed their support!
This indicates that the official attitude is beginning to favor the Li family.
⸻
The second floor of a restaurant in the distance.
Zhao Yuancheng stood with his hands behind his back, watching the bustling scene on the long street, his eyes gleaming.
"Li Xuan, oh Li Xuan."
"You're really brave to fight, and you're really good at it."
He turned and instructed the steward behind him:
"Prepare the gifts immediately."
"Tonight I will personally go up Blackstone Mountain."
The steward behind him was startled.
"Master, what's wrong...?"
Zhao Yuancheng said with a smile:
"Adding flowers to brocade is something everyone can do."
"Providing help in times of need is what truly matters."
⸻
Inside the Wang family ancestral home.
Another servant rushed over.
"Master!"
"Patriarch Zhao has set off, carrying substantial gifts. His destination... is Blackstone Mountain!"
boom!
The table next to Wang Tonghai was smashed to pieces with a single blow.
He finally stood up, his eyes bloodshot.
"Zhao Yuancheng!"
"Li Xuan!"
"Do you all think my Wang family is dead?!"
The people in the hall fell silent, trembling with fear.
They knew that the head of the family had been pushed to the brink.
The more someone is like this, the more dangerous they are.
⸻
Black Stone Mountain.
Li Xuan led his team back to the mountain, where his clansmen lined the road to welcome him, their cheers deafening.
Many people looked at the bandits being brought back, their eyes reddening with emotion.
Over the years, the Li family has suffered endless oppression; when has it ever been so powerful as it is today?
Li Tianheng stood in front of the mountain gate, looking at the triumphant procession, a hint of satisfaction appearing in his eyes.
The Li family finally got their revenge.
⸻
A system notification sounded in my mind:
[Successfully Establishing Prestige in Qingyun County]
[Family reputation greatly increased]
[Current Luck: 196]
[Task Progress: Leveraging the Opportunity to Suppress the King (60%)]
[Reward Preview: Opportunity to upgrade the fifth acre of spiritual land]
Li Xuan's eyes flickered slightly.
Luck is approaching two hundred.
The Wang family is also being forced to the last step.
He looked down at the county town below the mountain, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Next—"
"They're going to be desperate."
End of Chapter Twenty-One