Chapter 10

The Luo Family.

Xu Tai, after emergency treatment, had his injuries stabilized and was sent back to his residence to rest, but the expressions of the Luo family members grew increasingly grave.

Luo Zhen Shan spoke in a low voice, "The cripple saw it with his own eyes; the one who injured him was Xu Hai." He looked around at everyone, "Luo Guan's message was correct; the Yan family and the Qingjiang Gang have indeed joined forces!"

Though they had anticipated it, everyone's hearts still sank.

Luo Zhen Hai growled, "Damn the Yan family!"

"Brother, what should we do?"

Luo Zhen Shan said solemnly, "Send someone to the county town immediately to seek aid from the Hu family!" The old master had five sons and one daughter, and the only daughter had married into the Hu family in the county town, making the two families strong allies.

Luo Lao Si smiled bitterly, "The county town is far away; a round trip will take at least six or seven days, and it might be too late by then."

Silence fell.

If not for Luo Guan's resolution at the Qingwa Street incident, the Yan family would have already made their move. Now that their ambush has been exposed, they will not give the Luo family time to respond. The Yan family was already the leader among the four families, and with the addition of the Qingjiang Gang, they had no chance of winning!

Luo Zhen Shan's expression was resolute, "Given the situation, we have no choice."

"Order the family to raise the alert to the highest level, recall all clan members, and prepare for battle!"

"Yes!"

Everyone accepted the order and hurried away.

The night was as still as water, and a heavy atmosphere enveloped the entire Luo family. Luo Guan returned home in this heavy atmosphere, learned of the order from the ancestral hall, and after a moment's thought, he headed to his father's residence.

"Master, you're back!" Uncle Ku bowed.

Luo Guan nodded, "Is Father asleep?"

A voice came from inside the room, "Is it Guan? Come in."

Pushing the door open, Luo Zhen Shan was actually there.

"Uncle."

Luo Zhen Shan nodded and stood up, saying, "It's late, and you're not in good health, so rest early. Make a quick decision about what happened just now." He walked to Luo Guan and patted his shoulder, "Good job today!"

"Father, what's the matter with Uncle?"

Luo Zhen Shan said, "You already know the current situation."

"Your uncle plans to secretly send away a few young members of the family as a precaution, and you are on the list."

"Whether to go or not is your decision."

Luo Guan helped his father sit down, "If you don't go, I will stay." After a moment's thought, he added, "Father, don't worry; the Yan family won't make a move within ten days."

Luo Zhen Yang's face changed, "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

After a deep look, Luo Zhen Yang said solemnly, "Only you and I should know about this... no, even I shouldn't say more if it's not necessary in the future."

Luo Guan knew his father was protecting him and smiled, "Alright, rest early."

After seeing Luo Zhen Yang to bed, Luo Guan stepped outside, "Master, I want to investigate the Yan family tonight."

Xuan Gui said, "Not confident?"

"Aunt has married into the Hu family, and everyone knows it. Even if the Yan family and the Qingjiang Gang join forces, the Luo family will inevitably fall, but some experts will surely escape. Don't they fear retaliation afterward?" Luo Guan frowned, "I feel something is not right."

Xuan Gui said, "It does seem off. Let's go and see; I'll help you gauge the strength of the Yan family."

Half an hour later.

North of the city, the Yan family residence!

Swish—

A black shadow leaped over the high wall, and a stone was thrown, knocking out two fierce dogs before they could bark. Luo Guan quickly dragged them into the garden, listened to ensure there was no trouble, and then moved deeper into the compound.

A moment later, Luo Guan returned to the starting point, where the two dogs were still lying in the flower bed, undiscovered.

Xuan Gui's voice sounded, "The Yan family has a Wanzhong realm expert in the fourth courtyard we just passed. His vitality is declining, and his strength is on par with the Wanzhong realm expert in your family's ancestral hall."

The four families of Jiangning all had Wanzhong realm experts, which was no secret, but few knew who the Wanzhong realm expert in the Luo family was. Hearing Xuan Gui's words, Luo Guan suddenly recalled the crippled servant who had led him to the side hall of the ancestral hall that day... Could it be him?

As he was thinking, some movement caught his attention, and Luo Guan quickly hid.

Two night guards carrying lanterns walked down the corridor. A gust of wind sounded, and with a "thud," the one on the left fell. The next moment, a hand emerged from the shadows, grabbing the neck of the guard on the right, who instantly looked terrified.

"Where do Yan Hua and Yan Du live?"

The terrified guard dared not hide anything. After getting the answer, Luo Guan knocked him out, threw both of them into the flower bed with the dogs, and headed straight for Yan Hua's residence.

He wanted to confirm it again!

But Luo Guan found no one at Yan Hua's residence; only some servants were there. After a moment's thought, he left. Soon, he found the father and son in Yan Du's courtyard. Climbing onto the eaves, he looked through the window to see the situation inside.

At that moment, Yan Hua's face was dark and stormy.

Yan Du, pale-faced, looked at his father with fear, "Father...?"

"Humph!"

Yan Hua slapped him hard, and the bandages on Yan Du's neck, which had just been wrapped, instantly bled through.

"You useless thing, you've disgraced our Yan family!"

Xu Hai, dressed in black, said calmly, "Brother Yan, now that the Luo family has noticed, we must act quickly."

He was very dissatisfied!

Today, he had intended to challenge the Luo family, and although Luo Guan had foiled his plans, Yan Du could have turned the tables. He was ready to act and seize the Purple Jade Spirit Lamp! But this boy had been scared out of his wits and fled in panic, a complete waste.

Yan Hua nodded, "Brother Xu, rest assured. I have another plan. We'll finalize it tonight and move against the Luo family tomorrow." He glared at Yan Du, "You stay in your room and reflect on your actions; don't go anywhere!"

Seeing the two men leave, Luo Guan quickly held his breath and hid in the shadows.

"Hmm?" Xuan Gui suddenly spoke, "Yan Hua's aura is off."

Luo Guan's heart sank, "Is he hiding his strength?"

Xuan Gui said, "He has something that conceals his aura. I am limited by your realm... to confirm this, we need to find another way."

As Yan Hua and Xu Hai walked away, Luo Guan looked up at the courtyard, his face cold.

"Master, I have a plan."

Yan Du's face was twisted!

From childhood, he had never been so disgraced. His father loved him, but he was not the only son. Yan Du could already imagine the smug faces of his brothers tomorrow.

And it was all because of Luo Guan!

A favored maid approached cautiously, "Young Master, are you alright...?"

Yan Du kicked her down, "You lowly maid, you dare to mock me!" He kicked her again and again, and the maid soon lay still, blood splattered everywhere.

"Take her away!"

"Get out, all of you!"

The servants scurried away in fear.

Yan Du gritted his teeth and growled, "Luo Guan, it won't be long before you fall into my hands, and I will make you suffer worse than death!"

His resentment burned like fire, making his eyes bloodshot. At that moment, something caught his peripheral vision, and he looked terrified. Before he could react, a black shadow moved like lightning, and a punch struck his chest.

With a "thud," his ribs shattered instantly, and the rough, sharp bone fragments pierced his heart and lungs. Yan Hua's eyes bulged and bled as he stared at the face before him.

Luo Guan's face was expressionless as he pried open the fingers that clutched his robe and watched Yan Du fall to the ground, lifeless.

He knocked over the oil lamp, and the flames quickly spread, engulfing the curtains and spreading everywhere.