The atmosphere at Yipinju was volatile.
The onlookers, who had initially gathered to watch the spectacle, were now struck with shock and terror. They could never have imagined that events would take such a jaw-dropping turn. Lin Dehua, the Director of the Supervision Office, had actually sided with Chu Xuan, decisively executing the son of a Martial Administration captain without the slightest hesitation.
"You’re next."
A glint of ruthlessness flashed in Chu Xuan’s eyes. Without a moment’s hesitation, he wiped out those who had participated in the heinous acts of years past, as easily as crushing ants. Afterwards, he took Chu Keke by the hand, slung a bundle containing the heads of Wei Junhao and the others over his shoulder, and walked away from the clamor with a steady, composed gait.
Only after they had left did the screaming of the guests finally break out. People fled in every direction, the scene devolving into total chaos. The news of what had transpired here spread with the speed of wildfire. Before long, every high-ranking official and nobleman in the Southern Territory had heard the rumors.
"Chu Xuan has returned from his supposed death. How has his power become so terrifying? They say the great families of Jinling—the Zhao Family, the Wei Family—were defenseless before him. Those Internal Force Experts were like mere scraps of refuse in his hands, unable to fight back. Even when the Martial Administration stepped in, they couldn't suppress him."
"I heard some gossip that the tragedy of the Chu Family years ago was masterminded by the Lingzhou Governor himself. I never imagined that someone who always acts so righteous and noble would actually be such an insidious villain."
"Lower your voice! You can't just spread rumors like that. If someone from the Lingzhou Governor's office hears you, you’ll be in serious trouble. I suspect he’s already received the news and knows Chu Xuan is coming for revenge. Lingzhou is about to face a bloodbath."
"Don't underestimate the Lingzhou Governor. He has operated in Lingzhou for years and can cover the sky with one hand. Besides, consider who his father-in-law is; the power behind him is not to be trifled with. Chu Xuan might just end up walking the same path as his family did years ago and suffer a crushing defeat."
...
The discussions continued, with people’s expressions ranging from shock and worry to malicious glee.
Meanwhile, Chu Xuan was slowly treading up the moss-covered stone steps of the Chu Family cemetery, the heavy bundle on his back making every step feel leaden. Chu Keke followed close behind, holding a bouquet of flowers, her knuckles white.
Reaching the headstones of the Chu ancestors, Chu Xuan slowly knelt and gently set the bundle on the ground. As he undid the knots, several heads rolled out, their contorted expressions horrific in the dim light.
"Mom, Dad, Uncle, I have finally avenged you." Chu Xuan’s voice was low and gravelly, laced with both stifled sobs and a sense of release. "Those scumbags Zhao Tai and Wei Junhao have received the retribution they deserved."
He reached out to touch his parents’ names on the tombstone; as his fingertips brushed the familiar strokes, it was as if he were back in the warm days of his childhood, when his parents were still by his side.
Chu Keke knelt beside him, trembling as she placed the flowers down. "Mom, Dad, Brother is very powerful now. The bad people won't dare to bully us ever again. You don’t need to worry about us from up there anymore..." She broke down in tears, her words fragmented and broken.
Chu Xuan stood tall, his gaze fixed on the tombstone with a stern expression, yet his heart felt no sense of relief. He knew that Zhao Tai and Wei Junhao were merely small fry, and the Lingzhou Governor might not even be the true mastermind.
"Lingzhou Governor, and the rest of you who truly planned those years ago—I swear I will bring your heads here too, to appease the wronged souls of the Chu Family!"
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing thin trickles of blood. After making his vow, he turned to his sister, his eyes filled with heartache. "Keke, for the time being, I need you to work hard and reclaim all the companies that Zhao Tai and Wei Junhao seized from us."
"I am going to the Golden House in Jinling City. Most of the Chu Family treasures that were scattered are kept there. I want to see exactly what those items are, that could make the Lingzhou Governor so pathologically obsessed..."
Chu Keke raised her tear-streaked face and nodded firmly. "Brother, don't worry. I will do my best to handle what you've entrusted to me!"
Chu Xuan grunted in acknowledgment and stood up. He glanced at his parents' tombstone one last time, deep in thought. He had a vague feeling that all of this was linked to his own origins, but the truth would only come to light once he found the Lingzhou Governor.
...
At the same time, in Lingzhou.
The gilded plaque reading "Lingzhou Mansion" shimmered in the sunlight; the hundred-acre estate was like a city within a city. Beyond the zigzagging corridors, the artificial lake shimmered with priceless night-blooming lotuses, and the manicured greens of the golf course stood in contrast to the silver-gray helicopters on the private helipad in the distance.
Inside the massive training grounds on the east side of the estate, three hundred iron-clad cavalry were drilling under the leadership of Zhao Yaojin. Zhao Yaojin stood tall, his posture upright; though only in his early twenties, he already possessed an extraordinary aura. Holding a spear, the tip flashing with cold light, every movement he made was fierce and swift, revealing his innate martial talent. As the captain of the Lingzhou Governor's cavalry, he commanded the elite at a young age, serving as the key reason the Zhao Family was able to rise in Jinling and grow into a major power.
"Kill!" At Zhao Yaojin's thunderous shout, the cavalry roared in unison, their voices shaking the sky.
"Ring!" His phone suddenly rang at his waist. He waved his hand to signal a pause in the training and answered. As he listened to the voice on the other end, Zhao Yaojin’s face turned deathly pale, his expression twisting into a savage grimace.
"Chu Xuan!"
He gnashed his teeth, his eyes bloodshot and veins bulging across his body. In a fit of rage, he smashed the phone onto the ground, shattering it to pieces. Zhao Yaojin had never expected that while he felt guilty for failing to return home for his father's birthday banquet, the next phone call he would receive would bring the horrific news that his entire family had perished at the hands of Chu Xuan.
"Everyone, stop!" Zhao Yaojin roared, his voice brimming with murderous intent. "Follow me to Jinling! Avenge my family! I will tear that brat Chu Xuan to shreds!"
The cavalry, infected by his intensity, responded in kind. The training ground was instantly filled with bloodlust.
"Wait!"
Just as they were about to charge out of the training grounds, the Lingzhou Governor's butler hurried toward them. Dressed in a black long robe, his demeanor was elegant, yet he could not hide the anxiety in his eyes.
"Captain Zhao, we know everything that has happened in Jinling." The butler did not stop him, but instead solemnly handed over a token engraved with the emblem of the Lingzhou Mansion, his tone serious. "The Lingzhou Governor is furious. Those people back then were incompetent, allowing that little wretch to slip through the cracks."
"This is not just a grudge for the Zhao Family; it is an open challenge to the Governor, and to the order of both Jinling and Lingzhou!" He paused, then continued, "The Governor has ordered me to give this token to you. Lead your troops to Jinling immediately and make sure to smash Chu Xuan into a thousand pieces."
"As a precaution, I am sending a Transformation Force Grandmaster to accompany you. This must succeed; failure is not an option!"
That great personage had given a strict order to eliminate Chu Xuan back then. Now, not only was he alive, but he had caused such a massive disturbance. If the influential figure in Yanjing learned of this, the Lingzhou Governor would certainly be in deep trouble. Only by dealing with Chu Xuan before the news traveled further could he protect his status and his life.
"Chu Xuan, there’s no way you’re escaping this time!"
Zhao Yaojin tucked the token into his coat and gestured with a wide sweep of his hand. He and his iron cavalry set off in a grand, imposing march.