With the pouring in of fifty Ghost Guards, the atmosphere inside the Fu family's main hall instantly plummeted to freezing point. Those Ghost Guards, holding long sabers, moved with agility and orderly strides, silently closing in on the members of the Fu family like grim reapers emerging from the dark of night.
Fu Beichen's expression changed drastically. He stared at the Ghost Guards in disbelief, the walkie-talkie in his hand nearly crushed by his grip. "This... how is this possible? Outside, I deployed an entire company of troops along with over a hundred of the Fu family's bodyguards! How did you get in? Where are my men?" His voice was laced with terror and frustration. Seeing fresh blood drip onto the floor, Fu Beichen's heart sank to rock bottom. He had brought troops out here without authorization; if an entire company of one hundred soldiers were to die here, no matter how much his current superior favored him, he would be sent before a military tribunal. Moreover, judging by the current situation, whether he could make it out of the Fu family estate alive tonight remained a complete unknown.
However, the only response he received was the cold gazes of the Ghost Guards and the chilling glare of the sabers in their hands. Fu Beichen's heart sank further as he realized that tonight, the Fu family had plunged into an unprecedented crisis.
Upon seeing this, the Fu Family Ancestor's expression also darkened. He knew all too well that the visitors meant business, and relying solely on the Fu family's strength, it would likely be difficult to fend off these mysterious Ghost Guards. Yet, as the spiritual pillar of the Fu family, how could he simply admit defeat!
"Just what kind of people are you?" he roared, though his gaze lacked the calm and confidence he had shown at the beginning.
Qin Yuanfeng sneered. Without moving from his spot, he merely gave a slight wave of his hand. A Ghost Guard immediately flashed forward, bringing a chair behind Qin Yuanfeng. Qin Yuanfeng sat down, a look of disdain crossing his face as he said, "You don't need to know who I am. You only need to know that we are people you cannot afford to cross. I will give you one last chance: lay out all of the Fu family's trump cards! Otherwise, you won't get another opportunity."
The Fu Family Ancestor said with a gloomy expression, "Kid, enough is enough! Even if you are a peak Martial Disciple Realm expert, so what? The backing of the Fu family is none other than the Sun family, a top-tier influential family in the Provincial Capital. My daughter is currently the matriarch of the Sun family, and the Sun family boasts several Martial Soldier Realm experts, while the Sun family ancestor is a high-level Martial Monarch Realm master! I'll say it again: as for today's affair, we of the Fu family admit defeat. As long as you take your men and withdraw right now, I can pretend as though nothing ever happened! How about it?"
Qin Yuanfeng said nothing more. He waved a hand behind him, and two Ghost Guards stepped out of the ranks, executing swift sword strikes as they charged toward the dozens of men led by the second elder. The Fu Family Ancestor and the first elder attempted to intervene and stop them, but abruptly realized that the strength of these two Ghost Guards was terrifyingly high. Before the two elders could even make a move, the dozens of men, including the second elder, had already been decapitated.
"How is this possible? Above the Martial Disciple Realm!" The Fu Family Ancestor and the first elder stared at the two Ghost Guards in utter disbelief.
Following the fierce and lethal strikes of those two Ghost Guards, the atmosphere inside the Fu family hall instantly congealed, as if even the air were trembling. Dozens of Fu family experts failed to escape with their lives under the blades of the two Ghost Guards. Blood splattered, staining the courtyard of the Fu family in the rainy night. This scene filled everyone present with an unprecedented sense of terror and despair.
The complexions of the Fu Family Ancestor and the first elder were as pale as paper. Never could they have imagined that these two seemingly ordinary Ghost Guards possessed such horrifying strength. Knowing that today's matter could no longer be resolved peacefully, the Fu Family Ancestor wasted no more words and motioned for Fu Hongyuan behind him to make a phone call directly. The call went through, and a woman's voice came from the other end.
"Eldest brother, it's so late, why did you think to call me? I heard someone dared to provoke our Fu family; how has it been handled?"
Though calm, the woman's voice on the other end of the line carried an unmistakable majesty and power. Fu Hongyuan took a deep breath, attempting to calm the turmoil in his heart, though the tremor in his voice remained hard to mask.
"Little sister, the situation has changed, we've run into big trouble." Fu Hongyuan's voice was low and hurried. "Not only is the opponent formidable, but they also brought fifty experts, among whom are individuals even stronger than the Martial Disciple Realm. The second elder and dozens of elite family members have already met with misfortune. Father asked me to contact you and request support from the Sun family."
Hearing this, the woman's tone on the other end shifted abruptly. "What?! Such a thing has happened? Eldest brother, hand the phone to the other party; I want to speak with him myself!"
Fu Hongyuan turned on the speakerphone, and the woman's voice echoed out: "I don't care who you are! But you listen to me well: I am the matriarch of the Jiang Province Sun family, and my name is Fu Hongyan. If you dare to lay a finger on my Fu family, I swear I will make you die a horrific death without a burial site, and I will make all your relatives suffer every conceivable torture before they die. Kid, I mean what I say! If you know what's good for you, get on your knees and kowtow right now, and submit to the Fu family's judgment!"
Qin Yuanfeng gave a cold laugh and spoke into the phone: "My name is Qin Yuanfeng. I'll be waiting for you to make me die without a burial site. Kill!" With that, a surge of internal energy erupted, blasting the mobile phone in Fu Hongyuan's hand into complete smithereens.
"Wait, you can't kill us! I am a man of the Southern Military Department! If you kill us, the Great Xia Military Department will certainly not let you off!" Nearby, Fu Beichen, who had long since been scared out of his wits, shouted loudly.
Qin Yuanfeng looked at Fu Beichen, who was now paralyzed with fear, and said, "If you hadn't spoken, I actually would have forgotten about you. I have already issued warnings to the Great Xia Military Department, yet people from the military still show up here. Don't worry, once this matter is over, I will personally contact your military department and demand an explanation from them! Kill them! Leave no one alive!"
At Qin Yuanfeng's command, five Ghost Guards behind him quickly stepped forward and slaughtered the remaining members of the Fu family. Meanwhile, Qin Yuanfeng led the rest of the Ghost Guards to tour the Fu family estate, leaving behind only intermittent cries of misery that were quickly swallowed by the roaring rain.
The night remained deep, though the rain seemed to have eased slightly. Qin Yuanfeng stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of the hotel room, gazing out at the hazy curtain of rain outside, his mind remarkably clear. He knew very well that clean and decisive though tonight's operation had been, the scent of blood on him could not be easily concealed. Thinking of the wife and daughter he was about to face, a flash of gentleness and determination crossed Qin Yuanfeng's eyes.
"Gui Yi, go help me prepare a set of clean clothes. I need to take a shower." Qin Yuanfeng turned around and instructed Gui Yi, who was standing by the door. Gui Yi acknowledged the order and departed, returning shortly with the garments.
Qin Yuanfeng meticulously washed his scar-covered body in the bathroom, making sure every inch of his skin regained its original freshness. He changed into new clothes, stood before the mirror to inspect himself, and only after confirming everything was in order did he step out of the bathroom. Gui Yi was already waiting outside the door, holding a coat in hand just in case.
"Let's go, to the hospital." Qin Yuanfeng draped the coat over his shoulders, his tone calm and resolute. Gui Yi asked no further questions, silently opening the car door for him and driving toward the hospital.
Inside the hospital, all was quiet, with only the occasional sound of medical equipment breaking the silence of the night. Qin Yuanfeng walked into the ward on tiptoe, fearing he might wake his sleeping daughter, Su Beibei. He stood by the bed, gazing at her tender little face as a warm surge welled up in his heart. Immediately afterward, his gaze shifted to Su Wanwan, who was sitting nearby with furrowed brows.
"Wanwan, I'm back," Qin Yuanfeng said softly, trying his best to keep his voice peaceful. Su Wanwan snapped her head up, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes before being replaced by worry. "Are you... all right?" She looked Qin Yuanfeng up and down, as if trying to find something amiss on him.
Qin Yuanfeng smiled and shook his head. "I'm fine, just had to deal with some matters. Look at you instead—you look exhausted, get some rest early." As he spoke, he walked over to Su Wanwan and gently patted her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.
Looking at Qin Yuanfeng, though still harboring many doubts in her heart, Su Wanwan felt slightly more at ease seeing him safe and sound. "Mm, you get some rest early too. You still need to take care of Beibei tomorrow." She forced a smile, though the worry deep in her eyes refused to be hidden. With that, she walked over to the ward's accompanying lounge to rest, while Qin Yuanfeng lay down on the accompanying bed that had been brought in earlier. Closing his eyes, he savored the peace he had not experienced in seven years as he slowly drifted off to sleep.