The sudden, devastating news struck like a clap of thunder, instantly shattering the festive atmosphere that had just filled the Gao Family’s main hall.

The seated elders all turned deathly pale. The composed smiles from moments before froze on their faces, twisting into expressions of terror and horror.

The most seasoned and steady of them, the Gao Family’s Fourth Great-Uncle, shot to his feet. His Black Wood Walking Stick slammed heavily onto the floor, making a dull thud.

For the first time, a look of disbelief flickered in his world-weary eyes. His cloudy pupils constricted slightly, as if unable to accept the sudden news.

Gao Yuanhe froze in the doorway. The triumphant smile from moments ago was still on his lips, but his face was instantly drained of all color. He stood motionless, as if struck by an Immobilization Spell.

"What did you say?"

Gao Yuanhe snapped back to his senses. In a single bound, he lunged forward, grabbing the messenger disciple by the collar. His voice was hoarse with shock. "Say it again!"

The young disciple’s face was ashen, his face streaked with tears and snot, and his body trembled like a leaf. "Outside... it’s full of government soldiers! They’ve... they’ve already stormed the gates! The guards in the front courtyard couldn’t hold them back at all! They’re killing everyone on sight..."

"Who is leading them?"

The Gao Family’s great-uncle’s voice suddenly rose, his gaze as sharp as a hawk’s, fixed intently on the messenger.

The young disciple raised his head, trembling, his eyes filled with terror. "It’s... it’s Chen Sheng..."

At the name "Chen Sheng," the entire hall was stunned.

The seated elders exchanged glances, each too shocked to speak. Someone even subconsciously took half a step back, knocking over a nearby teacup. The crisp sound of shattering porcelain was especially jarring in the deathly silent hall.

’Wasn’t he supposed to have died at the Black Snake Water Stronghold? How could he be here?’

"Impossible!"

Gao Yuanhe’s expression changed drastically, his voice trembling with disbelief. "How could Chen Sheng possibly be here? The Black Snake Stronghold clearly..."

To eliminate this thorn in their side, the three great families had meticulously laid a trap.

They had not only bribed Chuyue Mountain to act as an inside man, but had also colluded with the Black Snake Village Chief, the Ink Water Flood Dragon Xu Meng. How could a mere Bone Forging Martial Master possibly escape such an inescapable net?

What’s more, they had people watching Wu Kuang’s every move, and were certain the County Captain hadn’t taken a single step out of the Government Office. By all rights, Chen Sheng should be a cold corpse by now.

"Uncle... I saw him with my own eyes... I couldn’t be mistaken..."

The messenger disciple’s voice choked with sobs. "He’s leading a large troop of government soldiers... they’ve already fought their way to the middle courtyard..."

"Enough!"

The Fourth Great-Uncle cut him off with a sharp shout. His aged face was dark, and a resolute killing intent glinted in his eyes. "This is not the time to investigate how this happened. Since Chen Sheng is leading soldiers here, it means our plan to use the water bandits to eliminate him has failed."

He took a deep breath, his gaunt fingers gripping his walking stick so tightly his knuckles turned white. "He must have learned the truth and has come for revenge. The most urgent task now is to hold off the soldiers’ blades and buy time for the Gao Family’s younger generation to escape."

At his words, everyone turned to look at this pillar of the family. At this life-or-death moment, the Fourth Great-Uncle’s calm composure helped settle the panicked crowd.

"Yuanhe, take the clan’s younger disciples and retreat through the secret passage immediately."

The Fourth Great-Uncle’s voice left no room for argument. "No matter what, you must get Qicheng and Qinian out of the city safely. Remember, go find the Patriarch at once and have him take charge of the situation."

He paused, his cloudy eyes sweeping over everyone present, and continued his orders:

"At the same time, spare no expense to get a message to the Huang and Yang families. Tell them that if they stand by and watch the Gao Family be destroyed today, our fate will be a warning of what’s to come for them. Also, quickly send someone to report this matter to County Magistrate Lin."

The Fourth Great-Uncle’s arrangements were methodical, revealing the savvy of his many years in power.

He didn’t believe Chen Sheng would dare move against the Gao Family without the County Magistrate’s approval. After all, Lin Shou had accepted no small number of bribes from the three families over the years, and he even had marriage ties to the Yang Family.

As long as the County Magistrate intervened, there was still a chance to turn things around.

The Huang and Yang families would certainly not sit idly by either.

Although the three great families usually fought amongst themselves, both openly and covertly, for resources, neither Old Ghost Huang nor Yang Yi were fools. They understood the principle that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.

For decades, in the face of pressure from the Government Office, the three families had always advanced and retreated as one. As long as they could withstand the first wave of the soldiers’ attack, there was still room to salvage the situation.

But just in case, he had to ensure the Gao Family’s Direct Lineage survived. As long as these young disciples could escape, even if the clan was annihilated today, the Gao Family would still have hope of rising again.

Listening to their great-uncle’s arrangements, the faces of everyone present grew grim.

Gao Yuanhe said urgently, "Great-Uncle, you are the unwavering pillar of the Gao Family! You should be the one to lead Qinian and the others away! Let me stay and hold off Chen Sheng and his soldiers!"

"Foolish!"

The Fourth Great-Uncle’s gaze was like a torch. "I have lived for more than seventy years and have long since come to terms with life and death. If these old bones can serve the Gao Family one last time, then that is my destiny."

He looked around at the elders, his voice sorrowful yet resolute:

"Today is a matter of life and death for our Gao Clan. Gentlemen, join me in facing death together!"

"We swear to live and die with the Gao Family!"

"We obey the Great-Uncle’s command!"

The elders all voiced their resolve, their faces determined. Some had already quietly gripped the hilts of their weapons, while others began to circulate their True Qi, preparing for the bloody battle to come.

Gao Yuanhe wanted to protest further, but looking at his great-uncle’s unquestionable gaze, he could only grit his teeth and bow.

"Take care, Great-Uncle!"

He turned to the few young disciples in the hall and barked:

"Let’s go."

"Go? And where might all of you be planning to go?"

The voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a bone-chilling cold that made everyone present shiver.

Before the words had even faded, a dark figure shot in from outside the door. With a loud THUD, it slammed heavily onto the greenstone floor in the center of the hall, spattering blood everywhere.

When the crowd finally saw the dark figure’s true identity, they were all aghast—it was none other than the Gao Family’s most outstanding young disciple of the last decade... Gao Qicheng!

But at this moment, Gao Qicheng’s hair was disheveled, his body was drenched in blood, and his opulent brocade robes had been slashed to ribbons by a sharp blade.

He was on the verge of death, his chest heaving violently, clearly having suffered a fatal wound. He opened his mouth, trying to say something, but no words came out.

"Qicheng!"

"Qicheng!"

Several elders cried out, about to rush forward to help, when they heard the ZING of a blade. A streak of cold light shot through the air, precisely piercing Gao Qicheng’s chest and pinning him firmly to the floor. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Fresh blood immediately gushed from the wound, quickly spreading across the greenstone floor.

"Chen Sheng, you dare!"

Gao Yuanhe’s eyes looked ready to split with rage, his voice filled with overwhelming killing intent. He violently drew the saber from his waist, its tip aimed straight at the doorway.

All the members of the Gao Family snapped their gazes to the doorway, their faces masks of shock and fury.

Outside the Gao Family’s main hall, Chen Sheng stood proudly.

A brand-new eighth-rank military official’s robe gave him an extraordinary air. The black longsword at his waist was not yet sheathed, its tip still dripping blood. His gaze was cold and indifferent, as if he had just casually crushed an ant.

Cheng Yanhua followed close behind him, one hand gripping a struggling young man—none other than the Gao Family’s other genius disciple, Gao Qinian. Gao Qinian’s face was deathly pale, his eyes filled with terror. His lips trembled ceaselessly, but he couldn’t make a sound.

Behind the two of them stood dozens of heavily armed soldiers. Each was covered in blood, radiating a murderous aura with fierce expressions. The weapons in their hands were still dripping, clear evidence they had just come from a bloody slaughter.

The thick stench of blood wafted into the hall on the wind, nauseatingly strong.

An intense, murderous atmosphere washed over them.