Volume One: Storms in the Small Town Chapter 23: Life and Death

Zhang Qingcang, upon learning that the news had leaked, sat powerlessly in his chair.

In truth, Zhang Qingcang had anticipated this outcome long ago. Secretly, he had relocated the women and children of the Zhang family to a safe place and given Zhang Heng spirit stones so he could escape.

He remained behind to draw everyone's attention. Yet, he still harbored a sliver of hope—perhaps those people would focus their gaze on the Dragon Burial Abyss, overlooking the insignificant Zhang family, allowing his clan to escape disaster.

Moving the whole clan would almost certainly lead to their destruction. By staying, he might preserve the Zhang bloodline. Now that the secret was out and everyone knew, only annihilation awaited the Zhang family.

Their strength was meager; their strongest, Zhang Lie, was only at the peak of the Qi Sea realm. How could they contend with the mighty cultivators of the Reversal Ruins, Tianyuan, or even the Divine Transformation realms?

Forcing himself to calm down, Zhang Qingcang, as the head and pillar of the Zhang family, understood that if he fell, the Zhang family would truly be lost.

He cupped his hands to Wang Zewei and said, “Elder Wang, something grave has happened in my family. Please excuse me.”

Turning to the Zhang clan member who brought the news, he ordered, “Spread the word—convene a clan meeting. All stewards and above must attend. All Zhang family members must remain calm and await at the training ground.”

Soon after, in the Zhang family’s council hall, Zhang Qingcang sat at the head, surveying the chaotic assembly below.

He barked sternly, “Silence! You’re all decades old—yet a little trouble makes you panic like this? How will you ever accomplish anything?”

Zhang Qingcang was the strongest here; his shout quieted the crowd instantly, though their eyes brimmed with terror and uncertainty.

The Grand Elder, Zhang Qingyuan, stepped forward indifferently and said, “Clan leader, this matter is easily settled. Those powerful figures only want the secret of the Dragon Burial Abyss. If we hand over Zhang Heng, that useless boy, our Zhang family can survive this calamity.”

Zhang Qingyuan was not originally of the Zhang clan, but in his youth, he had roamed with Old Master Zhang Lie, who, in gratitude for their bond, bestowed upon him the Zhang surname and made him Grand Elder.

Zhang Qingyuan had always been diligent, but everything changed ten years ago. Back then, his son lost a duel to Zhang Qingyu, and in a fit of rage, entered the Dragon Burial Abyss seeking a way to defeat Zhang Qingyu—never to return.

Since then, Zhang Qingyuan changed, opposing Zhang Qingyu at every turn. Zhang Qingyu, feeling guilty, never argued with him. After Zhang Qingyu and his wife left, Zhang Qingyuan’s animosity shifted to Zhang Heng. Fortunately, Zhang Qingcang protected him fiercely.

After Zhang Qingyuan finished speaking, other elders nearly voiced their agreement—for in this world ruled by strength, sacrificing a useless life to save a clan was considered a bargain.

They knew nothing of the Dragon Burial Abyss’s secret, and there was no need to let the clan perish over Zhang Heng.

But before anyone could speak, a loud slap echoed, and a bright red handprint appeared on Zhang Qingyuan’s face.

The crowd was shocked; Zhang Qingyuan was a seventh-level Qi Sea cultivator, second only to Zhang Qingcang among them.

He was struck without resistance—even the clan leader lacked such power.

As everyone wondered, an elderly figure appeared beside Zhang Qingcang.

The assembly immediately bowed, calling, “Old Clan Leader!”

Zhang Qingcang was overjoyed. “Father, you’ve returned!”

Though Zhang Lie could not match those outside experts, he was the true number one of the Zhang family. His return brought a sliver of hope to the clan—however minuscule.

Zhang Lie ignored the crowd, gazing coldly at Zhang Qingyuan. “For the years you’ve followed me, and because our clan bears guilt over your son, I did not blame you when, three years ago, you colluded with Yue Xiong and revealed Qingyu’s affairs, causing my son and his wife to be exiled, and leaving Heng orphaned and alone. But now, with the clan’s survival at stake, you spread wicked words among the people—I cannot let you remain.”

Zhang Qingyuan was secretly alarmed. He had acted in utmost secrecy—how could Zhang Lie know? But there was no time to ponder; Zhang Lie’s words clearly spelled his doom.

Without hesitation, Zhang Qingyuan activated his body technique and fled, leaving afterimages in his wake. He was famed for his movement skills, and if he wished to escape, not even Zhang Qingcang could stop him.

But before he had gone far, Zhang Lie, who had been above, suddenly appeared before him. With a single palm strike, the great expert of Liunan City, Zhang Qingyuan, fell.

The old master’s power had clearly advanced again; perhaps he had reached the Yuan Dan realm, the crowd thought.

Yet, even if Zhang Lie had achieved Yuan Dan, it was useless. The Zhang family’s destruction was inevitable.

Many had come today to urge Zhang Qingcang to hand over Zhang Heng, but after witnessing Zhang Qingyuan’s fate, none dared speak further.

Zhang Lie did not spare a glance for Zhang Qingyuan’s corpse. With hands clasped behind his back, he ascended with a forlorn air, his voice echoing mournfully, “Now that catastrophe is upon us, I, Zhang Lie, can no longer protect you. I will not force you—choose as you wish. Leave the Zhang family or remain.”

“If you leave, you must find your own way. Once you depart, your life and death are no longer tied to the Zhang clan. If you stay, I swear by my spirit power—I will never let you die before my eyes.” Zhang Lie’s words, infused with spiritual force, were heard by all.

His declaration ignited fierce arguments within the Zhang residence.

Many did not hesitate—guest elders, those who came to study, outsiders. They were not of the Zhang family and had no need to die with it. So, they left immediately.

As time passed, more and more people departed—from guest elders and outsiders, to ordinary disciples, to collateral branches of the Zhang clan…

In the end, from over a thousand strong, aside from the already relocated women and children, only forty or so remained.

Some stayed because they were old and unwilling to wander, others out of gratitude for the Zhang family’s kindness, refusing to leave. In any case, those who stayed were prepared to perish with the clan.

What hope remained? Zhang Lie was the top expert in Liunan City, but those great figures could crush him in an instant.

Zhang Lie and Zhang Qingcang looked at the forty-odd who stayed, tears streaming down their faces. Men shed tears not lightly—only when truly heartbroken.

When is a man’s heart most clearly revealed? The answer: at the brink of life and death.

“Good, you are all true sons of the Zhang family,” Zhang Lie choked out.

“Clan leader, old clan leader, what should we do now?” the remaining few asked. Though they had resolved to die, who would not wish to survive if possible?

Zhang Lie looked at them, wiped his tears, and declared firmly, “Sons of the Zhang family, I assure you—our clan will not perish, but grow ever stronger. I have already found a way out for the Zhang family.”