Volume One: Tempest in a Small Town Chapter 24: Besieged Mansion, Deadly Peril

After settling the members of the Zhang family, Zhang Lie and Zhang Qingcang made their way to the ancestral hall.

“Father, you should leave. You are strong enough, and since they haven’t made their move yet, you should be able to escape,” Zhang Qingcang said earnestly as he looked at Zhang Lie.

Zhang Lie found these words quite displeasing. “Boy, I am your father. Don’t you trust me?”

“Father, this is not the time for pride. I’ve already sent the women and children to Qinghe City. They have no strength to defend themselves; this is when they need you most. Are you really going to stand by and watch our family perish?” Zhang Qingcang’s anger flared. His father’s usual drunken muddle-headedness was tolerable, but at a crucial moment like this, how could he be so reckless?

Zhang Lie tapped Zhang Qingcang lightly on the head and then said with grave seriousness, “When I said I’d find a way out for the Zhang family, I wasn’t deceiving them just to calm their hearts.”

“Do you really have a plan?” Seeing his father so resolute, Zhang Qingcang felt a spark of hope.

“Of course,” Zhang Lie replied with unwavering conviction.

“Then why allow the family to make their own choice?” Zhang Qingcang was puzzled; after all, such a decision would greatly weaken their strength.

Zhang Lie smiled. “Though our numbers are fewer, those who remain are truly loyal. In the past, the family was a mixed bag—who knows when someone might betray us? But now, that won’t happen. These are the people willing to stand by the Zhang family even in the face of annihilation. After this ordeal, the Zhang family will only grow stronger.”

“What is the path you’ve found?” Zhang Qingcang couldn’t imagine any solution to save their family, so he asked again.

Zhang Lie uttered only two words: “It’s a secret…”

Once, the Zhang family had been the second most powerful in Liunan City, basking in glory. Many had gone to great lengths—even selling their possessions—just for a chance to work for the Zhangs. Now, everyone was desperate to sever any ties with them, fearful of being implicated. Truly, when the wall falls, everyone pushes.

Watching the crowd leave the Zhang residence, some strongmen seized them for questioning, but these were merely insignificant people, utterly ignorant of the true secrets. Unable to extract anything useful and learning that the core members remained inside, everyone’s attention shifted back to the Zhang family, anxious to beat the others to any possible gain.

As the centennial deadline drew near, patience wore thin. Someone finally decided to act, hoping to seize the advantage and make the first move.

Yet, the many who had been watching would not let anyone succeed so easily.

At last, on a certain day, the powerful figures who had gathered in Liunan City acted in unison, all converging outside the Zhang residence.

A dense crowd, their numbers darkening the streets—there were countless martial masters, dozens who had reached the Reversion Realm, and even several at the Celestial Origin Realm. Whether any super-powered cultivators, those who had reached Divine Transformation or the Tribulation Crossing, were lurking in the shadows, they did not know. Still, this force was more than enough to annihilate even one of the seven ancient kingdoms, such as the Liu Kingdom.

And now, they had come to deal with a small, insignificant family. How absurd.

But when they entered the Zhang residence, they were stunned. Instead of terrified eyes, they saw disciples training as usual, elders guiding them, everything appearing as if nothing was amiss.

Some, disappointed at not finding the expected scene, shouted angrily, “Don’t move! This is a robbery!”

Though the words rang true, the speaker, seeing the furious stares from the others, quietly hid among the crowd.

At that moment, the Zhang family moved. They lined up together at the gate of the main hall. Zhang Lie and Zhang Qingcang stood before them, showing neither fear nor anger, nor offering any excuses. There was only calm acceptance.

Strength is all that matters. Before overwhelming power, all arguments and resistance are futile. Only those with strength have the right to speak.

Lin Ye was the first to speak. “Zhang family traitors, hurry up and reveal the secret of the Dragon Burial Abyss!”

Lin Ye was, after all, the instigator of this affair. Naturally, he sought every opportunity to make himself known—this was a prime moment to reach the peak of his life. Immersed in his own self-importance, he failed to notice Liu Tianqing and Yue Xiong, both looking at him as if he were a fool.

His words stirred the crowd, and chaos erupted.

“Zhang family criminals, still trying to keep the secret for yourselves? Speak now, and your lives will be spared!”

“Hand those two over!”

“My broadsword has been thirsting for blood!”

“If you tell us, I’ll guarantee your safety,” Liu Tianqing declared.

“You Zhang family scoundrels—how dare you steal my rooster! Let me search the premises!”

Everyone spoke up, each claiming the mantle of justice, as if the Zhang family had committed some monstrous crime deserving condemnation. Zhang Lie and Zhang Qingcang watched coldly, as if they were mere bystanders. Though many of the Zhangs were frightened, they had steeled their resolve and said nothing.

Once the noise had quieted a little, Zhang Lie said, “The secret you seek—we do not possess it.”

What? You don’t have it? Trying to hide it, are you? His words immediately sparked outrage.

Then someone noticed Wang Zewei standing nearby.

“So that’s why you keep silent—you’ve found an Elder from the Sun Palace to back you up.”

“Wang Zewei, do you intend to monopolize the secret?”

“You can’t protect them, Wang Zewei,” Liu Tianqing, Prince of the South, spoke.

Realizing all eyes were on him, Wang Zewei turned pale, silently cursing his luck. He hurriedly declared, “Fellow cultivators, it’s all a misunderstanding! I’m on your side!” With that, he killed a member of the Zhang family and quickly melted into the crowd of attackers.

Originally, Wang Zewei had planned to make the first move while in the Zhang residence, but he knew many old monsters lurked in the shadows. Acting first would only mean death.

He had hoped to be the first to benefit once others made their move, but despite his efforts to hide, he was discovered. His hatred for Lin Ye only deepened.

Seeing the Zhangs refuse to speak, someone could no longer restrain themselves. “Why waste words? Charge in and kill them—when the one who knows the secret appears, we’ll find out!”

“Wait, that’s not right. If we kill them all, those two will have no reason to appear—they won’t gain anything by showing up then,” someone quickly countered.

“So what should we do?” The crowd was at a loss.

At this point, Liu Tianqing spoke up. “This stalemate won’t do. May I offer a suggestion?”

Immediately, the crowd grew quieter. Liu Tianqing, as the strongest present, held some authority.

Seeing the crowd attentive, Liu Tianqing continued, “There are still half a month before the Dragon Burial Abyss opens. If we kill them now a