Volume One: Storms in the Small Town Chapter 25: Deceiving the Sword Saint

After Liu Tianqing finished speaking, everyone immediately voiced their agreement.

Brilliant, truly brilliant—Liu Tianqing, a man tempered by countless battles, proved himself once again a master at manipulating human hearts. With this strategy, the number of condemned Zhang family members would gradually dwindle, and those left alive would be gripped by fear. Naturally, someone would eventually reveal the truth, and perhaps Zhang Qingyu and his wife, lurking in the shadows and watching as people died because of them, would finally show themselves. Moreover, this would provide entertainment for those involved—a truly ingenious plan.

"So, who should we kill first? Should we start with the two leaders?" Lin Ye asked.

Liu Tianqing thought to himself what a fool this man was, but seeing that there were plenty of fools present, he had no choice but to explain, lest their stupidity ruin things.

"Those two must be kept alive until the end. Only then will the chances of those who know the secret revealing themselves be higher," Liu Tianqing said patiently.

If you kill the important ones now, even if Zhang Qingyu and his wife return, they might not show themselves. Such foolishness.

"Then I’ll make the first move," Lin Ye said, and immediately struck at an elder of the Zhang family. With his formidable spiritual energy at the sixth stage of the Return to Ruins Realm, he was considered a top expert among those present. The Zhang family had no means to resist.

In Lin Ye’s mind, all he needed was to make himself more visible. Since it was he who had leaked the news, once they entered the Dragon Burial Abyss, others might remember his contribution and perhaps even share the resources they acquired with him.

In that way, he might change his fate and soar to new heights.

Zhang Lie and Zhang Qingcang were shocked when they saw someone attack, and quickly summoned all their spiritual power to shield their family. But the difference in strength was not something anger could overcome; as soon as they came into contact with Lin Ye, they were sent flying by his overwhelming spiritual force. In a single move, both were gravely wounded, despite Lin Ye holding back.

When they struggled to their feet, the Zhang family’s Second Elder, Zhang Yi, was already dead. Both men suppressed their fury, for they were the pillars of the Zhang family—they could not afford to lose control.

Some among the crowd were not satisfied and wanted to kill again, but Liu Tianqing stopped them.

"This game is only interesting if played slowly. If we kill them all now, what will we have to amuse ourselves with in a few days’ time?"

After a pause, Liu Tianqing continued, "I’ll trouble you all to stand guard here. Tomorrow at this time, we’ll come and enjoy the spectacle again."

None of those besieging the estate left; fearful of missing out, they simply sat down where they were to meditate and rest.

Seeing the crowd had stopped, Zhang Lie said to his people, "Let’s go back inside."

The Zhang family glared at their enemies outside with hatred, but there was nothing they could do.

Zhang Qingcang picked up Zhang Yi’s corpse and headed toward the ancestral hall, ignoring the mocking faces of those outside.

……

Unaware of all this, Zhang Heng was as busy as ever currying favor with the Sword Sage and his disciple. At times, he would spar with the Sword Sage in poetry; at others, he would prepare delicacies for Yan Xueqing. He was having the time of his life.

Yet, why did he feel a lingering sense of unease?

All these days, Zhang Heng had pondered this. Following the Sword Sage, he was perfectly safe, but his uncle Zhang Qingcang—who had always protected him—no longer had a powerful patron to rely on. What would become of him?

Given his uncle’s character, he would never abandon the Zhang family and run. Yet if he stayed, as the system had warned, he was doomed.

Zhang Heng truly couldn’t figure it out. He was just a first-stage body cultivator, a minor, inconsequential figure whose death would hardly draw anyone’s attention. How could he possibly save both himself and his uncle?

System, are you there? What should I do?

As a transmigrator, the system was his only support. But this useless system had been offline for ages.

Ding. I am here...

……

At last, Zhang Heng thought of a perfect solution—one that could save the Zhang family and change his own fate.

"Senior Dugu," Zhang Heng approached Dugu Bai, bowed, and spoke.

"You’re here." Dugu Bai’s face lit up. "Come, read this new poem with me." In recent days, exchanging poems with Zhang Heng had greatly improved the Sword Sage’s poetic skills, though he would never admit it.

Boy, can your poetry stir the very forces of nature?

"Senior Dugu, today let’s set aside poetry for a moment and discuss something you’ll find even more interesting," Zhang Heng said, naturally taking a seat opposite Dugu Bai.

Dugu Bai was intrigued. "Oh? Young man, I’ve lived for centuries—there’s little that piques my interest. What do you want to talk about?"

Feigning profundity, Zhang Heng spoke slowly, "The Dragon Burial Abyss."

"The Dragon Burial Abyss?"

"Yes. Senior, do you know why those villains want to capture my parents?" Zhang Heng continued.

"I do. Didn’t you say someone falsely accused them of knowing the secret of the Dragon Burial Abyss, which is why people are after them?" Dugu Bai replied with a straight face.

Zhang Heng was a little dumbfounded. So you believe anything I say? If I told you I was your disciple, would you teach me cultivation?

"Senior, the truth is, my parents really do know the secret of the Dragon Burial Abyss," Zhang Heng cut to the chase—time was short, and there was no room for guessing games.

"Is that so?" Dugu Bai’s interest was instantly piqued. "Quick, tell me—what is the secret of the Dragon Burial Abyss?"

As expected, even someone like Dugu Bai couldn’t remain calm when it came to the Dragon Burial Abyss.

Collecting his thoughts, Zhang Heng began to recount a story he had meticulously fabricated—a tale not of the real truth, but one that sounded even more convincing.

"Eighteen years ago, my parents were hunted by the Yuan family and, in desperation, fled into the Dragon Burial Abyss. At that time, the spatial turbulence within had not yet subsided, and, as expected, they were swept into the chaos. By some miracle, they survived and were transported to the very heart of the Dragon Burial Abyss, where they obtained a map and half of a supreme cultivation manual. Using the map, they safely returned to the Zhang family. Few knew of this, and so they lived in peace for fifteen years. Then, three years ago, for reasons unknown, this secret was exposed. Countless people then sought to capture my parents, hoping to seize the resources within the Dragon Burial Abyss. With no other option, my parents had me memorize the map and manual, then destroyed the two treasures and left in a high-profile manner, drawing everyone’s attention away to protect my sister and me. Now, with the spatial turbulence in the Dragon Burial Abyss set to subside—a once-in-a-century event—I feared those treasures would fall into the wrong hands, so I hid with my sister deep in the uninhabited mountains, where I encountered you and Miss Xueqing."

"You mean to say you know the secret of the Dragon Burial Abyss?" Dugu Bai asked in delight.

"Yes," Zhang Heng replied.