Chapter 19: The Zhou Clan
Under the deterrence of the Heavenly Rank Grandmaster, the Zhou Family clan members in the Inner Fort could not muster any will to resist at all, and could only watch wide-eyed as they passed through the crowd to the core of Bai Liu Village—the front of the Zhou Family Ancestral Hall!
Outside the Ancestral Hall, Bai Liu Village Master Zhou Huang and Old Village Master Zhou Sili were surrounded by over a hundred Zhou Family experts, glaring angrily at the Xiahou Clan group.
On the small square in front of the Ancestral Hall, at least several hundred Zhou Family clan members were standing, while the Xiahou Clan still had just over twenty people. Clearly the side with superior numbers was trembling in the night wind, like lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
The Zhou Family experts like Zhou Huang glared furiously at the Xiahou Clan people, who responded with contemptuous cold laughs, just like a pack of wolves toying with their prey.
The two groups were at daggers drawn, neither noticing a shadowy figure quietly following the wall corner, climbing up a large locust tree on the east side of the square like an ape. The locust tree was nearly three zhang tall, with dense branches and leaves, its crown like a roof.
That person was none other than Lu Yun. After climbing this large locust tree, he prepared to find a concealed spot with a clear view of the entire scene, but suddenly his heart tightened, and he immediately looked up—only to see on a tree branch less than six chi above his head, a masked person dressed in night clothes was gripping a short sword, preparing to sneak attack him!
Lu Yun didn’t think twice, raising his twin sabers to protect himself.
But neither side made any further moves, just standing motionless in confrontation.
In an instant, both understood each other’s identity; clearly neither belonged to the two factions in the field, but were fellow opportunists here to fish in troubled waters!
So neither dared to strike, fearing to make a sound and expose themselves, and could only awkwardly freeze in place.
At this moment, someone below spoke; it was Old Village Master Zhou Sili, who said with grief and indignation in his deep voice: “Our Zhou Family has been loyal without question for twenty years, willingly serving as lackeys of the Imperial Court. Has the time come to kill the rabbit and cook the hound?”
While Zhou Sili spoke, Lu Yun on the tree shook his head slightly at the masked person. Surprisingly, she understood his meaning, and both slowly withdrew their weapons, each occupying one end of the treetop to first observe the situation.
“Zhou Sili, even at this point, you’re still playing dumb!” A bone-chillingly cold voice rang out, making one shudder: “You truly deserve to have your entire family executed and confiscated!”
Hearing this voice, all the hairs on Lu Yun’s body stood on end, and he nearly lost control of the rampaging true qi surging through his body!
He would never forget this voice! Because in the endless nightmares of his childhood, this voice’s malicious laughter had rung out countless times!
Xia! Hou! Bu! Bai!
Ten years ago, it was this man who hunted down their mother and son, forcing his mother empress to perish in Phoenix Temple! He was the number one enemy Lu Yun vowed to kill!
Hearing the rustling of leaves nearby, the masked person cast a blaming glance, but saw Lu Yun hadn’t moved at all; the leaves were entirely agitated by the true qi leaking from his body!
The masked person secretly thought herself lucky; to have true qi penetrating the body meant at least Earth Rank. Not striking at him had been absolutely correct.
Seeing the ferocious expression on Lu Yun’s dark face, the masked person grew nervous again: this guy wouldn’t have qi deviation at this critical moment, would he? Please, know the occasion—it’s fine if you kill yourself, but don’t implicate others!
The masked person stared fixedly at Lu Yun; if he lost control, she would immediately slip away. Fortunately, Lu Yun’s expression gradually calmed, and the people below had their attention on the field, with no one noticing here. Only then did the masked person relax and continue eavesdropping on the conversation.
“So it’s the invincible Xiahou Bubai of the Xiahou Four Heroes!” Zhou Sili didn’t speak, but Zhou Huang beside him sneered: “No wonder you made such a commotion; how do you plan to compensate for destroying our Zhou Family’s gate?!”
“Wrong, it wasn’t this seat who struck.” Yet Xiahou Bubai shook his head, glancing at the man standing beside him: “It was my younger brother Bumie.”
Hearing this, Xiahou Bumie removed his cloak, revealing a face quite similar to Xiahou Bubai’s but younger, with far less arrogance and even more sharpness.
Seeing Xiahou Bumie, Zhou Huang finally changed color, and the Zhou Family people were even more panicked, as if doomsday had arrived. Even a three-year-old child knew that the Xiahou Clan had three Heavenly Rank Grandmasters: Bupo, Bubai, Bumie! Xiahou Bumie’s martial arts surpassed even Xiahou Bubai’s!
But Lu Yun on the tree knew there was also a Xiahou Bupo outside! Though not a Heavenly Rank Grandmaster, he was acclaimed alongside his three brothers as the Four Heroes! With three of the Xiahou Four Heroes here and even Earth Rank Grandmasters coming out in full force, what exactly were they plotting?!
Lu Yun was simply dying of curiosity and secretly adjusted his strategy… Today, even at the cost of his life, he had to get to the bottom of it!
.
“To think two Heavenly Rank Grandmasters have come,” Zhou Huang burst into laughter: “Our Zhou Family truly has great face!”
“Wrong, your Zhou Family has no such face.” Xiahou Bubai said coldly: “The one with face has the surname Xiao, Xiao Cheng, the Third Prince of the Qian Dynasty.”
“…” Seeing the Zhou Family clan members stir, Zhou Sili said in a deep voice: “Your clan must be mistaken; Bai Liu Village has only those surnamed Zhou, no one surnamed Xiao.”
“Our clan naturally has ironclad evidence; Southern Dynasties remnants are hiding in Bai Liu Village!” Xiahou Bubai stared fixedly at Zhou Huang and his son, like gazing at dry bones in a tomb: “Hand them over immediately, and this seat can still spare your lives!”
“What big talk!” Zhou Huang sneered disdainfully: “This village master wants to experience the Xiahou Clan’s Great Hand Seal!”
“Your opponent is me.” The hitherto silent Xiahou Bumie spoke, his eyes flashing with fierce light, battle intent burning fiercely.
Xiahou Bubai raised his hand to signal his brother to stay calm, then slowly extended a finger, pointing contemptuously at Zhou Huang: “You are a Heavenly Rank Grandmaster, but your clan members are not…”
“Bai Liu Village truly has not harbored wanted criminals,” Zhou Sili also signaled Zhou Huang to stand down, unexpectedly cupping his hands submissively to Xiahou Bubai: “If you don’t believe it, General Xiahou, feel free to send people to search…” The Xiahou Clan had come too fast, so fast the clan members hadn’t had time to transfer them; he had no choice but to bow and scrape, buying time.
“At death’s door, still quibbling!” Xiahou Bubai’s face was full of impatience, his sharp gaze sweeping over several Zhou Family Elders as he barked roughly: “Zhou Side, come out here to this seat!”
Hearing this, Zhou Sili looked shocked at his youngest brother! Zhou Huang and the Zhou Family clan members’ gazes also turned uniformly to Zhou Side.
That Zhou Side was not yet fifty, only a few years older than Zhou Huang; under his brother’s and the clan’s shocked gazes, his face flushed and paled, soon drenched in sweat.
“What are you dawdling for?!” Seeing him hesitate, Xiahou Bubai’s face was full of displeasure.
Zhou Side had no choice but to steel himself and step forward, walking to Xiahou Bubai, bowing deeply and saying in a trembling voice: “This lowly one…”
Xiahou Bubai looked down disdainfully at Zhou Side, slowly turning his gaze to Zhou Sili: “This is the witness; what more do you have to say?!”
Seeing Zhou Side not deny it, the Zhou Family clan members immediately exploded. “What? It was him who informed?!”
The old village master turned pale, swaying unsteadily.
Hearing the clan members’ murmurs, Zhou Side felt as if he had been stripped naked, wishing he could burrow into a crack in the ground. He couldn’t help protesting to Xiahou Bubai in a mosquito-like voice: “Wasn’t it agreed I wouldn’t be exposed?”
“That was then, this is now!” Xiahou Bubai showed no shame, snorting coldly: “Once you’ve played the whore, don’t set up an archway; rest assured, what was promised will be given to you!”
At this time, Zhou Huang supported his father, questioning Zhou Side in uncontrollable rage: “Third Uncle, have you gone mad? Do you want to doom the entire clan?!” The clan members also glared at Zhou Side, with endless rebukes.
“Traitor!”
“Unfilial descendant!”
“Go to hell!”
“You’re the mad ones! You’re the ones dooming the entire clan!” Zhou Side had been listless a moment ago, but now he jumped up, pointing at Zhou Huang and his son and cursing: “From the moment you father and son took in that pack of lost dogs, I’ve opposed it, but you were blind and stubborn, insisting on dragging the whole clan down with you!”
He turned his gaze to the surrounding clan members, emotionally agitated: “The Great Qian fell twenty years ago! Who wants to die with those remnants? I only did what all of you wanted to do!” He pounded his chest forcefully, roaring loudly: “For the clan’s continuation, I’ll bear this infamy!”
The Zhou Family clan members were instantly speechless, many lowering their heads.
“Too much nonsense!” Xiahou Bubai impatiently urged Zhou Side: “Hurry and find Xiao Cheng!”
“General, rest assured,” with things at this point, Zhou Side gritted his teeth: “This lowly one has already sent people to watch them; I’ll take the general to capture them now!”
Before the words finished, Zhou Side’s son came running in a panic, whispering something in his ear. Zhou Side’s expression changed drastically, crying out in alarm: “Oh no, they’ve escaped through the secret passage!”
“What?!” Xiahou Bubai’s eternally icy face finally changed expression; he reached out and grabbed Zhou Side, bellowing: “Lead the way now!”
Zhou Side was lifted like a chick by Xiahou Bubai, momentarily unable to breathe, unable to speak, and could only point in a direction with his finger!
“Pursue!” With Xiahou Bubai’s order, he was about to lead everyone in full-speed chase!
“Where do you think you’re going?” How could Zhou Huang let them pass; his figure flashed, blocking in front of Xiahou Bubai!
