Chapter 41: Preemptive Strike
Outside the Qingyun Secret Realm, on a grassy field.
Members of the four major clans had gathered, waiting for those inside to return.
At the forefront, Xiao Clan Head Xiao Qiankun chatted idly with a middle-aged man holding a bone fan.
“This Qingyun Secret Realm—wonder if it’ll yield any surprises?” Xiao Qiankun said, bored. “Like… those legendary Tempering Origin Persimmons?”
The man with the bone fan, Su Huaizhang, the Su Clan’s Grand Elder, smiled gently, snapping his fan shut.
“Who can say?” His smile was warm. “The persimmons aren’t ordinary—rare and hard to come by.”
With Su Clan Head Su Wenlin in seclusion, Su Huaizhang handled the clan’s affairs, his status tacitly acknowledged by the other clans’ leaders.
Xiao Qiankun sighed: “Wonder if my brat will bring back anything decent.”
“Young Master Xiao is talented and steady—he won’t return empty-handed,” Su Huaizhang replied politely, then sighed. “My Zimo, though, is average. Probably won’t stir up much.”
A hearty laugh interrupted.
“Elder Su, you’re too humble,” Li Clan Head Li Yunzheng approached, taking up the conversation. “I’ve seen Zimo a few times—quite impressive. Unlike my kids, always causing trouble.”
“Brother Li, you flatter,” Su Huaizhang smiled, returning the courtesy.
They exchanged smiles, the mood cordial.
Then Xiao Qiankun glanced at Luo Changqing nearby. “Hey, Old Luo, why so quiet today?”
Luo Changqing coughed, covering his distraction: “Nothing, just tired from cultivating.”
Since Luo Chen entered the realm, an inexplicable unease had gnawed at him.
It came suddenly, as if Luo Chen had faced grave danger but narrowly escaped.
He sensed something major had happened inside.
“By the way, where’s Yunlan? Why isn’t she with you?” Xiao Qiankun asked, scanning around.
Luo Changqing replied casually: “She had urgent matters, couldn’t come.”
Xiao Qiankun clicked his tongue, about to say more, when a ripple pulsed through the void ahead.
“Look!” someone in the crowd shouted.
All eyes turned forward as the teleportation array glowed, figures emerging one by one.
When the light faded, everyone froze.
Of the forty who entered, only twenty-five returned.
The Li and Xiao clans had ten each, full rosters, with Li Daming and Xiao Yan at the front.
The Luo Clan had only four: Luo Chen, Luo Yuanshan, Luo Yan, and Luo Jiutian.
The Su Clan—
Only Su Wan’er.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Luo Changqing’s face shifted, his gaze instinctively landing on Luo Chen, but he stayed silent.
Xiao Qiankun frowned, unprepared for this.
Li Yunzheng, usually composed, showed surprise: “How did this happen?”
Su Huaizhang’s smile froze.
He rushed forward, eyes on the lone Su girl, urgently asking: “Wan’er, where are the others? Where’s my son Zimo…?”
Su Wan’er’s eyes reddened instantly.
She looked devastated, voice trembling: “They… they all fell.”
Silence swept the crowd.
Thud.
Su Huaizhang’s bone fan hit the ground, his face drained, strength sapped.
After several breaths, he snapped back, turning to the other clans’ groups, voice sharp: “What happened? What the hell happened in there?!”
Luo Changqing and Xiao Qiankun looked over, faces grim, seeking answers.
The tension thickened.
Luo Chen reacted first, pointing at Luo Jiutian: “It was him—”
Before he finished, Luo Jiutian stepped back, shouting: “Luo Chen, do you know your crime?”
Luo Chen: ?
Su Huaizhang, Luo Changqing, and others: ?
Onlookers: ?
Ignoring the question marks, Luo Jiutian continued: “You conspired with clansmen to harm the Su team and caused several Luo brothers to perish. Such crimes are unforgivable!”
The crowd erupted.
Luo Chen’s face twisted, laughing in rage: “Luo Jiutian, stop slandering me! I, Luo Chen, act with honor—how could I do something so vile?”
Xiao Qiankun and Li Yunzheng stayed silent, watching the confrontation with varied expressions.
Su Huaizhang, suppressing his emotions, looked at Luo Jiutian, voice heavy: “Is… what you said true?”
“Outrageous!” Luo Changqing’s brows furrowed, voice cold. “Do you know what you’re saying? I know my son’s character better than anyone. You dare accuse the Young Master publicly? Can you bear that crime?”
Whispers spread.
“Accusing the Young Master is serious—Luo Jiutian’s in trouble…”
“Without hard evidence, empty words won’t hold.”
“I don’t think so. Luo Jiutian doesn’t seem reckless.”
Murmurs rose, some doubting, some watching, others glancing between Luo Chen and Luo Jiutian.
Hearing the growing noise, Luo Chen’s face darkened, veins bulging, fists clenched in his sleeves, knuckles white.
Luo Jiutian, as if prepared, smiled faintly: “Everyone, calm down. Let’s see this before judging.”
He pulled out an image-recording stone.
Luo Chen’s face changed, lunging to stop him.
But before he could reach, Su Huaizhang flicked his sleeve, pinning Luo Chen in place.
Luo Jiutian glanced at him, tone playful: “Young Master Luo’s so worked up—worried there’s something incriminating in here?”
All eyes turned to Luo Chen.
Luo Changqing’s heart sank.
No way.
My son… could he really have a problem?
Before anyone could speak, Luo Jiutian infused spiritual energy into the stone, projecting images into the air.
In a dim stone chamber—
Luo Chen stood arrogantly, voice unmasked: “In truth, from the realm’s opening to luring you here, it was all my plan… to trick and slaughter the Su family.”
— The scene shifted.
Su Zimo, face grim, voice trembling: “Why… why would you do this?”
Luo Chen replied coldly: “I’ve long despised the Su family, especially Su Wenlin…”
Su Xinyan, eyes red, gritted her teeth: “Just because the Su family didn’t give you face… you’d kill us?”
— The image froze, then jumped.
Luo Chen faced Luo Jiutian, calm: “Brother Jiutian… you can go in peace now.”