Chapter 41: Xu Haoran’s Resolve

Xiao Ruxing had just landed on the city wall when a shrill voice called out to him. Turning, he saw Wu Yue, the Wu Family leader who had led the troops alongside him. Seeing Wu Yue’s disheveled state and hearing his shouts, Xiao Ruxing instantly knew Wu Yue had also suffered a Monster Beast attack, just like himself. Moreover, Wu Yue’s cry further confirmed the suspicion growing in Xiao Ruxing’s mind.

The idea that the Monster Beasts had charged from the direction of Tongyou Valley had always lingered in his thoughts. Hearing Wu Yue confirm it firsthand, a wave of bitter anger washed over him. He rushed straight for his Family Head, Xiao Rugui. Thud! He dropped to his knees, wailing loudly.

“Elder Brother! Because the Xu Clan failed to defend Tongyou Valley, we, the Xiao Family, have suffered terribly!”

Li Wanbao took in the disarrayed fury of Wu Yue and Xiao Ruxing, heard their hoarse cries, and remembered the losses his own cowardly retreat had caused to all the families of Zhongdu City. The fear of whether his elder brother would have him executed to appease the three families overwhelmed him. Darkness filled his vision, and he passed out.

Simultaneously, Wu Meng and Xiao Rugui both turned their gazes towards Li Wanpeng. Though they dared not show outright anger, their eyes held distinct blame. Seeing their looks, Li Wanpeng hurriedly shot them a meaningful glance, subtly pointing his finger towards Xu Haoran’s back.

Wu Meng and Xiao Rugui understood instantly. Faced with the Xiao Family’s thousand-year heritage, losing a few disciples meant nothing! Yet, their plan to use the Beast Tide to weaken the Xu Clan had backfired spectacularly—they themselves had suffered significant losses too. At that moment, no one on the wall could have guessed that the Xu Clan disciples guarding Tongyou Valley might not have sustained any injuries whatsoever.

Xu Haoran stood atop the wall. He had no energy to spare for Li Wanpeng, Wu Meng, or Xiao Rugui. Instead, his gaze anxiously scoured the land beyond the city. But, right through the time Li Wanbao woke from his faint and Xiao Ruxing and Wu Meng learned the source of the attacks, not a single trace of the Xu Clan disciples sent to defend Tongyou Valley appeared.

Xu Haoran cast one last look towards the horizon. His heart settled the grim conclusion: his clan’s disciples must all be dead. Slowly, he closed his grief-struck eyes. Behind him, Li Wanpeng, Xiao Rugui, and Wu Meng exchanged glances. Each silently confirmed their shared belief: the Xu disciples guarding Tongyou Valley were finished. A flicker of satisfaction glinted in each man’s eyes.

“Ahem!”

Li Wanpeng coughed, trying to draw Xu Haoran’s attention. But Xu Haoran was lost in sorrow. Moreover, now that the City Lord’s Manor, Xiao Family, and Wu Family had revealed their treacherous ambitions, he saw no need for pretense. Deep down, he knew only the sudden Beast Tide had delayed the strike Li Wanpeng, Xiao Rugui, and Wu Meng intended.

The Beast Tide wasn’t over yet. Similarly, those three families had also taken losses comparable to the Xu Clan’s own devastating toll – the power gap hadn’t widened. Crucially, until the Beast Tide ended, these three would never dare to confront him. They still needed the Xu Clan’s strength to defend Zhongdu City and repel the Monsters.

In other words, even if the Xu Clan did nothing for Zhongdu City now, Li Wanpeng, Xiao Rugui, and Wu Meng wouldn’t dare harm them! For one, their actions while he was unconscious weighed heavily against them. Secondly, engaging the Xu Clan in open war would likely result in heavy casualties for the city lord’s forces and Wu and Xiao families, leaving Zhongdu defenseless. And ultimately, Monster Beasts would breach the walls, devouring everyone within.

Having reasoned it all out, Xu Haoran resolved not to just accept his losses; he would regain what was taken! He understood profoundly that this Beast Tide was a buffer period, a chance for his family. Their survival hinged on exploiting this calamity. So, he turned away, pointedly ignoring Li Wanpeng, Xiao Rugui, and Wu Meng. With a cold snort, he flicked his sleeve.

“The City Lord decreed,” Xu Haoran stated icily, “that any family whose territory the Monster Beasts breached would be punished severely! Therefore, until we, the Xu Clan, receive a fair explanation and just compensation, we will not contribute another soldier to the city’s defense!”

He finished by shouting towards the Xu disciples on the wall, “Xu Clan members, follow me!”

With that, he strode off.

Behind him, Li Wanpeng flushed scarlet with fury. He yelled at Xu Haoran’s retreating back, “Family Head Xu! By doing this, do you not fear Zhongdu City will fall? We will all perish together with the city!”

“Then let us all perish together!” Xu Haoran’s voice drifted back as his figure receded. Every Xu disciple, including Xu Haoliang, began following Xu Haoran away.

Li Wanpeng clenched his fists tightly. “Xu Haoran!” he bellowed. “Aren’t you afraid we three families will crush your Xu Clan before the next wave hits?”

Xu Haoran’s figure halted abruptly. He turned, fixing his gaze on Li Wanpeng atop the wall. The intimidating pressure of the Foundation Building Stage Third Layer instantly bore down on Li Wanpeng. “You’re welcome to try it!” Xu Haoran growled fiercely.

Li Wanpeng’s breathing grew heavy. He burned with the desire to attack the Xu Clan immediately. Being at the Foundation Building Stage Third Layer himself, he held no fear of Xu Haoran’s cultivation. With forces capable of matching the Xu Family Ancestor at his back, he was prepared. Yet, the Beast Tide wasn’t over. Forcing down the surge of rage, he spoke calmly, “Family Head Xu, what explanation would you have me offer?”

“That is entirely for you, City Lord, to resolve!” Xu Haoran replied coldly. “I shall await your good news at the Xu Clan compound!”

Without another word, Xu Haoran faced his disciples and commanded, “Return to the clan immediately! Activate top-level alert! Kill without question all who approach the Xu Clan compound without cause – be they person or Monster Beast!”

Li Wanpeng, Xiao Rugui, and Wu Meng froze at Xu Haoran’s words. They exchanged uneasy looks. So, the old fox Xu Haoran has seen through our scheme, they thought in their hearts. He means to sever all pretense. Their eyes drifted to the wretched Li Wanbao, Xiao Ruxing, and Wu Yue beside them. A silent sigh passed between them.

The plan was sound enough. Who could have predicted the Monster Beasts would surge down the Imperial Highway?

Left with no alternatives, Li Wanpeng, Xiao Rugui, and Wu Meng had to temporarily fill the defensive gap left by the Xu Clan’s departure with their own family disciples. They then gathered at the City Lord’s Manor to formulate their next steps.

Meanwhile, on a branching trail within the quiet confines of Tongyou Valley, Xu Ziyan and her group dealt with the final batch of Monster Beasts. Each packed away their own share of the spoils. With so many Beasts felled and only nineteen of them to gather parts, they had no choice but to reluctantly discard most of the carcasses, selecting only the most valuable pieces to carry.

The entire valley lay in eerie silence. Not a single Monster Beast remained. Bewildered, everyone scanned their surroundings, uncertain of what had happened.

Xu Ziyan stood on a hillside, listening intently. Soft roars of Monster Beasts carried faintly from distant Changri Valley and Luofeng Ridge. A faint, knowing smile touched her lips. Suddenly, Xu Ziyan pivoted sharply. Her gaze swept behind her. Through the dense mountain forest, a lone figure dashed swiftly towards them.