Chapter Ninety-Five: Stormy Weather Throughout the City

  The Zhang's grocery store located on a bustling street in Songyan City was reduced to ruins overnight.

  It has been three months already.

  On the bustling streets, rows of shops, noisy crowds, everywhere is so lively, only here is as quiet as a tomb. Passersby will definitely avoid coming close to this place, as if they are afraid of being infected with bad luck.

  Here, it is still a ruin, in the crevices of the shattered tiles, there are still dark red bloodstains, this is the blood of the owner of Zhang's grocery store and 37 apprentices, although the bodies have rotted away, the blood cannot be erased, as if narrating the terror, anger, resentment...

  A merchant came with a group of tall and powerful servants. He chose this land and wanted to build a shop on the ruins.

  "Demolish! I've already consulted with the Li family, and this land has been bought by me at a high price. From now on, this is my territory, Old Master Cui's domain. Hurry up and clear away these rotten stones and rotten wood, as well as these filthy and smelly bloodstains. Use water to rinse them clean for me!"

  The pot-bellied merchant bellowed loudly, ordering his men to move forward, but found that the group of fierce-looking attendants behind him were all showing signs of difficulty on their faces and refused to advance. He suddenly became furious: "What's there to be afraid of? Are you afraid of being infected with bad luck by Li family and getting punished? Didn't I tell you, I've already consulted with Li family!"

  "Master, so many people have died here, it's not auspicious to open a shop either. Besides, Sweep Star has been here for four years, who knows if we'll be affected by his bad luck..." A servant explained with a bitter face.

  "Yes, nowadays everyone in the city related to the Sweeping Star is dead, and even the things he used have been burned by people until nothing is left."

  "Old master, let's just forget about this piece of land!"

  A group of attendants spoke out their concerns in a cacophony of voices.

  "Do you want to live or die?" Chui Shangren bellowed loudly: "Get back to work, if this rubble isn't cleared up by tonight, I'll behead all of you worthless slaves!"

  The servants stood still as cicadas in winter, and one by one they gritted their teeth and stepped forward to start cleaning up the ruins of Zhang's grocery store.

  Seeing this, Cui Shang's face improved a lot, and he snorted disdainfully: "A bunch of trash, just like the useless stars in the sky. If I were a member of the Li family, I would dare not listen to my words, and I would kill you all, leaving no chicken or dog behind..."

  "Who is that guy? His killing intent is so thick, it's as if he just walked out of a river of blood and a sea of corpses!"

  "It's Chen Tang! It's Chen Tang! He... he's back!"

  "Chén Tài? Sweeping Star?"

  "No good, I'd better hurry up and avoid him, if I get involved with him even a little bit, the Li family might wipe out my whole family."

  In the distance, on the bustling streets, a few shrill cries suddenly rang out, as if they had seen an unimaginable beast, their faces changed color, and they fled in panic.

  Suddenly the whole street was filled with people crying and running away, as if they had encountered something extremely terrifying.

  "Master, the broom star is back!"

  "Let's hurry up and run away too!"

  "Yes, yes."

  The servants all had a mournful look on their faces. If they didn't fear the power of the Cui and Shang families, they would have probably run away with their legs long ago.

  "Shut up!" Cui Shangren's face also changed, gritting his teeth and shouting: "You're just a useless piece of trash who only knows how to make talismans! What are you afraid of? Those people ran away because they were afraid of the Li family. I have a close relationship with the Li family, do I need to run?"

  Just as Cui Shangren was speaking, the originally crowded street had not a single person in sight. The shops on both sides of the street also slammed shut their doors, as if avoiding a plague god.

  The atmosphere became quiet, eerie and oppressive, like the calm before a storm.

  "Don't panic, just do what you need to do. Today's wages will be multiplied by ten!" Cui Shangren took a deep breath and said slowly.

  Money can move people's hearts and also drive away ghosts and gods.

  When they heard that their wages would be increased tenfold, the expressions of the servants were extremely unpleasant, but still no one chose to leave. This is the charm of money.

  Plop! Plop! Plop!

  A series of footsteps echoed on the desolate and dull street, the sound was light and airy like a fleeting wind, yet heavy like beating a big drum, each step felt like a blow to the heart, making one's blood boil and breathing heavy.

  In the midst of this eerie and thrilling footsteps, a lean and towering figure emerged. His face was as cold as an emotionless corpse, but his eyes were a deep crimson red, like those of a malevolent spirit or demon from legend.

  Killing intent, like thick and unmeltable blood plasma, like an icy sharp blade piercing into the bone marrow.

  And his people were like a sword unsheathed from the scabbard of blood and soul, thirsting to drink fresh blood and souls.

  Plop!

  Choi's knees went weak and he fell to the ground, his entire body's energy seemed to be drained, his throat felt like it was being choked by an invisible hand. His eyes were wide with fear as he stared at the figure approaching him, exuding a murderous aura. He couldn't hold back anymore and let out a shrill scream: "Chen Tai, you scourge of the heavens, what are you trying to do? I have the Li family backing me, you can't touch me!!"

  On the other side, many servants had already lost their nerve and were sitting on the ground, stuttering, with pale faces, until they saw that figure, they realized that no matter how much money they made, it was not as precious as their own lives.

  Chen Xiao didn't respond to them, he just stared at the ruins, scenes from the past flashing through his mind.

  "Poor little guy, since no one is buying your symbols, sell them to me. It's too hard for someone so young to support a family."

  "Haha, Chen Xiao, your crafting skills have improved again. Keep working hard and don't be arrogant, for the sake of your grandfather, younger brother, and most importantly, yourself."

  "I knew this day would come, let's go, uncle, it's too small here, your life shouldn't be confined to this place, work hard and no matter what, remember to come back and visit me when you have time, haha, am I being too greedy?"

  ……

  Two lines of crimson tears silently fell on his cheeks, Chen Tai knelt down to the ground, facing the ruins, facing the former Zhang's grocery store, facing Uncle Zhang who always encouraged and helped him, heavily knocking his head on the ground.

  "Uncle, Xiaoyu has grown up, your vendetta, I'll take revenge!"

  She got up and left without looking back.

  On the other side, Cui Shangren and a servant were both pale with terror, their seven orifices bleeding, and they died silently.

  On the ground, there was a talisman written in blood, which was Chen Yao's specialty, the Huoyun Talisman. The crimson patterns were like blooming flowers, as if they were offering sacrifices to the souls of the ruins.

  Qingxi Wine House

  On the desolate and bleak ruins, there were white bones, bloodstains, and old soup simmering in a pot. Someone was cooking delicious dishes with all their heart, muttering to themselves, and faintly audible words like "Ma Lao Tou", "Pei Pa", "Qiao Nan" could be heard.

  Ruins, bloodstains, white bones, a person cooking and talking, such a scene is eerie, even terrifying.

  After burning one stick of incense.

  Four dishes and a jug of wine were placed in front of the ruins, but Chen Tang's figure was no longer there.

  A wild dog sniffed the fragrance and ran over, but before it could get close to the delicious dish, its mouth suddenly made a gurgling sound, and its body thudded to the ground, dying on the spot.

  ——

  Chen Yao is back!

  The news spread like it had grown wings and in the blink of an eye, it had spread throughout the entire Songyan City, shocking the whole city.

  Chen Yao, a broom star born and raised in Songyan City since childhood, was born with his family destroyed, his parents disappeared immediately after birth, his engagement was torn apart, his grandfather died miserably, and his younger brother's right hand was disabled...

  Months ago, because of him, the Li family slaughtered civilians within a thousand miles, slaughtered Zhang's grocery store, and slaughtered Qingxi Wine House. Anyone who had any connection with him was killed, how innocent?

  Now that this household name broom star is back, will he once again bring a layer of misfortune and bloodshed to the entire city?

  The streets were empty of people.

  Bustling shops also closed one after another.

  Large and small schools have also banned students from going out.

  The entire city seemed to have become a deserted city in the blink of an eye.

  Even self-proclaimed powerful cultivators fell silent, watching with bated breath. It seemed they could already see that Chen Xiao was doomed to die a miserable death under the butcher's knife of the Li family today.

  ——

  General's Mansion

  General Qin's top general, Luo Chong, furrowed his brow, weighed down by worry.

  Just then, a guard rushed over and knelt down on one knee, saying: "Reporting to General Luo, the general has given orders that this matter is not to be interfered with by the General's Mansion."

  Bang!

  Luo Chong slapped a palm heavily on the side of the desk, and wood chips flew everywhere.

  "Watching helplessly as the Li family slaughtered tens of thousands of innocent civilians, watching as the Zhang's general store and Qingxi wine house were destroyed. If this continues, what dignity will our military headquarters have left? What can we use to convince the people?"

  The accumulated anger of several months burst out at this moment, his face was iron-green and ferocious, he loudly roared incessantly, "Why? Why ignore me? Just because the Li family has the support of the Longyuan Su family behind them, can they trample on the dignity of my General's Mansion?"

  "Lo Chong, you're too impulsive!" A majestic voice rang out, and a middle-aged man in purple robes walked over, nine feet tall, with a straight back like a sword or spear, exuding an aura of majesty. This person was none other than Qin Han, the highest-ranking individual in the General's Manor and the de facto ruler of Songyancheng.

  "General!" Seeing the middle-aged man in purple robes, Luo Chong was taken aback, took a deep breath, stood up and cupped his hands.

  "The Su family is terrifying, and the several major powers in Longyuan City are also terrifying. Although you and I represent the will of the Great Chu Dynasty, when facing these ancient family forces, we can only choose to compromise."

  Qin Han sighed and said: "Not to mention you and me, even in Longyuan City, throughout the entire Nanjiang, there is no general's mansion of any city that dares to openly rival it."

  Luo Chong knew that Qin Han was telling the truth, but his anger only grew more intense. He gritted his teeth and said, "We're dealing with the Li family, not the Su family!"

  Qin Han shook his head and said, "Without the support of the Longyuan Su family in the background, do you think the Li family would dare to be so arrogant?"

  Luo Chong said in a daze: "Are we just going to do nothing? Watch Chen Tai being killed before our eyes? Hong Mian and he have a very good relationship."

  "I knew, so I locked her up." Qin Han replied casually: "This is also an unavoidable thing. Once Chen Xiao dies, the entire Songyan City may be peaceful. Besides, for a declining family's son, offending the Li and Su families would undoubtedly send my General's Mansion to its grave, not worth it."

  "Is a big family, a powerful force really that terrifying......" Luo Chong felt weak and disheartened, muttering to himself.

  "That's right." Qin Han nodded, but didn't explain any further.