Chapter 286 - 181: Making a Move

Chapter 286: Chapter 181: Making a Move

The Jiangzuo Wenren Family was one of the most prominent clans in the Da Xuan Dynasty.

In Xiangzhou, a province hundreds of miles from Jingzhou, the Wenren Family was known as "Half of Xiangzhou."

This meant that half the land in Xiangzhou belonged to the Wenren Family.

Despite being wealthy enough to rival a nation, the Wenren Family’s ancestral home was a remarkably inconspicuous estate tucked away in the countryside.

Inside a room with rustic yet elegant decor, a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties was focused intently on brewing tea.

A few paces away, a man dressed as a guard stood respectfully.

After some time, the middle-aged man finally sipped his tea. He closed his eyes, savoring the taste for a moment before slowly saying, "Speak."

"All of the Wenren Family’s businesses in Jingzhou have been completely uprooted."

The guard spoke up. "Although there is no evidence, we are almost certain it was the Jingzhou Taiping Bureau."

"Those brutes!"

A flash of anger crossed the middle-aged man’s face.

’For a mere Taiping Captain... To think the Taiping Bureau would act so wantonly for his sake.’

"It really was the right decision to establish the Inspection Bureau. If left unchecked, these brutes are capable of anything!"

The middle-aged man said coldly.

"My lord, should we—"

The guard hesitated. For the sake of targeting a single, insignificant Taiping Captain, their losses were already far too great.

"Do what?"

The middle-aged man said coldly, "As long as Su Mu is alive, the Wenren Family can never recover its honor.

"I had some reservations, out of respect for the Taiping Bureau. But since they refuse to play by the rules, they have only themselves to blame for what happens next."

A vicious, killing intent flashed in his eyes as he asked coldly, "Do we still have our people in Jingzhou?"

"The Young Master is still in Jingzhou, and Shiliu is there as well."

the guard said.

"Have Shiliu take action. Kill Su Mu,"

the middle-aged man said coldly.

The words had barely left his mouth when a sharp whistling sound pierced the air.

The expressions on the faces of the middle-aged man and the guard changed drastically.

With a powerful flex of his arms, the middle-aged man violently flung the table in front of him into the air.

In that same instant, the guard drew his blade and slashed forward.

It all happened in a flash.

A savage force instantly ripped apart the doors, windows, and walls.

BOOM!

The middle-aged man and the guard were both sent flying. They landed in a heap, rolling several times before they could struggle back to their feet.

Staring at the room, now reduced to rubble, their faces were a mixture of shock and rage.

There, in the midst of the ruins, stood a ten-foot-long spear, its shaft still quivering slightly.

"The Commander of the Xiangzhou Taiping Bureau, Li Tingkui!"

The middle-aged man spat the name out through gritted teeth.

Before the words had faded, a black dot appeared in the sky. It descended with incredible speed, crashing down upon the ruins with a thunderous impact.

The earth-shattering boom sent a visible shockwave rippling outward, causing walls and roofs to collapse for dozens of yards in every direction.

In an instant, the entire Wenren ancestral estate was thrown into chaos.

"Li Tingkui, have you gone mad?"

The middle-aged man’s face was pale, his voice trembling as he spoke.

Li Tingkui glanced at the middle-aged man. "This is just a warning. If Su Mu dies, I can guarantee that Xiangzhou will be rid of the Wenren Family."

With that, he didn’t spare the middle-aged man another glance. He plucked the long spear from the ground, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and swaggered off.

Members of the Wenren Family had gathered, but none dared to stand in his way.

The middle-aged man’s expression shifted, but in the end, all he could do was let out a futile, furious roar.

...

「Jingzhou.」

Wenren Jiangbo and his guard, Wenren Shiliu, stared at the man before them, who was dressed in the official uniform of a Taiping Bureau Governor. Their expressions were grim.

"Come, you two. From now until you leave Jingzhou, you are not to leave my sight. Otherwise, I will consider your actions a provocation against the Taiping Bureau."

The Taiping Bureau Governor rested his hand on the hilt of his blade, his aura chilling. He was clearly an expert of the High-Tier True Essence Realm.

The strength of the Taiping Bureau’s Governors varied.

The weaker ones might only be at Nascent Soul Realm Perfection, while the strongest could be at True Essence Realm Perfection.

Even if this Governor wasn’t at True Essence Realm Perfection, he was likely very close.

Wenren Jiangbo and Wenren Shiliu knew very well that if this man wanted to kill them, it would be effortless.

"We—"

Wenren Jiangbo wanted to argue. ’By what right could they force him out of Jingzhou? He was the victim here!’

Wenren Shiliu quickly stopped him, afraid his young master would say something out of line.

’He could see it now. The Taiping Bureau of old had returned.’

’When facing this familiar Taiping Bureau, you did as you were told without the slightest bit of doubt. Otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable.’

Wenren Shiliu sighed to himself. ’I had thought the Taiping Bureau was in decline. Whether it was the other powers forcing them to establish the Inspection Bureau or pressure being applied from other fronts, the Taiping Bureau had always accepted it in silence.’

’Even I believed that after the fall of their two Marquises, the Taiping Bureau had lost its power.’

’I never expected that for something involving a mere Taiping Captain, the Taiping Bureau would react so strongly.’

’Not only have all of the Wenren Family’s businesses in Jingzhou been uprooted, but even members of the family like us are being forced to leave the province.’

Wenren Shiliu was certain that if they showed the slightest resistance, the Governor before them would kill them without hesitation.

’It turned out the heavens over the Da Xuan Dynasty had never really changed.’

’The Taiping Bureau was never in decline.’

He stepped in front of Wenren Jiangbo, cupped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute, and said, "We will follow all of your arrangements, Sir. We have no objections!"