Chapter 1280 - 909: No One Else Will Do

Zhang Shenqi’s words were filled with grief and rage, his voice brimming with anger he could no longer suppress.

What could he do? During his term as Patriarch of the Zhang Family, such a massive lapse had occurred—he had to bear the responsibility!

"Our Zhang Family’s Book of Life and Death has been stolen!" Zhang Shenqi’s voice was heavy, and as his words fell, an uproar burst forth before the ancestral hall of the Zhang Family.

Late night

Zhang Family estate

Zhang Gaqi and Zhang Shenqi sat in the study; at the side were two middle‑aged men with valiant features, each silently reading the intelligence in their hands.

"Our Zhang Family and the Gong Family were originally equal in strength. Now we’ve lost our clan‑suppressing Divine Artifact, the Book of Life and Death, while they still hold theirs. With ours waning and theirs waxing, no matter how you look at it, we stand no chance. If we insist on recklessly opening a war, I fear our Zhang Family is doomed." One of the middle‑aged men spoke. This was the third brother, Zhang Chuqi.

The fifth brother, Zhang Zongqi, also opened his mouth: "Exactly. Without the clan‑suppressing Divine Artifact, how are we supposed to contend against the Gong Family?"

At this point Zhang Zongqi turned a face full of impatience toward Zhang Shenqi: "You’re the Clan Leader of our Zhang Family, yet you can’t even keep watch over the clan’s Divine Artifact. You really are useless! If you ask me, you should hurry up and step down from the Clan Leader’s seat. Let the capable take it—yield the position to someone who has the ability."

"Fifth! The enemy is at our gates; we must not stir up internal chaos now!" Zhang Gaqi hurriedly rebuked: "Besides, what’s done is done. What use is it for us to keep blaming each other? Figuring out a way to force the Gong Family to bow their heads and hand over the Book of Life and Death is what truly matters."

"Hand over the Book of Life and Death? They’re not idiots. Since that Life and Death Record has already fallen into their hands, how could they possibly give it back? They were willing to use the Black and White Elders and Gong Chun as mere chess pieces—how are we supposed to force them?" The third brother Zhang Chuqi frowned.

For a time, the atmosphere in the room turned heavy and awkward. Zhang Shenqi let out a bitter smile: "The Life and Death Record was lost during my tenure as Patriarch; I cannot shirk the responsibility. But right now, the most important thing is to retrieve the Book of Life and Death. As long as we can get it back, I have no objections to resigning as Patriarch. However, asking me to step down now is impossible, because no one understands the Zhang Family’s power better than I do, and no one is more suited than I am to coordinate and deploy everything within the Zhang Family. If we change generals on the eve of battle, not only will it be impossible to marshal all our strength, we’ll need time to adapt. That will only cause our Zhang Family to suffer heavy losses. At this moment, no one is more suitable than I am to preside over the Zhang Family’s affairs."

Hearing Zhang Shenqi’s words, the other three all wore looks of displeasure, yet they knew that changing commanders at the last moment was a major taboo. They could only pinch their noses and endure.

"As Patriarch of the Zhang Family, you need to present a plan. Tell us how we’re supposed to defeat the Gong Family and take back the treasure." Zhang Zongqi questioned.

"Just relying on our single clan, we are no longer a match for the Gong Family. We can invite the other families to come forward and uphold justice." Zhang Shenqi said, "We Eight Great Clans share a common lineage. Now that the Gong Family has betrayed trust and righteousness, they ought to be punished jointly by the Eight Great Clans."

"Even among the Eight Great Clans, there are those close and those distant. Hoping to rely on the Eight Great Clans joining forces to pressure the Gong Family will be difficult. After all, the Gong Family’s private relations with several other clans are quite good; their connections behind the scenes are better than ours." Zhang Chuqi did not hold high hopes for this.

Upon hearing Zhang Chuqi’s words, everyone looked at one another, their eyes revealing helplessness. Among the Eight Great Clans, only about two were truly staunch supporters of the Zhang Family; the rest either harbored ulterior motives or each had their own alliances.

"This won’t work, that won’t work. Didn’t you already seek refuge with the Great Victory royal house? Why don’t we just throw ourselves under the Great Victory throne and ask the Great Victory royal house to step in and uphold justice?" Zhang Chuqi grumbled.

"If we dare to cling to the Great Victory royal house, I fear that before we even reclaim the treasure, our Zhang Family will already be torn apart from within." Zhang Shenqi sighed faintly. He was in a bind now; only the one who sits as Patriarch knows how hard it is.

"So by your reasoning, we can only sit here and stare, then? Has our Zhang Family become this spineless—that we lose our clan‑suppressing treasure and can’t even get it back?" Zhang Zongqi grew somewhat agitated.

Zhang Shenqi said nothing. The atmosphere among the brothers turned deathly silent. Only after a long while did Zhang Chuqi speak: "If Prince Pingbian’s Mansion were still at its peak, how could our Zhang Family have ended up like this?"

Now Prince Pingbian’s Mansion was half‑ruined and could no longer lend the Zhang Family any help.

At this point Zhang Chuqi looked at Zhang Shenqi: "Second Brother, why don’t you step down and hand the Patriarch’s seat over to Zhang Chen? You don’t have the ability to deal with the Gong Family, so stop hogging the latrine and not shitting. Give the Patriarch’s position to Zhang Chen. From what I see, that Zhang Chen is quite capable—he even forced Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, that lofty Prince’s Mansion, to go all the way to Kyoto to file a grievance in humiliation. If we hand the Zhang Family over to that kid, I think there’s great hope. Beating the Gong Family wouldn’t be difficult."

"That’s true. After all, Prince Pingbian’s Mansion dominates the Northern Land, the king of the north. When Zhang Shicheng underwent Walking Flood Dragon Dragon Transformation, he was a Twelfth Tier existence, and yet he still fell into Zhang Chen’s hands, didn’t he? If we hand the Zhang Family over to him, perhaps we’ll have hope of taking down the Gong Family!" Zhang Zongqi chimed in in agreement.

Zhang Shenqi’s face instantly went dark, his gaze filled with rage, but under the pressure of the two brothers he dared not vent it. If the brothers fell out, the Zhang Family’s situation would become even worse.

Seeing things take a bad turn, Zhang Ga quickly tried to smooth things over: "No one knows the Zhang Family better than Second Brother. Changing generals before battle is a taboo. It’s true that Zhang Chen has some methods. If we want him to contribute, we can simply invite him back. Let him assist from the side when the time comes—there’s no need to force Big Brother to step down."

"Invite him back? Don’t think I don’t know. This time when the clan summoned Zhang Chen, that brat didn’t come back at all. He doesn’t care about the Zhang Family in his heart. But I don’t blame him—after all, the one who stabbed his father in the back is the current Patriarch. If it were me, I’d never come back either." Zhang Chuqi said, his tone dripping with sarcastic Yin and Yang.

"Say no more. Zhang Chen is also a member of the Zhang Family. Now that something has happened to the Zhang Family, how could he possibly stay out of it? How could there be any reason for him to remain aloof?" Zhang Gaqi hurriedly tried to smooth things over:

"I will personally go and invite him back, to see whether he has any good ideas."

With Zhang Gaqi smoothing things over, the awkward gathering dispersed. Zhang Zongqi and Zhang Chuqi left, leaving Zhang Gaqi and Zhang Shenqi still sitting there, their expressions ugly.

"The external enemy has yet to be resolved, and our Zhang Family is already riddled with internal strife. With what are we supposed to fight the Gong Family?" Zhang Shenqi said, his face dark.

"Say no more! Say no more! Tomorrow I will pay Zhang Chen a visit and see whether I can bring him back. Only, if I do manage to invite Zhang Chen back, you will have to change your attitude, and must not behave as you did before." Zhang Gaqi looked toward Zhang Shenqi.

"That brat may be unruly, but he does have ability. No one knows better than the people of the Zhang Family what kind of strength Prince Pingbian’s Mansion possesses. That brat forced Prince Pingbian’s Mansion into such a state; his skill is indeed formidable! If you can bring him back, I will naturally treat him properly." Zhang Shenqi said coldly.

Things have come to this, and the situation has already reached such a point. The Zhang Family is indeed almost at the end of its rope; any power that can be used will naturally be brought to bear.

"So long as you understand how important that brat is." Zhang Gaqi let out a faint sigh.

Zhong Family residence

Zhang Chen sent Zhong Wubai away, then stood in the small courtyard gazing at the bright moon in the sky without speaking. In his eyes there was a faint, indescribable flavor. "Many people, I fear, will be unable to sleep tonight."

He turned his head again toward the distant imperial city. His eyes were filled with something ineffable, and he saw a Mysterious Power surging within that imperial city. Within the Dragon Qi of the imperial city, he did not know at what point a fox’s trace had appeared. That fox was embracing the True Dragon, endlessly devouring the True Dragon’s blood.

"Since ancient times, heroes have found it hard to pass the trial of beauty. The ancestors truly did not deceive me." Zhang Chen murmured inwardly, knowing that Bai Cang had already succeeded, that the Great Victory Human King should have been bewitched. In his heart he understood that his own chances of victory had increased by a few degrees.

Zhang Chen glanced at the Zhang Family post summoning the clansmen in his hand. A strange look flashed in his eyes, yet he did not say much. He simply tossed the post into the campfire, letting it turn to ash.

The next morning at dawn

A servant came to report that a guest had arrived for a visit.

After Zhang Chen instructed the servant to lead the guest in, a look of surprise appeared on his face, for the one entering the courtyard was Zhang Gaqi.

"Fourth Uncle, what brings you here?" Zhang Chen asked.

"Yesterday the Zhang Family summoned all clansmen in Kyoto whose bloodline has awakened. Why did you not return?" Zhang Gaqi asked.

"Did Fourth Uncle come to question me?" Zhang Chen countered.

At these words, Zhang Gaqi gave a bitter smile. "How would I have the qualifications to question you? I have come to invite you back. The Zhang Family has now reached the juncture of life and death; only you can turn the tides and save the Zhang Family."

"I am to turn the tides? Fourth Uncle must be joking." Zhang Chen cocked his head, looking at Zhang Gaqi in puzzlement.

"The Gong Family’s strength is not inferior to our Zhang Family’s. Now our Zhang Family has lost the Divine Artifact that guards the clan. Without the blessing of the Divine Artifact, we are even less a match for the other side. Only if you take action can Heaven and Earth be reversed and the situation turned in our Zhang Family’s favor." Zhang Gaqi said:

"Your abilities are known to all. Back then in the Northern Land, you were but a child, yet you could reverse Heaven and Earth and ruin the grand scheme of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, leaving Prince Pingbian’s Mansion helpless against you. Now, after cultivation, your abilities surpass what they were; if you do not possess such power, who does?"

"You ruined Prince Pingbian’s Mansion’s great plan and placed our Zhang Family in a passive position. Though everyone was displeased with you and felt you failed to take the bigger picture into account, they were very much in agreement with your methods." Zhang Gaqi fixed his eyes on Zhang Chen, his voice full of bitterness:

"I know about the grievances between you and Zhang Shenqi, but within the Zhang Family there are likewise many who support you. You cannot bear to see them dragged down as well, can you?"

At these words, Zhang Chen looked at Zhang Gaqi. His eyes were clear as water, black and white distinct, without the least ripple.

"And so?" Zhang Chen asked, his tone neither cold nor warm, carrying only a faint hint of mockery.