Chapter 19 : Chapter 19
Chapter 19: The Jiang Family of Qishan
The Jiang family was a newly risen clan, having emerged a little over a century ago.
Within the clan, there was currently a Physical Body Realm Perfection expert presiding.
Its overall strength ranked just below Baihe County’s Nine Great Families.
No—now it was the Eight Great Families.
The Jiang family’s main base was located in Qishan Town, to the southeast of Baihe County.
At dusk, as the sun set in the west—
At the entrance of the Jiang residence, two guards stood with hands behind their backs, eyes fixed straight ahead, while a few servants lazily swept the fallen leaves before the vermilion gates.
A middle-aged beggar limped toward the residence.
One of the guards, seeing the filthy and unkempt beggar, revealed a trace of disgust in his eyes. He immediately stepped forward and frowned.
“Stop. This is the Jiang residence. Idle persons are not allowed to approach.”
The beggar dropped to his knees, pleading, “Brother, please have mercy. I haven’t eaten for days.”
As he spoke, he grabbed the guard’s sleeve.
The guard was about to flare up when he suddenly felt something cool being pressed into his palm.
When he opened his hand, he saw an exquisitely crafted jade pendant—clearly something of great value.
“Brother, take this jade pendant and report to your Family Head. Tell him an old acquaintance seeks an audience. He will surely meet me.”
The guard hesitated, but seeing the beggar’s confident expression, he finally gritted his teeth and nodded.
“Stay here and don’t move. I will report to the Family Head. If I find out you’re deceiving me, you won’t have a good end.”
After speaking, he gave his companion a look, signaling him to keep watch. The other guard understood immediately.
“Much obliged, brother,” the beggar said politely.
He then leaned against the blood-red pillar by the gate and closed his eyes to rest.
Inside the Jiang residence, in the Family Head’s courtyard—
Jiang Chenghe was handling clan affairs when a guard reported that a beggar, carrying a token, claimed to be an old acquaintance seeking to see him.
Jiang Chenghe was puzzled.
He could not recall any such beggar among his acquaintances.
But when he saw the jade pendant handed over by the guard, his expression changed drastically.
Lowering his voice, he said, “Bring him in. Do not neglect him.”
The guard nodded, inwardly relieved that he had not offended the beggar earlier.
Soon—
The middle-aged beggar was brought into Jiang Chenghe’s study. The guard closed the door and respectfully withdrew.
Once the door was shut, Jiang Chenghe spoke:
“Brother, why are you dressed like a beggar?”
The man was none other than Su Qiong, the last surviving Elder of the Mangshan Su Clan.
Su Qiong sighed.
“I had no choice. I am avoiding Li family pursuit.”
Jiang Chenghe fell silent.
After a long pause, he said stiffly, “I’ve heard about the Su Clan. Brother… please restrain your grief.”
Su Qiong’s face twisted with sorrow and fury.
“Restrain my grief? How can I? The Su Clan has been slaughtered—only a handful of us remain alive. I only hate my own incompetence, that I cannot avenge my clan.”
“As long as the green hills remain, there will be firewood to burn. As long as the Su Clan’s bloodline continues, there will be a day of resurgence.”
Jiang Chenghe did not know what else to say and could only offer such comfort.
Su Qiong shook his head.
“Brother-in-law, I have come to ask for your help.”
Su Qiong’s younger sister had married Jiang Chenghe, hence the term “brother-in-law.”
“Please speak. If there is anything my Jiang family can help with, I will do my utmost.”
Jiang Chenghe patted his chest as he spoke.
“The Li family has sealed all routes and laid a dragnet. I ask you to help us leave Baihe County.”
Jiang Chenghe’s expression turned troubled.
Seeing this, Su Qiong quickly said, “Brother-in-law, for Yue’er’s sake, please preserve the last remnants of my Su Clan’s bloodline.”
As he spoke, to Jiang Chenghe’s shock—
Su Qiong dropped to his knees.
Jiang Chenghe hurried forward to help him up but could not budge him.
“Brother, what are you doing? You are shaming me!”
“If you do not agree, I will not rise.”
Su Qiong’s eyes were filled with tears.
After a long while—
Jiang Chenghe let out a deep sigh.
“Very well… Brother, stand up first. I agree.”
Su Qiong was overjoyed.
“Thank you, brother-in-law. I will repay this great kindness in the future.”
“No need to speak of repayment. Just make sure you never reveal today’s events. The current Li family is not one my Jiang family can afford to offend. Now… will you stand?”
Jiang Chenghe said quietly.
Only then did Su Qiong rise.
Jiang Chenghe continued:
“Tomorrow morning, my Jiang family has a shipment heading to the prefectural city. You can disguise yourselves as guards of the merchant convoy and slip through.”
Su Qiong considered it and found the plan sound.
He nodded immediately.
“Then I’ll trouble you tomorrow, brother-in-law.”
The two finalized their plan—
Unaware that someone had been listening outside.
A shadow quietly slipped away.
……
“Is what you said true?”
In a large residence, a middle-aged man asked in shock.
“Second Master, absolutely true. I heard it with my own ears.”
The man known as Second Master slapped his thigh.
“Big Brother is a fool! This is inviting disaster! Who doesn’t know the Li family’s momentum is at its peak? Helping Su Clan remnants is the same as opposing the Li family!”
The informant’s face turned pale.
He knew that those who opposed the Li family rarely met a good end.
“Second Master, we must stop the Family Head! Otherwise, the Jiang family will be in danger!”
The middle-aged man shook his head.
“You know Big Brother’s temperament. Once he decides something, even nine oxen couldn’t pull him back.”
“Then are we just going to watch as he drags the Jiang family into danger?”
“Hmph. The Jiang family is not his alone to decide.”
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
“I will inform the Old Master. Let him see clearly what kind of Family Head he chose. Gambling the lives of hundreds of Jiang family members—this time, I want to see how my dear elder brother continues to sit on the throne.”
The Old Master he spoke of was the Jiang family’s Physical Body Realm Perfection expert.
……
“Chenghe really intends to do this?”
The Jiang Old Master blew his beard in anger.
“Old Master, I heard it personally. They’ve already arranged everything.”
“Outrageous!”
The Old Master slammed his palm onto the table, shattering it.
“I thought he was steady and reliable, which is why I passed the position to him. Who would have thought he would act so recklessly? The Li family now has two Qi-Blood Realm experts, and that young Family Head is known for holding grudges. If he learns of this, disaster will fall upon us!”
Second Master Jiang hid a trace of delight in his eyes.
“Father, please calm your anger.”
The Old Master took a deep breath.
“Where are the Su Clan remnants?”
“They’ve been arranged in the eastern wing.”
“Do not act against them.”
Second Master was stunned.
“Why?”
The Old Master shook his head.
“Anyone can act—but not our Jiang family.”
“Then what should we do?”
“Go to Qingfeng Valley immediately and inform the Li family.”
Seeing the unquestionable look in his father’s eyes, Second Master could only nod.
“I will go at once.”
As he turned to leave—
The Old Master’s aged voice sounded behind him:
“After this matter, all clan affairs will be handled by you.”
Second Master’s breathing quickened, his lips curling upward.
……
“Elder, news from the Jiang family of Qishan—they say Su Clan remnants are hiding there, planning to escape disguised as convoy guards tomorrow.”
Second Elder Li Xuanzhong, who had just exited seclusion, instantly darkened.
“If I remember correctly… the Jiang family has close ties with the Su Clan?”
“Yes, Elder. They have been intermarried for generations.”
Li Xuanzhong sneered.
“Gather a team. We head to Qishan Town. Eliminate the Su Clan remnants.”
“Yes!”
……
Deep night. The moon hung high.
In a secluded side chamber of the Jiang residence—
“Su Xun, what are you doing? Why aren’t you sleeping?”
Su Qiong frowned at a young boy sitting cross-legged on the bed.
“I’m cultivating. I can’t sleep. My parents, my siblings… all killed by the Li family. I must cultivate harder and avenge them.”
The child spoke with unwavering determination.
Su Qiong was taken aback, then smiled faintly.
“I am glad you think this way. But you must sleep now. We leave tomorrow.”
“Understood, Elder.”
The boy obediently lay down.
Just as Su Qiong turned to leave—
“Elder!”
“What now?”
“When can we come back?”
Su Qiong fell silent.
In his mind, he saw the face of the monstrous prodigy who had cast the Su Clan into ruin.
Could they truly return one day?
No one could answer.
He stepped outside, unable to sleep.
Under the pale moonlight, tears streamed down his weathered face.
“Second Brother… how selfish you were. You died and found peace—but why leave me behind?”
He stood there like a statue for a long time.
Until a cold wind brushed past him.
Something felt wrong.
Then—
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shadow vanish into the darkness.
His heart lurched.
The Jiang residence was too quiet.
Far too quiet.
“We can’t stay here.”
Without hesitation, he turned to wake the others—
WHOOSH!
An arrow tore through the air, shooting straight toward him.