Chapter 717 - 717: Gathering in Xi Hang
By the time Ye Qing arrived at Shen Family Manor, it was already noon. Following yesterday's events, the security at Shen Family Manor had become even more stringent. From outside the courtyard, guards of the Shen family were seen patrolling back and forth everywhere.
Although Ye Qing was carrying the Seven-Star Ancient Sword, facing the Martial Arts Holy Land of the Shen family, he dared not be careless. Therefore, he did not enter directly; instead, he hid outside the Shen Family Manor, carefully observing the layout of the manor.
Ye Qing's plan was to first go in and rescue Du Tianyi, then take Shen Qingyi out, as once the war began tomorrow, Shen Family would be in great danger. However, given the current situation, even entering the Shen Family was difficult, let alone going in to rescue someone.
After circling around Shen Family Manor a couple of times, Ye Qing finally had a rough understanding of the terrain surrounding the manor. However, the internal layout of the manor was rather complex, and Ye Qing couldn't grasp it from outside; it seemed that he would have to go inside and walk around a few rounds to thoroughly understand it.
Of course, entering Shen Family Manor during the day was basically impossible now. Having figured out the layout of the area outside the manor, Ye Qing did not stay there but went back to the city first, found a hotel to eat and rest, preparing to enter the Shen Family Manor again at night.
At this time, people from Killing Gate were also in West Hangzhou. They had actually arrived in West Hangzhou yesterday afternoon, but did not make a move immediately; instead, they stayed here for one night, conserving their energy.
Right Protector went out for a round in the morning, and when he returned, he was followed by three middle-aged men, precisely the helpers Right Protector had mentioned.
These three middle-aged men were all unfamiliar faces, and the people of Killing Gate did not recognize them. However, no one asked too much either. Since they were people brought by the Right Protector, he must have understood them well. Moreover, having an extra helper in dealing with the Shen family was a good thing for the Killing Gate.
"Just received word, Old Madam Shen, Shen Da, and Shen Er are not in West Hangzhou right now, this is our best opportunity!" said Right Protector, looking at the crowd, "That dead old hag and Shen Da and Shen Er must have gone to seek help. We should take this chance to directly attack Shen Family Manor. With the people currently left in Shen Family Manor, we can take it down before the old hag returns. Then, when they return, we can have a decisive battle with them and avenge our grudge from ten years ago!"
Most of the people from Killing Gate were immensely excited, except for Netherworld Taoist who did not care at all about Right Protector's words, as if these matters were of no concern to him. Pig King, who was overweight, had a mournful face, showing a depressed expression. In fact, from the beginning until now, he had not much interest in attacking the Shen family. If not because Right Protector had captured his wife and threatened him, he definitely would not have come back to get involved in this matter.
Cui Yu frowned slightly and said, "Right Protector, Shen Family Manor is, after all, the Martial Arts Holy Land of the Southern Six Provinces. Although it no longer has the strength of the past, it still has its foundations accumulated over many years. Even if Old Madame Shen and Shen Da and Shen Er are not in Shen Family Manor, defeating the Shen family with just us might not be an easy task. In my opinion, we came to Shen Family Manor to avenge the past; as for taking over the manor, that's not really what we should be doing. So, after avenging ourselves, we should leave immediately; there's no need to utterly annihilate the Shen family!"
Right Protector's face turned cold, he gave a cold look to Cui Yu, and spoke in a deep voice, "Cui Panguan, I know that the strength of the Shen family is not weak. But since we, the people of Killing Gate, have come here, how can we be afraid of death? You say that we came here just for revenge, so what exactly counts as revenge? Back then, the Shen family also tried to completely destroy us, and everyone here had to go to great lengths just to survive. Now you say not to fully exterminate the Shen family, did you forget the situation ten years ago when you were relentlessly pursued with nowhere to go? Or is it because the Shen family has tolerated your tea house until now, so you feel some gratitude towards the Shen family?"
"Right Protector, of course, I don't mean that. But since we all survived, it means that the Shen family did not completely exterminate us," replied Cui Yu, "In the past ten years, everyone has been walking in the Jianghu. Ghost King's Ghost King Cave, Demon Queen's Blue Flower Tower, and my tea house, as well as Pig King's place. We are still alive, and the people of the Shen family must know this. However, they did not send anyone to exterminate us. If they really wanted to completely eliminate us, how could we possibly have survived until now? Besides, Southern Fist King Shen Tianjun is only missing, not dead. If we completely exterminate the Shen family, once Southern Fist King Shen Tianjun appears... huh, everyone present, where could you flee to the ends of the earth?"
The crowd exchanged glances, all somewhat panicked. Southern Fist King Shen Tianjun, a being of incredible strength, Cui Yu's words truly made them start to worry. If Southern Fist King Shen Tianjun really did appear, and they had come to West Hangzhou Shen Family to seek revenge, what would be the outcome awaiting them?
Seeing that the crowd's expression was off, Right Protector became anxious and angrily said, "Humph, it's been twenty years, and Shen Tianjun hasn't shown up even once, which means he's long gone from this world, that person doesn't need to be considered. Cui Yu, don't think everyone is as cowardly as you. We, the people of Killing Gate, have suffered so much humiliation and waited for ten years, just to wait for this opportunity to avenge ourselves. This time, no matter what, we must completely destroy Shen Family Manor, making them pay for what they did back then!"
"Right Protector is right, this time, we must completely level the Shen family!" Netherworld Scholar, standing behind Right Protector, sneered, "Cui Panguan, ten years have passed, how has your courage diminished so much? Being hesitant and fearful over a person missing for twenty years, you got scared by that? What about Shen Tianjun? Isn't our Sect Leader also absent? If Shen Tianjun can appear, our Sect Leader can definitely appear too, then what could Shen Tianjun possibly do to us Killing Gate?"
The words of the Netherworld Scholar invigorated everyone, including the Ghost King and the Demon Queen, who all voiced their support for the Right Protector. Cui Yu looked around at everyone, knowing he couldn't change their minds, and could only sigh helplessly.
The Right Protector gave Cui Yu a cold sneer. Seeing he remained silent, he turned to Cui Yulong and said, "Cui Yulong, what do you think?"
Cui Yulong always stood aloof from others' discussions. Upon hearing this, he coldly said, "I only want to kill those who killed my friend years ago. Other matters do not concern me!"
With these words, it was clear that he had no intention of participating in the destruction of the Shen Family. The Right Protector's expression turned slightly colder, but in the end, he said nothing. Cui Yulong was not Cui Yu—he dared not provoke Cui Yulong.
"In that case, the matter is settled!" the Right Protector stood up and declared sternly, "Tonight, we will go to the Shen Family Manor. Everyone, be prepared. The blood debt of ten years will finally be repaid!"
The members of the Killing Gate cheered loudly, while the Pig King, looking troubled, glanced at the Netherworld Taoist smoking beside him and couldn't help asking, "Dao Ye, could you predict whether I'll ever see my wife again?"
"There's no need for calculations; you're not fated to die young!" the Netherworld Taoist sneered, showing his teeth. He glanced around the room with a disdainful smile on his face.
"Old Pig, don't listen to his nonsense. When has this old thief ever made a correct prediction!" laughed the Ghost King Li Ruoyuan. "He told me long ago that I wouldn't live past three years, yet here I am, alive and well. His words are not to be trusted!"
The Pig King's chubby face immediately turned bright red as he exclaimed, "He just said I would live a long life, and now you're telling me his words can't be trusted? Are you cursing me?"
The Ghost King laughed and said, "No, I am complimenting you!"
Everyone in the room burst into laughter, leaving the Pig King annoyed, sitting to the side and ignoring everyone else. Among the Killing Gate Seven Hidden, he was ranked seventh and held the lowest status. He was the weakest and had no right to argue with the others.
Meanwhile, as the members of the Killing Gate were conspiring to attack the Shen Family Manor, a group led by Xu Cunxiao also arrived at a villa in the suburbs of West Hangzhou. They arrived after the members of the Killing Gate. This villa served as their foothold in West Hangzhou. They had been planning for twenty years and had their people in every corner of the Southern Six Provinces, including West Hangzhou.
"Eldest Brother, those three have already been sent to the Blood-Sealed Throat's side," Xu Cunxiao said with a smile to the Eldest Brother. "Tonight, when they go to the Shen Family Manor, those three will also go along. We will know everything that happens in the Shen Family Manor. It's laughable that Blood-Sealed Throat really thought we sent those three to help him. When he left, he kept thanking me!"
"Hahaha..." the Eldest Brother laughed heartily and said, "Blood-Sealed Throat is too self-centered and ambitious. He believes he can handle the Shen Family because he wants the treasures hidden there. However, he is too foolish, still thinking that we are really cooperating with him. Hmph, everything he does will ultimately serve us!"
"Once the people from the Killing Gate and the Shen Family are both critically weakened, we'll immediately make our move and storm into the Shen Family Manor, seizing those treasures for ourselves. Then, we'll have the people from the Eastern Province take action. By dawn tomorrow, the Shen Family Manor will be under our control, and the Eastern Province will become our territory!" Xu Cunxiao said excitedly. "Once we control the Shen Family Manor and the Eastern Province, we will be the most powerful force in the Southern Six Provinces. Other forces will definitely bow down to us. In less than half a year, we will dominate the Southern Six Provinces. When Helian, the old fool, crosses Capital to kill towards Jiangnan by passing through Prince Nalan, we won't have to fear him at all. Even if Helian dares to come, we can still drive him back to the Meng District!"
Xu Cunxiao's words left everyone in the room hugely excited. The Eldest Brother eagerly said, "Good! Very good! Excellent! Third Brother, prepare your men now. Tonight, I will personally lead the team to storm the Shen Family Manor."