The White Emperor City gate was grand and imposing, with mighty Guards on both sides, meticulously checking every person entering and exiting the city.
These city Guards were members of the White Emperor City Lord's personal guard, responsible for protecting the safety of White Emperor City to prevent any situations that could endanger the city's residents.
Bai Shaoyang and Zhang Haoyang, unsure of who their enemies were, took simple precautions to avoid revealing their whereabouts. Bai Shaoyang disguised himself as an ordinary old man chopping firewood, carrying a bundle of kindling; Zhang Haoyang smeared ash on his face and messed up his hair, following closely behind. To an outsider, they looked like a grandfather and grandson.
The two slowly moved forward, blending into the crowd. Bai Shaoyang and Zhang Haoyang's disguise was no different from that of common poor folk, completely unremarkable. The city Guards only briefly questioned them before letting them pass.
After entering the city, Bai Shaoyang and Zhang Haoyang quickly headed towards the Shangguan Family's mansion. The Shangguan Family was one of the three great Families in White Emperor City, leading in both strength and wealth.
When the two arrived at the Shangguan Family mansion's entrance, Zhang Haoyang and Bai Shaoyang had visited the Shangguan Family many times before, and most of the Shangguan Family members recognized them. The Guards on duty today naturally recognized them as well.
When the Guard saw that the two people in front of him were Bai Shaoyang and Zhang Haoyang, he immediately showed a look of surprise. He asked them to wait and immediately went to inform the Guard Captain.
The Shangguan Family's Guard Captain was named Li Changfeng. His cultivation was at the Perfection of the second layer of the Nascent Soul Realm. In the Shangguan Family, he was second only to the Family Head, Shangguan Yuantian, and some Elders. A Martial Artist at the Perfection of the second layer of the Nascent Soul Realm not only held a high position in the Bai Family but was also considered a significant figure even in White Emperor City.
Upon receiving the notification, Li Changfeng rushed over. When he saw Bai Shaoyang and Zhang Haoyang, his face lit up with joy. He stepped forward and hugged Haoyang tightly, excitedly patting Haoyang's back several times, then said to Haoyang, "It's good that you're alive!" He then immediately arranged for people to lead the two into a side hall, while he himself strode directly through the main hall and hurried towards the back hall.
In the back hall of the Shangguan Family, a white-haired old man sat upright in a grand armchair in the center, with five other old men bowing at his feet. The white-haired old man was tall and robust, exuding an air of authority without speaking, though his face showed signs of fatigue.
The white-haired old man said to everyone, "The Young Miss has been murdered for almost half a month. Are there any developments in the investigation? Is there any news of Haofeng or Haoyang?"
The five old men below looked at each other and then shook their heads. One of them said, "Family Head, the incident happened too suddenly. Logically, such a large operation should have left some clues, but after recent investigations, we have found nothing."
The white-haired old man sitting in the center was precisely the Shangguan Family Head, Shangguan Yuantian. After hearing the old man's words, Shangguan Yuantian couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, his face filled with grief, tears falling from his eyes.
Just then, Li Changfeng burst into the back hall in a hurry. When Shangguan Yuantian saw Li Changfeng rushing in so frantically, he immediately asked urgently, "Changfeng, what is so urgent that you are so flustered?"
After glancing around, Li Changfeng walked directly up to Shangguan Yuantian and whispered in his ear, "Family Head, Young Master Haoyang has arrived! Your subordinate has already led them to the side hall to wait. Under circumstances where the enemy is unknown, your subordinate did not bring the Young Master here."
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yuantian, even as he tried his best to suppress his excitement, still showed it. His robust body trembled slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.
After briefly calming himself, Shangguan Yuantian said to the five old men on his left and right, "Five Elders, you have worked exceptionally hard gathering information from various sources recently. Please go back and rest!"
The five Elders of the Shangguan Family bowed to Shangguan Yuantian and then left the back hall. Shangguan Yuantian then immediately followed Li Changfeng quickly towards the side hall.
Inside the side hall where Zhang Haoyang and Bai Shaoyang sat, there was no conversation, only anxious waiting. At this moment, the side hall door was pushed open with a "bang," and Shangguan Yuantian and Li Changfeng entered.
Upon seeing Haoyang, Shangguan Yuantian embraced him tightly, saying with tears in his eyes, "Haoyang, my grandson, you have suffered!"
At this moment, Haoyang, also with tears streaming down his face, sobbed, "Grandfather, my parents are gone! You must avenge them!"
Shangguan Yuantian looked at Haoyang with a loving expression, stroking Haoyang's head, and said with immense sadness, "This revenge must be taken!"
Shangguan Yuantian looked at his grandson, who had returned from the dead, his face filled with grief. The usually dignified and solemn Shangguan Family Head could not stop his tears from falling, instantly weeping profusely.
After learning of the annihilation of the Zhang Family, Shangguan Yuantian was furious, vowing to find the culprits and avenge his daughter, son-in-law, grandson, and all the members of the Zhang Family. As soon as Shangguan Yuantian received the news, he immediately arranged for capable Family members to go to Anping City to investigate the matter.