Chapter 41: Wiped Clean
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation | Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
[Cultivation Method: Clear Heart Formula (Great Completion)]
“I never expected that, after reaching the peak of the Heart Cleansing Technique, I would be able to activate such a special state,” Chen Fei pondered, reflecting on the recent events. The level of control he had over his body and his surroundings was so profound that it completely immersed him. However, this state had its limitations. Its duration was short, and it carried significant side effects.
After taking a brief rest, Chen Fei noticed a slight improvement in his dizziness. The special state induced by the Clear Heart Formula had a remarkably apparent impact on enhancing his combat strength. Just by employing Three Immortal Swords, Chen Fei could wield a completely new lethal technique.
The Three Immortal Swords originated from the Immortal Cloud Sword, but Chen Fei had only managed to obtain a fragmented version of the secret manual. Consequently, many of the sword moves were incomprehensible gibberish. As a result, the Three Immortal Sword could be considered a technique devised by Chen Fei himself. In comparison to the Immortal Shows the Way technique, the power of the three swords was considerably greater.
It was conceivable that this technique could pose a threat to martial artists in the Marrow Refinement realm, albeit a minor one. However, given Chen Fei’s relatively low inner strength realm, bridging the gap between two levels to confront an enemy was an extremely arduous task.
“It’s quite surprising.”
Chen Fei couldn’t help but break into a smile. As he wiped the water off his face with a towel, a series of urgent knocks echoed from outside the courtyard. “Steward Chen, is Steward Chen here?” Liu Jun’s voice carried an air of anxiety.
Curiosity piqued, Chen Fei opened the courtyard door, only to find Liu Jun panting heavily. Sensing the urgency in Liu Jun’s demeanor, Chen Fei allowed him to enter and promptly closed the door behind him.
Observing Liu Jun’s peculiar behavior, Chen Fei held back his urge to inquire, patiently awaiting an explanation.
“The Zhang family has been annihilated!” Liu Jun turned to look at Chen Fei, his voice low and solemn.
“What?” Chen Fei couldn’t help but freeze, completely taken aback by the news he received from Liu Jun.
“The Zhao family brought their people and surrounded the Zhang family. The family head was killed, and many young masters and young ladies lost their lives,” Liu Jun uttered, his body involuntarily trembling as he spoke.
Liu Jun had grown up working in the clinic and considered the Zhang family as his own. Hearing of their sudden destruction felt like the collapse of his world.
Chen Fei probed for more details, wanting to understand the full extent of the situation. He learned that the rebel army had joined forces with the Zhao family and used a flimsy pretext to launch a direct attack on the Zhang family. Without any opportunity to defend themselves, Zhang Ting and several elders of the Zhang Clan were instantly killed.
All the direct descendants had perished, leaving only a handful of collateral relatives barely clinging to life. The Zhang family’s wealth and resources were seized, and the surviving collateral relatives were forcibly expelled from the mansion, and left to wander the streets as homeless individuals. The once-proud Zhang family had been utterly shattered.
It wasn’t just the Zhang family that suffered; two other aristocratic families were also implicated in the incident. The rebel army and other aristocratic families found convenient excuses to annex them as well.
“He truly left nothing behind,” Chen Fei muttered to himself. After the various aristocratic families surrendered their resources, the rebel soldiers mercilessly unleashed their blades. Perhaps fearing severe repercussions, they formed an alliance with the other aristocratic families in Pingyin County to minimize their losses.
While conflicts and grudges among the county’s aristocratic families were not uncommon, they were usually kept in check and restrained. However, the current situation had thrown such restraints out the window. The thirst for power and the opportunity to seize resources had overridden any sense of moderation or diplomacy.
With more powerful rebel soldiers now in their ranks and have already suffered significant losses, it was unlikely that they would let go of any opportunity to strengthen themselves. Killing other aristocratic families to replenish their forces seemed like a plausible course of action.
“Steward Chen, do you think something will happen to us?” Liu Jun asked anxiously, his face pale. His utmost concern was whether the Zhao family also target them given that they’d annihilated the Zhang family?
“We’re just employees at the medical center. We aren’t direct descendants of the Zhang family,” Chen Fei contemplated for a moment, his certainty wavering. Logically speaking, the Zhao family wouldn’t pose a threat to them. However, in this world, common sense seemed to hold little weight. The unfolding events had shattered any sense of predictability or stability.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sound of someone pounding on the door reverberated through the room, causing Chen Fei to furrow his brows. He approached the door and opened it, revealing three individuals standing outside. One of them held a portrait in his hand, constantly comparing it to Chen Fei.
“Are you Chen Fei?” the man asked.
“Yes, 1 am,” Chen Fei replied, his curiosity piqued. He glanced at the portrait and recognized that it depicted his own likeness. The level of preparation and attention to detail involved was truly meticulous.
“I am Zhao Xia. The Qingzheng Medical Center will now belong to the Zhao family. Come with me immediately; the family wishes to meet you,” Zhao Xia declared proudly.
Chen Fei contemplated for a moment, weighing his options, before nodding. “Very well. Lead the way.”
With the Zhao family currently at the height of their power, Chen Fei saw no need to provoke them unnecessarily. Besides, he was also curious about the circumstances surrounding the Zhang family’s downfall. Understanding what had transpired would be beneficial.
“Good, good!” Zhao Xia exclaimed happily, pleased with Chen Fei’s cooperation. An alchemist held significant value to the Zhao family.
Chen Fei turned to Liu Jun and gave him a few instructions before following Zhao Xia and the other two individuals to the residence of the Zhao family.
Compared to the somber atmosphere of the past few days, the Zhao family’s residence appeared much livelier today. Chen Fei glanced around and noticed several familiar faces from the medical center in the crowd.
“Elder Zeng!” Chen Fei approached Zeng Defang’s side and called out in a hushed voice.
“Chen Fei, you’re here,” Zeng Defang turned towards him and let out a slight sigh. He placed a comforting hand on Chen Fei’s shoulder and said, “Be cautious in the coming days. If you encounter any difficulties, don’t hesitate to seek my help.”
“Thank you, Elder Zeng.”
Chen Fei lifted his gaze and observed Zeng Defang closely. He could see the signs of fatigue etched on Zeng Defang’s face. The sudden destruction of the Zhang family must have deeply affected him. After all, Zeng Defang had worked closely with the Zhang family for many years, and they had treated him well. There was undoubtedly still a lingering sense of attachment between them.
Now that he was part of the Zhao family, Zeng Defang would not be taken lightly. His ability to refine the Light Spirit Pill, one of the highest-grade cultivation pills in Pingyin County, made him a valuable asset. It was unlikely that any aristocratic family would overlook such a lucrative opportunity.
Soon, the head of the Zhao family arrived in the hall and offered comforting words, providing some solace to those who had previously worked at the medical center and rice shop. Chen Fei pretended to listen attentively, but his attention was secretly fixed on another person—Ling Hanjun, the leader of the mountain bandits who had once wreaked havoc in the city.
Chen Fei was taken aback by the unexpected encounter with Ling Han in this setting. Moreover, Ling Hanjun appeared to be a distinguished guest of the Zhao family, which left Chen Fei quite surprised.
Chen Fei decided not to conceal his thoughts. The face he had encountered before was likely a disguise. After all, Chen Fei was now just a seemingly harmless alchemist in the Skin Toughening realm.
“I’ve heard that Brother Ling has been searching for someone. If there’s anything the Zhao family needs assistance with, Brother Ling, please don’t hesitate to ask,” Zhao Chengji said with a smile. The previous night, when they besieged the Zhang family, Ling Hanjun’s strength had impressed Zhao Chengji greatly. Ling Hanjun’s cultivation was at the peak of the Bone Forging realm, and his fighting skills were profound and exquisite. He stood out even among the rebel soldiers as an exceptional individual.
“Recently, I have encountered several martial artists at the Bone Tempering realm. Are there any other notable experts in Pingyin County who have reached the Bone Tempering realm or beyond?” Ling Hanjun swept his gaze across the individuals present below the stage, his disappointment evident.
“Brother Ling, are you seeking a sparring partner?” Zhao Chengji speculated, thinking that Ling Hanjun desired to enhance his skills in preparation for advancing to the Marrow Refinement realm.
“No, I am searching for an adversary. He is the one who killed my brother!” Ling Hanjun’s expression turned cold, his eyes filled with a chilling determination.
“Who dares to be so audacious?” Zhao Chengji exclaimed, his voice filled with righteous indignation. “Brother Ling, if you have a portrait of that individual, I can rally the Zhao family’s resources to assist you in locating that thief.”
Ling Hanjun furrowed his brows, deep in thought. “I’ve been contemplating this for some time now. It’s highly likely that the person I encountered that day had mastered the art of disguise. The appearance 1 witnessed may have been a facade,” he speculated. Ling Hanjun considered the possibility that the person in question had learned to conceal their true identity. Additionally, it was also plausible that the individual had already left Pingyin County, which explained the difficulty in finding them..