Chapter 525 - 521: The Liu Family’s Plan

With the departure of the people from Fallen Valley, only a pile of corpses remained in the Shen Family’s plaza. The crowd at the Shen residence was stunned, unable to process what had happened.

Wasn’t today supposed to be a joyous occasion for the Shen Family? Everyone had thought that from this day forward, the family would soar to new heights. Yet, in the time it took for a single incense stick to burn, the entire Shen Family had been nearly annihilated. As the crowd gazed upon the bodies of the Shen Family’s young men in the plaza and the great estate, now reduced to rubble, they all knew one thing: the Shen Family was finished...

The onlookers pitied the Shen Family, but they were also terrified of the Martial Artists from Fallen Valley. The Shen Family had been considered a Major Influence around Cyan Mountain City, but before a High-level Sect, they were utterly defenseless. Annihilated in the span of a single incense stick!

"Hmph. Serves them right. The tallest tree catches the most wind. Let’s see how the Shen Family can act so smug now!" While some felt pity, others naturally reveled in their misfortune. The members of the Ge Family were delighted by this turn of events. For the past three years, ever since the Shen Family produced Shen Haoran, their status in Cyan Mountain City had been rising like a tide. They had already begun to overshadow the other two families, showing signs of becoming the sole dominant power. Now that the Shen Family had suffered such a catastrophe, the Ge Family was naturally pleased.

While the Ge Family gloated, the Liu Family remained silent. Patriarch Liu Chengfeng gazed at the ruins of the Shen estate and turned to a young man beside him. "Xiahui, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

The green-robed young man beside Liu Chengfeng was the genius of the Liu Family and his most prized son, Liu Xiahui.

"Father, do you know who those people were?" Liu Xiahui asked in a low voice.

"Who were they?" Liu Chengfeng was puzzled. He too was curious. Who would attack a minor family like the Shens?

"They’re all from Fallen Valley," Liu Xiahui said grimly, his gaze fixed on the departing figures of the black-robed men.

"What? People from Fallen Valley! You mean *the* Fallen Valley, one of the Three Great Dominators of the Northern Domain?" Hearing this, Liu Chengfeng gasped. Fallen Valley was the most powerful force in the Northern Domain—an entity that could make the entire region tremble with a single shout. Why would they attack the Shen Family?

"There’s only one reason: Shen Haoran," Liu Xiahui said, a sharp glint in his eyes.

At that moment, Liu Xiahui looked toward the mountains behind the Shen estate. His eyes narrowed, a flicker of light within them, and he asked softly, "Father, what kind of person do you think... Shen Haoran is?"

"Shen Haoran?" Liu Chengfeng was confused. His son hadn’t answered his question, instead posing one that seemed completely irrelevant. Still, despite his confusion, he mulled it over before replying. He knew Xiahui must have a reason for asking.

"Shen Haoran... my impression of him is that he’s an incredibly patient man. He endured five years of scorn and ridicule from his own family and still held it all in. And yet, there’s a ruthlessness in his bones that’s genuinely frightening. How to put it... he’s like a lion. A sleeping lion," Liu Chengfeng mused, offering a fair assessment.

Hearing his father’s words, Liu Xiahui chuckled. "A sleeping lion? Father, don’t forget, Shen Haoran has already awakened. Besides, he’s not a lion. He’s a dragon that was lurking in the abyss, and now he has broken his chains and soared to the heavens!"

Liu Chengfeng was taken aback. He knew his son better than anyone. Normally proud and arrogant, Xiahui looked down on all his peers. To hear him praise Shen Haoran now... this wasn’t like him at all.

Seeing his father’s surprise, Liu Xiahui chuckled again. "Are you surprised, Father? To be honest, I have never admired anyone in our generation—with the sole exception of Shen Haoran. I’ve dealt with him a few times. He’s an absolute genius. In both strategy and strength, I am no match for him. I guarantee that as long as no misfortune befalls him, Shen Haoran will one day become a dominant power in his own right."

Liu Chengfeng nodded slowly. He had great faith in his son’s judgment, but he was still confused. ’What does this have to do with the current situation?’ he thought.

As if sensing his father’s confusion, Liu Xiahui explained in a low voice, "I understand Shen Haoran’s character. He’s the type who won’t strike unless struck first, but if someone offends him, he repays it a hundred times over. More importantly, his family is his Reversed Scale. If Haoran finds out his family was annihilated, he will stop at nothing to get revenge! Fallen Valley will undoubtedly face his frenzied retaliation! And that kind of vengeance... even a power as great as Fallen Valley might not be able to withstand it. So now, our Liu Family must make a gamble."

"A gamble? What do you mean?" Liu Chengfeng asked, still perplexed.

"We will bet that Shen Haoran will utterly destroy Fallen Valley. We will bet that he will become a dominant power! And the stake... is the fate of our Liu Family!

With Shen Haoran around, it’s impossible for the Liu Family to ever surpass the Shens. Therefore, we must settle for the next best thing. If we can build a good relationship with them, then when the Shen Family prospers in the future, our Liu Family will surely share in the benefits! You understand our family’s situation well, Father. We know our own limits. We should take what we can get and not foolishly compete for more. To do otherwise would be suicidal, would it not?" A wise smile touched the corner of Liu Xiahui’s lips as he spoke calmly.

At his son’s words, Liu Chengfeng smiled in satisfaction. ’This is the son I am most proud of,’ he thought, ’not for his Talent in Cultivation, but for his wisdom. He always has a clear understanding of his own limitations, knowing what he should and should not do. He always finds the path most advantageous to us. He is a natural-born leader!’

"But how can we possibly forge a bond with the Shen Family now? They’ve been all but wiped out by Fallen Valley!" Liu Chengfeng said grimly, gesturing toward the ruins.

"This is the perfect opportunity!" Liu Xiahui said with a light laugh. "Now is when the Shen Family needs help the most!"

"You want to save the Shen Family? That’s impossible! We can’t afford to provoke the disciples of Fallen Valley!" Liu Chengfeng refused outright.

"Father, that’s why I said this is a decision that puts the fate of our Liu Family on the line! But we don’t need to save everyone, nor do we have the strength to. We just need to ensure the Shen Family’s bloodline survives. If we secretly rescue a few of their talented disciples, that will be enough. It’s what the Shen Family needs most right now." Liu Xiahui spoke as if he had already planned it all out.

A sharp glint flashed in Liu Chengfeng’s eyes. ’Xiahui is right,’ he realized. ’When a family is facing annihilation, the most urgent need is to preserve its bloodline. Saving their descendants would be the greatest possible favor to the Shen Family. And by doing so, we would forge an unbreakable bond with them.’

"Very well. I’ll leave this matter in your hands," Liu Chengfeng declared.

Hearing this, Liu Xiahui nodded, then turned and headed back toward the Liu Family’s estate.