Chapter 404 - 386: Patriarch, Bad News

Su Yu pocketed the Profound-tier Treasure Pill and continued to inspect the remaining porcelain vials.

When he got to the last small celadon vial, he tilted it slightly with his fingertips. A pill, black as ink and faintly interwoven with ominous, dark-red patterns, rolled out.

The moment he got a clear look at the pill, Su Yu’s deep pupils shrank to the size of a pinprick. "It’s a Black Lotus Pill!"

’Damn it! The Huyan Family is a reputable, centuries-old Martial Arts Family in the Inner City. How could they be secretly hiding this kind of Evil Cult’s Magical Potion? Have they been colluding with the Black Lotus Sect all along?’

Beside him, Lin Wanzhu’s pretty face paled slightly, her voice laced with shock.

The Black Lotus Pill was an incredibly strange pill. The Public Security Bureau had yet to figure out where it came from or how it was refined. But its effects were astonishing—it could allow an ordinary person with no talent for Martial Arts to break through and become a Martial Artist in one go!

Those who were compatible with the pill could even cross several realms consecutively. Even a Martial Artist who took a Black Lotus Pill could drastically stimulate their potential and increase their strength, saving them years, or even decades, of arduous training!

Of course, such an astonishing effect was not without risks.

After swallowing a Black Lotus Pill, one’s entire body’s Qi and Blood would boil as it squeezed out every last drop of their potential. Accompanied by excruciating pain, most people couldn’t withstand the violent medicinal effects and agony, and their bodies would easily explode, turning into a pool of blood.

The Public Security Bureau had once obtained five or six of these Black Lotus Pills and experimented with them on death row inmates, only to find that none survived.

The Black Lotus Sect, however, claimed that only believers who piously worshipped the Black Lotus Holy Mother could receive the Holy Mother’s divine favor and survive after consuming the pill. Those who died were simply false believers whose faith was not strong enough.

Of course, many people didn’t believe this charade. In the end, whether one could endure it mostly depended on themselves.

But the effects of the Black Lotus Pill were undeniable. This led many people to make contact with the Black Lotus Sect, and some even defected to their side.

"Ah Yu, this is serious. If the Huyan Family really is colluding with the Black Lotus Sect, and now that we’ve killed two of their Muscle Forging Realm experts, they will definitely be driven to desperation. If the Black Lotus Sect joins in, we’ll be in danger," Lin Wanzhu analyzed.

"If they’re really colluding with the Black Lotus Sect, that actually simplifies things. I was just wondering how to wipe out the Huyan Family. Now that we have a just cause, we’ll strike first!"

A thick killing intent flashed in Su Yu’s eyes.

’The Huyan Family has come after me time and again; I’ve wanted to wipe them out for a long time. I just didn’t have the strength before. Now is the perfect opportunity!’

"Wipe out the Huyan Family? They’re one of the top centuries-old family powers in the Outer City. This would cause a huge storm, and the resistance won’t be small. Ah Yu, are you sure about this?"

Hesitation flickered in Lin Wanzhu’s eyes. Huyan Muyuan was in the Profound Bone Realm, and the Huyan Family itself had intricate connections with various factions, even having dealings with powers in the Inner City.

’Can a centuries-old family like that really be wiped out?’

Seeing her worry, Su Yu reassured her, "Don’t worry. I won’t make a move until I’m absolutely certain of success. When the time comes, it will be a lightning strike. We won’t give the Huyan Family a chance to fight back!"

...

「Midday.」

The early summer sun was already scorching, baking Black Stone City.

In the south of the city, deep in a remote alley next to the docks. Stagnant water flowed over the muddy ground, where rotting fish, shrimp, and crabs—left there for who knows how long—emitted a pungent, fishy stench. Under the blazing sun, the smell filled the entire narrow, dark alleyway.

A figure in a large, gray cloak came running, stumbling wildly.

His face was deathly pale, and his rapid breaths were laced with the faint scent of blood. It was clear the fatal wounds from last night had not yet healed. The newcomer was none other than Chen Fan.

He slammed a hand on the black-lacquered wooden door and pounded on it heavily, producing an urgent KNOCK KNOCK.

But inside, there was only dead silence. Not a single sound came from within.

Fuck!

’That bitch, where the hell did she go? Why isn’t she opening the door?!’

His expression turning savage, Chen Fan knocked again, but there was still no response from the courtyard.

He glanced around. Seeing no one, he flew into a rage and kicked the door open, stepping over the threshold and into the small courtyard.

"AHH! Who?! Who did this?!"

Chen Fan’s hoarse, agonized, and furious voice immediately rang out from the courtyard, like the roar of a wild beast.

The once clean and tidy bluestone courtyard was now covered in large patches of thick, dark-red blood that gave off a blinding, fishy glint under the scorching sun. Two bodies, one large and one small, lay cold and twisted in the pool of blood.

"Huyan Tong, it was you! It must have been you, you venomous bitch!"

Chen Fan clutched the two, already stiffening corpses tightly. Veins bulged on his temples as his ten fingers dug deep into the dirt, and his teeth ground together with a grinding sound.

’He had arranged for Ye Lu to stay here precisely to hide from Huyan Tong. Huyan Tong had investigated him back then, discovered he had a child, and told him that if he wanted to join the Huyan Family, he had to go and kill them!’

"Huyan Family! Huyan Family! You treated me like a dog! You never planned on letting me go!"

...

「Huyan Family Estate.」

Huyan Muyuan sat upon the Grandmaster’s Chair. Standing below him were Huyan Tong, the butler Huyan Bo, and Huyan Rong.

Huyan Rong was another Muscle Forging Realm expert the Huyan Family had secretly produced in recent years, usually responsible for guarding the estate.

"It’s already noon. Why haven’t Third Uncle and Chen Fan’s group returned?"

Huyan Muyuan’s expression was a little grim as he spoke in a cold voice.

At this moment, a faint sense of foreboding crept into his heart. But on second thought, considering the strength and trump cards of his Third Uncle, Huyan Tuoba, his confidence returned, and he felt he was overthinking things.

’That Su Yu has only just entered the Muscle Forging Realm. This ambush shouldn’t have gone wrong.’

’Qin Fangqiong was also being watched last night; she didn’t leave the city. And even if she had interfered, Third Uncle wouldn’t have been afraid. At worst, the ambush would fail, and they would just return to Black Stone City.’

"Patriarch, perhaps they were delayed on the road. After all, that Su Yu is from Qingxi Village. He might be familiar with the terrain, so a small accident is possible," the butler, Huyan Bo, analyzed respectfully.

Huyan Muyuan nodded slightly, suppressing the trace of irritation in his heart.

"Father, Tong’Er has everything ready. Once Chen Fan returns today, let’s proceed with the plan," Huyan Tong said, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

’Once I devour Chen Fan’s Spiritual Energy, the Divine Blood in my body will reawaken. Then, I will be the most talented of my generation in the Huyan Family. All the family’s resources will be funneled to me!’

’I have to admit, Hu Yanxin’s death was a good thing. Su Yu did me a favor by killing him back then.’

"Good. Since you are ready, Tong’Er, once Chen Fan returns, your father will personally act and capture him." Huyan Muyuan stroked his beard, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

’Chen Fan’s Spiritual Energy is quite good. If Tong’Er devours it, her future potential will be greatly elevated. She’ll reach the Muscle Forging Realm at the very least, and even the Profound Bone Realm wouldn’t be out of the question.’

"Have all the troubles on Chen Fan’s end been dealt with?"

"Rest assured, Father. I sent people to take care of it last night. I also informed Third Grand-uncle. When the time comes, he’ll bring Chen Fan straight back for the celebration. It’ll be a double victory for us!"

"Excellent! Once Su Yu is dead, Yang Zhen will have no one left to protect him. To avoid any complications, we’ll capture Chen Fan today and go after Yang Zhen tomorrow!"

As the members of the Huyan Family were delighting in their future plans, an anxious voice suddenly cried out from outside the door.

"Patriarch! Patriarch, this is bad!"