Hengyang, Lu Manor.
Lu Manor's estate was situated near a tributary of the Xiang River. As one of the most prominent large families in the area, the head of the Lu family was hosting a banquet that evening, inviting officials and local magnates.
However, halfway through the banquet, several uninvited guests arrived.
"Bang!!"
Wang Hu shattered the shield blocking his path with a single blade strike. The force was so great that it slammed the psionic guard behind the shield against the wall.
The head of the Lu family watched in dismay as his meticulously trained guards were no match for Wang Hu and Wang Lang, his throat tightening with anger.
At this moment, Wang Hu, with his purple hair and white beard, had crimson eyes and bulging muscles that strained his robes. He wore a blue robe, a ghost-faced amulet around his neck, and a ghost-head saber with a purple blade and white body in his hand, exuding an aura of malevolence.
The other, Wang Lang, was slightly leaner, with a head of white hair and a pair of purple demonic horns. He wore a purple robe, and on his back was a massive stone tablet, bound with chains, disproportionate to his frame. His iron shovel, seemingly ordinary, pulsed with a faint purple demonic energy.
These two alone had first swept through all the guests present, then achieved a zero-to-twenty kill ratio against the enforcers, leaving the head of the Lu family utterly stunned.
But what truly terrified the Lu family patriarch was Mo Chuan, who stood behind them, yet to make a move.
Before the Lu family, the Cui family of Yingchuan, the Sun family of Changsha, the Liu family of Yiyang, and the Shi family of Xiangxiang had all been eradicated by Mo Chuan, without exception. In fact, Mo Chuan hadn't spared even corrupt minor officials, let alone these prominent aristocratic families.
"You... you can't kill me..." The head of the Lu family slowly retreated, attempting to activate a skill to escape. However, Wang Lang raised his hand, and a mist laced with chains brutally slammed him onto the ground.
The head of the Lu family felt an intense pain radiating from within his body and couldn't help but cry out.
Mo Chuan slowly walked up to the Lu family patriarch, pulled out a piece of paper, and began, "On December 1st, you arranged for people to injure the owners of several small grain stores, bribed hospital officials, and charged exorbitant medical fees, before finally acquiring their grain shops at a low price. Is that correct?"
"I..."
"On December 9th, your subordinates disguised themselves as bandits and stole a portion of the relief grain. Later, when the government sent troops to suppress the bandits, you took advantage of the situation and seized another portion of the relief grain, totaling one thousand tons. Is that correct?"
"I... I didn't..."
"On December 13th, grain merchants sent by Nan Shun collected your grain and placed an order for fifteen hundred tons. You agreed to deliver on the twenty-third, which was three days ago," Mo Chuan said, looking into the eyes of the Lu family patriarch. "You used the same method to steal and trade the remaining one thousand tons of relief grain and five hundred tons of tax grain. But after the second transaction, you immediately handed over all the profits to the Sun family of Changsha."
"Where's the money? You earn it but don't spend it? Handing it over to others? Not keeping a single cent for yourself? Is this something someone like you would do?"
All of this information had been accidentally obtained by Mo Chuan from the ledgers and diaries of the Sun family patriarch after he had cleared out the Sun family. Thus, he used it as evidence to directly eliminate the Liu and Shi families as well.
Seeing that the Lu family patriarch was somewhat dazed with fear, Mo Chuan directly pulled away the chain mist that enveloped him, then used a grappling hook to pierce one of the Lu family patriarch's collarbones, hooking his body and saying, "Tell me where the money went. The Liu family, the Sun family, and some officials had all made remittances to the Sun family. However, the money found at the Sun family's residence wasn't even enough to buy his own house. What's going on?"
"I... I can't... I can't say..."
Mo Chuan narrowed his eyes and said, "You wouldn't want your family to be implicated, would you? After all, you are the only one among the various aristocratic families where the number of insiders within your family is limited to five. Many branches of your family are unaware of your actions, so they shouldn't be implicated."
Mo Chuan's PTSD had been triggered by dealing with such large amounts of untraceable remittances. He was now trying to ascertain if this was the work of the Yama Hall.
After a moment of hesitation, the Lu family patriarch slowly spoke, "You... you have to swear... to protect my wife and daughters..."
"Don't worry, just say it," Mo Chuan nodded. "Your wife and children, I shall raise them."
Although the Lu family patriarch felt a strange sensation on his head, he still said, "It's King Biancheng... he's hiding in the Yangtze River..."
As soon as the Lu family patriarch finished speaking, a massive tentacle immediately burst through the window, coiled around the weakened patriarch, and dragged him out of the manor. Mo Chuan, acting swiftly, threw a lantern backward and shouted, "Follow!" and was also pulled away.
However, in the ensuing chaos, only Meng Le and Wang Hu, who were closest to the lantern, managed to grab it and followed Mo Chuan. The remaining individuals exchanged glances, deciding to send Luo Ni to follow the trio while they took care of the scene.
...
The Xiang River, one of the largest tributaries of the Yangtze River.
Mo Chuan gripped the chain tightly. He had been following the Lu family patriarch who had been dragged away for a long time, feeling as if he had traversed many places, and the waterway ahead became increasingly open, the river wider.
The Lu family patriarch in front had already fainted. Mo Chuan, enduring the cold night wind, called back, "How are you guys?"
"We're fine! Holding on tight!" Wang Hu and Meng Le shouted.
Mo Chuan squinted, observing the tentacle in the moonlight. It was smooth and slightly slippery, shimmering under the moonlight. It had no scales, no fur, no barbs or coils, making it difficult to identify the organ of what kind of demonic beast it belonged to.
Suddenly, the submerged tentacle tightened, pulling the four into the water.
Mo Chuan quickly activated [Hellwalker · Divine Dragon Venerable · Steel Dragon] to resist the erosion of the river water with his steel body. Meng Le, meanwhile, created a sword qi barrier for himself and Wang Hu, shielding them from the frigid river water.
Lu family patriarch: I don't care, I'll make a fool of myself.
Underwater, Mo Chuan finally managed to make out the general appearance of the demonic beast through the moonlight and water reflections – a giant catfish.
The tentacle binding the Lu family patriarch was its whisker at the front of its mouth.
An ordinary catfish would be insignificant, but this one was too enormous, its movement even slowing the flow of the river water.
Mo Chuan couldn't help but envy the "big bugs"—if he had the "big bug" template and the Loch Ness Monster skin, would he be afraid of it?