"Those three useless fellows from the Zeng family actually went out?"
After hearing the report from the subordinate, Luo Cheng sneered. Following his conversation with the Third Prince yesterday, Luo Cheng had confirmed that Zeng Ming did not deliberately arrange for that young man to appear. Now that Zeng Ming was in seclusion, his three descendants with some strength had actually gone to Cui Hong Lou together.
After a moment of thought, Luo Cheng looked into the shadows and said, "Arrange for manpower. Capture those three wastes alive first."
"Also, mobilize the Twelve Dark Guards for action tonight!"
Inside the Zeng manor, Li Xuan sat leisurely in the courtyard, drinking tea. Behind him stood a man and a woman, their expressions a little helpless. Their daughter, whom they cherished dearly, was now fanning Li Xuan. Moreover, they had learned that just yesterday, Li Xuan had made Zeng Ruxue cook, wash dishes, and sweep the floor.
Despite Zeng Ming's orders, they still approached Li Xuan. However, upon seeing Zeng Ruxue's expression of it being perfectly natural, they exchanged a look and were stunned.
"You two come here, are you worried about your grandfathers or pitying Xue'er?" Li Xuan asked lightly, then glanced at the two of them.
"That Senior Li, Xue'er is still young. The manor has servants who can do these things. We..." The woman glared with some displeasure at her husband, who dared not speak, and then said to Li Xuan,
"I know," Li Xuan nodded.
"Since you know..." The woman, sensing her voice had become a little too loud, lowered her tone. "Since Senior knows, why then do you still make Xue'er do these chores?"
"I have my reasons," Li Xuan smiled faintly.
"Junior cannot agree with Senior's reasons," the woman said, her face reddening.
"You cannot agree, that is your reason," Li Xuan nodded upon hearing this. After a pause, he added, "But why should my reasons be explained to you?"
"You!" The woman was instantly enraged upon hearing this. She pointed at Li Xuan, about to speak, when the man beside her quickly stepped forward and pulled her back.
"That Senior Li, although Grandfather ordered us to obey your arrangements, Xue'er is still young. Moreover, the hope of our Zeng family rests on Xue'er. Can these chores be arranged for the servants?" the man said, cupping his fists.
Li Xuan shook his head and said softly, "Do you know what happens to flowers in a greenhouse once they are placed outside? You also know that Xue'er is the future hope of your Zeng family. I don't care how you doted on her before. But now, she is my junior sister. As an elder brother, I act as a father. What I do is my business."
"Father, Mother, I think Senior Brother is right. Moreover, Grandfather said you must obey Senior Brother's orders. Xue'er is not afraid of hardship," Zeng Ruxue said as the woman was about to speak.
"Xue'er, you are still young," the woman said, unable to bear it.
"Enough, Madam. Senior Li is right. Can we accompany Xue'er forever?" The man's eyes flashed with a hint of realization after hearing Li Xuan's words. After speaking to the woman, he turned and bowed deeply to Li Xuan, "Senior Li, although I don't know your strength, I am convinced by your reasoning. Xue'er, I entrust her to you."
Zeng Kong finished speaking and pulled the woman away, ignoring her struggles.
"Your father is good," Li Xuan said with a slight nod, watching Zeng Kong and the woman leave. Xue'er looked at her parents' retreating figures and then continued to fan herself.
Night falls.
Several figures rushed towards the courtyard in a panic, their faces filled with alarm.
"Senior Li..." the leading man said, cupping his fists in greeting, about to speak, but Li Xuan waved a hand to stop him.
"Your three grandfathers are missing, aren't they?" Li Xuan said after taking a sip of tea.
Everyone was stunned. Li Xuan had been drinking tea in this courtyard all day, yet he knew everything that had happened in the manor?
"Don't worry, the other party hasn't made their real move yet. Your three grandfathers should not be in mortal danger. Although I didn't intend to intervene at first, Xue'er is, after all, a member of your Zeng family. Moreover, I promised Old Zeng that I would look after your Zeng family before he went into seclusion, so you don't need to worry about your safety." Li Xuan put down his teacup and looked into the darkness.
"They're quite fast," Li Xuan murmured to himself. Then, in the eyes of everyone present, Li Xuan waved his left hand. The tea leaves in the cup instantly rose and shot towards the darkness.
Bang, bang, bang!
As the tea leaves disappeared, several thuds were heard. A total of twelve black figures appeared before everyone's eyes.
Hiss!
Everyone present gasped in amazement. This young man possessed such power!
At this point, they finally understood why Zeng Ming had ordered them to obey the young man. This kind of strength could crush them in an instant.
Moreover, what was on everyone's mind was who dared to launch a night raid on the Zeng manor. Some astute members of the Zeng family quickly guessed it was the Luo family, as the Luo family was their only known adversary.
"Who are you?" Luo Cheng's pupils contracted sharply as he saw his twelve Dark Guards instantly killed. Luo Cheng had clearly seen that it was just a single tea leaf that had killed the Twelve Dark Guards.
"I presume you are from the Luo family. Hmm, those twelve men in black earlier were likely a vanguard, their purpose being to test the waters. If they were outmatched, those twelve would have directly carried out a massacre." Li Xuan glanced at Luo Cheng and then smiled slightly, "So, you must be Luo Cheng, the head of the Luo family, right?"
"Sir, we did not intend to offend. If we withdraw now, will that be acceptable?" Luo Cheng asked, his eyelids twitching, then cupping his fists.
Li Xuan nodded. "It will be."
Luo Cheng frowned slightly, glancing at Li Xuan. Then his gaze shifted to Zeng Ruxue, standing beside Li Xuan, his eyes narrowed. He immediately waved his hands and shouted, "Attack!"
As Luo Cheng finished speaking, dozens more men in black appeared around them. In an instant, they all shot towards Zeng Ruxue. Their demeanor clearly indicated they were targeting Zeng Ruxue.
Seeing this, Li Xuan sighed and shook his head. "I originally thought of letting Old Zeng resolve your grievances himself. Why did you have to do this?"
After speaking, Li Xuan moved his mind, and a spiritual sword flew out from within him.
Instantly, sword energy surged and shot towards the men in black in all directions. Li Xuan himself did not notice that a wisp of sword light had already appeared on the tip of the spiritual sword.
Bang, bang, bang!
Countless thuds echoed. In less than ten breaths, the ground was covered with corpses. The Zeng family members were stunned by this scene. Even Luo Cheng's face had turned pale as if he had seen a demon, and he trembled, pointing at Li Xuan, "You... you are the Great Sword Cultivator Li Xuan!"
"It is I," Li Xuan nodded. He had learned from Zeng Ming that news of him being a Great Sword Cultivator had spread throughout the entire Tianyun Kingdom, so it was not difficult for Luo Cheng to recognize him.
As for those men in black, although each of them possessed strength at the initial spirit realm or even the spirit soul realm, in Li Xuan's eyes, they were no different from mortals. Even Luo Cheng before him was only at the preliminary martial king realm.
"Damn you, Luo Cheng, how dare you lead people to attack our Zeng family at night!" a middle-aged man roared. If not for Li Xuan, they would be the ones lying on the ground now.
"Kill him!" a Zeng family disciple shouted.
"If you kill him, the lives of your three grandfathers will be forfeit," Li Xuan waved his hand, stopping everyone, then looked at Luo Cheng. "Are you going to surrender yourself, or should I take action?"
"Sir..." Luo Cheng immediately said.
Seeing this, Li Xuan waved his hand. "Speak one more word, and you die."
Luo Cheng's pupils contracted, and he quickly said, "I surrender!"