sonovelo Chapter 641: We Hold Our Ground
Chapter 641: We Hold Our Ground
Chapter 641: We Hold Our Ground
Upon hearing that Du Wuhen had arrived at the Lei Family, Chu Liang immediately hid himself. If an old acquaintance recognized him, his plan to infiltrate the Lei Family would be ruined.
Unfortunately, it was Steward Wang who paid the price. When the Fierce Draconic Colt kicked him and sent him flying, everyone outside the enclosure fell silent for a moment.
Du Wuhen remained quiet, but Lei Ren's expression turned grim. "My subordinates were too eager to claim credit and ended up making a fool of themselves before you. Young Hero Du, let's move on to the next demonic beast."
Then he turned to a servant and instructed, "Take him to the city to see a physician. Let him return only after he's fully recovered... I don't want to see him any sooner."
Meanwhile, Fifth Young Master Lei Hou's expression betrayed a hint of delight.
He had been concerned about losing his horse, but who would have thought a single kick from the Fierce Draconic Colt would resolve the issue so neatly?
As the group moved on to inspect more demonic beasts, Chu Liang quietly returned to the courtyard at the back of the house. Just as he was about to settle in, he heard a faint sound coming from the mother horn.
"Huh?"
Out of curiosity, Chu Liang leaned in closer to listen.
The moment he did, a woman's startled cry rang out, "Ah!"
"..."
This familiar voice left Chu Liang momentarily speechless. Why is it her again? But isn't Mr. Fang inspecting the demonic beasts with Lei Ren right now?
"Why do you guys always like to do this in the master's study?" The woman's voice, as familiar as yesterday, carried the same casual tone.
"Us?" The man's voice, now rough and rugged, responded with a trace of confusion. "Who else?"
"Ah... What do you mean by who else? All you men are the same," the woman huffed. "Let go of me... Let's talk tonight. Master Lei will surely go out tonight; I'll come find you then."
"Don't worry. Master Lei is busy entertaining the guests from Thunderbolt Stronghold right now," the man said casually. "Tonight, I'll be accompanying him on some matters, so I won't be able to meet you."
"Hm?" The woman suddenly lowered her voice. "He's taking you along?"
"Yes. All the honored allies of the family that are at the fifth and sixth realm are going," the man replied. "Do you know what this is about?"
"Yesterday, I found a letter in his study," the woman whispered, leaning closer. "I sneaked a peek. It mentioned meeting someone at the Three Pines Crossroad on the cliff to trade for a valuable item. Since Master Lei has summoned you all, I think he is planning to..."
"He's planning to take the money without giving up the treasure?" the man interjected, catching on immediately.
"The person meeting him is after a treasure map. That map... I helped seal it with a secret technique back then." She paused, gritting her teeth before continuing, "And the price they've offered is astronomical—equivalent to the Lei Family's earnings from selling demonic beasts for years."
"You've done so much for him over the years," the man said. "And yet, Master Lei still treats you like this..."
"Hmph." The woman snorted coldly. "Back then, as a disciple of the Greater-Yin Cult, I agreed to marry him as a concubine, all because I believed his sweet lies. Who would have thought that over the years, he'd take in so many more concubines and only remember me when he needs something."
Hearing this, Chu Liang finally confirmed the woman's identity.
The Second Madam of the Lei Family was rumored to have once been a disciple of the Greater-Yin Cult. She was likely a less favored member; otherwise, they wouldn't have let her leave. After she left the Greater-Yin Sect, she fell in love with Lei Ren and, in a way, married beneath her status. Over the years, the Lei Family's growth had undoubtedly been bolstered by her connections and influence.
Even if seeking help from the Greater-Yin Cult was unlikely, her association with them was enough to make anyone plotting against the Lei Family think twice.
"Senior Brother Feng, the target has arrived," one of them whispered.
Feng Chaoyang, leading the Celestial King Sect team, remained hidden in the shadows.
Knowing that Du Wuhen would surely notice if they had been too close, they positioned themselves at a safe distance and projected a view of the scene from afar using a head-sized enchanted orb.
Under the pale moonlight, Du Wuhen's dark silhouette almost disappeared into the night, like a scythe cloaked in shadow, swaying gently in the breeze.
"The bastard took the bait," Feng Chaoyang muttered, clenching his fist.
After obtaining information on Du Wuhen's movements through secret channels, the Celestial King Sect team had set their trap near the residence of the Lei Family well in advance. As expected, Du Wuhen appeared, falling right into their carefully planned scheme.
Feng Chaoyang was just about to give the order to close in when the light from the enchanted orb flickered. It revealed several figures descending from the sky and landing quietly behind Du Wuhen, quickly concealing themselves among the shadows.
"Senior Brother Feng, it looks like there's an ambush," someone immediately warned.
"Indeed..." Feng Chaoyang's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the unexpected arrivals. They had not been part of his calculations. Unlike his younger, brash self, he now refrained from acting on impulse. "It seems he didn't come unprepared after all."
"What should we do?" a junior brother behind him asked.
Feng Chaoyang studied the orb's projection. The people who arrived radiated powerful auras—likely cultivators at the seventh realm.
After a moment of tense silence, Feng Chaoyang raised his hand, signaling for calm. "We hold our ground."
...
Meanwhile, the head of the Lei Family, Lei Ren, crouched behind a cluster of jagged rocks with three or four trusted allies, each possessing considerable cultivation. Their expressions were tense as they observed the unfolding scene with utmost caution.
"Master Lei, it's someone from Thunderbolt Stronghold!" Chen Huang, the family's chief honored ally, whispered urgently.
With his rugged face and towering frame, Chen Huang was the Lei Family's second strongest, surpassed only by Lei Ren himself. In battle, Lei Ren relied on him more than anyone else. Naturally, for an operation of such importance, his presence was a given.
"This isn't surprising," said Fang Zizai, another honored ally, a faint smile playing on his lips. "As soon as we learned Thunderbolt Stronghold was on the move, Master Lei received that letter. The timing is no coincidence. Their purpose here is clearly not what it seems."
Fang Zizai, with his refined demeanor and cultivation at the fifth realm, was renowned for his sharp intellect and strategic mind.
Together, these two—one a master of intellect, the other a paragon of strength—were Lei Ren's most trusted confidants.
"No matter how skilled Du Wuhen is, he's only at the peak of the sixth realm. If we all attack together, he won't stand a chance," Chen Huang said confidently.
"Brother Chen, don't be so impulsive," Fang Zizai warned. "We might succeed in capturing him, but can we handle the full retaliation of the Thunderbolt Stronghold? They already know that what they're after is with the Lei Family. At this point, we're left with only two options."
"What options?" Chen Huang asked.
Fang Zizai smiled and said, "At this point, we either fight or negotiate. If we fight, the entire family will have to abandon everything and flee. If we negotiate, we take their money and retreat."
Lei Ren listened in silence. With a flick of his sleeve, he said, "This place isn't safe. Let's return to the residence and discuss further."
"Not making a move anymore?" Chen Huang asked hurriedly.
If we aren't going to act, what was the point of coming all this way? Chen Huang thought. The more he dwelled on it, the more his impatience grew.
Lei Ren shot him a sharp glare and said firmly, "We hold our ground."