"What's going on? The country isn't at war, and nothing major has happened, why were the war drums sounded?" Ren Junyang, Ren Hanlin and Ren Wenxu had just received news that the Fang Family Head was rushing over with many troops and was so incensed that they were hurrying over. Yet, they suddenly heard drum beats coming from the family head's quarters. They were dumbfounded.
What was he doing, was he really not giving up until he destroyed the Ren family?
News had come from the banquet earlier that he'd actually tied Fang Yan up at the gates of the Ren residence. Before they could send someone to query what was going on, the Fang family was already causing a big fuss.
And now he'd gone to… gone to the length of sounding the war drums. This rascal was insane!
"Dong… dong dong… dong dong… dong…" In the Ren family's primitive-like forest, Ren Tianzong who was chatting with Yun Feng-er went silent. His fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the bed, the rhythm happening to be exactly the same as the drumbeat coming from the Ren Family Head's quarters.
"So that's how it is. You brat, by doing this, not only do you pull everyone into it, you even got some of those who wanted to take out the Ren family to show themselves. However, your personality is really… even fiercer than your father." Wan Hong continuously updated Ren Tianzong on the situation at the banquet. Right now, Ren Tianzong finally got a full understanding of Ren Jie's intentions and could not help but sigh with emotion.
"His beating sounds very much alike. I wonder if this rascal has given any thoughts to the consequences."
This war drum wasn't beat for fun. Once it was sounded, everyone in the Ren family would enter a battle state, and everyone under the Ren family's command was to assemble as soon as possible.
This wasn't a military order but surpassed it.
This was a custom that Ren Tianxing had fixed back then, a custom not noted down in writing. It was more effective than any other customs.
The military had drums, used to enhance troop morale and direct battles. The city had drums, used for celebrations of major festivals and emergencies. There were many types of drums, and the sound of each drum differed.
Ren Tianxing's drum was a war drum. Once the war drum sounded, blood flowed for miles. Once the war drum sounded, all soldiers assembled.
At present, Great General Zhan who was lying in his home, drinking as he gazed at the night sky, abruptly opened his eyes. Instantly, the smell of booze rose from his body. He who was usually drunk, at this time, completely sobered up. With a long whistle from him, a horned horse-like spiritual beast as black as ink charged out from the forest within the backyard. In the next moment, Great General Zhan's armor was on.
"Boom!" His armor was donned as he leaped into the air, and when he landed on the spiritual beast, the beast had already cut through the courtyard, charging tens of meters out. And behind him, the Zhan residence's gates were open, the Zhan soldiers also rushing out.
Dozens of family clans in Jade Capital that though could not compare to the five big family clans but were still really powerful all saw their soldiers charge out.
Amongst some soldiers that had been discharged long ago, some were currently on patrol, some had switched to desk jobs, and some were even living in the world of wine and women, when they this war drum beat, even those engaged in intimate acts rushed out immediately.
For Marshal Ren's subordinates, there was no such thing as getting dressed before assembling. If that was the case, you shall be beaten up or even killed. Everyone completed their tasks swiftly.
This was the case for all the places. In the Ren residence, groups and groups of troops assembled quickly.
"War drums are sounded, no one is to move. Otherwise, they'll be killed on sight." Suddenly, many guards ran out of the Ren residence or the surrounding houses. They occupied the entire area surrounding the Ren residence, including where Gao Peng and Li Yan were at. Dozens of guards rushed in and surrounded them. This was the commanding elevation ground, so archers, crossbowmen and even some heavy bows made using dharmic dao were in place.
All the other vantage points and roads in the surroundings were blocked. On the Ren family's walls and the trees were people. Defending all around, archers, experts, powerhouses, all were present.
What does he want to do, is he going to rebel?
What are these people planning on doing? It's a pounding of war drums, what do they want to do? The corner of Li Yan's mouth twitched, but he didn't dare to make a sound.
Although Gao Peng was confident that he would be able to leave, he could sense more people gathering from all around. The troops and the battle atmosphere showed him that, if he were to act recklessly right now, these people who had entered battle state like they were possessed would not care who he was.
At that moment, a feeling of envy and jealousy suddenly surged in Gao Peng's heart. However, his thoughts changed. If a military officer was able to be as influential as this, perhaps even the emperor…
Not to mention them, at present, Ren Junyang and the others tried to stop several guards in the courtyard, ordering them to cease their actions, but the gazes they received were unforgettable.
They were peculiar gazes. As if someone amongst the troops wasn't following military orders.
"What are all of you planning to do? I'm the Minister of Justice, Family Head of the Fang family. What exactly is the Ren family doing? Immediately send someone out here to speak to me." Fang Tianen, who had been overbearing earlier, watched as archers, crossbowmen, and dharmic dao bows surrounded them. Also, tens of thousands of people came out of the Ren residence and from all around. He no longer dared to give orders to kill anyone who resisted like earlier.
He only felt that all of this was too damn absurd and crazy.
How could this be. The current Clear Jade Dynasty was no longer that of the past. Jade Capital hadn't seen bloodshed and slaughter for so many years, and they also didn't have foreign enemies. Why were the war drums sounded? Insane, he was really insane.
Especially when he saw Zhan Tianlong rush over on his spiritual beast with his middle-grade spiritual artifact, the square sky halberd and the masses of murderous Zhan family's descendants behind him. There were many more of such people around, and their numbers were increasing. He grew anxious.
Could it be that he had fallen into a trap, could it be that the Ren family wanted to deal with him?
Fang Tianen felt more terrified the more he thought about it. If that outcome really took place, it would be terrible. Hence, he spoke up first and secretly used the communications talisman that family heads employed in emergency situations at the same time.
No one made a sound. At present, tens of thousands of people had appeared in the Ren residence, full of killing intent. The troops rushing over from all around were also in the tens of thousands. The huge area surrounding the Ren residence was completely controlled. The one thousand people that Fang Tianen had brought were like several lambs waiting to be butchered being surrounding by a pack of hungry wolves. However, with tens of thousands of people gathered, not a single person uttered a single word.
As the war drum had yet to stop, one could see the agitation and yearning in their gazes. Every single expression that looked towards the Ren abode was filled with worship, just like the most faithful follower looking at the god in his heart.
And at this point, Fang Yan, who was tied up at the Ren residence's gate, was already unable to weep. Gosh, what are they doing, tens of thousands of people are already gathered here.
And yet, he was bundled up at the main gates. He had become an animal for people to stare at. Although no one was paying any attention to him now, he felt even worse than being killed. He wished he could cover his face.
In his heart, he itched to maul Ren Jie to death. Too damn detestable. No matter what, he was the second place in the martial arts examination, the leader of the imperial guards, a lineal descendant of the Fang family. And he was actually…
Previously, though he was furious, extremely furious, his thoughts were more about how to control the situation and recover the Black Nether Sword. Yet, he realized that the current situation was totally beyond his imagination. How could this be?
Intangible energy seemed to be integrated into this drum beat. It was heart-stirring and made people's blood race. Chang Laosi stood below the drum tower, so he heard it most clearly, with the most impact. He had long heard about this war drum of the Ren family. Only, when it had been sounded back then, he just happened to be away from the Jade Capital. This was his first time really hearing it.
However, he was puzzled at heart. What was Master planning to do? Initially, when he learned that Fang Tianen was rushing over, he had planned to head over after making arrangements for his task. This matter had a lot to do with him, and after being gifted a superior-grade spiritual artifact, he had also become very confident in his combat abilities. Yet, he hadn't expected to be dragged here by Master. Following that, the blood-racing war drumbeat that shocked the entire Jade Capital sounded from above. At the thought that it was alarming the whole of Jade Capital, Chang Laosi was slightly worried. He had a nagging feeling that something big was about to happen.
"Let's go, Master will bring you to witness a big spectacle." Just as Chang Laosi was in a daze, the drumbeat suddenly stopped. Very soon, Ren Jie had also come down from the drum tower and walked out.
Chang Laosi agreed and hurriedly caught up. Witness a big spectacle?
If it had been someone else saying this to Chang Laosi, he definitely would've laughed loudly. He, Chang Laosi, had been through so many years of good and bad in the Jianghu, what had he not seen before? As someone in the ninth level of the Divine Power Realm, he was also one of the few powerhouses in Jade Capital. He had seen battles between the strong Yin Yang Realm experts and had even survived being hunted by someone who had condensed his Yin spirit. What big spectacle had he not seen before…
However, Ren Jie's words made the beat of his heart to speed up abruptly. This was because the previous incident at the banquet and the Black Nether Sword had been exaggerated. The big spectacle in Master's words…
"Stop right there. Do you know what you are doing? How can you recklessly do as you please? Now, you've actually sounded the war drum. Do you know the significance of the war drum?" Ren Jie had just headed out with Chang Laosi when three figures flashed and arrive right before them. Ren Junyang, Ren Hanlin and Ren Wenxu, the three elders, charged angrily at him. Ren Hanlin was the first to roar, unable to hold back.
"Once the war drum is sounded, the Ren army gathers and enters combat readiness. What are you trying to do when there's nothing happening now? Are you thinking of revolting? How will the others look upon the Ren family? What will the emperor think? What will other people do? The number of reports complaining about the Ren family tomorrow will be enough to bury you, you… you…" Ren Wenxu pointed fumingly at Ren Jie. "You're literally a wastrel, the Ren family will be destroyed in your hands.
"Also, as the Ren Family Head, you invited a bunch of Jianghu gang members to attend a banquet. Can you differentiate between your own status and their status? Besides, Fang Yan is the leader of the imperial guards, but you actually dared to tie him up at the gates to humiliate him. You're too much. We haven't settled scores with you for the previous incident with the Fangs. When threatening them to use the Yin Yang balance to cure the poison didn't work, you forcefully seize other people's property. We have yet to get even with you for this, and now you…"
Ren Hanlin and gang were still in the dark about Ren Jie taking in disciple, but the Fang family knew because Fang Yan and the rest had used a special method to communicate. The news that Chang Laosi ordered people to spread had just started. Hence, Ren Hanlin and others were instead unaware.
"Elders…"
These few people were elders of the Ren, after all. And Chang Laosi also knew that his Master wasn't of age yet. The Elders' Union had the right to do many things. Once he heard them mention the seizing of property and the issue with Fang Yan, as it had to do with him, Chang Laosi wanted to give an explanation.
"Don't waste any words on them, these people who only know to be unreasonable at home. Whatever you say to them is meaningless." Ren Jie lifted a hand and stopped Chang Laosi. At the same time, he looked towards the three elders. "I've scolded you all long ago, but you never change. Do all of you feel glorious when I'm embarrassed? Do you feel good when others slander me? Damn it, siding with the outsiders, unable to tell between family and outsiders, I really wonder if all of you are of the Ren family's bloodline."
"Do you know, once the war drum is sounded, at the same time, the Ren family's intelligence system will immediately notify all members of the Ren family to get ready for battle. Right now, peace is still upon the Jade Capital, do you know the consequences of this?" Seeing that he was still so arrogant at such a time, Ren Hanlin bellowed exasperatedly.