The night shrouded The Pacification Envoy's Mansion.
A group of people sneaked over under the cover of darkness.
The soldiers guarding the gate were dozing off when one of them caught a glimpse of a light in the corner of his eye.
"Not good..."
Just as he was about to speak, a whooshing sound followed as a crossbow bolt pierced his throat.
Dozens of figures dressed in black scaled walls and burrowed through holes from all directions.
Of course, most entered through the main gate, which was opened from the inside by an old man.
This was a servant of the Li Clan.
"Young master, come in quickly!"
One of the masked figures was Xu Feng.
With inside and outside coordination, the guards within the mansion were quickly subdued, accompanied only by sporadic screams.
In the night, Xu Guangting was jolted awake by the noise, with his third concubine beside him.
"What's happening?"
Xu Guangting dressed and was about to open the door.
Creak!
The door opened, spilling moonlight across the floor, and arrows gleaming coldly in the light aimed directly at Xu Guangting's vitals.
The leader of the figures in black removed his mask, revealing himself to be the second son, Xu Feng.
Xu Feng said with a smile, "Father, it's time for you to step down."
"Rebel." Xu Guangting clenched his teeth, his eyes sharp as knives.
"Isn't this the very lesson you taught me? Father!" Xu Feng retorted with a proud smile followed by a question, "How do I compare to Xu Xuan and Xu Yong?"
"You lack ability and are nothing but a mass of malicious energy," Xu Guangting sneered, "I should have disposed of you long ago."
Xu Guangting regretted not being decisive enough in choosing an heir, despite being resolute in all his other life decisions.
Both his oldest son and his third son were top-notch; he lingered too long in hesitation, he should have ousted Xu Feng much earlier.
Xu Feng laughed heartily, so much that tears came streaming down his face.
"It's a pity. Your two precious sons are going to die. Tomorrow, tomorrow will be their day of demise!"
"You..."
"Someone, The Pacification Envoy is tired. Take him down to rest!"
"Yes!"
The next day.
Xu Xuan and others arrived at the inn, booking a small establishment for the twelve zombies and eighteen guards.
The twelve or thirteen-year-old Xu Ling'er was also in tow.
The trio stayed until the evening.
"Ling'er, you should not go," said Xu Yong.
"Why? I want to see my little nephew." Xu Ling'er was excited at the prospect of finally having younger relatives.
"It's dangerous. Just wait for us here at the inn," he explained.
Hearing this, Xu Ling'er understood immediately.
She was no fool, having dimly grasped many things over the years, only too trusting in family ties.
"Let's go together," Xu Xuan finally spoke—staying at the inn could be more dangerous.
Xu Xuan handed over three talisman papers to both Xu Yong and Xu Ling'er in advance.
"This is the Soldier-Avoiding Talisman. It can block fifteen arrows or fifteen shots from a bird gun."
The Soldier-Avoiding Talisman was refined to a minor level of proficiency; each talisman could block five arrows.
Almost everyone among Xu Xuan's upper echelons now carried a Soldier-Avoiding Talisman. Gui Zhegu had his life saved once by this talisman.
Afterward, the three of them drank water mixed with the ash of the Detoxification Talisman.
"Let's go!"
Eight black-robed zombies followed slowly behind the two of them.
Zombies are not, as they appear in fiction, creatures that only know how to hop. The common trait of ordinary zombies is a stiff body, which results in sluggish movements, hence the name zombie.
In terms of walking, they are fairly normal compared to living people.
This full moon feast was a family banquet, and Xu Guangting had not made a big show of it.
It had been a long time since Xu Xuan and his siblings had returned home, and this was a good opportunity to foster familial bonds and clear up any misunderstandings.
Xu Guangting had pleasant expectations, but alas, Xu Feng had set his plot in motion ahead of time.
At the table, Xu Guangting sat at the head, alongside him were members of the Li Clan and Xu Feng, and at the far end sat the mothers of Xu Yong and Xu Ling'er. If they hadn't given birth, those concubines would not even have the right to be seated.
Xu Guangting's face was grim, the delicacies on the table failing to draw his attention.
Assassins were hidden in the shadows all around, armed with bows and crossbows, and watching their own moment to strike. They even held military flares in their hands.
Not far away, maids stood by with poisoned wine.
The preparations were meticulous.
It was clear that once the two brothers stepped in, all Xu Feng would need was to give the command, and they would be sent straight to the Underworld.
All Xu Guangting hoped for now was that his two sons wouldn't come.
Xu Feng lazily sipped his wine beside him.
He had already received word that Xu Xuan and his brother had walked into the trap.
"The eldest young master, the third young master, and the fourth young lady have arrived!"
A servant's voice announced.
As the trio made their entrance, Xu Guangting felt his heart sink.
Soon, Xu Xuan arrived with his siblings in tow.
"Big brother, third brother, little sister, please take a seat!"
Xu Feng warmly gestured for them to sit down.
"Second brother, long time no see," Xu Xuan said with a nod and a smile.
Then they all greeted Xu Guangting.
"Father has not been feeling well these past few days; please forgive us,"
The guests took their seats and the feast began!
Delicacies kept coming non-stop, Xu Feng enjoyed himself immensely, as did Xu Xuan and the other two, while Xu Guangting was preoccupied with heavy thoughts.
"Come! To our health!"
Xu Feng raised his glass and everyone followed suit.
At this moment, Xu Guangting finally couldn't hold back any longer and shouted, "Don't drink!"
"Father..." Xu Feng's face darkened, "Today is my elder brothers' 'good day'."
Xu Xuan picked up his wine glass, smiled, and said, "Can't drink? Is it poisoned?"
Then he drained his cup and his eyes lit up.
"Younger brother, it really is poisoned! It seems like arsenic. This concentration... tsk tsk, it's almost like paste!"
"Hiss! It really is! It could kill a bull!"
The two brothers started commenting, stunning Xu Feng who was watching nearby.
"Playing tricks and deceiving! Fire arrows!!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Bang bang bang!
Arrows and bullets came flying from all directions!
Bang bang bang!
Upon contact with three inches from the three siblings' bodies, they were all deflected.
"This..."
Everyone present, including the assassins, were momentarily stunned by this eerie sight.
Bang!
At that moment, Xu Yong acted. He pulled a dagger from his waist, pushed off with his legs, leapt three meters, and slit the throat of an assassin behind a pillar.
Whoosh whoosh!
Xu Yong had an Armored Horse Talisman attached to his leg, and he moved as fast as a cheetah, quickly subduing a second assassin.
Even quicker to react was Xu Xuan, who took out three talismans.
Bang bang bang!
Three successive fireballs exploded against the beams and behind the pillars.
"What sorcery is this?"
Xu Feng was both shocked and afraid as he retreated outside. Dozens of assassins and over a hundred loyal soldiers, hearing the commotion, rushed over.
"Kill him! Slay this monster!!"
Cling clang clang!!
Xu Xuan took out a Corpse Driving bell.
Eight dark figures took advantage of the night and leapt into the crowd.
The bizarre figures clad in black robes were impervious to blades and swords, the weapons clanking off their bodies as if they were metal. One of them grabbed an assassin.
"Ahh!!"
Both arms were brutally torn off.
The bloody scene sent chills down everyone's spine.
It wasn't long before the fight turned into a one-sided slaughter.
Xu Feng collapsed on the ground in the courtyard, wearing a bleak smile on his face.
"So this is it, so this is it..."
Man's schemes are no match for heaven's, cunning is no match for divine skills.
With such miraculous abilities, Xu Xuan was truly superior.
Suddenly, a masked figure lunged next to Xu Feng, moving so vigorously that the mask came off.
A face ashen and black, eyes full of death.
This was a corpse, and at the same time, someone he knew.
"Li Hu?"
That was Xu Feng's final thought in life.
Inside the house, at the dining table, Xu Guangting's expression fluctuated wildly, veering between shock, confusion, and realization.
Today's events had shattered his worldview.
He had never imagined such a method to disrupt the game existed; under the influence of such powers, all conspiracies seemed rather ridiculous, simply not on the same level.
Thinking this, Xu Guangting felt guilty and blamed himself for neglecting his eldest son all these years, resulting in such a tragedy.
The sound of combat had not yet ceased outside; it must be Xu Yong's men cleaning up the opposition.
"So this is how it is..."
Soon enough, Xu Xuan put away the bell and returned to his seat.
The others at the table still hadn't snapped out of it.
After a long while, Xu Guangting finally managed to tear his gaze away from the zombies and said bitterly, "Have you truly mastered the Exorcism God's divine skills?"
"Indeed."
"It seems I should step down," Xu Guangting said with a relieved smile, expressing both his readiness to relinquish power and his joy at having such outstanding children.
As for Xu Feng, that barbarian mixed-breed, forget it.
"Let Xu Yong be the Pacification Envoy from now on," Xu Xuan said.
"Good."
After eating and drinking his fill, Xu Xuan walked out the door and took a deep breath.
"The bloody family power struggle drama is finally over!"
From then on, the sky's the limit. With a stronghold and a stable environment for cultivation, Xu Yong would have enough strength to defend himself even if the Hu people moved southward.
Next, Xu Xuan could focus on his cultivation and start gathering ancient relics.
Xu Yong was also amassing his power.
After clearing this minor obstacle, everything seemed bright and clear.