While waiting for the target ship to arrive, Cheng Jinyang told Xing Yuanzhi about Zhu Xinchu's situation and asked about the status of the Hejian Xing family.
Girls are usually more sentimental, and Xing Yuanzhi felt a bit sorrowful upon hearing the news. However, she quickly composed herself and said in a low voice:
"Our two families are actually fine, thanks to the secret channels provided by the Ground Network. Although we received the information late, we managed to evacuate successfully just in time. Unlike the Sanchuan Zhu family, who had to adopt the strategy of Tian Ji's horse racing, sacrificing the lower-ranked horses to protect the higher-ranked ones. Sigh."
Her words were quite pointed, clearly implying that the Sanchuan Zhu family had set up the route along the Yangtze River as bait to attract the attention and forces of the imperial court, thus buying time for the evacuation of the other branches of their clan.
Reflecting on those members of the Zhu family, given that they had killed Zhu Xinchu's fiancée before departure, could it be that they had long realized their fate as bait and had already begun to regard the rest of the family as enemies?
Thousands of words gathered at his lips, but he couldn't say anything. Like Xing Yuanzhi, he could only let out a long, wistful sigh.
Sigh.
"They're here!" Chu Qingqing suddenly shouted.
Cheng Jinyang quickly turned his head toward the river, and what he saw was a massive blaze, like a burning phoenix swiftly crossing nearly a hundred meters of the river surface, crashing into the nearest Shenwu Army ship!
It was said that the Sanchuan Zhu family's bloodline ability, "oxidative combustion," allowed them to decompose the molecules in the air (mainly nitrogen and oxygen) without any consumption.
The high-energy free radicals created would recombine, releasing a large amount of heat while forming nitrogen oxides, which is the essence of the oxidative combustion's destructive power.
High temperatures and suffocation!
The ship took a direct hit from the oxidative combustion. Although the hull remained intact, the supernatural flames crazily seeped in through the gaps in the portholes, quickly causing the sailors inside to suffocate and die.
More flames swept across the river surface, striking a few ships blocking the route ahead.
These ships initially came to an abrupt stop but then slowly resumed movement as the AI took over the control systems, continuing to obstruct the rebel ship's path.
"The flames are useless!" members of the Zhu clan on the ship shouted.
Everyone realized that while the sheer high temperature could kill the people on board, it had no effect on the unmanned ships.
Consequently, they scrambled to grab their weapons, intending to sink these ships.
However, the Shenwu Army quickly launched a counterattack. A barrage of dense, overwhelming firepower poured down from Bridge No. 3, instantly engulfing the fishing boat loaded with members of the Zhu clan.
Cheng Jinyang looked towards the river surface. The combatants who had originally gathered on the deck were mostly killed on the spot by this round of bombardment.
As the boat half-submerged, some survivors emerged from the cabins, frantically jumping into the river.
Most were the elderly, women, and children, likely the kin and family members of the clan.
After a round of firing, the Shenwu Army ceased action, as slaughtering the elderly, women, and children would tarnish their reputation. They left the matter for the Sanchuan Zhu clan to handle.
"It looks like we won't need to take action this time," Xing Junmo remarked with a sigh.
Other than the few cannon shots fired by those on the bridge cooperating with the Shenwu Army, the Tianluo had no opportunity to engage. After all, the opposing side was just a fishing boat on the river, relying on supernatural abilities for a surprise attack. They stood no chance against military firepower.
The Zhu clan members on the bridge began to act as well. Facing the elderly, women, and children still struggling in the river, they did not organize a rescue operation.
Instead, they unleashed a barrage of flames.
"How did it come to this?" Xing Yuanzhi sighed quietly as she watched the struggling people on the river being engulfed by flames.
Cheng Jinyang remained silent.
He knew that these were members of the Zhu clan left behind in Jiankang, and that such an extreme method was being used to clear their sullied name.
Or as Xing Yuanzhi had put it, these Zhu clan members were "bait."
The purpose of bait is to be consumed, to be killed publicly and plainly for all to see, to put the court at ease.
Yet as he watched those who had fallen into the water desperately clutch their children to their chests, using their own flesh and blood to shield against the clan's flames, only to still die together in the icy river... he couldn't bear to watch any longer.
"Where is Miss Wang?" he asked softly. "Let's go."
"Okay." Xing Yuanzhi called Chu Qingqing over, and they took their leave from the two cousins.
As they walked some distance away, both Cheng Jinyang and Xing Yuanzhi felt a heavy weight on their hearts.
Due to certain reasons, Miss Qingqing was indifferent to the tragic scenes they had just witnessed.
However, while she was cold-hearted, she wasn't stupid. She said nothing at this moment and led the two to find Miss Wang.
Before long, Miss Wang sent a message: she was already near the Longxi Li clan territory.
It was less a return than an excuse to act separately, as she hadn't intended to come in the first place-she had probably anticipated the outcome of this trip from the beginning.
Arriving at Jiangbin Park opposite the Longxi Li family's ancestral land, Cheng Jinyang saw Li Qingwan sitting on a bench next to Miss Wang, chatting amiably with her.
Miss Wang, on the other hand, smiled and nodded occasionally, indicating she was listening.
Though impeccable in etiquette, as her confidant, Cheng Jinyang could easily tell she was merely going through the motions.
If Miss Wang truly intended to communicate seriously, she would either be "indifferent" or "coldly scoff" or "coldly laugh," never adopting such a hypocritically affable demeanor.
Then Cheng Jinyang remembered what Li Qingwan had said to him before:
"In fact, our relationship with Wanrou is not as good as yours."
Yes.
Although belonging to the Five Great Families, Li Qingwan, with limited talent, had not become a core member of the Longxi Li family, so she had to carefully curry favor with Wang Wanrou.
Seeing Miss Wang's perfunctory attitude, Cheng Jinyang's mind immediately came up with a term: bootlicker.
Oh, poor Li Qingwan!
For this young lady from a prestigious family who had taught him martial arts and was much more normal compared to Wang Wanrou and Miss Cui, Cheng Jinyang still had a favorable impression of her.
So he couldn't bear to see her continue to flatter the other party like this, so he went over and interrupted their conversation, saying:
"What a coincidence, Qingwan. Meeting you here again."
"Jinyang." Li Qingwan greeted him with a smile.
"Why did you two stay over there for so long?" Wang Wanrou asked bluntly.
"Just confirming the results." Cheng Jinyang replied.
"Do you even need to confirm such results?" Wang Wanrou asked him inexplicably.
Although it sounded a bit sarcastic, Cheng Jinyang knew she was actually just speaking her mind - that's how she truly felt.
"Of course," he chuckled, explaining helplessly, "It's a summons from headquarters. All nearby Tianluo have to attend, otherwise, not going will result in a fine."
"You should quit this boring profession sooner rather than later," Wang Wanrou said coldly.
Li Qingwan listened to the conversation between the two, unable to help but envy Cheng Jinyang.
It seemed that Miss Wang really liked him.