Chapter 95: All Who Came Shall Perish Together

Watching the woman weep bitterly, the onlookers around were filled with a pang of sorrow. Yet, there was nothing they could do. Faced with the formidable Zhang family, no one dared to speak up. Their only choice was to endure silently.

The remaining man had already left. Liu Xie slowly turned his gaze to the woman and walked over to her. “Rest assured, I will help you seek justice,” he said softly. Yet, beneath those words lay a resolute strength. This promise stirred a powerful determination within him.

For such an incident to occur under his rule was nothing short of a personal failure. “Justice? There is none,” she sobbed, tears and snot streaming down her face. “In this world, where is justice to be found? The Zhang family’s power is overwhelming. We cannot escape it.”

Hearing her lament, Liu Xie felt a heavy weight in his chest. “I will keep my word,” he assured her. “I will make sure you get justice. But first, we must lay your father to rest.” He took a deep breath.

The woman lowered her head in despair, still choking on her sobs. “What’s wrong?” Liu Xie asked gently.

Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she replied, “We have no money. How can we afford a proper burial?” Her words struck deep in Liu Xie’s heart. A man had died, and they could not even afford to bury him. It was hard to imagine how they had been surviving. This era, rife with war and chaos, left the common folk to endure unimaginable hardship.

“Don’t worry,” Liu Xie said firmly. “I will help with your father’s affairs.” He turned to his Wolf Shadow squad members. “You two, carry the old man inside. And send for more people to come here. I have work to do.”

Soon, the deceased was brought into the dilapidated house. Under Liu Xie’s direction, a coffin was purchased, and a mourning tent was erected—though it was a pitiful sight indeed. The woman knelt alone by her father’s spirit hall, keeping vigil.

“Benefactor, I thank you for allowing my father to rest in peace,” she said reverently. “I have no way to repay you, but I am willing to serve you faithfully.” She warned, “The Zhang family wields great power here. If you offend them, it is best you leave quickly.”

After arranging everything, she knelt before Liu Xie, expressing her gratitude. He lifted her up gently. “I told you, I will help you seek justice. Stay here and watch over your father’s spirit. I will remain by your side.”

“If the Zhang family dares to come, so be it,” he said with lethal resolve. “I will see to it that every one of them joins your father in the afterlife. If they do not come, then I will go to them myself!”

His words comforted her, and though worry still lingered in her heart, she found a measure of calm. After all, the Zhang family’s influence in the region was vast. But Liu Xie cared little for that. Under his rule, no one would be allowed to commit such atrocities. If they did, they would face his unwavering wrath.

“By the way, what is your name?” Liu Xie asked.

“Benefactor, you may call me Xiao Yun,” the woman replied with deep respect.

Liu Xie nodded. “Alright, Xiao Yun, go inside and be with your father. Leave the rest to me.”

With that reassurance, Xiao Yun returned to her vigil, while Liu Xie found a place to sit quietly in the courtyard.

“Report, sir,” a voice came.

“The Wolf Shadow Eighteen Guards have all assembled. Awaiting your orders.”

Before long, the eighteen guards stood in perfect formation before Liu Xie. His expression was cold and unyielding.

“Inform Chen Gongtai that I will not be returning for the next few days. The situation in Yizhou has stabilized for the most part. Let him coordinate with Zhang Lu on the rest.”

“And anyone from the Zhang family who comes here—none shall be spared. Kill them all.”

Liu Xie’s voice was thick with murderous intent.

“Understood!” the Wolf Shadow guards responded, then departed.

Outside the shabby courtyard, a crowd had gathered. Earlier that day, Liu Xie had slain six or seven members of the Zhang family, and the sole survivor had gone to sound the alarm. Everyone knew the Zhang family would not let this pass.

“They’re not finished yet,” the people whispered among themselves, eager to see what would happen next.

“Where do you think this young man came from?” one asked.

“He doesn’t seem afraid of the Zhang family at all,” another said.

“Bah! Around here, who isn’t afraid of the Zhangs?” someone scoffed.

“I bet he’s from out of town and doesn’t know their power,” another guessed.

“If he really can teach the Zhangs a lesson, that’d be something,” a voice said hopefully.

All these murmurs reached Liu Xie’s ears, but he paid them no mind. His worth and his course would be proven by actions alone.

Soon, a commotion stirred outside the courtyard.

“They’re coming! The Zhang family is here!” someone shouted.

Liu Xie turned to see a dozen or so men brandishing steel knives, led by a burly man in his fifties, marching resolutely toward them.

“Damn it!” the leader bellowed. “Who the hell has the guts to kill our people?”

“Steward! It was him! He’s the one who killed our men!” the man previously spared by Liu Xie accused fiercely, pointing at him.

All eyes locked onto Liu Xie, especially the steward at their head, who regarded him with contempt.

“So, you’re the one who killed our Zhang family?” the steward sneered. “Do you know who the Zhang family is? I’m telling you, today is your last.”

His arrogance was blatant; he did not even consider Liu Xie a threat.

At that moment, Xiao Yun hurried out from the mourning tent behind them.

“I’m sorry, steward. It’s my fault,” she pleaded anxiously. “If you want to settle this, come to me. It’s nothing to do with him. This is all my doing.”

She was desperate to shield Liu Xie from harm. Her selflessness pleased Liu Xie greatly. It was clear she was a fine young woman, unwilling to bring trouble to others even in such dire straits.

“Hmph! You shameless woman!” the steward spat. “You’d rather have us do the dirty work? Fine! Then we’ll just have to teach you a lesson ourselves!”

He was determined to make Liu Xie pay.

“Steward, please, I beg you!” Xiao Yun pleaded again, but a large hand suddenly pulled her back.

Liu Xie stepped forward, placing her safely behind him. “You’re right. I killed your men,” he said calmly. “But I want you to understand something.”

“From now on,” he continued, voice cold as steel, “any Zhang family member who sets foot here will not leave alive.”

“You all will be the ones to accompany Xiao Yun’s father to the grave.”

Laughter erupted from the steward and his men.

“You’re crazy, kid,” the steward mocked. “You want us to be the ones buried? Come on, then. Let’s see how that works out.”

“I’m right here. Let’s see what you can do to me.”

The steward’s arrogance was unshakable.

Liu Xie remained composed and gave a sharp wave to his Wolf Shadow guards. “Leave none alive. Kill them all!”

As his command echoed, the guards drew their curved blades. In a flash, one of the attackers was decapitated. The sight stunned the steward and the watching crowd alike—no one expected Liu Xie to actually strike first.

The Wolf Shadow Eighteen Guards moved with ruthless efficiency, blood spilling rapidly. Within moments, all of the steward’s men lay dead.

Only the steward himself remained, trembling on his knees, fear finally seeping into his bones.

“I’m the steward of the Zhang family!” he stammered. “What will you do to me? The Zhang family will never forgive you!”

Liu Xie looked down at him. “Do you think I fear your so-called Zhang family?”

“Hmph. Listen well,” Liu Xie said. “I’m sparing your life now, so you can go back and tell your master this—if he’s got the guts, he can come and join the funeral procession himself.”

“Men, chop off his arms. Send him packing!”

With a thunderous shout, a Wolf Shadow guard swung his blade twice, and the steward’s arms were severed cleanly.

Horrified, the steward stared at the bloodied stumps, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

“Now you can go,” Liu Xie said coldly. “Tell your master that I am here, waiting for his arrival.”

The maimed steward fled immediately, rushing home to report the events.

As Liu Xie turned back, he saw Xiao Yun standing there, wide-eyed and speechless. She had never imagined he would dare to act so decisively.

“Benefactor… this…” she stammered, overwhelmed.

“Don’t worry,” Liu Xie reassured her. “Go back and keep vigil with your father. I told you, I will handle everything here. With me around, you will be safe.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yun felt a surge of security and gratitude welling up within her.

The crowd outside was equally stirred to fervor. For years, the Zhang family had ruled with impunity, intimidating all around them. Now, at last, someone had dared to stand up to them.

Liu Xie had slain more than twenty Zhang family members, even maiming their steward. The people felt a deep satisfaction in this reckoning.

The Zhang family’s day of retribution had finally arrived.