SWDnovel Chapter 45 Internal Strife Within the Wang Family, Xu Cheng'an Leaves the County
Chapter 45 Internal Strife Within the Wang Family, Xu Cheng'an Leaves the County
The situation in Qingyun County is becoming increasingly delicate.
In recent days, the most common topic heard on the streets is no longer how the Li family rose to power.
But -
"How much longer can the Wang family hold out?"
The once prestigious and powerful family has now become the subject of casual conversation.
Some say the Wang family treasury is empty.
Some say that the people of Black Wind Ridge moved into the backyard of the Wang family and treated them like ancestors every day.
Some people also said that the elders of the Wang family smashed the council table again last night.
It's a mix of truth and falsehood.
But all the rumors point to the same thing:
The Wang family is in chaos.
⸻
East Market.
The Li family's shop business is booming.
Even the two burned-down warehouses have been rebuilt with wooden frames, and new signs have been hung in front of the doors.
Li Yuanshan stood at the door, smiling as if it were Chinese New Year.
"See that?"
"This is called rebirth from the ashes!"
Li Yuanlie sat on the steps with his sword in his arms and yawned.
"All I see is that you raised your prices."
Li Yuanshan spoke with righteous indignation.
"As its reputation grows, its price will naturally rise as well."
The other men nodded in agreement.
The shopkeeper is right no matter what he says.
⸻
Zhao Yuancheng went up the mountain again, bringing the latest news.
"Young clan leader, two elders from the collateral branch of the Wang family left the manor last night with their men."
"I heard he went to his old house in the south of the city and never returned to the main house."
Li Tianheng's expression shifted slightly.
"Separate the family?"
Zhao Yuancheng nodded.
"That's probably true."
"They were unwilling to continue gambling with Wang Tonghai's life."
Li Yuanshan clapped his hands as he listened.
"good!"
"When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter!"
Li Yuanlie carefully corrected:
"The Wang family is not like monkeys."
"Like a mouse."
⸻
Li Xuan, however, did not show any joy.
"The exodus of members from the collateral branches is just the beginning."
"The real key is whether the elders of the main lineage will waver."
Everyone was taken aback.
Zhao Yuancheng immediately realized what was happening and his heart skipped a beat.
indeed.
The departure of a collateral relative is a blow to one's reputation.
If the main vein is severed, it will be fatal.
⸻
at the same time.
The council hall of the Wang family ancestral home.
The hall was deathly silent.
Originally there were more than ten elders, but now only seven remain.
The empty space is like a silent irony.
Wang Tonghai sat in the main seat, looking even older than he had a few days ago, with a few more strands of white hair at his temples.
Finally, a burly elder couldn't hold back any longer and slammed his fist on the table.
"Master!"
"If this continues, we'll break up before the Li family even attacks!"
The white-bearded elder also spoke in a deep voice:
"Sever the ties with Black Wind Ridge."
"Take the loss to cut your losses, and then talk to the Li family again."
The other person sneered.
"Shall we talk now?"
"Li Xuan probably wants us to give up our ancestral graves."
The room immediately erupted into another noisy argument.
⸻
Snapped!
Wang Tonghai suddenly stood up and shattered the table with a single palm strike.
The crowd finally fell silent.
His gaze swept over the crowd, his voice low and hoarse:
"Are you scared?"
No one answered.
Fear is a fact.
But nobody wants to admit it.
Wang Tonghai sneered.
"Twenty years ago, when the Wang family was penniless, why weren't you afraid?"
"Now that their business has grown large, they've become as timid as mice!"
The burly elder roared angrily:
"Back then, we were competing for the future!"
"What we're doing now is risking our lives!"
One sentence, and the room fell silent once more.
⸻
Wang Tonghai's chest heaved violently, and a look of madness appeared in his eyes.
"it is good."
"Since none of you dare to take the risk—"
"Then I'll put it together myself!"
Everyone's expression changed simultaneously.
The white-bearded elder exclaimed:
"Master, what are you doing?"
Wang Tonghai did not answer, but simply waved for everyone to leave.
The elders exchanged glances, a sense of foreboding rising in their hearts.
⸻
the other side.
Inside the guesthouse in the county town.
Xu Chengan's condition has stabilized, but his face remains gloomy.
He has been staying indoors these past few days, but he can't stop the gossip from spreading.
"Young Master Xu was beaten to his knees."
"The pride of the county town is nothing more than this."
"Li Xuancai is a true genius."
Every word felt like a slap across his face.
⸻
Zhou Yue walked into the room and spoke calmly:
"Pack up."
"Leaving the county today."
Xu Chengan suddenly looked up.
"Walk?"
"I haven't won back yet!"
Zhou Yue's expression was indifferent.
"You've lost twice already."
"I lost once in a battle of wits."
"I lost because of my pride."
Xu Cheng'an's face turned ashen, but he couldn't utter a word in rebuttal.
⸻
Zhou Yue continued:
"A letter from the head of the household."
"The Xu family will no longer interfere in the dispute over Qingyun County."
"If you are not satisfied, we will win back the county town in the future."
"Staying here now will only lead to further embarrassment."
Xu Chengan remained silent for a long time before finally gritting his teeth and nodding.
He knew he had to leave.
But before he left, only one name remained in his heart—
Li Xuan.
⸻
afternoon.
The Xu family's beast-drawn carriage slowly drove out of Qingyun County.
There was no pomp and circumstance of their arrival, nor were there crowds to see them off.
Instead, many ordinary people watched from a distance, whispering among themselves.
Xu Chengan sat in the car, his face turning pale as he listened.
As the carriage passed through the East Market, it happened to see a long queue forming in front of Li's shop.
Li Xuanzheng stood in front of the door, talking with the merchants, looking calm and composed.
It was as if the winds of the entire county were all on his side.
Xu Chengan clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"Li Xuan".
"See you in the county seat."
⸻
Black Stone Mountain.
Zhao Yuancheng rushed over to report.
"The Xu family is gone!"
Li Yuanshan slammed his hand on the table.
"good!"
"Finally, one of those eyesores has left!"
Li Yuanlie was somewhat disappointed.
"I want to cut him again."
Li Xuan simply nodded indifferently.
Xu Cheng'an's departure was inevitable.
It is impossible for the scions of prominent families in the prefecture to remain mired in the quagmire of the county town for long.
But this does not mean the end.
Rather, it marks the beginning of the next phase.
⸻
The system panel slowly appeared in my mind:
[External forces withdraw]
[Increased Family Control]
[Family Luck +25]
[Current Luck: 595]
[Mission Progress: Annihilation of the Royal Family (61%)]
[Warning: A major rift is about to occur in the main branch of the Wang family]
Li Xuan's eyes flickered slightly.
A fracture in the main vein?
It seems Wang Tonghai is about to lose control.
⸻
Night fell.
The backyard of the Wang family ancestral home.
Cao Kui and other Black Wind Ridge cultivators were drinking and eating meat.
The courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open.
Wang Tonghai walked in alone, expressionless.
He looked at Cao Kui and slowly spoke:
"Brother Cao."
"I have a bigger deal to make."
Cao Kui looked up and squinted.
How big?
Wang Tonghai's eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was hoarse, like he was sharpening a knife.
"Destroy the Li family."
The smell of alcohol hadn't dissipated in the courtyard, but a murderous aura had already risen.
The Last Frenzy in Qingyun County
coming soon.
Chapter Forty-Five (The End)