52-Noble Families under Attack.

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The night wind howled, stirring the clouds into rolling waves. A bright, pristine moon flickered in and out of sight amid the dark clouds.

Beneath the veil-like curtain of night, the streets lay empty, with scarcely a soul in sight—save for the occasional patrolling bailiff, no one else seemed to care.

With the rebel army besieging the city, the people of the county had bolted their doors tight. Families huddled in their rooms, trembling, terrified that any noise might mark them as spies and get them hauled away.

Even the usually bustling Nuǎnxiāng House was eerily quiet at this hour.

In stark contrast, the directions of the Zhang and Du families in the east and west of the city echoed with massive, tide-like roars spreading outward in all directions.

Zhong Lin stepped out of his room. With a leap, he bounded up the wall, using it for leverage twice with a swift *whoosh*, effortlessly reaching the rooftop. Gazing out, he saw that the night—supposed to be pitch black—was lit by two enormous blazes, precisely where the Zhang and Du families resided.

"It's started, hasn't it?"

Not only were the family estates ablaze, but the city gates also roared with fire and deafening cries of battle. Dimly, he could see the city's garrison darting through the streets like sparks scattering into the wilderness.

Shouts of killing, the pounding of war drums—earth-shaking.

Old Xu stumbled out of the house in a panic, staring at the distant flames. "Zhong Lin, what's happening? What's going on?" he asked, his voice laced with fear.

"The rebels are attacking the city."

Zhong Lin jumped down from the roof, his face grave as he addressed Old Xu. "Wake up Shi and the others. Everyone, into the cellar."

Old Xu didn't dare delay. Having lived this long, he knew the horrors of war better than anyone. Suppressing his terror, he hurried back inside.

Old Madam Xu was already awake, her face etched with panic as she sensed the chaos outside.

"Old man…"

"Quick, take Xiu'er and Little Shi to the cellar."

The two hurriedly roused the boys, lifted the straw mat in the corner, and revealed a dark, gaping hole.

Old Madam Xu descended first with an oil lamp, followed closely by Little Shi and Xiu'er. Old Xu went last.

By then, Zhong Lin had dragged the massive stone from the courtyard inside.

"Zhong Lin, you… be careful."

Xu Lewu looked at Zhong Lin with a complicated expression.

Zhong Lin cracked a smile. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Once Old Xu was in the cellar, Zhong Lin sealed the entrance with a wooden board, then hefted the giant stone over it.

The stone weighed about a thousand pounds. Only someone with freakish natural strength or a martial artist above Seventh Rank could move it. For now, it was perfectly secure.

With everything set, Zhong Lin donned his night-travel gear, equipping himself with lime powder, iron caltrops, and his ghost-head saber. Then, like a shadow, he vanished into the streets.

He headed straight for the Du family's location.

At that moment, the Du estate was a whirlwind of chaos—sounds of assassination, pleas for mercy, and clashing blades melded into a cacophony.

A thick stench of blood wafted out, and parts of the compound blazed with fierce flames, turning the black night sky a glaring red.

The once-pristine pavilions and layered corridors of the estate were now reduced to rubble.

Under the firelight, a group of nearly fifty men rampaged through the Du family grounds, killing and setting fires.

Utter mayhem.

Zhong Lin crouched beneath an eave, looking down at the chaotic scene. His sharp eyes scanned every blade of grass, every tree in the battlefield.

*Boom!* 

A deafening explosion rang out. From the central hall of the Du estate, two figures burst through the roof like cannonballs, sending a shower of tiles, stones, and dirt tumbling down.

"That's…"

Zhong Lin watched from afar, witnessing the aftermath of their clash. At a distance of two or three feet, one of them shattered a roof's overhanging eave with bare hands.

"Incredible. Is this the power of qi and blood that only Sixth Rank martial artists can wield? Truly formidable."

Zhong Lin's face grew solemn, his eyes locked on the two figures in the fray.

Even from this distance, he could feel the terrifying aura radiating from them—the sheer power in their every move, and most importantly, the qi and blood strength exclusive to the middle three ranks.

"That gray-haired old man must be the Du family patriarch, Du Lun. As for that middle-aged guy, if I'm not mistaken, he's with the rebels. So the rebel army has experts too! Weren't the qi and blood cultivation methods supposed to be monopolized by the noble families? How does the rebel army have a powerhouse like this?"

Zhong Lin's mind churned with questions.

As he pondered, the two figures darted and fought across the rooftops. Under the bright moonlight, their speed left trails of afterimages. Wherever they passed, bricks, tiles, and stones flew like they'd been struck by iron.

Suddenly, Du Lun, the Du family patriarch, swung his black dragon-headed cane down from above. The middle-aged man hastily raised his blade to block, but the sheer force sent him flying back, crashing through dozens of floorboards before stopping.

"Du Patriarch, still vigorous in your old age! Admirable, truly admirable."

The middle-aged man shook his numb left arm, his voice tinged with respect.

"Hmph! I never imagined the rebel army would have a hero like you. Reaching Sixth Rank isn't something a nobody can do. Who are you?"

"I'm Xu Ruo. Greetings, Du Patriarch."

Xu Ruo cupped his hands toward the old man, though his face showed no trace of reverence.

"It's him. I didn't expect him to join the rebels."

Zhong Lin's eyebrow ticked up as he recognized the man.

The yamen had a wanted poster for him. Xu Ruo, known as the "Iron-Armed Blade King," was famed across Qingzhou for his unmatched blade skills. He'd gone into hiding after killing a noble family's scion and being put on the wanted list. Who'd have thought he'd joined the rebels?

"So it's you, you treacherous rebel! Everyone has the right to slay you. You dare sneak into my Du family tonight? Then don't leave—stay here forever!"

Du Lun clearly recognized Xu Ruo too, his voice booming with authority.

"Is that so? The last guy who said that to me—I crushed every bone in his body bit by bit. Du Patriarch, the righteous army has surrounded the city. All I need to do is hold you off until General Guo breaches the walls. Then it'll be your Du family facing its end. I'll watch your noble lineage collapse, hear their pitiful wails myself," Xu Ruo said, his voice icy.

"Ridiculous! You've barely stepped into Sixth Rank—how can you match me? You think you can disrupt the Zhang and Du families during this rebel siege and get your way? The foundation of a noble family isn't something you can fathom. Your men are nearly wiped out. You're next," Du Lun sneered.

Du Lun cast a commanding glance over the Du estate. Though they'd been caught off guard at first, plunging the family into chaos, they were now organizing an effective defense. The infiltrating rebels were being surrounded and cut down—it wouldn't be long before this group was annihilated.

"Oh, really?" Xu Ruo laughed loudly. "Ever lost a bone?"

"Hmm?"

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