Chapter Eighty-One: The Turbulence Continues

Zhao Hong and his companions thoroughly searched Yang Hao and his men, stripping them of all their belongings. This was a punishment for their viciousness and tyranny. Zhao Hong looked at Yang Hao and the others, a glint of murderous intent flickering in his eyes. The insults they had hurled at him still echoed in his ears, filling him with the urge to kill them.

Sensing the murderous aura emanating from Zhao Hong, Zhao Jun hurriedly tried to dissuade him. "Zhao Hong, don't be reckless. We've already severely injured Yang Hao. There are still ways to resolve this. If we kill them, then the Yang family will undoubtedly go to war with ours."

Reminded by his words, Zhao Hong's killing intent quickly faded. He could not let a moment of impulsiveness endanger the Zhao family's legacy of several centuries. He took a deep breath and said, "Thank you, brother, for your reminder. I nearly brought disaster upon us." After a pause, he added, "Our victory today is entirely thanks to Brother Wenfeng. We should split what we've seized from Yang Hao and the others with him."

Zhao Jun and Zhao Bochao both nodded in agreement. If Liu Feng had not been there, they might have been wounded by Yang Hao and his men, losing all their precious pills and treasures in the process.

Seeing their attitude, Liu Feng smiled and said, "Since you've decided so, I won't stand on ceremony. But since there are too many eyes and ears here, let's return to the Zhao residence before dividing the spoils."

Zhao Hong and the others agreed. They descended from the second floor of the "Ephemeral Pavilion" and headed to settle the bill.

Zhao Hong, with a hint of apology, said to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper Liu, I'm truly sorry. We caused quite a bit of damage here while fighting. Please give us a price, and we'll pay for everything."

Shopkeeper Liu, a man in his forties, nodded slightly. "I'm aware of what happened. The fault wasn't entirely yours, but the damages must still be compensated." With that, he produced a list.

Zhao Hong and the others glanced at the compensation list without complaint, taking out several spirit stones and handing them over.

After counting and confirming the sum, Shopkeeper Liu nodded at them in acknowledgment.

Leaving the Ephemeral Pavilion, Zhao Hong and his companions watched as Shopkeeper Liu instructed the staff to fetch a carriage and have the gravely injured Yang Hao and his men delivered back to the Yang family.

Once outside, Zhao Hong and the others strode toward the Zhao residence, intending to inform their father of all that had transpired so he could be prepared for any consequences.

Liu Feng followed behind them, his expression shifting subtly. After today's events, he found their conduct to be upright and honorable, not at all like the ruthless bullies described by the townsfolk.

"Are the rumors true or not?" Liu Feng wondered. "With so many saying the same thing, there shouldn't be any mistake. But what I witnessed with my own eyes was real, too." The contradiction puzzled him.

"Brother Wenfeng, please wait in your room for now. After we consult with our father about tonight's events, we'll come divide the spoils with you," Zhao Hong said as they arrived at the Zhao residence.

"Very well, I'll go rest in my room," Liu Feng replied, making his way to his quarters.

Back in his room, Liu Feng tossed and turned on his bed, feeling restless and troubled. Finally, he rose, determined to seek out news of his parents that very night.

He changed into a set of black clothes and a robe he had prepared in advance, covering his face so that only his eyes were visible.

Moving silently, he slipped out of his quarters, cautiously making his way toward the Zhao family's council hall—the place where the family's main figures discussed important matters.

Navigating through the maze of courtyards, turning left and right, Liu Feng finally caught sight of an imposing, grand building after traversing dozens of courtyards.

The place was brightly lit, with five or six people seated inside. The servants and guards had all been sent away.

Liu Feng circled to the back of the council hall and crouched beneath a window, carefully listening to the conversation within.

He heard Zhao Hong say, "Uncle, what should we do about this? Do you think the Yang family has already joined forces with the Zhang family? Was tonight's incident a ploy they orchestrated together?"

Zhao Tu pondered for a moment. "It's possible they're using this as a test to see the Zhao family's reaction. They just hadn't anticipated Wenfeng's appearance, which disrupted their plans entirely."

"Brother, that's just speculation for now. Without evidence, we shouldn't act rashly," said the second brother, Zhao Gaofeng.

"Father, are we just going to let this go? If something like this happens again, are we supposed to just swallow our anger?" Zhao Bochao protested.

"Second brother, I don't think we can let this slide. We have to show the Yang family we're not afraid, or they'll think we're cowed," the third brother, Zhao Heng, chimed in.

"What do you think we should do?" Zhao Gaofeng, seeing both brothers opposed to his view, passed the question to Zhao Tu.

After a moment's thought, Zhao Tu replied calmly, "We must prepare in advance. Let's strike at the Yang family's business. I suspect they're already targeting ours."

"How exactly do we sabotage their business? Should we hire people to wreck their shops?" Zhao Heng asked.

"Exactly. We'll spend some money and hire experts from outside Nanzhou City to handle it," Zhao Tu answered.

At this, the council hall fell silent.

Liu Feng waited a while, and seeing that no more was being discussed, prepared to slip away.

Suddenly, Zhao Heng's words caught his attention: "By the way, second brother, have you learned anything from keeping our little sister and Liu Yuming under guard?"

Zhao Gaofeng sighed. "Both of them insist there is no martial arts manual. Do you think I can believe them?"

"Second brother, where are they being held? I'd like to go talk to them," Zhao Tu said.

"Big brother, they're in the storeroom," Zhao Gaofeng replied.

Upon hearing this, Liu Feng's heart leapt—at last, he had news of his parents.

He turned to leave at once, intending to ask someone for the precise location of the Zhao family's storeroom.

He paused in a nearby courtyard where he saw a guard patrolling. Approaching soundlessly from behind, Liu Feng grabbed the guard by the throat and whispered, "Don't move. If you make a sound, you'll die instantly." His voice was disguised.

The guard trembled in terror and stammered, "Please, I won't make a sound. Ask me anything you want, sir."

"Do you know where the Zhao family's storeroom is?" Liu Feng asked quietly.

The guard shook his head. "That's far too secret for someone like me to know."

With a sigh, Liu Feng released his grip. "It seems I'll have to look for clues from Zhao Hong and the others," he thought to himself.