Zhu Cheng had been waiting outside the door all along.
Seeing Zhu Zhenzhen walking out of the Iron Armor Sect in a daze, he hurriedly stepped forward to meet her.
"How did it go?"
Zhu Zhenzhen did not speak, she simply shook her head.
A fierce expression flashed across Zhu Cheng's face; he did not want to pin all his hopes on others.
But he suddenly thought of something and looked towards Zhu Zhenzhen.
"Zhenzhen, go wait for Xiaoguang at the city gate; I'll head home first."
"Second Brother..."
Zhu Zhenzhen finally regained her senses and looked towards Zhu Cheng.
Zhu Cheng just stared at her intently, "I just want to know how Father is doing now? You go to the gate and wait for Xu Guang! As long as General Wei can return in time, Father and I can be saved!"
Zhu Zhenzhen wanted to suggest they go together.
But she was frightened by Zhu Cheng's fierce gaze.
She was just a young girl who had been practicing martial arts at the Iron Armor Sect since childhood. Hard work was her hallmark, but this also meant she wasn't as decisive as Zhu Cheng, who had been involved in family business dealings since childhood.
"Okay... Second Brother, be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you."
Zhu Cheng smiled, nodded, and just as he was about to turn around and leave, he suddenly paused.
"If Father and I were to die, just stay with Xu Guang. He is a good person, and with General Wei around, you will be protected. Also, tell Xu Guang that the person who sent Scarface Three to assassinate him that day was Zhu Huai!"
This was not based on investigation, only Zhu Fu and Zhu Cheng's suspicion, but in such a critical moment, to prevent Xu Guang from siding with Zhu Huai, Zhu Cheng decided to inform Xu Guang.
He had been in business for years and did not trust human nature.
Zhu Zhenzhen understood Zhu Cheng's intention.
She remained silent.
Xu Guang's image inexplicably appeared in her mind.
Not ugly, very hardworking...
But...
Ultimately, he was not like the perfect husband she had in mind.
She said nothing more, just nodded silently.
The brother and sister walked in opposite directions.
...
Zhu Fu was already struggling.
"Taking over the family business peacefully is good for everyone; I won't harm any of the nephews."
Zhu Huai repeated his offer.
Zhu Fu's lips moved slightly, he was already convinced the Iron Armor Sect would not intervene.
He yielded.
Just then, an angry shout rang out.
"Release my father!"
It was Zhu Cheng.
He appeared solemn, carrying a sense of determined sacrifice.
Mysteriously, Zhu Cheng seemed to have an aura around him, cultivated through years of self-discipline and being in a high position, now brought upon by facing death courageously.
Those promoted by Zhu Fu, when they saw Zhu Cheng, had a glint of admiration in their eyes.
They also didn't wish for Zhu Huai to become the patriarch, as Zhu Huai's ruthless methods often involved beating and scolding servants, and even causing several tributors to leave when he was young.
However, upon seeing that Zhu Cheng was alone, they were disappointed.
Zhu Huai squinted his eyes, looking at the crowd outside.
A chill rose in his gaze.
Zhu Fu's prestige in the family was too high.
He secretly made up his mind.
Reality is ultimately not like a fiction novel.
Courage is not a universal remedy for everything.
Zhu Huai and the Wei Family never made a move; it was only the opportunistic fence-sitters eager to pledge allegiance to Zhu Huai that left Zhu Cheng, with his Ninth Grade Great Cultivation, in a dire situation.
Zhu Cheng struggled to hold on.
Suddenly, there were exclamations from outside.
Soon followed by earth-shaking noises, as if some giant creature was slowly approaching, each step causing the ground to tremble and the house to shake.
Third Master Wei, seated high on a chair, suddenly opened his eyes, looking outside with a piercing gaze.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The footsteps grew closer.
Rumble!
A thunderous noise shook the heavens and earth.
The large gate seemed to be hit by a speeding hundred-ton vehicle, the massive doorboards flying into the air, shattering into pieces.
Dust and smoke filled the air.
A massive creature slowly entered through the door.
The creature was more than ten feet tall, its tusks over a meter long, as its long trunk swung, dust and smoke rose with the wind.
What shocked everyone even more was the figure sitting atop the beast.
Zhu Cheng, his heart spirit weary and in a haze, only felt that the Giant Elephant was radiant.
The figure atop it seemed like the sun itself.
Bang!
The long trunk did not have any supernatural traits, but the immense power it carried rendered it almost infinitely dynamic.
In an instant.
The fence-sitters around Zhu Cheng were swept by the immense force.
Before they realized what had happened, they were already airborne.
This strike, General Wei showed no restraint.
In an instant, the sound of bones cracking echoed continuously, and the sound of skin splitting and flesh tearing made one's scalp tingle.
Xu Guang did not look at Zhu Cheng, but continued to drive General Wei and charge.
The ordinary weapons barely scratched General Wei, failing even to cut through its long hair, and never touching its rough skin.
Yet every strike from General Wei carried the momentum of a landslide.
From the moment Xu Guang and General Wei appeared, the courtyard plaza was overturned within just three breaths.
Everyone scattered, seeking places they considered safe in their hearts; when faced with such a giant creature, people instinctively chose to flee.
Xu Guang ignored these people; from the beginning, his target was only one.
That was...
Zhu Huai!
Since Scarface Three's assassination attempt, he had been pondering who wanted him dead. It was during his encounter with Zhu Zhenzhen that he learned.
"Hold on! Is it Tributor Xu before me?"
Zhu Huai swallowed hard, forcing himself to stand with feigned calmness.
Third Master Wei had long since risen, standing behind a pillar, as against the mighty creature, only a pillar capable of supporting a house offered him some sense of safety.
His eyes were fixed intently on Xu Guang and General Wei; with his skills, he could see many flaws on General Wei, but...
He had completely no courage to face General Wei.
Because he was sure that before he attacked General Wei's flaw, he would be crushed by General Wei first.
"Tributor Xu, today's matter is internal to the Zhu Family, please leave. I, Zhu Huai, promise here that regardless of the result today, Tributor Xu's treatment will not change."
Xu Guang said nothing, just silently looked at Zhu Huai.
General Wei's trunk swung aimlessly in the air like a restless child's hands and feet.
Zhu Huai felt relieved, it seemed that Xu Guang was swayed by his words.
"Have you finished speaking?"
Zhu Huai was taken aback.
Only to hear General Wei emit a long cry.
Suddenly, a giant pillar appeared where Zhu Huai stood, the other end was wrapped by a long trunk.
The pillar swept across.
Zhu Huai's expression changed dramatically; though he had stood at a safe distance, never did he realize General Wei had such a move.
The whistling wind told him how powerful the force upon this pillar was.
He hastily moved to dodge.
But...
It was already too late.
Boom!!
Zhu Huai's body was hit by the pillar, tearing him apart in mid-air.
Upon hitting the ground, he was barely recognizable.
The world fell silent, even the sound of a pin dropping was audible.
Xu Guang slowly looked towards everyone and then at Zhu Cheng.
"Capture all those siding with Zhu Huai, await orders from the second young master."
"Capture all the rebels among Zhu Huai's followers."
"Capture!"
Some tributors loyal to Zhu Fu woke suddenly as if from a dream, instinctively choosing to follow Xu Guang's instructions.
Zhu Zhenzhen stood behind the crowd, her gaze complex as she looked at Xu Guang.
Zhu Cheng appeared deeply moved, but he had no time to speak more with Xu Guang, hastily bypassing General Wei to sprint towards Zhu Fu's location.
Seeing Zhu Huai's grim fate, Third Master Wei subtly took a few steps back, only after ensuring he was out of General Wei's attack range did he look at Xu Guang with a shadowy gaze.
The favorable situation was thoroughly reversed in an instant.
He could see Xu Guang's own strength was not particularly strong, the truly powerful one was General Wei.
Yet he lacked the courage to face General Wei, especially in a direct frontal attack.