The Xiao family, the foremost of the four great families in Jiangzhong.
Today is a day worth celebrating for the Xiao family. First, the Longteng Group, a subsidiary of the Xiao family, has signed an agreement with the Qianjun Group, becoming their closest partner. This represents a further step forward in the Xiao family's strength.
The second was the eightieth birthday of Xiao Biehe, the Xiao family's patriarch.
Outside the Xiao family villa, luxury cars gathered, and celebrities from Jiangnan appeared to celebrate the Xiao family's eightieth birthday and congratulate the Xiao family on becoming a permanent partner with Qianjun Group.
"The Wang family presented a thousand-year-old jade ruyi, valued at eight million yuan, wishing Mr. Xiao good fortune and a long life."
"The Zhou family presented a golden toad, valued at twelve million yuan, wishing the Xiao family continued prosperity."
"The Zhao family presented an authentic Tang Bohu painting, valued at 8.8 million..."
At the Xiao family's main entrance, a hostess, holding a microphone, continuously announced the gifts presented by the guests.
In the villa's lobby, Xiao Biehe, dressed lightly, looked energetic despite being eighty. Hearing about the gifts presented by the guests, he smiled widely.
The banquet brought together representatives from all the major Jiangzhong clans.
Even members of a second-rate clan like the Tang family attended. To curry favor with the Xiao family, Tang Tianlong went to great lengths, purchasing a jade Buddha statue at a high price for Xiao Biehe.
Members of the major clans seized the opportunity to network and expand their connections.
Outside the Xiao family villa, a man in a brown coat and a masked face approached on foot, carrying a coffin.
The coffin must have weighed at least two hundred pounds, yet the man lifted it with one hand, seemingly effortless.
This was Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen, the mighty Dragon Commander of the Southern Wilds.
He returned this time to repay a debt of gratitude and to seek revenge.
Now married into the Tang family and Tang Chuchu's husband, he didn't want to cause trouble for her, so he donned a black mask, transforming into the Ghost-Faced Yama.
Boom!
Arriving at the Xiao family's gate, he exerted force, sending the coffin soaring through the air, smashing through the gate and landing in the main hall of the Xiao family villa.
The sudden scene startled everyone at the banquet.
The boisterous gathering suddenly fell silent.
What was going on?
Today was Xiao Biehe's eightieth birthday. Who would be so bold as to deliver a coffin?
Xiao Biehe was chatting with several family leaders when he saw the flying coffin. His face darkened and he shouted, "What's going on? Where are the security guards? What are they doing? Who brought this thing in? Get it out!"
"Xiao Biehe, this coffin is a gift for you. Today is your eightieth birthday, and this day next year will also be your memorial day.
A roar echoed from outside the door, and then a man in a brown coat and a ghost mask entered.
"Who are you?" Xiao Biehe stared at Jiang Chen intently. This was the Xiao family, and he was the head of the Xiao family, one of the most influential figures in the Jiang clan. Who dared to act so presumptuously here?
"I'm going to kill you."
A cold voice echoed through the hall, and Jiang Chen, wearing a black ghost mask, stepped forward.
"I won't tolerate your presumption." A man in his twenties approached, pointed his finger at Jiang Chen, and cursed, "No matter who you are, if you come to the Xiao family, you'll be lying down like a dragon, and you'll be lying flat on your stomach like a tiger."
He was Xiao Bin of the Xiao family. Xiao Bin pointed at Jiang Chen's nose and cursed, trying to remove the black ghost mask from his face. He said coldly, "You're pretending to be a ghost with this mask on. I want to see who you really are."
Jiang Chen suddenly reached out, grabbed Xiao Bin's hand, and with a slight force, pulled Xiao Bin up and spun him violently.
"Crack."
Xiao Bin's arm was ripped off, blood spilling onto the ground.
"Ah..."
Xiao Bin let out a heart-wrenching cry of pain.
The prominent figures in Jiangzhong who had attended the banquet were stunned. Living in peacetime, they had never witnessed such a bloody scene. Many retreated, fearing they would be harmed.
Jiang Chen, like a killer, casually threw the severed arm to the ground. His aura was powerful, and his powerful attack sent the Xiao family members trembling with fear, causing them to retreat continuously.
Xiao Biehe also retreated slightly, reaching for his lower back, ready to draw his weapon and kill this uninvited guest.
Jiang Chen walked towards Xiao Biehe step by step.
The hall of the villa, packed with dozens of people, was filled only by Xiao Bin's cries of pain.
After a few cries, he fainted from the pain. The hall instantly fell silent, with only the sound of footsteps carrying the scent of death.
"Kneel down."
Jiang Chen's voice echoed.
Jiang Chen exuded a powerful aura, a murderous aura borne from countless battles and slaying countless enemies. Under the pressure of this murderous aura, the Jiangzhong elite and the Xiao family were terrified. Furthermore, Xiao Bin's arm had been instantly broken, and no one dared to speak out.
The cry of "kneel down" was like a stern warning, shaking Xiao Biehe in front of him, his heart trembling and his mind at a loss.
At this moment, he forgot to resist, and his body fell uncontrollably to the ground.
"Thump."
Seeing this scene, the prominent figures in the Jiangzhong area were stunned.
This was Xiao Biehe, the helmsman of the Xiao family, one of the four most powerful families in Jiangzhong. Now he was kneeling on the ground like a dog.
A strange piece of wire appeared in Jiang Chen's hand. It was made of sections. If you looked closely, you could see that it was made up of countless silver needles connected together.
"Xiao Biehe, do you admit your guilt?"
At this moment, Xiao Biehe finally realized what was happening. Cold sweat broke out on his spine. What was going on? Why was I kneeling?
He tried to stand, but his legs were too weak to rise.
"Boy, do you know who you're talking to?" Unable to stand, he projected a powerful presence, his hand rubbing against his lower back, ready to strike down the uninvited guest.
The other members of the Xiao family, faced with this scene, dared not step forward, fearing they would be implicated.
"I'll let you die knowingly. Ten years ago, a fire burned by Huaju Lake for a whole day and night. Thirty-eight souls perished, and your blood is needed as a sacrifice."
A cold, ruthless voice echoed through the villa hall.
Jiang Chen flashed, appearing behind Xiao Biehe in an instant. He took the wire made of silver needles and looped it around his neck, applying slight pressure.
Blood splattered, and a head fell to the ground.
"Ah!"
The prominent figures in Jiangzhong screamed in fear, falling to the ground, trembling. The Xiao family members, terrified by Xiao Biehe's tragic death, were also completely terrified.
Jiang Chen produced a black bag, filled it with the head, and walked away.
He had already left, but the Xiao family villa was in a dead silence. Everyone squatted on the ground, their hands clutching their heads, while Xiao Biehe's headless body lay quietly in the main hall.
...
Jiang Family Cemetery, in front of Jiang Tian's grave.
Jiang Chen put down the black bag and leaned against the tombstone.
He took out a jug of wine, took a deep swig, and then poured it onto the ground in front of the grave.
"Grandpa, rest in peace. I will ensure the Jiang family's departed souls rest in peace. I will also find a way to retrieve the Flower Moon Mountain Residence."
With that, he stood up, turned, and left.
After returning to the Emperor's Residence, he took a bath.
The Xiao family villa.
The Jiangzhong celebrities who had come to congratulate him had all departed.
In the villa's main hall, a coffin lay, and Xiao Biehe's body lay quietly on the ground.
Xiao Bin, whose arm had been broken, had been taken to the hospital.
The Xiao family members knelt before Xiao Biehe's body.
Leading the group was a voluptuous and beautiful woman in a dress. She was Xiao Biehe's youngest daughter, Xiao Ruoran.
Xiao Ruoran, the one who had single-handedly turned the Jiang family upside down and destroyed it.
A gloomy expression crossed her beautiful face.
"Did you call Fourth Brother?"
Xiao Ruoran's furious roar echoed through the silent hall.
"We fought, we fought."
"Don't move anything at the scene. Wait for Fourth Brother to return."
...
In the dead of night, several helicopters landed at the Jiangzhong Military Region. The words "Western Territory" were etched on each helicopter.
A middle-aged man in combat fatigues, his expression impassive, disembarked.
Outside, a row of fully armed soldiers stood at attention, saluting instantly.
Soon after, jeeps arrived, and the middle-aged man boarded. The vehicles drove directly towards the Xiao family villa.
The middle-aged man who had rushed back saw the state of the Xiao family villa and the headless Xiao Biehe lying in the hall. He instantly removed his hat and fell to his knees.
"Dad, I'm too late. I swear, no matter who it is, I will never let him go."
A roar of boundless anger echoed.
"Fourth brother," Xiao Ruoran approached.
The man before him was none other than Xiao Biehe's fourth son, Xiao Zhan.
Xiao Zhan's face was expressionless, his expression gloomy. "I need the surveillance video of the banquet."
"Yes, get it right away." Xiao Ruoran nodded and immediately ordered someone to retrieve the surveillance footage.
Xiao Zhan stood up and examined Xiao Biehe's wounds. He then watched the video, witnessing the entire process of Jiang Chen killing Xiao Biehe.
With a cold expression, he asked, "What did this man say before he killed my father?"
Xiao Ruoran spoke, "Ten years ago, a fire burned by Huaju Lake for a whole day and night. Thirty-eight souls lost need your blood as a sacrifice.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhan clenched his fists, his face darkening. "Remnants of the Jiang family?"
"Probably."
Xiao Zhan covered his face and waved slightly at Xiao Ruoran. "Let Dad rest in peace. Keep the funeral simple. I'll go to Kyoto tonight and ask that important figure if any remnants of the Jiang family are still alive."