Supreme Warrior in the City

Chapter 1386: Chapter 1385: The Outcome Will Be Decided Tonight

Su Yang glanced at Zhao Hu Zi and said softly, ”If these eight families switch allegiance, what then?”

”This...” Zhao Hu Zi was anxious: ”Master Su, all of these seventeen families pledged loyalty to us. If all of them defect, then... wouldn’t our power be instantly dismantled?”

”So what if it’s dismantled?” Su Yang retorted.

Zhao Hu Zi was stunned, looking at Su Yang in disbelief, suspecting that Su Yang had gone foolish from drinking. Your power is being dismantled, and you still ask me what of it? You say what of it!

Su Yang, however, was calm, and with a faint smile, he said: ”Hu Zi, have you ever considered whether these seventeen families truly belong to our side’s power?”

”How could they not belong to us?” Zhao Hu Zi said: ”Everyone recognizes them as aligned with our side!”

”But can we mobilize them? Can we command them? Can we have them do certain things, make certain sacrifices?” Su Yang asked.

Zhao Hu Zi was completely dumbfounded; indeed, he couldn’t command any of these seventeen families, even though they claimed to stand on their side.

”When trouble arises, they seek our protection. When there’s a matter at hand, they offer no assistance. What kind of power is that?” Su Yang shook his head and said: ”Our true power lies within the people in the Shen Family Courtyard, not including these seventeen families. The current situation presents an opportunity for weeding out. Like sifting sand from the surf, we will see which of these seventeen families can withstand until the end, who will continuously stand by us—that is the power that truly belongs to us. Those who flee at the slightest threat cannot be considered our power, understand?”

Zhao Hu Zi took a deep breath, nodded slowly, and said quietly, ”Master Su, are you trying to test these seventeen families?”

”That’s just a minor objective,” Su Yang said with a light smile: ”The real issue will be settled tonight.”

”Tonight?” Zhao Hu Zi was puzzled, unsure of what Su Yang meant.

”Go, rest up. If I’m not mistaken, there will be a fierce battle tonight!” Su Yang declared.

”A fierce battle?” Zhao Hu Zi was even more astonished. He wanted to ask more questions, but Su Yang had already walked away with his hands clasped behind his back.

Zhao Hu Zi returned with his mind clouded, but still, he rested as instructed by Su Yang, preparing for the looming battle.

At midnight, three more families among the remaining eight defected to Master Wang’s side. They paid a heavy price to finally gain the recognition of those families and shed their affiliation with Su Yang.

Five families remained, including the Han Family. They were still arguing whether paying such a price to gain the recognition of these families was worthwhile.

Just then, a long-planned surprise attack suddenly erupted. Su Ze, leading the men of the Su Family of Yanbei, launched a nighttime assault on the Shen Family Courtyard.

At that time, Su Yang was drinking with Old Wang the Second, when Su Ze and the men of the Su Family of Yanbei burst in, arriving right at the hall where Su Yang was.

With a dozen people by his side, Su Yang listened intently; outside, a chaotic battle raged.

Su Ze’s surprise attack came very suddenly; he had been plotting for a long time, while Su Yang’s side was almost completely unprepared. After they made their move, the Su Family of Yanbei quickly surrounded the entire Shen Family Courtyard, engaging in a fierce battle with the people inside.

Su Ze, bringing along the martial arts experts of the Su Family of Yanbei, personally arrived at Su Yang’s location. He intended to kill Su Yang with his own hands to enhance his own prestige!

Zhao Hu Zi and others heard the commotion and immediately ran to join Su Yang. Seeing the people next to Su Ze, Zhao Hu Zi and the others also had troubled expressions.

Clearly, the people by Su Ze’s side were all strong. If a fight really broke out, Su Yang’s side would be in great trouble.

Zhao Hu Zi couldn’t help but glance at the two people behind Old Wang the Second, Li Fangming and Yue Zhanzhong. Both of these men were powerful; if they were willing to take action, then for Su Yang’s side, there would still be some small hope in this battle!

But would all the brown-nosing Su Yang had done for so long be of any use? Zhao Hu Zi always felt that Old Wang the Second was unreliable, probably of no use when it truly mattered!

Su Ze walked into the hall with an arrogant air, his gaze not lingering on Zhao Hu Zi and the others for even a moment, but heading straight towards Su Yang.

”Master Su, we meet again!” Su Ze wore the smile of a victor, as if everything was under his control.

Su Yang, however, remained calm. He leisurely looked over the people behind Su Ze and chuckled lightly, ”Su Family of Yanbei, it seems you really excel in launching surprise attacks. Just last night, you ambushed Ge Kaiyang’s group, and tonight, you come to ambush me? Su Ze, do the people of your Su Family of Yanbei always operate so dishonorably?”

Su Ze was not angered at all, laughing triumphantly, ”In warfare, deception is key. The essence of military strategy is to deceive. You don’t even understand this basic principle, and yet you dare to oppose my Su Family of Yanbei. Truly, you are asking for death!”

”Don’t you think that carrying out surprise attacks on consecutive nights has crossed the line from strategy into sheer underhandedness?” Su Yang said slowly.

”Does it matter whether or not it’s underhanded?” Su Ze sneered, ”Or to put it another way, does my Su Family of Yanbei even need to resort to surprise attacks or any other methods to exterminate you?”

”You seem very confident in yourself!” Su Yang quietly observed Su Ze, ”But how do you know whether I’ve made preparations or not?”

Su Ze’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, then he sneered coldly, ”Preparations? What preparations could you have? Were you possibly hoping for Lü Donglin and Xue Nu’s group to come to your aid? Let me tell you, that’s impossible. Tonight, they have more important matters and won’t be able to make it in time. You, just wait for your demise!”

”I didn’t say I needed their help. In fact, to deal with you, I don’t need them at all!” Su Yang smiled.

Su Ze’s frown deepened: ”Then what kind of preparations could you possibly have?”

”Come, let me formally introduce someone to you.” Su Yang took a step back, pointing at Old Wang the Second, who was still busy fiddling with his erhu, chuckled and said, ”This gentleman is my senior, Old Wang the Second. These two gentlemen are his friends, Li Fangming and Yue Zhanzhong.”

Su Ze was utterly confused and glanced at the three men dismissively: ”What kind of nobodies are these, trying to pass off as important figures? Su Yang, I don’t have the patience for your nonsense. Order your men to surrender without a fight, and you follow us, I might spare the people in this Shen Family Courtyard. Otherwise, tonight, I’ll make your end even more absolute than Ge Kaiyang’s group!”

Just then, Li Fangming stepped forward and said with a cold voice, ”Who did you say is a nobody?”

Su Ze did not expect Li Fangming to dare speak up. He was stunned for a moment, then shouted angrily, ”What are you, to talk here? Do you have the right? Get lost!”