Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 488: Chapter 449 Mr. Zhang, the night is deep and all is quiet, why not return to your room to sleep!

Zhang Mo nodded, ”Tomorrow, I will visit Mr. Ji. Let’s leave it at that for tonight!”

”Thank you, Mr. Zhang!”

Ji Hai bowed with his fists clasped.

Zhang Mo gave a signal with his eyes to his aides, who immediately instructed the surrounding house servants and guards to withdraw.

Meanwhile, Ji Hai nodded towards Zhang Mo, and with a whooshing sound, vanished into the treetops.

The night remained as quiet as before, the candle flames in the bedroom were blown out, as if nothing had ever happened.

...

Meanwhile, at the Lu family in Guang’an Prefecture.

The Lu family is the biggest salt merchant in Guang’an Prefecture, but their glory days are no more.

When Zheng Xiao impeached the Liaodong Salt Transportation Department, many salt merchants in Liaodong were implicated, including the Lu family. However, the Lu family was fortunate; they weren’t raided but were fined over a hundred thousand taels of silver.

Afterwards, with Zheng Xiao in charge of the Liaodong Salt Transportation Department and the Tenglong Guard interfering in the salt trade, the Lu family could still engage in the salt business but their profits significantly decreased.

By now, more than six years have passed, and the Lu family has not returned to their previous prosperity; instead, due to severe losses in the salt trade, the Lu family’s estate showed signs of decay.

Under the clear night sky, figures like specters silently entered the Lu family’s house.

Within the spacious residence, these figures quietly searched each room.

”Who’s there?”

Someone suddenly exclaimed.

But in the next moment, a white sharp edge plunged into this person’s throat.

With a thump, the body fell to the ground.

Two black-clothed, masked men glanced at the body, exchanged no words, and continued searching the room.

As time ticked by, occasional slight noises arose from the estate, but soon these were subdued again.

About half ”two hours” later, a clear chirping of birds rang, and figures in black masks left, leaving behind a faint smell of blood in the previously silent Lu Residence.

In the main bedroom, the head of the Lu family, Lu Yan, trembled as he sat up from the bed, staring in terror out the dim window.

”M-master!” cried his trembling concubine beside him.

”Lie down, make no sound!” Lu Yan said in a low voice.

The concubine, being a clever person, quickly covered her mouth, daring not to make a sound.

Lu Yan got out of bed, groped his way to the side, and looking at the bricks under the bed that had been pulled out, his face turned pale.

”It’s gone, the ledger is gone!”

He didn’t know who had taken the ledger, nor did he want to know.

He had been awoken earlier by the noise outside, and just as he was about to check what was happening, he found several pitch-dark figures standing upright in his bedroom.

Those figures just brazenly stood in front of him, their deep gazes firmly fixed on him, silent and speechless, like evil spirits.

He trembled and lay back down, then shut his eyes, pretending to sleep.

And those people, oblivious to him, continued their search in the room.

He heard the noise under the bed but dared not open his eyes or look up.

Only after the sound had completely ceased did he dare to cautiously open his eyes and look outside, ensuring there was no one around before he dared to get up.

Thinking back on those people, he shivered all over.

Those people had sneaked into the Lu residence quietly, but clearly without any intention to hide their presence, knowing he was awake but undisturbed by it.

This—

Lu Yan’s heart raced, his mind muddled like a mess.

What exactly is going on?

Who were those people?

Why did they take the ledger?

...

At the Zhen family in Dongyang Prefecture.

At the dead of night, when tranquility reigned, a group of figures dressed in black and masked stealthily infiltrated the Zhen family estate.

However, this group acted even more clandestinely and cautiously.

Because this was Dongyang Prefecture, the capital of Ping Yuan Province.

Inside the city, there were numerous government offices, as well as many Martial Arts Masters and government officers.

Even though they were cautious, a mishap occurred shortly after they entered the Zhen family estate.

”Be careful, there are masters!”

A warning echoed, instantly shattering the quiet of the night.

The house servants and guards of the Zhen family were all startled awake, their candles quickly lit.

”There are thieves in the house, catch them!”

Cries tore through the peaceful night.

In the main courtyard of the Zhen family, two figures dressed in black and masked stood with blood-soaked fronts; facing them stood a slightly thinner figure.

”Who are you?”

”Let’s go!”

”Thinking of leaving? Where to!” The lean man blocked the two without another word.

But before he could strike again, a fierce gust of wind suddenly struck towards him.

The sharp sound of breaking the air, along with the chilling cold, pierced directly at his heart, causing him to tremble and stagger back several steps.

”You, get out!” Luo Jingsong glanced at his two injured comrades and said in a deep voice.

Yes, these masked figures in black were from the Personal Guard Camp, including guards from the Yang family, although the majority were soldiers from the Personal Guard Camp.

The two soldiers didn’t say much, eyed Luo Jingsong with a slight bow, then helped each other leap onto the rooftop.

At this time, the entire Zhen family was in chaos, and many intruding soldiers were discovered by the Zhen family guards and house servants.

”Who are you? Why have you come to the Zhen family?” The gaunt man stared intently at Luo Jingsong.

Luo Jingsong, masked in black, only revealed a pair of indifferent eyes.

With a sweeping gesture of his sleeve, the three-foot Yan Ling Saber was unsheathed.

The blade slanted, figures blurred, the sound of clashing weapons filled the air.

Their figures were extremely fast, the white gleam of the blade densely streaked across the dim night.

However, their fight did not last long, as with the crisp sound of a bird’s chirp, Luo Jingsong forced the gaunt man back with his saber, and like a night owl, leaped onto the rooftop, vanishing into the dim night in the blink of an eye.

The lean man did not pursue, just frowned and stared in the direction Luo Jingsong had disappeared.

”Mr. Yan, who was that just now?”

At this moment, an old figure from behind in the hall staggered out and asked.

This elderly person was Zhen Shicheng, the Family Head of the Dongyang Zhen family, and the Mr. Yan he referred to was Yan Huichun.

”I don’t know!” Yan Huichun said coldly.

Zhen Shicheng asked nervously, ”Why have they come to our Zhen family, and who sent them?”

”I don’t know!” Yan Huichun turned to glance at him.

I already said I don’t know, can’t you hear it?

Zhen Shicheng was frightened by his gaze, not daring to ask another question, just stood there obediently.

Yan Huichun frowned in thought, ”I will report this matter to the emperor, you need not worry about it any longer!”

With that, he strode towards the outside of the courtyard.

”Wait, Mr. Yan!” Zhen Shicheng was somewhat scared, wanting Yan Huichun to stay and protect him.

Damn!

How could he not be afraid?

A group of unknown people had nearly reached his bedside, and if it weren’t for Yan Huichun being there tonight, he probably wouldn’t have survived.

Regrettably, Yan Huichun paid him no heed, and his figure soon disappeared into the dim courtyard.