Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

"Then I can rest easy. As it happens, I have nothing urgent to do, so I'll find time to take them down."

"Senior Brother, are you planning to go to Zhaoyang to deal with them?"

"Hmph... A mere Warrior of the Tenth Level of Body Opening dares to barge into my Mountain Sword Sect, and even drugged my junior sister's spirited steed. Utterly audacious."

"Now, a lot of people in Tianling County are laughing at us, saying that our Mountain Sword Sect is merely a paper tiger, unable to guard against even a petty thief. If the chief disciple like me doesn't act, should we expect our master to personally handle such a rascal!"

Tian Honglu, who was hiding in the shadows, blushed upon hearing Lu Yuanhao mentioning someone drugged her spirited steed.

It wasn't the incident of the drugging that embarrassed her, but rather the realization that Senior Brother Lu remembering the drugging, which occurred two months ago, showed his concern for her. As she already harbored feelings for him, joy naturally filled her heart at this thought.

Once her emotions had settled, she realized that the two men had walked far away. Recalling what Senior Brother Lu had said just before, Tian Honglu's eyes shone brighter.

"If I capture Hou Yuxiao and bring him back, not only would I relieve my father and Senior Brother Lu of their worries, but I would also vindicate our sect and prove my own strength..."

After standing there lost in thought for quite some time, Tian Honglu bit her lip and finally made up her mind. She was going to Zhaoyang County to capture this great demon head!

"That Hou Yuxiao has the strength of the Tenth Level of Body Opening, and although I'm not afraid of him, it's still better to be careful. Senior Brother Duan also has the Cultivation of the Tenth Level of Body Opening. With him accompanying me, it should suffice!"

......

Third Watch of the Hai Hour, at the border between Yong and Xu States

Tian Honglu followed closely behind her Senior Brother Duan Zhengqi, not saying a word. The boundary marker of the two states was already in sight, just a little over one li away.

It had only been four to five hundred breaths since she had parted ways with Hou Yuduan, and she and Senior Brother Duan Zhengqi had only walked about four li to the east. However, the implications of Hou Yuduan's recent words were still echoing in her ears.

Especially since the memories of half a month ago surfaced in her mind, Tian Honglu's complexion grew increasingly agitated.

Just then, Duan Zhengqi, who was leading the way, suddenly turned back. As their eyes met, Tian Honglu noticed that Duan Zhengqi's complexion was even worse than hers, and his pupils were filled with deep-seated fear.

Tian Honglu's heart tightened, knowing that her Senior Brother had realized something. She was about to ask when he spoke first.

"Junior Sister, what Hou Yuduan said... might be true!"

Duan Zhengqi's face was pale, and his voice trembled slightly. It was clear that saying these words to Tian Honglu was torturous for him.

"We've been used on this trip to Zhaoyang County. I don't know who's behind it all, but at the very least, I can be certain that Senior Brother Lu has used you!"

...

Tian Honglu's face froze, disbelief evident in her pupils. Senior Brother Lu Yuanhao, the foremost disciple of the sect whom she respected and cherished, how could he possibly use her? She shook her head repeatedly, her face filled with incredulity.

"Impossible... Impossible... Senior Brother Lu would never use me, he wouldn't..."

"Half a month ago, when you were hiding behind that hillock, even I noticed you there. Senior Brother Lu is a Coagulate Gang martial artist; how could he not know? At the time, I wondered why he would say those things in front of you. Now, looking back, he had been laying out his plan since then..."

"I don't believe it, don't speak anymore, Senior Brother Duan... Let's go back. When we return to Xuzhou, we will know the truth. Don't speculate wildly here. Senior Brother Lu is so kind; he wouldn't harm me!"

Tian Honglu's expression became increasingly panicked, and there was even a hint of pleading in her voice.

Duan Zhengqi's heart jolted violently. Seeing Tian Honglu's reaction, he abruptly came to his senses, and also understood why his junior sister's reaction was so extreme...

Just as he had just said, such a grand conspiracy involving the peace of two states was definitely not something Senior Brother Lu, a mere Coagulate Gang martial artist, would dare to carry out alone; there had to be someone behind him giving orders.

The number of people who could order him around was certainly not large...

A look of disbelief suddenly rose on Duan Zhengqi's face.

He even began to doubt his own guess, watching his junior sister already slightly flustered as she crossed the boundary marker, his face immediately showing a trace of tension.

"Junior sister, wait for me, let's not go back to the sect first," he said.

If all his suspicions were correct, his crossing into Yongzhou with his junior sister was all a conspiracy, designed to create a legitimate excuse for tonight's sect assault on Zhaoyang County—if they returned now, it would be a death wish!

Duan Zhengqi, having realized this, called out to his junior sister, Tian Honglu, urgently.

But Tian Honglu, in utter disarray, couldn't listen to his words at the moment, running wildly toward the west. She soon covered a distance of one to two li, reaching a dense forest.

Suddenly, a sword edge swept out from the dense forest, creating a bright spot in the air; subsequently, eleven more sword edges drew out in quick succession, forming a silhouette of mountains in the air, then rushed mercilessly towards Tian Honglu's heart...

Though the sword edge was strong, there was still some distance, and although it hadn't pierced her body, it struck Tian Honglu's heart like a bolt from the blue.

Her face turned pale as her long-standing worldview crumbled in an instant!

Following the longsword, Lu Yuanhao didn't even bother to disguise himself, his head still bearing the orange hat with mountain embroidery representing the leading direct disciple of the Mountain Sword Sect, showing a hint of regret as he watched the pallor on Tian Honglu's face.

"Junior sister, don't blame me, Senior Brother is also acting under orders!" he said.

Tian Honglu's body felt as if it had been drained in an instant, her mind went blank, not to speak of resisting, she didn't even have the strength to twitch a muscle.

Duan Zhengqi, not far from her, seeing Lu Yuanhao about to strike and kill Tian Honglu, immediately clenched his teeth, completely disregarding the vast difference in strength between them, rushed forward and stood in front of Tian Honglu.

"Lu Yuanhao, if you kill Junior Sister, the Sect Master won't let you off!" he exclaimed.

"Foolish boy, do you think I came to kill you two on someone else's orders..." Lu Yuanhao said.

Duan Zhengqi had never expected his words to make Lu Yuanhao give up killing them; he just wanted to buy some time. But although Lu Yuanhao responded, his movements didn't slow in the slightest.

The Mountain Sword technique converged into one, with the ultimate bright spot piercing Duan Zhengqi's heart, leaving a three-inch blood hole in his chest...

"Senior Brother Duan!" Tian Honglu cried out in grief, her sorrowful voice piercing the silence of the night, filled with despair and fear.

Regretfully, her sadness was not enough to slow Lu Yuanhao's sword in the slightest. It seemed like Lu Yuanhao was also in a rush; his eyes flashed with ruthlessness, as he swiftly aimed for Tian Honglu's neck...