I'm seventy years old this year, and you want me to have many children and much happiness?

Cuiling Mountain, Yongkang County.

A mineral vein that isn't very large.

Within the Emerald Spirit Mountain, Emerald Spirit Stones are naturally born. The mine that the Xu family has acquired is actually only a small one.

The annual production is at most a few hundred thousand Emerald Stones.

After deducting costs, the final output will be at most only about half.

Even if it's only half of the spirit stone income, it's still an astronomical sum for the Xu family!

These things alone are very important to the Xu family.

Therefore, Xu Zhantu, the eldest son of the Xu family, attached great importance to it and personally came to supervise the mining.

All family affairs were left to the second son.

The second brother was also a martial artist, but he was only observing some things in the family and didn't have much of an impact on them.

Just as Xu Zhantu was staring at the mineral vein.

However, a figure galloped towards the mine's camp at full speed.

"Who goes there!"

Xu Zhantu had someone stop them, only to discover that the other party was actually one of his own family members.

"Ah Gui? What brings you here?"

"Didn't I tell you to stay home and assist the second child? But the second child has gotten into trouble again?"

Xu Zhantu frowned.

The person in front of me is an old steward of the Xu family.

Logically speaking, an old butler like this wouldn't make any mistakes, so his appearance at this time must mean something very important.

"Honey, something terrible has happened!"

"Second Master has been murdered!"

The steward, Lao Gui, fell off his horse, his cries filled with heartbreaking sorrow.

Anyone who didn't know better would think it was his own son who had died.

However, the death of the second master of the Xu family was extremely serious. If he didn't act well, Xu Zhantu's broadsword might just slash his neck at any moment.

"What did you say?!"

When Xu Zhantu heard the news, he thought he had misheard.

His underling was killed!?

"Who did this?!"

Xu Zhantu's eyes were filled with a fierce light.

At this moment, he was also staring intently at the butler, Lao Gui.

Old Gui choked up, sounding exhausted and breathless, before finally managing to speak.

"Yes, sir, it's like this..."

Lao Gui immediately recounted the whole story.

He was the housekeeper.

He was naturally aware of these things. He was present at all the meetings, but he wasn't there when the Second Master held a tea party that day. Instead, he was busy at the mansion. Who knew that such a big thing would happen when he was away for just a short while?

When Lao Gui saw the corpses all over the ground, he was completely dumbfounded.

Later, Fengwu Hall quickly sealed off the Xu family's residence, and Lao Gui himself managed to escape with great difficulty to inform them.

"My second brother is dead, and the Fengwu Hall is even sealing off my Xu family!"

"How could it be that Fengwu Hall had no part in this matter!"

"Very well, you want to destroy my Xu family? Then I will definitely not let you get away with it!"

Xu Zhantu quickly realized that something was wrong.

The Xu family were the victims. When something happened, Fengwu Hall didn't investigate the murderer, but instead took control of the entire Xu family. This in itself was a huge problem.

Xu Zhantu did not hesitate at all in response.

The county government also has to take responsibility for this matter.

If Yang Qinghou hadn't intervened, Xu Zhantu wouldn't have given away all those years of filial piety for nothing.

"How long until this batch of ore is ready for processing?"

Xu Zhantu stayed here precisely because the first batch of ore was about to be ready.

He also happened to be transporting this first batch of ore back with him.

That's equivalent to opening for business.

The original plan was that he would transport the ore back, and the second son would obtain the permit, which would be a good opportunity to make the Xu family's reputation even more renowned through this batch of Emerald Spirit Stone ore.

"It'll take about two more days!"

A member of the Xu family stepped forward and said.

"Give them a day. By tomorrow night, have all the mined ore loaded onto the trucks!"

Newly mined material needs to undergo initial processing before it can be transported, so it takes time.

Xu Zhantu was already eager to go back.

Even in this situation, there are priorities, and Xu Zhantu cannot afford to mess up both things.

We must at least save one item.

Anyway, the Xu family is currently under lockdown by the Fengwu Hall, so there shouldn't be any problems for the time being.

"Yes! I'll arrange it right away!"

Xu's retainer also knew the seriousness of the matter, so he immediately went to the mining area to put pressure on the people below.

In the end, they were just a family from a small county town.

There aren't many people who are truly useful.

It's already quite impressive that there are two brothers who can hold the fort.

Most of them are outsourced, and the rest are just lazy parasites.

Xu Zhantu did not set off to go back, but he was extremely anxious.

I was also thinking about the potential problems that might arise from this whole affair, and whether there were other forces secretly pushing things along.

Or perhaps...

Yang Qinghou wanted to start clearing his name and take the opportunity to get rid of them all!

When Xu Zhantu thought of this, a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

"Could it be that Yang Qinghou can't withstand the investigation by the Fengwu Hall...?"

Xu Zhantu's heart sank. If that were the case, then things would be very serious. The other party was trying to make a drastic sacrifice.

The next night.

The Xu family's convoy in the mine was also fully loaded with goods.

Xu Zhantu was thinking of a way to deal with it.

However, things are still unclear, so I plan to go back first and then decide what to do.

Whoever killed his underling, he would make them pay the price!

This matter absolutely cannot be left like this.

"Let's go! Everyone, get on the horse fast, no slacking off!"

"We must reach Wuling County before dawn tomorrow!"

Xu Zhantu said.

The people in the caravan behind were all hired by the Xu family, and some were even servants or slaves of the Xu family.

Upon hearing Xu Zhantu's words, everyone dared not speak out in anger.

Just sorting through this batch of ore has exhausted me in the past two days. I don't even have time to catch my breath, and I have to keep moving at full speed.

But they dared not show the slightest bit of hatred.

They just gritted their teeth and complied.

If they showed even the slightest reluctance, the Xu family elders watching nearby would lash out with their sharp whips.

However, they had only been gone for an hour.

Just as they reached the vicinity of the official road after emerging from the mountains, someone became exhausted and fell off the carriage, causing a commotion.

"What is it!"

Xu Zhantu roared.

"Go home, Lord, someone has collapsed from exhaustion."

"He's unconscious, I think he's faking it. Drive over him! I refuse to believe he won't get up!"

"I'd like to see who else dares to be too weak and delay my business!"

Xu Zhantu roared.

Upon hearing this, many workers exchanged bewildered glances, realizing that this person truly did not regard their lives as human lives.

However, just as one of the Xu family's retainers was about to make a move.

Suddenly.

A horse emerged from the woods directly ahead.

The person on horseback was an elderly man with white hair, who didn't seem to pose much of a threat.

"Is it the head of the Xu family?"

Lu Xuan saw Xu Zhantu. Although he did not recognize Xu Zhantu, the clothing of the Xu family members was still very eye-catching.

Lu Xuan arrived at the location in the afternoon.

There is only one road along the way.

After all, Yongkang County was previously under the jurisdiction of Wuling County before it was upgraded to a county.

There was only one road, but when they arrived at Cui Ling Mountain, Lu Xuan was not sure of the direction of the mine. However, as long as they blocked the only exit, they could locate Xu Zhantu and the others.

"Who are you!?"

Xu Zhantu frowned.

The other Xu family retainers also stepped forward one after another.

It's not surprising that some robberies occurred at this time.

He looked around vigilantly.

Fortunately, the surrounding area was only a few shallow woods, not very dense, so there didn't seem to be much of an ambush.

"I was sent by Lord Yang with a secret message."

Lu Xuan held up a piece of paper.

No one could see what was written on the note.

Upon hearing that it was sent by Yang Qinghou, and seeing that Lu Xuan was alone, Xu Zhantu relaxed his vigilance somewhat.

It seems that Yang Qinghou sent this message.

"I am the head of the Xu family, give it to me."

Xu Zhantu had no doubts.

Firstly, because if someone can call out "Lord Yang," they're practically the same.

Secondly, it was also because Xu Zhantu was confident in his own abilities.

How could I have been ambushed by this old man?

Immediately, Lu Xuan also held up the paper in his hand and walked forward.

Old Gui, who was standing next to Xu Zhantu, felt something was off as he looked at Lu Xuan's figure.

When the Xu family got into trouble, Lao Gui also asked around.

Not many people entered the tea garden that day.

One of them had a build that was very similar to Lu Xuan's.

Just as Lu Xuan walked up to Xu Zhantu.

When Lao Gui clearly saw Lu Xuan's appearance.

I suddenly remembered.

"It's him!"

"Master! He's the one who killed him..."

call out!

Old Gui hadn't finished speaking.

Just as Lu Xuan was about two zhang away from Xu Zhantu, the spirit sword in his hand was suddenly drawn.

A cold, sharp sword light flashed across Xu Zhantu's neck in an instant.

Even though Xu Zhantu saw Lu Xuan's actions, he didn't have a chance to react at all.

I immediately felt a chill on my neck.

At that moment, Xu Zhantu's head flew straight up.

How could that be...?

They were clearly two zhang apart.

correct.

He's a second-rank martial artist!

True Qi Released Externally!

A second-rank official against a first-rank official, and he even resorted to a sneak attack!