Lu Xingzhou arrived at the Huo family estate almost simultaneously with Huo Jin’s corpse.

He was a little earlier, and when he arrived, the Huo family was punishing Yang Dechang.

Huo Qi’s confession was incredibly detailed, even revealing his past misdeeds, so there was no way he could have omitted what happened that night. Everyone now knew that while Huo Qi was drinking in frustration, Yang Dechang had brought up the topic of the struggle for the heir, which ignited Huo Qi’s malicious intent.

However, Yang Dechang cried out, protesting his innocence more than anyone: “Grand Tutor, Marquis, your subordinate is innocent! The heir was drinking in frustration, and I was merely trying to keep him company. What else could I say? He was frustrated by the second young master’s threats, so I just went along with it a bit. Who knew he would harbor murderous intentions?”

Everyone knew the real problem was Huo Qi’s own murderous intent; Yang Dechang truly couldn’t be blamed much. The so-called “true opponent is Huo Zhang” was a self-evident truth that said nothing new. Whose problem was it if someone harbored murderous intent because of such a statement?

The retainers, servants, and guards all felt Old Yang was quite wronged, but who told him to be so meddlesome as to join in the drinking? Now that something had happened, how could he not take the blame and be made an example of?

Indeed, Huo Liancheng said coldly, “The struggle for the heir—is it for you to gossip and comment on?”

Faced with this accusation, Yang Dechang had no recourse but to admit his mistake: “This subordinate knows his error.”

Huo Liancheng said coldly, “Administer the family law!”

Yang Dechang was a retainer of the Huo family, so family law was applied. However, this family law didn’t specify the exact charge. If it was for inciting brothers to quarrel, he could be beaten to death without any place to appeal.

Yang Dechang didn’t know what the Grand Tutor was thinking at the moment—was he regretting having nurtured a third-rank retainer for so many years and would go easy on him with a few symbolic blows, or would he beat him until all his anger was vented?

If it was the latter, he could genuinely be beaten to within an inch of his life, or even buried with Huo Zhang.

Yang Dechang was being held down by several servants, and the steel whip was just about to strike when Lu Xingzhou’s faint voice came from behind: “Stop.”

Huo Liancheng said, “Xingzhou, this is our family matter. This man incited brothers to quarrel and deserves punishment.”

“Family matter…” Lu Xingzhou smiled. “Does the Grand Tutor mean that I have no right to question the Huo family’s internal affairs?”

“Of…” Huo Liancheng had just uttered one word when he suddenly realized, “Xingzhou, are you implying…?”

“Am I not a member of the Huo family?” Lu Xingzhou’s tone was calm, as if stating an ordinary fact.

But this was the first time in a long while that he had openly, in front of all the Huo family members, truly acknowledged himself as one of them, not even as explicitly as when he last went to the ancestral hall.

“Good, good!” Huo Liancheng and Huo Xingyuan both rose simultaneously, their gloomy mood brightening by a third.

It was almost as if having Lu Xingzhou made Huo Qi and Huo Zhang’s life or death seem less important.

Beside them, Huo Heng’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

Lu Xingzhou smiled, reached out, and helped Yang Dechang up: “Uncle Yang is the only retainer I know in the Huo family. Let him serve me.”

Yang Dechang was so moved he didn’t know how to express it. At this moment, he truly felt like a scholar willing to die for his confidant.

Whether he would be beaten to death was mere speculation, and with Lu Xingzhou standing there, the probability of being beaten to death was even lower, most likely just a few symbolic blows, so as not to be seen as a laughingstock. On the other hand, Lu Xingzhou’s public protection would easily make Huo Liancheng and Huo Xingyuan suspect they had long been in collusion, or even that Lu Xingzhou had instigated the provocation.

But Lu Xingzhou didn’t care at all; he risked exposing himself just to prevent Yang Dechang from being beaten.

Sure enough, Huo Xingyuan narrowed his eyes: “Xingzhou and Dechang are very close?”

“Back at the old Huo family residence, didn’t the Marquis entrust Uncle Yang to bring me the land deed?” Lu Xingzhou said calmly, “As for Huo Qi’s matter… frankly, if he would kill his brother just because of a casual remark, then this was something that would happen sooner or later. It’s meaningless to vent anger on others. Also…”

He smiled again: “I accidentally injured Huo Qi’s privates earlier. Please don’t take offense.”

Originally, he had intended to have someone smooth it over, though he didn’t care much, but at this moment, he simply blurted it out.

Huo Liancheng’s white beard trembled: “You, you…”

“Since you’ve all given up on him, there’s no need to create conflict with me over that useless man, is there?” Lu Xingzhou’s smile was gentle: “After all, when he beat Huo Shang like that back then, you all thought the same.”

Huo Liancheng: “…”

Just as Huo Xingyuan was about to say something, a mourning cry came from outside: “Marquis… Young Master Huo Wu died suddenly in prison just now.”

Huo Xingyuan rose abruptly, and the Huo family members quickly rushed to the door, seeing someone carrying a stretcher covered with a white cloth, bringing Huo Jin’s corpse inside.

Huo Liancheng staggered back two steps, his old eyes filled with disbelief.

The Huo family had often secretly killed people in prison and claimed they died of sudden illness, but they never imagined such a thing would one day happen to them.

Huo Xingyuan’s hands trembled as he lifted the white cloth for a look, then angrily covered it back: “Who did this! Investigate it for this Marquis!”

“This…” The person carrying the corpse stole a glance at him, sighed, and said nothing.

Huo Xingyuan’s heart sank, and he suddenly turned to look at Huo Heng.

Huo Heng’s face showed fear; he knew he had become a suspect.

But he didn’t do it!

“It wasn’t me!” Huo Heng cried anxiously, “It really wasn’t me, Father, Grandfather, believe me! It really wasn’t me!”

Huo Xingyuan stared at him intently, forcing a sentence through his clenched teeth: “It better not be you! From today onwards, you are confined to the house and not allowed to go anywhere!”

Who exactly did it still needed to be investigated, but Huo Heng was certainly the prime suspect.

He had the motive and the ability. As the third master of the Huo family, his official position was also a Langzhong, and he had performed similar dirty deeds more than once or twice before.

“It’s Lu Xingzhou, it must be Lu Xingzhou!” Huo Heng was dragged away by the servants, still screaming, “He also has a motive! If I’m also punished, he can truly contend for the family inheritance!”

Yes, if all the Huo family descendants were gone, the family inheritance would have to go to Lu Xingzhou even if it seemed inappropriate. Although he himself was a viscount, seemingly unsuitable to inherit the Marquis’s estate, this matter was merely a conciliatory measure from the emperor, not a strict separation—the simplest solution was to have two children, one to inherit his viscounty, and one to inherit the Marquis’s estate.

Meeting Huo Liancheng and Huo Xingyuan’s gaze, Lu Xingzhou slowly stepped forward and patted Huo Heng’s face.

Just as the two thought he was about to debate with Huo Heng, Lu Xingzhou suddenly applied force with his hand, directly snapping Huo Heng’s neck with a “crack.”

Huo Heng’s eyes widened in disbelief, and the entire scene was horrified!

Huo Liancheng and Huo Xingyuan never expected such a turn of events and instinctively lashed out: “Beast, stop!”

“Boom!” A gentle radiance descended from the sky, like the moon reflecting in a river.

Two streams of qi could not come within a foot of Lu Xingzhou, bouncing off completely.

“Grand Preceptor!” Huo Liancheng suddenly looked up, but saw no trace of Ye Tinglan.

“Ha… ha ha ha ha!” Lu Xingzhou burst into laughter: “I advise you two to think carefully before striking… Now Huo Qi is exiled, and his privates are gone. All other sons are dead, and I am the only Huo family bloodline left, ha ha ha ha!”

“You, you…” Huo Liancheng clutched his chest, unable to speak for a moment.

“What? Hard to accept?” Lu Xingzhou said with a smile, “But back then, when they beat Huo Shang to death, why could you pretend nothing happened? Because you had too many sons? Well, now you don’t.”

“Wretch… wretch…” Huo Xingyuan’s hands and feet were cold.

Yes, he now had no other descendants; the only Huo family bloodline was Lu Xingzhou.

If they wanted the Huo family bloodline to continue, they couldn’t kill Lu Xingzhou, and might even have to cover for him, not exposing him to external punishment.

Lu Xingzhou still smiled: “How about… the Marquis goes and marries again now, quickly raises a young one, maybe there’s still hope? Before that, whether to lay a hand on me, consider it yourselves.”

The Huo father and son had run rampant their entire lives, and they had never been so blank-minded.

Watching their son’s neck being twisted right in front of them, they actually didn’t know whether they should move against the murderer…

Raise a young one now? Historically, the more powerful a life, the harder it was to reproduce. After Huo Xingyuan also reached the first rank, it would be difficult for him to have children. If he started trying now, what if he could never have children again? What if he had a daughter?

Once they moved against Lu Xingzhou, would they truly be completely without heirs?

Was this outcome already set when they allowed their sons to beat Huo Shang to death back then? Watching a “son” beat another son to death again, but only being able to pretend nothing happened?

Their hands trembled, their minds utterly blank.

They vaguely began to understand that from the moment he killed Huo Yu in Xiazhou, Lu Xingzhou had this intention… step by step, making them experience this taste.

“It’s all your revenge…” Huo Xingyuan’s voice trembled, “So vicious…”

“Of course, didn’t you two always know that I came from the demonic path?” Lu Xingzhou smiled slightly, “If you don’t intend to kill me, then I’ll take my leave… Oh right, if the Grand Preceptor hadn’t blocked your subconscious, mindless impulse just now, you would already be without heirs. Hurry and thank the Grand Preceptor.”

“Huo Shang!” Huo Liancheng seemed to snap out of it, sternly saying, “You are not allowed to go anywhere!”

Even if he hadn’t figured out how to deal with this matter for a while, there was no way he would let Lu Xingzhou leave so brazenly!

“But unfortunately, even if you just wanted me to suffer the family law, you wouldn’t be able to do it.” Lu Xingzhou indifferently turned and walked towards the main gate with Yang Dechang: “If you don’t believe me, feel free to try.”

“Swoosh!” Huo Xingyuan had already made his move, grabbing at Lu Xingzhou’s shoulder.

Huo Liancheng focused, preparing to deal with Ye Tinglan’s interference, when Lu Xingzhou suddenly shifted his feet, evading Huo Xingyuan’s grab, then twisted and punched, aiming directly at the palm of his hand.

The setting sun reflected in the sky, the world like a prison, scorching like fire.

A blazing inferno, like a red lotus, bloomed in the Huo family compound, enveloping Huo Xingyuan’s body.

Yan Yu Can Yang, Hong Lian Jie Yan.

Lu Xingzhou’s fist intent, honed by the Myriad Sword Tomb, had subtly transcended the level of “technique.”

“Bang!” Lu Xingzhou stumbled back three steps, then drifted backward with the momentum, while also cupping his hands: “Thank you, Marquis, for seeing me off. This first-rank attack is indeed exquisite; Xingzhou has learned much.”

Huo Xingyuan did not retreat, but his body stiffened for a moment, watching helplessly as Lu Xingzhou drifted out the door, unable to stop him.

His heart was also shaken… this Lu Xingzhou actually, by his own strength, withstood a first-rank attack!

Innumerable retainers and guards around them also made no move to stop him.

This situation… who knew if this would be their master in the future?

An extreme sense of absurdity arose in the hearts of all present.

The all-powerful Huo family, and with the premise of having a transcendent-rank master, was deliberately schemed against by a young man, their descendants massacred, their bloodline cut off… yet they dared not lay a killing hand on him, watching him leave helplessly.

This world was too crazy.