Chapter 262: 192: The Plan to Kill the Heart

Chapter 262: Chapter 192: The Plan to Kill the Heart

After a standoff with Old Woman Zheng.

Ultimately, the refined elder chose to temporarily step back.

Firstly, they were all within the city, and if the two Innate Realm Martial Artists were to fight here, it would certainly affect nearby residents.

At that point, violating the sacred laws of the Holy Mountain, they would definitely be held accountable, even arrested and imprisoned.

Although he had sufficient reasons, the old woman had not actually conducted a human sacrifice, and if they really came to argue about it, it was feared that in the end, both would be equally chastised for their faults.

Secondly, the elder saw madness and determination in Old Woman Zheng’s eyes.

He could feel that if he truly wanted to stop this old woman, she would indeed fight him desperately without caring for anything else.

This old woman had not much life left and did not have many years to live, so she cared for nothing.

But the elder did not want to join her in madness and risk himself.

So he decided to take a step back for now.

However, before leaving, the refined elder still advised, “Old Lady Zheng, sacrificing living people is too cruel, it goes against the Heavenly Dao and harms your virtue; you are dragging the Zheng Family toward a disaster without redemption. Please reconsider.”

“Hmph! Old fool, if you don’t dare to fight, then hurry up and scram, don’t block my view!

And which of your eyes saw that I was going to perform a human sacrifice? I am merely dealing with some disobedient servants, even if the Holy Mountain sends someone, they can’t meddle in the affairs of the Zheng Family!” Old Woman Zheng said coldly.

Seeing this, the refined elder knew that Old Woman Zheng was completely delusional and beyond persuasion.

He shook his head and turned to leave.

Watching the elder’s departing figure, Old Woman Zheng’s eyes showed a scornful expression.

When her eldest son was killed by that outsider Innate Realm Martial Artist, she had visited these old fellows in the city to plead for their help in avenging him.

But they all made excuses, one after another, unwilling to assist.

If they had been willing to help back then, how could she have suffered severe injuries and reduced her lifespan?

Now, it was just about dealing with some servants, and they all jumped out to stop her.

A bunch of hypocrites, pah!

The refined elder walked home with a heavy heart, and suddenly, his expression changed as he looked towards the top of a tower not far away.

He saw an elderly man with a youthful appearance and a middle-aged man with a face like white jade, standing there, smiling.

“You’ve come too?”

The refined elder’s figure fluttered slightly, and with a few jumps, he too reached the top of the tower.

“Your Innate pressure is almost enveloping half of the Prefecture. How could we not come?” said the elderly man with a youthful appearance helplessly, “Brother Lin, why bother provoking that old woman? You know her temper is not the person we knew when we were young anymore.”

“But she is about to perform a human sacrifice. That method is too cruel, it damages the harmony of heaven and will certainly invite punishment from the Holy Mountain. When the time comes, I’m afraid the entire Zheng Family will suffer.”

“Then let her conduct it!” said the man with the face like white jade nonchalantly, “If that Old Lady Zheng wants to drag the Zheng Family down with her, can the elder really stop her?”

The refined elder just smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying nothing.

But the elderly man with the youthful appearance understood his thoughts.

They, along with Old Lady Zheng and the now-deceased Ancestor of the Zheng Family, had been close friends when they were young; there was a bond between them.

It’s just that later on, due to ideological differences and life events, they slowly drifted apart and gradually ceased to have any contact.

But clearly, Brother Lin still cherished that bond.

The younger man with the face like white jade did not understand these matters.

“Brother Lin, I know you still hold onto the promises we made in our youth, but you should also realize that Old Lady Zheng has changed a long time ago, she is no longer the white-dressed female hero we once knew.

The person she is today is ruthless, stubborn, insane, and indifferent; she has long become someone else.”

The white-haired, youthful-faced elder earnestly advised.

The refined elder remained silent, and after a while, finally sighed and said, “Of course I’m aware of that, but even if I disregard that old woman, I still must stop this. You all didn’t see the dreadful state of those people, including infants not yet a year old. How could I bear it in my heart?”

“I think you’re being overly concerned, Mr. Lin, don’t forget that we still have the City Lord Mansion.

Our City Lord is far from weak. If that old lady really intends to perform a living human sacrifice, the City Lord Mansion will never stand idly by.

Otherwise, how would they continue to command respect in Cang State?”

The gentleman with a complexion as fair as white jade said.

The refined elder paused, then his eyes slightly brightened, and he fell into deep thought.

Although the conflict between the Old Woman Zheng and the refined elder did not erupt, their conversation ultimately fell into the ears of many.

Thus, the rumor that the Zheng Family’s Ancestor intended to hold a live human sacrifice to appease the spirit of her recently deceased grandson quietly began to spread in the Prefecture.

“Yuan Hao, I had you look into the thief who killed Yu’er, how is the investigation going?”

In the Zheng Mansion, the old woman asked the Zheng Family Master with an indifferent face.

“Mother,” the Zheng Family Master said with some difficulty.

“I’ve mobilized all the power we have in the mansion to investigate, but not a trace has been found.

We only know that the black-clothed Martial Artist who killed Yu’er must be a Martial Arts Grandmaster who is skilled in hidden weapons and boxing.

As to his identity, we’ve been unable to determine anything. The man seems to have appeared out of thin air; there’s absolutely no information about him throughout Cang State.”

“Unable to find out? Are you saying Yu’er died in vain?” Old Woman Zheng looked at her second son.

“It’s not what I meant, it’s just that the person’s appearance was truly mysterious, and with the mansion’s power, it’s truly difficult to discover anything.”

“If the people in the mansion can’t find out, can’t you make use of other forces? Seven Killings Tower lost a base, shouldn’t they show some response? Can’t you go to the Seven Killings Tower to inquire?”

The Zheng Family Master was taken aback, indeed he hadn’t thought of this.

Old Woman Zheng looked at her second son’s dull expression and was even more disappointed.

Had her eldest son still been alive, how could he have failed to think of such a simple matter?

“You’re right, mother. I’ll immediately send someone to Seven Killings Tower to gather information,” the Zheng Family Master came to his senses and hurriedly said.

“Hmm,” the old woman hummed.

The room once again fell into silence.

After quite a while, the Zheng Family Master remembered another piece of information reported by the mansion’s spies and, after hesitating, decided to speak up.

“Mother, there are now rumors spreading throughout the city that our Zheng Family wants to perform a live human sacrifice. If these rumors spread widely, I fear they will be very harmful to our Zheng Family.”

“Is that so? That’s exactly what I want!”

Unexpectedly, the old woman was not surprised at all; instead, she sneered coldly.

“I want this rumor to spread far and wide, even better if it reaches all corners of Cang State.

That murderer who killed Yu’er, wasn’t he the one who claimed to seek justice for those lowly prostitutes and courtesans?

Since he prides himself on being righteous, now, with so many lives about to die miserably because of him, I want to see if he dares to come out and stop it!”

“Mother, you…”

The Zheng Family Master was shocked, he had never imagined his mother would have such a plan.

“Don’t worry, despite my hatred, I haven’t lost my mind, and I wouldn’t actually conduct a live human sacrifice. Just prepare as I’ve instructed.”

“Yes, mother, I will make the arrangements right away!”

Knowing his mother hadn’t truly succumbed to madness, the Zheng Family Master also felt greatly relieved.

He immediately bowed and went down happily to make arrangements.

However, he didn’t see the sudden cold and vengeful look in his mother’s eyes behind him.