Ch. 44 - Life Is A Stage

"You…" Situ Yunlei stared in disbelief at the three elders of the Situ Clan. He hadn’t expected that, at the critical moment, it would be his own people who betrayed him.

Coughing up blood, he seemed to understand something, and cast a long, deep glance at Xu Zimo.

“Everyone,” Xu Zimo said with a calm smile, turning to the crowd, “I think there’s no need for me to say who killed the patriarch of the Situ Clan.”

“It was the three elders…” someone muttered in disbelief.

“I get it now! The three elders must have coveted the position of patriarch. They worked together to have him killed!” a disciple exclaimed in shock.

“Young Master Xu, this had nothing to do with you,” the Grand Elder said with a twisted grin as he took a step toward Xu Zimo. “Why did you have to interfere?”

“What can I say? I’m just a chill guy,” Xu Zimo said, smiling casually.

He snapped his fingers.

A powerful aura of pressure descended from the sky. Everyone’s expression changed.

Above them hovered Dark Thirteen, black robes flapping in the wind, bald head shining like the sun, a longsword strapped to his back. He stood motionless, his presence suffocating, eyes fixed on the three elders.

Under this pressure, the three elders realized, they couldn’t even move. Sweat beaded on their foreheads.

Xu Zimo turned and walked up to Situ Yunqing.

“Want to avenge your father?” he asked, offering her a longsword.

Situ Yunqing froze. She stared at the sword in a daze before slowly taking it.

“It’s time to end this,” Xu Zimo said gently, patting her on the shoulder.

Situ Yunqing nodded heavily, then walked toward the three elders with the sword in hand.

The elders’ expressions twisted with panic.

Suddenly, the Grand Elder roared, “I’ve ruled the battlefield all my life. Fine, I’ll accept defeat. But I’ll never die at the hands of some little girl!”

All three elders released their energy. Waves of spiritual power surged from their bodies, briefly breaking through Dark Thirteen’s suppression.

They raised their weapons and, without hesitation, each stabbed themselves in the abdomen.

With a sickening squelch, the blades pierced their flesh. Blood poured out as they collapsed to the ground.

“The Situ Clan is finished,” murmured a bystander.

The Situ Clan’s upper leadership was now completely wiped out. No one was left to carry the burden.

Xu Zimo turned toward Wan Cangqiong and Wang Cheng and said, “Gentlemen, from this day on, the Situ Clan is mine. So, do you want extinction or peaceful coexistence?”

The two looked at Dark Thirteen, who stood in mid-air without emotion. They swallowed hard and quickly laughed it off.

“Young Master Xu jests! If the Situ Clan is yours, of course we’ll look after one another,” Wan Cangqiong said.

“Yes, yes! We’re neighbors, after all. Harmony brings prosperity,” Wang Cheng added, smiling.

“Good. Then have your people clean this place up,” Xu Zimo said casually.

He turned to Situ Yunqing.

“I want to put you in charge of the Situ Clan. Are you interested?” he asked.

Situ Yunqing was stunned. Her big, bright eyes widened in shock.

“Don’t rush your answer,” Xu Zimo said with a smile. “Think about it tonight. Give me your answer tomorrow.”

He then left with Lin Ruhu and Little Gui.

…

Though the great battle was over, its aftermath rippled through Imperial Gate City like a storm.

Back at Riverfront Restaurant, Xu Zimo listened to Little Gui’s report.

“Young Master, I’ve spoken to the Wang and Wan families. They helped us stage the whole show. I’ll arrange for two of their talented youths to enter the True Martial Sacred Ground,” Little Gui said.

“It doesn’t matter how talented they are,” Xu Zimo replied. “What matters is that they’re from the main bloodline. Once they’re inside the sect, they’ll be tied to us.”

“I understand,” Little Gui nodded. “As for the three sons of Situ Yuntian, they all died during the battle. Now, the only one qualified to inherit the clan is Situ Yunqing.”

“Keep that part clean,” Xu Zimo warned. “I don’t care what people in Imperial Gate City say, but don’t let the First Grand Elder’s faction find out, or they’ll run to my father to report it.”

“Got it. The Sacred Ground’s local division here is under the Grand Elder’s faction. They’ll be watching closely,” Little Gui nodded again.

Suddenly, a knock came at the door.

Xu Zimo paused, then said, “Come in.”

The door opened, and in walked the three elders of the Situ Clan, completely unharmed.

“Young Master Xu,” they greeted with smiles.

“You’re alive?” Little Gui was stunned. He had clearly seen them stab themselves in the abdomen with his own eyes.

“You think stabbing your stomach automatically means death?” Xu Zimo scoffed. “We’re cultivators, True Meridian Realm at that. We’re not that fragile.”

“So it was all an act?” Little Gui’s eyes widened. He had thought he was in on the whole plan, but clearly, he’d only known part of it.

“Why else did I have the Wang and Wan Clans clean up afterward?” Xu Zimo asked. “To avoid leaving traces.”

“Young Master, what about the promise you made us?” the Grand Elder asked with a flattering smile.

“Don’t worry,” Xu Zimo replied. “I’ll get you into the Sacred Ground and help you break through to the Desolate Meridian Realm. Head back now. I’ll have Dark Thirteen escort you to the sect tonight. Try not to be seen, best not to attract attention.”

“Thank you, Young Master!” the three said, bowing deeply before leaving.

“They really killed Situ Yunlei just to break through to the Desolate Meridian Realm? And now they’re taking the blame for Situ Yuntian’s death too?” Little Gui asked in disbelief.

“To break through means a surge in power, plus another hundred years of life,” Xu Zimo replied. “And if they enter the Sacred Ground, they’ll have a brighter future. What’s a little clan like the Situ Clan compared to all that?”

Little Gui fell silent.

His father was an outer court elder of the Sacred Ground, and he had grown up inside its walls. He had never understood how brutal the outside world could be.

But now… this had opened his eyes.

…

The truth was, Xu Zimo had planned everything from the start.

Whether it was Situ Yunlei, Situ Yuntian, his three sons, or the three elders, not one of them could remain alive.

Because Xu Zimo had decided that Situ Yunqing would be the one to manage his growing power.

And as long as any of those people remained, they would be a threat to that plan.

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