Volume One, Chapter Twelve: The Great Upheaval in the Eastern Sea

The head of the Huang family stammered in panic, "I... I don't know either. I was completely acting under orders. I have no idea who the mastermind was, and I didn't recognize a single person who went to hunt down your parents with me."

A trace of doubt flickered in Chu Ming's eyes.

His parents were merely merchants, and though their business was sizable, it shouldn't have warranted such a large-scale pursuit and assassination, should it?

Moreover, there was one crucial point: not long after his parents escaped from the Chu family with him, he was hidden away in a secret place, while his parents deliberately led the assassins away. As for their ultimate fate, Chu Ming surmised they hadn't escaped alive.

But he had never seen their bodies, nor had he witnessed the assassins kill them.

Even so, Chu Ming had no intention of letting the head of the Huang family go. Even if this man wasn't the chief conspirator behind the destruction of the Chu clan, he had taken part in it; therefore, he must die.

With that thought, Chu Ming pressed down harder with his foot.

Feeling Chu Ming's increasing strength, the head of the Huang family grew even more terrified.

"Wait, wait..." he pleaded desperately.

Chu Ming paused and asked, "Do you have something else to say?"

Hastily, the head of the Huang family replied, "I truly don't know who orchestrated the destruction of the Chu clan, but by chance, I did learn the identity of the leader of that operation."

Chu Ming's voice was icy. "Who was the leader?"

The head of the Huang family hesitated, "If... if you spare me, I'll tell you."

Chu Ming snorted in disdain and stomped down on the man's wrist.

A crisp crack filled the air. The head of the Huang family howled in agony as his wrist was crushed.

"Ah..."

Expressionless, Chu Ming gazed down at the man writhing like a dying dog. "You have no right to bargain with me. Either speak now, or endure the torture and speak afterward."

As he spoke, Chu Ming lifted his foot, placing it on the man's arm.

The head of the Huang family, seeing this, was seized with terror. "I'll talk, I'll talk..."

Chu Ming waited in silence for him to continue.

The man dared not pause. "The leader was a man, surnamed Fu."

Chu Ming frowned. "Is that all?"

"That's all I know," the head of the Huang family replied quickly.

"Is that all you have to barter for your life? How cheap it must be," Chu Ming said coldly.

With that, he ended the man's life.

Chu Ming would show no mercy to those who had taken part in the massacre of the Chu family.

The remaining martial artists of the Huang family, seeing their fallen master, looked at Chu Ming with terror in their eyes.

Chu Ming glanced at them and said, "This matter does not concern you. His death was deserved. All you need to do is hand over the Fiery Linglong Fruit."

One of them stammered, "I know where it is—it's in the study on the second floor."

At these words, Chu Ming ascended to the second floor, retrieved the Fiery Linglong Fruit, and departed without delay.

Outside the Huang family manor, Lin Ba Hu, who had been waiting in the car, saw Chu Ming emerge and hurried to open the door for him.

"Young master, did that old fox hand over the Fiery Linglong Fruit?" Lin Ba Hu asked as he returned to the driver's seat.

Chu Ming nodded. "The head of the Huang family is dead. Whether the Huang family will be removed from the Four Great Families now depends on your Tiger Hall."

"He helped massacre the Chu family ten years ago—his death was what he deserved."

Chu Ming continued, "Also, investigate a man surnamed Fu. To have led that operation, his status must be significant."

Lin Ba Hu was momentarily stunned, then quickly nodded. "Yes, young master. I'll have my people investigate at once!"

Not long after, Lin Ba Hu drove Chu Ming back to the Yun family, then hurried back to Tiger Hall.

With the head of the Huang family dead, the balance among the Four Great Families of Donghai would be irreparably shaken. Tiger Hall, caught at a bottleneck in its development, must seize this opportunity to claim a large share of the Huang family's assets.

Moreover, Chu Ming's orders had to be executed immediately. Others might not know Chu Ming's true identity, but Lin Ba Hu was well aware.

Upon returning to the hall, Lin Ba Hu summoned all his men without delay.

Meanwhile—

As Chu Ming entered the living room, Old Master Yun hurried to greet him.

"Well? Did the Huang family agree to exchange the Fiery Linglong Fruit?"

Chu Ming replied, "I have it now. I can begin treating Xueyan immediately."

Overjoyed, Old Master Yun exclaimed, "Wonderful, wonderful! It’s all thanks to you—Xueyan is truly blessed to have found you."

Chu Ming smiled. "Let’s not dwell on that, sir. I’m going upstairs to treat Xueyan’s cold poison. Please make sure no one disturbs us."

"Of course, of course," Old Master Yun nodded. "You focus on her treatment—I’ll handle everything else."

Once Chu Ming went upstairs, Old Master Yun immediately sent away all the servants and bodyguards.

In the boudoir, Chu Ming liquefied the Fiery Linglong Fruit with his inner strength and fed it to Yun Xueyan, then used his Pure Yang Energy to help her absorb the fruit’s medicinal power.

As the Pure Yang Energy spread through Yun Xueyan’s body, her icy chill finally began to recede, and some warmth returned to her skin—though compared to an ordinary person, she was still unnaturally cold.

Combining his Pure Yang Energy with the effect of the fruit, Chu Ming spent a full half hour before Yun Xueyan’s temperature returned to normal.

With the fruit’s effects still working, Yun Xueyan let out a soft moan, her cheeks growing flushed.

The Fiery Linglong Fruit’s power continued to surge, her voice growing more urgent, until, regaining partial awareness, Yun Xueyan instinctively wrapped her arms around Chu Ming.

As her breathless, seductive gasps sounded in his ear, Chu Ming felt his own heart race with longing.

Now that the cold poison had been completely expelled, Chu Ming ceased to restrain himself.

Before long, the room was filled with the sounds of passion and desire.

...

The next morning.

Yun Xueyan, cheeks rosy with shyness, slipped from Chu Ming’s embrace and quickly dressed and composed herself.

As the two descended the stairs, Old Master Yun hurried toward them.

"Have you heard what happened to the Huang family?"

Yun Xueyan looked puzzled. "What could have happened?"

A hint of curiosity crossed Chu Ming’s face as well.

Old Master Yun explained, "Last night, a sudden fire broke out at the Huang family manor. Not a single member survived—they all perished in the blaze."

As he spoke, his eyes lingered on Chu Ming, clearly suspecting that the fire was somehow connected to him.

Chu Ming’s expression betrayed nothing, leaving Old Master Yun unable to discern the truth.

Still, he knew well enough—the demise of the Huang family was surely linked to Chu Ming.