Chapter 88: Peace and Safety

Watching the backs of the departing group, Patriarch Ren couldn’t help but sigh. “That Xunshan kid really values loyalty… I didn’t judge him wrong.”

“But this Mr. Gu is quite interesting too. What’s with sending me a piece of calligraphy so late at night?”

Unable to quell his curiosity, Patriarch Ren returned to the stone table and slowly unfurled the scroll.

“Peace and Safety?” Patriarch Ren muttered. “I have to say, Mr. Gu’s calligraphy is truly remarkable… The famous artworks at the Flowing Pavilion would seem like a child’s play compared to these four characters.”

“But what does ‘Peace and Safety’ mean? Is there some danger in this estate that I’m unaware of?”

“Even if there might be some danger, it’s certainly much safer than them going out to do something that could cost them their lives, right?”

After thinking it over and not being able to figure out the meaning behind Mr. Gu’s calligraphy, Patriarch Ren decided to take it simply as a “blessing” with no deeper meaning.

Rustle! Rustle!

Suddenly, the sound of fine footsteps echoed around the courtyard.

Patriarch Ren’s expression changed as he surveyed his surroundings. When he saw the figure in the shadows, he frowned and said, “Hou Si, what are you still doing here?”

“Patriarch, I’ve been waiting for you…” As he spoke, Hou Si stepped out of the shadows, his pupils, no bigger than mung beans, gleaming with a cold light.

Along with him were twelve household servants from the Ren family estate. They formed a ring and surrounded Patriarch Ren from all sides.

A calculating man like Patriarch Ren immediately understood that things were going awry when he saw Hou Si.

He never imagined that his trusted confidant, Hou Si, would betray him.

His gaze still fixed on the scroll, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Mr. Gu… Mr. Gu… your calligraphy came at just the right time…”

“Patriarch, you should never have spoken about the magistrate’s matter…” Hou Si sighed deeply, his face showing an expression of regret.

Patriarch Ren sat at the stone table and smiled. “Hou Si, how long have you been with me?”

Hou Si cupped his hands and replied, “Not too long, not too short—exactly twenty years!”

Patriarch Ren asked again, “In all this time, have I ever wronged you?”

Hou Si shook his head. “No, Patriarch. You’ve treated me well, never wronged me.”

“Oh… that’s good.” Patriarch Ren smiled but didn’t say anything more.

Upon hearing this, Hou Si became puzzled and asked, “Patriarch, don’t you want to ask, since you’ve treated me so well, why would I betray you?”

Patriarch Ren waved his hand. “It doesn’t matter. As long as I know that I haven’t done anything wrong, that I haven’t wronged any of you, that’s enough…”

These words made the household servants, including Hou Si, show some hesitation.

Many exchanged glances, as if wondering, “The patriarch has treated us sincerely, yet we are betraying him… is this really the right thing to do?”

“Fourth Brother, why don’t we let the patriarch and his people go, then set fire to this estate and say they’re all dead? How does that sound?” One of the household servants, with a square face and an honest look, spoke up.

Patriarch Ren remembered that this man was named Liu Bing, and he had been with him for many years.

Sensing the eyes of the household servants upon him, Hou Si realized how terrifying Patriarch Ren was. Just a few words from him could make everyone consider sparing him!

Suddenly—

A flash of cold light! Blood sprayed!

Liu Bing’s pupils continued to dilate as he looked at the knife handle buried in his chest and then at Hou Si standing before him. Blood foam flowed from the corner of his mouth as he gasped, “Why… why…”

Whoosh!

Hou Si, with a blank expression, gave a forceful push. The crimson blade, thick with the stench of blood, made Liu Bing’s body fall backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

Patriarch Ren didn’t look, only letting out a long sigh. “Why? Why did it have to come to this? Why kill him?”

Hou Si’s cold gaze swept over all the household servants present as he sharply said, “Listen up, once you’ve sided with Lord Sun, there’s no turning back.”

“If anyone dares to plead for the patriarch, their fate will be the same as Liu Bing’s!”

The household servants trembled in fear, all lowering their heads. The slight sense of guilt that had briefly risen in their hearts was quickly extinguished by the heavy scent of blood.

“Patriarch Ren, this Liu Bing was also killed by you!” Hou Si pointed at the body on the ground, his voice harsh. “If you hadn’t played your hypocritical games, Liu Bing would never have been killed by my hand.”

Patriarch Ren looked up at Hou Si, smiling. “It seems you’re not completely heartless. At least, after killing someone close to you, you feel some guilt… You just won’t admit it.”

“Heh!” Hou Si pointed the bloodstained blade at him and sneered, “At this moment, you’re still trying to act calm and composed? Who are you fooling?”

“I’ll be frank with you—today, you’re the only one who’s going to die!”

“And I’ll take your place, take care of your wife and daughter well!”

At this, Hou Si’s face twisted into a sinister grin. “Your daughter’s body is truly tempting… too bad she belongs to Young Master Sun, I can’t touch her…”

“But your wife… that’s something I’ll thoroughly enjoy!”

Patriarch Ren clenched his fists, his sharp eyes glaring at Hou Si as he growled, “You want to die?”

Hou Si laughed. “Still mouthing off when death is staring you in the face! Brothers, let’s chop him up!”

“Then we’ll eat well, drink well, and enjoy all the wealth and beauty that come with it!”

In an instant, the household servants raised their knives and charged at Patriarch Ren.

Patriarch Ren clenched his fists and rushed at Hou Si, throwing punches. Even if he were to die, he would make sure to “bite” this dog thief, Hou Si!

Buzz!

A barely noticeable buzzing sound rang out!

The scroll on the stone table shimmered with an ethereal glow.

A fierce gust of wind spread out from around Patriarch Ren’s body!

In the blink of an eye, everyone was sent flying by the gale!

Bang~ Bang~ Bang!

One after another, the household servants crashed into the flowerbeds and stone pillars of the courtyard… Perhaps due to the force of the impact, many of them were knocked unconscious.

The strongest of them all, Hou Si, hit his head against the flowerbed but didn’t lose consciousness. However, his knife was long gone.

His vision blurred, and with one hand braced on the ground, he tried to get up.

Patriarch Ren, not understanding what had just happened, quickly picked up a sharp blade and mercilessly struck down on the fallen household servants, finishing them off with a swift stroke, as if he were an executioner.

His movements were lightning-fast, and there was no hesitation in his strikes.

Soon, through his blurry vision, Hou Si saw a blood-soaked figure appear before him. Fear gripped his heart, and he trembled as he stammered, “Patriarch, Patriarch, I was wrong… please, let me go…”

Slash~ Slash~ Slash!

Blood splattered in all directions, staining the red flowers in the flowerbed, making them appear even more vibrant.

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