A moment later, watching the group of people who had been kidnapped up the mountain, including the abducted camp women, swiftly fleeing to the mountain's base, Lu Ye stood before the gates of the Chaotic Wind Mountain Stronghold.
With a wave of his hand, the plaque of the stronghold shattered instantly, announcing that this den of iniquity was no more.
Chen Lingxiang said quietly, "I didn't expect you to have such a sense of justice."
Lu Ye, however, shook his head slightly, "I just need some silver, so I came to pick up some to spend."
This was the truth; he needed silver to continue enhancing himself.
And earning silver, clearly, would be quickest by coming to the Chaotic Wind Mountain Stronghold to pick it up.
It just happened that there was a grudge between the two sides before.
Letting these ordinary people, who had been abducted up the mountain, go down was simply easy to do and not the sole reason he came here.
This vast world has similar occurrences frequently; if you really want to manage them, who can manage it all? Lu Ye, in any case, was too lazy to bother.
Hearing Lu Ye's explanation, Chen Lingxiang couldn't hold back and let out a light laugh.
What a way to say picking up some silver to spend.
Lu Ye's answer indeed took her by surprise.
Had it been anyone else, they would have likely said something about upholding justice and rescuing others, which is quite within one's duty.
After all, nobody would refuse praise.
Watching the group disappear down the mountain path, Lu Ye said calmly, "Let's go, head back."
Chen Lingxiang nodded.
They really needed to hurry back. If Jiang Lingyue discovered that she and her brother-in-law were out in the middle of the night... for 2,000 miles.
That would be hard to explain.
...
Approaching three or four in the morning, they finally returned to Luohua City.
To avoid arousing suspicion, Chen Lingxiang directly went back to the Chen Mansion.
Even if they returned separately after some time, it would still raise suspicion.
So, Lu Ye quietly rented a room in a nearby inn and did not return.
At dawn, Jiang Lingyue woke up feeling particularly refreshed after a good night's sleep.
Today, the people of the Worldwide Escort Agency were preparing to return to Cloud Leaf City.
After dressing neatly, Jiang Lingyue waited in the courtyard for Lu Ye to come out.
She waited... for half an hour.
Meanwhile, as the night came to an end, stories of the group's escape from Chaotic Wind Mountain and the annihilation of the Chaotic Wind Mountain Bandits spread quickly.
Through various means and intelligence networks, the news spread rapidly.
Many factions were astonished by the news.
Behind the Chaotic Wind Mountain was the Wang Family of Qingshan City, a fact many factions were aware of.
Even Zhang Hu himself was a part of the Wang Family's external branch in his early years.
Who was so ruthless to have directly wiped out the Chaotic Wind Mountain?
"Hehe, now there will be a good show to watch. Old Man Wang's temper isn't easy to deal with."
"I heard that Old Wang has recently advanced rapidly, already reaching the Innate Second Layer and soon to break through to the Innate Third Layer. Did the old man have some sort of encounter to rejuvenate himself?"
Such conversations appeared everywhere.
These factions all wanted to see how the burgeoning Innate Wang Family would handle this situation.
Would they pretend to have no connection to the Chaotic Wind Mountain and let it pass?
Or would they look for the person who wiped it out...
...
Qingshan City, Wang Family Hall.
At this moment, the hall was full of the Wang Family's most important direct lineage members.
Beneath the chief seat, Patriarch Wang Yuncheng said, "Ancestor, we just received news that the Chaotic Wind Mountain... has been eradicated."
The existence of the Chaotic Wind Mountain Bandits was seen by those factions aware of its relationship with the Wang Family as nothing more than a means of gathering wealth.
But the Wang Family's closest direct lineage knew... the wealth-gathering was just a facade for the Chaotic Wind Mountain.
The most important function was to provide a constant source of blood food for the Wang Family Ancestor!
Their growth to the current level relied entirely on the Ancestor's rapid progression.
The Wang Family Ancestor sat in the chair, dressed in luxurious clothing, with a stern expression on his face.
As soon as the news broke and was learned by the Wang Family's operatives, the Ancestor had already visited Chaotic Wind Mountain in advance.
Before going, he held a slight, hopeful thought that the hidden paths on the mountain had not been discovered.
But after arriving and seeing the completely destroyed Blood Pool and the vanished Forbidden Artifact Fragment, the Wang Family Ancestor was immediately furious!
Destroying his years of hard work was one thing, but to also steal the Forbidden Artifact Fragment...
Such an act, they were courting death!
Returning quietly to the Wang Family estate, after hearing Wang Yuncheng's report, the Wang Family Ancestor coldly snorted.
"If the person had only destroyed the Chaotic Wind Mountain, I might have let the matter rest."
"But... this person even stole the Lower Grade Forbidden Artifact fragment I had been nurturing!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Yuncheng's expression turned slightly cold, "Ancestor, in that case, we can't let it go so easily."
That Lower Grade Forbidden Artifact was something the Wang Family had obtained with great difficulty.
With it, the Wang Family would have the ability to contend against families of the Innate Third Layer and even the Innate Fourth Layer.
The Wang Family Ancestor pondered for a moment, then said, "However, the likes of Chaotic Wind Mountain are not something honorable to the Wang Family."
"It's unwise to act rashly on this matter..."
Wang Yuncheng fell into thought, suddenly, a light bulb went off in his mind, "Ancestor, in a month's time, it's your birthday. Why not take this opportunity to invite guests from all around?"
"On the artifact, there is your mark. Once the thief arrives at Qingshan City and enters a specific range, there's no escape!"
Upon hearing this, the Wang Family Ancestor gave a sinister smile.
On that artifact, there indeed was a mark he had placed.
It's a unique technique from the "Great Celestial Demon Ancestor Scripture," and the Wang Family Ancestor was confident that even those in the Innate Late Stage couldn't detect that hidden mark!
As long as the artifact comes within ten miles of him, he would immediately sense it.
"Good! Yuncheng, you shall handle this matter." The Wang Family Ancestor's old eyes seemed to swirl with blood fog, "Daring to destroy my years of hard work, should he dare to come in a month, I'll make him wish he were dead!"
"Yes, Ancestor!"
...
Within several thousand miles, an undercurrent surged due to the fall of the Chaotic Wind Mountain Bandits.
Jiang Lingyue had no idea of the external situations, still waiting for Lu Ye to wake up and come out.
Chen Lingxiang came out of her room, pretending she had just woken up.
Watching Jiang Lingyue's boredom, she smiled slightly, "Sister Lingyue, why are you up so early? Did you not sleep well?"
"No, I slept quite well," Jiang Lingyue whispered, "How is it that Lu Ye is sleeping even more soundly than I am?"
"Are you waiting for Young Master Lu?" Chen Lingxiang's beautiful eyes gazed toward the room where Lu Ye had been arranged to sleep, faintly smiling, "I forgot to mention, Young Master Lu went out drinking last night and didn't come back afterwards."
Jiang Lingyue: "???"
Went out drinking in the middle of the night?
The most crucial point is that even she, his dear sister-in-law, wasn't aware of it, but Chen Lingxiang was?
Jiang Lingyue gritted her teeth slightly; this Stinky Lu Ye, having trained sword with her, did he not consider her one of his own?
When he returns, she must interrogate him thoroughly.
Though it seems she likely won't learn much...but regardless, she'll question him first!