Inside the Council Hall. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Shang Guangyi, the Family Head of the merchant family, wearing a splendid robe, had half of his hair turned white in just a few hours. The merchant family’s downfall today clearly related to their usual conduct; if they had acted kindly towards others, they wouldn’t have ended up like this even if trouble arose. But now, it’s too late for regrets!

Looking at the members of the merchant family in the hall, all equally troubled, Shang Guangyi sighed helplessly, then spoke: "Deliver my order, the merchant family must evacuate Ning City immediately, only take the essentials, leave everything else behind."

"Family Head!"

"That’s not possible!"

"How can we just give away our prosperous business?"

"Exactly, without the foundation of our merchant family, how can we survive?"

...

Upon hearing Shang Guangyi’s words, the family members raised their heads and exclaimed in shock. How could they possibly abandon everything now, having long been accustomed to a life of luxury? Suddenly losing everything was an outcome no one would accept.

"What else can we do? In such circumstances, this is the only path for our merchant family. If you had not been so arrogant and created resentment, we wouldn’t have ended up here. This day was bound to come sooner or later, it’s just arrived now."

Shang Guangyi shook his head as he spoke, aware of the group’s behavior, abusing their influence in Ning City, causing public outrage. Were it not for the two elders guarding the family, it would have perished long ago. Despite his countless warnings, they feigned compliance, leaving him powerless.

Upon hearing his words, everyone lowered their heads in shame, regret dawning upon them. But now lamentation is futile—they all sought a way to preserve the family, realizing they wouldn’t know how to survive if left with nothing.

At this moment, a middle-aged man couldn’t bear it anymore and stood up, saying, "Family Head, leaving Ning City is fine, but why must we abandon our estate? It’s the root of our existence! Without it, how can we live?"

"If you think you can take the estate out of the city, you are welcome to bring yours!" Shang Guangyi replied without even raising his head.

"This..." The middle-aged man, upon hearing Shang Guangyi’s words, slumped instantly. Without the protection of the two elders, attempting to take possessions outside the city would inevitably lead to attacks right after stepping out the gates. The families’ strongest member is only in the Divine Origin Realm Middle Stage. The four prominent families have elders who are in the Late Stage of the Divine Origin Realm. No one is needed—if the four elders join forces, they could obliterate the merchant family without sparing a single soul!

"Family Head, we could seek help from the City Lord. Given our relationship, the City Lord wouldn’t just turn a blind eye, right?" Another middle-aged man stepped forward.

"City Lord? If the City Lord intended to intervene, do you think there would have been no action until now? From the beginning, the City Lord abandoned us, tacitly approving the actions of the four families. Can you not see this? The merchant family lost public support—no one will come to our aid at this moment."

Upon hearing the Family Head’s words, the merchant family members fell silent. They knew Shang Guangyi’s words were true, but even knowing this, accepting the reality was difficult—they kept trying to find ways to keep everything, realizing giving it up would make life worse than death!

"Family Head, is there truly no way out for us?" Someone asked again, unwilling to accept the fate.

"If there were a solution, would I have issued that previous decision?" Shang Guangyi glanced at them and continued: "It’s nearly four hours until nightfall. Do you know the significance of the night? It means the demise of our merchant family. Under cover of night, even if they kill, nobody will pursue it. Do you still want to devise a plan? Hurry back to pack up, heed my advice, take only some clothes. We must leave Ning City within four hours, or face certain death!"

After speaking, he waved his hand, indicating the crowd to leave and make arrangements. Such was the end of a vast merchant family, leaving even the Family Head deeply sorrowful. If there were a solution, he wouldn’t have made the previous decision!

Upon hearing Shang Guangyi’s words, everyone’s faces turned extremely grim, and they stood to leave, knowing the Family Head spoke truly, understanding his motives: survival over material possessions was all they could hope for now...

...

As the merchant family faced chaos, Lin Feng strolled into Ning City. This time it was different from the last; everyone who saw Lin Feng treated him like a flood or beast, avoiding him from afar so that within a dozen yards around Lin Feng, not a single person was present.

Faced with this situation, Lin Feng was speechless, shook his head. He wouldn’t harm if unprovoked, and besides, fighting is prohibited in Ning City—what’s there to fear?

"Boss, you’re so imposing!" Tangyuan, perched on Lin Feng’s shoulder, couldn’t help but flatter, seeing such a scene—perhaps even the City Lord didn’t receive such treatment. It was extraordinarily impressive!

"Boom!"

Lin Feng didn’t say anything and directly flicked Tangyuan on the head to make it shut up.

"Boss, why did you hit me again?" Tangyuan was so frustrated inside, its small eyes welled up with tears, very aggrieved. Did it flatter the wrong person?

"Nothing much, just felt like hitting you." Lin Feng glanced at Tangyuan and said with a smile.

"Boohoo..." Upon hearing Lin Feng’s words, Tangyuan almost fell off Lin Feng’s shoulder, covering its eyes with its little paws and crying sadly. What’s wrong with the boss, what did it do wrong...

Ignoring Tangyuan’s antics, Lin Feng stepped into the city, randomly choosing a teahouse. Much to Lin Feng’s dismay, before he even reached the teahouse, everyone inside had already fled. If the teahouse itself could have moved, the waiter and shopkeeper would probably have run too.

Helplessly shaking his head, Lin Feng stepped into the teahouse. The shop assistant had no choice but to greet the guest, and for the sake of the teahouse, he directly led Lin Feng to the third floor.

After sitting down, the shop assistant asked nervously, "What would you like to order, sir?"

While speaking, the shop assistant’s legs were shaking. This was the infamous killer who had slain the two ancestors of the Shang family, and the fear was uncontrollable; not fainting was already fortunate.

"Bring out the best, just whatever, I’m just here to sit for a while." Lin Feng nodded to the shop assistant, casually instructing.

"Please wait a moment, sir!" Upon hearing this, the shop assistant immediately went downstairs.

Before long, when the shop assistant came back, the tray already held a pot of tea, along with several plates of unique dried fruits. Carefully placing them on the table, the shop assistant then wanted to immediately make his escape.

"Waiter." Seeing the shop assistant in such a panic, Lin Feng found it amusing and directly called out.

"Sir?" Hearing Lin Feng’s words, the shop assistant retracted his foot, asking nervously; he was truly afraid of Lin Feng...

"Sit down, I have a few questions for you." Lin Feng pointed to the chair beside him and said to the shop assistant.

With these words, the shop assistant’s face immediately squeezed into a smile uglier than crying, reluctantly sitting on the chair, head hanging down, not daring to look at Lin Feng.

"Hehehe..." Seeing the shop assistant like this, Tangyuan couldn’t help but laugh anymore, covering its mouth with its little paws, thinking the shop assistant was really interesting. Lin Feng wasn’t a man-eating Demon Beast, what was he so afraid of Lin Feng for?

"I mean no harm; I only kill those who deserve it. You don’t need to be afraid of me." Lin Feng first reassured him, then asked, "As soon as I entered the city, everyone avoided me. I’d like to know what’s going on?"

Upon hearing this, the shop assistant’s overwhelming fear slightly eased, beginning to reply timidly, "Sir, in Ning City, we haven’t had such a big incident in a long time. You killed the two great ancestors of the Shang family, and it has spread throughout Ning City. Everyone says you’re a killing demon who kills anyone..."

After listening to the shop assistant’s words, Lin Feng was utterly speechless. He never imagined being misunderstood to such an extent, helplessly shaking his head and saying to the shop assistant, "I should be grateful they haven’t called me a man-eating Demon Beast yet."

Now much more relaxed, the shop assistant realized Lin Feng was no different from a normal person. After hearing Lin Feng’s words, he suddenly believed Lin Feng wasn’t a bad person and cautiously asked, "Sir, you really don’t kill people randomly?"

"Without grudges, why would I kill people? For fun?" Lin Feng replied helplessly.

"Then I’m relieved!" Hearing Lin Feng say this personally, the shop assistant immediately didn’t believe the rumors anymore and then looked at Lin Feng, asking, "Sir, what would you like to know? As long as I know, I’ll tell you everything."

"I want to ask about Ning King Valley. How much do you know about it?" Lin Feng looked at the shop assistant and smiled while asking.

"Ning King Valley, eh? I don’t know much, it’s all hearsay. If you’re interested, shall I tell you?" The shop assistant replied with a smile.

"Sure!" Lin Feng nodded, then handed the shop assistant a Yuan Stone as a form of compensation.

Seeing Lin Feng casually give him a Yuan Stone, the shop assistant’s eyes instantly widened. It’s important to know that working at the teahouse, he only earned a Yuan Stone a month. Now, Lin Feng just gave him a month’s salary; it was so generous!

Quickly pocketing the Yuan Stone, his face almost breaking into a bloom, the shop assistant then began chatting with Lin Feng about Ning King Valley.