Chapter 2113: Dust Settled

Old Man Mi’s face creased into a slight smile, yet his face, like sun-dried orange peel, looked particularly eerie when he smiled. "Steward Hong has an excellent memory," he said. "To think you remember a small figure like me from the manor."

Zu An, standing nearby, glanced at Chu Tiesheng lying dead on the ground, his eyes wide open in death. He couldn't help but swallow. He had witnessed Chu Tiesheng's cultivation before, and knew he would likely be no match for him. Yet, a Sixth-Rank master like that had been killed by Old Man Mi with a single finger. So, if he were to confront him, couldn't Old Man Mi just glare him to death?

Hong Zhong was now completely tensed, staring intently at the old man before him. "I never thought," he said, "that both Lord Mingyue and I had been so mistaken. We had no idea such a master was hidden in our manor..." Mid-sentence, he suddenly moved. It was clear he intended to distract Old Man Mi with words, then use the opportunity to launch a surprise attack. It must be said, when an honest person turns sinister, they can be far more cunning and insidious than typical villains.

"Be careful!" Zu An quickly warned, only to find Old Man Mi still standing motionless. In that moment, the lean, gaunt body seemed to instantly become imposing. Ah, look at that! When will I be able to act so cool?

Hong Zhong also noticed Old Man Mi hadn't moved and hesitated for a moment. However, he quickly reconsidered: even if the opponent's cultivation was higher than his, such overconfidence would surely come at a heavy cost. Having cultivated to the Seventh Rank, he had once been considered a genius by those around him, possessing both talent and resolve. Thus, in a flash of insight, he made the optimal decision: to seize this opportunity for a desperate struggle, ideally inflicting a heavy blow on his opponent from the outset.

"Heart-Shattering Fist!" He let out a furious roar, and a faint stream of light shimmered on the surface of his fist. Unlike his previous punch against Qin Wanru, which had transformed into an illusory shadow, this punch was a genuine strike, his fist rapidly expanding. He poured all his cultivation into it, driven by an unstoppable momentum, holding absolutely nothing back.

Zu An instinctively stumbled back several steps. Even from the side, the powerful energy generated by the incoming punch made it hard to stand steadily and breathe. He couldn't imagine the oppressive force Old Man Mi, who was directly facing it, must be enduring. This powerful, aggressive punch hurtled towards the small, hunched Old Man Mi, seemingly poised to tear him to shreds in the next second.

But in the blink of an eye for Zu An, the turbulent air in the room suddenly settled. Old Man Mi merely raised his left hand, effortlessly catching Hong Zhong's fist in his palm. Hong Zhong's fist, which had moments ago swelled to the size of a boulder, had now returned to its normal size. He strained to pull it back, but his fist remained utterly motionless. His face was flushed crimson, and his usually meticulously slicked-back hair was now somewhat dishevelled. He looked utterly flustered and wretched.

"Your cultivation is quite good for a place like Mingyue City," Old Man Mi said, "but unfortunately, in the grand scheme of the world, it's hardly worth mentioning." As soon as he finished speaking, he twisted Hong Zhong's wrist upwards. With a crisp snap, Hong Zhong's wrist snapped, his fist twisting into an unnatural position.

Zu An gasped, thinking, 'Damn, that looks painful!'

Hong Zhong let out an extremely shrill scream. Old Man Mi frowned, then swiftly extended a finger and tapped him directly on the forehead. Hong Zhong's scream abruptly ceased, his eyes instantly lost their luster, and he collapsed weakly to the ground.

Old Man Mi wiped his finger, then cast a casual glance at Zu An. "It's handled," he said. "The rest is up to you."

Zu An felt as if he were still in a dream. He remembered how he and Qin Wanru had been deeply troubled by this situation, devising numerous plans but never confident they could quell the rebellion. Yet, Old Man Mi had casually strolled over and eliminated the two ringleaders with just two fingers. What seemed an insurmountable challenge to them had been resolved with such ease. He had known this was a cultivation world where strength reigned supreme, but having transmigrated from a civilized world, he hadn't fully internalized that reality until now. Only at this moment, completely shaken, did he truly grasp what power signified in this world.

Old Man Mi quickly reverted to his trembling, hunched posture and soon vanished into the night. Only then did Zu An snap back to reality. By now, the manor guards had rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

Zu An simply carried the bodies of Hong Zhong and Chu Tiesheng outside. Facing the guards who had drawn their swords and pointed them at him, he declared in a deep voice, "Chu Tiesheng conspired with Hong Zhong, instigating rebellion and attempting to disrespect the Madam. The ringleaders have now been apprehended and executed. The rest of you were merely deceived and coerced by these villains. I have received the Madam's full authorization to handle this matter. Anyone who lays down their weapons and surrenders now will not be held accountable."

"Brother-in-law, brother-in-law," a small, sobbing figure rushed out and threw herself directly into his arms. Chu Hanzhao had originally been confined to her room, unable to leave. But when the disturbance began, many guards rushed over, including those stationed outside her room, as their futures were tied to Chu Tiesheng and Hong Zhong. Seeing the situation, Chu Hanzhao had initially intended to escape. However, upon hearing Zu An's voice, she paused. The events of the entire night had left her extremely frightened and panicked, forcing her to feign strength. Now, seeing Zu An, she could no longer hold back her emotions.

The surrounding guards exchanged glances. A significant portion of them had always been loyal to the main branch, but with no one from that lineage in a position of power, they had simply followed the tide. Now that Zu An had appeared, with the Second Miss by his side and still so clearly close to him, the earlier rumors were likely false. Thus, everyone instinctively believed Zu An's words.

The remaining guards were trusted subordinates who had been bought by Chu Tiesheng and Hong Zhong over the years. While they initially intended to resist, the sight of Chu Tiesheng and Hong Zhong dead instantly shattered their resolve. Chu Tiesheng and Hong Zhong, particularly Hong Zhong, were known for their cultivation. If even they had been killed by Zu An, how could anyone else possibly contend with him? Furthermore, Zu An had explicitly stated that no one else would be held responsible. Consequently, the peripheral members under their command began throwing their weapons to the ground. As one person led the way, more and more weapons were dropped. Eventually, even the core confidantes of the two resignedly threw down their weapons and surrendered.

Seeing the situation, Zu An let out a long sigh of relief. If this group had truly resisted to the end, it would have indeed been quite troublesome. After all, he hadn't killed Hong Zhong and Chu Tiesheng himself; he didn't possess the ability to quell the entire situation in such a manner.

Next, he instructed the guards to resume their former positions and duties. He recalled how, during the Three Kingdoms period, after Wang Yun used the honey trap to kill Dong Zhuo, his relentless pursuit of the Xiliang army led the desperate troops to rebel, utterly collapsing the Eastern Han Dynasty. Therefore, he made no special arrangements for the former subordinates of Hong Zhong and Chu Tiesheng. However, a pledge of loyalty was still necessary. The families of Hong Zhong and Chu Tiesheng needed to be brought under control and awaited Qin Wanru's return for their disposition. Short on manpower, he assigned this task to them, which would also serve to decisively sever their ties with the past. The group, eager to atone for their past actions by rendering meritorious service, quickly went to secure the relatives of the Second Branch.

To everyone's surprise, Chu Hongcai had actually been imprisoned by Chu Tiesheng's men. From those nearby, it was learned that he had always opposed Chu Tiesheng's rebellion, leading to a falling out between father and son, and his subsequent incarceration. Despite their estrangement, Chu Tiesheng was still his father. Upon learning that his father had been killed by Zu An, Chu Hongcai's eyes turned bloodshot, and he sought revenge against Zu An. Seeing the 'Rage Points' on his backend constantly surge to 999, Zu An felt no joy whatsoever. A father's murder was an irreconcilable grievance, so Chu Hongcai's reaction was entirely normal. Originally, eliminating him entirely would have been the most rational choice. However, the two had gotten along well on several occasions and could even be considered friends. Furthermore, Chu Hongcai's public opposition to Chu Tiesheng's rebellion this time was admirable. Thus, Zu An couldn't bring himself to be ruthless and could only have him taken away and carefully guarded.

As for Hong Zhong, he was a solitary figure, save for his son, Hong Xingying. However, it seemed Hong Xingying had received advance warning, for by the time the arresting party arrived, the place was already deserted.