Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

Ever since half a year ago, after Hou Yuxiao's first encounter with Tie Budong, the Flying Eagle Sect and the Green Wolf Gang had ceased to be a threat in his eyes. In fact, even without including Happy Forest, his Hou Clan alone was more than enough to obliterate both factions.

There were two reasons why Hou Yuxiao had not taken action yet.

One was that the County Lord Ren Feng was indeed backing both houses, and at that time, the Hou Family, up against the county government, might even face pressure from the prefecture, and he was not entirely confident.

The second reason was that what he wanted was not merely the extermination of the two houses. Even if he took a step back and wiped out both houses, the Hou Clan would still be the Hou Clan. Even if they took over Happy Forest, the Hou Family wouldn't become a third-rate power; they would still have to look to the whims of the County Lord.

Therefore, although his family had already possessed the power to annihilate both factions half a year ago, Hou Yuxiao still chose restraint.

Choosing to remain patient did not mean doing nothing!

In the past half year, the shifts in Tianling County and the intentional or unintentional infiltration of The Righteous Path into Zhaoyang County presented Hou Yuxiao with an opportunity.

Thus, two months ago, seizing the opportunity to purchase Yuan Gang Beads, he transformed into the guise of Hou Fei and made a trip to Tianling County.

"The Second-rate power of Tianding Sect, coupled with the third-rate Mountain Sword Sect and Divine Sound Sect, whether Cheng Yue can survive and Zhaoyang County can be retained are both uncertain. If I don't take this opportunity to exterminate both houses, when will I ever have another chance for revenge?

I just don't know whether their arrival is purely for the sake of territory or if they have other purposes. Elder Tong told me to lure Ren Feng out of the county town and then notify him, which proves that Ren Feng has some tactics that they dread in his hands.

If Zhaoyang were truly to change hands, I would just go with the flow and switch allegiance to The Righteous Path."

Hou Yuxiao stood under the eaves of the second floor of Shengxin Residence, his mind swirling with myriad thoughts.

When he had gone to Tianling County, he had already secretly pledged allegiance to Tianding Sect. Had Cheng Yue followed his advice and allowed him to destroy the Flying Eagle Sect and Green Wolf Gang, he wouldn't have been so eager to inform The Righteous Path. But Cheng Yue was impervious to persuasion, so he had no choice but to take a dangerous gamble.

Tong Hu had received news that The Righteous Path's people would surely arrive soon. With them restraining Cheng Yue, the obliteration of the Flying Eagle Sect and Green Wolf Gang would be a foregone conclusion.

However, at this moment, other worries began to emerge in Hou Yuxiao's heart.

Although he had pledged allegiance to The Righteous Path, to say he trusted The Righteous Path fully would be a lie!

In this world, the distinction between good and evil, right and wrong, all arise from opposition, there is no unprovoked kindness, nor unprovoked malevolence.

Are those on The Righteous Path necessarily good?

Memories from two years ago flashed through Hou Yuxiao's mind, his gaze gleaming with a trace of hatred.

If the people of The Righteous Path of Wanyang County truly took over Zhaoyang County, his weak Hou Clan might not see much benefit.

Furthermore, he was skeptical as to whether The Righteous Path could really take over Zhaoyang County!

Hou Yuxiao looked up at the second floor of Shengxin Residence, a hint of sharpness appearing in his eyes.

Cheng Yue's attitude had undergone such a drastic change after his visit to the second floor of Shengxin Residence during the day, prompting Hou Yuxiao to speculate greatly.

After much contemplation, it wasn't until just now, after he had arranged his clan members' tasks, that he suddenly realized.

Over the past half year, he had been focused on the disturbances of The Righteous Path in Tianling County and hadn't been paying any attention to the situation in Tongling County.

If he, a minor power in Zhaoyang, could detect that something was amiss with The Righteous Path in Tianling County, could the prefecture city be unaware?

The sudden appointment of a new Magistrate to Zhaoyang County was a strong signal that the prefecture not only was aware of the situation in Tianling County but might even know more than he did.

"If they know about the situation in Tianling County, it's impossible that the prefecture would only send Cheng Yue, who is only at the Gathering Evil Phase of cultivation, over here. There must be a more formidable character on the second floor of Shengxin Residence, which also explains why Cheng Yue's attitude changed so drastically!"

Even a third-rate power like the Mountain Sword Sect in Tianling County has a powerful figure in the Tiger List like Guixin Sword Tian Linong. Not to mention the added presence of Tianding Sect, a second-rate power from Wanyang County, and Divine Sound Sect. With so many formidable figures, it would be sheer fantasy for Cheng Yue alone to hold them at bay.

Something so obvious to everyone, wouldn't the higher-ups in the prefecture understand?

Hou Yuxiao had originally pledged himself to The Righteous Path, counting on Zhaoyang County changing hands, but when he realized that the prefecture might have already made arrangements, his thoughts shifted.

If The Righteous Path succeeded in the attack and Zhaoyang truly changed hands, he would have won his bet. Even if he couldn't gain much advantage, at least The Righteous Path would no longer target him.

But... what if The Righteous Path was defeated?

The Hou Family acting tonight meant they had already gravely offended Cheng Yue.

Upon further investigation, if it's discovered that Ren Feng was deceived into leaving by him, and just then The Righteous Path attacked while Ren Feng was away, even a fool could see there was something wrong with the Hou Family. With Cheng Yue being so difficult to deal with, that's even more certain.

When the time came for settling scores after the fall, it was not hard to imagine the dire outcome for the Hou Clan. Could they hope for The Righteous Path to save them? Unlikely.

Hou Yuxiao discarded this impractical thought from his mind and glanced at the second floor of Shengxin Residence. The Good and Evil Divine Lotus between his brows slowly stirred into action.

A mysterious aura flowed from his brow through his entire body, and his facial features began to change. His bones and even his hair gradually transformed.

In a moment, Hou Yuxiao had become a different person, with even his clothes changed—the face he took on was that of Cheng Yue, who had just slapped him.

"Thanks to your slap, I'm able to make my way to the second floor. I really want to see who the prefecture has sent over. None of them are any good, but I don't mind playing the opportunist if there's a chance!"

With the fall of the Flying Eagle Sect and Green Wolf Gang a certainty, what Hou Yuxiao was considering now was which side to take in this major battle between the two counties. It was a matter concerning the life and wealth of his entire clan, and he could not afford to be careless.

He had a rough understanding of the situation in Wanyang County; as soon as he reached the second floor, he would learn how Tongling County was responding, which would help him decide which side to take.

"I still have my trump card in hand. No need to panic!"

Hou Yuxiao held his breath and gathered his spirit. Without a sound, he entered Shengxin Residence. He didn't hide his tracks, and as soon as he stepped on the staircase, he alarmed the Shopkeeper, Yuan Fu.

"Who's there?"

"Hmm?"

Yuan Fu still had a sword in his hand. Hearing this voice, he immediately trembled and knelt to kowtow, "Yuan Fu did not realize that the protector had personally arrived, please forgive me!"

"No harm done, have the people left yet?"

Although he knew that his ability to change his appearance made him unrecognizable to anyone, regardless of their level of cultivation, Hou Yuxiao still felt slightly nervous at the moment, deliberately being assertive to ask about the people on the second floor.

Yuan Fu was stunned for a moment before responding, nodding, "The Holy Maiden is still here. Does the protector have an urgent matter to report this late?"

The Holy Maiden

She's a woman!

Hou Yuxiao noted this title and, without changing his expression, said, "Hmm, I'll go up first. Call me if you need anything."

"Your disciple obeys!"

As Hou Yuxiao stepped onto the second floor, a faint fragrance entered his nostrils. Following the scent, he slowly walked towards the innermost private room on the second floor.

Creak...

A sound reached his ears, and Hou Yuxiao was taken aback. Before he could approach, the tightly shut door of the private room suddenly opened from the inside.

Hou Yuxiao's heart twitched slightly. He quickly stepped into the room and saw only a breathtakingly beautiful woman dressed in black. Sensing the powerful aura emanating from the woman in black, he didn't think twice and kowtowed immediately.

"Rakshasa eternal, Holy Church forever stand, Cheng Yue, protector of Zhaoyang, greets the Holy Maiden!"

.........

Peony, stunned for dozens of breaths, had yet to come to her senses when suddenly a voice echoed in her mind.

"He is Hou Yuxiao, pretend to be me for now. Let's see what he wants to say?"

With this revelation, Peony, looking at the kneeling Hou Yuxiao who bore Cheng Yue's respectful face, couldn't help but almost burst out laughing.

After finally calming down, Peony adopted a commanding tone and said, "What brings Protector Cheng to see me so late?"

"Holy Maiden, Family Head Hou Yuxiao of the Hou Clan of Zhaoyang just reported that tonight Tianling County will be under attack by a large force of the Righteous Path. I am worried that I cannot handle it alone, so I have come to inform the Holy Maiden to take precautions early!"

As soon as Hou Yuxiao finished speaking, he immediately sensed three terrifying presences rising in the room. His heart tightened, and his body trembled, nearly giving himself away.

"These presences, comparable to Elder Tong of the Tianding Sect whom I've met, the prefectural government has indeed dispatched experts. Fortunately... fortunately... I came to confirm..."

At this moment, Hou Yuxiao was filled with relief. The horror of these three presences confirmed all his previous speculations.

Tongling County had long been aware of the Righteous Path's intentions and had made arrangements.

If he had foolishly sided with the Righteous Path, the Hou Family would have been doomed!

Now taking the opportunity to claim credit through Cheng Yue's words, he aimed to make the Holy Maiden remember him, so that after tonight's events, if not credited, at least Hou Yuxiao would be blameless.

"Listening to Protector Cheng, Hou Yuxiao seems extremely loyal to our Holy Church!

However, I have some doubts. How did Hou Yuxiao know about the Righteous Path's assault? The commotion in the city is caused by the Hou Clan, isn't it? I feel like Hou Yuxiao is colluding with the Righteous Path, trying to take advantage of the chaos to eliminate his personal enemies,"

Hou Yuxiao, still not raising his head, would see if he did that Peony in front of him hadn't even spoken; the voice had clearly come from somewhere else in the room.

Upon hearing this statement, Hou Yuxiao's face drastically changed.

He hadn't expected the Holy Maiden to be so astute, capturing the loopholes in his words and succinctly exposing his true intentions.

A bead of cold sweat trickled from his forehead. Hou Yuxiao was at the peak of his nervousness, even suspecting that the Holy Maiden before him had already discovered his true identity.

At this moment, as Hou Yuxiao knelt on the ground with an outwardly calm expression, his mind raced frenziedly. After just three or four breaths, he spoke.

"Holy Maiden is wise, Hou Yuxiao indeed had the audacity of a heaven-reaching dog. He privately colluded with the Righteous Path. Tong Hu ordered him to capture Tian Honglu, the daughter of the Mountain Sword Sect's Sect Master, to provide a pretext for the Righteous Path to attack Zhaoyang. Hou Yuxiao complied with the order.

But at the last moment, that dog Hou Yuxiao came to his senses, realizing that such treacherous behavior would only provoke the wrath of the Holy Church, bringing disaster upon himself. Thereby he repented and came to report to me. Upon learning this, I immediately gave him a harsh lesson before coming to report to the Holy Maiden!"

"You are quite the storyteller..."

Hou Yuxiao had just finished what he thought was a clever speech, feeling somewhat proud, but the respondent's voice carried a slight mocking tone, causing his heart to sink further, uncertain if his identity had been seen through.

Suddenly, a terrifying presence burst forth from outside the city, interrupting the Holy Maiden's voice and causing Hou Yuxiao's color to drain drastically.

"Someone's here. Fu Ling, go take a look."

"Fu Ling obeys."

In the face of the terrifying presence, the Holy Maiden's voice remained as indifferent as ever, simply giving an order. The presence in the room diminished immediately.

And seeing the Holy Maiden's calm reaction, Hou Yuxiao's mood plunged to the depths.