Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

Zhao Qingxue's face brightened with a more noticeable smile when she heard him speak.

However, Hou Wuqie, who was held in Hou Yuxiao's arms and looked like a little child, tilted his neck back and put on a serious thinking face before saying, "Uncle, Aunt, I want a little brother. Can you give me one?"

"Hahahahaha..."

This naive request made all three of them unable to hold back their laughter.

Yue Qianfu exchanged pleasantries for a while, and realizing that Hou Yuxiao had something to say to Zhao Qingxue, she took the reluctant Hou Wuqie and left first, leaving the two alone.

"I need to leave, and I came specifically to tell you."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingxue's face showed reluctance. Hou Yuxiao had spent the past four years in the Prefectural City, but most of that time he was in seclusion. Even when he did emerge, his first priority was clan affairs, leaving very little time for her.

Now, just as he had ended his seclusion, he was planning to leave again. This deliberate farewell suggested a prolonged absence, which understandably upset her.

"Are you going to Nanjiang?"

Upon hearing this, Hou Yuxiao was slightly perturbed. Zhao Qingxue had been the Family Head for four years and was well acquainted with the affairs of the Hou Clan. It wasn't surprising she guessed he was heading to Nanjiang, but her bringing it up voluntarily made it different.

"Yes, the Rakshasa Holy Sect seems to be getting involved in Nanjiang. We've been planning there for four years and must take early precautions. Otherwise, if Rakshasa Holy Sect reaps the benefits, the loss would be significant!"

Zhao Qingxue was silent for a moment, then gently rested her head on Hou Yuxiao's shoulder, speaking softly, "Last month, when Qingning from my sect visited me in the Prefectural City, she told me that our grandmaster and Xun Mu, Meng Qu, along with Wanjian Holy Sect's Jing Yuanxiu, all went to Jianye Prefecture to meet Shi Tian. I still don't know why, and they haven't returned yet."

Upon hearing this, Hou Yuxiao was visibly shaken.

Zhao Qingxue's grandmaster, Wei Xuyan, had taken over the position of Sect Master of the Ziqing Holy Sect from Zhang Daoling three years ago, and her master, Moxuzi, had now become the Taoist Master of Taishang, which had also taken over the Heavenly Venerable Sect, thus becoming the leader of Ziqing Holy Sect.

Xun Mu was the headmaster of Yangzhou Academy, Meng Qu was the headmaster of Yanzhou Academy, and Jing Yuanxiu was the Sect Master of Wanjian Holy Sect. What else could have caused these leaders of the four Holy Lands to meet Shi Tian?

It must be, fragments of the Divine Sect Treasure Map.

Hou Yuxiao did not doubt Zhao Qingxue's loyalty to him. However, given that Mo Qingning, a naive young lady, would voluntarily share this information with Zhao Qingxue, it was almost certain that Moxuzi did it on purpose.

That meant Moxuzi was deliberately using Zhao Qingxue to convey this message, indicating that Leiyin Temple was now in trouble and urging him to act quickly.

"Qingxue, take care of yourself in Hexi. I might be in Nanjiang for a long time, but I will make sure to return before next February. I will be by your side then, to witness the birth of our child!"

Zhao Qingxue obediently nodded and hummed softly in response.

...

Travelling from Hexi Prefecture City to Nanjiang normally via the Official Road, one would first reach Chengkang County in the southernmost part of Yinling County and then journey another two thousand seven hundred miles south to reach Hei Miao City, the nearest to the Xiayuan Road.

Hou Yuxiao was bound for Qingmiao City. Upon entering the Nanjiang region, there was no Official Road; starting from Hei Miao City, he traveled ninety miles southwest and reached Qingmiao City, which was the location of the Temple and currently the center of Nanjiang.

This trip to Nanjiang was to gather intelligence. Therefore, he could not take anyone with him. Before departing, after giving some instructions to Hou Yucheng, Hou Yuxiao set out alone.

Traveling alone, Hou Yuxiao chose the quickest way possible.

As a powerful being in the Broken Realm, the fastest way to travel was to break through the space and move into the void. Normally, a journey of two thousand seven hundred miles, which would take nearly a day on a top-grade horse, took Hou Yuxiao only an hour to complete.

Of course, he could not directly arrive at Qingmiao City, as there were several Sub-saints of Martial Dao in Nanjiang. He stopped over a hundred miles outside Qingmiao City, and then he flew toward it until he saw the silhouette of the city, where he then began to walk.

As he approached Qingmiao City, Hou Yuxiao sensed something amiss.

At the city gate, around a thousand soldiers clad in Green Armor were meticulously questioning everyone entering the city—everything from their age and place of origin to exact addresses and even Martial Arts Levels and weapons was thoroughly scrutinized. Most of those lined up at the gate were ordinary civilians, with the occasional martial artist, none surpassing the Grandmaster Realm. Despite some looking quite uncomfortable, they dared not defy the soldiers and submitted to the questioning.

With such stringent checks, had something happened in Nanjiang?

Hou Yuxiao frowned slightly, scanned his surroundings, and taking advantage of an unnoticed moment, he flashed into the city.

"Two more from the Hei Miao Tribe have disappeared today; I heard they were Martial Artists in the Yuan Dan Realm. It's been five days now. How much longer will this go on?"

"The Yuan Dan Realm Martial Artists have all disappeared, are you for real?"

"Absolutely true, just yesterday three from the Hei Miao were Master Realm Martial Artists."

"Who did it? The head of Qingxuan Temple hasn't caught the real culprit yet?"

"Actually, it's quite obvious who did it. To make Master Realm and Yuan Dan Realm Martial Artists disappear without a trace, there are at most a dozen people in the city capable of such a feat."

"So far, only the warriors from the Hei Miao and the Hong Miao have died. Haven't you noticed? Recently, due to the conflict between the Black and White Miao Clans, the Wu Miao have now split into factions. The Bai, Qing, and Zi Miao are one faction, while the Hong Miao and Hei Miao are another faction."

"Are you suggesting it's an inside job, and Qing Xuan won't really catch them?"

"That might not necessarily be the case,"

"It's so obvious who it is. Yet everyone is still guessing here."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Although the Five Miao have their differences, now that all five Clan Leaders are here, who could commit murder under their noses, in Qingmiao City, with both the capability and the motive. Who else could it be in the city right now?"

"Are you talking about those people from the Rakshasa Holy Sect?"

...…

With Hou Yuxiao's current level of cultivation, he could easily overhear the conversations of people on the streets and even inside the houses as he walked by. He had almost fully grasped what had been happening in the city, but the more he heard, the stranger his expression became.

Thump, thump, thump

At the entrance of Huyun Tang, Hou Yuxiao gently knocked on the door. Hou Yuduan had already relayed everything about Cheng Yunye's situation here when he sent the message back, and Hou Yuxiao had quickly found it after asking around.

"Who is it? Don't you know we are not doing business these days?"

A servant dressed person muttered as he opened the door and immediately became extremely excited upon seeing Hou Yuxiao standing at the door, instantly kneeling in front of him.

"Ling Yuanping from the Yinhu Stall, greets the Family Head!"

"Rise, no need for such formalities."

Ling Yuanping was helped up by Hou Yuxiao, who promptly invited him: "Family Head, please come with me, Fifth Master and Cheng Dangtou have been waiting for a long time!"

Hou Yuxiao nodded and followed him inside, walking all the way to the back of Huyun Tang. Soon, he saw Hou Yuduan and Cheng Yunye.

"Big brother!"

"Cheng Yunye, Head of the Lower Hou Sect's Yinhu Stall, greets the Family Head!"

Hou Yuxiao chuckled and nodded. Hou Yuduan and Cheng Yunye stood up and eagerly tried to brief him on the situation in the city, but before they could even start, he waved his hand to stop them and took the lead in speaking:

"I already know mostly everything. What's the situation with these consecutive murders in the city? Are you clear about it?"

Both exchanged looks then shook their heads simultaneously, with Hou Yuduan speaking first: "This matter is somewhat mysterious. The murders began on the first day of August, and until today, the fifth, there have been thirteen deaths, all being Master Realm Martial Artists from the Hei Miao and Hong Miao clans. Both clan leaders are currently in the city. To silently kill in front of them requires extraordinary capability. Currently in the city, only two people..."

"Duanmu Hong and Qing Xuan, right?"

Hou Yuduan nodded and glanced at Cheng Yunye. Clearly, they had already discussed the whole matter. Receiving the look, Cheng Yunye nodded with understanding, answering Hou Yuxiao.

"Qing Xuan lacks motive, and since the murders started on the first day of August, the day when Gu Yu Grandmaster arrived in Qingmiao City, it almost gives us the answer. It must be Duanmu Hong, but..."

"You don't know why Duanmu Hong would do this, right?"

Hou Yuduan and Cheng Yunye nodded, their eyes full of confusion.

"I will go to the temple tonight, and then I'll know!"