Chapter 100: The Great Enemy Approaches

  Lin Heng said slowly: "The host is polite, if the ability can be reached, I will certainly not refuse. This is not forcing someone to do something difficult. However, I am only a beginner in the third rank, my power is thin, and the help I can provide is limited. The Cao family has high status and heavy power, internal conflicts are easy to handle, but if they provoke a powerful enemy, with my ability, I'm afraid I have the heart but not the strength."

  Lin Heng was grateful to Cao Kun and felt a surge of sympathy for him, but he really didn't want to get involved in the Cao family's affairs. Moreover, he wasn't arrogant enough to think that with his third-grade cultivation, he could look down on everything and be invincible. So he had no choice but to express himself tactfully, saying that there was a limit to what he could help with.

  Cao Guan let out a long sigh and said, "This promise indeed puts you in some danger. To be honest, I was using my seniority to pressure you earlier. You and the Cao family are not related by blood or marriage, so why should you help the Cao family? Why should you take the risk of getting into trouble for us? I only gave you a broken stone, it's not worth such a great favor!"

  If he had used threatening language or tried to manipulate him, Lin would not have been moved. But listening to this dying man's sincere and heartfelt words made him feel especially sorrowful. As a respected head of the household for decades, it was not easy for him to humble himself and beg others. However, Lin could only partially agree to this promise, and couldn't simply nod his head and accept it without any responsibility.

  "If I were you, I would also refuse. Your previous conflict with the Cao family was so intense that apart from Cai Lai's factor, there is another reason, which is dissatisfaction with the Cao family and their status as a local tyrant in Qingniu Town for decades, feeling humiliated by being looked down upon. So your move against the Cao family, apart from your grudge against Cai Lai, is more about a sense of indignation on behalf of the people."

  Lin Heng couldn't help but admit that this master was indeed a thoughtful and meticulous person, who had captured his mind without leaving any loopholes.

  "But you have a biased view, our Cao family has taken root in Qingniu Town and become a powerful force. Although the sons and daughters of the Cao family often make illegal and vicious moves, they are mostly small evils and small clowns. They have always defended the peace and stability of the people of Qingniu Town, and do not let them live in fear. The Cao family, while being dominant, also protects every household in Qingniu Town like a mother protecting her son... If you go outside and take a look at this world, not just Qingniu Town, almost every place has similar monopolistic cliques. Occasionally, a few small places without powerful protection are almost all in a state of chaotic order, with people struggling to survive..."

  Lin Heng deeply agreed that in this world where might makes right, everything is settled with brute force and fists. Even if Cao's family didn't exist in Qingniu Town, there would definitely be other families like Li or Zhang, and they might even be more evil than the Cao family. Lin Heng slightly nodded his head in understanding at this point.

  He just couldn't understand the meaning behind Cao Jue's lengthy and grand speech.

  "Just imagine, if the Cao family were to be destroyed and a ferocious wolf were to come in. Would the people of Qingniu Town still have their present peaceful and prosperous days? Although the Cao family has its shortcomings, after all, they are the native-born leaders of Qingniu Town, and their rise and fall are closely tied to that of the town. Because the Cao family is here, outsiders do not dare to stretch out their hands or humiliate and bully the people of Qingniu Town."

  Lin Heng did not speak, but instead asked: "...... Master of the manor, who inflicted this wound on you?"

  Cao Guan's eyes showed a sorrowful and mournful expression: "Jin Yuan City, Qiu Family!"

  "For nearly half a year, they have been secretly plotting and making meticulous plans against my Cao family. This matter had originally been settled, but on the way back, he sent out a 4th rank expert and three late-stage experts to ambush me, resulting in the death of several of my loyal subordinates, which allowed me to narrowly escape."

  He let out a heavy sigh: "However, this ambush not only made me drop directly from fourth rank to second rank, but also I can live for at most three more days."

  Lin Heng was shocked, Cao Guan is actually a fourth-grade strongman? It's common knowledge in Qingniu Town that he's only at the mid-second grade level. Lin Heng was startled, this person has hidden his true strength deeply! But thinking about it, with the Cao family's wealth and resources, they can get any elixir or auxiliary materials they need. Plus his age, breaking through to fourth-grade isn't impossible.

  It's just that the Qiu family is also quite terrifying, sending out an ambush, with one side being a fourth-grade strongman and three late-stage cultivators. If we talk about strength, Lin Heng naturally wouldn't be afraid of a third-grade late-stage cultivator, but if he were to take on three alone, he would absolutely have no chance of winning. Not to mention there's also a super-strong fourth-grade cultivator? Of course, with Cao Guan being so heavily injured, it's hard to predict that side won't be doing well either.

  "With my desperate efforts, the four strong opponents were also seriously injured, three of them in late stage, and two died."

  Lin Heng heard that his scalp was numb, Cao Guan was indeed ruthless, trapped in the opponent's ambush, still gave the opponent such a heavy blow.

  He suddenly felt a deep respect for Cao Guan, and turned to think of the troubles of the Cao family. In an instant, he had a sense of anxiety about Cao Guan, with the Qiu family's formidable strength, while Cao Guan's children were at most mid-to-late first-rate, and it was difficult to compete with them.

  "This Qiu family has a notorious reputation in Jinyuan City, and for over ten years, they have been eyeing Qingniu Town. This time, they ambushed me with the intention of taking over Qingniu Town. If the Qiu family were to take control of Qingniu Town, the consequences would be unthinkable. For so many years, I have been resisting their invasion, not just for my own interests, but more importantly, I don't want the people of Qingniu Town to fall into their hands. Unfortunately, after all these years of vigilance, it ultimately ended in failure."

  As for this Jin Yun City's Qiu family, Lin Huan had indeed heard of them.

  It is said that the Qiu family and the lord of Jinyuan City have a mysterious relationship, and for decades they have been committing evil deeds in Jinyuan City, constantly swallowing up the towns below. Once a town falls into their hands, the people of the town must be plundered once, and then every year they must pay heavy taxes again. The people of these towns also have to organize a certain number of beautiful women every year for the Qiu family to enjoy or give away as gifts. They are notorious for their evil deeds and hated by heaven and man.

  Lin Heng's expression turned solemn. If the Cao family was being devoured by the Qiu family, wouldn't Qingniu Town be facing a catastrophic disaster?

  Is it possible for there to be unbroken eggs under a destroyed nest?

  Cao Guan is currently seriously injured and his life is not long, it's clear that it won't take ten years, but rather the Qiu family will come to attack soon.

  Lin Hang could not help but take this matter seriously. At this moment, it was no longer a personal grudge, but a matter of the fate of Qingniu Town. He could ignore others, but he couldn't turn a blind eye to Qili Gou and his family.

  Cao Guan saw his worry and bitterly smiled: "So now whether you agree or not, it's all the same. If the Cao family lets him perish, Qingniu Town will definitely fall into disaster. As long as he doesn't slaughter the town, Jin Yuan, the lord of the city, will turn a blind eye to his evil deeds and won't restrain him at all."

  The rain outside seemed to be getting smaller, Cao Guan came in a low-key manner this time, bringing only the General Manager of Internal Affairs, Bai Tian.

  "From today, the old grievances between you and me are gone. Let's join hands and fight together. You remember, you owe me a promise: within ten years, ensure that the Cao family is not destroyed!" He knew that time was running out, so whether he agreed or not, Cao Zhen would still put this heavy moral burden on Lin Huan.

  Lin Heng had nothing to say at this time, facing the last wish of the illustrious and soon-to-be-departed Cao family master, he could only nod his head in agreement.

  "Perhaps I am not capable of stabilizing the Cao family's foundation, but as for preserving your bloodline, this is still achievable."

  Cao Guan showed a grateful expression and let out a long sigh: "What a pity that Hong Juan didn't have you as her husband!" He patted Lin Heng's shoulder: "Two days later, come to my Cao family home. At that time, I will hand over the matters of resisting the Qiu family to you. If it weren't for your leadership, the Cao family and Qingniu Town would not have any cohesiveness, no one could resist the invasion of the Qiu family."

  Lin Heng felt an inexplicable sense of sadness, as if some unknown force surged up his throat and into his eyes, making them hot. He only had three days left to live, but in these last three days, he was still busy running around for the Cao family, or rather, for the entire Qingniu Town. It was also in these last three days that he put aside past grudges and entrusted his most sincere inner self to him, entrusting the Cao family's foundation and future, which he had struggled for decades, to himself...

  Bai Tainjian saw Cao Guan push open the door and hurry over with an oil-paper umbrella.

  At this moment, a weak breeze pierced through the rain, and a bolt of lightning struck Cao Guan under the eaves.

  Immediately afterwards, two long and curved snow-white blades appeared simultaneously on both sides, flashing like lightning.

  "Cao Guan, you're obstructing our Qi family's great plan with your stubbornness! Today, the two of us will crush you to death in this broken mountain valley and grind both your Cao family and Qingniu Town into powder!"

  Lin Heng, as a three-star strongman, was momentarily stunned. With his three-star abilities, he hadn't even discovered that someone was lurking outside, let alone two people?

  These two people are absolutely third-rate strongmen!

  Fortunately, his momentary stun was short-lived, and he countered with a punch, then pulled Cao Jue back.

  "Ding" sound, another blade light struck Lin Yang's back, piercing the outer jacket he was wearing. Fortunately, Lin Yang had a protective inner armor inside, and although the opponent's attack was extremely fierce, it was difficult to penetrate his abnormal defense.

  "Hmm, what a formidable defense! However, since you've saved Cao Kun, that makes you the archenemy of our Qiu family - you must die!"

  Lin Heng had already taken in the two people who came with him. One was an old man in his fifties, and the other was a thin man wearing a yellow robe.

  "Hmph, what nonsense is this Qiu family! Daring to come to my Qiuli Gou and act wildly, thinking they can come and go as they please? Since you've come, give me your life!" Lin Heng was extremely angry that these two had silently snuck into the village and had been secretly waiting outside.

  Then they saw them relying on the Qiu family, completely disregarding the Seven Mile Gully and themselves, arrogant and flying high, with a sudden killing intent.

  "Governor, you stay here and hold down the fort for me, I'll go kill those two clowns!"

  Lin Heng welcomed the opponent's attack with a punch, both fists came out together, and then accumulated strength swept away.

  A thunderbolt-like attack came pouring down like a mountain flood, and in the blink of an eye, it forced this powerful opponent into a desperate situation amidst the drizzle.

  PS: Thanks for the reward from "Wild Goose in the Wind" classmate.