Qin Lu poured a cup of tea and slid it across the table to Cao Yunxi.

“Old Cao, what’s going on? Why the long face?”

Cao Yunxi let out a heavy sigh, drained the cup in one gulp, and slumped in his chair. “Everything’s gone wrong lately. I just came to beg for a cup of tea and escape it all for a moment.”

“Is the demon beast hunting going poorly?” Qin Lu asked.

“That’s part of it. A while ago at Centipede Ridge, Xiaofeng wasn’t careful and took a hit from a beast. She’s still recovering.”

Qin Lu shook his head sympathetically. “Your line of work is high risk, high reward. If you ask me, you should follow Old Lu’s example—find a stable job in the market. The pay is lower, but at least it’s safe.”

“I’m just not willing to settle,” Cao Yunxi muttered, his voice tinged with bitterness. “I’m at the ninth level of Qi Refining. I want to save up for pills and try for Foundation Establishment. I don’t want to give up on the Dao just yet!”

“Fair enough. Cultivation is defying the heavens; without grit, you won’t get far.”

The two men sat in the courtyard, chatting as the afternoon wore on. But as Cao Yunxi continued to vent his grievances, Qin Lu’s expression slowly hardened.

Something was wrong.

Cao Yunxi revealed that their hunting team had inexplicably expelled them, forcing them back into dangerous solo hunts—an illogical move given their high cultivation levels. Then, he mentioned that his son, Cao Mo, had his talisman stall smashed by thugs and was beaten black and blue for resisting.

The entire family seemed cursed by a sudden streak of misfortune.

“Wait,” Qin Lu interrupted, his eyes narrowing. “When did all this bad luck start?”

Cao Yunxi paused, thinking back. “About… half a month ago?”

Bang!

Qin Lu slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his aura flaring with cold fury.

“What—what’s wrong?” Cao Yunxi stammered, startled by the outburst.

“It’s not bad luck,” Qin Lu said, his voice like ice. “Someone is targeting you.”

Cao Yunxi’s eyes widened in realization. “You mean… the Tao Family?”

The entire market knew about the confrontation between Qin Lu and Kong Mengli. Now, the pieces fell into place.

“Most likely,” Qin Lu said, clenching his fist. “Tao Meng investigated our group when we arrived. I humiliated him publicly, so now he’s using underhanded tactics to strike at those close to me.”

“That bastard!” Cao Yunxi roared, leaping to his feet. “So he’s playing dirty!”

“If he’s targeting you,” Qin Lu said grimly, “then the Lu Family must be under attack too.”

“What do we do?”

“We go ask them.”

Qin Lu strode out of the estate with Cao Yunxi close behind. His face was a mask of cold determination. The Lu family had been the most diligent among the refugees, integrating quickly into the market. If his actions had brought ruin upon them, he would not let it stand.

They arrived at Lu Xian’s courtyard in less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

The sight that greeted them was appalling. The entrance was buried under piles of garbage and sewage, and rotting food was smeared across the door.

“How did it get this bad?” Cao Yunxi gasped.

Qin Lu walked up and knocked firmly.

“You bastards still dare to come?!”

Lu Anchen’s furious roar erupted from inside. The door swung open violently, revealing the young man with a weapon in hand, his face twisted in rage. But when he saw Qin Lu, his anger instantly dissolved into shock.

“Uncle Qin…?”

Qin Lu glanced past him. In the courtyard, Lu Xian and Qian Li stood ready for battle, clutching their magical tools with white-knuckled grips.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Qin Lu asked quietly.

“Ah… please, come in first.” Lu Anchen ushered them inside.

Seeing Qin Lu, the tension left Lu Xian’s body. He managed a weak, strained smile.

“How long has this been going on?” Qin Lu asked.

“Just a few days,” Lu Xian said bitterly.

“Is this because of me?”

The Lu family exchanged glances. Finally, Lu Anchen spoke up. “Uncle Qin, I won’t lie. I investigated. It’s the Tao Family. They pressured our employers to fire my parents, and now they send thugs every day to dump filth on our doorstep. It’s… disgusting.”

“And you?” Qin Lu asked.

“My side is fine for now—I beat up the troublemakers pretty badly. But,” Lu Anchen hesitated, “we all lost our jobs. The gambling den manager told me it was done on Tao family orders… and hinted that Kong Mengli herself might be behind it.”

Qin Lu nodded slowly.

Lu Xian leaned in, his voice low. “Old Qin, I didn’t expect you today. I was planning to come see you soon. We… we think we should leave. If we can’t survive here, we’ll try another market. We can’t fight a Mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.”

“Exactly!” Lu Anchen added eagerly. “We’re packed. Just give the word, and we’ll slip out tonight. We just need to be careful of ambushes.”

“No.”

Qin Lu looked around the circle of fearful, beaten-down faces. He slowly raised his right hand.

Whoosh!

The [Seven Star Sword] materialized from thin air, hovering in his grip.

Qin Lu’s feet left the ground. He rose into the air, levitating above his stunned friends, his aura expanding until the air in the courtyard grew heavy with power.

“I’m done enduring,” he said softly, his voice echoing with terrifying finality. “Whatever needs to be discussed… we can talk about it after I finish chopping heads.”