Exploding God

Chapter 1168 Avoid Fighting and Killing

The Tantai family's residence is truly atop the mountains. From afar, the stone pillars on the mountain resemble giant pens piercing the sky, situated at the confluence of a vast river and a narrow stream. The area below the mountain is lush and verdant, while the mountain is shrouded in mist like celestial clouds, swirling around it year-round.

At this moment, Lu Ze stood on the back of the wooden-crowned crane, looking at the three peaks of Bijia Mountain in the distance, which resembled a pen rack stretching across the earth.

On the mountain peak in the middle sits a huge manor, with figures moving about inside and outside the manor, and birds occasionally appearing and disappearing in the clouds and mist.

What a magnificent mountain and river! What a paradise on earth!

In terms of appearance alone, even the Taoist sacred mountains of the Xia Kingdom are no more impressive than this!

When the crested crane approached to within 2,000 meters of the summit of Bijia Mountain, it heard two loud eagle cries in the sky, and two dark figures, one on the left and one on the right, were getting closer and closer.

Manager Xie, being quite professional, whispered, "Mr. Lu, these are the giant eagles of the Tantai family. Usually, only one eagle will appear for visitors, but these two have probably been waiting for us for a while."

The implication was that the Tantai family knew the visitors were up to no good and were prepared.

This made Wu Riguang, who was standing next to him, feel a little embarrassed, but he couldn't refute it, so he could only smile awkwardly.

[How do you know so much about the Tantai family, you fatso!]

Xie Zhe has been a housekeeper for so many years. Although he looks honest, he is incredibly shrewd.

He had barely finished speaking when he noticed Wu Riguang's expression out of the corner of his eye. He knew without guessing what the other was thinking, but everything Song Tianhua said when he arrived emphasized one thing—Lu Ze should be the priority in everything!

So after he finished speaking, he just looked at Lu Ze and pretended not to see Wu Riguang.

"Double the attention." Lu Ze said with a half-smile, but the subtle sarcasm in his words made Wu Riguang blush slightly.

"It's just the family's routine patrol, Mr. Lu..." Wu Riguang explained subconsciously.

His two-meter-tall, imposing figure would normally be majestic and awe-inspiring wherever he stood, but upon hearing Lu Ze's words, he merely bowed as humbly as possible to make himself less conspicuous.

The strong wind on the mountaintop blew the damp mist onto his cheeks, and the familiar manor in his field of vision grew closer and closer, but Wu Riguang felt no joy at returning home, only confusion about the future.

Not to mention returning victorious, he wasn't even a deserter; he was just a walking corpse, a mere tool. He could say even less than Xie Zhe, the steward.

For example, when he saw the two giant eagles that showed no sign of slowing down, anger appeared in the eyes of this dignified elder of the Tantai family.

Don't bring this offering along if you're looking to die!

Wu Riguang quickly bowed to Lu Ze, then turned around and let out a sharp shout.

"You blind fool, you don't even recognize me?!"

The booming sound was like thunder, startling the two charging eagles, who hurriedly flapped their wings. The young martial artist on the eagle's back, his face cold, quickly tightened his grip on the reins, his gaze filled with suspicion as he looked ahead, then hurriedly lowered his head.

"Offering to the crow!"

"This is how you treat your distinguished guests? You've utterly disgraced the Tantai family!" Wu Riguang reprimanded them mercilessly, leaving the two martial artists pale and then flushed.

"Why aren't you leading the way for Mr. Lu? Inform the manor to open its gates and welcome him with the utmost hospitality!"

Wu Riguang's voice grew increasingly stern, his angry expression like that of a wrathful Vajra, startling the two men so much that their faces turned deathly pale. Their subordinates quickly pulled on the ropes, and the giant eagles turned around to escort them on either side.

Seeing the change in their expressions, Wu Riguang knew that there must have been a problem in some part of their internal communication, otherwise the family head, Tantai Daoxue, would not have acted this way.

The more tense the situation, the faster the reaction speed becomes. Under the immense pressure from Lu Ze behind him, Wu Riguang finally showed his quick wit, asking directly without verifying, "Is the patriarch present?"

The head of the family he mentioned was naturally only one person—the head of the Tantai family, Tantai Daoxue!

"The patriarch is in the ancestral hall... and has not come out for three days."

There was definitely a problem!

Wu Riguang cursed inwardly and finally stopped being polite.

"Where is Madam?"

"Madam is in charge of external affairs." After the young martial artist finished speaking, he heard the cracking sound of Wu Riguang clenching his fist, which startled him. He wondered when Wu Gongfeng had become so hostile to Madam.

Wu Riguang really wanted to curse, "What a spendthrift woman!" Tantai Daoxue was good at everything, but his wife was just a pretty face. She came from a small family with the surname Qu, and apart from being pretty, she was useless. The worse she was, the more she loved to play around.

It's one thing for you to act out normally, but now that you know your son died at Mr. Lu's hands, what can you do?

Is now the time to resort to tricks?

Do you really want to squander the rest of your family's wealth after the Grand Elder dies?

Or should I just die in the sky?

You're a servant girl!

Despite the criticism, Wu Riguang still had to fulfill his responsibility as a guide. He had never felt so worried in his life.

"Who is helping the lady manage things?" The lady of the house loves to meddle in power but is not a capable person, so she must find two obedient people to make arrangements.

"Young Master Dongshu."

"Fuck..." Wu Riguang almost cursed out loud.

They're all formidable individuals.

Tantai Dongshu was not the biological son of the matriarch, but because his birth mother died of illness, he recognized a woman surnamed Qu as his mother at an early age.

When Tantai Cang was around, Tantai Dongshu didn't dare to cause trouble. Now that they've all gone out, it must be this kid who's been instigating them.

"You two lead the way!"

After giving another stern warning, Wu Riguang turned to Lu Ze, whose gaze was subtle, clasped his hands in a fist and said sincerely, "Please allow me, Mr. Lu, to prepare to take half a step ahead and invite the patriarch out of the ancestral hall."

"Thank you for your trouble." Lu Ze smiled and nodded.

Although he was forced to return by circumstances, Wu Riguang was genuinely grateful to Lu Ze for giving him a chance to go down early and salvage the situation under such circumstances.

The Tantai family has no manners when it comes to hospitality. What they're losing isn't just Lu Ze's face, but very likely the lives of the Tantai family members!

"If it weren't for the great kindness the former patriarch had shown me, I wouldn't care whether you lived or died!!"

With a fierce glint in his eyes, Wu Riguang leaped forward, his feet pounding in succession.

Two dark blue, ring-shaped shockwaves suddenly erupted in the sky.

A double-layered strike while stepping into the air!

This was Wu Riguang's signature feature, so when he descended from the sky with imposing momentum, the guards of Tantai Villa below all looked up helplessly, their eyes filled with confusion.

"Wuriguang requests the head of the family to come out of the mountain gate—"

"Please, Master of the Household—leave the mountain gate—"

The deep, resonant voice echoed across the mountain peaks, and even crossed layers of barriers to reach the entire mountain village.

Ok?

Deep within the ancestral hall of the mountain villa, Tantai Daoxue, who was kneeling on the ground listening to an elderly man with white hair and beard slowly recounting certain events, suddenly turned around, his eyebrows furrowing.

Wu Riguang?

"The Song family has a woman named Yingzi, who is Elder Tianhua's cousin. She is thirty-seven years old this year and has never been married. Daoxue, you may marry her as your principal wife." The white-haired old man also glanced outside the ancestral hall before slowly saying.

Upon hearing this, Tantai Daoxue pursed his lips tightly, his cheek muscles trembled for a moment, and then he respectfully kowtowed, "Daoxue is useless, and the Supreme Elder has gone to great lengths. Your teaching is correct; once the opportunity is gone, it is gone."

His tone was full of emotion, and the word "opportunity" he used also had many meanings, but at this moment it referred to the lady who was in charge of the villa.

No, from now on, I will no longer be your wife.

At that moment, a hint of reluctance flashed deep in Tantai Daoxue's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.

In the continuation of a family, someone always has to make a sacrifice.

The white-haired old man took in all of Tantai Daoxue's expressions, but showed no particular emotion. His voice carried a nostalgic longing for the past, as well as the vicissitudes of life.

"My time is drawing to a close. I have dedicated my life to the family business, but I don't want to leave with any regrets."

As he spoke, the old man casually waved his hand, and the thickest branch of the peach tree outside the ancestral hall broke off silently. Peach blossoms and leaves, fluttering down, flew into the old man's palm. Even the surface of the trunk developed a slightly glue-like sheen due to the penetration of some kind of force, completely transforming it into the shape of a walking stick.

"Come on, Daoxue, let me show you the scenery of this mountain villa... What a pleasant weather!"

The old man, leaning on his cane, stepped out of the ancestral hall for the first time, squinting as he looked up at the sky.

Sunlight filters through wisps of smoke like golden threads, while the deep blue and white hues of the sky are faintly visible, and the thin mist makes the beautiful scenery even more hazy.

The old man smiled, shook his head, and walked out first.

Behind him, Tantai Daoxue, who had also stood up, froze on the spot. When he saw the old man step out of the ancestral hall, his eyes, which were usually the most profound in their depths... welled up with tears.

With the Grand Elder, the family can rest assured for the next hundred years.

For the past three cycles of sixty years, the family's Supreme Elder, though not out in the public eye, was in fact the dragon's spine atop the Penholder Mountain!

Since the Grand Elder took over the work, the Supreme Elder has not left the ancestral home for twenty years...

Today's departure is a way to clear one's mind, a lesson, but it feels more like a farewell.

Tantai Daoxue clenched his fist, but eventually relaxed it, bowing his head as he followed them out of the family ancestral hall.

……

……

"boom!"

With a surging and violent aura, Wu Riguang landed directly in front of the gate square, and his astonishing power really frightened the surrounding clansmen!

Just a few days ago, Zhao Luanyan, the first elder of the Zhao family, came here and caused a great commotion, but was directly knocked away by the Grand Elder.

So apart from the Grand Elder, no one else in the Tantai clan has ever seen dare to be so presumptuous in front of the manor gate.

"This servant has already informed the head of the family that a distinguished guest has arrived in our Tantai family. Why is there no welcoming procession?"

"If an accident occurs, can you bear the responsibility?"

Wu Riguang's eyes were like lightning. When he wasn't by Lu Ze's side, his 2-meter-tall body, when straightened up, combined with his powerful aura, was truly terrifying.

The guards of Tantai remained silent, but then a cold voice came from inside the manor.

"Master Wu, the way you're yelling and shouting is really unlike the manner of a... master of the Tantai family!"

The last two sarcastic words were emphasized as a figure in a green robe stepped out from the main gate, looking at the scene with cold eyes.

That young face was none other than Tantai Dongshu, who had once appeared in the Shijia Ancestral Hall and by chance witnessed the Shijia Ancestral's disintegration and death!

When he appeared, the thirty-odd Tantai guards bowed simultaneously.

Since half a month ago, rumors had been circulating in private that Tantai Zang might have perished outside, and Tantai Dongshu, a prodigy from the third generation of the family, had become the most likely candidate to replace Tantai Zang.

She already possesses the strength of a 10-star War King, and she also recognizes Madam Qu as her mother. It can be said that she is an impeccable existence in terms of both personal strength and family background.

Moreover, the fact that Tantai Cang had not shown his face for a long time, and that he went to meet the Ten Jia ancestors as the sole representative of the family, undoubtedly sent a signal to everyone in the manor—Tantai Dongshu was very likely to become the family's successor!

Therefore, when he appeared at this moment, although he was young, he possessed extraordinary power.

Wu Riguang looked at that face, and anger flared up in his heart, but he heard the increasingly close cry of an eagle. He suppressed his anger and tried to make his voice sound calm.

"Young Master Dongshu, go back. There are some things you can't handle."

Tantai Dongshu's gaze was sinister, but in the blink of an eye, a smile appeared on his face. He said with a forced smile, "Master Wu, have you truly forgotten the rules of the manor? Besides, whether or not one can bear the responsibility is not something you, a mere master, can decide!"

These words immediately caused an uproar, as Tantai Dongshu launched a sudden and merciless attack.

Wu Riguang's cheek muscles twitched, and he could no longer suppress the anger in his heart.

"Young Master Dongshu, please forgive me, leave this matter to me, Wu."

He clasped his hands in a fist salute without any expression, took a step forward, and as if an earthquake had struck the vast square, he transformed into a blur and rushed straight toward the mountain gate.

Before the guards could react, a gust of wind swept past them.

Tantai Dongshu narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists. He felt no fear, only shame and anger.

Elder Jin Yuan.

He remained motionless and uttered a name.

Wu Riguang was still halfway there when he suddenly sensed something was wrong. He saw a blurry figure suddenly shoot out from behind Tantai Dongshu, and a distorted ripple flew across the blurry figure and landed in front of him!

There was a loud bang!

The strong winds suddenly stopped.

A burly figure stumbled backward from the raging wind, looking ahead with a mixture of surprise and anger.

"Elder Jin Yuan, are you insane? How can you help him against me!"

"Master Wu, I think you're the one who's gone mad. In the thousand years of my Tantai family, when has such an absurd thing ever happened?" A middle-aged man with slightly graying hair stood with his hands behind his back in front of the mountain gate. He had a square face and sword-like eyebrows, and his imposing presence was evident even without anger.

Wu Riguang gritted his teeth, wanting to rush up and slap this stubborn old man right now.

You bunch of idiots, how would you know how terrifying that guy surnamed Lu is if you didn't see that scene in the wilderness!

"Elder Jin Yuan is absolutely right. After being away for half a day, Wu Gongfeng is already preparing to take over the manor." Tantai Dongshu added at the right moment, his tone light and casual, but his intentions were extremely ruthless.

"My father was questioning himself in the ancestral hall, and my mother entrusted me with handling the affairs of the mountain villa. How did this all suddenly become something that Wu, the temple caretaker, found inappropriate?"

You're a servant girl!

Veins bulged on Wu Riguang's forehead.

If he had known this would happen, he would never have become a collaborator.

Elder Chongjin has dug himself a hole!

You fucking...

Wu Riguang pulled his right fist, ready to give that kid a good beating, but the momentum just rose and then suddenly stopped.

The pupils of Elder Jin Yuan, who had been exuding an air of authority and arrogance, suddenly contracted.

In the blink of an eye, without any warning, a hand landed on Wu Riguang's shoulder. It didn't exert any force, but it seemed to freeze all of Wu Riguang's strength.

The slightly distorted light and shadow transitioned rapidly from blurry to realistic.

Lu Ze patted Wu Riguang's broad shoulder, landed lightly on his toes, and then walked forward unhurriedly with a half-smile on his face.

"Let's not fight and kill each other. I, Lu Ze, am not unreasonable."

It was clearly meant to comfort...

But at this moment, every hair on Wu Riguang's back stood on end. He looked in horror at the figure that brushed past him, which, just before it was about to collide with Elder Jin Yuan, strangely stretched into a distorted afterimage and appeared behind Elder Jin Yuan.

Then, step by step, he ascended the steps and appeared before Tantai Dongshu. He extended a hand to cup Tantai Dongshu's still-sneering left cheek, and amidst the other's astonished expression, he smiled and spoke softly:

"roll."

(End of this chapter)