Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 1073: Chapter 736: The Fall of the Xiang Family (Part 2)

“It’s just right that I and the Red Flame Army will be stationed in that area in the future. Let the spirit fields of the Nanqing Xiang family stay with me and the soldiers to let them soak up some spiritual energy!”

Lan Peng wouldn’t care much about the Xiang family. This time, their Red Flame Army came not only to destroy the Yu family but also to station themselves in Nanxia County to deter the martial arts families in the north of Nanxia County.

Lu Jianghua glanced again at the paper in his hand, then called over a follower and asked, “Does the Xiang family have any enemies?”

Although they didn’t mind destroying another Xiang family, they also didn’t want to be used as a tool by someone else.

The follower obviously had some knowledge of the martial arts families in Nanxia County and was quite familiar with the Xiang family.

“Reporting to my lord, the Nanqing Xiang family is a family that has only emerged in the past hundred years. Nowadays, they have occupied seven spiritual lands and one hundred and forty-eight acres of spirit fields. There are quite a few families that harbor deep grudges against the Xiang family, such as the Zhang family of Luyuan, the Zheng family of Nanfan, and the Lingxi Yang family!” the follower replied.

Hearing about the Lingxi Yang family, Lan Peng raised his eyes slightly, but he didn’t say anything.

Lu Jianghua pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, “Forget it, whether someone is framing or not, the framer won’t gain any benefit!”

This matter could be investigated, but it was a bit troublesome.

Since Lan Peng wanted the spirit fields of the Xiang family, it was a good reason for this matter, saving him from finding other excuses.

“General Lan can take full responsibility for this matter!” He handed the note back to Lan Peng.

Lan Peng took the note and laughed heartily, “Haha, then I won’t disturb the Fourth Young Master any longer, I’ll take my leave first!”

“General Lan, please!”

Lu Jianghua escorted Lan Peng to the door and then turned back.

He crossed his arms and paced back and forth in his study for a moment, then instructed his followers beside him, “Go and tally up those ownerless spirit fields, then divide them into four parts after making the contracts, and send them to the four elders in the family, saying that this is a little token of appreciation from the younger generation!”

The so-called ownerless spirit fields were, of course, those of families destroyed by the Yu family.

Spirit fields also come with land deeds, as the county government also collects taxes on them.

And Lu Jianghua was using the relics of others to curry favor, giving hundreds of acres of spirit fields to the elders in the family just to take a shortcut.

The elders of the Lu family were all brothers of Lu Fusheng, whose cultivation wasn’t high, but due to their seniority, they had a significant say in family matters.

Lu Jianghua had just left the family to do things, so naturally, he needed to manage the family connections to prevent anyone from secretly plotting against him.

…

Nanqing Mountain, the ancestral residence of the Xiang family.

In the main hall, light streamed through the carved lattice windows, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Xiang Feiying sat in the main seat, his brows slightly furrowed, playing with an ancient jade pendant in his hand, contemplating family affairs.

Suddenly, a flurry of hurried and chaotic footsteps approached, shattering the tranquility of the main hall. Xiang Feiying’s expression tensed, his hand stilled, and his eyebrows knitted into a ‘川’ shape as he stood up abruptly.

In the blink of an eye, Xiang Feihong and Xiang Feiye stumbled in, their faces flushed, sweat rolling down their foreheads, their breathing rapid and heavy.

“Big brother, the Red Flame Army is here again!” Xiang Feihong rushed to say before Xiang Feiying could even ask.

“Here again?” Upon hearing this, Xiang Feiying’s eyes flashed with panic, his face full of disbelief.

“Weren’t they supposed to have withdrawn from the mountain?” he muttered, his voice involuntarily rising, revealing deep confusion and unease.

Xiang Feihong’s chest heaved dramatically, his face full of anxiety. He took a few deep breaths before speaking in a deep voice, “They’re coming toward our Nanqing Mountain!”

“What?” Xiang Feiying’s heart felt as though it had been gripped by an invisible hand, and with a “thud” in his chest, a chill ran from his spine to the top of his head.

Last time the Red Flame Army entered the mountains, although near Nanqing Mountain, they still kept a distance. To ensure the family’s peace, Xiang Feiying meticulously prepared a sumptuous feast and brought out precious spiritual objects for a personal visit, all to foster goodwill with the Red Flame Army and show favor to the Lu family.

But now, the Red Flame Army had returned, pressing directly toward Nanqing Mountain—a change that stirred an ominous premonition in his heart.

“Let’s go, and see first!” Xiang Feihong took a deep breath, suppressing his inner panic, knowing this was no time for idle thoughts. The pressing task was to first assess the situation and then plan accordingly.

The Xiang family’s ancestral residence wasn’t at the mountain peak but perched halfway up, where rows of exquisite houses encircled the mountainside like a winding, dormant dragon nestled in the embrace of Nanqing Mountain. The gray-blue tiles were laid out in an orderly pattern, gleaming with ancient luster under the sunlight’s illumination.

When Xiang Feihong emerged from the ancestral residence, a large number of soldiers clad in scarlet armor were already flooding up the gentle green stone mountain path. A loud eagle’s cry sounded in the sky, as Lan Peng, astride a chestnut warhorse, rode leisurely up the mountain.

He was dressed in red armor, a curved blade at his waist, his attire appeared quite ordinary yet efficient. But the aura he exuded made people feel chilled to the bone.

When he reached the mountainside in front of the Xiang family’s ancestral residence, Xiang Feihong and the others hurriedly bowed and said, “Xiang Feihong of the Nanqing Xiang family pays respects to General Lan and congratulate General Lan on another great victory and achievement!”

By this time, all the members of the Xiang family had come out, gathered densely in front of the ancestral residence, bowing to offer their congratulations.

Lan Peng sat on his horse, his gaze sweeping over the buildings of the Xiang family’s ancestral residence before it fell on Xiang Feihong.

“Where is Xiang Tengjiao?”