destruction of Wang clan

By the riverside where Xu Lin and Xu Mei had found Chen Yang injured, a lone figure stood cloaked in shadow, his face obscured by a mask.

This was Wu Xing, the second of the Wu brothers. A furrow etched his brow, and his lips formed a thin line, betraying his frustration after months of searching.

Silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the gurgling of the river. Three moons had passed since their search began, and frustration gnawed at Wu Xing.

"Three moons we've been hunting that damned scoundrel, Chen Yang," a gruff voice rumbled from behind him. It was Wu Lei, the hotheaded third brother. **His face was flushed with anger, and a vein throbbed in his temple.** "He's probably fish food by now."

Another figure emerged from the shadows, his voice laced with annoyance. "Third brother speaks truth. We've scoured every inch of this riverside, questioned every villager. Even you, Third Brother, flattened a few villages in your zeal. Why waste more time on a corpse?" This was Wu Jian, the cunning fourth brother. **A smirk played on his lips, hinting at his impatience.**

Wu Xing, the apparent leader, considered their words. They had come far, but progress remained elusive. **He pursed his lips in thought, his eyes narrowed in concentration.** "You both raise valid points. However, we cannot turn back empty-handed. Let's search nearby villages for a fortnight. If there's no sign by then, we return to the clan."

Before Wu Lei could erupt in protest, a fourth figure materialized from the woods. "Second Brother is right," said a smooth voice. "It's been a while since we left the Wu Clan. A week or two to unwind wouldn't hurt. Besides, if we stumble upon that whelp Chen Yang, we might just uncover the secret behind his meteoric rise from obscurity to mid-Qi Condensation in a year." This was Wu Hao, the fifth brother, known for his sly wit. **A glint of amusement flickered in his eyes.**

A booming laugh escaped Wu Lei. "Fourth Brother, Wu Jian, you sly dog! You know just how to motivate me!" **His anger momentarily forgotten, a wide grin spread across his face.**

Their conversation was interrupted by a new voice emerging from the woods. "Third Brother, so eager already? Found Chen Yang, have we?" The newcomer, another cloaked figure, materialized before them. This was Wu Hao, the fifth brother.

"Fifth Brother? What brings you here? Did the Wang Clan business wrap itself up?" inquired Wu Xing, surprised.

"Hahaha! A measly clan with a handful of Foundation Realm cultivators? Crushing them was child's play," Wu Hao scoffed. **A cruel smile stretched across his face as he spoke of the Wang Clan's demise.**

Excitement bubbled in Wu Lei's voice. "Are you saying the Wu Clan is finally revealing its true strength?" **His eyes widened with anticipation.**

The Fifth Brother smirked. "Indeed. After tasking you with finding Chen Yang, First Brother decided to have some fun with the Wang Clan. Who knew they'd have the audacity to send a Foundation Realm assassin to kill young nephew Wu Shen, even hanging his body on their gates!"

The news of Wu Shen's death sent a shockwave through the group. Their expressions hardened with fury and vengeance.

"What?! Wu Shen is dead? They dare?!" roared Wu Lei. **His face contorted in rage, fists clenched at his sides.**

"Not a single cur of the Wang Clan deserves to live!" growled Wu Jian. **His jaw clenched tight, eyes burning with hatred.**

Seeing his enraged brothers ready to charge back to the clan, Wu Xing held up a hand, urging them to calm down.

"Don't worry, brothers. When First Brother saw young master's body, his rage unleashed his Late-stage Foundation Realm power, utterly annihilating the Wang Clan."

"Then why are you here instead of aiding First Brother?" demanded Wu Jian.

"Ah, almost forgot. Second Brother, return to the clan and manage affairs while First Brother mourns Wu Shen. I'll accompany Third and Fourth Brothers in the search for Chen Yang."

Wu Xing nodded grimly. "I'll head back immediately. Be careful, all of you. Don't draw unnecessary attention."

With that, Wu Xing departed for Qinfeng City. The remaining brothers split ways, each venturing into different villages surrounding the area, determined to find Chen Yang.

....

Inside , the green mountain village.

Children were happily playing in the open area of the village when a stranger with a hidden face approached a group of children giggling as they chased each other.

His smile seemed practiced, not reaching his eyes. He knelt down, offering a sweet he'd taken out from his pocket.

"Hey there, little one," he addressed a chubby-cheeked boy. "Can you answer a question for me? If you do, this yummy treat is yours!"

The boy's eyes widened at the sight of the sweet. He nodded eagerly, forgetting about his game for a moment.

The stranger pulled out a worn picture – a sketch of Chen Yang. "Have you seen this man around the village?"

The boy studied the picture, then a grin spread across his face. "This is the cool old uncle! The one who… whoosh… he fought a big, bad monster and saved us all!"

The child enthusiastically waved his hand, mimicking a fighting motion, then with a mischievous glint in his eyes, snatched the sweet from the stranger's hand and bolted away, giggling.

The stranger chuckled, more at the boy's enthusiasm than the stolen candy. "So, he's here. That's good news." He stood up, brushing dirt off his cloak. "Time to confirm this with the adults, but hopefully, they'll be more forthcoming than this little rascal."

He approached a group of women chatting by the well. Their faces, creased with age and worry, softened as they saw the children playing. The stranger cleared his throat, gaining their attention.

"Excuse me, ladies. I'm looking for information about a man who might have come through this village recently." He showed them the picture of Chen Yang.

The women exchanged glances, a mixture of confusion and suspicion clouding their features. One spoke up, her voice raspy with age.

"Never seen him before, young man. We don't get many strangers here."

The stranger wasn't convinced. He noticed a flicker of something in their eyes – fear, perhaps? He decided to rephrase his question.

"Perhaps you've heard stories of a strong warrior who helped the village? A man who might have saved you from some danger?"

The women's faces remained impassive, but a younger woman standing at the back spoke hesitantly.

"There was a tale… about a powerful old man who chased away a beast that threatened our crops. But that was a while ago, and…" she trailed off, her voice barely a whisper.

The stranger picked up on her hesitation. "And what?"

"Some say he wasn't a man at all, but a spirit sent by the heavens," the young woman mumbled, her eyes downcast.

The stranger's smile returned, genuine this time. "Well, thank you for your time, ladies. Even spirits deserve a good rest, wouldn't you agree?"

The women seemed unsure how to respond, but the stranger didn't wait for their answer. He tipped his head in a farewell gesture and turned to leave. As he walked away, he reached into his pocket and retrieved a glowing jade talisman.

With a muttered incantation, the talisman pulsed with light, sending a message to his brothers.

"Brother come to the east side of village on the mountain, quickly."

He slipped the talisman back into his pocket, a glint of determination in his eyes as he continued his search in the Green Mountain Village.