A Quiet Night (Please collect and recommend votes)

In Beiluo City, there were three prominent families: Chen, Liu, and Zhu.

The noble families had great influence in the Great Zhou Dynasty. They owned large amounts of land and labor force, allowing them to establish self-sufficient economic systems. They were deeply rooted and powerful.

Many of the rebel warlords and prefects in the various counties came from these noble families.

Because Beiluo City was relatively close to the imperial capital and under the watchful eyes of the emperor, the noble families, including the Chen, Liu, and Zhu families, dared not be too audacious. Their power was much weaker compared to the noble families in other counties.

However, even if they were weaker, they were still noble families.

...

It was late at night, and everything was quiet.

In the Chen residence, the main gate was tightly shut. The fallen leaves, washed away by the heavy rain, covered the ground, giving a desolate feeling, like an ostrich burying its head in the ground.

Dantai Xuan led a large army to attack the city, and the three prominent families betrayed Lu Changkong, hoping to collaborate with the enemy and let Beiluo City fall. This way, the three families could break free from Lu Changkong's oppression and regain control of Beiluo City.

But...

Things didn't go as planned.

Lu Changkong unexpectedly had a martial arts grandmaster hidden with him. With thunderous means, he killed the heads of the three prominent families.

This terrified the three prominent families.

Dantai Xuan didn't take over Beiluo City, so the gamble they had made on the three prominent families had completely failed.

Creak...

The sound of wood wheels colliding with green bricks echoed through the silent streets in the deep night.

Lu Fan and his group arrived in front of the closed doors of the Chen residence, shrouded in the dim night.

"Is this the Chen residence?"

Leaning back on his wheelchair, Lu Fan adjusted the woolen blanket on his lap. The air after the rain felt damp and cold.

Ning Zhao pushed the wheelchair and nodded slightly.

"Master originally planned to deal with the three prominent families, but the families are deeply rooted in Beiluo City, with many industries. If we abruptly uproot the three families, it will have a significant impact on the people's livelihood in Beiluo City. That's why Master hasn't decided how to handle them yet," Ning Zhao said.

"Throughout history, many heroes emerged from noble families during turbulent times," Lu Fan smiled. He interlaced his fingers and pressed down.

"It's getting late, and I'm a bit tired. Let's resolve this quickly."

Lu Fan said.

Ning Zhao nodded, placing her palm on the wheelchair, lifting it up, and stepping over the stone steps in front of the Chen residence.

"Xiao Ni, go knock on the door."

Lu Fan rubbed Nie Yu's head.

Nie Yu was startled, seemingly not expecting such a request from Lu Fan.

Her mouth stumbled for a moment.

"Ah? Master... I'm afraid."

Nie Yu looked at Lu Fan.

"What are you afraid of... Cultivating courage is the first step in martial arts. Without courage, one cannot become a formidable warrior," said Nie Changqing, holding Nie Shuang's hand, as he glanced at Nie Yu with stern eyes.

"Shuang'er, go with her."

Nie Changqing said.

Although Nie Shuang was also a bit scared, seeing the stern gaze of her father suddenly ignited a sense of excitement within her.

Her father had never shown such sternness before.

Despite being young, Nie Shuang's heart was sensitive.

Since deciding to practice martial arts, Nie Changqing had become much stricter with her.

This strictness also came with expectations.

With Nie Shuang's accompanying, Nie Yu became bolder.

The two children exchanged glances, summoning their courage and walked up to the front gate of the Chen residence.

They tapped on the beast-shaped copper rings on the wooden door.

"Hey! Is anyone there?"

Nie Shuang yelled with her childish voice, followed by Nie Yu's shout.

Lu Fan sat in the wheelchair, supporting his chin with one hand, and smiled as he watched the scene unfold.

No one responded.

Nie Yu and Nie Shuang continued knocking and shouting.

Their innocent voices tore through the darkness of the night sky.

Under the radiant moonlight, their excited faces were illuminated.

"What are you yelling for in the middle of the night! Making a ruckus!"

A deep voice exploded behind the door.

A thud sounded as the door latch fell.

The tightly shut gate of the Chen residence opened, revealing a fierce-looking servant wearing coarse clothes.

Nie Yu and Nie Shuang raised their heads, looking innocently at the servant.

"Who are these brats? Is the Chen residence your playground?"

"Get lost!"

"Or I'll beat you to death!"

The servant roared.

Nie Shuang remained stood still, meeting the servant's gaze obstinately without taking a step back.

Although Nie Yu was trembling with fear, her eyes were wide open, and she didn't move an inch.

 This person... is so fierce!

Lu Fan raised his hand and touched his nose.

Nie Changqing has already taken action.

The pig-killing knife in his hand swung up, like a black shadow in the dark night, and it was already on the thick-necked servant's neck.

At this moment, the servant, under the moonlight, finally saw Lu Fan sitting in a wheelchair, as well as Nie Changqing and the others.

"You... you..."

The servant's face instantly turned pale, and cold sweat streamed down.

"Who are you? This is the Chen family, not a place for you to act recklessly!"

The servant was filled with fear, but still gathered courage to speak.

Ning Zhao pushed Lu Fan in the wheelchair, crossing the threshold, and the wooden wheels slowly entered the Chen family.

"The city lord's office is collecting rent."

The wheelchair brushed past the servant, Lu Fan propped up his chin with one hand, pinching his nose with the other, without even looking at the other party, leaving only these indifferent words.

The servant's pupils suddenly shrank, and his body stiffened.

His heart was pounding.

The city lord's office?!

What has the Chen family done, how could this servant not know.

During the siege of the city by the army, the three major aristocratic families betrayed the city lord's office...

Now, the city lord's office is unharmed, and what the three major families will face is the settlement from the city lord's office.

The servant's face turned ashen. The new head of the Chen family had told him repeatedly not to open the door.

But what did he do?

He actually opened the door and let the people from the city lord's office in.

How treacherous!

The servant suddenly felt like crying.

To think they used a child to knock on the door, catching him off guard, he thought it was just some child making noise in the middle of the night.

Who could have imagined that the powerful city lord's office would send children to knock on the door?

If he had known, he wouldn't have opened the door even if he died.

Ning Zhao pushed the wheelchair and Lu Fan ignored the servant, entering the Chen family.

The layout of the Chen family was somewhat similar to that of the Lu family, both in Chinese garden style. However, compared to the Lu family, it was more luxurious and rich, the winding paths, rockeries, and ponds were quite beautiful in the tranquil moonlight, like an intertwining traditional painting.

Nie Changqing held the pig-killing knife, resting it on the servant's neck, his face stern and unpredictable.

The servant trembled, and the pungent smell of blood on the pig-killing knife made him almost nauseous.

This was a pig-killing knife filled with vengeful spirits.

Lu Fan sat in the wheelchair, enjoying the cool breeze after the rain, feeling quite content.

Ning Zhao stood quietly behind Lu Fan, her black hair flowing down, the moonlight casting a hazy glow, as if she were an untouchable fairy.

Ni Yu held an umbrella that was almost as tall as her, standing beside Lu Fan.

"Old Nie, it's a quiet night."

Lu Fan lowered his eyelids, admiring the fish swimming in the pond, gently brushing his palm on the thin blanket.

Nie Changqing narrowed his eyes, understanding Lu Fan's meaning.

The pig-killing knife turned, leaving a cut on the servant's thigh, and blood instantly sprayed out.

The servant's eyes widened, and at the moment the wound spurted blood, he let out a scream as miserable as a pig being slaughtered.

The sound of the scream was chilling, tearing through the silent night.

Inside the Chen family, the dim oil lamps were lit.

Shadows flickered.

The rustling sound echoed, the hurried footsteps and the sound of stepping on puddles exploded in the night.

Deep within the garden.

The sound of bowstrings being plucked resounded.

A group of men dressed in green robes with swords held bows, their arrows gleaming with a cold light aimed at Lu Fan and his group from a distance.

The atmosphere...

Instantly became tense and hostile.