In the grand reception hall of the Gu Family mansion, representatives from various martial factions and elites from powerful martial families had gathered.
Gu Tianming, the head of the Gu Family, sat at the head of the table, his expression calm and composed. In truth, he had already received news of the reappearance of the Night Organization.
In the past, he wouldn’t have paid it any mind. After all, during the operation to eliminate the Night Organization five years ago, the Gu Family had not participated.
Now that the Night Organization had resurfaced, they naturally wouldn’t involve themselves.
However...
Gu Tianming sighed inwardly. His son, Gu Yan, had fallen for Leng Qingqiu from the Leng Family.
The Leng Family had been one of the most severely affected families during the "Demon-Slaying Operation" back then... and the Night King had once been a member of the Leng Family.
This time, the Leng Family would undoubtedly be the first to be investigated and suspected.
Oh, son, you’ve really given your old father a difficult problem to solve.
Though it wasn’t clear whether Gu Yan knew about the events of five years ago... since he had managed to reach the Xiantian stage through his own cultivation, he must have some secrets of his own.
Perhaps it was time to tell him about what had happened back then.
With this thought in mind, Gu Tianming glanced around at the representatives of the various factions and spoke in a deep voice, "Everyone, five years ago, we believed that we had completely eradicated the Night Organization. However, signs of their activities have reappeared, and they have even caused the death of the King of Hell Palace’s leader. This is something we never anticipated."
The room immediately erupted into murmurs, and the representatives from the various sects wore expressions of shock and confusion.
An elder from one of the sects stood up, his expression serious as he stared at Gu Tianming and asked in a grave tone, "Family Head Gu, are you certain that the Night Organization is responsible for the death of the King of Hell Palace’s leader? Have you confirmed this?"
"Could it not be some hidden demonic faction?"
In truth, when the King of Hell Palace’s leader had died, most factions and sects had suspected the Night Organization.
But it hadn’t been fully confirmed yet.
That was why they had all gathered here—just in case.
Now, hearing Gu Tianming’s words, it seemed that the Night Organization truly was behind it?
Gu Tianming nodded solemnly. "Elder Jiang, it’s natural for you to think that way. However, there’s something you all may not know yet."
"Not long ago, within a forbidden establishment called Rose Romance in the Jianghai region, five murders occurred."
"The bodies of the five victims were strung up and hung on the wall, and beneath them was a message written in blood..."
At this point, Gu Tianming’s tone grew even more grave. "The message read: 'The Night will ultimately obliterate all evil.'"
As soon as these words were spoken, the room erupted into chaos.
Gu Yan maintained a faint smile. Ah...
The effect was quite well done, even fooling his own father.
Although his "Night Organization" didn’t even have a proper foundation yet...
Still...
Not having built it yet ≠ not having a Night Organization at all!!
He glanced at the shocked faces in the room and chuckled inwardly.
Good, good. The more attention they paid to him, the easier it would be to carry out his plans.
The Gu Family’s reception hall was now in complete disarray.
"Tsk! It’s exactly the same as over a decade ago!"
"Indeed! Back then, the Night Organization, which struck fear into the hearts of the ancient martial world, would always leave behind such a message after their actions!"
"Why... why has it reappeared? We thought it had been wiped out five years ago... What if the Night King comes after us? Our sect isn’t as strong as it used to be..."
"How could this be... All information about the Night Organization should have been sealed. Could it be that one of the factions involved in the operation back then is deliberately spreading panic?"
"What are you looking at me for? Are you implying that our Blood Blade Sect is pretending to be the Night Organization?"
"Hmph, I didn’t say anything. Are you admitting it yourself?"
"Damn it! Are you looking for a fight? Don’t forget, we’re not on the same side! We’re only here because of the Night Organization!"
As the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly tense, Gu Tianming cleared his throat lightly.
In the next moment...
Whoosh!!!!
An overwhelming pressure instantly filled the room.
The chaotic noise was immediately suppressed, and everyone’s attention turned to an old man who had appeared behind Gu Yan without anyone noticing.
Old Gao’s gaze swept across the room like a sharp sword, and his presence instantly silenced the entire hall, freezing the tense atmosphere in place.
A grandmaster-level expert!!
Everyone in the room was shocked.
They had long heard of the Gu Family’s strength, but to think even an old servant possessed such power?!
Seeing this, Gu Tianming spoke slowly, his voice cold and commanding, resonating throughout the hall. "This is the Gu Family. It is not a place for you to engage in petty disputes!"
Immediately, everyone fell silent.
Shangguan Miaoyin, however, remained completely unaffected. She glanced at Gu Yan with interest.
He still wore that faint smile, showing no signs of fear despite the current situation.
His temperament isn’t bad...
And with his cultivation at the early Xiantian stage, he could be considered a genius.
However, from what she could see, Gu Yan seemed to be nothing more than an ordinary, well-mannered young master from a prominent family.
There was nothing particularly outstanding about him...
And he hadn’t said a word, only maintaining that smile. Could it be that Gu Tianming had instructed him to keep quiet and smile?
Shangguan Miaoyin felt a bit disappointed. She had hoped Gu Yan would reveal something remarkable or, conversely, something embarrassing.
That way, she could at least feel a bit more balanced.
After all...
To think that he had become her master’s nominal husband in the mortal world!!
Even if it was just a façade! It still!
Made her incredibly jealous!! It was infuriating!! If they needed the support of a major family, the Shangguan Family could have provided it too!! She could have even disguised herself as a man and helped her master take over the Shangguan Family!!
Shangguan Miaoyin’s heart was filled with resentment, and she was determined to find something to embarrass Gu Yan.
Meanwhile, Ning Qian, standing beside her, was brimming with fighting spirit as she stared at Old Gao behind Gu Yan.
Perhaps influenced by her mentors from Dragon King Mountain,
she loved nothing more than challenging strong opponents.
The atmosphere gradually calmed down after Old Gao’s arrival.
The representatives from each sect began to engage in serious discussions.
A middle-aged man stood up and cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd. "Everyone, I am the 33rd-generation leader of the Splendid Hall. My master participated in the operation to eliminate the Night Organization back then."
"Thus, I am well aware of the terror of the Night and their methods."
"Leaving behind such a message after each operation is a signature move of the Night Organization!"
"I cannot say with absolute certainty, but I am 90% sure that this Night is the same one from five years ago!"
At this point, the leader of the Splendid Hall’s voice grew angry. "They arrogantly use their own methods to eliminate what they consider evil!"
"That’s their usual tactic!"
"In today’s society, even the most heinous martial artists must be dealt with by the proper authorities!"
"To privately execute them under the guise of eliminating evil, while absorbing their souls for cultivation...
"This is no different from demonic practices!"
"We cannot allow the Night to continue its rampage, or the consequences will be unimaginable!!"
The Splendid Hall leader’s words earned nods of approval from many martial factions.
However, there were still some who disagreed.
Shangguan Miaoyin was one of them.
Outwardly, she maintained a polite smile, but inwardly, she was filled with disdain.
How hypocritical. Martial artists’ battles were inherently life-and-death struggles. The so-called martial authorities were practically useless when it came to powerful martial artists.
In the ancient martial world, without the constraints of the martial authorities, acts of murder and plunder were countless.
Who could possibly manage it all?
A brash-looking man shared her sentiment and sneered at the Splendid Hall leader. "Idiot, I have no issue with your criticism of the Night."
"But if you’re saying that even the most heinous martial artists should be handed over to the authorities, that’s just laughable."
"When martial artists clash, do you really think either side would let the other live?"
"Leaving behind a potential enemy who might grow stronger and seek revenge in a few years—do you think we should let them live?"
"Kill, and become a martial artist infamous for his atrocities? Or spare them, only for them to grow stronger and seek revenge on us in the future?"
"Don’t blame me for speaking harshly, but it was my master’s soft-heartedness back then that allowed the Leng Family to survive!"
"I’ve heard..."
A glint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes. "The Leng Family still has quite a few survivors, doesn’t it?"
"The Night King might very well be one of them!"
"In my opinion, we should just wipe out the Leng Family entirely—root and branch!"