The skirmish continued behind the two as they faced off.

Huang Qingzhou had also made his move.

With him and Huang Yushui, two martial artists at the Postnatal Perfection Realm, joining the fray, the situation gradually leveled out. In the end, neither side could prevail, and they tactfully paused, awaiting Shen Wenxing and the masked man's decision.

Clang!

The masked man suddenly sheathed his sword with a dry laugh.

Seeing this, Shen Wenxing's tense nerves relaxed a little.

"Sir, please state what you desire. I believe Elder Patriarch Huang would not refuse,"

Shen Wenxing said.

In the brief skirmish just now, most of the Huang family members had died or were injured. Huang Yushui should understand that they had no ability to resist.

"I am willing to offer everything, only hoping the immortal would show mercy and spare me and the remaining family members,"

Huang Yushui stumbled forward, his voice grief-stricken.

Many family members had died at the hands of the enemy. He was powerless to seek revenge and had to bow and beg for peace. Such humiliation almost made him grind his teeth to pieces.

The masked man looked at him and said indifferently, "Hand over the two Blood-Feeding Toads and all blood toads over a hundred years old, and I will spare your lives."

Upon hearing this, Huang Yushui's body suddenly trembled!

He guessed they were likely here for the two Blood-Feeding Toads.

But those were the lifeblood of the Huang Family. Once handed over, the family's centuries of accumulated heritage would be destroyed!

While Huang Yushui was annoyed, he was also puzzled.

The fact that the Huang Family possessed two Blood-Feeding Toads was known to very few; how did the opponent know so precisely?

"What?"

"Unwilling to hand them over?"

Seeing him remain silent, the masked man's hand once again gripped the sword hilt.

The other black-clad martial artists also slowly raised their weapons.

Huang Yushui glanced at Shen Wenxing, hoping that he would speak on behalf of the Huang Family.

However, Shen Wenxing sincerely did not want to antagonize the opponent, nor did he want to drag the Shen Family into this.

Huang Yushui also guessed his intentions, struggled for a long time, and sighed helplessly.

"Changfeng... you and your brother go invite the Toad Ancestor."

The Huang family revered the two Blood-Feeding Toads as "Toad Ancestors," using the word "invite," showing their importance to them.

Unfortunately, the two blood toads were now changing hands, and the Huang Family had no ability to protect them.

Behind Huang Yushui, two middle-aged men looked full of reluctance but understood that if they did not hand over the "Toad Ancestors," the lives of the remaining Huang family members would be lost, and ultimately the "Toad Ancestors" would still be taken.

The brothers reluctantly cupped their hands and then beckoned several Huang family martial artists to head to the backyard.

A moment later, the brothers returned from the backyard, each holding a large stone box, while other Huang family martial artists collectively carried an object, more than a yard long, three feet wide, and high, resembling a stone coffin.

Seeing this scene, the masked man's eyes flashed with a glimmer of light.

He glanced back at the numerous martial artists behind him, and several of them immediately went forward.

Two martial artists attempted to take the stone boxes from Huang Changfeng and his brother's hands, but the brothers were unwilling to let go.

The two martial artists, unable to snatch them, angrily drew their longswords from their waists.

"Give them up."

Huang Yushui turned his back and spoke in a trembling voice.

Only then did Huang Changfeng and his brother reluctantly release their hold, allowing the two men to seize the stone boxes.

Two martial artists carried the stone boxes to the masked man and slowly opened a gap.

The masked man glanced inside and immediately laughed.

"Indeed, it is a five-hundred-year-old blood toad..."

He signaled the two to close the stone boxes, and the masked man looked meaningfully at Shen Wenxing before suddenly waving his hand.

A group of black-clad individuals carried away the coffin-like large stone box, disappearing into the night.

Once certain they had all left, Shen Wenxing turned to Huang Yushui and said, "Elder Huang, I apologize."

Huang Yushui waved his hand dazedly, then bowed deeply toward him.

"Despite everything, thank you, Young Master Shen."

He knew well that without Shen Wenxing, his family wouldn't even have had the chance to negotiate.

The final outcome would have been just like the Xu Family, the entire family, tragically massacred.

Although they lost two "Toad Ancestors" and all blood toads over a hundred years old and sacrificed numerous family members, at least some survived.

So it was a blessing in misfortune.

Shen Wenxing hurriedly reached out to help him up. Seeing the bitterness on Huang Yushui's face, Shen Wenxing couldn't help but feel a sense of lament.

This is the cost of lacking strength!

Having one's home invaded, family members massacred, and ultimately forced to humbly offer treasures in exchange for mercy.

"Changfeng, lead the people to clean up."

"Properly bury the deceased family members."

Suppressing the sorrow in his heart, Huang Yushui turned to Huang Qingzhou and Shen Wenxing, "Nephew, Young Master Shen, come with me."

Under his lead, the two passed through the Huang family manor to a hidden cave.

"Young Master Shen, Nephew, this is where my Huang family breeds blood toads."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing examined the surroundings.

The cave was dark, with only a few dimly lit wall lamps emitting faint light. In the distance, the sound of running water could be heard, and the air around seemed to hold a hint of spiritual Qi wafting.

"The Huang family's ancestor was originally a barefoot healer. It was in this cave that the Toad Ancestors were discovered, leading to their rise, and a manor was built here."

"With the help of the Toad Ancestors, the Huang family gradually mastered the method of breeding blood toads, not expecting today..."

Thinking of the family's treasured heirloom lost under his watch, Huang Yushui's heart felt as if stabbed by a knife.

"Elder, what is the difference between the Toad Ancestors and ordinary blood toads?"

Shen Wenxing asked with some confusion.

Huang Yushui sighed and said, "Among ordinary blood toads, there is only one female toad for every few hundred. It takes a hundred years for the female toad to lay eggs."

"This female toad lives no more than two hundred years and produces only over a hundred eggs in its lifetime."

"The Toad Ancestor is different; it can lay ten eggs every year, at least five of which will become female toads."

"That is one benefit, and the Toad Ancestor's second extraordinary ability is the Golden Egg, laying a special golden egg every hundred years. Though it cannot hatch, consuming it can cleanse and refine the body, dramatically transforming it."

"In my youth, my talent was inadequate, but thanks to one golden egg, I advanced rapidly and reached the Realm of Perfection."

As Huang Yushui spoke, he retrieved an exquisite jade box from a hidden compartment in the cave wall.

"Young Master Shen, please take a look, this is a Golden Egg laid by the Toad Ancestor."

Shen Wenxing took the Jade Box and found a peculiar toad egg the size of a peanut lying inside.

The egg shimmered in a pale golden hue, its surface transparent, with a core resembling a drop of fresh red blood.

A special energy diffused from it, quite remarkable.

He closed the Jade Box and handed it back to Huang Yushui.

Huang Yushui sighed slightly, but did not reach out to take it.

"Young Master Shen saved the lives of my Huang Family today; consider this Golden Egg a token of my gratitude."

"Additionally..." Huang Yushui led the two to a dark water trough, looking at the palm-sized Blood Toads and said, "Here are several decades-old Blood Toads, including seven female toads. They are all given to Young Master Shen as well."

Previously, Huang Qingzhou sent a greeting card, and Huang Yushui had guessed that the Shen Family might have the intention to raise Blood Toads.

At that time, he planned to use this to build a connection with the Shen Family and also gain some benefits.

But now, after such a heavy blow, he lost that disposition.

Shen Wenxing felt a bit uneasy after hearing this.

He could sense that at the moment Huang Yushui lost the "Toad Ancestor," his spirit seemed to have died.

As a result, his vitality and energy became lackluster.

"Elder, although those people from the Immortal Sect have left today, there's no guarantee they won't return to kill and silence."

"Elder, it's best for you to quickly move away from here tomorrow."

All indications suggest that the Immortal Sect disciple who acted does not regard ordinary people.

This evening, he compromised only because of my presence, not wanting to create more complications.

Once I'm gone, they might return and slaughter the remaining members of the Huang Family.

Huang Yushui gave a sorrowful smile and shook his head slightly.

"Thank you, Young Master Shen, for your concern."

"But my Huang Family has lived in Huangfeng Town for hundreds of years."

"Generations of ancestors rest here; I will not go anywhere."

Huang Yushui led the two further, finally arriving at a spacious stone chamber.

The chamber was brightly lit, simply decorated, with many household items scattered around.

Upon arrival, several young men and women emerged from various corners of the chamber.

"Grandpa, have the bad people been driven away?"

A young girl, seeing Huang Yushui, hurriedly asked.

Huang Yushui affectionately patted her head and said, "They've all been driven away."

"Thanks to this Young Master Shen's help."

The girl, hearing this, curiously examined Shen Wenxing.

Huang Yushui introduced, "Young Master Shen, this is my great-granddaughter Ruoyan."

Shen Wenxing nodded.

"These ones are young members from other branches."

"Our Huang Family's youth learn the skill of raising Blood Toads from an early age; they are the future of the family."

After saying this, Huang Yushui turned and bowed to Shen Wenxing, saying, "Young Master Shen, I have a humble request."

Shen Wenxing slightly nodded.

"Please speak, Elder."

Huang Yushui glanced at the young members behind him, then spoke to Shen Wenxing, "I wish Young Master Shen to select one or two from these young members and take them away."

"Not to brag, but the young people of my Huang Family have a unique talent in raising Blood Toads."

"If the Shen Family wants to raise Blood Toads, having their help would save a lot of trouble."

Facing Huang Yushui's gaze, Shen Wenxing remained silent.

He knew Huang Yushui likely absorbed some of his earlier words.

This offer to take away some young members seemed a bit like entrusting orphans.

Thinking about this gave him a headache.

Currently, there was already He Zishi from the He Family at Black Water Pool, and now young ones from the Huang Family were sent here.

Have they truly taken my family as an orphanage for shelter?

However, these Huang Family youths differed from He Zishi.

They are at least easier to arrange and more reassuring than He Zishi.

Seeing this, Shen Wenxing bowed and asked, "Elder, are you truly willing to part with them?"

Huang Yushui turned to the younger generations, eyes naturally filled with reluctance, but still returned Shen Wenxing's gesture and said, "I entrust them to Young Master Shen."

Seeing he had decided, Shen Wenxing didn't say more.

"In that case, let it be these two."

Pointing at Ruoyan and another boy who seemed only eleven or twelve years old, Shen Wenxing spoke.

Huang Yushui nodded, beckoning to the boy, "Chengchi, come."

The boy timidly edged forward carefully.

Huang Yushui patted both their heads, bringing them before Shen Wenxing and said, "From today on, you shall follow Young Master Shen to the Shen Family, help raise Blood Toads there, obey him, understood?"

The two glanced at Shen Wenxing, then turned to Huang Yushui, remaining silent.

"Did you hear Grandpa's words?"

Huang Yushui's tone became heavier, and the two only nodded with teary eyes.

"Young Master Shen, let's go."

Seeing them agree, Huang Yushui spoke.

The group left the cave; by now, the other Huang Family members had almost cleared the bodies of their kin from the courtyard.

Everyone somberly cleaned the bloodstains in the courtyard.

"Changfeng, prepare a carriage, load the Blood Toads from Pool No. 3 and escort Young Master Shen."

Huang Changfeng responded with a bow, leading several Huang Family members away.

In front of the Huang Family estate, deep into the night.

Shen Wenxing and Huang Qingzhou mounted their horses, driven by the boy Chengchi.

"Elder, farewell."

Shen Wenxing bowed, and Huang Yushui along with the Huang Family returned the gesture, as the carriage gradually vanished into the night, heading towards Black Water Pool.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.