PCJ – Chapter 563 The Ferocious Spirit Beast

The Fat Cat had somehow charged into the Twenty-Four Mountain-Guarding Dog Formation as well. The Fat Cat leader leapt up and began clawing madly at Hua Tianpeng’s face.

Although Hua Tianpeng was a peak-level body cultivator, he was pinned to the ground by the Twenty-Four Mountain-Guarding Dogs, unable to move even an inch. The coordination among the dogs was extremely tight—there was no crowding at all. Once they bit down, they refused to let go, no matter what. Even when flung off by Hua Tianpeng, they would tear off a chunk of flesh. Any spot that was freed was immediately filled by another dog.

The Fat Cat took advantage of every opening, rotating in with the others. In just a few moments, Hua Tianpeng’s face had become a mangled mess of blood and flesh.

Crack! One of the mountain dogs bit through Hua Tianpeng’s throat. The howls and shrieks he had been making abruptly stopped—he couldn’t even scream anymore. His struggles grew weaker and weaker until, at last, he stopped moving entirely. When the dogs finally dispersed, not even six blood stains remained on the ground.

Chen Dianzi felt his scalp go numb. “The Twenty-Four Mountain-Guarding Dogs! So it really is the Twenty-Four Mountain-Guarding Dogs!”

Zhang Youping and Liu Qiaoye didn’t understand why Chen Dianzi was so adamant today—refusing to let them leave and insisting they come to his home for dinner. Yet only his wife, Chen Dianzi’s woman Chen Fang, was home.

“Auntie, where did Uncle Chen go? What’s so important that he wanted us here?” Zhang Youping felt awkward about leaving.

“I don’t know either. That old fool just insisted I keep you here. Said he had something important to tell you. I asked him, but he wouldn’t say. Just said it was something Zhang Jiaohua asked him to do. Don’t worry, just wait till the old man gets back. If he doesn’t explain things clearly, I’ll deal with him myself. Acting all high and mighty!” Chen Fang apologized, venting a bit in front of the couple.

“Auntie, maybe Uncle Chen really does have something important. My uncle likes to joke around usually, but he’s always serious about important things. If Zhang Jiaohua asked him to do something, then maybe it’s real. We don’t have anything urgent today anyway, and we’ve been meaning to come by to chat with you,” Liu Qiaoye said with a smile.

“Qiaoye, don’t defend that old man. I’ve been with him for years—of course I know what kind of person he is. He’s getting more improper with age.” Chen Fang couldn’t help but recall some embarrassing things Chen Dianzi had done recently.

Zhang Youping couldn’t help but chuckle.

Liu Qiaoye quietly stepped on Zhang Youping’s foot.

Chen Fang suddenly realized she’d let something slip in front of the younger couple.

“What’s not proper about me? I’m very proper, thank you.” Chen Dianzi entered the house—but he wasn’t wearing the same clothes as before.

“Where did you go? And why did you change clothes?” Chen Fang noticed right away.

“I accidentally got some filth on me outside. Didn’t want to get scolded by my clean-freak wife, so I bought a new outfit at the mall,” Chen Dianzi explained.

“Let me guess, you were trying to impress some young, pretty salesgirl at the mall?” Chen Fang glared at him.

“Wife, don’t think like that. Jingbing can vouch for me. I really was helping Zhang Jiaohua with something. He called me yesterday and asked for help. I got it done today. I can’t tell you what it is—it’s better if you don’t worry. Just trust me and Zhang Jiaohua. We’d never hurt you,” Chen Dianzi said.

“Uncle Chen, the more you say that, the more worried we get,” Zhang Youping said with a wry smile.

“That’s not my problem. Ask Zhang Jiaohua yourself. Just stay in the village for now. Don’t go anywhere—even if Biyu Immortal Brew is going bankrupt, don’t leave. If you still want things like that, Zhang Jiaohua can earn a hundred or a thousand more for you easily in the future,” Chen Dianzi said.

“Did Zhang Jiaohua get into trouble? Is someone after him now?” Zhang Youping asked.

Chen Dianzi shook his head. “You know your kid’s not like the others. There are things he’s done that you’re better off not knowing. It’s best for both of you. Trust me, he didn’t do anything wrong—it’s just that someone else is eyeing something he has. But you know your kid—he’s never been one to suffer losses. He’s capable. Very capable.”

“Zhang Jiaohua is really okay?” Liu Qiaoye asked.

“He’s fine. Just call him if you don’t believe me.” Chen Dianzi muttered and reached for a dish that Chen Fang had just brought out.

“You old coot, grabbing food with dirty hands—guests are here!” Chen Fang swatted his hand expertly.

Chen Dianzi grinned. “We’re all family. What’s the big deal?” Even after the smack, he still grabbed a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth.

Liu Qiaoye quickly made a call, and soon they heard Zhang Jiaohua on the line. “Mom, are you at Old Chen’s house?”

“Don’t be rude. Call him Grandpa Chen,” Liu Qiaoye shot an embarrassed glance at Chen Dianzi, relieved she hadn’t turned on speakerphone.

“That kid’s always been disrespectful to me. I’m used to it,” Chen Dianzi said, having heard it all clearly. Even if he hadn’t, he knew what Zhang Jiaohua would say anyway.

“Mom, just listen to Old Chen for now. Once I’ve wrapped things up here, everything can go back to normal,” Zhang Jiaohua said.

“Sweetie, what’s going on? Who’s after you? If it’s really bad, just come home. Let’s live peacefully in Meizi’ao, okay?” Liu Qiaoye said, worried.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll handle this soon. If you’re too kind, people take advantage of you. If they dare step on me, why should I back down? Trust me—it’ll be fine,” Zhang Jiaohua said with a smile.

In the Xiyun Secret Realm, Hua Zhaoyang was pacing anxiously like an ant on a hot griddle.

“Well? Any word on Shaobo?” he asked the steward desperately. Even though he knew the odds weren’t good, he still hoped for a miracle.

“Nothing. Not a word. The two men he sent to Xintian County are out of contact too. Something must have happened. This Zhang Jiaohua is clearly not as simple as our investigation suggested. There may be other cultivators in Xintian County as well,” the steward replied.

“Didn’t you say Zhang Jiaohua had no background there? Just some family money? How powerful can a guy selling tea really be? How did things get to this point?” Hua Zhaoyang was clearly upset with the steward’s earlier assessments.