Urban Seduction: Housewives Club Chapter 2101 - 430: Widespread Debts of Infamy 3

With his mighty status in the Deification Realm, Zhang Jiazu possessed reflexes that vastly outpaced those of Zhang Jiancheng. He swiftly leaped back, evading the aggressive kick entirely while catching a full view of their assailant.

"It’s you?!" Upon recognizing the sharp, slitted eyes and the hooked, beak-like nose, a surge of astonishment and fury gripped Zhang Jiazu.

The shock stemmed from how this individual had slipped past countless hunters to emerge directly in his path.

The rage boiled from the audacity of this foe appearing before him and slaying Zhang Jiancheng in plain sight.

Even though Zhang Jiancheng lacked great prowess, he remained his flesh-and-blood grandson. How could Zhang Jiazu hold back his wrath when his own kin met death so brazenly under his nose?

Consumed by anger, Zhang Jiazu parted his hands, shielding his body with the left while driving the right straight toward Wang Yue’s torso in a lethal strike.

Wang Yue evaded the blow effortlessly and retaliated with a swift cut, targeting Zhang Jiazu’s throat.

Within the nine tiers of the Deification Realm, every stage marks a profound leap in might. Only an anomaly like Wang Yue could overturn the odds; a single level gap typically sealed any hope of comeback.

Positioned at the late stage of the first level in the Deification Realm, Zhang Jiazu trailed Wang Yue by three full tiers, the latter at the late fourth level. Besides, as a mere average fighter, Zhang Jiazu stood no chance against superiors in rank.

Thus, should Wang Yue desire his end, a single blade stroke would suffice.

Yet Wang Yue held back from that. He opted instead to clash with Zhang Jiazu using his blade techniques.

For one, he had freshly mastered the Bad Luck Sword Skill and required a sparring partner to hone it.

For another, it mirrored his earlier choice to spare those two young Zhangs—to feign vulnerability against the foe.

Displaying overwhelming power by felling Zhang Jiazu instantly could prompt the Zhang clan to withdraw or devise alternative countermeasures.

However, revealing just enough dominance to overpower Zhang Jiazu might draw the elder Zhang into the fray.

Therefore, after trading over thirty exchanges with Zhang Jiazu, Wang Yue spotted a vulnerability and unleashed a savage assault, severing Zhang Jiazu’s head in one decisive swing.

Immediately after, monitoring equipment across miles in the vicinity malfunctioned once more. Having claimed the spatial rings from the two Zhangs, he vanished as mysteriously as ever.

Back at the Zhang stronghold, elation from the third patriarch’s update shattered abruptly with word of his and Zhang Jiancheng’s demise.

Accompanying the report were recordings from nearby cameras capturing the duel between Zhang Jiazu and the mysterious youth.

Consequently, the Zhang clan’s key figures convened urgently again. This gathering saw not Zhang Jianyuan at the helm, but the venerable Zhang patriarch, who joined the council.

Having reviewed the combat visuals, the elder Zhang patriarch mulled it over briefly before declaring, "I should be able to handle this person."

His use of "should" over certainty arose from the foe’s enigmatic nature. Initially sparing the two young Zhangs suggested hesitation toward the clan, yet he abruptly executed Zhang Jiazu and Zhang Jiancheng.

Slaying Zhang Jiazu demanded effort, but what if it masked yet another ploy to appear feeble?

Still, presuming weakness from this alone and pressing ahead would paint the Zhangs as cowardly. Hence, the family now teetered in limbo, unable to advance or retreat decisively.

"Are we overthinking things?" voiced a bold branch head. "If this person truly could eradicate the Zhang family, he’d have struck by now. No point in all this secrecy."

"Yes, he may be using a tactic of feigning weakness to make us hesitate and not dare to fight him with all our might," another chimed in right away.

"I’m afraid it’s not that simple," Zhang Jianyuan replied, shaking his head. "It seems like he’s also concerned about the Warrior Alliance. After all, fighting each other outside and attacking directly are completely different situations. It’s also possible that he wants to use this strategy to lure us out and defeat us one by one."

"What should we do then?" Confusion spread among them. With endless scenarios, which path to take?

In that instant, all eyes shifted to the Zhang family patriarch in the central position.

"Let’s hold our ground and wait to see how effective the Warrior Alliance’s search efforts are," the Zhang family patriarch resolved steadfastly.

Currently, the Zhang family confronts two scenarios and matching approaches, yielding four potential results:

1. The Zhang family takes the initiative to attack, but the opponent deliberately shows weakness. Even the patriarch isn’t a match for them. Outcome: The Zhang family is destroyed.

2. The Zhang family takes the initiative to attack, and the opponent is just bluffing. The Zhang family captures, kills them, or forces them to hide forever. Outcome: The Zhang family saves face.

3. The Zhang family stays back and doesn’t act. The opponent was pretending to be weak, but eventually gave up because they couldn’t wait for the right opportunity. Outcome: The Zhang family survives but loses face.

4. The Zhang family stays back and doesn’t act. The opponent is just bluffing, and as a result, the Zhang family misses the chance to avenge themselves and regain their dignity. Outcome: The Zhang family is laughed at.

Of these four outcomes, one spells disaster, one promises triumph, and two hover in between.

The top and bottom results both hinge on launching an assault, surrendering control to the adversary. It’s akin to wagering the whole Zhang lineage on a single throw. Defeat would spell ruin, and victory would yield scant rewards.

The risks far eclipse any upsides.

Holding steady guarantees a hit to prestige, yet in a world ruled by power, reputation takes a backseat.

Thus, the Zhang family patriarch opted resolutely to remain passive and observe.