Chapter 139 Good news! A false alarm!

The first year of Xuanwu.

December, the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, heavy snow.

Inside Qingzhi Valley, Su Hao and Zhou Zhengtang sat in a watchtower, sitting around a fire. A pot of hot wine was burning on the fire, and the aroma of the wine, along with the steam, rose and dispelled the chill that was constantly creeping in from all around.

"Father and the others will be back tomorrow. It seems that this time, we will have to settle things with the Chu family..."

Zhou Zhengtang took a piece of roasted deer meat, which was emitting a charred aroma, from the iron rack next to the stove.

He chewed on the venison, drank a bowl of hot wine, and then exhaled a long puff of white air.

"Okay! If you need anything or if there's anything I can do to help, remember to let me know!"

Su Hao nodded slightly.

He looked at the vast expanse of white snow-covered forest ahead, stretching endlessly to the horizon.

Then he took a deep breath and said, "But with such a major incident happening in Ironwood Manor, why hasn't anyone from the Chu family come yet? Brother Zhou, have you sent anyone to investigate?"

Three days have passed since their last attack on Tiemu Village.

For the past three days, Su Hao has been working with Zhou Zhengtang in Qingzhi Valley, helping to manage some affairs.

However, what puzzled him greatly was that such a big thing had happened in Tiemu Village before, with a third-level blood realm martial artist from the family being killed.

The Chu family has not taken any action so far.

This made him suspect that the Chu family might be secretly plotting something.

"Of course!" Zhou Zhengtang nodded slightly. "The spies and informants I sent out are watching the Chu family's every move almost around the clock. Once they make a move, the news will reach me even faster. However, the Chu family has indeed been unusually quiet these past few days... and everything seems normal..."

Based on Zhou Zhengtang's previous understanding of the Chu family's character, they would definitely not be the type to suffer a loss without saying a word.

Therefore, Zhou Zhengtang's idea was basically the same as Su Hao's, both believing that the Chu family was brewing a bigger conspiracy.

"But it doesn't matter. Even if Father and the others are able to return to the city today, whatever the Chu family wants to do, we'll see them through to the end!"

Zhou Zhengtang waved his hand and said.

Su Hao nodded, and was about to ask about something else when a small gray sparrow suddenly swooped down from mid-air and landed on the wooden railing of the tower, making a squeaking sound.

"Oh? You got a message?"

Zhou Zhengtang's eyes lit up. He quickly got up, grabbed the little sparrow, removed the paper tube from it, released the sparrow, and then opened the paper tube.

Su Hao's gaze also fell on the latter's hand.

These sparrows were one of the ways Zhou Zhengtang usually gathered intelligence.

In the past few days, he has finally figured out where Zhou Zhengtang gets so much information.

Messengers delivered messages by carrier pigeon, through word of mouth, or by servants carrying messages.

It can be said that as long as there are any changes in the situation in Yanshan City, it will be a significant factor.

Zhou Zhengtang would quickly learn of anything that was leaked!

According to the other party, he spends more than a hundred taels of silver every month just to maintain these intelligence channels.

"damn it…"

As Zhou Zhengtang looked at the paper in his hand, his previously furrowed brows began to relax, then the corners of his mouth slightly curled up, and finally he looked up and cursed.

"So, is it good news or bad news?"

Seeing the other party's appearance, Zhou Zhengtang couldn't help but feel curious.

"Hahaha!!!" Zhou Zhengtang looked at the vast white snow and ice world outside, and suddenly stood up, threw his head back and laughed loudly.

Laughter echoed throughout the valley, causing all the guards below to look at each other in bewilderment and look up.

I don't know what happened, why my young master is laughing so out of control.

Seeing the other party's expression, Su Hao felt somewhat helpless and shook his head.

This should be good news.

"Heaven is helping my Zhou family! Brother Su, you might not believe it... but you know..."

"I believe you! Who says I don't?" Su Hao nodded repeatedly before the other person could finish speaking.

"Hey! I'm talking to you about something serious!" Zhou Zhengtang patted Su Hao on the shoulder, his face finally breaking into a look of wild joy. "The Chu family, the Chu family patriarch Chu Xiongfeng, died yesterday! He's dead! Hahaha!!!!"

"Heaven is helping the Zhou family!"

Zhou Zhengtang laughed loudly again.

The oppressive atmosphere that had been building for days was swept away with the arrival of this news.

"That would be wonderful!"

Su Hao also laughed.

He was genuinely happy for Zhou Zhengtang about this good news.

"That old scoundrel Chu Xiongfeng plotted with bandits to ruin my Zhou family's caravan, causing them to lose ten thousand taels of silver and all their guards to be killed or wounded. Now that he has met his end, it is truly gratifying!"

Zhou Zhengtang sneered, "Without Chu Xiongfeng as their pillar, the entire Chu family has lost its backbone and is already a disorganized mess... This time, we must uproot the Chu family completely!"

Puff puff puff!!

As Zhou Zhengtang finished speaking, another rapid flapping sound rang out in mid-air.

A strange bird, entirely black with a crimson beak, quickly landed and perched on Zhou Zhengtang's shoulder.

At the same time, it emitted a series of cooing sounds.

"Black Panther is here!?"

Upon seeing this, Zhou Zhengtang's smile instantly froze.

This bird is called Black Panther. It was a highly intelligent and sophisticated communication bird that Zhou Zhengtang bought from the flower and bird market in Yanshan City.

This bird has a strong memory and is extremely loyal. Once it follows its master, it will never betray him or leave. Moreover, it will always stick to and complete the tasks assigned by its master.

Most importantly, it is very fast and has great endurance. If there is a message that needs to be escorted, it can basically fly a thousand miles a day without any problem!

But he raised this black leopard. Didn't he send it with his father and the others to the prefectural city?

But now they're here. Could it be... that Father and the others are returning to the city...?

Is it?

Zhou Zhengtang frowned deeply.

He removed a bamboo tube tied to the bird's claw and poured out the papers inside to examine them.

Su Hao sat quietly to the side, watching this scene unfold.

He had seen the black panther a few times before. He had heard Zhou Zhengtang say that this bird was used as a messenger to deliver urgent messages.

It seems there must be an urgent report arriving.

"Phew... thank goodness! What a scare!"

After reading the letter, Zhou Zhengtang let out a deep breath, and the tension in his eyes gradually dissipated.

He felt his facial expressions were almost numb.

From initial elation to deep sorrow, and now to a false alarm.

He was suffering terribly from these emotional ups and downs!

"What's wrong now?"

Su Hao poured Zhou Zhengtang a cup of hot wine and asked with a smile.

"It was my father and the others... They had some trouble on their way back to the city, but they're back near Yanshan City now..."

Zhou Zhengtang picked up the wine bowl and took a big gulp, then let out a long breath.