Chapter 1690 - 1690: Too Late for Regret

That night, deep into the night, the rain poured down heavily!

It was still the old residence of the Duanmu Family in the Capital City, the conference hall.

Duanmu Mian paced back and forth, hands clasped behind him, his mind unsettled.

For some reason, ever since not long ago, his right eyelid had been twitching, giving him an ominous feeling.

Unable to sleep from the start, coupled with this sense of foreboding, Duanmu Mian found himself deeply troubled and anxious.

"Family Head, Second Young Master and Young Master Zhe's phones still can't be reached..."

A family member came up with a phone, speaking bitterly to Duanmu Mian.

"Useless, call again!!!"

Duanmu Mian was furious!

Another matter unsettled him: both his grandson and younger brother were out of contact!

Previously, when the two charged aggressively toward Jiangdong, they kept in touch, reporting their journey's progress in real-time.

But now, none of the phones could connect, which was unnerving!

Could it be...

Sweat broke out on his forehead, and he dared not think further!

Should a core issue arise with the Dark Hall, it would indisputably spell the end for the Duanmu Family, their status in the Capital City plummeting!

They might even be deemed worthless by the Ying Family and cast aside, reduced to sacrifices.

"Connected!!!"

Suddenly, that family member finally got through the call, handed it over happily, and said to Duanmu Mian: "Second Young Master, it's connected!"

Duanmu Mian snatched the phone, immediately saying: "Hello, Zhe'er, is that you? How's it going?"

"Duanmu Mian, it's not me, and things aren't going well."

From the other end, a somewhat teasing yet unfamiliar voice came through.

Duanmu Mian was stunned: "You... who are you?! Where is Zhe'er?!"

"Oh, he's under my feet, but he can no longer speak. I apologize for denying you the last chance to send off the young with white hair."

Boom!!!

Duanmu Mian, upon hearing this, recoiled several steps as if struck by a thunderbolt out of the blue, utterly dazed.

"You... you are Jiang Feng!!! You're that Jiang Feng from Jiangdong?!!" he roared.

"Correct, you got it right this time!"

Jiang Feng chuckled: "Judging by the number of calls you've made, you must be anxious to know what happened to your brother and grandson, right? No need to wait; I'll tell you—they are finished and can't return to the Capital City."

Even though Duanmu Mian had already sensed a foreboding, upon hearing those words, his eyes rolled back, nearly fainting as if struck by five thunderbolts!

"What... what did you say?!"

He hadn't misheard; he just couldn't believe or accept how quickly the Duanmu Family's situation had deteriorated.

"Didn't hear me clear? Then I'll repeat, your brother Duanmu Chunqiu and your grandson Duanmu Zhe have already reported to the underworld, ahead of you, and you shouldn't be impatient because soon, you'll join them..." Jiang Feng still said with a smile.

With a thud!

Duanmu Mian's hand loosened, and the phone dropped to the floor.

He staggered, falling into the Family Head's chair, his face instantly looking worn out, as if he aged ten years.

"Family... Family Head!"

Suddenly, those still in the conference hall gathered around, looking at Duanmu Mian incredulously, full of tension.

"Family Head, what happened? Did something happen to Second Young Master and the others...?"

Duanmu Mian shook his hand with difficulty, but when he looked up again, tears flowed!

The Duanmu Family, indeed, was destined to fall. Despite his utmost caution, it had come to this; it was unbearable...

Like a reckless gambler who had bet everything and lost, left with nothing...

"Quick, quickly give me that phone!"

He pointed weakly at the phone, eager.

A family member picked it up and handed it to him, but upon listening, the call had long since been disconnected, replaced only by the buzzing tone.

This made Duanmu Mian feel even more drained, his eyes blank, filled with despair.

"Family Head, what's the situation? Did Second Young Master actually get defeated?"

"Absurd, how could that brat defeat the Dark Hall's masters? Is he really so sinister?"

"Might he have a master aiding him? Does he have some ancient monster backing him?"

"In any case, we can't just swallow this anger; we must avenge Second Young Master and Zhe'er! Family Head, it's up to us now; we can still go to battle!"

"Indeed, we have over two thousand people ready to fight at any time!" everyone clamored.

Listening to these people's righteous indignation only made Duanmu Mian feel more weary and forlorn.

"Bring... bring everyone, especially those core, reputable members; gather all of them... and tomorrow morning, go with me... to Jiangdong..." he raised his hand weakly and said.

"Yes!"

The family members, upon hearing this, immediately rubbed their fists, eager for a fight: "We'll gather everyone and head to Jiangdong with you..."

"Nonsense!!!"

Before they finished speaking, Duanmu Mian suddenly sprang from the Family Head's chair as if revived, shouting: "Anyone who dares say 'expedition' again, I'll kill him!! This time, I'm taking you to sincerely apologize to Jiang Feng, repent, and accept his judgment!!!"

"By voluntarily surrendering, we can hopefully receive leniency; it's better than total family annihilation!"

The family members were shocked, their eyes wide: "Family Head, you... what are you saying?!"

Duanmu Mian closed his old eyes, unwilling to explain further.

Only after risking everything did he come up with this method, to preserve his family's continuity.

Unlike these hot-headed members, he wasn't naive enough to believe that sheer numbers could prevail against Jiang Feng.

If the Dark Hall failed, what use could two thousand people be?

Each Dark Hall core member could easily take down two thousand; destroying them was child's play!

Yet Jiang Feng managed to annihilate those people, a terrifying feat indeed!

"Tomorrow morning at seven, gather all direct family members at the entrance."

Duanmu Mian said wearily: "The convoy also needs to be prepared to leave the Capital City promptly for Jiangdong to atone..."

At the same time.

In the Capital City, inside a similarly hidden private club.

A sharp-eyed young man suddenly rose from the bed, approached the window, gazing silently at the menacing lightning and thunder outside.

Behind him, a woman of exceptional beauty, like an ancient concubine, got up as well. Draped in a thin veil, entirely nude, she stepped towards him with bare, delicate feet.

"Young Master Ying, what's wrong?"

The woman extended her slender hands, gently placing them on the young man's shoulders.

The young man was nearly nude too, except he wore a gold-colored robe!

In China, gold is the most noble symbol, representing the heavens.

And the young man was the future Emperor!