My starting summon is a small skeleton-Chapter 356 - 353 Sickly Cute

Lu Wu had thought his tranquil days would continue.

But he hadn’t expected them to end so abruptly and suddenly.

The day after he and Cimu Qingzi had finished their sukiyaki, he received a message from her.

Disaster had struck the Sakuragi Family!

Last night, a formidable intruder had attacked Old Man Sakuragi and kidnapped Sakuragi Hanakazuki.

When Lu Wu heard this news, his heart skipped a beat.

He worried not only for the naïve and easily embarrassed girl but also for the peace and stability on his side that was about to be irrevocably lost.

Clearly, the incident was targeted at him.

The Sakuragi Family was implicated because of him, and likely, this was just the beginning.

"Zheng Dajun might as well go and see if you can help with anything. I’ll have Granny go with you," suggested Cimu Qingzi as Lu Wu frowned.

After hesitating for a moment, Lu Wu eventually nodded.

Thus, on his 19th day at the Cimu family’s residence, Lu Wu stepped out of the Cimu family’s gate for the first time.

Accompanying him was the granny that Cimu Qingzi had mentioned.

She was an elder exuding an aura of approaching end-of-life.

This woman, whose power peaked at the king level, was Cimu Qingzi’s strongest support within the Cimu family.

Cimu Qingzi’s decision to send her with Lu Wu showed how much she valued him.

Of course, Lu Wu saw it not so much as protection, but as surveillance to prevent him from escaping.

After all, the ruthless Cimu Qingzi wouldn’t be so kind-hearted.

Even when saying goodbye, Cimu Qingzi held his hand tightly, her eyes slightly red, as if they were parting in life and death.

Lu Wu wasn’t fooled.

In his view, she acted out of fear that he would escape!

What Lu Wu didn’t know was that almost at the moment he left the Cimu residence, a campaign against him and Cimu Qingzi officially commenced.

As the mastermind behind the scenes began to make moves, the entire operation started to unfold.

First, the Yueqian Family, which similarly trailed the seven major factions in District 11, sent an invitation to the ancient elder of the Cimu family.

This old fellow, who had stayed within the family for a decade, rare as it was, stepped out of his home.

Simultaneously, inside the Cimu family, personnel were shuffled frequently.

The undercurrents surging within the Cimu family began to roar towards the surface.

Meanwhile, as Lu Wu had been sent off, Cimu Qingzi’s expression remained unprecedentedly serene.

Seated like the eye of a raging storm, she watched the tumultuous winds and rising clouds with a cold eye.

Only when someone rudely pushed open her room door did Cimu Qingzi open her eyes and look icily at the uninvited group before her.

Her ice-cold gaze made the intruders shiver.

But quickly they straightened their backs.

After all, the woman before them was completely undone.

The Family Head had decided to strike against her, and after today she would fall from grace, no longer feared by anyone.

With this thought, a trace of mockery and ridicule formed on the lips of the group.

"The Family Head summons you!"

Cimu Qingzi responded not, retracting her cold gaze as she stood with an indifferent expression.

The group didn’t waste words. They surrounded Cimu Qingzi and escorted her out of her courtyard.

Throughout the process, Cimu Qingzi remained silent, incredibly cooperative, and was escorted through the Cimu residence towards the courtyard where Izumikawa Yan resided.

Along the way, everyone felt an unusual atmosphere.

Seeing the once high and mighty Princess Cimu now resembling a prisoner, many spectating eyes showed mockery and ridicule.

This cruel woman was finally facing her downfall.

Amidst the jeers and derogatory stares of the onlookers, Cimu Qingzi arrived at Izumikawa Yan’s courtyard.

At that moment, Izumikawa Yan, dressed in Bai Yi, sat in the middle of his courtyard making tea without looking up. With great presence, he pointed to a spot in front of him.

"Sit!"

In a manner befitting a prisoner, Cimu Qingzi took a seat before Izumikawa Yan without a word.

As the victor, Izumikawa Yan graciously filled a cup of tea for Cimu Qingzi.

.......

"It’s finally starting!"

As Izumikawa Yan made tea,

in another courtyard of the Cimu family, Cimu Tongzi was also preparing tea.

A careful observer would notice that Cimu Tongzi’s tea-making technique was almost identical to that of Izumikawa Yan, if not a tad less skilled.

Clearly, both had learned from the same master.

For them, the way of tea was not merely a means to boast but also a habit to steady emotions at crucial moments.

Today was a significant day for them both.

The more crucial the day, the more one needed a calm heart.

On this front, Izumikawa Yan did much better than Cimu Tongzi.

Despite both making tea, Cimu Tongzi’s emotions were noticeably unsettled.

He was excited; this was his first time orchestrating a plan as a flag-bearer.

Now, at the most critical moment, he really couldn’t contain his excitement.

Because if everything went as expected, it would be today.

Today, he would make his official debut, crushing two stepping stones to assert his formidable entrance, and taking the talent that had traversed Divine Blade Tower, Zhengdaguangming, into his hands, ushering in a new era for the Cimu family - an era belonging to him.

The mere thought of this scene made Cimu Tongzi tremble with exhilaration.

However, as Cimu Tongzi struggled to compose his emotions, a clamor suddenly erupted in his courtyard, and before he could react, a crowd barged in.

Seeing these people, Cimu Tongzi’s face darkened, realizing that an unexpected variable had occurred.

Yet the young man had truly remarkable composure and exhibited no flaws.

He calmly gazed at the group that had just taken Cimu Qingzi to Izumikawa Yan.

These people, when addressing Cimu Tongzi, were significantly more respectful than they had been to Cimu Qingzi, with the leader bowing slightly, "Young master, the Family Head invites you."

Ten minutes later.

In the courtyard of Izumikawa Yan.

Izumikawa Yan couldn’t help but shake his head at the sibling pair before him.

Truly a pair of siblings who wouldn’t give peace of mind!

While lamenting, Izumikawa Yan’s gaze fell on his nephew.

At this moment, Cimu Tongzi appeared calm and collected, holding a cup of tea, sipping slowly, devoid of a loser’s dejection or a prisoner’s anxiety.

Lu Wu looked at Izumikawa Yan, Cimu Tongzi greeted him with a particularly pure and innocent smile, "Uncle, you truly are remarkable!"

A double entendre.

It was unclear if the praise was for Izumikawa Yan’s tactics or his tea ceremony skills.

"If you like, I can teach you."

Izumikawa Yan chuckled as he poured more tea for Cimu Tongzi.

"Would Uncle really be willing?"

"You are the future of the Cimu family. What wouldn’t I be willing to give!

When you grow up, the entire Cimu family will be yours!"

Together, the pair initiated a second round of strategic negotiation at the tea table.

There were three seated, but in reality, only two were equals.

One stood with the mightiest battle force of the Cimu family behind him, the other in command of the family’s absolute resources.

One represented the future of the Cimu family, the other its present. As for Cimu Qingzi, in their eyes, she had always been nothing more than a pawn unfit for the light of day.

In the past, when Cimu Tongzi was younger and not yet in the public eye, there was no need for a Cimu Qingzi pawn.

Now that he had revealed himself, he too would step from behind the scenes into the spotlight.

In this situation, the existence of Cimu Qingzi held little significance.

Hence, both men tacitly ignored the other at the tea ceremony, focusing their energies on each other, on their impending game of wit.

Izumikawa Yan had never considered killing Cimu Tongzi, with that old guy backing him up.

He couldn’t kill him, nor did he dare to.

So what Izumikawa Yan could do, was to use this opportunity, to achieve a few goals.

Cimu Tongzi was also keenly aware of this.

Thus, both parties bluntly exchanged a few words before Cimu Tongzi spoke up directly.

"I’ve lost this round. Uncle, whatever you want, just name it."

Izumikawa Yan wasn’t shy about his request and glanced at Cimu Qingzi before saying indifferently, "She has already sent Zheng Dajun out of the Cimu family. Since he’s gone, let’s not have him return!"

This was Izumikawa Yan’s core demand!

For him, Lu Wu absolutely could not live, his talent was too terrifying, and his existence posed a great threat to Izumikawa Yan.

He had to die.

So, in presenting his demands, Izumikawa Yan wasn’t asking, he was decreeing.

"And the same goes for the one who left with him; do not return either.

Furthermore, Tongzi, I hope you understand that the future of the Cimu family is yours, and no one can change that, but that future is ten years away.

I hope that before that future arrives, you will focus on honing yourself and not interfere with the affairs of the Cimu family.

As for Qingzi, I’ve arranged another marriage for you, with the third son of the Yueqian Family. I hope you will marry promptly and then move out of the Cimu family!"

Izumikawa Yan had laid out all his intentions.

He wanted a Cimu family that spanned ten years—all his own.

Or, to put it another way, he wanted the Cimu family to revert to the state it was before the advent of Lu Wu.

As for whether he would truly hand over the Cimu family after ten years, that remained unknown.

Regardless, Cimu Tongzi had no choice but to accept.

Defeat was defeat, and the price had to be paid. Cimu Tongzi wasn’t about to hesitate in this regard, nodding his head without delay.

Cimu Tongzi’s nod brought a smile to Izumikawa Yan’s face; he knew his objective had been achieved.

He was well aware of Cimu Tongzi’s character; once he nodded in agreement, he would not go back on his word.

Proud as he was, he would only contemplate how to defeat others with his own strength, rather than relying on Ibaraki Gangyan’s power.

As long as Cimu Tongzi didn’t rely on Ibaraki Gangyan’s power, Izumikawa Yan was willing to be the whetstone for him.

After all, given ten years, it was hard to say who would be the stone and who would be the blade after that time.

Thus, the two relatives came to a pleasant compromise, and Izumikawa Yan started to prepare tea to see off his guest; as for Cimu Qingzi, who had remained silent throughout, neither of them gave her a second thought.

They didn’t feel there was anything about her worth paying attention to. freeweɓnøvel.com

She was nothing more than a useless chess piece after all.

However, just as Izumikawa Yan was about to serve tea and see off his guest, they noticed something was off with Cimu Qingzi.

Cimu Qingzi, who had remained silent up until now, finally spoke her first words since arriving.

Her gaze, cold as ice, was fixed on Izumikawa Yan in front of her, and she said slowly and clearly, "What are you going to do with Zheng Dajun?"

His slow, tens of beats behind reaction, this impotent rage on her face, left Izumikawa Yan somewhat speechless.

"I’ve already said, I’ve arranged another marriage for you..."

"Do you remember, I said something to you before?"

Cimu Qingzi interrupted Izumikawa Yan in an increasingly calm tone.

Izumikawa Yan, unwilling to bother with this woman, stood up intending to have his men see the guest out.

That’s when Cimu Qingzi finished her sentence, "I’ve said that if anyone lays a finger on my man, I will kill his entire family!"

As she spoke, a terrifying killing intent exploded from Cimu Qingzi’s body.

"King-level, how is this possible!"

Izumikawa Yan’s face turned pale, before he could recover from Cimu Qingzi’s sudden burst of aura, something even more horrifying occurred.

The moment Cimu Qingzi’s aura unleashed, she made her move, striking her younger brother beside her to death with a palm strike.

"Have you gone mad!"

Izumikawa Yan was petrified by the sudden turn of events.

He knew Cimu Qingzi was cruel, as did the entire Cimu family and even all of District 11, but Izumikawa Yan had never expected her to be cruel to the extent of daring to kill her own brother.

And Cimu Qingzi’s intended killing was not limited to just her brother; as Izumikawa Yan stood in shock, commotion arose in the courtyard of his residence.

"What’s going on?"

A bad premonition bubbled up inside Izumikawa Yan.

His premonition soon came true; a group burst forth, led by his own confidant, the person in charge of his courtyard’s security, and now, this confidant was holding his wife and children.

"It was you!"

Izumikawa Yan suddenly woke up, turning to look at Cimu Qingzi.

At this moment, Cimu Qingzi had just pulled her hand out from her brother’s, her gaze colder than ever before.

"I have captured his wife, children, and family," Cimu Qingzi’s response sent shivers down Izumikawa Yan’s spine.

Only now did Izumikawa Yan realize that he had always underestimated Cimu Qingzi.

He had underestimated both her methods and her cruelty, but it was all too late.

Minutes later, Izumikawa Yan’s courtyard was a river of blood.

Izumikawa Yan’s family, from him to his wife and children, none were spared by Cimu Qingzi; they were all slaughtered.

In the vast Cimu family, only she remained as the direct descendant.

Almost at the moment Cimu Qingzi killed Izumikawa Yan, a cry full of anger and despair from an old man echoed; the elder of the Cimu family had returned...