The long-awaited night, filled with anticipation and curiosity, was finally over. As dawn broke in the East, casting its golden hues over Baiyun city, the city stirred to life.
Pedestrians trooped into the city, their steps quickened by the energy of a new day. Store owners flung open their shutters, the creaking of metal against wood echoing through the streets.
Restaurants exuded the inviting aroma of morning meals, and thin trails of smoke curled from chimneys, blending with the crisp morning air.
Merchants, with their long carriages laden with goods, rumbled into the streets, ready to engage in the day's bustling commerce.
Yet, this was not just any usual day.
Every citizen in the outer region and inner region was expecting the demise of the Cao clan, fueled by rumors of their extravagant spending leading to their destruction.
The air was thick with suspense, and the city's pulse seemed to quicken in collective anticipation.
But as the sun climbed higher, dispelling the shadows, there was an eerie silence.
The expected downfall of the Cao clan did not materialize, leaving the populace in a state of puzzled uncertainty.
The rumors had not played out as predicted. Everyone was perplexed. Was the previous undercurrent not against them?
It was at that moment that shocking news spread throughout the outer region—the White Wolf gang had been destroyed.
At once, no one believed such absurd news. However, as more and more people began to testify to the gang's destruction, the news spread like wildfire.
In every tavern and restaurant, the story was spoken by everyone; even those who were not citizens of Baiyun city heard about the White Wolf gang's demise.
In the inner region, the situation was more controlled than in the outer region. In a particular mansion, five middle-aged men sat around a long wooden table, with an old man sitting at the center—the Fu clan elders and patriarch.
"Someone should tell me what is going on?" the Fu clan patriarch asked with a deep frown etched on his face.
Fu Manchu looked at their patriarch and took a deep breath before speaking. "We don't know how it happened, but our men noticed them rushing toward the Cao residence yesterday night."
Now, this was getting outrageous. Many clans focused on the Cao clan with various speculations flying back and forth.
Among the most notable ones was the death of the clan that went to the southern sea, related to the Cao clan since they were the only ones that came back alive.
Moreover, they didn't just come back alone; they brought back some people.
Inside the Crimson Jade Pavilion, in a massive room, the associate elders of the pavilion sat and discussed the Cao clan's sudden massive spending and the rumors that followed.
Sitting at the main seat was an old woman with a head full of gray hair.
"Send our men to keep eyes on the Cao clan, and if they want to buy any building from us, it is not for sale." Though old, her voice was dripping with authority.
"We can't be distracted now when the tournament is around the corner. How is the race about the prospective heir or heiress?" she asked, not entirely focused on the issue of the Cao clan.
As the Cao clan continued with lavish spending, many powerful clans began to order their subordinate clans not to sell their stores to the Cao clans unless they knew what was going on.
Immediately, all the clans ordered their men to cease their properties to the Cao clan.
When Huang Guo heard about this, he smiled and looked at the tens of house deals in his hand. They thought they were wise, but unfortunately, they were too late to be wise.
In the inner region, Huang Guo was not the only one who went for the purchase of the buildings this time around. There were five of them that went on a buying spree.
Therefore, before they realized what was going on, they had completed their mission.
As for the core region, they had no plan for that for now.
Meanwhile, in the core region, inside the Wang clan mansion, Wang Duyi's wife was listening to the rumors about the Cao clan, her rage boiling.
She let her servant complete her statement when she shouted,
"Gather the men, we're going to the Cao clan."
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