Chapter 12. The Four Deities Activated (2)

One month later.

"Wow! Big Brother! Look over there! Isn't that carriage huge?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Goodness, I've never seen such a large and luxurious carriage! It's clear that Anhui is more enjoyable to the eye than our Jiangsu!"

"Yeah, it is."

"Whoa! Big Brother! Did you see that just now?! That carriage is tiny but incredibly fast! How can such a carriage exist?"

"Indeed."

"Let's ride in one of those carriages someday! Okay?"

"Sure."

"Hehe, definitely! You promised, Big Brother?"

"Sure."

Yan Zeping's face was flushed with excitement.

This was his first time stepping foot on foreign soil. Anhui, adjacent to Jiangsu where the Yan family resided, had many differences from Jiangsu, from the climate to the culture.

Yan Hezheng's face, watching his excited younger brother, was filled with unease.

"Are you enjoying it?"

"Of course! Is Big Brother not enjoying it? This is your first time in Anhui, right?"

I've probably been here a hundred times more.

"Actually, I want to travel the entire world. I want to see a broader world and always wondered how people in other regions live."

They're all the same.

The environment is different, the culture is different, and the appearance is different, but ultimately, people are all the same. A good person will smile and endure even when hit in the back, while a bad person will get angry even when treated well.

The world Yan Hezheng saw was like this.

"Hmm... and also."

"Huh?"

"It's even better to come out with Big Brother, hehe."

His silly smile and scratching of his head were quite adorable.

Yan Hezheng's face, which had been smiling at Yan Zeping, gradually twisted. He suddenly thought of his father.

'He really doesn't understand.'

After hearing the answer in the bamboo grove, his father glared at him for a while before returning to the family hall.

I thought he was angry because of my rude tone, but the next day, he called me to the family hall and said:

'After reconsidering, I feel that sending Zeping alone is somewhat risky. Of course, the same applies to you. However, you are already eighteen and old enough to handle yourself. If you promise not to cause any disturbances, I will send you with Zeping.'

It's an uncomfortable position, but it's indeed awkward to send Zeping alone. Besides, I am at the core of the conflict between the two families. I don't want to burden my younger brother.

'If they don't intend to cause trouble, I don't want to either.'

'Even if they provoke you, endure it.'

'I can't promise that.'

'I'll say it again. Enduring insults is not cowardice but patience. However, a person shouldn't bark back when a dog barks. Assess whether the other party is human or beast before acting. Understand?'

'...'

'Why don't you answer?'

'Well... I'm not a fully grown person, so my patience is...'

Yan Hezheng spent four days in continuous horseback training. Without patience, it would have been hard to endure.

Then, he had to come to Anhui much earlier than planned. His father's strict order was to adapt to the climate in advance and build connections with the other young masters who had arrived earlier to learn about harmony.

'He's a very peculiar person.'

I always thought he was a rigid person who valued rules, but this time, he seemed to handle the situation emotionally.

Still, Yan Hezheng understood his father. After all, his son was taking a different path from what he had hoped, which was understandable to be angry.

'Well, it's also a good opportunity.'

Yan Hezheng's eyes burned with determination.

'I can verify it.'

Even if it means a slight rift with his father, he wouldn't have come if there was nothing to gain from this gathering. He could have done many other things during that time.

The reason he willingly participated in the gathering was one.

'Can I identify the enemy?'

This gathering of young masters was also a meeting for the future leaders of the families.

If the enemy is among the Seven Great Families, the successor would likely know about the attack on the Yan family. Even if not, there might be similarities in their martial arts and inner energy.

'Let's exclude the Nangong, Murong, and Tang families.'

During the training with the White Path and the fight against the Four Sounds Sect, he had seen these three families the most. He never felt any similarities in their martial arts to the enemy's.

So, the remaining families are three.

'The Peng, Zhuge, and Ming families. I need to keep an eye on them.'

"Big Brother?"

"Hmm?"

Yan Zeping asked with a worried face.

"Are you uncomfortable?"

"Uncomfortable? Why?"

"No, just..."

Yan Hezheng smiled. He must have looked grim thinking about the culprit of the family's destruction.

"I'm not uncomfortable at all. I'm also excited."

In various ways.

"Hehe, then let's find our lodging first?"

"Sure."

At that moment, a deep voice was heard.

"Are we not moving further today?"

Yan Zeping involuntarily shrank his neck. The low and deep voice made his abdomen vibrate.

Yan Hezheng replied.

"That's the plan."

"Understood. We will find the lodging, so please wait a moment."

The person bowing was a middle-aged swordsman who looked to be around forty.

He was Shen Mo, the leader of the Blue Eagle Team. A top expert known for his leadership of the Blue Eagle Team, one of the Yan family's prides, and a renowned swordsman in Jiangdong.

"That's not necessary. I've already decided where to go."

"Really?"

"To the Chu Sheng Lou."

The group was in Huaxian, Anhui. The northeast of Huaxian was called Wujian, famous for the legend of the Western Chu Overlord being surrounded on all sides.

Chu Sheng Lou was a pavilion with a good view of the Wujian area. It was not well-known outside of Anhui.

Shen Mo asked, surprised.

"Do you know about Chu Sheng Lou?"

"Yeah."

"It's not well-known outside of Anhui..."

"I've just heard of it. By the way, does Captain Shen know it?"

"Yes, it's not far from Jiangsu, so I've visited a few times."

"Then lead the way."

"Understood."

Shen Mo was different from Jiang Yun in many ways.

His martial arts were higher than Jiang Yun's, and he appeared more cautious. As a warrior of the Yan family, he was thorough in distinguishing between public and private matters and dedicated to his tasks.

There were many people with stronger martial arts, but few as reliable as him. This was why Yan Wei sent him to accompany his brother.

Thus, the Yan brothers, Shen Mo, and twenty members of the Blue Eagle Team moved to Chu Sheng Lou.

"Wow!"

Chu Sheng Lou was quite bustling. Despite the cold weather, many people visited year-round to immerse themselves in the legend of the Western Chu Overlord.

"Let's find a room and rest. We have time, so we'll leave in four days."

"Understood."

The group settled in the back garden of Chu Sheng Lou.

However, the Blue Eagle Team strictly guarded the brothers. The team leader and twenty members were divided into three shifts to take turns on duty.

Yan Hezheng, holding an iron staff, clicked his tongue.

"Why don't you rest too?"

"We're fine."

So rigid.

"Then, thank you for your hard work."

They had received orders from the family head, so Yan Hezheng didn't try to persuade them.

"Hmm, this spot is good."

Swish, swish.

Yan Hezheng, holding the center of the iron staff, moved it around. Shen Mo's eyes sparkled as he watched.

'He's familiar with it.'

The skillful movement of the staff with one hand showed his proficiency, as if he had practiced staff techniques for years.

'Wasn't he originally a swordsman?'

During the journey, Yan Hezheng didn't stop training. However, all his training was in internal energy cultivation and slow boxing forms, not staff techniques.

Thud!

The sound of the iron staff hitting the ground was quite sharp.

"Let's see."

Yan Hezheng kicked the iron staff with his toes.

Whoosh!

The iron staff rotated, making a threatening sound.

He held the center of the staff with both hands and swung it like a whirlwind. The cold, dry air was pushed away by the staff.

"Ah."

Thud!

With a strong stance, Yan Hezheng began to display his staff techniques.

Whirr!

Shen Mo's eyes grew wider as he watched Yan Hezheng.

Swish! Swish! Bang!

The staff techniques became faster and more precise over time.

The heavy staff, weighing slightly less than twenty kilograms, was handled skillfully. He increased its speed with centrifugal force and delivered powerful strikes, which were surprisingly smooth and beautiful.

A smile appeared at the corners of Yan Hezheng's eyes.

'As expected, it works.'

During the journey, he practiced the Yan family's basic boxing form, Yan Jia Shi San Quan, to improve his flexibility and center of gravity.

As expected, it worked. The Whirlwind Staff Technique was now effective. With a bit more practice, it would be ready for real combat.

'Good, let's keep it up.'

Crack!

The Bìlǎ Jīn (Vermilion Silk) energy stabilized his body. The tip of the staff, piercing the air, was sharp, and the staff itself was heavy. The staff technique, which drew in the air as it rotated, was like a mighty river.

Shen Mo, impressed by the unexpectedly good skills, was soon amazed.

Crack! Bang! Crack!

The smooth staff techniques, which had been flowing like an unbroken stream, became rigid.

The iron staff continuously struck the air. The beautiful staff technique, which had been like a dance, suddenly became rough.

"It's too rigid."

Shen Mo looked to the side. It was Yang Qin from the first team of the Blue Eagle Team. He was supposed to be on duty at dawn but had come out to watch Yan Hezheng's training.

"The form is gradually breaking down. He doesn't seem tired, but it appears he's not familiar with the staff technique."

"Does it look that way?"

"Um? Ah, yes. Of course, it seems to be a high-level staff technique, but..."

"The Young Master understands the staff technique well."

"Um?!"

"It may look rough, but there are no unnecessary movements, right?"

Yang Qin couldn't understand.

"Are you talking about strange movements?"

"Can you only see the form of the staff and not the true energy (zhēn qì) within the iron staff?"

Shen Mo's eyes deepened.

"The Young Master is using the staff technique to effectively destroy the enemy's body, utilizing the characteristics of the true energy. That's why it looks rough."

"..."

"Perhaps this staff technique is derived from a fast and intense inner energy cultivation method."

Adjusting the flow of the staff technique according to the characteristics of the inner energy cultivation method?

Yang Qin couldn't believe it. It was a difficult task even for a first-class expert like himself.

Shen Mo's eyes wavered.

'Does he have such talent?'

Even he found it hard to believe, as the Young Master was naturally doing something he couldn't even attempt at his current level.

'Indeed, blood runs deep.'

A little later.

"Huff, huff."

Yan Hezheng stopped his training.

"Good, this is enough."

"Young Master."

"Huh?"

Yan Hezheng turned his head. There was Yang Qin.

"I am Yang Qin from the first team of the Blue Eagle Team."

"Then?"

"If it's not too much trouble, would you like to practice the form of the staff technique without using true energy with me?"

It was a bold suggestion.

Shen Mo's expression hardened.

"Yang Qin! How dare you be so impolite to the Young Master. Return to your quarters immediately..."

"That's fine."

Shen Mo was surprised and looked at Yan Hezheng.

Yan Hezheng smiled and twirled the iron staff.

"I was just thinking I needed a partner, so I'm fine with it."

"It's an honor. I will prepare immediately."

"Good."

Yan Hezheng grinned.

"Even as the Young Master, I can't show favoritism, right?"

* * *

The next day.

Zhuge Eyan's face was filled with amazement as she toured Chu Sheng Lou.

"Wow! This is amazing! It was worth coming early!"

"Big Sister, Big Sister."

"Huh?"

"There are many people. Please be careful with your words..."

"What's wrong with my words? I'm just saying what I think. What's the problem with that?"

"Sigh, that's why you keep getting into trouble. Like those guys yesterday..."

"It's fine. They don't know I'm the eldest daughter of the Zhuge family."

"That's exactly the problem! If you had clearly resolved it..."

"Look at how timid those boys are. Be more bold, okay?"

"Big Sister, aren't you too careless? And why are you making a distinction between men and women in this matter?"

"Hey, stop chattering and let's eat quickly. My stomach is sticking to my back..."

At that moment.

Thud!

"Aaaah!"

A terrifying scream echoed from the back garden of Chu Sheng Lou.

Zhuge Eyan's eyes widened.

"You heard it too, right?"

"Um, no."

"You did, didn't you?"

"I didn't hear it! I didn't hear it!"

"Then, stay here."

"Please! Are you going to cause another accident?"

"Me? Hey! How can you say that after hearing that scream? What if the person screaming is a kind and beautiful woman? Huh?"

"It's just a hoarse voice, that's all..."

"Anyway, something unusual seems to be happening! I need to check it out for the sake of justice!"

"Big Sister! Hey, are you really going? Big Sister! Big Sister!!"