Chapter 24. Sudden Storm (4)

The Ming Family of Jiuzhou.

A clan that, three hundred years ago, during the worst chaos and the greatest prosperity in the martial world, helped the legendary expert, the Invincible Emperor of the Four Directions (四方武帝), defeat the Blood Sect (血敎) and established remarkable achievements. They later brought in unique martial arts from outside and combined them with those of the Central Plains, creating their own unique techniques, and after two hundred years, they became known as the First Family Under Heaven (天下第一家).

The reason the Ming Family of Jiuzhou was called the First Family Under Heaven was simple.

They were strong.

Their power was as great as the combined strength of two of the Seven Great Clans, and their newly developed martial arts were considered superior to the secret techniques of the Seven Great Clans. Their financial resources were also among the best, making the title of the First Family Under Heaven well-deserved.

Yan Hozheng was provoking the third son of this massive power.

Ming Helin's eyes narrowed.

"Yan's eldest son, right?"

You know well.

"First, as the eldest here, I must express my gratitude. For catching that unruly calf, though it was a bit rough."

Yan Hozheng couldn't help but chuckle.

A guy who was probably in his mid-twenties was talking about being an elder. It was quite amusing.

Ming Helin ignored Yan Hozheng's laughter.

"I can see that your martial arts are impressive. To subdue the eldest son of the Tang family in one move, I now understand how exaggerated the rumors about you are."

The rumors about Yan Hozheng were well-known to everyone.

Tiger father, dog son (虎父犬子).

Yan Wei, the current head of the Yan family, was known as the Judge's Sword (判官劍) and was respected by all. However, his eldest son, Yan Hozheng, was said to lack the talent and character to carry on the family name.

But the Yan Hozheng he saw today was vastly different from the rumors.

"However."

Ming Helin said in a scolding tone.

"No matter how much you want to prove yourself, there should be a distinction between formal and informal settings, right? This is a meeting hall, not a sparring ground."

"..."

"Let's tidy up first. When the atmosphere calms down, I'll come to pour you a drink."

"So."

"Hmm?"

"You're not going to play with me?"

The crowd looked at Yan Hozheng in shock.

Ming Helin burst out laughing.

"Playing with you isn't hard. I'll play with you over drinks and laughter. Ah! And don't worry about throwing that cup at me. As you said, it was a mistake, right?"

Yan Hozheng nodded.

Ming Helin continued with a satisfied look.

"Good, good. First, let's move the Tang family's young master..."

"If he doesn't come, I'll go."

"What?"

Whoosh.

Yan Hozheng walked towards Ming Helin.

He didn't use any special movement techniques, nor did he run.

He just walked, naturally.

But as he moved, it felt as if the heavy air was rippling and retreating.

The atmosphere was so oppressive that even those who wanted to stop him hesitated. The moment Yan Hozheng moved, the air in the hall seemed to become damp and heavy.

Ming Helin's eyes widened.

'What is this?'

A short distance.

He wasn't being cautious. From the way he walked, it seemed like he was just taking a leisurely stroll, as if he had no intention of fighting.

But Ming Helin felt his nerves standing on end. He wanted to say something but couldn't open his mouth due to the strange pressure.

Yan Hozheng approached until he was right in front of Ming Helin.

'...!'

He was within striking distance. Right there, Yan Hozheng stopped.

The two men glared at each other.

Sssss.

A snake-like killing intent rose up Ming Helin's neck.

It was secretive and flexible, yet venomous. It was a terrifying killing intent, as if fangs were about to sink into his neck at any moment.

'What kind of killing intent is this...?'

At that moment, Yan Hozheng smiled slightly.

Instantly, Ming Helin's body reacted involuntarily.

Bang!

His fist swung directly at Yan Hozheng's face.

It was a punch without any preparatory movements, so it was fast and sharp.

Whoosh!

The punch that was about to land was deflected upwards.

But Ming Helin didn't stop his attack. The killing intent around his neck urged him to continue.

His fists moved swiftly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The continuous punches shattered the air in the narrow space. It was the Iron Chain Strike (鐵鎖撲), a technique the Ming family was proud of.

It wasn't a high-level technique, but it was very effective in close combat. He seemed to have reacted instinctively to the killing intent but still maintained some restraint.

Yan Hozheng responded immediately.

Punch! Slap! Thud! Bang!

The two men's fists, palms, and elbows collided, making sounds like drums.

Yan Zhiping's eyes widened.

'That fist technique?'

The fist technique Yan Hozheng used to counter Ming Helin's Iron Chain Strike was familiar to Yan Zhiping.

'Thirteen Fists of the Yan Family (燕家十三拳)?!'

That's right.

The elastic fist technique Yan Hozheng used was the basic fist technique of the Yan family, the Thirteen Fists of the Yan Family. But it was very different from the Thirteen Fists of the Yan Family that Yan Zhiping knew.

'He's using it like that?'

The Thirteen Fists of the Yan Family were originally meant to subdue rather than kill enemies.

However, no one used the Yan family's fist techniques for subduing. The Yan family's warriors learned these techniques to improve their flexibility and build strong legs, not to fight enemies.

In other words, it was a technique unsuitable for combat. Yet, Yan Hozheng used this technique, which was more like calisthenics, to skillfully block the Ming family's close combat techniques.

'No, it's not just blocking...'

He was even pushing forward.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ming Helin took a step back. At the same time, Yan Hozheng advanced forcefully.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After a short series of three rapid punches, he followed up with a powerful long-range punch.

Yan Zhiping's eyes wavered.

'One Clear Slope (一注淸坡)!'

Whoosh!

"Ugh."

Ming Helin took two more steps back.

In fact, it was more like he was pushed back. After deflecting all of the Iron Chain Strike's dense attacks, the long-range punch he unleashed was so powerful that it could break bones.

Ming Helin looked at his own arm.

His well-trained arm was swollen and red. If he had blocked it improperly, his bones would have broken.

'So strong!'

His arm nearly broke from a punch that didn't even carry full internal energy.

'How is this possible?'

At first glance, it wasn't a high-level fist technique. Yet, he was pushed to this extent by such a technique.

It was a terrifyingly precise use of techniques. Even a peak expert's use of techniques wouldn't be any better.

"Hey."

Ming Helin, who was shocked, looked at Yan Hozheng.

Yan Hozheng, who had his hands behind his back, had an expression of dissatisfaction on his face.

"Are you planning to end it with this kind of hand play?"

"..."

"Should I press you harder to make you show your true skills?"

Ming Helin's cheeks trembled.

He wasn't the eldest son of the Ming Family of Jiuzhou, but he had always lived with the pride of representing the Ming family. Now, he was being spoken to like this by a young man who was at least seventeen or eighteen years younger.

A momentary memory he wanted to forget surfaced.

A young man holding a blood-stained wooden sword looking down at him. The young man's face, which was so similar to his own, was filled with deep ridicule and contempt.

"You, this brat...!"

At that moment,

"Stop!!"

A powerful internal energy reverberated through the hall, making everyone who had been watching the confrontation in a daze turn to look at the source of the sound.

There stood Nangong Xian and the warriors of the Nangong family.

"What is this? Exchanging such intense martial arts techniques at a meeting of the Seven Great Clans? Are you all in your right minds?!"

His tone was strong.

Ming Helin involuntarily hesitated. He had swung his fist instinctively, overwhelmed by Yan Hozheng's killing intent. He couldn't help but feel guilty.

Nangong Xian looked at Ming Helin with cold eyes.

"Ming Brother, you are the eldest here at this meeting."

"..."

"Our meeting of the younger generation is a prestigious social gathering with a history of several decades. I understand your anger, but you should have shown some restraint."

It was a subtle statement.

While addressing Ming Helin, he was also criticizing Yan Hozheng's lack of martial virtue.

Nangong Xian looked at Yan Hozheng.

"And Yan Young Master."

Yan Hozheng didn't even look at him.

Nangong Xian felt a surge of anger.

He had intended to help this guy with his brother's issue. The fact that this guy was close to Zhuge Ayan also bothered him.

Now, causing such a commotion at a meeting hosted by the Nangong family?

His anger boiled over.

"Are you in your right mind? Picking a fight with the young master of another family, what kind of lack of martial virtue is this? In the history of the younger generation's meetings, there has never been anyone like you!"

Yan Hozheng still didn't look at Nangong Xian.

His appearance continued to provoke Nangong Xian. He could see that the other party truly didn't care about his words or actions.

"Is the Nangong family so laughable?"

At that moment, Zhuge Ayan stepped forward.

"Nangong Young Master, you shouldn't speak like that."

Nangong Xian's eyes wavered.

"Ayan?"

"The meeting has been interrupted. This is not a private setting. Nangong Young Master, please be mindful of your address."

"..."

"Let's continue. There are inaccuracies in Nangong Young Master's words. While I understand your anger as the host, how can you take sides and make unfair statements?"

"Unfair statements? What...!"

Zhuge Ayan spoke coldly.

"The one who ruined this meeting is not Yan Young Master but Tang Young Master."

"..."

"Yan Young Master was just trying to stop him."

"Ayan, or rather, Miss Zhuge. Didn't you see it yourself? He wasn't trying to stop Tang Young Master, but..."

"Didn't Yan Young Master say it was a mistake?"

"..."

"Even Ming Young Master acknowledged it was a mistake. As far as I know, the Yan family doesn't have any hidden techniques. He just tried to stop Tang Young Master by throwing the cup, but it went wrong."

Zhuge Ayan asked Ming Helin.

"Is that correct?"

Ming Helin, who had been staring at Zhuge Ayan, sighed.

"Yes."

It was a statement to bury the incident. Nangong Xian's face twisted.

Zhuge Ayan looked at Yan Hozheng.

"Yan Young Master. I think your mistake is clear, but I think you should explain why you took this approach to resolve the incident."

Yan Hozheng, who had been glaring at Ming Helin, turned to look at Zhuge Ayan.

Zhuge Ayan's expression was firm. But Yan Hozheng could see a sincere earnestness in her eyes.

Suddenly, he felt someone grab his sleeve.

"Brother."

Turning around, he saw Yan Zhiping standing there.

Surprisingly, there was no caution or urgency on Yan Zhiping's face. He looked at Yan Hozheng with clear eyes, and his expression showed determination.

It wasn't just him. Everyone's eyes were on Yan Hozheng.

Yan Hozheng sighed inwardly.

'Yes, there's plenty of time.'

In his past life, he hadn't even seen the killer's collar, but now he felt like he had discovered a shadow. That's why he couldn't control his rising killing intent.

When Tang Yangxian caused trouble, he even thought it was for the best. After all, in such a chaotic situation, anything could happen without raising suspicion.

But in this situation, it would be better to hold back for now.

He was not the Black Emperor but the eldest son of the Yan family of Bishan.

He turned his gaze back to Ming Helin.

Ming Helin flinched.

"The martial arts of the Ming family are indeed as famous as their name suggests."

"..."

"The imposing aura that shook the hall was impressive. My inability to control my burning competitive spirit was a great mistake."

Ming Helin smiled, though it was somewhat forced.

"I understand."

"You never gave me permission to use that tone."

"..."

"Did we have any friendship between us?"

Ming Helin's face stiffened involuntarily.

Yan Hozheng smiled. His smile was not as awkward as Ming Helin's.

"I apologize. If there's an opportunity, may I ask for another lesson?"

"..."

"Very well."

"Thank you."

Yan Hozheng bowed formally in front of everyone.

"I apologize for causing trouble due to my inadequacies. As you can see, I'm not a well-disciplined person. My father often sends me to the mountain to cultivate patience because of my bad temper."

His unexpected self-deprecation, coming from someone who would never do such a thing, actually softened the atmosphere. Some people even chuckled.

Yan Hozheng immediately sensed the change in the atmosphere.

Although he couldn't control his killing intent, he was a man who had built the Black Emperor's city from scratch. He knew how to show the necessary social skills when needed.

"Tomorrow, at the meeting, I will pour a drink for each of you as an apology. I ask for your forgiveness for my rudeness."

At that moment, Pang Daohu shouted.

"Ridiculous!"

The attention of the crowd, which had been on Yan Hozheng, shifted to Pang Daohu.

Pang Daohu shouted with a feigned angry face.

"Just one drink? Look at me! You want me to forgive you with just one drink?"

"What should I do then?"

"Drink until my nose is crooked! If you can remain sober while we all get drunk, then I'll forgive you!"

Yan Hozheng smiled.

"I'll have to prepare myself for tomorrow."

At that, Pang Daohu couldn't hold back his laughter.

"Ha ha ha! You're straightforward and I like that! Good! A man's word is worth a thousand pieces of gold, so keep your promise."

"I'll make sure to knock you out, no matter what."

"Ha ha ha!"

Thanks to Pang Daohu's sudden intervention, the atmosphere livened up, and thanks to Yan Hozheng's skillful response, the tense air completely dissipated.

Zhuge Ayan sighed in relief. Yan Zhiping also smiled contentedly. Nangong Xian's face was completely stiff, and Ming Helin couldn't hide his displeasure.

Thus, the incident was resolved.

In the end, the Tang family suffered the greatest loss that day. It was a case of self-inflicted consequences.