Chapter 27: The Reason for the Fight (2)

Gadeungsang smiled slyly.

His hair was disheveled, his face smudged with dirt, and his clothes were no better than rags, but his teeth shone white.

"Dragonhead Gang Leader? Just imagining it is a joy. Unfortunately, my master's life is tougher than whale sinew. It will likely take a few more years."

"......"

"By the way, you know this beggar, but the beggar doesn't know you, noble sir? Let me see, using all the skills I've honed from begging for over twenty years, I'll take a guess..."

"Yan Huozheng."

"Uh?"

Yan Huozheng rarely made a bow.

"I am Yan Huozheng, the eldest son of the Jiangsu Bishan Yan family. Nice to meet you."

Gadeungsang's eyes widened.

It was a formal and respectful greeting. At least, there was no sign of disrespect.

"Uh... Yes, nice to meet you."

He was secretly surprised.

The Beggar Sect is one of the Nine Great Sects and Seven Great Clans, but it is also the sect that the children of prestigious families avoid the most.

The reason is simple. All members of the Beggar Sect claim to be beggars.

Experienced martial artists in the jianghu understand the greatness of the Beggar Sect, but young men and women are different. They just avoid beggars because they are dirty.

In that sense, Yan Huozheng's greeting was indeed special.

'So, I meet you here.'

Yan Huozheng's eyes held genuine goodwill as he looked at Gadeungsang.

It couldn't be helped. Despite building a power that rivaled the orthodox martial world, the Black Path was looked down upon. But Gadeungsang treated the Black Path as true comrades.

In the bleak years, Gadeungsang was one of the few people Yan Huozheng felt genuine goodwill towards.

"It's been so long since I've received such a greeting."

Gadeungsang scratched his head. It looked like he would produce a bowl of dandruff, but surprisingly, there was none.

"Then you are the second young master of the Yan family?"

Lian Zhiping made a graceful bow.

"I apologize for the late greeting. I am Lian Zhiping, the second young master of the Jiangsu Bishan Yan family. It is an honor to meet the successor of the Beggar Sect."

Lian Zhiping's greeting was also formal and respectful. Even though it was their first meeting, there was no sign of contempt.

Gadeungsang fidgeted awkwardly. It was a very welcome greeting, but he didn't know what face to make.

But one thing was clear.

'Heck! This is so different from the rumors.'

Yan Huozheng smiled and asked.

"Have you finished eating?"

"Eating? Ah, I just finished. I ate until my stomach was about to burst. I can't even remember the last time I had such delicious food."

"Too bad. If you don't mind, let's have lunch together."

Lian Zhiping was surprised and looked at Yan Huozheng. He had never seen his brother invite someone to eat first.

Gadeungsang nodded with a hesitant look.

"Alright, then."

"Please rest comfortably."

"Ah, you too, noble sir."

Thus, the Yan brothers entered the dining hall.

Gadeungsang watched their backs and smacked his lips.

"I was about to start investigating the Chencheng Tower incident, but I got ambushed."

Could it be that Yan Huozheng knew his intentions and acted first?

'No, that's not it.'

To become the successor of the Beggar Sect, one must have a keen eye for people. In Gadeungsang's view, Yan Huozheng's goodwill was purely genuine.

'That's why it's even stranger.'

While feeling uneasy and scratching his head, he heard a voice.

"Successor of the Beggar Sect?"

Gadeungsang turned his head.

There stood a handsome young man with a green sword. He was dressed in fine silk and was a rare beauty.

Gadeungsang smiled slyly.

"A young master of the Nangong family?"

Nangong Xian made a bow.

"I am Nangong Xian. Nice to meet you."

"Ah, nice to meet you too."

"By the way, what brings you here?"

"I was in the area on some business, and I heard there was a gathering of young talents. The smell outside the gate was irresistible. I couldn't help but come in, despite the loss of face."

Nangong Xian frowned slightly.

Since it was a gathering of young talents from the Seven Great Clans, if someone had given permission, there would be no need for further discussion. However, the gathering was hosted by the Nangong family, so he should have been informed in advance.

Moreover, a beggar at a gathering of children from prestigious families? Even if he was the successor of the Beggar Sect, it wouldn't be pleasant.

"Enjoy your time here."

With that formal greeting, Nangong Xian also headed to the dining hall.

Gadeungsang smiled wryly.

"This is normal."

He wasn't bothered by it. He was already over thirty and had plenty of jianghu experience.

However, Yan Huozheng was on his mind. The look in his eyes when he saw him was too clear.

"Have we met before?"

* * *

"No."

"Ah, I see."

"I've been cooped up at home. When would I have seen the little master of the Beggar Sect?"

"True, that makes sense."

"Why?"

"I've never seen my brother invite someone to eat first."

Is that so?

Thinking about it, it did seem that way. Even during the Black Tyrant's era, except for political gatherings, he preferred to eat alone.

'Still the same.'

Gadeungsang's smile was still clear. It was hard to believe that someone who was once the head of information in the orthodox martial world could be so innocent.

'Hmm?'

A sudden thought made Yan Huozheng tilt his head.

'But that person didn't attend the previous gathering.'

During the Black Tyrant's era, before he returned to the past, he had never seen Gadeungsang at the young talents' gathering.

That was certain. He only saw Gadeungsang after becoming the Black Tyrant.

'Why now?'

What is it? Is my memory wrong? It can't be.

'If my memory is accurate, then the past has changed?'

That thought led him to think about the Zhuge siblings.

'In the past, I didn't visit Chencheng Tower. But this time, I did. If we weren't there, the Zhuge siblings would have surely fallen to that madman who learned Yin Huahongliu.'

This was certain. The guy who called himself the Fireboat Master would have set the same fire, and the Zhuge siblings, with their personalities, would have fought back instead of fleeing.

Then, what happened to the Zhuge siblings in my previous life?

His thoughts spiraled.

'The Zhuge family still existed back then. Although their power had declined, they managed to maintain their lineage with support from other families.'

And that family...

"Excuse me for a moment."

Yan Huozheng looked up.

There stood a middle-aged swordsman with a neatly trimmed beard. His perfectly groomed attire and the green longsword on his back exuded a chilling aura.

'Nangong!'

The middle-aged swordsman frowned.

"Is there something on my face?"

"You're just so handsome, I couldn't help but look."

The swordsman's eyebrows twitched. It sounded like he was being teased.

"Who are you?"

"Hmm! I am Qiu Sheng."

"......?"

"I am the head of the guard accompanying Nangong Xian to this gathering."

Someone nearby, who was eating, gasped.

"Lei Xia, Qiu Sheng?!"

The murmurs grew louder.

He seemed to be a well-known expert. Lian Zhiping also looked at Qiu Sheng with surprise.

However, Yan Huozheng didn't know who Qiu Sheng was. He had never heard the name, even when he was out in the world and ruling as the Black Tyrant.

"Then?"

Qiu Sheng's face visibly distorted.

No matter that he was from the Nangong family, he was an adult over forty. As a bodyguard, he would show respect, but seeing the young talent's insolent attitude made him angry.

Lian Zhiping, realizing the situation, stood up.

"Let's sit down first."

Qiu Sheng, who had been staring coldly at Yan Huozheng, sat opposite him. He didn't even glance at Lian Zhiping.

Qiu Sheng spoke.

"I'll be direct."

"Go ahead."

"The banquet will start at noon today."

"I know."

"Leave this place before the banquet."

Lian Zhiping's eyes widened in shock.

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't you hear? I'll repeat it. Leave the estate before the banquet starts at noon today."

While Lian Zhiping was flustered, Yan Huozheng's expression remained unchanged.

Actually, it had changed. A hint of interest appeared on Yan Huozheng's face, though very subtly.

"Leave?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Throughout history, there has never been an incident at the gathering of young talents from the Seven Great Clans. However, you have turned this prestigious and historic gathering into a chaotic mess."

Qiu Sheng's eyes were cold.

"You do not have the qualifications to participate in this gathering. I believe you know that well."

As Yan Huozheng listened to Qiu Sheng, he glanced at the end of the dining hall, where a window was.

There sat Nangong Xian, sipping tea at a table in the sunlight, exuding a noble aura.

At that moment, a loud noise was heard.

"That's absurd!"

Lian Zhiping had risen so forcefully that his chair almost tipped over.

"The incident yesterday has already been resolved! My brother also said he would apologize to everyone at today's banquet! And now you're asking us to leave?!"

"Before the issue of an apology, it's a matter of dignity. Moreover, your behavior of casually showing up in the dining hall this morning makes me doubt if you are truly repentant."

"Don't be unreasonable! What does showing up in the dining hall have to do with repentance? And dignity is..."

"I have said what I needed to say. I don't want to argue further. Please leave before the banquet."

With that, Qiu Sheng stood up and left.

However, Lian Zhiping wasn't done.

"Most importantly!"

His voice echoed through the entire dining hall.

It was a surprisingly loud voice, unlike the always cheerful Lian Zhiping. It startled everyone in the room.

"You are a bodyguard of a family. Your job is to protect Nangong Xian, not to judge the qualifications of participants."

Qiu Sheng laughed coldly.

"Is that so?"

"What do you mean?"

"The host family of the Seven Great Clans' gathering changes every five years. This year's host is the Nangong family."

"......!"

"I have been given the authority to manage the entire gathering, directly from the family head."

"......"

"Yesterday, the second young master handled the situation, so I didn't step in. But today is different. The second young master, being kind-hearted, ended the matter there, but I have no intention of letting any risk to the gathering go unchecked."

Lian Zhiping was taken aback. Direct orders from the Nangong family head? It was hard to believe.

But Lian Zhiping could be forgiven for not knowing.

The gathering of young talents, while called a gathering, was more about fostering camaraderie. That's why they held banquets and provided food and drink.

However, with young blood, there was always a risk of incidents. The host family would send a trusted person to handle any unavoidable incidents or accidents.

Lian Zhiping had never been the host of a gathering in his life. In fact, this was his first time attending one. He couldn't be expected to know such details.

"The host family has the right to expel anyone causing problems at the gathering. This is a well-established tradition. What I'm doing is nothing special."

"......!"

"If you understand, it would be best for you to leave quietly to save face."

Lian Zhiping's face showed his dilemma.

At that moment, Yan Huozheng, who had been watching Nangong Xian from a distance, spoke.

"Zhiping."

"......Yes, brother."

"Don't get angry. Sit down and eat."

Yan Huozheng took a large bite of Dongpo pork.

"Chomp, chomp. Did you forget Father's words? He said to distinguish between people and beasts. Even I, a fool, can make that distinction, so you shouldn't act like this."

"......Swallow."

"Eat quickly. The food will get cold."