Chapter 77. Natural Enemy (2)

"Do you truly think so?"

"Yes."

"......"

"Let me tell you in advance, it's not because I received the gift of life."

"I know. Though you may seem like a thunderbolt, you are still capable of making rational judgments."

"......Is that a compliment?"

"In fact, if it were a minor matter, I wouldn't have asked. Your children have received the gift of life. It is only right to help when one's benefactor is in a difficult situation."

"Then please help quickly."

"It would only be for a minor matter."

"That's why I said it. That guy is definitely not the type to do such a thing."

"I trust your judgment. But the matter has become too big."

"The Ming family's actions are too extreme. Even if that guy really did it, sending high-level experts without any evidence is going too far."

"Too extreme. Moreover, he is a scion of the Seven Great Families. But the Ming family has the power to do so. If the rumors are true, the Ming family's rashness should be criticized, but there's nothing we can do about it."

"Exactly! The Ming family should be urged to refrain from such extreme actions. As you said, he is a scion of the Seven Great Families. This situation is problematic."

"Problematic. But you know why I can't act aggressively, right?"

"......"

"Yan Hozheng...... has gone too far. It would have been better if he had been captured by the Ming family. But he injured the Ming family's experts."

"To capture an innocent person, they drew their swords. It's natural to fight back!"

"Now, the reason doesn't matter. It has come to a point where they are ready to kill each other with swords. It has turned into a war between the Yan family and the Ming family."

"......!"

"At least, there is no reason to pour all our efforts into this. It's a sharp confrontation, but if either side has a proper reason, one of the families will face annihilation."

"Annihilation......"

"And the one to face annihilation will most likely be the Yan family."

"......!"

"I am the head of the family. As a father, I should help the benefactor, but as the head of a family, I cannot act rashly. Our main family's power is already weakened. We need to be even more cautious."

"......"

"So, you should go."

"Me?!"

"Your younger brother is excellent, but he doesn't have your flexibility. I need to attend the grand assembly. So, you should go and help the benefactor directly."

"Is that really okay?!"

"It's not."

"But why......?"

"As the head of the family and as a father, I want to stop you. But as a member of the righteous martial world, I understand your heart."

"......"

"Go. Follow your heart. If you believe it is the right path, show the righteousness of a righteous person with your life."

"......Thank you, Father."

"Don't say that. I am a father who can't even ensure your happiness."

"......"

"You will see the Nangong family head at this grand assembly. I have been putting it off, but it seems difficult now."

"I understand you, Father."

"I'm sorry. I have nothing else to say."

"It's fine. I'm really fine."

"I have already informed the Hidden Learning Forest. Go together."

"Yes! I'll be back."

* * *

Whoosh!

The wind is cold.

It's almost summer, yet today is particularly chilly. After a few more days of cold, the real heat will begin.

Gade Shang, walking along the main road, thought to himself.

'How quickly it has come.'

In his eyes, the Changying Corps, encircled in a circle, came into view.

And within it, a large axe stood tall.

'Actually, I was a bit anxious from the start. Ever since I agreed to his request.'

Yan Hozheng had asked him for three things:

First, the current state of the new martial world.

Second, all information about Murong Wu, the youngest brother of the Murong family head.

Third, the existence of the Dead Sword, which the Ming family is cultivating in secret.

When dealing with information and digging into people, one gains a certain ability.

The ability to discern the order of importance. In simpler terms, it means having a better eye for the big picture. It also means becoming more perceptive.

When Gade Shang heard the list of things Yan Hozheng wanted him to investigate, he immediately knew:

'The first and second requests are important, but there's time. However, the third request is different.'

The existence of the Dead Sword, which the Ming family is secretly cultivating.

This was what Yan Hozheng wanted to know immediately. And when he told him about it, as expected, Yan Hozheng's reaction was extremely intense.

'From that moment on, I had a feeling that I would be deeply entangled with that crazy guy.'

Gade Shang smiled.

He had called Yan Hozheng a lunatic and a bastard, but in fact, he had enjoyed being with him.

Even though it wasn't a situation to enjoy, he did. The reason was that it was the first time he had acted so recklessly with someone.

And it felt even better because it was for righteousness.

Perhaps for Yan Hozheng, it was for revenge.

Swoosh.

"Who are you?"

A member of the Changying Corps drew his sword halfway and asked.

He must recognize me, but he asks as if I were a suspicious person. This shows how tense the Changying Corps is.

"I am Gade Shang of the Beggar Sect. I have come to meet the heir of the Gui family."

At that moment,

"Clear the way."

Thud!

The Changying Corps member immediately sheathed his sword and moved to the side. A path opened up on one side of the encircled Changying Corps.

Gade Shang walked silently along the opened path.

'Sharp.'

The eyes of the swordsmen on both sides were as deadly as could be. It felt as if he was being cut by hundreds of swords.

He must not provoke them. The Changying Corps would even cut down a high monk from Shaolin if they felt threatened.

"Have you come?"

Gade Shang looked at the axe.

The axe, with its handle two feet deep in the ground, stood straight. Despite its eighty-jin weight, it was well-balanced and firmly planted.

Gade Shang looked at Yan Hozheng.

Yan Hozheng's complexion looked fairly good. It was hard to believe he had been in combat with the enemy for over two days.

Gade Shang snorted.

"Look at the blood on the axe. It's been quite a fight, hasn't it?"

"My body is sore."

"You're really a pain. Why did you fight? Did you forget the plan we made?"

"I didn't forget."

"If you want to get your head bashed in, at least let me know first. What is this? I look like a fool."

"I'm sorry. I didn't have time to contact you."

"Good excuse."

"Ha ha."

Gade Shang couldn't help but laugh. Seeing Yan Hozheng's awkward smile, all his pent-up feelings vanished.

"Ugh! Can I sit down too?"

Gade Shang plopped down next to Yan Hozheng and looked at the Ming family.

About three hundred experts were encamped about fifty yards away. They were the Ming family's White Dragon Army.

"I told the beggars to gather all the information about the Ming family."

Yan Hozheng smiled.

"I trusted you."

"Ha! I don't know what will happen next, but if it's like this, there won't be any profit. I'll just run away."

"I understand."

"Still, I thought you would be in a fierce battle, but it seems to be a stalemate?"

"They probably don't need to send unlimited reinforcements."

"When did the White Dragon Army arrive?"

"The White Dragon Army?"

"The ones encamped over there. Didn't you know?"

"I didn't. They arrived the evening before last."

"They haven't attacked?"

"They've been sending a few experts continuously. But the White Dragon Army hasn't moved."

Gade Shang's eyes sparkled.

"dangerous."

Yan Hozheng smiled.

Indeed, Gade Shang's insight is extraordinary. He could see the essence of this battle just by hearing a rough account of the situation.

"With everyone's attention focused, it's hard to move a combat unit like the White Dragon Army. One-on-one duels are fine, but if they move, it becomes a war."

"That's right."

The Changying Corps wouldn't just stand by and let the White Dragon Army advance. Ultimately, many people would die, and the justifications of both sides would fall apart.

"In other words, the moment they move, it becomes a full-scale war."

"Exactly."

"It won't be easy for them to move. The current standoff is like walking on thin ice. They won't move unless they have a decisive reason, one that no one can deny."

"That's true."

"They won't send a senior member of the family either."

"It's a matter of dignity."

"That's right."

Yan Hozheng is the eldest son of the Yan family. In a place where everyone's attention is focused, it would be inappropriate for a senior expert to suddenly appear.

"In other words, all the useful cards have been played."

Gade Shang glanced at Yan Hozheng.

All the remaining cards, except for the family's senior members, have been played? That means Yan Hozheng has single-handedly dealt with all the experts below the senior members of the Ming family.

Impressive. As a martial artist, not just a righteous person, he was truly impressive.

"How did you become such a monster at your age?"

"I'm still far from it."

"Ah, bad luck."

"Ha ha."

Gade Shang sprawled out.

"Since we're here, let's rest and observe the situation."

"But why do you want to rest here?"

"We are a community of fate, aren't we? Just my presence will make the Ming family more cautious."

"That's true."

Gade Shang didn't mention the existence of Yitie Jing and another presence coming from Hubei's Longzhong Mountain. It wasn't certain yet.

Yan Hozheng looked at the towering figures beyond the White Dragon Army.

'I can see them.'

When he first arrived, he couldn't see them. But now he can.

His basic eyesight has improved. Without even using his inner energy, his vision has become better.

'They are clear.'

The White Tiger and Black Tortoise techniques have become much more refined since two days ago. That's why he can see them.

Yan Hozheng recalled the few battles he had over the past two days.

'They all learned the fake Four Divine Techniques.'

Even Yan Hozheng, using the enlightenment of the Black Darkness Technique, couldn't handle all of them.

But he could defeat the Ming family's experts alone because of the martial arts he had learned and the martial arts his opponents had learned.

'Was it called the White and Clear Martial Technique?'

Ming Zhishan.

The one he faced in the forest didn't know the fake Four Divine Techniques. There are probably still many such experts in the Ming family.

But.

'Now it's fine.'

If an expert of that level comes, it doesn't matter who it is.

The Black Tortoise technique has grown explosively, and the White Tiger technique has also been developing to complement it.

He is a completely different person from who he was two days ago. If the opponent has learned a martial art derived from the Four Divine Techniques, even if they are a top expert, he can handle them.

That is who Yan Hozheng is now.

The Ming family sent experts to capture Yan Hozheng, but those experts became a catalyst for his martial arts to grow.

He is not afraid of anyone. At least, not from the Ming family.

Yan Hozheng closed his eyes.

A cool breeze brushed past his ears.

"The wind is nice."

Four days later.

"Is today the day of the grand assembly?"

"Already? Time flies, doesn't it?"

"Indeed. Time flies, it really does."

Thump, thump, thump.

"Huh? What are those?"

Gade Shang tilted his head.

"Why are they retreating?"

Yan Hozheng was also puzzled. There was no reason for the White Dragon Army to retreat in the current situation.

At that moment,

"Huh?"

Gade Shang perked up his ears. He was listening to a secret message.

After a while, Gade Shang's face gradually turned pale.

Yan Hozheng frowned.

"Why are you like that?"

Gade Shang turned to Yan Hozheng.

"The head of the Yan family has dropped a bomb."

"My father?!"

"He threatened the head of the Ming family! To protect you!"

Gade Shang told Yan Hozheng the contents of the letter.

Anxiety filled his face.

"Damn it, the situation has changed! We don't know how the Ming family will move now!"

"I understand."

"Huh? What do you mean?!"

Yan Hozheng's eyes deepened.

"I understand. Not just the Ming family, but the head of the Ming family, how they will move."