Chapter 88. The Wind Does Not Cease (6)

Two days later.

“Oh, you’ve come?”

“I see we meet again.”

“Haha, indeed.”

Moyong Jun remained the same.

Even in the hot summer, he wore an elegant outfit that covered his sleeves and legs. After all, his accomplishments were so great that he was unaffected by the cold or heat.

Lian Huozheng looked at the table.

On the table, there were about five newly prepared dishes, all of them expensive and luxurious.

Moyong Jun pointed to a chair.

“Sit there.”

“Certainly.”

Lian Huozheng sat down and looked around.

“By the way, aren’t you here with your daughter today?”

“Lianhua? She’s at the main house. Unlike you, she still has much to learn.”

Lian Huozheng smiled.

“I don’t know about martial arts, but she seems to have outstanding strategic skills.”

“Haha, do you really think so?”

Of course.

During the Black Shadow Sect era, Moyong Lianhua displayed strategic abilities that could rival those of Moyong Jun. In fact, thanks to her strategies, the Four Sounds Sect suffered significant losses.

Of course, the Black Shadow City also suffered some losses, but that’s another story.

“She seems like she could become a renowned sword if properly honed.”

“If that were to happen, how wonderful it would be. Actually, if she were a boy, I might have made her the young master in the near future.”

“Surprising.”

“Hmm? What’s surprising?”

“I know how you became the head of the family. I thought someone like you wouldn’t care about bloodlines or gender.”

Moyong Jun smiled.

You know how I became the head of the family. Despite the implications of your words, I am not shaken.

“It doesn’t matter to me. However, the world is different. If a girl becomes the head, many people will point fingers at the main house.”

“I see.”

“The position of head is not one that can be achieved by ability alone. Martial arts, strategy, and character are all important. But only if you are a man.”

“...”

“It’s also necessary to have talents that fit the times. I consider gender to be part of one’s talents. Lianhua’s greatest regret is that she was not born with the right talents.”

A lie.

After becoming the leader of the martial arts alliance, Moyong Jun passed the family to Moyong Lianhua.

To be precise, he didn’t relinquish the position of head until then. He merely put Moyong Lianhua in the forefront as the acting head.

And before the Xing Mountain battle, he passed the position of head to Moyong Lianhua and faced the final battle.

Was he feeling weak because he couldn’t guarantee a tomorrow? Not at all.

That battle had a high chance of success. He probably didn’t think he would die.

‘He’s trying to check me.’

That’s right.

He might not be thinking of passing the position of head to Moyong Lianhua now. But Moyong Jun doesn’t think gender is a talent.

He’s just trying to reassure me. A talented child, but unfortunately, can’t be the head. She’s an outsider, so there’s no need to worry too much.

‘It’s different from before. He’s paying more attention now.’

After the series of events that buried the Ming Family, his vigilance towards me has increased.

So he’s hiding things. Even minor details.

‘I need to focus on today’s conversation.’

Moyong Jun picked up the wine bottle.

“Are you fully recovered?”

“Completely.”

“Haha, youth is indeed wonderful. You recovered so quickly from such a serious injury? You surprise me in many ways.”

He was genuinely surprised by Lian Huozheng’s recovery.

Lian Huozheng smiled bitterly and raised his glass.

“I was far from it.”

“Don’t say that. You’ll get criticized. Though, it’s hard to criticize you, the passionate young man who cut out the rotten flesh of the white path martial world.”

Lian Huozheng frowned.

“You don’t know how exhausting it is.”

People see the results, not the process. If it had been anyone other than Lian Huozheng who faced the Ming Family, he would have been branded as a villain in history.

But the Ming Family fell, and Lian Huozheng survived.

Only then did people start to see the process. Why Lian Huozheng challenged the Ming Family alone, and how he dealt with them.

Thus, the three characters of Lian Huozheng’s name were deeply etched into the minds of the martial artists of the era.

“You can be tired, but you must accept it. If you worry about every person’s opinion, you won’t be able to do your work.”

A cold aura surrounded Lian Huozheng’s smile.

“I understand that.”

And, I will feel it again because of you.

“Let’s have a drink.”

The two drank their glasses cheerfully.

“Why did you call me here?”

“This person? Haha, you and I brought down the Ming Family together. You should know what will happen to the Ming Family.”

“I don’t want to deal with the aftermath.”

“Are you the type who doesn’t care about the leftover meat on the chicken bone?”

“I don’t leave any meat behind.”

Moyong Jun shook his head.

“You’re misunderstanding. The Ming Family has long carried the title of the first family under heaven. Even if they are branded by the martial world, the fugitives won’t be able to boast, but we should keep an eye on them for at least a few years.”

Moyong Jun wouldn’t understand why Lian Huozheng was saying this.

Even if the dantian is sealed, the fake inner energy they cultivated remains in the body. And that energy will continuously harm the body, staying in one of the heart, liver, lungs, or kidneys.

If they are branded by the martial world, the minimum sentence is ten years in prison. None of them will be able to serve the full ten years.

“That’s something the high-ranking figures of the martial world will handle.”

Moyong Jun smiled.

He knew Lian Huozheng was genuinely uninterested in that part. At the same time, he was urging him to reveal the real reason for calling him.

‘What a sharp guy.’

The more he saw, the more he wanted him.

And the more he felt wary. The more they talked, the more he realized Lian Huozheng was not someone who would easily submit to him.

“You are a remarkable person.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“Good. Since you’re staring at me so intently, I’ll get to the point out of fear.”

Moyong Jun refilled his glass and continued.

“Have you heard of the Huainan Demon?”

“I don’t know.”

“Hmm, I forgot. He was known by a more famous nickname.”

“...?”

“What about the Anhui Blood Bow?”

Lian Huozheng’s eyes widened.

Moyong Jun smiled.

“You seem to know.”

Indeed.

‘To hear that name here...’

Anhui Blood Bow.

He first heard that name during the period when he swept through the black path martial world.

He hadn’t heard of it before his family was destroyed. It was a time when he had no interest in the world. He didn’t even know about the Zhuge Family’s Xiaotianjidan, so how could he know about this?

But after his family was destroyed, he learned martial arts from his master and swept through the black path martial world, where he heard of the infamy of the Anhui Blood Bow.

It wasn’t just that. He had even met the Anhui Blood Bow and even exchanged blows with him.

And later, when he founded the Black Shadow City.

Lian Huozheng made him the leader of the Five Great Divine Generals, the strongest vanguard of the Black Shadow City.

‘Mofei!’

Anhui Blood Bow, or rather, Divine Bow Mofei.

The world’s greatest archer, who honed the rarely used and difficult-to-master bow technique to its limits.

A sniper with a hundred percent accuracy, and a monster with such formidable skills that he could match the other four great generals even in hand-to-hand combat, known as the Grim Reaper.

Why is his name, his nickname, coming out of Moyong Jun’s mouth now?

“The Anhui Blood Bow, I’ll call him Blood Bow for short. He began to gain infamy five years ago in Huainan, Anhui, due to a bloody incident.”

“...”

“He single-handedly destroyed the Jinjian Sect, which was based in Huainan. Do you know the Jinjian Sect?”

“...No.”

“Hmm, the Jinjian Sect was a well-known sect in northern Anhui. They were quite powerful and especially wealthy, as their name suggests.”

“...”

“The Jinjian Sect was a sect that understood the path of righteousness. They opened their granaries to feed the people during famines. When the Jinjian Sect was destroyed, the people in northern Anhui mourned, didn’t they?”

“...”

“Naturally, the Anhui martial world was in an uproar. There was a call to capture and kill Blood Bow immediately.”

“I see.”

“But Blood Bow disappeared without a trace. We sent professional trackers and investigators, but we couldn’t find a single clue.”

Of course.

An archer must have excellent movement skills to fully utilize their abilities. Archers use distance to continuously harass and shoot at the enemy.

‘That guy, his movement skills were definitely among the best in the world.’

Mofei had another nickname, the Ghost Spirit, because once he started moving, he was impossible to see or catch.

“Recently, he appeared in the Bagong Mountains in Anhui.”

The Bagong Mountains were in Huainan, south of the Huai River.

Moyong Jun frowned.

“I don’t know why. Whether it’s a perverse desire to see the land he destroyed again or for some other reason, the important thing is that he has been staying there for quite a while.”

“Not many people know, I suppose.”

“You’re right. If the news spreads, Blood Bow might run away. We are strictly controlling the information.”

Lian Huozheng drank his wine and tried to calm himself.

“Why are you mentioning the Anhui Blood Bow?”

“Ming Xulín.”

“...?”

“The eldest son of the Ming Family, who fled, is heading to Anhui. And it just so happens that his hiding place is the Bagong Mountains.”

Lian Huozheng frowned.

“Is it a coincidence?”

“It can only be a coincidence. I heard this from Ming Wushan, who was the chief steward of the Ming Family.”

A coincidence... Is this really a coincidence?

“The Ming Family had secret hideouts across the Central Plains. They were like the An Family of the assassins.”

“Isn’t that true for the other seven great families as well?”

Moyong Jun scratched his cheek.

“Well, yes. But not to the same extent as the Ming Family.”

“So, there’s an An Family hideout in the Bagong Mountains?”

“Yes. There’s also one in Henan, but Henan is currently filled with martial artists hunting the fugitives of the Ming Family. The Bagong Mountains are the closest place after Henan.”

Lian Huozheng’s eyes turned cold.

Moyong Jun’s smile deepened.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Please be honest. Are you planning to establish a martial arts alliance?”

Moyong Jun felt a chill before admiration.

‘What a sharp guy.’

He skipped several steps in the conversation and brought up something he hadn’t thought of.

The problem was that it was true. It would be announced soon, but for now, only the leaders who attended the grand assembly knew.

“...Yes.”

“Are you planning to celebrate the establishment of the new martial arts alliance with the head of the Ming Family, Ming Xulín, as a trophy?”

Moyong Jun burst out laughing.

“Do you think we are some kind of black path gang? You really say the most terrifying things.”

“...”

“Haha, as you said, the martial arts alliance will be established soon. You know that my dream is to be the leader of the martial arts alliance, right?”

“Are you using this Ming Family incident to push it forward?”

“Haha.”

Lian Huozheng nodded.

“I see.”

Though he didn’t show it, Lian Huozheng was secretly rejoicing.

‘Good.’

You can’t put someone in a position without a group or a role.

He thought of Moyong Wu.

The most suitable person for the position of martial arts alliance leader.

‘If the martial arts alliance is established, it would be good for me. It’s a good opportunity.’

Unlike Lian Huozheng, Moyong Jun’s heart was as cold as ice.

‘This won’t do. I need to do something about this after this incident. He’s too dangerous, this guy.’

Lian Huozheng asked.

“By sharing this important information with me, do you mean to suggest that you want to work with me again?”

Moyong Jun smiled, but his eyes didn’t.

“Yes.”

“I’ll be direct. What can I gain from this?”

Indeed, this guy is in the same category as me.

Moyong Jun, hiding his true thoughts, took out a document.

“What is that?”

“A permit.”

“A permit?”

“Everything belonging to a family declared by the martial world is transferred to the martial arts alliance. Properties, martial arts books, and even medicinal herbs.”

“...?”

“If you bring Ming Xulín to me, I will allow you to read the Ming Family’s martial arts books. This permit will make that possible.”

Lian Huozheng’s eyes sparkled.

“Of course, it can be replaced with something else. We can discuss what you need when the time comes.”

“...”

“What do you think? Are you up for capturing Ming Xulín?”

“Before that, I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why me?”

Moyong Jun smiled again.

“The young tiger of Jiangdong. The legendary hero who fought the world’s first family alone for his family. The Little Overlord or the Reborn Six Fingers.”

“...”

“All these describe you. You have already proven your abilities in the white path martial world. There’s no need to say more to me.”

“...”

“You must have ambitions. Let’s put aside the past and help each other grow, shall we?”

Lian Huozheng, who had been looking at Moyong Jun with clear eyes, suddenly smiled.

“Would you like a drink?”

It was an acceptance.

Moyong Jun laughed heartily.

“Indeed, you are generous. I knew you would accept. Here, have a drink.”

The two laughed and shared a drink. The way they looked at each other showed a deep sense of kinship and goodwill.

But they both knew. The faces they showed each other were thorough performances and lies.

Thus, another event, filled with both good and bad connections, found its way to Lian Huozheng.