Chapter 89: Same Bed, Different Dreams (1)

Past midnight.

Moyong Jun, having sent Yan Hozheng away, sat alone, staring at the cold food and drinking wine.

"Ah, how long has it been since I drank this much?"

He deliberately suppressed his inner strength and allowed himself to get drunk. As a result, his neck and face turned red.

Moyong Jun smiled faintly.

He was recalling his conversation with Yan Hozheng.

'But about this permit, isn't it completely useless?'

'Ha! What a disrespectful thing to say. It has the seal of the Moyong family.'

'I don't trust my opponent, so I don't trust the evidence they provide. Moreover, before trusting the other party, I analyze the situation. Both you and I, the head of the family, are people with too much ambition to trust each other and proceed with matters, aren't we?'

'...'

'I'll leave this here. Buy me a drink later.'

Moyong Jun looked at the permit lying to one side.

"...What a slippery fellow."

Impressive.

He is so impressive that no amount of praise can do him justice, truly an outstanding talent.

"Listen, Hozheng. There's one thing you overlooked."

Swoosh.

The permit, carried by a wave of killing intent, flew and landed on the greasy food.

"Sharp stones get chipped. As the saying goes, 'A sharp awl in a bag will eventually pierce through,' meaning that an outstanding person will eventually be recognized even if they don't show themselves. But this doesn't apply in the martial world. Do you know why?"

He muttered as if Yan Hozheng were standing beside him.

Moyong Jun smiled.

"Martial artists are wary. They can't leave a protruding awl alone. Once they see it sticking out, they'll grab and twist it."

He is too outstanding to be left alone.

He is smart and perceptive, able to grasp the essence of a situation at a glance and combine situations to create a flow.

Such a person should never be given too much information, as they can analyze and combine information to uncover the true intentions hidden beneath.

Moreover, he shouldn't be given too much time, as he can figure out what's happening even without information.

He is a difficult person to handle, so he can't be left alone.

"I wish he could taste some bitterness in Anhui. Isn't that so?"

Moyong Jun turned around.

Surprisingly, a middle-aged man was standing in a corner of the room, his arms crossed.

"Did you know?"

"Haha! Of course. How could I not recognize your unique wind-like inner strength?"

The man's eyes sank deeply.

The moment he revealed his presence, a subtle and oppressive aura spread like a mist. He was no ordinary expert.

"Wouldn't it have been better if you had come a bit earlier? You could have seen Yan Hozheng, that friend of yours."

"I have no interest."

"Hehe, you're still the same."

"So, I just need to plant the information in the Nangong family?"

"Yes. As you know, the source of the information must not be revealed."

"Nangong's head is a sharp person. He's not someone who would believe information without a source."

"He's not someone who would just sit and take it either. He'll move out of curiosity."

"Can I ask one more thing?"

"Go ahead."

"Why are you so concerned about Yan Hozheng?"

Moyong Jun's eyes turned cold for a moment.

"Because he is too outstanding."

"Is that all?"

"He hasn't even reached his twenties. I'm on edge because of him. Even when I drove out my brothers and took the position of head of the family, I never encountered someone like him."

"..."

"Do you understand? At his age, he sees things just as I do. He's a monster. Moreover, his martial arts are also outstanding."

"..."

"If he continues to grow, who knows how terrifying a monster he will become."

The middle-aged man felt a chill in his chest.

He knew Moyong Jun well. He knew his abilities and character.

That's why he didn't trust him, but at the same time, he couldn't escape him.

'The talent that makes Moyong Jun nervous...'

The middle-aged man spoke.

"What if the boy figures it out?"

"It doesn't matter. Even if he realizes it's a trap, he won't counterattack."

"How can you be so sure?"

Moyong Jun smiled.

"Because he knows the power of public opinion. That's why we're leaking the information to the Nangong family, right?"

"..."

"Affection is a terrifying thing. And pride is just as terrifying. To the Nangong family, Yan Hozheng is such a person."

"..."

"Let's start, shall we?"

Moyong Jun raised his cup.

"The result is not important. What matters is the conflict. Whether he dies, fails, or returns alive, it will be a very interesting spectacle."

* * *

After sending Chang Yingdai back on leave, Yan Hozheng was finally alone.

Whoosh!

Yan Hozheng's movements as he climbed the mountain path were light and agile.

He wasn't running with an eighty-jin iron staff on his shoulder. His speed was easily comparable to a first-class lightness technique.

'Indeed, it's a bit challenging.'

He was practicing the lightness technique using only the minimum amount of inner strength.

It was different from when he practiced Zhenjue after returning from the meeting of the young masters. Then, he used his maximum strength to pull heavily (重) (引), but now, he was using the minimum strength to push lightly (輕) (推).

The five characters 輕 (light), 推 (push), 散 (scatter), 發 (release), and 柔 (soft) are the essence of the lightness technique.

Only when one has fully mastered these five essences and can activate them subconsciously can one be said to have reached the realm of the technique.

'Indeed, I'm still lacking.'

The Four Gods Martial Arts he had mastered were not unworthy of being called the best in the world.

However, he had never specifically practiced a lightness technique. Even during the Black Tyrant era, he hadn't.

The important thing was fighting and killing, not evasion. Moreover, his physical strength was the best in the Central Plains, so he could run for days without tiring.

But now, things are different.

'I need to improve my lightness technique. To avoid the regrets of the past.'

At least during the Black Tyrant era, he had subordinates he could trust. But now, he had to do everything himself.

'I need to be able to do everything. I need to be a jack of all trades.'

Whoosh!

He increased his speed.

Even after a day and two days, Yan Hozheng didn't stop. When he was really tired, he drank water and ate a rice ball. He didn't sleep.

On the fourth day, he finally collapsed in a nameless mountain.

It was a brutal training method. It was fortunate that he didn't die.

The next day, after sleeping for more than six hours, he resumed his lightness technique training and ran towards Balong Mountain.

After a few days, he finally entered Anhui.

Rushing rain poured down.

It was expected to continue for the next four days.

Yan Hozheng decided to stop practicing his lightness technique. Since he had entered Anhui, he could consider himself entering the battle zone. From now on, he needed to maintain his physical strength and be in top condition.

Splat! Splat!

He slipped a few times on the rain-soaked mountain path.

After a long descent, he finally reached Taihua County in Anhui, Shan Yin Pavilion, a large inn.

"Give me the best room on the top floor facing south. And some bathwater, please."

"Of course, sir."

He took out a gold coin to avoid being treated like a beggar. The innkeeper's attitude and expression changed completely.

The inn was crowded.

But no one recognized Yan Hozheng as the one in the rumors. Despite carrying an intimidating axe, he looked too ragged.

Fortunately, he didn't mind being tired.

"Ugh."

Two hours later.

After a bath and a full meal, Yan Hozheng collapsed on the bed.

"Really, you train so brutally. Are you really the Black Tyrant?"

The next day.

After sleeping all day and waking up at dusk, Yan Hozheng suddenly sensed a strange presence outside the window.

"Who's there?"

Surprisingly, a calm voice came from the roof outside the window.

"From Huangfeng Pavilion."

"Huangfeng Pavilion?"

"The information network of the Moyong family."

"Oh."

Yan Hozheng had requested information from Moyong Jun. One of the things he needed was information.

Anhui was a region tightly controlled by the Nangong family. However, it was so vast that it couldn't be fully checked.

That's why Huangfeng Pavilion's informants could exist in Anhui.

"An interim report. I'll come back at this time tomorrow."

"Thank you."

Swish.

A well-tied letter flew in from outside the window.

The way they handled business was different from the Beggar Sect. The Beggar Sect was more chaotic, but that was just on the surface. They were much more organized and professional.

Now he understood why the Beggar Sect was called the best information network in the righteous world.

Yan Hozheng opened the letter.

"Hmm."

Sleep and fatigue vanished in an instant.

"He came faster than I thought."

Even though he had chosen mountain paths to practice his lightness technique, he arrived before Ming Xulun. Ming Xulun was still in Henan.

It was inevitable. Ming Xulun would be moving under extreme tension, paying attention to his surroundings.

Of course, Huangfeng Pavilion's informants couldn't pinpoint Ming Xulun's exact location. They only knew his general whereabouts based on his trail.

'If I start tracking him from behind, he won't visit Balong Mountain. It's better to go there first and wait.'

The letter also included the location of the secret residence in Balong Mountain.

Of course, knowing the location didn't mean he could enter. He would need a specific method to gain entry. He just needed to wait in front of it.

"Then."

Yan Hozheng's eyes deepened.

"I can meet him earlier."

Actually, he didn't need to accept this mission. Mo You was a hundred times more important to him than Ming Xulun.

But he couldn't ignore the fact that Mobi was here.

A small smile appeared on Yan Hozheng's face.

"What was that gentleman like in his youth?"

Mobi was a quiet person. He didn't know much about his past. In fact, he always wore a mask. Yan Hozheng was the only one who had seen Mobi's true face.

The smile on Yan Hozheng's face gradually turned indifferent.

"Jinjian Sect."

Why did Mobi destroy the Jinjian Sect?

The Mobi he knew wasn't someone who would act without reason. Even with one of the top three martial arts in the Black Tyrant City, he didn't kill indiscriminately.

He knew restraint and responsibility. That's why Yan Hozheng respected Mobi.

Yan Hozheng rotated his wrist.

A crack sounded, and his entire arm felt refreshed.

"Should I move now?"

The thought of meeting Mobi soon made him forget his hunger. After all, he had eaten a lot before going to bed the previous night.

He placed his foot on the windowsill.

Whoosh!

After a few days of intense training, his lightness technique's springiness felt noticeably improved.

From the center of Taihua County, he quickly reached the outskirts and soon found a shabby beggar's den.

Crash!

"Ah! I'm scared! What, who are you?"

Yan Hozheng took out a black token from his sleeve.

The beggar's eyes changed instantly.

"The Central Plains branch received a message from Houkai. I greet you, Master Lian."

"I came because I wanted to know something."

"About Huangfeng Pavilion...?"

He knew that Moyong Jun's Huangfeng Pavilion had come with him. Indeed, they had impressive information-gathering capabilities.

"I don't work well with them. Information is still best with the Beggar Sect."

The beggar smiled.

"What information are you looking for?"

"About the secret residence in Balong Mountain and the Anhui Blood..."

At that moment.

A faint scream echoed from the distant south.

Yan Hozheng and the beggar's expressions changed.

Whoosh!

The two of them rushed out of the beggar's den.