Chapter 16: Let's Not Bear Grudges

Huang Yaoming groaned as he stood up.

"It seems the time has come... Should I go and inform Lord Cai?"

In response, Gu Mifujian Shim Yangjue snorted with an incomprehensible expression.

Surprised by the unexpectedly cold reaction, Huang Yaoming hesitated for a moment.

He couldn't tell if it was a command to act or to hold back.

'They're like slippery eels. They're pretending to be uninterested, right? Fine, I'll set the stage.'

Huang Yaoming nudged the loafing men with his foot to get them up.

Three men, who had been crouching, reluctantly got up and walked out.

Huang Yaoming, stepping into the courtyard, called out loudly.

"Hey! It's cold! We need to get our bodies moving! What are you all doing? Go and gather the people! We need to get this over with quickly. The sun will set if we keep this up."

Spurred on by Huang Yaoming's urging, the men reluctantly dispersed.

Shortly after, bandits began to emerge from the five pavilions.

Huang Yaoming, who happened to meet Zhang Xiaofeng's gaze, smiled sardonically and said,

"Brother, do you know what day it is today? Such matters should be resolved quickly. The longer it drags on, the uglier it gets, right?"

"Uh..."

Zhang Xiaofeng reluctantly nodded.

"But Lord Feng isn't here, is he?"

"He's currently talking with the seventh, Lian Jieha. He'll be out soon, so don't worry."

"Haha! You're not planning to give up before even drawing swords, are you?"

Just then, Lian Jieha and Feng Yanchao appeared.

Huang Yaoming, who had been shouting, stepped back subtly when he saw Lian Jieha, feeling a bit uneasy.

Lian Jieha glared at him for a moment, then lost interest. After all, he intended to deal with all the irritants today.

Feng Yanchao, scratching his head with a calm expression, slowly spoke.

"Everyone knows why we're gathered here today, right? I'll keep it simple. Those who are content with their rank, stand to my left. Those who wish to challenge, stand to my right."

The bandits, who had been hesitating, split into two groups.

Almost all of them moved to Feng Yanchao's left. They had experienced Lian Jieha's prowess firsthand during the mountain journey.

Naturally, the five bandits, including Shim Yangjue, walked leisurely to Feng Yanchao's right.

Feng Yanchao, who had been patiently watching their hesitant actions, continued.

"Feng Gaoming, Ma Xingdao, Xu Rendal, Qu Shancheng, and Zhang Xiaofeng are sworn brothers with the seventh, Lian Jieha."

At Feng Yanchao's words, Han Chaiyan pouted.

This is just a way to use Lian Jieha for their own benefit, from the chief to the sixth in rank.

Glancing at Lian Jieha, he saw him nodding with a straightforward expression.

Well, I understand. After all, the chief and deputy chief saved him when he was dying. It's not wrong to serve them for life as a sign of gratitude.

But to call someone a sworn brother or a family member is a bit much, isn't it?

'Sigh! If I had entered the mountain a few months earlier, my name would have been among them...'

A faint sigh escaped Han Chaiyan's lips.

As long as the Five Peaks Bandit Gang continues, those seven will be treated as one. It's frustrating that I can't stand beside Lian Jieha just because of a few months' difference.

While this was happening, Feng Yanchao continued.

"...So, we've decided to leave everything to the seventh, Lian Jieha. In other words, whoever defeats him will become the master of the Five Peaks Bandit Gang."

Feng Yanchao paused, looking around.

Those on the left nodded in agreement. The five on the right did the same.

Seeing no objections, Feng Yanchao turned to Lian Jieha.

"Lian, start."

"Yes."

Lian Jieha, after a brief response, walked to the center of the courtyard.

Shim Yangjue's eyes sparkled.

Despite it being mid-winter, Lian Jieha was dressed lightly. This indicated either a naturally hot constitution or the attainment of the 'Cold-Resistant' realm.

'Which one is it?'

Considering his age, the 'Cold-Resistant' realm seemed absurd.

Glancing at Wu Yingxin Tou Bai Jiao, he saw a troubled expression on his face.

For a moment, Shim Yangjue's and Bai Jiao's gazes met in the air.

Both men's lips twisted slightly as they noticed each other's thick fur coats.

Even after sixty years of cultivation, wearing fur in winter is normal.

Indeed, the 'Cold-Resistant' realm is more fitting for the leaders of the Seven Great Sects (Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, Qingcheng, Quanzhen, Kongtong, Diancang, Wuji, Yitian).

After a moment, Lian Jieha turned his gaze to the group of five.

"Hey, newcomers. What are you doing? Let's get started. The sun will set if we keep this up."

Huang Yaoming's eyebrows twitched.

He had definitely heard what he said earlier.

The young man's boldness was unsettling. There's a saying in the martial world to be cautious of children, the elderly, and women.

Without realizing it, his head turned towards Bai Jiao and Shim Yangjue.

However, even at this critical moment, the two old men were acting as if it was someone else's business, implying that anyone should go first.

But Huang Yaoming didn't want to go first.

He pushed the middle-aged man in front of him forward.

Chen Yibao, who found himself going first, gave an awkward smile.

"I'm Chen Yibao. Shall we do this bare-handed or with weapons?"

"If you go bare-handed, I will too. If you use a weapon, I'll do the same."

At Lian Jieha's words, Chen Yibao said with a condescending tone,

"We're not mortal enemies, and this is to test martial skills, so let's do it bare-handed."

"Alright."

"..."

The young man's tone was quite disrespectful, but Chen Yibao didn't argue. Since his rank was higher, even if he was insulted, it wouldn't be a big deal.

'He's known for his sword skills, so if I can prevent him from using a sword, I'll succeed, right?'

Of course, he was better with a saber than his fists.

Still, he wanted to avoid a sword fight if possible, given the rumors about Lian Jieha.

Chen Yibao circulated his ten years of internal energy, cultivated through the Three Talisman Mind Method, throughout his body.

His stiff muscles relaxed, and his spirit was heightened.

The effect of ten years of cultivation.

Chen Yibao immediately dashed forward.

Crack!

With a sound of bones colliding, Chen Yibao's body flew into the air.

Thud.

He fell to the ground, eyes rolled back, unconscious.

Huang Yaoming, who had been watching intently, couldn't even breathe for a moment.

Unfortunately, Chen Yibao's upper body had blocked his view of Lian Jieha's movements.

Even so, for Chen Yibao to be knocked out in one hit?

Chen Yibao was clearly inferior to him, but Huang Yaoming couldn't confidently say he could knock him out in one hit.

'Is this getting complicated?'

Huang Yaoming involuntarily looked at Shim Yangjue and Bai Jiao.

Their expressions were also serious.

Meanwhile, two bandits from the left side dragged Chen Yibao away.

Huang Yaoming, frantically thinking, kicked Yan Suxiong, who was hesitating.

It was a signal for him to go next.

Yan Suxiong glanced at Huang Yaoming with a resentful look but didn't dare to defy him. Although he hadn't fought him before, he was intimidated by his presence.

Lian Jieha, standing calmly, asked indifferently,

"Shall we do this bare-handed or with weapons?"

Like most bandits, Yan Suxiong's specialty was the saber. He rarely fought bare-handed since he started using a weapon.

However, he couldn't bring himself to suggest a weapon.

If bare-handed was this brutal, what about with a weapon?

Yan Suxiong shook his head vigorously.

"No, let's do it bare-handed."

"Come on."

But Yan Suxiong didn't charge recklessly like Chen Yibao.

After gathering his internal energy, he circled around Lian Jieha.

In contrast to his rapid movements, Lian Jieha stood still with his arms stretched out.

Yan Suxiong's face turned red with anger when Lian Jieha didn't even turn his head.

There's no such thing as ignoring someone this much.

He could understand not moving, but at least he should turn his head to follow him, right?

'You little brat!'

Yan Suxiong, glaring at Lian Jieha's small back, held his breath and charged.

Crack!

Yan Suxiong's robust body flew into the air and fell heavily to the ground.

Huang Yaoming's eyes darkened.

Thanks to Yan Suxiong's backward fall, he could see Lian Jieha's movements this time.

There didn't seem to be any special techniques in Lian Jieha's movements.

He just turned and extended his fist, which caught Yan Suxiong's jaw.

'What a fool.'

No matter how inexperienced in fist fighting, why would you offer your jaw to your opponent?

Lian Jieha won because he was slightly faster than Yan Suxiong.

Of course, it was a bit surprising that Yan Suxiong was knocked out by one punch from the young man.

'He seems to have deeper internal energy than I thought.'

Huang Yaoming had found a way to deal with Lian Jieha.

After the bandits on the left side dragged Yan Suxiong away, Huang Yaoming stepped forward without hesitation. It was his turn, and he didn't want to make a fool of himself.

He declared boldly,

"Let's do this with weapons."

A sardonic smile appeared on Lian Jieha's face.

Huang Yaoming suddenly felt a sense of 'Oops.'

He chose a weapon because it was faster than bare hands, but then he realized the same applied to his opponent!

Before he could change his mind, one of the bandits handed a saber to Lian Jieha.

'It's okay, it's okay. I've eaten more sword meals than he has.'

He was known as the 'Heartless Wanderer' in the five nearby counties. In comparison, his opponent was a newcomer without a notable nickname.

Huang Yaoming, trying to calm himself, drew his saber.

"Swords have no eyes, so don't blame me if you get hurt... sir."

He originally intended to say 'don't blame me' firmly, but he softened his tone due to Lian Jieha's calm demeanor.

Lian Jieha nodded and replied,

"Alright. I might still be clumsy and cut you somewhere. Let's not bear grudges."

Huang Yaoming's expression became complicated.

When fighting a high-level expert, the degree of injury is crucial.

For this reason, he tries not to offend his opponent before the fight. He had hastily changed his tone to a more respectful one for this reason.

But to say he might cut you because he's clumsy?

According to rumors, he's a high-level expert. What kind of nonsense is this?

Huang Yaoming, standing there blankly, shook his head vigorously to clear his mind.

'Damn! I almost let my guard down because of the young man's trick. I'll kill him.'

With a determined look, a murderous intent flashed in Huang Yaoming's eyes.

The nickname 'Heartless Wanderer' wasn't given lightly. He had killed people as easily as eating during his wandering days. Among them were several boys around Lian Jieha's age.

Huang Yaoming decided to use a killing technique from the start.

He planned to take advantage of the opponent's relaxed state, thinking it was just a friendly match.

'I'll use the Heart-Searching Saber Technique from the start.'

The Heart-Searching Saber Technique, which involves striking from above, slicing horizontally, and cutting diagonally, is the essence of all saber techniques.

Huang Yaoming took a large step forward and raised his saber like lightning. To others, it might look like the 'Mountain-Pressing Strike,' but the downward strike of the Heart-Searching Saber Technique is far more subtle.

Swish.

The sharp saber fell like a bolt of lightning on Lian Jieha's head without warning.

The technique looked so dangerous that a few bandits with weak hearts let out gasps of 'Oh!'

Han Chaiyan, who had a good impression of Lian Jieha, turned her head away with a scream of 'Ah!'