Chapter 76. The Bandit Gang Acknowledged by the Ten Heroes of Wu Peak

September.

Baofeng County.

Wu Peak Mountain.

More than eighty people entered Wu Peak Mountain.

They were a merchant caravan from the Shangzhuang Shangfang, returning to Luoyang after completing a transaction in Nanjing.

Changtian Chief Zhe Saijian said to the head of the caravan, Sun Xue,

"Head, as I mentioned, I and Young Master Qingyun will go to the mountain stronghold to meet the Ten Heroes of Wu Peak. Please proceed with the Changtian Hall. We should be able to rejoin the caravan by evening."

"Very well. We'll move at a leisurely pace, so you don't need to rush."

Sun Xue, who had saved a lot of money thanks to the Nan Gong family, had no complaints.

In a sense, challenging the Wu Peak Mountain stronghold was also for the benefit of the caravan. If the Nan Gong family defeated the Ten Heroes of Wu Peak, they wouldn't have to pay tolls in the future.

After walking the mountain path for about an hour,

bandits who had been crouching like tigers in the dark forest suddenly appeared.

Sun Xue stepped forward calmly and offered twenty taels of silver.

Huang Yaoming, the Lone Wanderer, took the money pouch and glanced at Nan Gong Jin.

"Are the Nan Gong family members going to the mountain stronghold?"

Nan Gong Jin nodded.

"Yes, I and Qingyun will go."

"Follow me."

Huang Yaoming didn't say much and turned around immediately.

To him, the Nan Gong family's experts were almost like messengers of death, and he wanted to avoid getting involved as much as possible.

After passing through a huge wooden gate set up on a narrow path, a different world unfolded.

Massive halls and neatly built houses.

In the vast courtyard, over a dozen children were playing.

Nan Gong Jin and Nan Gong Tian were secretly surprised by the unexpected scene.

No matter how they looked at it, this place seemed more like a village where silver miners lived rather than a bandit stronghold.

"Please wait a moment. I'll inform the Ten Heroes of Wu Peak."

Huang Yaoming said briefly and hurried off somewhere.

The other bandits also dispersed one by one.

They didn't show any signs of being on guard, even with the Nan Gong family's experts in front of them.

A sigh escaped Nan Gong Jin's lips.

"Hmm! The Ten Heroes of Wu Peak might be more formidable than I thought."

"I agree. To build a village like this in the mountains... it's truly remarkable."

"Why haven't these people become known in the martial world?"

"Perhaps because they are crouching in Wu Peak Mountain."

"Usually, the more skilled one is, the more ambitious they become... This is truly peculiar."

While the two were speculating about the Ten Heroes of Wu Peak, an old man approached.

It was Xin Yangge, the Secretive Saber.

Xin Yangge recognized Nan Gong Jin and Nan Gong Tian.

"Are you from the Nan Gong family?"

"Yes. Where are the Ten Heroes of Wu Peak?"

"Hehe, they will be here soon. Young Master Lian is on the mountain, so you'll have to wait a bit."

"Ah! We don't have much time..."

Nan Gong Jin didn't hide his discomfort.

"Still, you two are from the Nan Gong family, so you'll receive special treatment. Others wouldn't even get to see the Ten Heroes of Wu Peak."

"Only the Seven Pai Men can receive special treatment?"

"Hehe, even the Seven Pai Men don't get such treatment. Only the Nan Gong family is treated this way."

Nan Gong Jin and Nan Gong Tian frowned slightly.

They couldn't tell if the old man was being sincere or mocking them.

After some thought, Nan Gong Jin sneered.

"Hmph! Are you mocking us because the main family in Hefei has fallen?"

"Goodness! Far from it. In the world, the only family the Ten Heroes of Wu Peak acknowledge is the Nan Gong family. Please don't say such things in front of the Ten Heroes of Wu Peak in the future."

The old man's serious expression left Nan Gong Jin and Nan Gong Tian even more confused.

While they were scratching their heads,

"Now they're coming. They'll appear around that corner soon. I hope you have a good time."

Suddenly, Nan Gong Jin and Nan Gong Tian's eyes sparkled.

They hadn't heard anything, but the old man spoke as if he had heard something.

It wasn't until a little later that they could sense any movement.

They suddenly thought, "The old man might be an expert who has reached the realm of the half-dead and half-alive."

Nan Gong Jin shuddered.

Looking at Nan Gong Tian urgently, he saw that his face was also one of surprise.

They regretted coming to the Wu Peak Mountain stronghold without a plan, but it was too late now.

Why had they forgotten how vast the world was!

As Nan Gong Jin was scolding himself, three men approached.

Ma Xingdao, who was temporarily in charge of the stronghold, Xu Rendal, and Lian Jie.

Ma Xingdao, the eldest, greeted them first.

"I am the third of the Ten Heroes of Wu Peak, Ma Xingdao. This is the fourth, Xu Rendal, and the seventh, Lian Jie."

After the introduction, Ma Xingdao looked at the Nan Gong family members with a meaningful gaze.

The Ten Heroes of Wu Peak had only learned a few months ago that Lian Jie had a good impression of the Nan Gong family. He had been smiling all day after saying he would visit the stronghold someday. Of course, they had no idea why.

Han Chae-yeon and Xia Soba had asked him several times, but he only smiled brightly and didn't answer.

His smile was so warm that they thought it must be a good connection and let it go.

Now that they had met the Nan Gong family members, they couldn't help but be interested.

Nan Gong Jin hastily replied,

"I am the chief of the Changtian Hall of the Nan Gong family, Zhe Saijian, and this is the young master, Qingyun Jian Nan Gong Tian."

He naturally used respectful language because the other party looked older.

Under normal circumstances, he would have used a more casual form of address, given that they were bandits.

"Ah! So you are Zhe Saijian and Qingyun Jian. I heard from my subordinates a few months ago that you wanted to test the skills of the Ten Heroes of Wu Peak?"

"Yes, that's right..."

Nan Gong Jin answered weakly.

His gaze kept drifting to the strange face of the old man standing behind the Ten Heroes of Wu Peak.

It was hard to tell if the expression was friendly or mocking.

"The Ten Heroes of Wu Peak is just a name. We are famous only because of our talented younger brother. Consider Lian Jie as the representative of the Ten Heroes of Wu Peak. From now on, speak with him."

Ma Xingdao stepped back slightly.

Nan Gong Jin then turned his gaze to the young man called 'younger brother.'

He had heard the name earlier but had been so focused on the old man and Ma Xingdao that he only remembered the term 'younger brother.'

If he had been the youngest among the ten, he would have remembered. But with only three people present and his attention on the old man, he had missed the important name.

On the other hand, Lian Jie, upon meeting the Nan Gong family members, looked embarrassed and didn't know what to do.

Xin Yangge, who had been watching, interjected impatiently,

"Sir, since such distinguished guests have come, why don't you show them a move?"

"Old man, you talk as if... What move do you want me to show? The more ripe the rice, the more it bows its head. You're still acting like a child, even though you're about to die. Tsk!"

Embarrassed, Lian Jie lashed out at Xin Yangge.

"Hehe, isn't vigor a sign of good health? Show them your recent practice of the Empty Air Seizing Technique."

Lian Jie's ears perked up at the mention of the Empty Air Seizing Technique, which he didn't want to use against the Nan Gong family.

"Empty Air Seizing Technique?"

As he spoke, Lian Jie extended his hand.

Swish.

With a clear sound, the leaf sword hanging from Xin Yangge's waist was sucked into Lian Jie's hand.

"Whoa!"

Nan Gong Jin's mouth dropped open.

The Empty Air Seizing Technique was a supreme skill that even peak experts couldn't perform. To see a young man execute it so effortlessly!

Nan Gong Tian was also stunned by the Empty Air Seizing Technique.

Even his father, known as the Sword King, couldn't perform it so naturally.

Yet, this bandit called 'younger brother' did it as easily as taking something out of a pocket.

Nan Gong Jin and Nan Gong Tian were on high alert, and Lian Jie, looking uncomfortable, quickly returned the sword.

Clank.

In the blink of an eye, the leaf sword was back in its original place.

The seemingly simple move left Nan Gong Jin and Nan Gong Tian so shocked that their souls almost left their bodies.

The distance between the old man and 'younger brother' was about three meters.

From that distance, Lian Jie had used the Empty Air Seizing Technique to take the sword and returned it in the blink of an eye.

It was a peak-level flying sword technique that no one could imitate.

Lian Jie kept looking around, still feeling it wasn't enough.

However, Nan Gong Jin had already given up on the duel after seeing the Empty Air Seizing Technique.

Nan Gong Jin quickly spoke up.

"I have already confirmed the skills of Young Hero Lian. There's no need for a duel. I admit that I am not a match for Young Hero Lian. What about the young master?"

"I... want to have a duel."

Nan Gong Tian wanted to feel the gap between himself and Lian Jie.

Understanding his thoughts, Nan Gong Jin didn't try to stop him.

After all, he had experienced many battles, and his thoughts could differ from those of Nan Gong Tian.

"Young master, don't overdo it."

"Yes. Young Hero Lian, may I request a move from you?"

Nan Gong Tian acknowledged his inferiority and politely requested a duel. The thought of the bandits had long vanished from his mind, given the opponent's skill.

"Sure."

Lian Jie, who had been sighing lightly, walked to the center of the courtyard.

As Nan Gong Tian took his position opposite him, Lian Jie said,

"I don't have much experience in duels, so please understand if I fail to control my strength."

"That's fine. To travel the martial world, one must be prepared for such things."

Despite his words, sweat formed on Nan Gong Tian's forehead.

If a master of that level failed to control his strength, even a slight touch could result in serious injury.

A wave of regret for his reckless challenge washed over him.

Lian Jie drew his sword.

It was his first fight since switching from a saber to a sword.

Lian Jie was tense, not wanting to injure his opponent.

Xin Yangge, seeing through his tension, laughed and said,

"Hehe! Sir, why do you look like a dog that needs to go to the bathroom? Should we take a break and come back?"

"Old Xin, please be quiet! I'm a man who lives on dew."

Despite the conversation, Lian Jie's shoulders relaxed.

A bitter smile appeared on Nan Gong Tian's face.

It was a strange feeling to be able to chat with the young master of the Nan Gong family.

But what could he do? This was reality.

With a light sigh, Nan Gong Tian swung his sword first.

It was a gesture of respect to a master.

Clang, clang, clang, clang.

Nan Gong Tian's sword attacked Lian Jie in unpredictable directions, like a butterfly.

Lian Jie calmly deflected or redirected the attacks.

The two's sword strikes, devoid of killing intent, resembled a well-choreographed, complex sword dance.

Nan Gong Tian's tense face gradually relaxed as time passed.

His opponent, though young, seemed to have transcended the framework of martial arts.

It felt like cutting the sea or a mountain with a sword.

A feeling he had only experienced in duels with his father, now with a younger bandit!

Confusion, embarrassment, and awkwardness came and went.

Judging by the bandits or his young age would be a mistake, given the opponent's exceptional skill.

Free from preconceptions, Nan Gong Tian poured everything he had into the duel.

Before he knew it, the Great Yan Sword Technique and the Imperial Sword Form had blended into his movements.

Moving between techniques and formless techniques, Nan Gong Tian entered a state of no-self.

How much time had passed?

Clang.

A clear sword sound rang in his ears, and Nan Gong Tian snapped out of his no-self state.

His sword tip was pointing skyward, having been deflected.

Suddenly overwhelmed by fatigue, his limbs felt heavy.

Lian Jie, bowing repeatedly, apologized to the dazed Nan Gong Tian.

"I'm really sorry. I must have lost my mind for a moment. I didn't mean to do that."

Nan Gong Jin rushed over to the motionless Nan Gong Tian.

"Young master, don't move."

"Why...?"

Before he could finish, Nan Gong Tian collapsed.

Bleeding profusely, he fainted, and Nan Gong Jin supported him.