Chapter 90

90. It's because it's a shit field.

The leader of the Iron Blood Hall is Zuo Yangxian.

After seizing the position of leader from the main disciple of the Giant Strength Sect, he indiscriminately swallowed up minor factions.

He would either hold a knife to their throats or bribe insiders to sign fraudulent contracts. It was clearly a robbery, but no one raised any objections.

This was because he was one of the Ten Cavalrymen of the Famous Sect.

As Zuo Yangxian's power grew like a bamboo shoot after the rain, he finally extended his reach to the righteous factions.

His first target was the Changhai Martial Hall in Luoyang, known for its lack of backbone.

The matter proceeded smoothly.

However, for the first time, a report came in that "an outsider had intervened in the Changhai Martial Hall."

What was this?

Zuo Yangxian, who had been raging, asked in detail about the appearance of the outsider and then backed off.

Although he talked about the dignity of the leader, no one took it seriously.

This was why Deputy Leader Zhu Yanxin eventually led his subordinates into action.

Zhu Yanxin looked at the front with a strange expression.

An old man stepped forward in front of the carriage, and his face seemed familiar.

"Ah! Gu Mifu Jian?"

He had only seen him briefly over a decade ago, but he was definitely Shen Yangge.

But Shen Yangge was a villainous expert; why was he with the lackeys of the righteous factions?

Although he knew who the opponent was, Zhu Yanxin didn't take it seriously.

Shen Yangge and himself were about the same level.

With over twenty Iron Blood Hall members, it was a fight they couldn't lose.

Even if the opponent was close to Zuo Yangxian, in the villainous world, friendship meant nothing unless it was a sworn brotherhood.

"Even sworn brothers stab each other when things go wrong. Friendship is for dogs."

Still, since he was a friend of the leader, he thought he would give him a chance.

Zhu Yanxin twisted his head to relax, and with a "crack, crack" sound, his stiff neck loosened a bit.

He walked out with a satisfied expression.

"Hey! Who is this? I didn't expect to meet you here, Brother Shen. It's been ten years, hasn't it?"

Shen Tong, with a poker face, retorted.

"Who are you to pretend to know me, old man?"

"Me? I'm Zhu Yanxin. Giant Strength Sect's Zhu Yanxin. We've known each other for a long time, why are you acting like this?"

"I'm meeting you for the first time."

Zhu Yanxin sneered instantly.

"Hmph! Gu Mifu Jian Shen Yangge. If you don't have dementia, stop your nonsense. I'm trying to save you for the sake of your connection with Leader Zuo. In return, leave those cripples behind."

"Tsk tsk! There seems to be a misunderstanding. I'm called Gu Tianlao Shen Tong. If you want to live, don't talk nonsense."

Killer intent surged from Shen Tong's eyes.

Zhu Yanxin involuntarily shuddered at the opponent's overwhelming aura.

But he soon felt ashamed of his momentary fear and roared.

"If you want to die, I'll grant it. What are you waiting for? Kill him!"

Just then, Li Chelyuan, the Death Sword, who was near Zhu Yanxin, led his subordinates and charged forward.

Papa, papa, papa.

Soon, the six Iron Blood Hall members and Shen Tong clashed head-on.

Shen Tong's Willow Leaf Sword moved brilliantly.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

Three sword strikes, and the insides of three people's elbows were cut off.

"Ahh!"

"Aaaah!"

"Aah!"

With screams of pain, the three people withdrew from the battlefield.

Losing their fighting spirit in an instant, Li Chelyuan and his two subordinates slowly retreated.

"Don't retreat!"

Zhu Yanxin encouraged his subordinates and drew his great sword.

Li Chelyuan, who had been watching, had no choice but to readjust his sword and advance again.

The Iron Blood Hall members and Shen Tong were mixed up in a chaotic battle.

Although the Iron Blood Hall members swarmed like bees, Shen Tong remained calm.

Whoosh, whoosh.

Every time his Willow Leaf Sword created a sword wind, Iron Blood Hall members fell, spewing blood.

Swoosh.

Just as Shen Tong's Willow Leaf Sword was about to cut a man's wrist, Zhu Yanxin, who had been waiting for an opportunity, attacked from behind.

Whoosh.

His great sword swept like a bolt of lightning across Shen Tong's waist.

But Shen Tong, who had spent most of his life in the villainous world, wouldn't fall for such a trick.

Shen Tong's Willow Leaf Sword smoothly spun in the air and deflected Zhu Yanxin's great sword.

Clang.

A clear sound rang out as the great sword was cleanly severed.

Shen Tong's internal energy, transmitted through his Willow Leaf Sword, was too much for Zhu Yanxin's great sword to withstand.

Startled, Zhu Yanxin tried to retreat, but Shen Tong's Willow Leaf Sword was faster.

Swish.

The sharp tip of the sword pierced Zhu Yanxin's right shoulder.

"Ugh..."

A short groan escaped Zhu Yanxin's lips.

With his right arm hanging limp, he couldn't hold on any longer and retreated.

As the highest-ranking and deputy leader, Zhu Yanxin's retreat caused the Iron Blood Hall members to hesitate and step back.

Zhu Yanxin glanced at his blood-soaked shoulder and sighed.

It was over.

Ten of the Iron Blood Hall members, including himself, were out of the fight.

But the opponent didn't show any signs of fatigue.

'Damn! Shen Yangge wasn't this strong...'

If he were, he wouldn't have been known by the somewhat dirty name of "Henan's Evil."

Shen Tong placed his Willow Leaf Sword on one shoulder.

It was a posture he often saw Lian Jieha use when practicing swordsmanship on the mountain. It seemed he liked imitating it.

"Heh heh, do you want to continue?"

The ten Iron Blood Hall members looked at Zhu Yanxin.

Seeing the cowed faces of his subordinates, Zhu Yanxin shook his head.

"No, I'll call it a day. Shen Yangge, since you've messed with the Iron Blood Hall, don't expect to sleep soundly."

"That stubbornness. I'm Shen Tong."

"Whether you're Shen Tong or Shen Yangge, you are... "

Zhu Yanxin glared at Shen Tong for a while before turning around.

Since they had already lost, prolonging the confrontation would only harm himself.

A short while later, when Shen Tong approached the shadows, Zheng Wujin and his group quickly made way.

Seeing Shen Tong's authority, they didn't dare to meet his eyes. His level far surpassed that of a minor faction like the Changhai Martial Hall, which was natural.

Zheng Lianzhi approached hesitantly.

"Um, Senior, thank you."

Shen Tong glanced at her and then spoke to Lian Jieha.

"Do you have a shit-eating grin?"

"I'm not eating shit, it's just a shit field. Let's quickly take them and be on our way."

Shen Tong tilted his head at Lian Jieha's blunt expression.

Something must have happened during the short fight with the Iron Blood Hall members?

Lian Jieha got up.

"Let's go!"

With that, he walked toward the carriage.

His mind was filled with the thought of meeting Nan Gongyan at the Merchant Guild.

***

Luoyang.

Changhai Martial Hall.

Around noon, two carriages stopped in front of the Changhai Martial Hall.

Soon, Zheng Wujin and his sister, Lian Jieha, and Shen Tong got out of the carriage.

As Zheng Wujin approached the main gate, he looked up at the sign of the Changhai Martial Hall with a dazed expression.

It had only been a few days since he returned, but it felt like he had been away for years.

Perhaps it was because he had faced the threat of death.

Zheng Wujin quickly knocked on the closed main gate.

Thump, thump, thump.

A light sigh escaped his lips.

The heavy, dull sound made his chest feel tight.

The gate, which was always open before the Iron Blood Hall's threat, was now firmly closed.

The sight of the closed main gate made him feel sad, reflecting the current state of the Changhai Martial Hall.

If the Changhai Martial Hall had the power of the Seven Sects and Eight Sects, this wouldn't have happened.

Or even if it had the strength of the Eight Immortals Sect, the Great Yan Sect, or the Seven Yang Sect...

Lost in thought, he heard a hoarse voice from inside the gate.

"Who's there?"

It was Yang Chianqiu, the instructor of the Changhai Martial Hall.

"Master Yang, it's Wujin."

After a moment, the gate creaked open slightly.

Zheng Wujin and his group, along with Lian Jieha and Shen Tong, were sucked in.

Yang Chianqiu, glancing at the unfamiliar guests, asked Zheng Wujin.

"How did the Qingfeng Hall fare?"

"The Iron Blood Hall followed us, and we couldn't go. We barely survived."

"Then who are these people?"

"They are the ones who saved us from the Iron Blood Hall. I brought them here to thank them."

"Do you know which sect they belong to?"

"Walong Hall."

"..."

Yang Chianqiu looked at the young boy and the old man with pity.

To be honest, the Walong Hall was in even worse shape than the Changhai Martial Hall. The Changhai Martial Hall still had its sign, but the Walong Hall had been completely destroyed.

"Ah, we need to see the Hall Master. Is he in the inner chambers?"

"Yes, go ahead. He'll be glad to know you're back safely. Xiao, come with me."

As Lin Xiao followed Yang Chianqiu, Zheng Wujin and his sister led Lian Jieha and Shen Tong to the inner chambers.

***

"I'll excuse myself for a moment. Let's talk."

In the guest hall, Changlong Sword Zheng Xiaotian, after hearing the recent events, took his son Zheng Wujin to the side room.

He wanted to discuss the excessive conditions of the help they received.

"A thousand taels?"

"Yes."

Zheng Wujin lowered his head, feeling ashamed.

Yesterday, in a hurry, he had offered a thousand taels, but now, seeing his father's face, he felt it was a mistake.

"To give a thousand taels of silver for just one day?"

"That's... because the Iron Blood Hall members were right in front of us... It ended up like this."

"A thousand taels can hire a thousand wandering knights. Do you know that?"

"It is a bit excessive, but... I promised to give that much."

Zheng Wujin felt his mouth dry up.

Hearing his father's words, he realized that a thousand taels was indeed excessive.

But what could he do?

He had already promised to give that much and had come this far.

If the old man Shen Tong were an ordinary martial artist, he could have revoked the promise, but he was a peak expert who had handled the Iron Blood Hall members like children.

"I'll talk to them. They know the market price of the Sword Judging Platform, so they'll agree."

"Father, absolutely not."

Zheng Wujin explained to his father how the old man Shen Tong had dealt with the Iron Blood Hall members.

Surprised, Zheng Xiaotian's eyes widened.

"Did this old man defeat Zhu Yanxin and his subordinates?"

"Yes, Zhu Yanxin couldn't