Chapter 35

Chapter 34. You, brat? Are you from the Zhongnan Sect? (4)

'When?'

Confusion clouded Gong Wenyan's eyes.

He hadn't sensed anyone approaching, yet a person stood right before him.

'Who is this?'

Gong Wenyan's confusion turned to bewilderment as he identified the owner of the voice.

A tight-fitting black night suit, a black mask, and a sword in one hand.

"..."

The outfit screamed, "I'm a robber!"

But...

Gong Wenyan's gaze involuntarily rose. The glaring sun caught his eye.

'Is he crazy?'

A robber wandering the streets in broad daylight. Does this even make sense?

"Is this what you're talking about?"

Someone asked the question on Gong Wenyan's behalf. The masked person looked at him with a dull expression.

"I'm the one... Cough! Cough! Ugh... I, I'm the one... Cough! Who else could it be... Cough! Me?"

"..."

Gong Wenyan stared at the robber with a blank look.

'He looks like he's about to die?'

An old man?

A bent back, a body as thin as a skeleton, and the complexion around his eyes, visible through the mask, suggested he was quite old.

Or perhaps a young man on the verge of death.

Ah, but that's unlikely.

"What do you want? You don't seem like a passerby."

The masked person coughed a few times and shook his head.

"Ugh. I might die like this."

"..."

"Can't you see what's going on?"

"..."

"I don't understand."

"What do you think a person dressed like this in broad daylight would be?"

"A madman?"

"..."

"Or dementia?"

"Robber! Robber!"

"Oh, you're a robber. I didn't expect that."

Gong Wenyan couldn't help but chuckle.

A robber who looks like he can't even catch a mouse.

Of course, judging someone by their appearance is not right. But the problem with this person wasn't just his appearance.

He held the sword, but there was no trace of the unique aura of a martial artist.

Indeed, a sensible martial artist wouldn't wander around in broad daylight in such an outfit. It's something only a madman would do.

"Hey, old man."

Gong Wenyan waved his hand as if shooing away a fly.

"Looks like you're tempted by wealth. Don't throw away your life for nothing and go home."

"By wealth... Cough! Tempted... Cough! Cough! Oh! It's you guys!"

"I don't understand what you're saying."

"Ugh."

Since communication was clearly failing, the masked person tapped his waist a few times and pointed his sword, which he had been using as a cane, at Gong Wenyan.

"I'm not here to steal wealth, but to find my property."

"A moment ago, you said you were a robber?"

"Even if I speak poorly, you should understand clearly."

"..."

Gong Wenyan frowned.

When things don't go well, all sorts of troublemakers show up.

"It's better to leave before I strike."

"Try it?"

"This guy is for real!"

Just as Gong Wenyan was about to shout, the tip of the masked person's sword pointed at him.

"You don't seem like a fool, but you can't understand a thing."

Gong Wenyan shut his mouth.

A moment of silence passed.

After staring at the masked person for a while, Gong Wenyan asked in a slightly different tone.

"Are you from Huashan?"

The merchants' eyes widened at Gong Wenyan's words.

"From Huashan?"

"What do you mean, Gong Lujia?"

Gong Wenyan didn't answer the merchants' questions. Dealing with annoying flies wasn't important.

The masked person nodded.

"You know well."

"I thought the matter with Huashan was settled?"

"The matter with Huashan is settled, but not with me."

"Sent by Zhang Wen?"

"Does he seem like the type to do that?"

"..."

"Probably not."

Gong Wenyan had a certain respect for Huashan's current leader, Zhang Wen Xianzong. While he was a frustrating person, he was also someone who upheld his own sense of justice.

He wasn't the type to send someone else after promising to do something himself.

"Are you saying that someone from Huashan has defied the will of the sect leader?"

"It's fine."

The masked person nodded.

"I'm not the type to listen to that child's words."

Gong Wenyan's face darkened.

'Predecessor?'

Although his face was masked, considering his bent back, emaciated body, and hoarse voice, this person was quite old.

And given his tone when speaking about Huashan's leader, he might be of a higher rank than the leader.

In other words, the person before him could be a former Huashan master.

'But he doesn't show any signs of being a master?'

It was hard to gauge how much to believe. Gong Wenyan, who usually maintained his composure, found the person before him quite peculiar.

Gong Wenyan's expression hardened.

"I didn't expect Huashan to be so despicable."

"Despicable?"

The masked person snorted.

"That's why black-haired beasts shouldn't be tamed. What would Yan Gong say if he saw you now?"

"Who is Yan Gong?"

The masked person, Qing Ming, narrowed his eyes.

'What?'

You don't know Yan Gong?

Yan Gong was the leader of Taihua Tower when Qing Ming was in Huashan. If Gong Wenyan had taken over Taihua Tower, he would have known Yan Gong.

But he doesn't know Yan Gong?

Qing Ming tilted his head.

'Something's off?'

And it smells bad. Perhaps this is the work of a few money-hungry individuals.

"Whatever."

Qing Ming waved his sword.

"I don't know if the leader sent you to take the wealth, but I'm a despicable person with no skills. I can't stand seeing this. I'd like to break your legs, but out of respect for the leader, I'll let you go. Leave the cart and go. I won't catch you."

"Huh."

Gong Wenyan laughed bitterly.

"Listen, do you think I'll retreat just because I'm weak?"

"Yeah."

"..."

Gong Wenyan was at a loss for words.

This guy's way of speaking is strange. The conversation keeps getting stuck.

"Cough! You're making a big mistake. I'm retreating to avoid making a big issue, not because I can't handle a masked robber."

"Ha ha. You talk well... Cough! Cough! Ahahaha! Cough! Ah... Ah, I'm dying."

Seeing the masked person bend over and cough, Gong Wenyan felt a pang of sympathy. If the situation allowed, he might have gone to support him.

Seeing his trembling limbs and bent back, it felt like tears were welling up.

"Old man, if you leave now, I won't catch you. You look exhausted, so just go."

"The old man will freeze to death."

Despite his appearance, he's a young and vibrant person.

He's just resting a bit right now.

'Ah, the innate energy is killing people.'

His body wasn't in good shape. He had to use innate energy, but he didn't expect the side effects to be so severe.

After all, he had to rest for three months to recover, yet he was running around the town. At least the others mistook him for an old man, which was fortunate.

"There's no need to talk much."

Qing Ming swung his sword.

"Only those who will be beaten should stay. Those who will leave, go now. In the old days, I wouldn't have asked questions and just beaten them, but I'm trying to control myself. Don't provoke me."

"You talk well."

Gong Wenyan drew a line, indicating he saw no need for further conversation.

"Last warning. I won't show any mercy now."

"Understood. Tell the people behind me to come out."

Gong Wenyan was taken aback.

'Did he notice?'

Behind him were hidden guards. They were so skilled that most people wouldn't even sense their presence.

"Come out."

As soon as Gong Wenyan gave the order, over ten warriors emerged from the bushes.

"Huh?"

"When did these people get here?"

The merchants, who hadn't noticed them, huddled close to the cart in fear.

"Once more!"

Bam!

The sound that blocked Gong Wenyan's attempt to give them a chance to retreat was so loud that it made his shoulders shake.

And...

Thud.

The warrior who had rushed forward fell sideways. His trembling leg suggested he wouldn't get up again.

Qing Ming clicked his tongue and raised his sword.

"Damn!"

Bam!

"These kids nowadays!"

Bam!

"Talk too much!"

Bam!

"I didn't do that in my time!"

Thud!

Before anyone could understand what was happening, five warriors had fallen to the ground. Even seeing it with their own eyes, they couldn't comprehend the situation.

"Tsk."

Qing Ming sheathed his sword and slung it over his shoulder. He glared at Gong Wenyan, leaning on one leg.

If a strong, healthy person had done this, it would have been an impressive sight. But Qing Ming, who was emaciated and bent, looked pitiful.

"Kid."

Qing Ming chuckled.

"You don't seem to know, but in the old days, no one who ignored my words ever left with their limbs intact. If you can't communicate, you're an animal. And animals have weaknesses. Let's see if this weakness applies to you."

Qing Ming, with his sword on his shoulder, shuffled forward.

The warriors, seeing this, took a few steps back, completely intimidated.

"Fall back! Useless ones."

Gong Wenyan, gritting his teeth, stepped forward, pushing the warriors back.

'Is there still such a person in Huashan?'

I thought they were all toothless tigers. Well, that's true. The mistake was underestimating the strength of a tiger, even without its teeth and claws.

"I don't understand why someone like you stayed out of sight. If you had come forward, Huashan wouldn't be in this state."

What do you know?

Just as Qing Ming was about to speak, Gong Wenyan cut him off with a sharp voice.

"One, you chose the wrong time. I was already planning to give Huashan a beating. This is perfect. If someone of your caliber dies by my hand, the leader will mourn. Be prepared."

Gong Wenyan gathered his energy.

The grass around him rose with his aura, a display of power far beyond that of a mere innkeeper.

"You're right. I thought you had something."

Qing Ming's eyes gleamed.

"Don't worry. I won't hit your face."

Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to talk, right?

Qing Ming shuffled toward Gong Wenyan. At that moment, Gong Wenyan raised both hands and charged at Qing Ming.