Chapter 92. An interesting fellow has crawled in.

He is 24 years old. He was always just right.

His height was just right, his weight was just right, and his desires were just right.

His family was well-off. They owned several large fabric stores in southern Anhui, so he had lived a comfortable life since childhood. His future was safely secured. Therefore, he did not challenge anything. He lived just right, satisfying his parents' expectations to a degree that would not go wrong.

He got just drunk enough, maintained his health just right, and pursued women just right. He knew well that he should not have too much desire.

He did not fuss over a woman's face. If he had to be picky, it was about the feeling. He did not want to be tied down and preferred casual encounters. That way, he could enjoy many women. So, this night, he planned to have just a small desire.

Hee hee hee hee!

Suddenly, a strange laugh came from somewhere, but he quickly dismissed it. Today was a lucky day, after all.

Yeah, it's a lucky day.

That night, as he returned home after getting thoroughly drunk, a woman approached him. "Would you like to have another drink with me?" She looked to be in her early thirties. An older woman. So what? She had a good figure. Her face exuded charm, which he liked. They entered a tavern. Cups were exchanged. They conversed well. Even for trivial matters, the woman laughed. Laughing was a sign of affection. If things went well, he might have a great night. It was a lucky day.

It was an unlucky day.

She said, "I think I should get up now." Yeah, there are days like this. How can everything go as planned? This is disappointing. When can I meet you again? He pretended it didn't matter. "It would be nice to meet, but if not, it's fine." I just wasted the money on drinks, bitch.

It's a lucky day.

As he turned to leave, the woman called out softly, "Would you like to spend the night with me?" He smiled. "Of course."

It's a lucky day.

They spent a hot night together.

It was an intense and ecstatic time.

After the heat subsided, the woman dressed. She was satisfied. Without being asked, she spoke first. "It was great tonight. You're quite good." He lay on the bed without responding, watching her back. The woman sighed, "I'm sad because this is the last time." He did not respond again.

He was busy.

He was busy gripping his own neck.

He had to try hard to stop the blood flowing from his slit throat, but it continued to gush out between his fingers. He wanted to ask the woman who she was and why she did this to him, but his mouth wouldn't move. On the bed, soaked in blood, the man's vision blurred. He was dying.

The woman understood his feelings.

Who am I? She smiled affectionately.

A ghost summoner.

I'm not that bad a person.

Then, without erasing her smile, she continued. "You know, you. Since you embraced me at the end of your life, it's all good. Don't think I'm too bad."

As the man's vision blurred and he closed his eyes,

Her final words echoed in his ear.

"I love you."

* The night in southern Anhui grew quietly deeper.

It was the second night after Hou Gong arrived at the Nan Gong family.

**

The next day.

Dong dong dong, the sound of drums marked the beginning of the Heavenly Dragon Grand Feast.

The Nan Gong family's grand training ground had been transformed into a banquet hall, and the venue was bustling with invited martial artists, minor sects from southern Anhui, and nearby noble families.

A series of speeches followed.

The importance of the First Martial Hero and the successor of the alliance was emphasized. The significance and value of the alliance of the Ten Great Families in a time of potential chaos, and the need for a strong bond in the future, were discussed. Applause followed each point.

After the formal procedures ended, beautiful melodies filled the air, and guests gathered around round tables, enjoying their lunch and conversations.

Among them,

"Hmm... I'm getting old."

Hou Gong felt his age.

There are too many people!

He felt overwhelmed.

Somehow, he preferred simpler things these days. After being in the crowded banquet hall for almost an hour, he felt numb, regardless of the pleasant melodies.

The constant change of people around him also contributed to his discomfort. The children of the Heavenly Gong Sect never stayed still, coming and going. When a seat was empty, Mo Ying would come, and when it was empty again, late-stage disciples from the Dragon Boat Pavilion would approach, making him even more uncomfortable.

'Well, where are those guys?'

Finally, alone without anyone around, Hou Gong glanced over the wall.

Did they go far?

Or maybe they are somewhere within a few hundred feet.

If they were within range, he would be glad to see them.

"Prince, are you waiting for someone?"

Meng Yanmeng, the Anhui branch chief of the Martial Arts Alliance, plopped down in the opposite chair and asked.

Hou Gong's appearance clearly showed he was waiting for someone.

He nodded and replied, "I'm waiting for the sparrows."

"Sparrows?"

Meng Yanmeng furrowed his brow, puzzled by the sudden mention of sparrows.

Regardless, Hou Gong told the truth.

"But for some reason, they don't seem to be coming."

Meng Yanmeng became serious for a moment.

Then, he sniffed and leaned back in his chair.

"Hmm... Did you have a plan to meet today?"

"We didn't make any specific plans."

"You must be close, then."

"Just... we know each other's faces."

"Can you introduce me to them sometime?"

"I can't promise, but I'll try."

"Thanks. You're the only one."

With that, they both burst into laughter.

Hou Gong thought Meng Yanmeng was quite capable for following along, and Meng Yanmeng enjoyed joking with the prince.

'Hoho Jian, you're quite something.'

Hou Gong suddenly thought of Qibidan Hun.

What would that guy do?

Upon hearing the word "sparrows," he would probably frown and be lost in deep thought. Such a serious guy. But that seriousness is also his strength and makes him interesting.

"You're a man who doesn't know how to give up, Branch Chief."

Meng Yanmeng must have another reason for being here.

The Martial Arts Alliance. Talent recruitment. The Cryptography Department.

Hou Gong recognized his efforts anew.

I never thought he would work so hard for the alliance.

"The current situation requires someone like you in the alliance."

The current situation?

Was there a special event?

Hou Gong became curious.

"Is there turmoil in the martial world?"

"Recently, there have been a few significant events. It feels like things are starting. Six months is a long time for impatient people."

Although the starting point of the six months was obvious, Hou Gong pretended not to know.

"Six months?"

"After you left. They say a family can fall in three years, but three years is when it completely collapses. Before that, it gradually deteriorates. The current martial world is like that. With your death seemingly confirmed, the ones who were crouching are now stretching. They no longer need to control their anger. Murderers are emerging, and the frequency of disputes between sects has increased. Among them are absurd ones like the Ling Lei Pavilion."

Ling Lei Pavilion. It had been a while since Hou Gong thought of that name.

Jin Tian Lei, experts in explosives.

'Hmm... They're usually calm. What's going on?'

Meng Yanmeng continued.

"Have you heard of the Ling Lei Pavilion?"

"Never."

"Hmm... Those people. They are always angry. Why are they so explosive?"

"..."

"There are several theories, but the most credible one is that they became strange after they started making explosives, which is almost a consensus in the martial world."

Hou Gong raised an eyebrow and pouted.

He had never heard of this consensus.

"Anyway, it seems they had some grievances or grudges against the Wudang Sect. Now that you're gone, they decided to destroy the Wudang Sect."

"I don't understand what you're trying to say."

"Listen. It's a great story."

Meng Yanmeng spoke with a serious expression.

"The method the Ling Lei Pavilion used to destroy Wudang was to dig from the bottom of Wudang Mountain. They planned to dig from the bottom up, plant a large amount of explosives like Jin Tian Lei, and blow up the Wudang Sect along with the mountain peak."

"..."

"But a problem arose. The more they dug, the more rocks they encountered. The rocks were hard to dig through. But what could they do? They had already started, so it would be a waste to stop. So they kept digging. But it was really hard. They hit a rock wall. Damn, why is it so hard to dig? Sorry for the profanity. Anyway, they got tired and irritable, and started fighting among themselves."

"..."

"Something like, 'I've dug this much, why haven't you dug that much?' It escalated to the point where they decided to kill each other and blow up the tunnel."

"..."

"Apparently, they didn't dig much, but the mountain shook, and the Wudang Sect finally understood the situation. They were angry and found it absurd, but they had to rescue the Ling Lei Pavilion members, which was quite a hassle."

"..."

"What do you think? If the martial world is in this state, it's only right that someone like you should be in the alliance..."

"There you are."

"Why?"

His words were cut off, and Meng Yanmeng blinked.

"Are you in pain?"

"..."

"Be careful."

Meng Yanmeng looked dazed. But then he chuckled.

"Hehehe... How did you know?"

A low bark followed.

Hou Gong's eyebrows twitched.

'Is he crazy?'

How did he know? He should have said something more sensible. I know about the Ling Lei Pavilion, and what's wrong with Wudang? Now I see, Meng Yanmeng is not Hoho Jian but a complete liar.

"Ahem~. I have someone to meet, so I'll be going... See you later."

Meng Yanmeng, sensing he would only be teased, quietly got up and left. Hou Gong watched his pitiful back and then suddenly felt a gaze and turned his head.

It was a beautiful woman.

Her eyes, half-angry and half-cold, stared at him like a cobra.

Since it was Xiao Ye,

"Phew!"

Hou Gong burst out laughing after sipping his tea. The image of the beggars' parting hair and the resentful glares reminded him of a cobra.

'What, that person!'

Xiao Ye quickly averted her gaze.

She never thought he would laugh when their eyes met. She couldn't understand how someone could be so shameless. Laughing without a hint of apology. The memory of the morning situation made her face flush again.

- Sister, are you okay?

Ying Shan sent a mental message from beside her.

He had a rough idea of what happened, seeing the exchange of glances and knowing the context. Since Sima Xilian and Huang Bao Yao were also at the table, he used mental communication.

- It's a mess. I'll go outside for some fresh air.

- Okay.

As Xiao Ye left with a huff, Hou Gong sniffed and pursed his lips.

'Hmm... I didn't mean to laugh.'

He casually scanned the banquet hall.

He looked at the Heavenly Gong Sect,

and the servers bringing dishes.

He watched the people clearing empty plates and the martial artists on the outskirts, the flower beds, and the workers tidying up the surroundings, all working hard...

'...?'

A sense of unease passed over him, and he turned his gaze back to where he had just looked.

He found the source of his discomfort.

A man in his early forties, standing by the flower bed beyond the banquet tables.

Hou Gong activated his An Ren Eye.

Over seventy feet away.

The face of the middle-aged worker was instantly brought to the forefront of his vision.

His An Ren Eye had reached the fourth level.

The wrinkles under the middle-aged worker's eyes and his pores were clearly visible in Hou Gong's field of vision.

His face was ordinary.

A gentle smile lingered.

But that was,

a fake face. A disguise.

Hou Gong raised one corner of his mouth.

'Phew... An interesting fellow has crawled in.'