Chapter 71

Xu Anxia and Zheng Gongming sat in the hall, leisurely sipping tea.

Chen Siyu was different from Xu Zhichun; her martial arts were not strong, so they had to be on guard against skilled assassins. Since the decision was made for the young lady to inherit the position of the leader, they hadn't left the Xu residence.

The four hall masters and two protectors decided to keep the news of the old leader's death secret, telling the outside world that the old leader was seriously ill, bedridden, and had already passed the position to the young lady.

"Uncle Zheng, can the young lady handle being the leader?" Xu Anxia got up and walked a few steps, unable to sit still for long.

The hall was brightly lit, as if it were daytime.

Zheng Gongming sat in a grand chair, stroking his beard with his eyes closed, as if he were a meditating monk.

"Uncle Zheng—!" Xu Anxia called out irritably, "Uncle Zheng!"

"You..." Zheng Gongming opened his eyes, stroking his beard and shaking his head, "As protectors, we can't do much. We just need to do our duty!"

"We are also part of the upper echelons of the gang, so we should be more concerned!" Xu Anxia said.

Zheng Gongming smiled, "You're overstepping your bounds. Our duty is to protect the leader. We don't need to meddle in other matters!"

"I think they all have ulterior motives!" Xu Anxia huffed, "They are all cunning and experienced. How can the young lady match them?"

"You underestimate the young lady!" Zheng Gongming said calmly.

Xu Anxia shook his head, "No matter how smart the young lady is, she is still young. They have more experience and deeper roots. Their subordinates listen to them, and the young lady's orders might not be followed!"

"Take it one step at a time. The young lady's youth is both a weakness and an advantage."

Xu Anxia pouted, "How long will it take? If the leader can't give orders, it's better not to be one at all!"

Zheng Gongming laughed, "Being a leader looks glamorous, but it requires a lot of hard work behind the scenes. No one is an exception. Do you think the old leader was comfortable just because he was powerful?"

"The old leader had high prestige, so they couldn't cause trouble." Xu Anxia pouted, "Everyone has their own agenda, making it very difficult for the young lady!"

"You can say that to me, but don't say it outside!" Zheng Gongming said sternly, "Be careful what you say!"

Xu Anxia laughed, "I'm not stupid. I just vent to you, Uncle Zheng!"

"In short, our task is to protect the leader and not let anyone take advantage. Focus on breaking through to the innate realm, that's the most important thing!"

"Alright..." Xu Anxia reluctantly agreed.

He felt that the innate realm was just a thin layer of paper away, but he couldn't break through, which made him very anxious.

"Who!" Zheng Gongming suddenly stood up, his previous lazy demeanor gone. He placed his hand on his sword, his eyes sharp, and stared at the old man who had entered the hall. His face darkened, recognizing him as Zhao Lun, the master of the Mountain-Cleaving Palm!

To be able to enter the hall silently without being noticed, this lightness skill was far beyond his own, indicating that his cultivation was much higher!

"Who are you?" Xu Anxia drew his sword and rushed at the old man in black.

The old man in black was thin, short, and dry like a farmer from the countryside, but his temples were high, his eyes sharp, and his hands large and wide, making them particularly noticeable.

He remained calm, casually waving his palm to meet Xu Anxia's sword.

"Clang..." Xu Anxia's sword flew out of his hand.

He staggered back three steps, blood already at the corner of his mouth, staring in disbelief at the old man in black.

"Zhao Lun of the Mountain-Cleaving Palm!" Zheng Gongming stepped in front of Xu Anxia, drew his sword, and said coldly, "You have a lot of nerve!"

The old man in black sneered, "I am indeed Zhao Lun!"

Zheng Gongming grunted, "To dare to break into the Xu residence, you have a lot of nerve!"

"I am here to destroy the Xu family today. Step aside if you know what's good for you!"

"What a bold claim!"

"Attack!" Zhao Lun looked at Zheng Gongming with disdain.

Xu Anxia, clutching his chest, sat on the ground, his expression weary, already seriously injured.

Zheng Gongming slowly thrust his sword, not seeking to win but to avoid losing.

Zhao Lun waved his palm to meet the attack.

His palms were like fans, large and wide, seemingly clumsy but actually very agile. Each palm strike avoided the tip of the sword and hit the blade, sending internal energy through the sword into Zheng Gongming's arms.

Zheng Gongming's face was grim as he thrust his sword.

Zhao Lun lived up to his reputation, with strange and pure internal energy. Zheng Gongming couldn't withstand it, feeling like needles piercing his dantian, hindering the flow of his internal energy and greatly reducing the power of his sword techniques.

Xu Anxia took advantage of the battle to slowly move towards the hall, and as he reached the entrance, he launched a signal arrow.

"Bang!" The signal arrow shot into the sky, exploding into a golden sword that shone brightly in the night, visible throughout the city of Yunzhou.

He let out a long breath and collapsed to the ground, weak.

Zheng Gongming's spirits lifted. With the signal arrow launched, help would arrive soon. He just needed to hold on for a few more minutes.

Zhao Lun sneered, unconcerned.

He had thoroughly investigated the Storm Cloud Gang. There were only a few innate experts, and their martial arts were not strong, posing no real threat.

His Mountain-Cleaving Palm was powerful and unparalleled, giving him no pressure when facing innate experts. He had never been defeated.

He knew that standing out would invite trouble, so he had always been very cautious. Once he made an enemy, he would eliminate them, leaving no traces. However, despite his caution, he couldn't avoid tragedy; his son was killed.

He wouldn't rest until he destroyed the Xu family, to bring peace to his son's soul!

"Bang!" Zheng Gongming was hit in the chest by a palm.

"Ah!" He spat out a mouthful of blood, not daring to retreat, and swung his sword to block the relentless palm strikes, the situation becoming increasingly dire.

"Who is it!" A loud voice echoed, and the Thunder Hall Master Hu Hai arrived.

His voice was like thunder, reverberating through the hall. Zheng Gongming's spirits lifted, and he quickly said, "Old Hu, this opponent is tough, let's attack together!"

"Alright!" Hu Hai agreed readily, rushing forward with fists like rocks, fast and fierce. "Who is this old man?"

"Zhao Lun of the Mountain-Cleaving Palm!" Zheng Gongming gritted his teeth.

"This old man!" Hu Hai grunted, exchanging a palm strike with Zhao Lun. "Good, that's what I like!"

He stepped back two steps, surprised. Zhao Lun lived up to his reputation, with strange and profound internal energy. Hu Hai was no match for him.

This didn't make him afraid; instead, it excited him. A strong opponent made the fight more intense and thrilling.

"Ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha...ha..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