The red sun was setting in the west, and the river wind rustled.
As a group of people stepped into Shuiyun Sword Pool, the area at the foot of Zhaolu Mountain fell into a deathly silence.
Ta ta ta...
Dense footsteps sounded on the path by the side of Yingyue Lake.
The renowned martial artists sitting in the Sword Release Hall turned their heads and looked out from the hall. They saw more than twenty disciples of the Zhou family, their hands resting on their swords, stepping back step by step along the lakeside. The person leading them was Zhou Huaiyi, the third son of the Zhou family.
Zhou Huaiyi held the third most important position in the Zhou family. With the backing of Shuiyun Sword Pool, he was a figure who could act arrogantly wherever he went.
But at this moment, Zhou Huaiyi was tightly gripping the hilt of the sword at his waist, walking backward in his own home. Anger burned in his eyes, yet he kept raising his hand to restrain the restless disciples of the Zhou family.
This scene was quite incredible, but when everyone looked at the people opposite Zhou Huaiyi, they understood.
On the white stone avenue, more than thirty people were striding forward!
The people behind were all dressed in black clothes and wearing wide-brimmed hats, with their weapons on their backs. Each of them had an imposing manner.
And the three people in the front were even more eye-catching.
The burly man on the right was wearing a brocade robe, with his hands behind his back and a tough face. He was Song Chi, known as "Bai Fo" in the Tiannan martial arts world, who had established his reputation as a grandmaster with his boxing skills.
The man on the left was wearing a scholarly robe and looked quite refined, but his figure seemed a bit erratic. Everyone present recognized him at a glance as Chen Yuanqing, the leader of the Jiangzhou Ship Gang and also the third leader of Honghua Tower.
These two were both renowned figures in the martial arts world, so it was not surprising that they could force Zhou Huaiyi to step back.
But the unruly words just now did not come from these two people, but from the person walking at the very front.
The figure was quite tall, wearing a black robe made of Shuiyun brocade, a wide-brimmed hat, and a black scarf covering his face, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes.
This person led more than thirty disciples striding forward, with an imposing manner like a cold and fierce general charging into battle with a large army, making Zhou Huaiyi seem like a nobody trying to block a chariot with his trying to hold back a chariot with one's bare arms, meaning being overconfident and futile.
"This is..."
"Doesn't look like the Red God of Wealth..."
The renowned martial artists present had originally thought that this person was the contemporary "Red God of Wealth", but the contemporary Red God of Wealth was a woman, and this man in a black robe and wide-brimmed hat was half a head taller than Song Chi, with a well-proportioned and heroic figure, clearly not a woman in disguise.
Ta, ta, ta...
The group of people walked very quickly.
The man in the black robe and wide-brimmed hat strode forward, not taking the people blocking the way of the Zhou family seriously at all. He didn't stop until he reached the outside of the Sword Release Hall and then raised his eyes to look at the plaque above.
Zhou Huaili's face was very unhappy. But with so many renowned martial artists in the hall, it was not appropriate for him to directly lose his temper. He still walked out of the gate, forced a smile, and cupped his hands in greeting:
"Leader Song, Leader Chen, nice to meet you. May I ask who this is?"
"Ye Silang of Honghua Tower."
Ye Jingtang's gaze fell on Zhou Huaili, not noticing that at the very back of the crowd in the hall, there were two stunning women with their mouths agape.
"Ye Silang..."
The renowned martial artists in the hall all showed puzzled expressions upon hearing this.
Chen Yuanqing, as the third leader, stepped forward at this moment and raised his hand to introduce:
"This is the young leader of our Honghua Tower. He has come here on the orders of the leader of the building to celebrate the birthday of the old master of the Zhou family and also to let all the friends in the martial arts world get to know him."
"Young leader?"
"When did this happen..."
As soon as these words were spoken, a commotion broke out among the heroes in the hall, and they started whispering and discussing.
Zhou Huaili was also a bit confused. After all, the contemporary Red God of Wealth had only taken the position a few years ago and was far from the age of handing over the position. Where did this young leader come from?
Although he knew that people from Honghua Tower were up to no good, since they came in the name of celebrating the birthday, Zhou Huaili couldn't treat them coldly. He still showed a smile and raised his hand to gesture:
"So this is Nephew Ye. I'm sorry for not greeting you from afar. Everyone, please come in."
Ye Jingtang did not move. He stood with his hands behind his back in front of the door and said in a clear voice:
"People in the martial arts world act according to the principle of 'giving free rein to their grudges and kindness'. Celebrating the birthday is one thing, but there are disputes beforehand. I won't be able to enjoy the wine comfortably, and I'm afraid Leader Zhou won't feel at ease either. How about we settle our trivial matters first and then enter the door to offer our birthday congratulations?"
"..."
The renowned martial artists present had expected this. In an instant, it became silent inside and outside the Sword Release Hall, and the atmosphere became more tense.
Zhou Huaili stood on the steps with his hands behind his back, looking at Ye Jingtang with a smile on his face:
"Nephew, you're really straightforward and speak your mind, which suits my taste. There have indeed been some minor frictions between the Zhou family and Honghua Tower in recent years, which have damaged our relationship. I wonder how you want to settle this?"
"People in the martial arts world speak with their fists. Leader Zhou, pick someone to fight with me. If I lose, all five docks within the territory of Zezhou will be given to the old master of the Zhou family as a birthday gift. If Leader Zhou loses, withdraw the people from the Qingjiang docks and offer me a cup of wine. How about it?"
"Buzz..."
As soon as the words were spoken, a commotion broke out in the Sword Release Hall.
Everyone present had thought that Honghua Tower had come aggressively to determine the ownership of the Qingjiang docks, but they didn't expect Honghua Tower to bet so much, using all the territory within the territory of Zezhou as a stake to bet that Zhou Huaili would bow his head and apologize.
Shuiyun Sword Pool was not a small family. When the old Saber Lord was around, it was understandable to say such extremely arrogant words. But now that Honghua Tower was on the decline, why was it so overbearing?
Everyone present was full of shock and suspicion. Only "Madam Xue" understood the reason, but she was also filled with shock.
Upon hearing this arrogant tone, Luo Ning knew that the person standing outside must be her shameless little thief!
No one else had the confidence to speak like this.
But how could he be the young leader of Honghua Tower?
Wasn't he a poor young man from the border living in a shabby courtyard?
Could it be that he was deliberately pretending to be poor to win her favor and then...
No wonder he was so handsome and had such great talent, but he didn't know any real martial arts skills at first, and then he suddenly showed off a peerless saber technique...
So it was all a pretence...
Liar!
Luo Ning suddenly learned this news that instantly shattered her perception. Her eyes were filled with mixed emotions and soon became tearful, like a pitiful chivalrous woman who had been deceived by a wealthy young master. She tightly clutched the jade pendant in her palm and several times wanted to stand up and question him, but with so many renowned martial artists present, she held back.
And Zhe Yunli was full of questions, thinking to herself — How could my Brother Jingtang be lured away by Honghua Tower?
This won't do. What about our Pingtian Sect...
The two women had originally been sitting at the front of the hall. Now that everyone was looking outside, they were at the back, and their expressions did not attract the attention of others.
Upon hearing Ye Jingtang's extremely arrogant words, Zhou Huaili also showed a hint of surprise. He turned his gaze to Song Chi beside him:
"Leader Song, are you sure that this nephew can represent Honghua Tower?"
Song Chi responded calmly:
"What the young leader means is what Honghua Tower means. If the young leader loses, this move will be considered a birthday gift to the old master of the Zhou family. There will be no more disputes between our two families in the future. Does Leader Zhou dare to accept this?"
Zhou Huaili saw that Honghua Tower's tone was too arrogant. Having been in the martial arts world for many years, he knew that there might be changes in this matter.
But in the past, it was the Zhou family that had been aggressive, seizing the properties of Honghua Tower and avoiding the incense masters sent by Honghua Tower to negotiate.
Now that people from Honghua Tower had directly come to the door, with countless renowned martial artists watching, if the Zhou family didn't dare to accept the challenge, how could they still have the face to stay in the martial arts world in the future?
Zhou Huaili stood with his hands behind his back. After a moment of silence, he nodded slightly:
"Matters in the martial arts world should be settled in the martial arts world. Since Nephew has some grievances in his heart, as an elder, I naturally have to give you a chance to let out your anger. My disciple, Jian Yuhua, I'm sure you've heard of him. As long as you're more skilled than him, all past grudges will be wiped out, and I will personally offer you a cup of wine and apologize."
Ye Jingtang said: "I hope Leader Zhou will be as straightforward after the matter as you are now."
"Hehe..."
This tone was indeed extremely arrogant, and everyone present showed surprise.
Zhou Huaili tightened his hands behind his back, forcefully suppressing the hidden anger in his eyes and not showing any signs of it:
"Yuhua is practicing swordsmanship in the back mountain. I'll call him over. Nephew, please wait for a moment. Third brother, please entertain the guests first!"
After saying this, he turned around and left.
Pei Xiangjun was dressed as an ordinary disciple, wrapped up tightly, and had been standing behind Ye Jingtang.
Seeing that the Zhou family had indeed accepted the challenge out of face, she was slightly delighted. But it was not appropriate to praise Ye Jingtang at this time, so she just whispered:
"Keep it up!"
-----
On the halfway up Zhaolu Mountain, there was a bamboo house facing the winding Qingjiang River, from which one could have a bird's-eye view of the thousands of miles of mountains and rivers in Zezhou.
Two vegetable plots had been opened outside the bamboo house, and a few chickens and ducks were walking around in them, searching for the small insects hidden deep in the ground.
Although it looked like a rural farmhouse, the bamboo house was neatly tidied up. There was a small chessboard placed under the eaves, and two young people were sitting on small stools facing each other. While playing chess, they were chatting:
"Senior brother, today is Grandpa's birthday. Grandpa said he wants to publicly betroth the second sister to you. Are you happy?"
"Of course I'm happy."
"Then in a few days, will you have the wedding ceremony?"
"Hehe..."
While they were talking, there was a commotion outside the bamboo house, and a figure landed silently at the end of the path up the mountain.
The two of them turned to look and then both stood up:
"Dad?"
"Master."
"Yuhua, come here for a moment."
After glancing at the two of them, Zhou Huaili frowned and walked towards the mountain path.
Jian Yuhua put down the chess pieces and quickly walked behind Zhou Huaili:
"Master, is there something wrong?"
Zhou Huaili walked slowly on the mountain path, his voice quite displeased:
"People from Honghua Tower have come. They claim to be the young leader and are causing trouble at the door. You have to go out and fight."
Jian Yuhua smiled: "Such a small matter. It would have been enough for my junior brothers to inform me. Why did Master come here in person?"
"This is not a small matter."
Zhou Huaili stopped in his tracks and looked at Jian Yuhua seriously:
"Honghua Tower is taking a desperate gamble this time. Either they succeed or they perish. If they win, the reputation of our Shuiyun Sword Pool will plummet, and we may be pushed back to what it was thirty years ago."
Jian Yuhua frowned: "Is it that serious?"
Zhou Huaili nodded: "Since Honghua Tower has the confidence to make this offer, they must be fully prepared. I've worked hard all my life to build the current family property and reputation of the Zhou family. In any case, I can't let it be destroyed by Honghua Tower overnight. You wanted to marry my daughter, so you became a disciple of the Zhou family. The old master's promise doesn't count. Only with my nod can this marriage be finalized. I hope you won't let your future father-in-law down."
"..."
Upon hearing these words, Jian Yuhua's smile froze slightly.
Jian Yuhua was indeed not a disciple taught by the Zhou family. His real name was "Fu Yuhua", a descendant of the Fu family in Liangzhou, a renowned family in the previous dynasty. His family had served in the army for generations. When the previous dynasty was destroyed, his family was ruined, and now he was the only descendant left in the world. He had changed his name and become a wandering martial artist in the martial arts world, practicing the "Wind and Wave Staff" passed down in his family.
A few years ago, Jian Yuhua wandered to Zezhou and came to Shuiyun Sword Pool to observe. Zhou Huaili saw his talent and asked him to stay in the Zhou family to learn martial arts. He happened to meet the girl he loved and thus became the senior brother of the Zhou family with a different surname in Shuiyun Sword Pool.
In the past, Zhou Huaili had treated him quite well, and the old master of the Zhou family had even regarded him as a beloved grandson. Jian Yuhua was grateful for this and had long regarded the Zhou family as his own.
But these words from Zhou Huaili were obviously a bit disheartening.
After a moment of silence, Jian Yuhua smiled and said:
"Disciple understands. I will go all out in this battle."
"You can't lose this battle. I know your potential. As long as you don't want to lose, there is no other peer in the martial arts world who can defeat you."
"I understand. Master, please rest assured. Disciple will definitely win this battle."