As Yejingtang and the Three Absolute Immortal Elder took their seats, the magnificent hall fell silent, with only the faint sound of raindrops hitting the eaves.
Shasha...
There were more than forty people gathered in the hall. Nine leaders of the Twelve Gates of Wuzhou were seated on the armchairs, with their respective disciples and confidants standing behind them.
Behind Yejingtang, there was only Sanniang, who was masked and holding a spear. It made him seem a bit outnumbered, but his position was quite prominent. Opposite him was Han Song, the leader of Wushan Sect, and next to him was the Three Absolute Immortal Elder Guang Hanlin.
Although he was sitting in this position because Huang Yulong was absent, it was Yejingtang who had personally killed Huang Yulong. According to the rules of the Jianghu, he could be considered worthy of this seat.
After everyone was seated, Guan Yujia walked to the large chair at the front of the hall and sat down. He raised his hand to signal the six direct disciples behind him to serve tea and then said in a loud voice:
"The night before last, the Black Yamen led troops to surround Baisu Town. Brother Huang Yulong and Brother Xiao of Xianyue Tower, along with more than a hundred disciples, were brutally killed by the court. Did you all know about this?"
"Huh..."
Most of the eight sect leaders present had been on the road for the past two days. Jianyang was in the midst of war and chaos, and the news transmission was inconvenient. Most of them had just learned about this matter and all showed surprised expressions.
Guan Yujia brought this up straightforwardly because he wanted to see the reactions of the major sects and thus figure out the positions of the people present.
However, before the eight sect leaders of Wuzhou could express their opinions, the Young Master Ye sitting in the first seat lightly tapped the armrest and said in a deep voice:
"These dog officials are really going too far!"
"..."
The hall fell into a sudden dead silence, and even Sanniang, who was pretending to be a maid, twitched the corner of her eye.
Guan Yujia heard these furious words, and the imposing manner he had so hard to come by cultivated, which made him seem intimidating without showing anger, was half gone. He turned his head and said softly:
"The court is indeed going too far, but Young Master Ye..."
There was a look of anger in Yejingtang's eyes as he said in a deep voice:
"Master Huang was in the medicinal materials business and was also a friendly business partner of our Honghua Tower. I often heard stories about Master Huang from Uncle Guan. I came here this time wanting to pay him a visit, but I didn't expect Master Huang to have been killed by the court. The court imposes heavy taxes on our Jianghu sects. Whenever there is a disturbance, they always target the Jianghu people first. If you don't die, you'll at least be severely punished. Our Honghua Tower has truly suffered a great deal from this."
Having said this, Yejingtang turned to look at Guan Yujia:
"Unfortunately, our Honghua Tower is in business. Our ancestors left a family motto that we should yield to officials and not casually conflict with the court. Otherwise, I would definitely cut off the heads of two tax collectors and hang them on Qingjiang Wharf to raise the flag. Master Guan is the leader of Wuzhou's martial arts world. Your subordinate sect has been destroyed by the court. Aren't you going to do something about it?"
"...?"
The leaders of the various sects present were slightly stunned.
The Three Absolute Immortal Elder Guang Hanlin had originally hoped that Honghua Tower could influence Guan Yujia. After hearing these words that added fuel to the fire, his expression was truly indescribable.
However, thinking that Ye Silang had just emerged in the Jianghu and was at an age when he had a strong sense of chivalry and didn't take the court seriously, everyone felt relieved.
Guan Yujia was completely thrown off rhythm by Yejingtang's words. After a little consideration, he slightly raised his hand:
"Nephew Ye, please calm your anger. Huang Yulong and I were close friends. I am deeply grieved that he was harmed by the court. The main reason I invited all the sect leaders here today is to discuss this matter."
Leaning back in his chair, Yejingtang said in a deep voice:
"Although I, Ye Silang, am a junior, I also understand the principle that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. The court didn't give half an explanation and directly sent troops to exterminate the family. Today they can destroy Xianyue Tower, and tomorrow they can destroy Xuantang Hall and Tiehe Villa. If we turn a blind eye to this matter, the court will surely go even further..."
"..."
Everyone was left speechless.
The Elder Han, the leader of Wushan Sect sitting opposite Yejingtang, had secretly done a lot of things for the Prince of Wu. Today, he was originally going to cooperate with Guan Yujia. He would play the bad cop while Guan Yujia played the good cop to intimidate the other sect leaders into joining.
At this moment, since Honghua Tower had stolen all the lines, Elder Han held back for a long time and could only say:
"I agree with what Nephew Ye said. What do you all think?"
Guang Hanlin secretly shook his head. Now that Honghua Tower, Wushan Sect, and Tiehe Villa were in the same camp, if the remaining seven sects dared to oppose them, they were afraid that they would be carried out and sacrificed on the spot. So they could only follow the conversation and say:
"The court's actions are indeed too harsh. But this matter is related to the Prince of Wu. If our Jianghu sects cause unrest at this time and attract the court's large army to surround and suppress us..."
Guan Yujia finally found an opportunity to get angry and quickly said in a deep voice:
"Jianghu people value 'righteousness', not the law. Let me ask you all here, who among you hasn't received some favor from the Prince of Wu in the past? Now that the Prince of Wu is in trouble and our former ally has been directly exterminated by the court without trial, if we turn a blind eye and seek to live in humiliation, how will we have the face to walk in the Jianghu in the future?"
Guang Hanlin saw that Guan Yujia's words were intended to help the fleeing Prince of Wu. He thought something was wrong and opened his mouth to persuade:
"Lord Guan, you are the leader of Wuzhou. You have a large family business. Please think twice about such things..."
Slap——
Guan Yujia slapped the armrest, his face filled with anger:
"I, Guan Yujia, have fought my way from the streets to this position. Even if I fall today, I have the ability to rise again. But if I lose the two words 'trust and righteousness', I will never be able to hold my head high for the rest of my life. The Prince of Wu has been kind to me, so I will offer my help when he is in trouble. Huang Yulong was my close friend, and I will seek justice for him now that he has died a violent death."
Guan Yujia stood up and looked at the sect leaders present:
"I invited you all here today because I am prepared to give up all my family property and escort the Prince of Wu to leave Wuzhou safely. If you all can repay the kindness and offer your help, I will surely repay this favor on behalf of the Prince of Wu in the future. If you stand by and want to be the court's lackeys, I will let you all know the end of being a lackey today!"
Guan Yujia directly revealed the main topic, and the hall suddenly fell silent.
The many sect leaders who had originally been worried were now quiet. The fear in their eyes disappeared and was replaced by dissatisfaction.
After all, the original speculation of the sect leaders present was that Guan Yujia wanted to drag them into causing trouble together to put pressure on the court in order to escape the court's investigation, so that the court would not punish everyone because there were too many of them.
Although this matter was very risky, out of fear of Guan Yujia's powerful strength, it wasn't impossible for them to reluctantly help and take on the matter.
But what Guan Yujia said now was that he was going to lead the Twelve Gates of Wuzhou to rebel together. The key was that the Prince of Wu's rebellion had already failed, and he was simply dragging them to their deaths.
When Guang Hanlin heard these crazy words, anger immediately appeared on his face:
"Guan Yujia! You have taken root in Wuzhou's Jianghu, and we regarded you as the leader. That's why we came here today to discuss countermeasures with you, risking being liquidated by the court. Are you saying that you want the Twelve Gates of Wuzhou to sacrifice all their family property and be the scapegoats for the Prince of Wu?"
The other sect leaders present also lightly tapped the tea table:
"Lord Guan, your martial arts skills are extraordinary, and we truly admire you. But you don't have the ability to make us sacrifice all our family property and go to our deaths with just one word."
Guan Yujia stood in the center of the hall and looked around at everyone. Just as he was about to get angry, unexpectedly, Ye Silang sitting in the first seat spoke again:
"Please don't get angry, seniors. Since Lord Guan has made this offer, he must have considered your difficulties. I wonder what chips the Prince of Wu is offering for the major sects to help? Although I really admire Lord Guan's chivalry, Honghua Tower is in business. If there aren't enough chips, I'm afraid the people in the tower won't agree to let me act recklessly."
When the major sects heard this, they really quieted down and looked at Guan Yujia.
The Prince of Wu wanted to rally the forces of the Twelve Gates to secretly help him escape, so he must have made some preparations.
Controlling them with poison and threatening them with the antidote was one way; offering great benefits as a temptation was the other. Otherwise, just threatening them without giving any benefits, these sect leaders, knowing that it was almost certain to end in death, would most likely choose to die rather than submit.
Seeing that the sect leaders were interested in Ye Silang's words, Guan Yujia sat back in the large chair:
"The Prince of Wu has countless family properties. As long as you all can offer your help at this time, the rewards he can give you will definitely exceed your expectations. You all must know about the medicinal herb Snow Lake Flower. Even many of the elders in your major sects have been desperately searching for it. The pharmacist under the Prince of Wu has now developed a substitute called 'Snow Lake Powder'. Its medicinal effect is no different from that of Snow Lake Flower, and you can get as much as you want."
"..."
The sect leaders present frowned. They felt that this offer was quite generous, but most of them didn't need it for the time being, and it didn't seem worth gambling their entire fortune for it.
Guan Yujia was disrupted by Yejingtang. The originally tense atmosphere had been turned into a situation where they were seriously discussing matters, and it was really not easy for him to get angry.
Seeing that many sect leaders were still waiting for more chips, Guan Yujia could only think for a moment and continue:
"The Prince of Wu has also researched a secret medicine that can expand the meridians and transform one's body. For example, Elder Guang, if you take this medicine, you can enter the rank of Martial Champion in a short time. And for you all, you can also take a big step forward, and it's not impossible to reach the peak of martial arts in the future. I have been serving the Prince of Wu until now precisely because of this medicine."
"Huh..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of the sect leaders present clearly lit up. Even Guang Hanlin, who had been frowning, showed a bit of surprise.
Having walked in the Jianghu all their lives, no one didn't want to experience the scenery at the top of the mountain. Most of the people present were powerful figures in their own regions, but they were destined never to reach the peak of martial arts in this life. If there was really something other than the Minglong Diagram that could bring about a turning point, most of them would probably be willing to gamble their entire fortune and give it a try.
After looking at each other, one of the sect leaders asked:
"Does the Prince of Wu really have such a divine thing?"
Guan Yujia knew that the "Tianlang Pearl" would definitely make the sect leaders present interested, but the Prince of Wu happened not to have it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up in such a situation.
After a little consideration, Guan Yujia said:
"Yes, but the method of preparing such a divine medicine is too complicated. Currently, it is still in the stage of testing the medicine. As long as the testing is successful, I can guarantee that each of you sect leaders will be able to get one."
When the sect leaders present heard this, they naturally frowned. The Prince of Wu didn't have it now, and they were asked to help him escape. If they wanted the divine medicine, they could only follow him, and even if they followed, they might not be able to get it. Wasn't this a joke?
Seeing that everyone was hesitant, Guan Yujia's voice became colder:
"I guarantee with my head that the Prince of Wu indeed has this medicine. I've already said this much. If you all can agree to offer your help, everyone will be happy. If not..."
Click——
Guan Yujia's right hand moved slightly, and a soft sound came from the chair. The mahogany armrest actually turned into wisps of sawdust under the slight rubbing of his fingers.
Seeing that Guan Yujia was using his martial arts to threaten them, the sect leaders all fell silent at the same time, and the atmosphere became a bit more tense.
Guang Hanlin was an elder in Wuzhou's Jianghu. He knew that if he let Guan Yujia act recklessly, the entire Wuzhou's Jianghu would probably be wiped out. He said coldly:
"Guan Yujia, you... cough..."
As Guang Hanlin spoke, he stood up. But halfway through, his legs went weak, and he sat back down. Sensing that his body had unknowingly gone limp, his face turned livid with anger:
"You villain, you poisoned us?!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall immediately erupted in an uproar. Many sect leaders wanted to gather their qi and stand up, only to find that their bodies had been poisoned without their knowledge. Only two small sect leaders who had been behaving properly and didn't dare to drink the tea were still unharmed.
When Yejingtang saw this scene, he was also secretly surprised. However, although he occasionally picked up the teacup, he couldn't drink it because of the mask, and there was unusual with his body.
The direct confidants who had originally stood behind the sect leaders, seeing that their masters were in trouble, all drew their weapons as if facing a formidable enemy. Countless disciples of Tiehe Villa who sensed something was wrong rushed over with their swords in hand.
Chacha...
Outside the hall, there was immediately chaos.
Seeing that most of the masters had been poisoned by the "Dark Fragrance Eroding Bones", a hint of coldness appeared on Guan Yujia's face:
"So what if I poisoned you? I'm giving you one last chance. If you agree now, the Prince of Wu will still give you what he promised. We can still be friends in the future. If you don't agree..."
Boom——
Before he could finish speaking, Guan Yujia, in order to set an example, suddenly rushed forward.
The many sect leaders only felt a blur in front of their eyes. Guan Yujia, dressed in a brocade robe, had already leaped in front of the Three Absolute Immortal Elder with lightning speed. His right hand stretched out, his five fingers like hooks, and like a hawk pouncing on a rabbit, he grabbed towards the white-haired forehead.
The pupils of the Three Absolute Immortal Elder shrank slightly. With his lifetime of martial arts foundation in the Jianghu, he could still react, but he had been poisoned by an inexplicable strange poison that was colorless and odorless. He could hardly even lift his hand, let alone block it. At that moment, he felt despair and could only watch helplessly...
But he saw Guan Yujia fly out!
Rumble——
The fist technique raged in the hall, and a thunderous explosion sounded!
At the same time that Guan Yujia leaped up, the armchair under Yejingtang shattered. His right leg slid out, taking a wide stance, and his right hand punched forward from behind. He punched towards Guan Yujia who was flying past in front of him!
Guan Yujia had been very careful. He had even been on guard against the leader of Wushan Sect, who was his accomplice. He chose to fly past the young Jianghu junior who had been speaking sensibly and was "mediocre in martial arts" to attack the Three Absolute Immortal Elder.
A terrifying momentum burst out from beside him. Guan Yujia's face suddenly changed. Knowing that he had misjudged, he immediately turned his hand and swept out a palm towards the incoming fist wind.
Guan Yujia's reaction was not slow, but his misjudgment of Ye Silang far exceeded his imagination. Moreover, this young man was quite insidious. He didn't make a move too early or too late, but just when Guan Yujia's feet left the ground.
As soon as Guan Yujia's left hand was swung out, the City-Ramming Cannon with an extremely tricky angle had already landed on his ribcage.
The surging qi energy that could destroy a city and shake a mountain rushed into his body. If his feet had been firmly planted on the ground, Guan Yujia might have been able to withstand it, but with his feet off the ground, even a god would have to fly out.
Boom——
The heavy punch landed on his waist. The brocade robe around Guan Yujia's waist directly exploded, and the surging qi energy even blew over the empty tables and chairs opposite.
The originally imposing figure also turned into a brocade-clad cannonball that shot out. It flew towards the right side of the hall, directly breaking a pillar as thick as a person