Trouble Arises

"That's right, make the Shangguan Family hand over Wan Sanhuo! Hand over that murderous fiend!"

"Hand over Wan Sanhuo! Hand over Wan Sanhuo!"

Outside the Shangguan Family residence, martial artists packed the entrance three layers deep inside and three layers deep outside, sealing it tighter than a wall.

Many commoners had also stopped to watch, and for a time, the scene was exceedingly lively.

"Who dares yap like a rabid dog outside my Shangguan Family!?"

His furious roar surged forth as Shangguan Feiyun shot out like a leaping dragon and darting fish. True Qi at the Meridian Opening Realm roiled around him, instantly shaking back every martial artist blocking the gate and silencing the sky-shaking clamor.

Seeing Shangguan Feiyun's bruised and battered face, the gathered martial artists were momentarily left speechless.

They had long heard of the Shangguan Family's second young master's way of doing things. He never followed propriety, let good and evil be decided by his own heart, and would throw hands at the slightest disagreement.

They had no desire whatsoever to argue with someone of such rogueish temperament.

The next moment, an even stronger aura surged forth. Shangguan Liuyun stepped out with the Shangguan Family servants behind him.

"The eldest young master is here! The eldest young master understands righteousness and the greater good; he will surely make the right decision!"

"That's right, Eldest Young Master, you mustn't be muddle-headed!"

"Eldest Young Master, you must think of Dongjiang City!"

The chaotic cries rose again, like a pack of unruly commoners spotting a soft official they could easily bully.

But the next moment, a fierce aura erupted. Rage boiling within him, Shangguan Liuyun cast aside his usual gentlemanly manner and directly crushed them with force!

Feeling that overwhelming aura bear down upon them, everyone's hearts jolted. Only then did they realize that today's Shangguan Liuyun was utterly unlike his usual self.

"Hehehehe, Nephew Liuyun, what a fiery temper you have. What has happened?"

The crowd slowly parted, and two men emerged at an unhurried pace.

Seeing who had come, Shangguan Feiyun's expression shifted slightly, while even Shangguan Liuyun frowned.

"Old Master Wang, Mr. Xu San, I did not know you would honor us with your presence. Shangguan Liuyun failed to welcome you from afar."

Shangguan Liuyun cupped his hands in salute, while Shangguan Feiyun beside him did the same helplessly.

Old Master Wang's name was Wang Jin. He was the helmsman of Weiwu Martial Arts Hall and was rumored to have once been an Energy Gathering Realm expert. However, he had suffered grave injuries during a battle with an enemy, causing his cultivation to fall back to the Meridian Opening Realm.

After returning to Dongjiang City, he settled down and founded Weiwu Martial Arts Hall. From then on, it became Dongjiang City's place of Martial Arts enlightenment, and his prestige in Dongjiang was extraordinary.

The other man bore the surname Xu and ranked third in his family. Though not a man of the martial world, he was eager to help the needy and righteous in speaking for justice. He carried immense weight among Dongjiang City's commoners; whenever a household in the city had some matter to handle, they considered it an honor if Xu San showed up.

With the two arriving together now, today's matter would likely be difficult to resolve.

Both men wore smiles as they cupped their fists toward Shangguan Liuyun.

"For you two elders to visit together today brings glory to the Shangguan Family's humble halls. Please, come inside so we may speak."

Shangguan Liuyun lowered his stance, preserving face for the two of them.

"Ah, there are so many fellow martial artists here. It would not be right to leave them standing outside. Let us talk here today," Wang Jin said first.

"Indeed. There is nothing that cannot be spoken before others. Since this concerns Dongjiang City, it is naturally better to discuss it under everyone's witness."

Their words had already made their position clear, causing the Shangguan brothers' hearts to sink several degrees further.

"Fine. Then what exactly do you all intend by surrounding my Shangguan Family today?"

Since their words did not align, Shangguan Liuyun's voice carried an added measure of chill.

"Ah, Nephew, do not overthink it. This matter is not directed at the Shangguan Family. It is merely that Wan Sanhuo's killing nature is too heavy. Keeping him in Dongjiang City would be a calamity."

Wang Jin wore a grave expression, as though Li Yan were truly a heinous criminal guilty of every evil under heaven.

"What do you mean by that, Old Master Wang? Brother Wan became enemies with the Fierce Wind Bandits only because he protected my younger sister. They refused to let the matter go. When life and death were on the line, was Brother Wan supposed to show them mercy?"

Shangguan Feiyun snorted coldly, but Wang Jin immediately retorted, "Hehe, Second Young Master, you are young and hot-blooded, but that is not how one should put it."

"Vendettas and killings in the martial world are indeed unavoidable, but since ancient times, how many such feuds have ended with one side being wiped out root and branch? Much less being wiped out every single time?"

"In fewer than five days, over a hundred lives have fallen beneath his blade. Could what he cultivates be the Demon Blade?"

The moment the words "Demon Blade" were spoken, everyone's hearts tightened.

The Demon Blade did not refer to any particular Martial Arts technique. It referred instead to those who entered the path of slaughter through the blade, affected by the Killing Intent within their weapons until they killed for killing's sake. In the end, not one of them failed to bring disaster upon a region and brew a tragedy in the martial world.

"What utter nonsense! Brother Wan killed to protect others, and those he killed were the Fierce Wind Bandits, villains steeped in evil. Yet now you twist black into white and white into black. And you dare call yourself a venerable figure of the martial world?"

"Enough."

Shangguan Liuyun raised a hand to cut Shangguan Feiyun off. His gaze at Wang Jin grew several degrees colder. "I have had some dealings with Brother Wan and understand something of his character. The Shangguan Family cannot accept Senior Wang's claims and accusations, nor will we act on such groundless speculation."

"If you wish the Shangguan Family to hand over Brother Wan on that basis, then please return."

Seeing that Shangguan Liuyun had no intention of giving him face, Wang Jin's expression darkened. As the situation grew increasingly tense, Xu San stepped forward.

"I cannot meddle in matters of the martial world, but as for the Shangguan Family, you know perfectly well that the people that boy surnamed Wan killed belonged to the Fierce Wind Bandits."

"Those people kill without blinking, their methods are vicious, and they come and go like the wind. You martial artists leap high and travel far, so you may not think much of it, but the common folk of Dongjiang City cannot bear such risks."

"I heard that even the First Boss of the Fierce Wind Bandits came in person yesterday. That shows they are now locked in a feud unto death. Must the ordinary people of Dongjiang City bear the burden of your private grudge?"

As he spoke, Xu San clearly grew agitated. The cane in his hand struck the ground again and again, producing dull thuds.

The sound was not loud, yet it drowned out every other noise at the scene.

The martial artists all wore varying expressions. Some looked grave, some contemplative, and some utterly disdainful.

The two Shangguan brothers exchanged troubled looks.

Xu San's words were not without reason. Martial artists could still rely on their strength when facing bandits, but for ordinary people, encountering them meant a dead end.

Now that Li Yan had clashed with the Fierce Wind Bandits, if he remained in Dongjiang City, the city's people would inevitably face retaliatory attacks.

After all, they were bandits—inhuman creatures!

"Shangguan Family, I cannot control how you handle things on your side. I stand only with the ordinary people, and I offer you two choices: either make that Wan Sanhuo get lost, or you deal with those damned Fierce Wind Bandits."

The moment those words were spoken, the already silent scene became utterly quiet as a graveyard. Everyone stared at Shangguan Liuyun, waiting for his answer.

Li Yan was the savior of the Shangguan Family's youngest daughter. The Shangguan Family could not commit the ungrateful act of driving away their benefactor, so the brothers exchanged a glance, already having reached their decision.

Just as Shangguan Liuyun was about to speak, a mocking laugh rang out. "Interesting. Saving someone became a mistake, and killing bandits bred enmity."

"Good and evil have been turned upside down, right and wrong left undistinguished. What an interesting world."

The group looked up to see that at some unknown time, a man had appeared atop the red tiles. Li Yan looked quietly down at them, the mockery on his face utterly undisguised.