Father. It was Father. My entire body began trembling for no reason. I wanted to turn back and walk to the courtyard gate to see him, but I could not bring myself to forgive him. Why was he only hiding outside instead of coming in to see me? Haha, Father, you still insisted on putting the interests of your Aristocratic Clan first. Haha...
"Young Master, we're ready. Can we go?" Chun Yu stood at my doorway with several things in her hands as she spoke to me.
Looking at Chun Yu and the others, I wanted to laugh. Today, I had been driven from my home. There was only one strong man among us; the rest were women and children, and First Wife was ill as well. I was in a sorry state. Yes, I was in a sorry state. But one day, I would stand before the entire Zhang Family in all my glory. I swore it in my heart.
"Let's go." I took the lead and walked outside.
Zhang Tiande silently watched his son leave, then quietly headed toward the main hall. The Court Session was about to begin.
"By the unanimous decision of the Elder Council: from today onward, Zhang Xingfeng has no relationship whatsoever with the Zhang Family. All servants of Star Peak Pavilion are to be dismissed with severance pay, and the news is to be announced to the world." Steward Zhang stood ramrod straight as he made the proclamation in a ringing voice. First Madam and Second Madam wore victorious smiles, while Zhang Tiande said nothing. Third Madam had not appeared again today.
The five of us were divided between two carriages. Lang Feng and I sat in the front carriage, while Brother Wang and Sister Yu—Chun Yu, that was; since she was already together with Brother Wang, that was how I would address her—rode in the rear carriage with First Wife. The two of them could take good care of First Wife there.
We left Suzhou City in Yangzhou Prefecture, one of the Nine Provinces under heaven, and headed for Shizhou Prefecture, another of the Nine Provinces and the heart of the Ming Dynasty. The imperial capital of the Ming Dynasty lay there. We were going to spread our wings and flex our muscles in that most prosperous capital.
These past few days had been far too comfortable. My whole body was about to go soft.
"Young Master, this is bad, this is bad! Bandits! There are bandits!" the old man driving my carriage cried out tremblingly.
I had known already. My Spiritual Sense had detected them long ago. Ha, I had just been lamenting that my body was about to go soft, and a band of bandits immediately came along to give me some variety.
I jumped out of the carriage and looked at the bandits. Not bad. They had not made a single sound so far; their discipline was quite strict. I greatly appreciated that. Lang Feng was itching for a fight, his eyes gleaming with a frightening light as he stared at the bandits. Since entering the Innate Realm, he had yet to fight anyone!
Brother Wang and the others also got out of their carriage. Sister Yu and First Wife seemed a little panicked. No wonder—they knew nothing of martial arts. Brother Wang's martial arts were quite good; he was nearly at the Innate Realm. But ordinary people could remain stuck at that threshold for over a decade. Having met me, however, Brother Wang would enter the Innate Realm very quickly.
A middle-aged man dressed in white stepped forward. He had a passable appearance, but the pretentious elegant fan utterly unsuited to him revealed that he was a complete straw bag.
"Hahaha, Third Young Master Zhang—oh, you're no longer Third Young Master Zhang. Little Brother Zhang, I know you're carrying one hundred thousand taels of silver. Your mother probably gave you quite a bit more as well. I won't ask for much. Hand over one hundred and fifty thousand taels, and I'll let you leave. How about it? I know your martial arts are good, but no matter what, you're only a child. I have three hundred brothers from the entire stronghold here. You'd best obediently hand over the money. Ah, hahaha..." The middle-aged man laughed wildly. It was no wonder. Who would not laugh at obtaining one hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver so easily? Besides, he had three great generals under him. Even an Innate Realm expert would be useless.
"Zhang Yu, make your move."
A youth dressed entirely in purple stood atop a rock at the rear. He gave the shameless middle-aged man an indifferent glance, then shouted coldly, "First group, attack. Second group, surround."
Oh, the Twelve Heavenly Gate Array. I looked at the youth in purple in surprise. He really was impressive. This was becoming more interesting. Lang Feng looked at me anxiously. I nodded, and Lang Feng charged in excitedly...
The first brigade had one hundred and twenty men in total, divided into twelve groups stationed in twelve positions. The leaders of the two groups at the Gates of Annihilation and Death were two bald youths who looked almost identical, yet they were exceptionally fierce. The most crucial parts of the Twelve Heavenly Gate Array were the Gates of Annihilation and Death. Those two boys alone doubled the array's power. It seemed Brother Lang Feng was going to suffer a little. Letting him experience it would be good.
The instant Lang Feng entered the array, his heart jolted. What was happening? He could no longer see the people outside, only some of those forming the array.
Suddenly, an overwhelming aura shot toward Lang Feng. Lang Feng spun around and drove both fists straight out, his True Qi surging toward the spot he sensed. That aura paused, only to strike again at once with even greater force. The target Lang Feng had struck was the group at the Gate of Annihilation. Li Er, with only eighth-rank cultivation, relied on the array and the aid of the other eleven men to unleash immense power.
Like a blind man, Lang Feng threw a punch the moment he sensed danger. His True Qi was being consumed at an alarming rate. Lang Feng was nearly going mad. He had fought until now without even seeing his enemies, forced to attack endlessly like this.
It was Lang Feng's first time using Innate True Qi, and he could not effectively bring out its power. Caught in a pincer attack by the two groups at the Gates of Annihilation and Death, he had expended vast amounts of True Qi and was already showing signs of defeat.
I looked over. It was time for me to act. How could I keep others from knowing that my martial arts were far too profound? I had it—the unique Golden Core Stage ability to alter one's body and appearance.
I walked behind the carriage and circulated True Primordial Energy. My body crackled and popped. I gradually grew taller, stopping only when I reached around one meter eighty. It was time to change my appearance. I directed True Primordial Energy to my face. My eyes could not be changed, but I only needed to release some True Primordial Energy from them. There was no need to alter those sword-like brows. A hooked nose would be cooler, and slightly fuller lips would be better. Overall, my appearance became cold and stern.
Brother Wang, Sister Yu, and the others stared at me wide-eyed. Seeing me like this, they were all stunned. I had no choice; I could not let them think I was a monster.
I quietly said, "Wait until I save Brother Lang Feng, then I'll tell you why." I also used spiritual power to make them subconsciously accept me. When I saw them settle down, their expressions holding only curiosity, I smiled. It was time to deal with those ignorant bandits.
My feet moved in the Illusory Lost Steps, and like a phantom, I instantly arrived before the bandits. I said coldly, "Stop."
The voice released through True Primordial Energy echoed endlessly throughout the mountains. "Stop, stop..." Strangely, the sound grew louder and louder, its target directed solely at the bandits. Sister Yu and the others felt no discomfort at all.
Hmph. They had no choice but to stop. If they kept going, their ears would go deaf.
"Esteemed hero, I am Li Si of Pingding Mountain. Friends of the martial world all give me some face. Please do not interfere in this matter. Afterward, I, Li Si, will acknowledge you as a friend. If you ever encounter anything in the martial world that cannot be settled, invoking my name, Li Si, will still be of some use." The middle-aged man waved his fan again and spoke in a ringing voice.
"Idiot." The purple-clad youth's voice reached my ears clearly. I gave him a faint smile. Heroes truly saw eye to eye. No, that idiot seemed not to have heard him and was about to start talking again. No, I would speak first.
"You with the fan, listen up. Release these people, then hand over one hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver, and I'll let your bandit gang go." I stared at him and spoke loudly.
"Hahaha... Did I hear that right? A brat with nothing but a loud voice is acting so arrogant, demanding one hundred and fifty thousand taels from me? Are my ears broken? Someone actually dares demand money from Li Si of Pingding Mountain. You should know I'm not someone to be trifled with. Boys, kill that loud-voiced brat!" Li Si was so enraged that he even threw away his fan...
"Idiot. Loud voice, hmph..." The purple-clad youth snorted from the side again.
He had voiced exactly what was in my heart. He actually called the Tianxin Sect's ultimate technique merely a loud voice. What an utter idiot.
I sighed helplessly. Li Si—such a vulgar name, and an even more vulgar person. With one hand, I swept out the Cloud Wiping Sleeve. Though I had not used much force, they were truly pathetic. Aside from the two bald youths, every one of them fell. The purple-clad youth still wore a cold expression, but the flash of shock in his eyes did not escape my notice.
With a shift of my feet, I flew through the air over the fallen rabble. To my surprise, the two bald youths showed no reaction at all to my charging toward the middle-aged man. It seemed the man's popularity was not very good.
The moment he saw my peerless lightness skill, the middle-aged man immediately retreated at high speed. Judging by that speed, he was at least an expert. He truly hid his depths well. Ah! It seemed I had been wrong. An ordinary lackey's broadsword actually tripped him. Alas, what a waste of those snow-white clothes.
I held my index and middle fingers together. A Sword Light nearly a meter long flashed between them. With a casual sweep, requiring no technique at all, those loyal lackeys resolutely raised their exceptionally sturdy weapons for the sake of their leader. In an instant, like a knife cutting through tofu, the Sword Light passed through those weapons, treating them as air, and seemed to slice through space as it reached Li Si.
Li Si stared at the wavering Sword Light before him, cold sweat covering his forehead. He knew that the thing before him was no treasured sword, but Sword Light—the mark of the pinnacle of swordsmanship. The slightest touch would finish him.
"Esteemed hero, if you spare me, Li Si of Pingding Mountain, I'll give you one hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver. And from now on, you'll be my boss—the boss of Li Si of Pingding Mountain. That would sound quite impressive when spoken aloud, wouldn't it?" The foolish and narcissistic Li Si looked at me with expectant eyes.
I could not take it anymore. I circulated my power to calm myself. I truly could not understand how someone like him had become a mountain king, much less attracted talents like the purple-clad youth and the two bald youths.
"Too late. Earlier, I wanted one hundred and fifty thousand taels. Now I want all your possessions. Hurry and take me to get the money. Ah, did you hear me?" I could not stop myself from shouting at him. Seeing that muddled face made me angry. How could such a person exist?
"What? Giving you one hundred and fifty thousand taels is already giving you plenty of face. Don't push your luck, brat! I'm Li Si of Pingding Mountain, with three hundred brothers under me. You'd better watch yourself." The moment Li Si heard that I wanted all his possessions, he went mad. I spent nearly twenty years earning this silver through bitter toil. How could I possibly give it all to you just like that? Hmph!
"Idiot." The familiar voice sounded again. I turned to look at the purple-clad youth and smiled at him. This boy truly thought exactly as I did. That Li Si... sigh! He really was enough of an idiot.
"Your life or your possessions. Choose one!" I lightly tossed out those words, then walked toward the purple-clad youth. He had greatly piqued my interest.
Meanwhile, Li Si shook his head and muttered to himself, "All my silver... no, my life... no, the silver I suffered a lifetime for... no, my life... no..."
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