Wind Thunder Hall's Tong Baixiong

After a couple of drinks, Qi Zhaogu left the wine shed and headed towards Pingding City.

In a month, it would be Tong Baixiong's sixtieth birthday. The Incense Masters and Flag Masters stationed in various locations by the Wind Thunder Hall were all returning, and friends from the martial arts world were also coming to pay their respects.

The Tong residence was bustling with activity. As the third direct disciple, he naturally had to show his face.

As he passed through the woods on the outskirts of the city, Qi Zhaogu stopped and looked to the side.

"Who is spying from the shadows?"

A handsome young man emerged from the woods. Qi Zhaogu was surprised. He had always had excellent hearing, yet this person had followed him all the way here without being detected until now. If it were an old hand in the martial arts world, it would be one thing, but this young man looked less than twenty years old and possessed such martial arts skills; it was truly rare.

The young man cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Incense Master Qi."

"Who are you?"

"Zhang Yu, from Cloud Water Hall."

He had deliberately revealed himself here to meet him.

"Cloud Water Hall? Zhang Yu?"

The two Hall Masters were acquainted, and the relationship between Cloud Water Hall and Wind Thunder Hall was also good. He was fond of making friends and knew several outstanding Incense Masters and Flag Masters from Cloud Water Hall, but he had never heard of anyone named Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu continued, "I am returning from Damaoling. Under my master, Hall Master Wu's dying command, I am here to see Hall Master Tong."

"Hall Master Wu is dead?"

"My master has passed away."

"Where did he die?"

"East of Mount Heng, in an unnamed mountain."

"By whose hand?"

"'Great Song Yang Hand' Fei Bin."

Qi Zhaogu said coldly, "Nonsense! Hall Master Wu is a Xiantian realm expert. How could a mere 'Third Protector' from the Mount Song Sect possibly take down the Flying Cloud Divine Ape? Who exactly are you?"

Zhang Yu's expression remained unchanged as he slowly said, "My master did indeed eventually fall victim to the Great Song Yang Hand, his meridians shattered, leading to his death. However, before that, he was ambushed by Yue Buqun of Mount Hua and Liu Zhengfeng of Mount Heng. He was already severely wounded. Fei Bin, leading the elite fighters of the Mount Song Sect, pursued us. My master, at the cost of taking a blow from the 'Great Song Yang Palm,' severely wounded Fei Bin, and only then did we manage to escape the pursuers."

"The Five Great Sword Sects setting a trap in advance—there are countless intricacies to this, and I am not ignorant of the dangers involved. The reason I have returned, disregarding my own safety, is to fulfill my master's dying wish and seek an audience with Hall Master Tong Baixiong."

Qi Zhaogu hesitated for a moment. He thought to himself, Zhang Yu's story was coherent and full of emotion and righteousness, not seeming like a fabrication. But what if this was a trap set by someone with ulterior motives, targeting Tong Baixiong? If he rashly introduced him, wouldn't the Wind Thunder Hall suffer the same fate as Cloud Water Hall? He would then have no excuse, even in death.

Zhang Yu said, "I know what Incense Master Qi is thinking."

Qi Zhaogu chuckled, "You know what I'm thinking?"

"You're worried I'm a spy for Yang Lianting, intending to implicate Hall Master Tong."

Seeing Zhang Yu suddenly mention Yang Lianting's name, which was precisely his suspicion, Qi Zhaogu was both shocked and fearful. He quickly said, "Keep your voice down."

Zhang Yu, however, raised his voice and said, "Yang Lianting is a traitor to the Sun Moon Divine Cult! This is common knowledge, what is there to not say?"

Qi Zhaogu said with a wry smile, "Alright, I will inform him for you."

Pingding Prefecture was under the jurisdiction of Hebei Province's Chief Executive, but the Prefect's yamen was not located in Pingding City. The imperial court only established an Imperial Guard commandery, which was a tacit understanding between both sides.

To put it bluntly, as long as Dongfang Bubai did not formally raise the banner of rebellion, the imperial court would tacitly allow their existence as a de facto separatist regime.

With thirty thousand cult members and countless experts, such a force commanded respect and fear from both the martial arts world and the imperial court.

The Tong residence was located east of Pingding City.

It occupied twenty mu of land and was the largest and most luxurious estate in the city.

Of course, the owner's identity and status truly matched the grandeur of this mansion.

Before Dongfang Bubai was heavily relied upon by Ren Woxing, he was an Incense Master under Tong Baixiong. When Ren Woxing disappeared and Dongfang Bubai took over, there were those within the cult who were disloyal. He fully supported Dongfang Bubai, and with a single saber strike, he killed Elder Luo of the Vermilion Bird Hall, who had spoken out of turn.

Therefore, Tong Baixiong's standing in the eyes of Eastern Cult Master was likely even higher than that of Xiang and Qu.

In the main hall.

Qi Zhaogu stood respectfully to the side, awaiting instruction.

"You are too cautious. Even if he were Yang Lianting's spy, so what? When I befriended Brother Dongfang, where was this Yang fellow known? When I fought the Seven Tigers of Ludong in the Taihang Mountains and saved Brother Dongfang's life, where was this Yang fellow? Yang Lianting is merely a fawning dog who climbed his way up through flattery. Brother Dongfang is temporarily misled by him, but he will eventually come to his senses."

Qi Zhaogu smiled and said, "Master is right, I was being overly worried."

The old man speaking was wearing a black brocade robe with cloud patterns, his hair and beard were white, his temples were bulging, and his voice was old yet powerful, indicating his abundant internal energy.

He looked at the young man standing below the hall and laughed heartily, "Just for this young brother daring to curse Yang Lianting as a traitor to the Sun Moon Divine Cult outside Pingding City, even if he weren't a disciple of Cloud Water Hall, not a student of Wu Lianjiang, I would still be willing to meet him."

Seeing Tong Baixiong say this, Zhang Yu knew that this seemingly bold old man had not completely believed him and was testing him. If he showed any sign of faltering, he would not be able to leave the Tong residence today.

Indeed, none of the Hall Masters of the Sun Moon Divine Cult were easy to deal with.

"Before my master died, he asked me to deliver a message to Hall Master Xiong."

"What message?"

"'The old friend who drank flower wine in Qunyu Courtyard back then has taken the first step. I hope he takes care.'"

"You don't need to say any more, little brother, I believe you."

Upon hearing this, Tong Baixiong immediately dropped his smile, his face filled with sorrow.

When the Sun Moon Divine Cult attacked the Hengshan Sect that year, he and Wu Lianjiang were still Incense Masters in their respective halls. The Qunyu Courtyard was famous throughout the land, and the two, being young and full of vigor, had long wanted to experience it. They used the excuse of scouting the enemy's details to secretly leave the team. They went to Hengshan City and booked the entire Qunyu Courtyard, spending a day and a night in debauchery.

Qi Zhaogu lowered his head, secretly laughing to himself, not expecting his master to have such a romantic past.

Tong Baixiong asked, "Little brother, what are your plans?"

Zhang Yu said with tears in his eyes, "Master had instructed that this time, with the Cloud Water Hall destroying Damaoling, the Five Great Sword Sects were already prepared. Even Liu Zhengfeng from the Hengshan Sect, who is thousands of miles away, appeared. Someone must have leaked the news in advance, colluding from within and without, which caused the Divine Cult to suffer such heavy losses."

Tong Baixiong's gaze was like lightning, "Who do you suspect?"

"Master said, perhaps it was Yang Lianting."

"Good, that's exactly what I think. Tomorrow, you will accompany me to Blackwood Cliff, and in Chengde Hall, we will accuse Yang Lianting."

Zhang Yu was greatly alarmed. He naturally knew that Dongfang Bubai's trust in Yang Lianting was unshakable.

"Hall Master Tong, even if you and I know this matter clearly, without evidence, with Yang Lianting's cunning, the Eastern Cult Master might not believe us."

"You don't need to worry. Since I intend to deal with Yang Lianting, I naturally won't be unprepared."

Tong Baixiong stroked his beard and chuckled lightly.

"The messenger Yang Lianting sent to Zuo Lengchan has already been captured by me."

"This time, he is definitely dead!"