Return of the Mount Hua Sect

The history of the Mount Hua Sect is long indeed. Although Qin Wujiu seemed to have betrayed the Mount Hua Sect, he still held affection for it in his words—after all, anyone who trained in martial arts and studied literature there from childhood, growing up with fellow disciples and being taught by their teachers for over a decade, would naturally develop some feelings.

It turns out the Mount Hua Sect was a direct descendant of Hao Datong's lineage from the Quanzhen Sect during the Southern Song Dynasty. By rights, it should have been a Taoist tradition, but it transformed into a secular lineage at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. Qin Wujiu claimed that according to his scholarly research, it might no longer be considered the true orthodox lineage of Hao Datong's line. "How could Guangning Zhenren, after ascending to immortality, have passed down a secular Taoist tradition? In truth, the genuine Mount Hua lineage had already moved south again during the mid-Yuan period." Qin Wujiu was quite proud of this, considering it a great achievement as a scholar.

To this day, among those on Mount Hua, this defector possesses the highest level of culture. Based on the sect's records and subtle clues from various books and notes, he deduced conclusions he dared not voice within the sect. Now that he finally had someone listening to his research, he was naturally very pleased. "So, this is essentially a 'fake' Mount Hua Sect?" Bai Lang was genuinely interested in this kind of historical storytelling, finding it amusing.

Gossip has always been one of humanity's greatest pastimes, and Bai Lang, like martial artists such as Qin Wujiu, was no exception. "No, it can't be called fake. The Mount Hua Sect's martial arts techniques also incorporate the philosophies of the Quanzhen lineage." Qin Wujiu faltered slightly at this point, but Bai Lang acted as if he hadn't heard. "It's just a pity that I heard the sect's inherited divine art has been lost," Qin Wujiu said regretfully.

Bai Lang didn't press further about the Mount Hua Sect, as it seemed Qin Wujiu was unwilling to reveal more. However, discussing other sects was fine. "Does the Shaolin Sect truly exist?" Bai Lang's voice was filled with surprise, as Qin Wujiu's narration had unfolded a grand panorama of the martial world before him.

Shaolin and Wudang remained the titans of the martial world, along with the Five Great Mountains sects like Mount Song and Mount Heng. There was a sect on almost every famous mountain. Qingcheng and Emei also had them. In reality, this martial world was far more active than when Bai Lang had first arrived—it was just that, given the vastness of the world, Bai Lang hadn't encountered anyone.

"What a coincidence! I've never met a martial artist before meeting you, sir," Bai Lang echoed. Naturally, both host and guest chuckled. "Indeed, indeed, young hero, you speak well. Before coming up the mountain, I had only heard of the Mount Hua Sect. It was only after descending the mountain that I met many martial artists. However, after I passed the Xiucai exam and became a scholar, and the world fell into turmoil, I found myself meeting very few martial artists again."

Is this a typical webnovel trope? When you reach a certain level, people of that level appear everywhere? Or if you're not in the underworld, you never meet anyone from it? Bai Lang thought to himself, but he didn't intend to ask further. Thus, the host and guest parted on excellent terms, with Qin Wujiu achieving his goal of winning Bai Lang over. Bai Lang promised to lead the charge with elite troops to attack the rebels when the time came.

Governor Sun understood this well; ultimately, people had to be willing. Issuing military orders, let alone across different factions, even among his own subordinates, if they weren't willing, they wouldn't possess the valor to break through the enemy's elite army with a single blow—because it required complete disregard for self, a full commitment. Could the Great Ming still stir the heart of this fierce general with loyalty? It seemed possible now.

Bai Lang didn't overthink it; he simply wanted to train through combat and killing. Having reached this level in his martial arts, he was already hooked. "A knight errant disrupts the prohibition; with a sharp weapon, the urge to kill arises." Bai Lang thoroughly enjoyed honing himself on the battlefield—was this perhaps the poison of war?

Honing his killing intent in a sea of corpses, this tiger-like figure would only become more terrifying. However, this didn't necessarily mean his martial arts were improving. Bai Lang felt that a Xiantian Master could likely kill him easily—yet, if they were charging into a military formation, Bai Lang believed he might hold his own, as his martial arts were quite suited for such situations.

When acting as muscle, Bai Lang noticed that almost no one among the surrounding gang members used heavy or long weapons. It was as if he, who originally used the double iron mace, was a rarity. As for the higher echelons of the gang, he wasn't sure, but he imagined no one would use a Azure Dragon Crescent Blade. However, among the Heaven Earth Human Rankings, there were likely people who used such weapons. If so, Bai Lang hoped to meet them someday.

Currently, he was following Governor Deng, rapidly approaching Xiangyang. At this time, Zhang Xianzhong, who should have already captured Xiangyang last year, had instead besieged the city with his army this year. It wasn't a surprise attack on Xiangyang, but a siege. Morale within Xiangyang was low. A few days prior, General Qin, after being defeated outside the city, had retreated inside and was holding a desperate defense, while Zuo Liangyu's army watched from afar, hesitant to approach.

Governor Deng went to Zuo Liangyu's camp. Zuo Liangyu was extremely arrogant and didn't even come out of his camp to greet his superior. However, Governor Deng couldn't say much at this moment; he only had three thousand troops, and they were disunited. He could only try to persuade Zuo Liangyu to send his troops to rescue Xiangyang. Zuo Liangyu's army discipline was in disarray, no different from rebels, yet they were numerous—and their method of expansion was no different from the rebels either.

Upon entering the camp, Zuo Liangyu received Governor Deng in the central tent. Generals from Zuo's army sat on both sides. Zuo Liangyu came out to greet Governor Deng and invited him to the main seat. Then, he summoned female singers and dancers for a banquet, completely avoiding the topic of rescuing Xiangyang. The generals in Zuo's army also wore fake smiles, showing no concern for rescuing Xiangyang—they were probably hoping to gain great merit by recapturing Xiangyang after Zhang Xianzhong broke through, and perhaps even extort a sum from Zhang Xianzhong.

Bai Lang also smiled. "Governor Deng, please forgive my rudeness." With that, he stepped forward. The tent was luxuriously decorated. Apart from Zuo Liangyu, his personal guards, and a few generals with their guards carrying weapons, it seemed that those who followed the Governor, like Bai Lang, did not carry weapons. However, Bai Lang had no need for weapons. As he moved, the aura he had painstakingly suppressed was no longer restrained.

A gust of foul wind swept through the tent. The dancing women immediately collapsed in fear, having seen a ferocious tiger flash past them. The generals and their guards reacted, as Bai Lang's pounce wasn't particularly fast; he had deliberately slowed it down a bit.

"Bold! Do you wish to die?" A general, whose name was unknown, had been leering at the dancers moments before. Seeing Bai Lang lunge towards Zuo Liangyu, he suddenly lunged forward, blocking the path, and roared. Before he could finish his shout, Bai Lang's claw had already seized his head.