Wenren Qiang

Wenren Qiang was of the same generation as the Sect Master of Hundred Flowers Sect, Liu Ruyan's master. Of everyone present, he had the highest seniority.

"Eldest Senior Brother, I heard this Wenren Qiang is also Taishu Sheng's senior brother. He disappeared for ten years, and who knows how much his skill has improved." Sun Man furrowed his brow as he warned him, making it clear he thought they should give up on Jiang Shuo.

Feng En and Liu Ruyan exchanged glances, then stepped forward. "Senior Wenren, our Hundred Flowers Sect disciple wandered into the Forbidden Ground by mistake. We hope you'll show mercy and, for the sake of Hundred Flowers Sect and Dream Red Pavilion, let him go."

Things were different now than they had been earlier. Feng En and Shi Gangwei were no longer juniors from the two sects; no matter how far things went, their elders could still step in and mediate later. Wenren Qiang and Taishu Sheng held comparable positions. If they became mortal enemies, the two sects would likely fight to the death.

"Wandered in by mistake? Heh. When these two disciples said they were returning to their sect to fetch medicinal herbs, my Mad Saber Sect kindly sent two disciples to show them the way. Then both of those disciples were knocked unconscious. How is that a case of wandering in by mistake?" With Wenren Qiang backing him, Shi Gangwei's confidence swelled.

"Your two disciples don't even know how they were knocked unconscious. How can you blame my Hundred Flowers Sect?" Jiang Shuo and Sun Daoming each carried a packet of Sleeping Powder. They could knock out their enemies, then feign ignorance; without proof, their enemies couldn't do a thing to them. This was the plan Feng En had worked out with the two of them from the start, but he didn't know something had gone wrong.

"Heh, Master Feng, Master Feng, today I've seen just how well you can lie through your teeth. After one of the disciples woke up, he told me plainly that the two of them had teamed up to knock him out. If you don't believe me, I can call him over to confront you face-to-face. Surely you wouldn't claim my disciple was hallucinating or had got his memory muddled?" Shi Gangwei raised his chin, speaking with complete confidence. After Jiang Shuo entered the Forbidden Ground, Shi Gangwei had to keep the news hidden, so he couldn't go after Feng En over the disciples being knocked unconscious. Feng En had been kept in the dark ever since.

"What?" Hearing Shi Gangwei's words, Feng En looked perplexed. His instincts told him the other man wasn't making this up.

He trusted Jiang Shuo's abilities, so he turned and fixed Sun Daoming with a frigid stare. Sun Daoming's eyes darted away, his expression strange, and he retreated behind Sun Man. He was clearly feeling guilty.

Seeing this, Feng En knew something had gone wrong with Sun Daoming. He gave a cold snort, but with a formidable enemy before him, there was no time to question him in detail.

Watching their exchange, Wenren Qiang understood the whole story. He clasped his hands behind his back and looked at Feng En. "Whether it was by mistake or not, one way or another, he still trespassed, didn't he?"

"This... That's true," Feng En replied after a moment's hesitation. Everyone knew what had happened; there was no point in lying.

"Then what else do you have to say?" Wenren Qiang's voice rose, his eyes blazing with a vicious gleam.

The sheer force of one man's presence made everyone from Hundred Flowers Sect uneasy. Those with weaker resolve even showed fear.

They hadn't expected Wenren Qiang to be so aggressive. He truly lived up to his reputation, with an air of madness, as if he would stop at nothing.

Feng En furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment. Then he lifted his head and said solemnly, "Jiang Shuo is my disciple. No matter what, I'm taking him with me today."

"Oh?" Wenren Qiang looked at Feng En with interest. He had made himself perfectly clear, yet Feng En still stubbornly insisted on his position. He couldn't help taking another look at the man. "I admire courageous people, but you shouldn't be courageous in front of me."

Faced with the naked threat, Feng En met Wenren Qiang's gaze without fear and replied calmly, neither servile nor overbearing. "By 'no matter what,' I mean at any cost!"

His words shocked not only Mad Saber Sect, but even Hundred Flowers Sect. Though Jiang Shuo had made a major contribution to the city's residents, he had done little for Hundred Flowers Sect. If they were being honest, his only real contribution was risking his life for Yu Yuhan.

They had no idea that this was precisely why Feng En had decided to protect Jiang Shuo. His reason was that simple and direct.

Yu Yuhan couldn't come this time, but Feng En knew without her having to say it that she would never stand by and watch Mad Saber Sect take Jiang Shuo away.

Liu Ruyan stared at Feng En in astonishment. Jiang Shuo was a disciple of Hundred Flowers Sect, but when all was said and done, he had come to Mad Saber Sect for Dream Red Pavilion. Even she had been unsure whether to start a war with Mad Saber Sect over Jiang Shuo. Feng En had already made his stance clear, forcing her to reconsider Jiang Shuo's worth.

"Liu Ruyan of Dream Red Pavilion will stand with Hundred Flowers Sect." Liu Ruyan stepped forward and stood level with Feng En.

"You are... her disciple?" Wenren Qiang tilted his head toward Liu Ruyan and asked.

"Yes," Liu Ruyan replied with a nod.

Though neither had clearly named the person, both knew whom the other meant.

Wenren Qiang narrowed his eyes. A flicker of emotion passed through them, then vanished. He shifted his gaze back to Feng En and nodded with a faint smile. "Good. Very good. The waves of the Yangtze roll on, each one pushing the last ashore. You juniors dare speak to me like this. Not bad at all..."