Factions of Black River Town (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

The next day, in front of the Hua Pavilion.

Yin Tianqing led his disciples to the location, which was already packed with people.

The Hua Pavilion was a property of the Zhao Family, and since Zhao Huayuan had reached a cooperation agreement with the Black Tiger Hall, it was only logical that the competition was held right in front of the pavilion.

Chen Mo scanned the crowd.

The Zhao Family, the Hansha Gang, the Black Tiger Hall, the Panshi Martial Hall, and the Wu Family all had familiar faces present.

He even spotted Chen Hang standing in a corner of the Panshi Martial Hall group; the other man cast a glance his way, but quickly looked away.

When Chen Mo's gaze swept up to the second-floor window of the Hua Pavilion, the deputy leader of the Hansha Gang was looking down at him.

Their eyes locked.

A sinister smirk suddenly appeared on the man's lips.

"Chen Mo."

Hearing someone call his name, Chen Mo withdrew his gaze and turned around.

He saw Wu Zhiai walk up to him, lean close to his ear, and whisper, "In the routine sparring before the Martial Examination, there is no need to use your full strength."

Chen Mo nodded slightly.

He understood; his edge was to be kept hidden for the final battlefield!

He asked, "Sister Ai, are you leading the Wu Family team?"

Wu Zhiai nodded. "I used a few tricks to earn this chance to show my face. The Wu Family only has one Ming Jin mid-stage practitioner participating in the Martial Examination this year, but he belongs to the eldest and second brothers. If you weren't just a bodyguard unable to fight for the Wu Family, I would have tried to poach you from the Tianqing Martial Hall!"

She smiled contentedly after saying this.

Whether a bodyguard or a guest, both were considered retainers, but marrying into the family was different; it meant sharing the same fate as the family.

Before long, a path opened up in the crowd. Hearing the whispers of those nearby, Chen Mo realized the leader of the Black Tiger Hall had arrived.

Chen Mo stepped back and watched as the leader, Liu Zongsheng, dressed in black and gold robes, walked past. The pressure of a Hua Jin master instantly washed over the area.

The aura Chen Mo felt from Liu Zongsheng was significantly stronger than that of Yin Tianqing.

When Liu Zongsheng passed in front of Yin Tianqing, he stopped, turned his head, and looked over with eyes as sharp as an eagle's. "It has been a long time, Master Yin. You are still as hale and hearty as ever."

Yin Tianqing cupped his fists. "I am nothing but a pile of old bones; I cannot compare to the extraordinary presence of Hall Master Liu!"

Liu Zongsheng smiled and walked away, followed by two Dark Jin subordinates and several Ming Jin attendants.

When he reached the main entrance of the Hua Pavilion, he happened to run into Zhao Huayuan coming out. The two stopped two steps apart.

Two attendants behind Zhao Huayuan quickly brought out two sandalwood chairs and placed them behind the two men.

"Please, Hall Master Liu!" Zhao Huayuan gestured for him to take a seat.

Liu Zongsheng returned the gesture, then, without waiting for a response, sat directly in the primary seat, while Zhao Huayuan took the secondary seat.

Liu Zongsheng's voice boomed like thunder. "Everyone, although Black River Town is just a town, it is second only to the county seat in Anyang County. With the Martial Examination approaching, I have gathered everyone here along with Family Head Zhao. Firstly, to allow the participants to spar and familiarize themselves with one another, in hopes of helping them adapt in advance."

"And secondly, to foster friendship among the various parties of Black River Town."

His words were impassioned and flawless.

Those who cheered in response were all family descendants or martial hall disciples. As for the few from the bottom of society, they watched from afar, not daring to get close.

After Liu Zongsheng finished speaking, Zhao Huayuan introduced the rules of the competition.

Roughly speaking, each participant in the Martial Examination could choose an opponent of similar strength, and the person chosen could not refuse. Each person could only compete once.

Some in the crowd had burning gazes.

A rare opportunity to make a name for themselves!

At this moment, Liu Zongsheng summoned his Dark Jin subordinate, gave him a few whispered instructions, and the man cast a glance toward the Tianqing Martial Hall before walking in that direction.

The Dark Jin subordinate walked up to Yin Tianqing. "Master Yin, our Hall Master invites you into the Hua Pavilion for a chat."

Yin Tianqing frowned upon hearing this.

However, he did not refuse. He followed the man to the entrance of the Hua Pavilion and entered with Liu Zongsheng.

Chen Mo noticed this scene and pondered inwardly.

The Black Tiger Hall, the Zhao Family, and the Hansha Gang seem to be plotting something, and Liu Zongsheng inviting Yin Tianqing in at this moment might be related to their plans...

There were only two reasons that could make Zhao Huayuan hesitate.

The first was that it would cause him to lose profit.

The second was that the plan was fraught with danger.

After thinking it over, Chen Mo felt the first possibility could be ruled out, as there was no reason for Liu Zongsheng to harm the interests of a Hua Jin master.

Therefore, it could only be that the plan was dangerous.

I wonder if Master Yin will agree...

He thought to himself.

With his current strength, he was fundamentally unable to influence the power struggle between the major factions.

He simply wanted to have a retreat for self-preservation should the situation exceed his expectations.

A short while later.

Liu Zongsheng emerged from the Hua Pavilion with a rather unpleasant expression on his face.

When Yin Tianqing came out, his footsteps were slightly heavy. Upon returning to his disciples, although he tried his best to conceal it, Chen Mo could see the turbulent undercurrents beneath his calm facade.

It seems Master Yin refused...

Chen Mo pondered secretly, What exactly could it be that caused both Zhao Huayuan and Yin Tianqing to refuse?

It likely extended far beyond this remote corner of Black River Town.

At this moment, Zhang Chong, who had already become the Zhao Family's son-in-law, also stepped out of the Hua Pavilion. When he walked to Zhao Huayuan's side, he bowed to greet him. The latter nodded slightly, gave a few instructions, and only then did Zhang Chong straighten up.

After rising, he cast his gaze toward the Tianqing Martial Hall side. His eyes met Yin Shanshan's icy, cold glare in mid-air, but he instinctively looked away.

Yin Shanshan also had no desire to have any further dealings with such a person, so she turned her head away and reminded Chen Mo, who was standing beside her:

"Junior Brother Chen, the Zhao Family has fielded four people this year. Aside from... that person, there are two others who are collateral nephews, and the last one is a newly accepted disciple of the Zhao Family head, who just broke through to Dark Jin last month."

"Those two nephews are proficient in leg techniques, while that Dark Jin disciple practices the Mantis Fist."

What Yin Shanshan said was meant to help Chen Mo prepare.

Chen Mo took it to heart, "I have noted it down, thank you, Senior Sister."

In Yin Shanshan's view, Zhang Chong's target was not Chen Mo, so he would certainly not choose him as an opponent; the other three were all possibilities.

The direct descendants of the Zhao Family were failing to produce talent in the martial arts, forcing them to "borrow" two collateral nephews.

This just went to show that martial arts depended on innate talent; without it, even if a direct descendant ate medicinal pills like beans, they wouldn't be able to reach Ming Jin.

"The Black Tiger Hall on the other side has fielded five people: three at Dark Jin and two at Ming Jin. Among them, Liu Sha is a long-established mid-stage Dark Jin expert."

"As for the Wu Family, they shouldn't pose a threat to you. As for the Panshi Martial Hall, they are similar to us, with one Dark Jin and two Ming Jin practitioners. That Dark Jin expert is known for his strong defense."

Chen Mo noted them down one by one.

Yin Shanshan's introduction gave him a rough understanding of this group of peers in Black River Town.

At this moment, a sharp shout interrupted the two of them.

A large area had been cleared in front of the Hua Pavilion entrance. A Dark Jin expert from the Black Tiger Hall had stepped into the arena. His sharp gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on a Ming Jin practitioner from the Panshi Martial Hall.

He pointed a finger, "That brother there, do you dare to step into the arena and spar with me?"