Divine Fist Sect (Please Follow!)

Almost simultaneously.

Elsewhere, at the Han Mansion.

The former reception hall was hung with white mourning banners and streamers. A coffin stood in the center, while the gathered figures either knelt in tribute or bowed their heads and wept.

"The mourning hall has been set up."

"Then don't keep the guests waiting."

A white-haired old man leaning on a cane suddenly spoke.

At the front of the crowd.

Han Qingyue nodded lightly, then parted her vermilion lips.

"Open the mansion gates and welcome the guests."

"Ruan Chen, Baili Ce, and Song Wenruo of the Divine Fist Sect have arrived..."

"Pei Junyi of Canghai Martial Arts Hall..."

"The Canal Gang..."

As one high-pitched announcement after another rang out.

An endless stream of figures.

Immediately appeared in the mourning hall.

The first three to arrive were led by a man with a face the color of dates, arms that hung past his knees, and temples that bulged prominently. His eyes gleamed with an intimidating brilliance as he headed straight for Han Qingyue.

"Junior Sister Han, please accept my condolences..."

"If the sect hadn't been held up by other matters, I could have come sooner. Perhaps this might not have happened."

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Ruan."

Tears shimmered in Han Qingyue's eyes as she shook her head. "All things are ordained by fate. If my father's calamity was destined, whether you came sooner or later, the outcome might well have been the same."

"Junior Sister, please don't grieve too much."

A trace of infatuation flashed in the man's eyes. He took a small emerald-green porcelain bottle from his robe and said, "This is a Body Protection Pill. It not only nourishes the mind and spirit, but can also slow the aging of one's appearance. It's a specialty of our Divine Fist Sect. Please accept it, Junior Sister."

"Also, at the request of Deacon Baili and me..."

"This time, the Han Family can accompany us to the Divine Fist Sect."

Han Qingyue heard him.

A strange look flickered in her eyes. She raised her slender, fair fingers and rested them against the pill bottle, saying softly, "Senior Brother has already done me a great kindness. How could Qingyue be so discourteous as to accept such a generous gift?"

The man's breath quickened.

He reached for her fair hand.

At the same time, he said, "I went to such trouble to obtain this for you, Junior Sister. If you don't accept it, then what meaning would the pill have?"

Han Qingyue drew her hand back. Her expression was stubborn, but she said nothing more.

Seeing this, Ruan Chen gave an awkward laugh.

Then he looked at the person behind him.

That person understood and spoke up. "Junior Sister Han, you don't know how much my senior brother sacrificed to obtain this pill..."

"The head of the Qin Family, Qin Jiu, has arrived..."

At that moment.

Another name was announced.

Han Qingyue furrowed her brows and glanced at Ruan Chen, then bowed to the group. "Deacon Baili, Senior Brothers, please forgive me. Today is my father's funeral, and I must attend to the guests. I can't spare the time to keep you company just now..."

"No matter."

The figure who had remained silent all this while.

Now waved a hand and said, "Go on and attend to your duties. We can discuss your joining the sect later."

"Thank you, Deacon."

After Han Qingyue left.

A figure immediately came over.

"I am the deputy leader of the Canal Gang in Songshan County. I've long heard of the Divine Fist Sect..."

In the front courtyard of the Han Mansion.

Qin Jiu looked at the figures around him, a trace of surprise appearing on his face.

"The Han Family sure has a lot of connections."

"I think it's because of those people. I heard they're from the Divine Fist Sect in Ning'an Prefecture."

Qin Xuanzhou said quietly.

He'd heard people discussing it as soon as he arrived.

Songshan County was in chaos.

If they could join a major sect and leave this place, no one would want to stay in the county.

Qin Jiu nodded in understanding.

He'd come here with the same idea of making the acquaintance of people from a major sect.

In front of the mourning hall.

Han Qingyue's expression was calm as she bowed slightly.

"Head of the Qin Family."

"Please accept my condolences."

Qin Jiu didn't know what to say. He merely sighed softly, then placed three sticks of incense before the coffin.

His heart was heavy.

Back when the Qin Family had suffered a major disaster.

They had sought an alliance through marriage with the Han Family to protect themselves.

At the time, Han Zheng might have considered swallowing up the Qin Family. But the Han Family had also come under attack from demons, and the balance of power between the two families had shifted. Whether Han Zheng had agreed to the marriage out of fear or out of genuine regard for the old friendship between him and Qin Guihong, he had agreed to it all the same.

Though the arrangement had fallen through later.

He had still been willing to offer a spirit beast nearing the fourth rank as an apology. At least his attitude had been sincere.

Yet now, Han Zheng had still died in the demon uprising.

"Master Qin."

Just then.

An aged voice rang out.

Qin Jiu turned at the sound and saw an old man leaning on a cane.

"Are you Elder Han Qing?"

"That's this old man."

At his reply, the stiff look on the old man's face eased somewhat. He said, "Among the great families of the Inner City, only our two families remain. Now that Zheng'er has been killed, the villain who slaughtered the Li Family may cause trouble again."

"Our two families must stand together and protect each other."

"This matter..."

"Hmph."

Qin Jiu hadn't even finished speaking.

When a pretty young woman beside Han Qing cut him off.

"My sister is on close terms with the disciples of the Divine Fist Sect. Now that they're here at the Han Mansion, what thief would be bold enough to stir up trouble? How has it come to the point where we need to protect each other with the Qin Family?"

Her words were rather sharp.

Quite a few gazes turned toward them.

One of the figures who had been talking with someone else immediately strode over when he heard this.

Han Qing's expression shifted slightly.

"A-Ning."

"Elder Han, you're not from the branch of the family that holds the position of head, so of course you don't know about my relationship with Junior Sister Han."

Ruan Chen came over with a grin and said, "Miss Han Ning is right."

"If that so-called villain dares to come here..."

"I'll suppress him myself."

"Senior Brother Ruan truly is the great hero my sister described."

A faint smile appeared on Han Ning's face.

Ruan Chen looked at her pretty face, a barely noticeable heat flickering in his eyes. He thumped his chest and said, "Naturally. As I travel the martial world, I devote myself to banishing demons and defending the righteous. How could I allow such evil to take place at the Han Mansion?"

After saying this.

He turned to look at Qin Jiu.

"And you are...?"

"I'm Qin Jiu, head of the Qin Family in the Inner City. I've long heard of the Divine Fist Sect. Now that I've seen the bearing of one of your distinguished disciples, I can tell you're truly an imposing hero."

Qin Jiu smiled faintly and cupped his hands toward him.

The man's eyes lit up at this, and he laughed heartily. "Brother Qin, you flatter me."

"I was just talking with someone and heard about the Qin Family."

"To be frank..."

"Our Divine Fist Sect has come to Songshan County this time to recruit disciples. The Qin Family is thriving, and your former head was a remarkable figure at the Internal Strengthening level. If there are any promising youngsters in your family, feel free to send them over in a few days to try their luck."

"Why wait for another day when we can do it now?"

Qin Jiu was delighted to hear this. "Why not test them now, Senior Brother?"

At those words.

Ruan Chen stiffened slightly.

He'd only been offering a few pleasantries, intending to flatter the other man in return. He hadn't expected Qin Jiu to seize the opportunity and press him on the spot.

"This..."

"Head of the Qin Family, that's rather abrupt."

Suddenly.

Han Qingyue, who had remained silent until then, spoke with a furrowed brow. "Senior Brother Ruan came here for my family's sake. How could you be so discourteous?"