Redcoat Bandit Gang

Yang Heng was the only one knocked to the ground, forgetting his pain, his eyes filled with lingering disbelief.

How could this be?

Seeing the gazes cast his way, Yang Heng felt even more humiliated. He couldn't bear to look. Enraged and ashamed, he clutched his chest and roared, "Impossible! Yang Chen definitely cheated, he absolutely cheated!"

"Shut up!" the old servant yelled angrily.

He had indeed suspected Yang Chen of cheating earlier, which was why he had deliberately assigned Yang Chen and Yang Heng to the same match. However, it now seemed that Yang Chen clearly possessed genuine skill. On the contrary, Yang Heng was a sore loser, his angry words utterly unbecoming. The Coming-of-Age Ceremony was a sacred event, and no one was allowed to cause a scene.

It had to be said that Yang Heng's disheveled and poor-losing demeanor undoubtedly made people look down on him even more.

Sun Qiaomei, who had already agreed to marry Yang Heng, was now thoroughly disappointed in him.

"Qiaomei, this Yang Heng no longer has the qualifications to marry you," the middle-aged man behind Sun Qiaomei said slowly.

Sun Qiaomei nodded obediently, "Father, I know. Yang Heng is simply not worthy of me. It's just that rejecting him is easy, but rejecting him completely now, without giving him any chance, isn't that a bit too cruel?"

"Cruel? Hmph, if you are merciful to him, who will be merciful to us? Qiaomei, your keeping your distance from Yang Heng all this time was a wise choice. However, you have had some dealings with him. When necessary, you must cut ties with him decisively. Otherwise, you will be looked down upon by your future husband," Sun Qiaomei's father said expressionlessly. "My actions are only to prevent you from suffering in the future."

"Father, I understand. I will reject Yang Heng completely right away," Sun Qiaomei decided.

Future happiness was always easier to choose than present hardship.

Sun Qiaomei's father nodded with satisfaction, "Remember, this Yang Heng has offended Yang Chen, and Yang Chen's current performance makes it clear that he is likely a genius being secretly cultivated by the Yang family. Between Yang Heng and Yang Chen, you should know which is more important."

Sun Qiaomei thought carefully. How could she not know that this was a choice that had to be made for the sake of family interests?

She had never had a good impression of Yang Heng to begin with, so she naturally had no hesitation now.

Sun Qiaomei's father pondered for a moment before speaking, "Although our Sun family had some unpleasantness with Yang Caidie when we were young, it's all in the past and not a big deal. If possible, this Yang Chen is a good choice. Of course, at your current level, it might be difficult to match Yang Chen, but opportunities are seized by oneself. You must cherish it well."

"Yes, Father," Sun Qiaomei bit her teeth lightly, her eyes shining with brilliance.

Her father's intention was more than obvious; he was already planning for her to pursue Yang Chen.

Yang Chen's performance indeed qualified him for her pursuit. However, did she really have the ability to win him over? After all, Feng Xuewu treated Yang Chen with such importance. Compared to Feng Xuewu, she was worlds apart.

"No matter what, Father is right. Opportunities are seized by oneself," Sun Qiaomei snorted charmingly. Then, she turned and left, having already decided to completely sever ties with Yang Heng.

Not long after.

"Yang Heng, we shouldn't see each other again from now on," Sun Qiaomei said these simple words to Yang Heng.

For Yang Heng, these words were undoubtedly a bolt from the blue, adding insult to injury.

However, Sun Qiaomei didn't even give Yang Heng a chance to explain or plead, turning and leaving without the slightest intention of staying.

"Sun Qiaomei, you will regret this!" Yang Heng roared. "Brother, I'm going to kill Yang Chen, I must kill Yang Chen!"

Yang Wu, who was standing beside Yang Heng, had an ugly expression and snorted coldly, "Useless! You're so unstable, how unbecoming."

"But..." Yang Heng's heart was filled with unwillingness.

"Don't worry, I've seen some of Yang Chen's tricks just now. His strength has likely reached the peak of the Body Refining Realm Fourth Level. However, my martial cultivation is also at the peak of the Body Refining Realm Fourth Level. In terms of martial skills, I have the direct guidance of the Eighth Elder. Soon, I will let him know how powerful I am."

Yang Wu licked his lips. "At that time, I will directly cripple his meridians and turn him into a cripple. He won't be able to cause trouble anymore."

At this moment, Yang Caidie had undoubtedly become the most dazzling figure in the crowd, even more popular than her younger brother Yang Chen. Why? Because people were flocking to her to arrange marriages. Yang Chen had no memory of his parents since childhood and relied on Yang Caidie. As his elder sister was like a mother, matchmakers naturally approached Yang Caidie.

The headwear of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony always became an object of fierce competition among many outsiders.

And Yang Chen's current performance, even if it couldn't be called the headwear of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, his martial strength at the Body Refining Realm Fourth Level was already solid. His future was bound to be boundless, so who would dare to delay?

Yang Wu and Yang Chen had undoubtedly become the two most sought-after individuals at the scene.

Of course, although Yang Chen performed excellently, he still lagged far behind Yang Wu, who had already established his reputation. However, it was enough to give Yang Caidie a headache.

"Caidie, my daughter is guaranteed to satisfy you. She's as beautiful as a flower. Have your brother come to meet her another day."

"My second daughter is talented and beautiful, proficient in everything from music and chess to calligraphy and painting..."

"We..."

These people surrounded Yang Caidie, speaking one after another, truly catching Yang Caidie off guard.

Just then, suddenly—

"Boom!"

A huge sound fell, startling everyone present.

"Who!"

An unexpected event occurred. The main gate of the Yang family had been destroyed by someone at some point. Following that, a large group of people entered the Yang family one after another from outside. At a glance, these people were riding fine horses, dressed uniformly in red, and their attitudes were arrogant and overbearing.

"Get out of the way!" The leading red-clothed man kicked the Yang family's gatekeeper aside. Then, the man laughed heartily, "You brats of the Yang family, we're here to collect the annual tribute!"

The Yang Family Patriarch, Yang Jinhe, suddenly appeared and stood before these intruders, his brows tightly furrowed. "Everyone, the annual tribute isn't due for a few more days. Today is our Yang family's Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Surely you won't refuse to give our Yang family even this little face?"

"Haha, Patriarch Yang, it's not that we don't give you face. This year's annual tribute is to be paid today. You Yang family, you won't refuse to give our Redcoat Gang face, will you?" the leading man said with a sinister grin.

Yang Chen, standing in the crowd, observed the situation before him, his curiosity piqued.

Who were these people that even the Yang Family Patriarch, who had reached the Spiritual Martial Realm, was so polite to?

"Yang Chen!" Just as Yang Chen was lost in thought, Second Master Yang and Fourth Master Yang rushed over, their faces etched with worry, as if they feared Yang Chen might have met with some accident amidst this upheaval.

After all, Yang Chen was currently the treasure of the Yang Family. Before Yang Jinhe went to negotiate, he had specifically instructed them to keep a close eye on Yang Chen and absolutely not let anything happen to him.

Seeing Second Master Yang and Fourth Master Yang worrying about him, Yang Chen felt a warmth spread through his heart. He immediately said, "Second Master, Fourth Master, who are these people?"

Second Master Yang took a deep breath and shook his head repeatedly. "These people are the Redcoat Bandits, the uncrowned kings of our Great Wilderness."

"Uncrowned kings? How can the Hundred Clans of the Great Wilderness allow bandits to become uncrowned kings?" Yang Chen asked, confused.

Fourth Master Yang waved his hand. "You wouldn't know about this. These Redcoat Bandits came from outside the Great Wilderness. Most likely, they couldn't make a living outside the Great Wilderness, so they came here. But even so, within the Great Wilderness, they are still like uncrowned kings; no one dares to defy them."

"These bandits are tyrannical and come every year to collect tribute," Second Master Yang said with a bitter smile.

"With so many clans among the Hundred Clans of the Great Wilderness, how can they fear a mere bandit?" Yang Chen was very puzzled.

In his previous life, such bandits were insignificant figures in his eyes. But in this Great Wilderness, it seemed to be different.

Second Master Yang sighed. "Yang Chen, you are still young and don't understand the reasons. You must know that while the Hundred Clans of the Great Wilderness are indeed strong, and no matter how powerful the Redcoat Bandits are, they wouldn't dare to oppose the Hundred Clans of the Great Wilderness. However, can the hundreds of clans in the Great Wilderness unite?"

"In terms of individual strength, the Redcoat Gang is the strongest; even the major clans are inferior. It's only when the Twelve Great Clans combine that they can create a stalemate with the Redcoat Gang," Fourth Master Yang said. "This is why the Redcoat Gang dares not act recklessly."

"The Twelve Great Clans and these Redcoat Bandits are in a stalemate?" Yang Chen mused.

"Yes, otherwise, do you think the Redcoat Bandits would be so polite to our Yang Family? They would have wiped us out long ago," Second Master Yang said with a frown. "Our strength is still far inferior to the Redcoat Gang. The reason we can survive is entirely due to the entanglement between the Twelve Great Clans and these bandits."

Fourth Master Yang explained, "We are fortunate to be a medium-sized clan. No matter how arrogant and overbearing the Redcoat Gang is, they wouldn't dare to destroy us. At most, they would collect some tribute and bluster a bit. After all, they have to consider the major clans. However, those smaller clans are not so lucky. If the Redcoat Gang takes a dislike to them, they will simply destroy them. The major clans will not step in to reason with them."

"This is too cruel," Yang Chen sighed.

He thought his previous world was cruel, but he never expected such a small place to be like this.

"Yes, it's cruel, but what can be done? This is the law of survival in this world. How many heinous acts has the Redcoat Gang committed? Arson, murder, looting, they are wicked in every way. Otherwise, why do you think those small clans try their best to form marriage alliances with us medium-sized clans and major clans?"

"It's for a place to continue their lineage, and to have support when they encounter difficulties in the future."

Fourth Master Yang also said with deep emotion, "Yang Chen, you must remember that the reason our Yang Family has not been wiped out by the Redcoat Gang is ultimately due to the entanglement of the major clans. That is not our own strength. To become strong and not be bullied, we must rely on our own strength. Our generation has only been able to achieve this much, but your generation still has infinite possibilities."

Why did they protect Yang Chen so much?

It was because these young geniuses were the future hope of the family.