A Fierce Dragon Crossing the River

Zhu Yue's expression stiffened.

Obviously.

Jiang Yan looked down on the Zhu Family—and everyone in it.

Zhu Ping took over, saying, "High Master Jiang has a point. There are still several decent gangs in Clear River."

In his view, Jiang Yan's words were not without reason. Though the Zhu Family had some standing in Clear River, they were far from being the foremost.

The Ghost Underworld Sect was not something the Zhu Family alone could handle.

It was good to claim all the credit, but one had to have the ability to swallow it.

Rashly taking everything on would be like placing the Zhu Family over a fire, liable to fall into a state of eternal damnation at any moment.

"High Masters, the most powerful forces in Clear River are the Blood Tiger Gang and the Heaven and Earth Alliance."

Han Qin nodded.

"I've heard of both gangs. They do have some ability."

The Blood Tiger Gang and the Heaven and Earth Alliance were not native Clear River forces, but organizations spanning several counties. He had heard of them even in the Huaqing Sect.

He continued, "I heard that the Heaven and Earth Alliance previously helped Senior Brother Liu and Senior Brother Kong. Why don't we visit the Heaven and Earth Alliance first?"

"Reasonable."

Zhu Yue nodded.

His blood had rushed to his head just now. Now that he had calmed down, he knew his earlier proposal had been too rash.

He secretly felt vexed.

Jiang Yan pondered briefly, then nodded in agreement.

The Heaven and Earth Alliance was indeed a good choice.

Heaven and Earth Alliance, Qinghe Branch.

Inside the main hall.

Dao Xiong sat grandly in a tiger-skin chair. Looking at the three Huaqing Sect disciples seated below, he said, "For the three of you to come from so far away truly makes this humble dwelling shine."

He had shed his usual sinister demeanor and appeared exceedingly forthright.

Yet though his face was warm and hospitable, inwardly he grumbled.

Had someone poked the Huaqing Sect's nest or something? In barely a month, two groups from the Huaqing Sect have come through.

He truly could not muster any enthusiasm.

After that previous battle, the Heaven and Earth Alliance had suffered grievous losses, while those two Huaqing Sect disciples had simply patted their backsides and left without offering a shred of compensation.

At the thought of it, Dao Xiong's anger flared.

Running into Huaqing Sect people again, not feigning illness to avoid them was already a mark of good breeding.

Han Qin clasped his fists. "Master Dao, your alliance previously assisted Senior Brother Kong and Senior Brother Liu in slaying powerful enemies of the Ghost Underworld Sect. On behalf of the sect, I offer my thanks first."

Dao Xiong returned the gesture. "It was simply our duty."

Zhu Yue frowned slightly.

He could already sense Dao Xiong's perfunctory attitude.

A suspicion formed in his heart.

Clearly, the Heaven and Earth Alliance had suffered too heavily before and was now unwilling to get tangled up in the struggle between the Heaven and Earth Alliance and the Ghost Underworld Sect again.

Han Qin narrowed his eyes slightly as well, but he would not give Dao Xiong the chance to brush them off.

Huaqing Sect business had to be handled, whether he wanted to or not!

His voice grew more forceful. "Master Dao, this time, we will still need your alliance to send people to search for the demon fiends of the Ghost Underworld Sect and pull them out by the roots. I believe Elder Jiang has seen all of your alliance's contributions."

Dao Xiong cursed inwardly.

These three Huaqing Sect disciples clearly meant to use Jiang Linxian's name to pressure him.

Three little brats whose feathers haven't even grown in yet dare try to scare me!

His expression remained courteous, but he put on a troubled look. "The three of you know that quite a few people from this branch died last time. We still haven't recovered our strength, and the Qinghe Branch was only established a few months ago. We truly have the will but lack the strength."

"This..."

Han Qin was briefly at a loss for words.

The Huaqing Sect was powerful, but as for the three of them specifically, they could not force the Heaven and Earth Alliance's people to act.

If things turned too ugly, they would have a hard time explaining themselves when they returned to the sect.

Besides, Dao Xiong's words did make sense.

Dao Xiong spoke at just the right moment. "The three of you, the Blood Tiger Gang has operated in Clear River for many years and has plenty of manpower. Why not ask Incense Master Zeng to take action?"

Han Qin frowned slightly.

How could he fail to see that Dao Xiong was trying to divert the disaster eastward?

Yet even knowing that, there was no better solution for the time being.

Local tyrants were the hardest to deal with. This was exactly the sort of situation where one encountered nothing but soft nails, like punching cotton—having strength but nowhere to use it.

Zhu Yue also sighed softly, thinking to himself:

Looks like we can only seek out the Blood Tiger Gang.

Surely the Blood Tiger Gang would not be able to find any excuse to refuse.

Seeing that the three Huaqing Sect disciples were preparing to leave, the corners of Dao Xiong's mouth rose slightly.

Still too green.

After spending so many years in the martial world, handling people with slick sleeves and nimble dances came as naturally to him as lifting a hand.

If he could not even deal with a few callow youngsters, what kind of branch master would he be?

Just as Dao Xiong was about to find an excuse to end today's conversation, Jiang Yan, who had remained silent the entire time, slowly rose to her feet.

Under everyone's astonished gazes, she drifted forward with a palm strike aimed at Dao Xiong.

Everything happened too suddenly.

Even Dao Xiong had no time to react.

Bang!

A sharp crack rang out.

The celadon vase behind Dao Xiong suddenly exploded, shattering into thin fragments that clinked and clattered onto the floor.

Hiss!

Everyone in the hall, Dao Xiong included, sucked in a breath of cold air.

Striking an object through the air!

"As expected, disciples of great sects are different from mud-legged commoners. Without profound cultivation, there's no way one could pull off such a move."

He knew he could not do it himself.

Moreover, this Huaqing Sect girl before him looked not yet twenty, yet she was already an eighth-rank martial artist.

That was far too frightening.

Dao Xiong only felt that the decades he had spent training had all gone into a dog's belly.

Only after displaying her skill did Jiang Yan slowly speak.

"As long as the Heaven and Earth Alliance is willing to help, I can promise to reserve one opportunity next year for someone from Clear River to become a Huaqing Sect disciple. The age limit will be raised to thirty-five. As for who gets in, that will depend on their own ability."

At those words.

Dao Xiong's eyes lit up.

A place as a Huaqing Sect disciple was exceedingly precious.

Though it was offered to Clear River, the chances were far greater than before.

Previously, several counties around Clear River had fought over a single place.

Even if he did not go himself, simply reporting this matter to the Alliance Leader would earn him a measure of credit.

Dao Xiong burst into hearty laughter. "High Master Jiang, you jest. Since this concerns the Ghost Underworld Sect, we are duty-bound to act. Never mind a few deaths—even if every last member of the Qinghe Branch died, we would still go!"

Jiang Yan nodded calmly.

"And so it is settled. Farewell."

With that, she turned and left, drifting away like an immortal.

When dealing with people like Dao Xiong, one could not reason with them too much. Only absolute strength could cow them, and then matters would proceed far more smoothly.

A strong dragon could not suppress a local snake.

That was only because the dragon was not strong enough. Jiang Yan was a fierce dragon crossing the river.

Han Qin gave a bitter smile and followed after her.

He had not expected Junior Sister Jiang to possess such thunderous methods as well.

Zhu Yue lowered his gaze.

Jiang Yan's performance had truly exceeded his expectations. Conquering a woman like this would be difficult.

Elsewhere.

Li Rui walked along the road toward the Medicine Hall.

I just collected my salary. I can buy a few more medicinal ingredients.

Pills were expensive, so naturally he could not take them often. Most of the time, he used ordinary medicinal herbs for medicinal baths.

But when Li Rui reached the vicinity of the Heaven and Earth Alliance's gates.

You have gained the Sect Noble Daughter's focused attention. Achievement +10

"What's going on?"

He turned his head.

His gaze collided directly with Jiang Yan's.

Damn, this feels bad!