Doubts over the bandit suppression

The Five Great Aristocratic Families had been rooted in the city for a century, with experts as plentiful as clouds and countless household warriors. Sending out a force of private soldiers would be enough to wipe out the bandits, far more easily and reliably than an alliance of civilian martial halls.

At those words, a helpless, wry smile appeared on Zhang Changfeng's face.

"A good question."

"The Five Great Aristocratic Families occupy the heart of the city and monopolize most trade routes and cultivation resources. All the bandits in the wilderness outside the city plunder are traveling merchants and the people of impoverished villages. For now, they cannot touch the families' fundamental interests or harm so much as a sinew or bone."

"Moreover, the scions of those families live in secluded mansions, dressed in brocade and dining on delicacies, with no worries over cultivation. Displaced people dying outside the city, trade routes being disrupted, markets falling into decline-to them, these are merely trifles that neither itch nor hurt."

"Without sufficient profit, they will not expend an ounce of effort. Until these troubled times bring everything crashing down, until the chaos reaches their doors, the Five Great Aristocratic Families will forever remain high above it all."

"As for the City Guard."

Zhang Changfeng had anticipated this question and paused.

"The City Guard's duty is to defend the inner city and guard against sudden upheaval. Those are the regulations. Its main force cannot be lightly transferred out of the city."

"But there is no need to worry. I have already secured permission from the troops stationed outside the city. It is inconvenient for the military to enter the mountains and conduct the purge themselves, but they are willing to provide large quantities of gold, silver, pills, weapons, and other cultivation resources as support, rewarding those of us who participate in suppressing the bandits. Anyone who takes a bandit leader's head and earns merit can also apply for additional rewards."

As his words fell, another stir swept through the gathering.

On one side were the dangers of the bandits outside the city; on the other, the generous resources offered by the military. Many martial halls that had still been hesitating began to waver.

Zhang Changfeng surveyed the gathering and continued in a loud voice.

"From beginning to end, this bandit suppression will be led solely by our twenty-five martial halls! The military will provide resources, not men. The aristocratic families will watch coldly from the sidelines and enjoy their security. The only ones who can step forward to put this chaos in order and protect the livelihoods of the streets and markets are martial practitioners like us!"

"We bear the risks, we earn the merit, and we take the resources! Troubled times are coming. Only our own strength can give us something to stand on!"

Those words thoroughly ignited the crowd's emotions.

Zhou Yan of the Boulder Martial Hall spoke slowly.

"The City Guard cannot move, and the aristocratic families will not move. If we shrink back as well, once the bandits grow powerful, disaster will surely enter the city. For the survival of our martial hall and the peace of the city, the Boulder Martial Hall will follow all arrangements!"

Lu Chui of the Heavy Hammer Martial Hall still had reservations and quietly asked a tentative question.

"Hall Master Zhang, the bandits outside the city are vicious, and some hardened outlaws carry weapons. If disciples are lost, how will that be handled?"

Zhang Changfeng had already considered this and answered clearly.

"Participation is voluntary. Each hall may send as many people as it sees fit; there is no need for everyone to go. The battlefield is dangerous. I will divide everyone into teams beforehand so they can act together and keep casualties as low as possible."

"All merit will be rewarded. Anyone injured will also receive healing pills and compensation in money and grain from the military. We certainly will not let you risk your lives for nothing!"

That promise completely dispelled the remaining martial halls' concerns.

One after another, the hall masters who had been watching from the sidelines nodded in agreement:

"Since there are thorough arrangements and rewards for merit, we will follow the other halls out of the city to suppress the bandits!"

"Rather than sit and watch the chaos spread, we might as well fight for an opportunity! Our hall will join the battle!"

For a time, of the twenty martial halls present, a full eighteen explicitly declared that they would participate.

Mo Hong, Qian He, and Zheng Rong exchanged glances.

They slowly rose and spoke.

"Hall Master Zhang, suppressing the bandits benefits both the people and the martial halls. But many disciples of our Fierce Tiger Martial Hall were injured in the competition. Our core disciples have depleted blood and Qi and suffered injuries to their sinews and bones. They simply cannot fight again in the short term."

He cupped his hands and demurred.

"Our disciples are seriously injured. Their lives and safety are at stake, and I cannot make a hasty decision. This is a grave matter. Allow me to discuss it with the disciples before giving an answer."

At those words, Zhang Changfeng's expression shifted slightly.

Before he could speak, Qian He echoed the sentiment.

"The White Crane Martial Arts Hall feels the same. Suppressing bandits outside the city means fighting to the death, nothing like sparring in an arena. Most of our members are young and unskilled at assaults and bloody fighting in the wilderness. Acting rashly would only add needless casualties. We must return to our hall to discuss this."

Zheng Rong spoke in a low voice, his expression grave.

"Exactly. The bandits are entrenched in the mountains and forests, where the terrain is treacherous and ambushes come one after another. The risks are difficult to predict. I too must return to my hall to discuss it."

Fierce Tiger, White Crane, and Mountain Piercing were all long-established martial halls.

With those three demurring, the situation reversed.

Seeing this, several martial halls whose positions had been wavering promptly changed their tune.

"So all three long-established martial halls need to discuss it. Clearly, this is no small matter!"

"Indeed, this is a serious matter. Life and death are unpredictable when suppressing bandits in the wilderness. We cannot agree in a moment of hotheadedness!"

"We too will refrain from making a rash decision for now. We will reply after returning to our halls and discussing it with everyone!"

As Zhang Changfeng watched them demur one after another, his smile remained mild, without the slightest sign of anger.

He nodded slightly and spoke slowly.

"Your concerns are perfectly reasonable. This expedition was never meant to force anyone into anything. Lives matter more than resources."

His tone was frank. "Please return to your halls and consider it carefully. I only hope each hall can answer as soon as possible. The bandit menace outside the city grows daily. The longer we delay, the greater the danger. I will await your replies within three days."

The discussion of bandit suppression following the Martial Hall Grand Competition came to a temporary close.

Chen Tie gave Mo Hong and his two companions a slight nod. Others would have to weigh things carefully against such a combination.

The Fierce Tiger Martial Hall's main hall.

"Chen Tie."

Mo Hong spoke appreciatively.

"You did exceptionally well in today's competition, winning back both face and a ranking for our Fierce Tiger Martial Hall. No one in the entire hall can match your contribution today."

Seated on either side, Shen Yan, Xu Da, Zhou Hu, Li Shan, Yu Shi, and the other senior brothers heard this with wholehearted conviction.

From this day onward, Chen Tie deserved to be foremost among the hall's disciples.

"But remember, the martial path is long. Never grow proud or complacent. The more you reveal your edge, the more easily you invite jealousy and hatred. You must be exceedingly careful in everything you do from now on."

"I will remember your teachings, Master."

Chen Tie bowed.

Mo Hong changed tack and turned to the matter at hand.

"Today, Zhang Changfeng proposed that twenty-five martial halls join forces to leave the city and suppress the bandits. You were all present and must each have your own thoughts. I gathered everyone today to discuss this."

His gaze swept over all the Flesh Refining Realm core disciples in the hall before finally returning to Chen Tie.

"You are all the hall's core fighting strength. I deferred the decision by saying we needed to return and discuss it because I did not want to decide hastily and gamble your lives on an opportunity."

Li Chan spoke first.

"Suppressing bandits outside the city is nothing like an arena match. Those bandits have spent years licking blood from their blades. Leaving the city rashly would be far too dangerous. In my view, it would be best to politely decline and not participate."

Zhou Hu echoed him.

"Exactly. The military's resources may be plentiful, but we must live to claim them. The aristocratic families enjoy their security, and the City Guard sits defending the city, yet our martial halls are the ones expected to risk our lives. We would simply be shielding others from disaster."

Everyone nodded. Most disciples leaned toward refusing to participate in the bandit suppression.

Mo Hong asked, "Chen Tie, what do you think?"

Everyone's gaze instantly converged on Chen Tie.

Chen Tie spoke quietly.

"Master, senior and junior brothers, I do not recommend avoiding the fight entirely, nor do I agree with sending everyone."

At those words, everyone in the hall froze for a moment.

Chen Tie continued his analysis.

"If we do not participate at all, we will earn a reputation for fearing battle and shirking trouble, and the other martial halls will isolate us. In future joint affairs in the market districts, our hall will be pushed to the margins."

"But sending everyone is even less advisable. Forcing our senior brothers into the dangerous mountain wilderness would only cause needless casualties."

"In my view, we should select only a small number of the hall's elites to fight."

Chen Tie paused briefly, then continued.

"Assign a few Flesh Refining experts to lead some Skin Refining disciples alongside the main force. Rather than charging through enemy lines, they would seek only to use the opportunity to hone their practical combat skills, receive military resources, and build up our hall's reserves."

"Furthermore, the Blazing Mountain Martial Hall will certainly participate, harboring ill intent. I will secretly follow the force out of the city. That way, I can keep watch in secret while protecting our hall's disciples outside, so they will not be left vulnerable to everyone's schemes."

Everyone nodded slightly at his words.

A sharp gleam flashed in Mo Hong's eyes, and his face filled with approval.

"Good! Thoroughly considered and well judged."

"We will do as you say!"