A Shocking Turn at the Banquet, Feng Yanleng!

Donghe County isn't very large, and Gao Old Village is right next to the county seat, making it a kind of "city outside the city".

Yu Tunzhou didn't even ask for directions. Along the way, groups of two or three martial artists, some carrying knives, some with swords, and some unarmed, were all heading in the same direction, creating a bustling scene like a market.

When we arrived at the entrance of the village, we found that we still had to queue.

Aside from a few guards, the gatekeeper was a gaunt old man who held a booklet in his hand, slowly recording the names and backgrounds of the visitors.

The line wasn't long, but it moved slowly.

Yu Tunzhou Boat was in the middle, bored out of his mind, when a group of people cut in front of him, and no one stopped them.

The leader was a man in brocade robes, with a handsome face and a long sword at his waist. He had an extraordinary bearing, and behind him were seven or eight martial artists, each full of energy Blood Qi.

"Who is that?" Yu Tunzhou casually asked a martial artist who was also in line next to him.

The latter, a man in his thirties, glanced at him upon hearing this. "From out of town? That's Shen Yulou, the head of the Two Rivers Commandery of the West Wind Merchant Association. He's here on behalf of the West Wind Merchant Association to present a congratulatory gift to the Old Zhuang."

Yu Tunzhou nodded his thanks.

He had heard of the West Wind Merchant Association before in West Xuan Commandery. It was considered a top-tier chamber of commerce in the Western Desert, backed by several powerful forces.

In terms of the scale of their business, they far surpassed the Qian Household of Danyang Commandery.

At the same time, the West Wind Merchant Association is also Yang Che's employer.

Unfortunately, Yang Che refused his challenge to a boxing match.

"The Old Zhuang has quite the presence," Yu Tunzhou praised.

The power of Donghe County actually sent the head of a prefecture-level power to offer congratulations.

"Absolutely." The man gave a thumbs up. "The Old Zhuang is a man of two words: righteous and chivalrous! Have you heard of the Great Hero Western Phoenix? He's also a friend of the Old Zhuang!"

Yu Tunzhou became interested. "Is it that Jiang Ying, the [Western Phoenix] on the Earth Ranking?"

"Good!"

Along his journey, Yu Tunzhou heard of many local masters in the Western Desert. This Western Phoenix Hero was Rogue Cultivator who had never joined any force, yet he broke through to the External Scenery before the age of sixty, becoming famous and even praised by the Earth Ranking as having the potential to become Grandmaster.

However, this person hasn't made a public appearance in ten years.

The last time he appeared before the world was ten years ago in a battle against the leader of the Seven Bandits.

The latter, named Helian Tu, was Grandmaster ranked fifty-first on the Earth Ranking and the soul of the Seven Bandits of the Western Desert. As long as he lived, the Seven Bandits of the Western Desert would not fall.

Although Jiang Ying was no match for him in that battle, she escaped unharmed.

In front of the gate of the manor, an old man was holding a booklet, simply recording the names and origins of the visitors.

When it was his turn, he casually gave a name and background and easily slipped in.

Upon entering the estate and walking into the main hall, one finds hundreds of tables laden with delicious food, ready for guests to eat and drink. The place is quite crowded; a quick glance reveals that most of the tables are already full.

Yu Tunzhou found Liaokong seat and took a quick look around. He saw that there were many people of all kinds, mostly at the Chain Forming Realm, and about a dozen at the Divine Ability Realm, but they were all sitting in the front, including Shen Yulou.

Seeing that the owner had not yet appeared, Yu Tunzhou quickly blended into the crowd and began to enjoy the meal with everyone.

Sitting next to him was a young man with thick eyebrows. Judging from his clothes, he didn't seem to be from an ordinary family. He popped a few peanuts into his mouth and, seeing how young Yu Tunzhou was, lowered his voice and asked, "Friend, you look younger than me, and you're already Form Refinement? You didn't sneak in here to freeload, did you?"

Yu Tunzhou, relying on his agility, calmly and effortlessly snatched a chicken leg from the chopsticks of the others at the table.

He chewed on a chicken leg and replied to the young man with thick eyebrows, "Good eye."

The young man with thick eyebrows smiled and said, "I'm Luo Zichuan, what's your name, friend?"

My name is Yu Tunzhou.

"Yu Tunzhou?" Luo Zichuan chuckled. "Your name is quite interesting, it's the same as that one who rose to the top and became the fifteenth on the Dragon and Tiger Ranking."

At this point, his heart skipped a beat. Could it really be the real person? He immediately stared intently at Yu Tunzhou's expression, trying to find some flaw in the young man's face.

Yu Tunzhou tossed aside the chicken bone and said calmly, "It's quite a coincidence; others said the same thing."

Luo Zichuan stared for a long time but couldn't figure out anything. He then chuckled dryly, thinking to himself, "What a coincidence! How could I possibly sneak out for a banquet and have a top expert from the Dragon and Tiger Ranking sitting next to me?"

Even so, he couldn't help but glance at Yu Tunzhou from time to time.

Just then, a gray figure silently sat down on the other side of Luo Zichuan.

The man sat down without saying a word and started eating the steamed river fish that had just been served. He pulled the whole bowl in front of him and grabbed it with his hands without even using chopsticks.

The people at the table stared wide-eyed, not yet able to react, when the entire river fish was reduced to nothing but a clean skeleton.

Five seconds, at most five seconds.

Even Yu Tunzhou couldn't help but cast a glance at it.

But that wasn't the other person's limit. The large pork knuckle, which had been on the table for only a short time, was devoured by this person in a few breaths, leaving only a large bone.

Even the bland, dry chicken in the chicken soup was eaten by this person.

He looked like he hadn't eaten for days.

A moment of silence fell over the table as everyone stared at the unexpected guest.

An elderly man sitting opposite stroked his beard and chuckled, trying to smooth things over. "Well, being able to eat is a blessing. When I was young, I could eat even more than this."

These words eased the tension at the table somewhat, and everyone smiled.

Luo Zichuan was also astonished. After a moment, seeing that this fellow had slowed down, he thought that the man had finally finished eating. But after glancing at the table, he realized that there was no more food left.

"May I ask your name, sir?" Luo Zichuan asked with a hint of admiration.

The man in gray looked up. He was a handsome young man with delicate features, yet his eyes revealed a sharp and heroic air. He smiled slightly and said in a clear voice, "My name is Ji Yanleng."

Luo Zichuan was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but say, "Brother, if you change even one more character in your name, you'll have the same name as that Heroine Feng."

The man in gray smiled, his gaze meeting Yu Tunzhou's.

The way they looked at each other was full of scrutiny.

Yu Tunzhou narrowed his eyes.

He hadn't felt this sense of danger from anyone for a long time.

As for the External Scenery, these people exude a refined and unpretentious aura, and unless they reveal hostility, you won't sense anything special about them.

This person's aura is almost like that of those top External Scenery masters, but not as smooth and natural. It also reveals an extreme sharpness, like a three-inch-long sword drawn from its sheath, its cold light reflecting perfectly on its face.

Ji Yanleng.

The Feng Yanleng.

Could it really be that person?

Yu Tunzhou guessed in his heart, looking him up and down. He had heard that the other man always carried a sword and a knife, but this man had no weapon with him.

At this moment, the two were separated by Luo Zichuan, like fierce beasts drinking water on opposite banks, sizing each other up.

Luo Zichuan was completely unaware of the undercurrent between the two, and chattered on about recent interesting events.

Just then, the hall gradually quieted down.

Yu Tunzhou looked up and saw the curtain in front of him lifted, and a group of people walked out.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a square face, thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a burly build. He wore a black brocade robe and a jade belt around his waist. He looked more like a landlord than a martial artist, but his steady steps revealed his Martial Dao foundation.

This person is [Thick Earth] Zhu Baichuan.

Behind him was a young man, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, whose features resembled Zhu Baichuan's, but he was thinner and wore a white robe.

This is today's protagonist, Zhu Yaowu, a newly promoted expert in the Divine Ability Realm.

Zhu Baichuan clasped his hands in a fist salute and said in a loud voice, "Fellow martial arts enthusiasts, I am deeply grateful for your presence at my Gao Old Village today!"

"My son, Yaowu, after ten years of arduous training, finally broke through to the Divine Ability Realm the day before yesterday. Today, I, Zhu, would like to invite you all for a drink to celebrate!"

A cheer erupted from the audience.

Zhu Baichuan chuckled and waited for everyone to quiet down before continuing, "Besides that, there's something else. From now on, my son will be in charge of Gao Old Village. I, Zhu, intend to take a break for a while." Just then...

"Master Gao Old Village, I have a question to ask you."

"Do you still remember Jiang Ying, the Heroine Jiang Western Phoenix, whom you betrayed to the Seven Bandits leader ten years ago?"

A clear voice suddenly rang out in the hall, drowning out the congratulations from everyone, and the second half of the sentence plunged the entire hall into dead silence.

Luo Zichuan turned his head in astonishment, and the one who spoke was none other than the gray-clad youth who called himself Ji Yanleng!

Yu Tunzhou looked at the field and, with his senses, immediately noticed that the look of shock in the eyes of this Master Zhu was not anger or doubt, but the shock of someone suddenly having their past exposed.

He picked up his wine glass, took a slow sip, and thought to himself, "This is going to be good."

Originally, it was thought that this Master Zhu was protecting the righteous people in the surrounding counties, but now it seems there might be a twist?

All eyes turned to the corner and landed on Yu Tunzhou's table.

Ji Yanleng had already stood up. She was tall and slender, and standing there with her back straight, she looked like a javelin stuck in the crowd, very conspicuous.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears. "Ten years ago, Heroine Jiang fought against Helian Tu, the leader of the Seven Bandits. Although she was defeated, she escaped safely. However, she disappeared for ten years without a trace, all because someone leaked her whereabouts and then joined forces with the Seven Bandits to ambush and capture Heroine Jiang."

He paused, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing straight at Zhu Baichuan on the stage. "And that person is you— Zhu Baichuan!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

The battle ten years ago was one of the most noteworthy battles in the Western Desert at that time. It was also in that battle that Jiang Ying was praised by the Earth Ranking as having the potential to become Grandmaster.

The fact that Master Zhu and Master Jiang Ying are old friends is not a secret.

Zhu Yaowu stepped forward, pointed at Ji Yanleng, and roared angrily, "Bullshit! Who do you think you are? How dare you spout nonsense on my Gao Old Village turf?!"

"Yaowu." Zhu Baichuan raised his hand to stop his son.

He calmly looked at Ji Yanleng below the stage and slowly said, "Young friend, have you come to my Gao Old Village today to drink or to cause trouble? Who sent you here to slander me like this?"

"Jiang Ying, the Heroine Jiang," Ji Yanleng.

As soon as those five words were spoken, the crowd, who had originally wanted to interject and say a few words in support of Old Zhuang, fell silent.

Shen Yulou of the West Wind Merchant Association looked at the stage in astonishment, his eyes filled with surprise and doubt as he carefully observed Zhu Baichuan's expression.

The West Wind Merchant Association went to great lengths to invite Jiang Ying to serve as a guest elder, negotiating the terms for over half a year. Just when she finally relented, she suddenly disappeared without a trace, hiding such a scandalous affair behind it all!

"Jiang Ying?" Zhu Baichuan repeated the name, his tone carrying just the right amount of doubt and helplessness. "Young friend, don't be ridiculous. I saw Jiang Ying not long ago; she was cultivating in seclusion in a secret realm."

All eyes turned to Zhu Baichuan. Had the Old Zhuang met with Heroine Jiang not long ago? They were indeed friends!

The gray-clad figure sneered, "Was it found in a fragment of a blessed land deep in the desert?"

"Zhu Baichuan, today I'll let you die knowing why. I've already rescued Jiang Ying, the Heroine Jiang, and buried her in her hometown."

"I've come here today to ask you on her behalf: In these past ten years, haven't you felt a single pang of conscience? Ten years ago, did Jiang Ying ever do anything to wrong you?"

Zhu Baichuan's face darkened. "Nonsense! Young friend, if you continue spouting nonsense, don't blame me for taking you down first!"

Below the stage, Shen Yulou's expression gradually turned ugly.

He sensed something amiss in Zhu Baichuan's expression, and his suspicions escalated instantly.

Yu Tunzhou was puzzled. If Zhu Baichuan already had connections with the Seven Bandits of the Western Desert, then why would Hua Nongying, the sixth bandit leader after the "update," attack Donghe County?

Could it be a coordinated attack from within and without?

"Take me down?"

Ji Yanleng eyebrows instantly lifted, and a chilling aura that startled those around him emanated from him, as if nothing could withstand his sharpness and nothing could block it!

The surrounding guests retreated hastily, tables and chairs were knocked over and scattered. Luo Zichuan, who was closest, retreated the fastest, his expression one of shock. Who on earth was this?

Ji Yanleng, "Zhu Baichuan, I'm not only here to question you today, but also to kill you."

Zhu Baichuan's expression finally changed.

It wasn't horror, nor anger, but a sinister feeling of being forced into a corner and having no choice but to bare one's fangs.

He stared at Ji Yanleng, his voice low and menacing, like muffled thunder rising from the earth, each word deliberate and powerful, emanating an aura as solid as a mountain. "You're courting death!"

Ji Yanleng lightly, spread her five fingers on her right hand, and with a slight clench, a long sword as smooth as smoke and water appeared in her hand.

Upon seeing the longsword clearly, Shen Yulou suddenly stood up and exclaimed, "Smoke and Water Sword! You are the Wind and Smoke Cold Wind Heroine?!"

The crowd immediately became agitated. Their initial worry and shock turned into excitement, and soon their gazes toward Zhu Baichuan gradually shifted to disbelief.

A person's name is like a tree's shadow!

The deeds of this Heroine Feng from her birth to the present, as well as her background, all suggest that she has no reason to lie. So, is this Master Qizhu Shi truly a wolf in sheep's clothing?

Luo Zichuan stared wide-eyed at the gray-clad figure's retreating back.

He was just so close to his life's goal!

The number one on the Dragon and Tiger Ranking was actually sitting right next to him!

Suddenly, Luo Zichuan noticed that after the Heroine Feng unleashed her Sword Intent to force everyone back, the beggar "Yu Tunzhou" was still sitting at the table, his demeanor calm and unhindered, seemingly unaffected at all.

He couldn't help but swallow hard. Now that the Heroine Feng had arrived, it truly was a case of "Yu Tunzhou," and perhaps—it wasn't entirely unacceptable?

In contrast to the expressions of the others was Zhu Baichuan.

After the gray-clad youth accurately pinpointed Jiang Ying's location, Zhu Baichuan already had a vague guess.

Not long ago, while the chief bandit Duqi was away, Feng Yanleng quietly infiltrated the depths of the desert, the stronghold of the Seven Bandits of the Western Desert, and killed the newly promoted seventh chief bandit!

It was upon hearing this news that he had a bad feeling. He agreed to let his son take over the manor, while he himself joined forces with Hua Nongying to plan a siege, which would both enhance Hua Nongying's reputation and allow him to fake his death and escape.

Even if Jiang Ying's affair were exposed later, he was already dead, leaving no way to verify the facts.

But he didn't expect Feng Yanleng to arrive so quickly!

He looked at the crowd below the stage, his heart sinking.

They don't believe in such an ungrateful bastard, despite all the reputation they've built up over the years. How could they so easily trust a junior like this!

The reputation and wealth he had built up over the years were destined to be destroyed in an instant today!

Zhu Baichuan suddenly roared, "Hua Nongying, stop watching! Let's attack and kill this woman together!"

A woman's soft laughter seemed to echo from all directions, carrying a seductive quality. "Feng Renzi, you really did come looking for Zhu Baichuan. I actually won my bet."

97

Before the opponent could even show himself, Feng Yanleng had already drawn his sword!

A chilling Sword Intent poured out from her body, like a lone plume of smoke rising from the desert, soaring straight into the sky, or like the setting sun over a long river, perfectly round and unobstructed, slashing directly at Zhu Baichuan!

Zhu Baichuan's pupils shrank sharply. Was this the Sword Intent of the Supreme Sword Lord Qi?!