Trying to Create a Young Hero

The Zhao residence was vast, covering an area of a thousand acres.

It was fortified with high walls, watchtowers, and arrow towers, and contained granaries, clothing stores, pharmacies, and stables.

Sixteen wells were dug, six irrigation canals were built, firewood was piled up like mountains, and incense and charcoal were plentiful. There was a sizable treasury, a martial arts training ground, and also a beautiful garden.

The world is not at peace now, and the scale of the Zhao residence is designed so that it can be used as a city within a city if necessary.

The place where Yu Danxia is now is just a small side courtyard of the mansion, and it is not even the bedroom of Young Master Zhao. It is just a place for her to play temporarily.

This so-called Young Master Zhao is currently in the East Garden Hall, sitting around an octagonal table with his father, Zhao Jintang, entertaining distinguished guests.

"This is my son, Yuma. Come, quickly offer a cup to Sect Leader Yang!"

Zhao Jintang wore a gold crown, his hair was jet black without a single blemish, his round face was rosy, his short beard was three inches long, and his skin was free of any scabies or red pimples, showing that he took good care of himself.

His son, Zhao Yuma, was quite handsome, though a little thin with dark circles under his eyes. He hurriedly raised his cup to toast a tall, thin, dark-faced Daoist priest across from him.

The Daoist priest, holding his wine cup, chuckled, "Young Master Zhao seems to have a keen interest in the pleasures of beautiful women, but he's still so young; he should cherish his life."

Zhao Yuma was somewhat displeased upon hearing this.

A middle-aged man standing nearby, exuding an air of authority without being angry, said, "Old Yang, it's not a bad thing for young people to be a little unrestrained. I will teach him the Yin-Yang Zen Art as a foundation. Once he masters it, he can cultivate my Thunder Duke Zen Method."

"Although he has lost his primordial yang energy, he has accumulated primordial yin energy. When the time comes, he will temper yin and yang with lightning, forging a Thunder True Sha. His progress will naturally be rapid, becoming extremely powerful and fierce."

The Daoist priest was named Yang Chengwu, the renowned leader of the Ningdu Sect.

The middle-aged man was Qin An, the head steward of the Zhao family.

Fifteen years ago, Cai Wuju, the leader of the Ningdu Sect, launched an uprising in the southeast. Initially, only 20,000 people responded, but they captured major prefectures and counties one after another, gaining great prestige and boasting a force of 100,000.

The Yuan Dynasty hastily mobilized large armies from Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Jiangsu provinces to jointly suppress the rebellion.

Cai Wuju's army was already a mixed bag, and some people, seeing the Yuan court's growing power, immediately defected to the Yuan court and betrayed the rebel troops.

Yang Chengwu and Qin An were both traitors back then.

However, these two people had different circumstances.

Yang Chengwu joined the Ningdu faction early on, and after being granted an official position for his merits, he was appointed by the imperial court as the new leader of the Ningdu Sect.

Qin An was ruthless and killed several noble families while in the rebel army. Although he betrayed the rebels and defected to the court, and had some military achievements, there were still people in the court who wanted to settle scores with him later and punish him, so he could not be an official.

He also loved to enjoy life, so he was won over by the Zhao family of Suzhou and Hangzhou and Hangzhou and became their chief steward.

Yang Chengwu knew Qin An's cruel and stingy nature, and his love of pretentiousness, so he never expected that Qin An would actually teach this young master of the Zhao family advanced martial arts.

"Young master's eyebrows are slightly forked into three branches, like a swallow's tail. The lines on his eyebrows are scattered yet orderly. Indeed, he has cultivated the Yin-Yang Zen Art and has already achieved considerable skill."

Yang Chengwu examined it closely for a moment, then praised, "I almost misjudged it just now."

These words naturally delighted the Zhao father and son, who quickly declined.

Qin An, also smiling, asked, "Old Yang, do you think the old master Meteor Gods and Devils and Demon will choose a successor in Suzhou and Suzhou and Hangzhou this time? He'll definitely be looking for outstanding young talents. With Yuma's skills, will he be chosen?"

Yang Chengwu was slightly surprised and stared at Qin An.

He couldn't tell if the guy was joking or not.

"Brother Qin, you intend to pass on the Thunder Duke Zen Method to Young Master Zhao, clearly treating him as your own true disciple. Why then do you plan to send it to the Meteor Gods and Devils as his successor?"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Qin An laughed, "There are many powerful figures in the martial world, and it's always good to have many skills. If Yuma could obtain the power of the Meteor Gods and Devils for several decades, and then cultivate my Thunder Lord Zen, wouldn't that be a piece of cake, adding the finishing touch?"

Yang Chengwu hesitated for a moment.

Qin An urged, "I invited you here precisely to utilize your expertise. Even if you don't know everything about the martial arts figures who have recently come to Suzhou and Hangzhou, you should have at least heard of them."

"Don't hold back, just tell the truth. Can Yuma's skill level be considered the best among the younger generation of martial artists?"

The Zhao family father and son also looked at Yang Chengwu expectantly.

Yang Chengwu couldn't help but smile, "Young Master Zhao is undoubtedly an outstanding person."

"However, as far as I know, the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty has also sent a young prince to participate in the grand event of selecting a successor for the Meteor Gods and Devils and Demon."

I think Young Master Zhao is unlikely to win against him.

The Grand Tutor Yan Temür of the current dynasty was renowned and powerful, famous throughout the world. He supported the emperor and oppressed all officials.

Even the prime minister Bayan, a man of both literary and military talent and a powerful figure, had to curry favor with this Grand Tutor.

There's no need to ask the little prince's name or surname.

As soon as others heard that it was someone appointed by the Grand Tutor, they knew that he was an absolutely outstanding and exceptional person.

Upon hearing this, the Zhao father and son were startled.

They never expected that even the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty would be interested in the matter of the Meteor Gods and Devils's Chuangong.

But on second thought, it was, after all, Meteor Gods and Devils whose name had been passed down for centuries, so it was only natural that it would attract the Grand Tutor's attention.

Zhao Jintang immediately hesitated. "The Grand Tutor has also sent people to compete for these merits. If we want to push the Yuma up, wouldn't that be disobeying the Grand Tutor...?"

Qin An's expression shifted between light and dark.

"Hmph, Grand Tutor, you have a magnanimous spirit."

Qin An said, "As long as Yuma gains power and immediately submits a memorial to show his loyalty, the Grand Tutor will most likely not hold it against him."

He looked directly at Yang Chengwu.

"Old Yang, let me be frank with you. I plan to Chuangong ninety percent of my power to Yuma."

"Then, I'll ask you for that Marrow Jade, and have the Yuma acknowledge you as its godfather."

"The Zhao family has supported the Ningdu Sect for so many years, and they have developed a bond of adoptive father and son. When they achieve mastery of the Yuma Divine Skill and obtain the power of the Meteor Gods and Devils, how could they possibly forget the benefits they have received from the Ningdu Sect?"

After these words were spoken, the hall fell silent for a long time.

Yang Chengwu stared intently at Qin An, his expression unwavering.

He could tell that Qin An seemed genuinely determined.

Zhao Yuma's Yin-Yang Zen Art, which he had practiced since childhood, was originally taught by Qin An. If he could obtain Qin An's power, combined with his own, he would most likely rank among the top in the younger generation.

If only we could refine that Marrow Jade from the Ningdu Sect.

That would indeed be a very strong chance of winning and being chosen by the Meteor Gods and Devils.

"Qin An..."

Yang Chengwu asked, puzzled, "Why are you willing to make such a sacrifice?"

Qin An's gaze sharpened. "The world is on the verge of chaos, as you surely can see."

"No, to put it bluntly, things have already descended into chaos. Can you even count how many major and minor grudges we had in the martial arts world back in the day? In the midst of this chaos, do you really expect the imperial court to protect us?"

Mountains crumble when you rely on them, and people leave when you depend on them.

Rather than relying on the imperial court, it would be better to cultivate a top-tier expert who is more likely to protect oneself.

Qin An's meaning is already quite clear.

Yang Chengwu was torn. Rather than training experts, it would be better to become an expert himself. Unfortunately, the Meteor Gods and Devils would not choose people like them who were over fifty years old.

He had refined another Marrow Jade in his early years, and he was unable to refine the one in the Ningdu Sect again, as none of the disciples in the sect possessed that level of skill.

Must we really grant Zhao Yuma?

As Yang Chengwu pondered, his ears suddenly twitched, and he looked westward.

"Why is there suddenly no sound from one of the secluded courtyards?"

Although the Zhao residence was vast, with Yang Chengwu's skill, even sitting here, he could hear every sound.

He could hear even the servants' breathing in the most secluded room.

However, it seemed rather abrupt that a room where maids were gossiping and a woman who had been poisoned suddenly fell silent.

Qin An's skill was subtly superior to his, but because he was too familiar with the mansion, he was used to ignoring some of the noise.

Upon hearing his reminder, Qin An immediately realized that something was wrong over there.

Most likely, someone used their internal energy to fill the room, isolating it from both inside and outside sounds.

"Could it be that the Qingcheng Sect has come looking for us?"

Qin An knew that a female knight-errant from the Qingcheng Sect was imprisoned there, but he didn't take it to heart.

"That impoverished member of the Qingcheng Sect, knowing full well that I'm at the Zhao residence, still dares to barge in and act so arrogantly without prior notice!"

Upon hearing that they might be people Qingcheng Sect, Yang Chengwu immediately felt a sense of unease.

During the years he led the Ningdu Sect, rumors about him being a traitor never ceased in the martial arts world.

Those so-called righteous and prestigious sects, when they Ningdu Sect, were the ones who spread the most rumors and gossip behind their backs.

"Ha, trespassing on private property, so this is what a prestigious sect is like. Today, I'll teach them a lesson in real rules."

Yang Chengwu stood up and said, "Brother Qin, how about we go take a look together?"

(End of this chapter)