CHAPTER 30: CHAPTER 30: GATHERING OF HEROES

Morning.

Yu Shaohua was already waiting outside Tie Kuang’s room early, pacing back and forth, thinking about the news reported by the sect’s disciples yesterday.

It’s just the deaths of dozens of thugs, which was not a significant matter for him.

But the key was the manner of their deaths.

The Iron Armor Sect specially dispatched people to investigate and found that the cause of death for those people was a single fatal strike, with brutal and ruthless methods aimed to take lives.

For the current Iron Armor Sect, such unstable factors must be known to Tie Kuang.

"What happened?"

Yu Shaohua swiftly recounted the events that occurred in the eastern part of the city yesterday.

"It was afternoon, and the sect’s disciples were busy practicing when such a major event occurred..."

Tie Kuang frowned, "What do you think is the realm of the person who acted?"

"I just personally examined the corpses, all killed in one strike; judging by the force, the opponent’s strength is unimaginable."

Yu Shaohua thought of the crushed bodies he had seen and replied.

Tie Kuang’s whole demeanor immediately became heavy.

This is a battle force capable of affecting the situation in Qingshuo County.

Yu Shaohua’s expression became peculiar, "But some nearby residents claimed they had seen Xu Guang and his Great Beast before that."

Tie Kuang was slightly stunned.

"You’re saying... Xu Guang was the one who killed?"

While the two were discussing, a voice came from outside.

"Please Sect Leader make the decision for me! The Wei Family relentlessly pursues me; I can’t live anymore."

Accompanied by a commotion akin to the ground shaking and numerous disciples’ admonishments.

"Dharma Protector Xu, Dharma Protector Xu, you can’t rush, we’ll help you to ask the Sect Leader..."

"I can’t live anymore; the Wei Family sent people to kill me yesterday."

Tie Kuang and Yu Shaohua exchanged a glance, with strange emotions in their eyes, then both headed outside.

Seeing Xu Guang riding on General Wei’s back, Tie Kuang’s face showed a smile.

"Dharma Protector Xu, what is this..."

Xu Guang didn’t dismount but spoke directly.

"Sect Leader, please make a decision for me. Last night, while learning pharmacy from Mr. Fang, I wanted to buy a snack but was attacked by people from the Wei Family. If General Wei hadn’t been nearby, I would’ve been killed."

Xu Guang looked desolate, wrapped in bandages, appearing as if he were at the brink of life and death.

Tie Kuang’s mouth twitched slightly, looking at Xu Guang with a peculiar gaze.

"Dharma Protector Xu, what is this..."

Xu Guang then, without dismounting, recounted how General Wei killed dozens in the east of the city yesterday, emphasizing it was the Wei Family’s conspiracy against him.

"If not for General Wei’s timely arrival, Xu Mou would have perished there! Please, Sect Leader, take action; Second Young Master Zhu constantly wants Xu Mou to lead General Wei to attack the Wei Family. Xu Mou has tolerated, but didn’t expect the Wei Family to be so heartless.

Sect Leader, can you bear it?"

A fierce light instantly appeared in Tie Kuang’s eyes.

Can you bear it?

This sentence instantly ignited the anger in Tie Kuang’s heart.

Of course, he couldn’t bear it!

Xu Guang, using his peripheral vision, assessed the change in Tie Kuang’s expression, feeling reassured upon seeing this.

The events of yesterday brought him great gains, but the matter was indeed too significant, with the mass death of dozens inevitably triggering frantic investigation by the Iron Armor Sect, which would eventually lead to him. It was better to come directly to feign distress, thus worsening relations between the Iron Armor Sect and the Wei Family.

And it would make Tie Kuang value General Wei.

Killing two birds with one stone, this was what Xu Guang pondered extensively last night to realize.

...

Once Xu Guang left, Tie Kuang glanced at Yu Shaohua, his anger dissipated, he calmly asked.

"What do you think?"

Yu Shaohua understood Tie Kuang was asking how to handle Xu Guang, whether to appease the Wei Family by handing Xu Guang over, or seize the opportunity to truly clash with the Wei Family.

"What is the Four Directions Guard Zhou Platform’s stance?"

Yu Shaohua didn’t answer, but instead thought of the tasks Tie Kuang had been busy with these days and asked.

Tie Kuang rubbed his brow, "Though Zhou Platform is brave but lacking strategy, he’s not so easily duped; prepare the second plan."

Yu Shaohua’s expression changed, "The relationship between Sun Yan and Liu Ning..."

"Can’t bother with that much, this is the time to deal with external matters, Liu Ning, that old thing, knows well."

"Alright, next, as long as the Black Market remains quiet; within two months, whether it’s the Four Directions Guard or the Wei Family, they will cease to exist."

Tie Kuang nodded in satisfaction, considering this, he spoke softly.

"The deal we arranged with Su Yan is about due, take Xu Guang along, that Great Beast isn’t only intimidating but formidable in battle."

"I’ve heard the Grand Elder spent considerable effort to win him over."

Yu Shaohua implied something significant.

Tie Kuang squinted his eyes, huffing lightly, "Once the deal is complete, tell him what I can give is certainly more than what Liu Ning can offer."

...

The Black Market in Qingshuo County is located in the west of the city, in an incredibly hidden position at a cavity in the outskirts.

A middle-aged man wearing tiger-striped clothing was surrounded by a group of people as he walked into the cavity.

The Black Market cave people seemed to have been waiting for a long time; upon seeing him enter from outside, they immediately went up to meet him, led by a seductive woman.

"We’ve met, Master Zhai."

The woman’s posture was seductive, like a twisting water snake, stopping in front of Zhai Kong.

"Miss Su, you’ve truly become more beautiful since we last met half a year ago."

Zhai Kong said with a smile.

Though he’s a direct disciple of a Great Bandit, he didn’t behave too presumptuously in front of Su Yan. After all, rumors say this woman is the concubine of a Great Bandit, dispatched here to Qingshuo County due to household issues.

"No matter how beautiful, one must rely on the Great Bandits for livelihood." Su Yan spoke with a slightly mournful tone, her beautiful eyes flickering as she looked at Zhai Kong.

Zhai Kong didn’t dare to look directly at this woman, so he changed the subject, "Workshop Master Su’s previous connections were good; everyone profited from the matters in Songshan Prefecture."

Through contact with Su Yan, he understood more about her; she’s a woman with a keen mind.

Since the Imperial Family went missing, the Thirty-Six Great Bandits ceased looting and began engaging in larger-profit operations, like trading during Gate Valve wars, which yielded more gains.

Half a year ago, the Bandits went to Kunlun to inquire about the Celestial Destiny Demon Sect, but were blocked by a Kunlun Beast; a Great Bandit with Fifth Grade power tangled for a long time before breaking free.

Then they discovered that the Beast had offspring, so they tricked the offspring, not realizing that the Beast, comparable to Fifth Grade, was only the mother of the young elephant. The true father of the young elephant was the Overlord of Kunlun!

With the strength of such an Overlord-level Exotic Beast, possessing slight mysterious abilities, it can sense whether its offspring is alive remotely.

They exerted great effort to take it away but realized they couldn’t communicate with it, let alone tame it.

Hence, the young beast was stuck in their hands, not daring to kill or let it go.

After discussion, the Bandits transported it to Zouchuan Dao thousands of miles away, where it was sold by the woman in front, and secured a lucrative trade route from Zouchuan Dao.

"So, my goods won’t arrive this month?"

Su Yan spoke somewhat mournfully.

"Of course not, my master greatly admires Workshop Master Su, and the goods will arrive within a half-month. Moreover, this time, all the profits are yours."

Su Yan nodded satisfied.

Her recent days have been tough; as a woman maintaining a business operating in the gray zone, the difficulties are imaginable, compounded by the loss of elite followers while trying to establish ties with the Song Clan.

This caused some unrest among her followers.

Fortunately, the Iron Armor Sect provided ample compensation, stabilizing the situation.

Now, Zhai Kong’s arrival serves as a deterrent to her underlings.

When Zhai Kong left, subordinates came looking for Su Yan.

"Workshop Master, your subordinate has news to report."

"Oh? What news?"

"Do you remember the Kunlun Great Beast sold to the Zhu Family half a year ago? I have confirmed news that the one who owns the beast has acted again!"

Su Yan’s gaze instantly became intriguing.

...

Outside the city at Jingming Temple.

A man stepped on the body of a small snake emerging from the underground hole, his foot twisting slightly, turning the snake into pulp, and the smell of blood quickly filled the air.

Wei Shuangnian stepped forward, looking at the scene in Jingming Temple, with a shadow flashing across his face.

"Song Clan..."

The hatred in his eyes quickly restrained, as he returned this time for his treasure.

Whether it was the White Crane Sect’s inheritance or those gold coins, they were irrelevant.

The key was that Daoist Robe; if not for the treasure, he wouldn’t risk coming back here.

’Hopefully, that thing is still there.’

’Otherwise...’