Sword Roaring in the Sky

Chapter 261 The First Martial Clan
Upon entering Longhu Road, Sun Yanwan noticed an increase in the number of beggars she encountered.

Most of these beggars were burly and strong, and it was clear at a glance that they were all skilled in martial arts.

The Southern Beggars' Sect only exists in Southern Xia, and the beggars within the territory of Da Lang are naturally only the Northern Beggars' Sect.

Sun Yanwan was also very puzzled. She thought of the old beggar she had met that day. Although she couldn't confirm his identity, he must have been a powerful figure in the Northern Beggars' Gang.

However, what the Beggars' Sect wanted to do was none of his business; Sun Yanwan only wanted to visit his master's residence, which was his top priority.

As they approached Taiqing Town, where the Shi family resided, Sun Yanwan, despite having prepared some gifts for the journey, still discussed with Shi Si whether there was anything lacking. Such martial arts families had too many rules; what gifts to prepare, how many to prepare, and who should act in each one—all these had their own set of etiquette. Although he truly didn't want to concern himself with them, he still had to give Shi Si some face.

The Shi family has always worshipped the Taiqing Daozu, and the family's Xuantian Six Arts are also closely related to the Taiqing lineage. In fact, most members of the Shi family become monks in Taoist temples that worship the Taiqing Daozu when they get old.

There's a saying: "All under Heaven are surnamed Shi!"
This demonstrates the influence of the Shi family within the Taiqing Dao lineage.

Upon arriving in Yingxi City, with only a few more days' journey to Taiqing Town, Sun Yanwan and Shi Si settled down to rest for a day and take a bath and change clothes.

Sun Yanwan booked an entire inn and replaced everyone inside and outside with members of the Tianma Gang.

After taking a bath, he changed into a new set of clothes, intending to wait for Shi Si to get ready so they could go out for a bite to eat together. However, he heard someone shouting outside the inn, and soon two beggars forced their way in.

Dozens of members of the Pegasus Gang surrounded the two beggars. Seven or eight of them were covered in dust and had minor injuries on their faces, clearly having suffered some losses.

Sun Yanwan was furious and asked, "What brings you two here? Why did you force your way in?"

The two beggars were also quite shocked. They wanted to enter the inn, but the Tianma Gang members naturally wouldn't allow it. The Tianma Gang members knew that Sun Yanwan was taking a bath and renewing her health, so they couldn't possibly go in to report. The two beggars had important business to attend to, but they disregarded the rules and forced their way in, and surprisingly, they didn't gain much advantage.

Although the Tianma Gang doesn't have many skilled fighters, each member is at the ninth rank, and there are several eighth-rank experts. If a real conflict were to break out, the two of them might not be able to escape unscathed.

The two beggars hurriedly called out, "We are Liao Xiong and Huang Hua, seventh-generation disciples of the Northern Beggars' Clan. Our clan has a major matter at hand and wishes to meet with Scholar Sun. Due to the urgency of the situation, we have acted swiftly and have been impolite."

Sun Yanwan's face was still very unhappy, so Liao Xiong hurriedly said, "Lu Huangshan met Scholar Sun in Yongzhou back then, and afterwards he praised him highly. He told all the members of my gang that you are righteous and generous."

This Liao Xiong, worthy of his Beggars' Sect origins, showered Sun Yanwan with flattering words. The Northern Beggars' Sect and the Songyang Sect had a long-standing relationship, and since the other party had mentioned Lu Huangshan, Sun Yanwan had no choice but to give them face and said calmly, "I was just taking a bath. Even if you barged in, I'm afraid I couldn't entertain guests. Even if you were anxious, there's no reason for you to do so."

Liao Xiong and Huang Hua then realized why the Tianma Gang was unwilling to inform them. Knowing they were in the wrong, they said a few more polite words before changing the subject, saying, "There has been a major event recently that has even alarmed our gang leader and several ninth-generation elders."

Sun Yanwan was slightly surprised and asked, "What is it?"

Liao Xiong gave a wry smile and said, "In the martial arts world, there are always people who accidentally obtain the martial arts manuals of senior masters. They also have extraordinary talent and master astonishing martial arts skills. These people were not originally martial artists, so they do not understand the rules of the martial arts world or the grudges in the martial arts world. Relying on their martial arts skills, they often do things according to their own will and cannot distinguish right from wrong."

"Recently, a man claiming to be a descendant of the Ma family, the most powerful military family in the previous dynasty, has been trying to reclaim the Ma family's ancestral property. He has been injuring people on Longhu Road and even kidnapped a young lady from the Shi family..."

Sun Yanwan was speechless. In martial arts novels, those who obtained the secret martial arts manuals of senior masters were often protagonists. However, after years of experience in this world, he knew that such people, who suddenly acquired profound manuals and then devoted themselves to years of arduous practice to gain powerful martial arts, often lacked the guidance of a master and were bound to have some problems. These untrained individuals who learned martial arts might not necessarily want to uphold justice, but they lacked the experience of martial arts practitioners and the inside information of the martial arts world provided by their sects. They were easily trusting of strangers and were often easily ambushed by seasoned martial arts masters, dying without ever using any of their skills.

Even if they don't die a violent death, they can easily be deceived.

After all, having a high talent for martial arts does not necessarily mean being a person who can discern right from wrong.

Someone may have committed numerous evils, but he is good at sophistry and easily deceives this naive newcomer to the world who has never been exposed to its cunning and deceit. Unknowingly, he is used as a tool to kill someone.

Someone may have been framed, but these naive people have no reliable sources of information and can only listen to rumors, believing them to be the truth. They mistake good people for bad people and do wrong things that hurt their friends and please their enemies.

Even if they learn the truth afterward, they often dare not face their mistakes. They either simply go into seclusion and become cowards, or they simply go along with the crowd and degenerate into people who rely on their martial arts skills to act recklessly and do whatever they want.

A small number of lucky outcasts, who survive several upheavals in the martial arts world, are prone to going to extremes. For example, they may believe they represent justice in the martial arts world, always regard martial arts as their first choice for solving problems, and distrust everyone...

To put it nicely, it's a mix of good and evil; to put it bluntly, it's madness.

Moreover, no one can guarantee the moral character of those who obtain the martial arts manuals of their predecessors.

Sun Yanwan said, "This matter has nothing to do with me. I have important matters to attend to and I'm afraid I can't help you."

Liao Xiong said in a low voice, "Our Northern Beggars' Gang has a good relationship with your sect, so we invited some good friends from the Songyang Sect to help us this time. A few days ago, we encountered this person and he killed six of our friends from the Songyang Sect."

Of course, not everyone in the Songyang Sect can be like Zhang Qingxi. Most of the disciples have been practicing martial arts for several years but have not yet reached the ninth rank. Being able to advance to the ninth rank within three to five years is already quite good. Reaching the eighth rank is enough to earn the respect of one's teachers.

These ordinary disciples of the Songyang Sect, traveling the martial world, were killed by others, and the Songyang Sect would definitely send someone to take action.

Sun Yanwan is now facing this situation. He can ignore the affairs of the Northern Beggars' Gang, but how can he stand idly by when six people from the Songyang Sect are killed?

He now understood why the Northern Beggars' Gang dared to trespass into the inn. Although they had broken their manners, they were morally justifiable.

Sun Yanwan sighed and said, "Please tell me the details, both of you."

Liao Xiong and Huang Hua recounted the events in detail, and most of the details could be verified. Sun Yanwan could easily ascertain the truth by going through the Songyang Sect or the Tianma Gang. Having reliable information channels from one's sect is the fundamental reason why disciples of major sects are less likely to make mistakes.

In the end, Sun Yanwan could only ask, "Where is this person now?"

"I'm going to have a go at him!"

(End of this chapter)