Wan Jian returns to his clan!

Chapter 166 The Fragrance of Wine at the Banquet, A Phantom Figure Under the Moon

Outside the city, the fighting was so fierce that blood flowed like rivers and corpses littered the fields.

Inside the city, however, the prefectural governor's mansion was brightly lit, and people were feasting and singing.

After three rounds of drinking.

Prefect Cui Ning looked up at the sky and saw a crescent moon hanging high in the sky. A gentle breeze blew through the courtyard. He calculated the time, frowned slightly, and stopped drinking and eating.

"Is Your Excellency worried about the ambush at Qingshui Wharf?"

A burly, bearded man in armor sitting opposite him laughed loudly, picked up his wine bowl, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

With wine dripping down his face and his beard soaked, he displayed an unbridled arrogance.

"I'm not bragging, but those remnants of Mingxin Hall, even without the Zhu family's restraint, could be utterly defeated by Cao Jiang leading five hundred elite troops in an ambush.

Lu Wubing, also known as the "Southern Sword," may possess some skill in escaping.

As for the rest, none of them will escape. From this day forward, Mingxintang can be expelled from the organization.

The speaker was Xie Yuantong, the Commandant of Dongjun. He had risen from humble beginnings to become the military commander of a prefecture, so he was certainly no stranger to military affairs.

Governor Cui still trusted his judgment; however, the news, which was expected to arrive at this time, was delayed, which made people's minds wander.

"Oh, Commander Xie believes that the strength of military formations can deal with top-tier martial arts masters?"

Cui Ning was a scholar who entered officialdom through the imperial examinations. He was skilled in intrigue and rarely saw battlefield combat.

Although they were wary of those martial arts practitioners who moved with great skill, they didn't really take them seriously. At this moment, they were just curious and asking questions, and they didn't really think that this army would be defeated.

In fact, the Great Li Dynasty still maintains control, although it has been somewhat weakened in recent years, leading to various factions raising their flags in rebellion and a number of bandits emerging like mushrooms after rain, but none of them have actually succeeded.

When the imperial army arrived, they swept across the land, killing the rebels as easily as slaughtering chickens and dogs.

He did not doubt the strength of the Jinghai Army; his only concern was that the killing of the bandits was not yet complete, and that chaos might break out in the city, causing many more problems.

Just like Mingxin Hall back then, in the beginning, it was just a small martial arts sect...

Governor Cui noticed that the man would offer tribute at appropriate times during festivals and was quite obedient. Finding him agreeable, he didn't take it seriously.

The result of this indulgence is that Mingxintang has become increasingly powerful in recent years.

With twenty years of accumulated experience, its reach extends in all directions.

Not only do they have countless sons and daughters among the common people, but they also have their own people in the prefectural government offices and the prefectural army.

What's most impressive is that Cheng Lin and Wen Yuan forged a bond of gratitude and paved the way with money.

Officials of all ranks got a cut, and connections were made at every level.

So much so that even if he, the governor, really wanted to kill a pig for meat, he wouldn't know where to begin.

If they really wanted to send troops to target them, the large-scale mobilization had just begun when the other side had already noticed and sent the letter to their family and friends.

In particular, the opposing team's higher-ups include four top-tier experts.

The hall master and his wife are disciples of a second-rank sect; who would dare to be certain of victory?

With fewer people, we really can't beat the top forces of Mingxin Hall.

Having more people won't help; nobody knows if someone might secretly betray us and turn against us.

As a result, over the years, Mingxintang has become so powerful that it's difficult to control.

His words as the prefect were not necessarily more effective than those of Cheng Lin and his wife.

The commander of the Jinghai Army beside him, on the surface, only knew how to address the head of Mingxin Hall as a brother, and they were very affectionate.

With the docks raking in money every day and goods being transshipped throughout the city, creating a veritable river of wealth, the Prefectural Governor's Office could only get two or three percent, while the lion's share was taken by Mingxin Hall.

It would be impossible for them not to feel sad.

In his mind, Dongjun was such a huge gold mine; even if he didn't want all of it to belong to him, he should at least take 70% or 80% of the profits.

Money is needed to bribe officials, to cultivate relationships with colleagues, to provide support from family, and to manage one's own business; none of these can be neglected.

The expenses for hundreds of people, and the luxurious enjoyment of oneself—all of these cost money.
Because Mingxintang had robbed so much money from his own pocket, Prefect Cui often felt a sharp pain in his chest.

This time, they tacitly allowed the Dongyi sea warriors to enter Dongjun.

Even allowing the Zhu family's influence to enter and share the spoils was based on this same principle.

The powerful dragon from outside is ultimately only after money.

They come and go, have no real power base, and can't compete with the local government.

But the local bullies cannot be allowed to grow stronger; they must be eliminated.

Originally, the matter had been resolved. Thanks to the Zhu family's conspiracy and the Yueying Hall's sneak attack, Mingxin Hall was almost completely wiped out and no longer posed a threat.

The prefectural government monopolized 60% of the profits, reaping massive amounts of gold, silver, and cultivation elixirs...

With this source of wealth, he could not only secure his position as the governor of Dongjun, but also gain the attention of his family.

In the future, it is not impossible to take another step or two, and hopefully enter the central government and experience the feeling of wielding power over the world.

Cui Ning's wishful thinking hadn't fully taken shape yet.

The Heavenly Star Sect has actually sent people.

Judging from their appearance, they actually intend to revive Mingxintang.

How is this possible?

He understood better than anyone how many people this local tyrant, who had been in power for over twenty years, could mobilize and how much influence he could gain once he recovered.
"If you don't kill the snake, you'll only get hurt in return. Commandant Jie is being a bit too arrogant."

However, it seems that Mr. Lin San from the Zhu family is also at Qingshui Wharf... With him there, things shouldn't fall apart at the last minute.

Cui Ning thought for a while, then slowly drank a cup of wine and turned to look at the old man beside him: "Uncle Zhong, what do you think of Mr. Lin San and Nan Jian? Who is better?"

On the surface, martial arts masters may appear to be about the same strength, but their actual combat abilities can be worlds apart.

He still wanted to get to the bottom of it.

Li Yuanzhong, an old servant of the Cui family, has been by Cui Ning's side since his grandfather's generation, and is even closer to him than his own uncle.

Although he was a servant, no one dared to treat him as such.

This was not only because of their decades-long friendship, but also because of his martial arts skills.

Li Yuanzhong has had exceptional martial arts talent since childhood, and over the years he has spent a great deal of resources to help his cultivation reach the first rank.

In the martial arts world, this would be equivalent to the level of a major sect leader.

In any aristocratic family, there are always some powerful and skilled individuals protecting the family members; otherwise, the younger members would have no say in the matter.

His lineage cultivated such a great master early on, and also bet on Dongjun early on, so naturally they reaped huge rewards.

Over the years, Cui Ning has encountered many dangerous situations, all of which were resolved by Li Yuanzhong, so he naturally relies heavily on him.

They especially trusted his judgment.

"The young master of the Tianxing Sect has risen to prominence at an astonishing speed; he is indeed a genius of unparalleled talent."

Unfortunately, he is still young and has not yet truly matured.

Judging from his past achievements, this person may be comparable to an ordinary first-class master, and can be considered one of the best among first-class masters.

But compared to the snow-capped mountains and forests, it still falls short in many ways.

Li Yuanzhong's eyes flashed, and a smile appeared on his lips.

These words are ostensibly referring to Mr. Lin San, but in reality, they are referring to himself.

A young and outstanding individual may be powerful for a time, but that's only if they haven't truly encountered a formidable master.

They become famous for killing a few top-tier fighters, but that's only based on their age.

To achieve so much at such a young age is truly astonishing, but that's all.

They're not really so powerful that people can't mess with them.

Those seasoned masters, all standing at the threshold of innate skill, have honed their skills to perfection; how could young masters possibly challenge them?

"Lin He's Blizzard Sword Technique is said to have reached the level of 'Snowflakes Like Wheels,' where the sword light can destroy houses and shatter mountains, displaying an extremely grand and magnificent aura."

Even my own "Divine Brush" might not be able to defeat him.

Lu Wubing might not be inferior to others in a one-on-one swordsmanship contest, but his skill is still lacking... If he were to truly clash head-on with Lin He, it would be suicide.

Li Yuanzhong said calmly.

"Since Mr. Yuanzhong has said so, there is naturally no need to worry. Come, come, let's drink and wait for the younger generation to defeat the enemy."

Jie Yuantong laughed heartily, subtly praising Li Yuanzhong, then tilted his head back, picked up the full wine bowl, and drank it all in one gulp.

He knew that his background was inferior, and if he wanted to advance further, he had to follow closely behind this prefect who came from a prestigious family.

If the other side gets the opportunity, our position will naturally rise as well.

This is also something that can't be helped.

Children from prominent families are born with an advantage, making it much easier for them to become officials or go into business.

What ordinary people achieve through a lifetime of hard work and struggle might be nothing more than a few jokes at a banquet for them.

Li Yuanzhong was also greatly relieved and said with a smile: "In fact, Commandant Jie's plan is really ingenious. By mobilizing the troops of Jinghai Division, the people of Mingxin Hall will probably be afraid and timid before they even start fighting."

After all, even back when Cheng Lin and Wen Yuan were still around, no one dared to directly confront the government in Dongjun. When pushed to the limit, they could only threaten mutual destruction – that's what happens when power is greater than the enemy's.

"It's mainly thanks to my elder brother's reputation. If it weren't for the strong men he sent, I wouldn't be able to hold onto my position as a captain."

Jie Yuantong chuckled as he spoke.

Knowing that with his cultivation level as a second-rank military general, he was naturally not up to the task.

Even if one obtains the position of Commandant of Dongjun, one is not qualified to dine at the same table as the Governor.

This isn't a matter of skill level, but rather a fundamental difference in social status.

However, if you include his elder brother, Xie Qinglong, the leader of the gang, then the Cui family member is nothing special.

As the leader of the Pai Gang, one of the eight major gangs in the land, Xie Qinglong commanded hundreds of thousands of members, including numerous skilled fighters. His gang was the lifeblood of millions of people on both sides of the Luo River, and his every move could devastate the region. He also held considerable influence in front of high-ranking officials of the imperial court.

As Xie Qinglong's younger brother, his status was certainly not inferior to anyone else's.

"Report!"

The laughter of the group had just subsided.

A sharp scream came from outside the door.

A constable practically tumbled in, his face glistening with sweat under the lamplight.

My body was drenched in sweat; I didn't know if it was from rushing or from exhaustion.

"presumptuous."

Jie Yuantong slapped the table, causing the cups and plates to jump.

He always respected a saying his elder brother had: "In times of great events, one must remain calm."

He often said this when instructing his subordinates.

I can't stand these people who have no manners.

He was having a banquet with the governor when he barged in, his appearance disheveled and his manners lacking. Didn't this indirectly show that he was incompetent in managing his subordinates?
"My lord... my lord, we've lost, we've all lost! Commander Cao is dead, and of the five hundred men, less than a hundred escaped. They all abandoned their armor and weapons..."

The dark-faced constable knelt down with a thud and reported.

To verify this claim, he even sent people to investigate... and it was a terrible sight.

There's one more thing left unsaid: after the defeat, most of the soldiers, except for a small number who escaped back, stripped off their clothes and disappeared into the countryside, never returning to their garrison.

The soldiers who escaped were completely demoralized, probably terrified of being killed and even more afraid of Mingxintang causing trouble later. Therefore, they couldn't even trust the Jinghai Army.

It's important to escape.

"What? What did Cao Jiang do? Five hundred men, two hundred crossbows, and they were defeated just like that? What about the Zhu family? What about Lin He? And that纨绔子弟 (spoiled brat) Zhu Yuanqing? They just watched without lifting a finger?"

"They were all killed. Zhu Yuanqing's head was hanging on the flagpole, and that Mr. Lin San was also dead."

Forty or fifty top-tier masters have appeared in Mingxin Hall, each with formidable swordsmanship...

A single attack scattered the five hundred Jinghai soldiers. It's said that Commander Cao couldn't withstand a single blow before his throat was pierced.

"Bullshit!"

This time it was Li Yuanzhong who suddenly stood up, staring intently at the constable Ruan who had come to report, his eyes like those of an eagle.

If it weren't for Jie Yuantong's presence, he probably would have already picked up the Divine Brush and killed this man with a single stroke...

This person who fabricates military intelligence and exaggerates the enemy's achievements is clearly unusable.

"It's true, Mr. Yuan Zhong. I've asked no fewer than ten soldiers who escaped, and they all said they saw those dozens of top-notch experts swarming and scattering the Jinghai Army like a swarm of bees."

Mr. Lin was first surrounded and attacked by three people, but he was no match for them and fled.

He was then caught up by two female warriors from Mingxin Hall, who attacked him from both sides, killing him.

Zhu Yuanqing died a particularly gruesome death; his head was severed. Hundreds of members of the Zhu family were all slaughtered within the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

"Where is that [Southern Sword]?"

“He didn’t lift a finger the whole time; he just watched.”

"Watching..."

Li Yuanzhong's temples throbbed, and he had a bad feeling.

The leader of the opposing side didn't even make a move; he simply used his subordinates to rout the Jinghai Division's troops and several hundred members of the Zhu family.

Moreover, this was not a narrow victory; it was a complete rout.

Where do they get so many experts?
Wasn't it said that the Tianxing Sect is now in such a state of decline that only its leader, Ouyang Zheng, remains, and he is considered a rare expert, while the rest are not worth mentioning?
So, where did these people come from?

Li Yuanzhong turned to look at his young master and saw that Cui Ning had also lost his governor's demeanor, with his handsome three long beard moving without wind.

Even his robes were trembling slightly.

He was clearly terrified, and his body was trembling uncontrollably.

Even though Li Yuanzhong was extremely confident in himself and considered himself a rare master, he couldn't be sure that he could definitely defeat Mr. Lin San of the Zhu family.

At best, they are evenly matched... and perhaps, due to his age, his ability to sustain himself in battle may be somewhat lacking.

"This is rebellion! How dare they kill imperial soldiers? This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"

Jie Yuantong had previously boasted about the fighting prowess of his troops, but upon hearing the bad news, he felt his face burning and a sense of fear rising in his heart.

Now that both sides have torn off all pretense of civility, and the other side has begun its killing spree, it is clear that they no longer have any respect for the imperial court.

Afterwards, when you finally have time to deal with it, will you still have a good outcome?
"My lord, there is no time to lose; the arrow is already on the bowstring and must be released."

This humble general immediately summoned his troops and launched a full-scale attack to kill everyone from Mingxin Hall.

"My lord, you must not hold back. You must muster all the elite troops in the household and settle this in one battle; otherwise, things will turn out very badly."

"This……"

Cui Ning's face was as white as paper.

How did things escalate to this point?
He served as an official in Dongjun for ten years, going from a promising young man to a listless and dejected figure.

Just when it seemed there was an opportunity to advance further, a rebellion broke out in the county, with officials being killed and people killing each other.

Regardless of whether I win or lose this battle, it seems my official career is over...

The most terrifying thing is that if he fails to suppress Mingxintang, he doesn't know how this matter will end.

The main branch of the Cui family is located in Qingyuan, Dezhou, so even if they were to ask for help, it would be too far away for them to reach.

If things really escalate to that point, can Dongjun still stay?
His expression shifted between anger and uncertainty, and he couldn't make up his mind.

"Young master, we must act decisively now, as the opportunity is fleeting. We cannot afford to delay any longer."

In my opinion, the members of Mingxin Hall, after two battles, are probably exhausted and weak. This is their last chance to strike.

Li Yuanzhong said coldly.

Morale should be boosted, not dampened.

During their ten years in Dongjun, the Cui family had experienced some dangers... There were two instances where the situation was even more dangerous than what happened tonight.

When the incident occurred, it was Li Yuanzhong who came up with the idea and took the lead in killing the enemy, thus overcoming the crisis.

This time, it's clearly the same again.

It has nearly two thousand elite troops from the Jinghai Division, as well as one thousand constables.

The few dozen experts from Mingxintang should not pose a significant threat.

As for the forty or fifty top-notch masters mentioned by the messenger, Li Yuanzhong dismissed it as nonsense.

What is your skill level? Do you even know what a top-tier expert is?
It's just a joke.

If they truly possessed such power, would the Heavenly Star Sect still need to cower in the mountains, afraid to utter a sound when others come to bully them?
"Do it! Issue my order: mobilize all your troops and summon Cui Shize..."

Cui Ning gritted his teeth and gave the order, his body no longer trembling.

When the time comes, one must be bold.

Besides, as a dignified governor and the official in charge of Donghai County, how could he be forced into silence by a mere bully in the city? Whose Donghai County is it anyway?
“Mingxintang cannot be allowed to remain. Even if someone submits a memorial afterward, drawing a reprimand from the court, this time, we must completely eradicate this malignant tumor.”

"Please rest assured, sir, I will certainly bring you Lu Wubing's head."

Jie Yuantong roared and made a pledge, then turned to return to camp to mobilize his troops.

He had only turned halfway when his body suddenly froze.

He looked down at his chest.

Then one could see that half of a gleaming longsword had already pierced through his chest.

Blood flowed and dripped, leaving a straight line on the ground.

The pain is excruciating.

His internal energy dissipated like smoke, and a sharp aura pierced through his extraordinary meridians and passed through his eight extraordinary vessels.

It permeates every part of the body.

So much so that his whole body went limp and he couldn't take another step.

"who is it?"

Jie Yuantong let out a hoarse, desperate roar.

But he felt that his voice was extremely weak, as if he was just gurgling in his throat.

As soon as he opened his mouth, a large amount of blood gushed out.

"Weren't you just about to behead me? Here's your sword, come and cut me off..."

A mocking chuckle suddenly sounded from behind.

Under the lamplight, Xie Yuantong's shadow suddenly lengthened, and a person appeared on the spot.

The man was dressed in a blue robe with a white collar, tall and slender, with handsome features. He held a long sword and spoke with a cheerful smile.

"Lu Wubing, the Moon Concealment Technique."

Li Yuanzhong was greatly alarmed.

It wasn't that Lu Wubing's sword was particularly powerful, but rather that the way he appeared was so strange, yet strangely familiar.

Li Yuanzhong, being in Dongjun, could not possibly have been unfamiliar with such methods of stealth and invisibility.
On that day, Cheng Lin and his wife, the owners of Mingxintang, died under such an attack.

From beginning to end, he didn't even find where the hidden enemy was, making his death extremely frustrating.

No one else knows who did it.

The prefect, however, understood it very well.

Even the incredibly skilled Moon Shadow Assassin couldn't kill two second-rank experts single-handedly.

Instead, Qiu Shuang and Hong Ye attacked simultaneously... while the three gentlemen Zhu Jialin held them back from the front.

Only in this way can the outcome be decided in one battle.

But the smiling boy in front of me was completely different.

He was also facing a second-rank expert, and while his appearance was strange, his attacks were swift and ruthless.

Killing Jie Yuantong was as easy as killing a chicken; it took no effort at all.

Compared to those two highly skilled Moon Shadow masters who were adept at concealing their presence, this was many times more terrifying.

"You guessed right, this invisibility technique is actually quite useful."

As Lu Wubing laughed, his figure gradually faded from reality and disappeared like a phantom.

"Turn off the lights, no, don't turn off the lights..."

With a loud shout, Li Yuanzhong grabbed Governor Cui Ning's arm and leaped into the air.

With a flick of his crimson and gold-tipped brush, he shattered roof tiles and propelled himself into the air.

As he gave the order, he suddenly remembered that the opponent's shadow-遁 (shadow-遁) technique could not be broken without candlelight.

Even after the lights were turned off, the crescent moon still hung high in the sky, casting shadows.

Even without light, a shadow is still a shadow.

In that environment, engaging in combat with the other side would be tantamount to suicide.

"You're worrying too much."

Lu Wubing's voice drifted from ahead.

Just as Li Yuanzhong grabbed Cui Ning and rushed onto the roof, he saw a figure in green fluttering in the wind.

Unbeknownst to him, the other party had emerged faster than him and had not concealed their presence again.

"You alone, why would you need to sneak around? You're just testing your skills."

The words fell.

The long sword in Lu Wubing's hand gleamed with a line of bright light under the moonlight.

The wind stopped, the moon disappeared, and the air seemed to have frozen.

Li Yuanzhong felt as if his arms and legs were bound by countless ropes.

He roared inwardly, wanting to move, but the Divine Brush only lifted three inches.

He knew that this was because the opponent's sword was moving too fast, creating the illusion that the air was frozen and time had stopped.

In other words, one's mental reaction cannot keep up with the speed of the opponent's sword, so that every movement feels extremely difficult.

Even if you want to go fast, you can't.

He could only watch helplessly as the streak of light, faster than his thoughts could process, plunged into his throat.

"Cuck, chuckle..."

Li Yuanzhong swayed, and the Divine Pen he was holding in his right hand fell limply to the ground.

It landed on the roof tile, making a small hole, and fell into the main hall.

Cui Ning, whom he was carrying in his left hand, fell heavily onto the tiles as if he had no bones.

Struggling with all his might, he was too weak to get up.

His eyes were filled with terror and despair, and he looked at Lu Wubing as if he had seen a ghost.

Water dripped from the roof tiles, seeping into the main hall below, like a leak.

A foul odor wafted out.

Lu Wubing took a few steps back in disgust, waved his hand, and fanned away the stench.

"You're not very capable, but you're certainly audacious. Governor Cui, you know what to do now that I'm sparing your life?"

"Ah, I...I know!"

"From this day forward, the Zhu family will no longer dare to cause trouble in Dongjun, and the Moon Shadow Hall will be completely wiped out... The Jinghai Division bears a heavy responsibility, but it cannot be without a leader. My senior brother Chen Rong of the Fierce Tiger Hall of the Heavenly Star Sect is skilled in military affairs and can shoulder this heavy responsibility to assist Governor Cui."

Furthermore, Mingxintang has exhausted its resources of medicines through numerous battles. We have heard that the governor's household has a plentiful supply of precious medicines; perhaps we could provide some as a donation.”

"Yes, I understand."

Cui Ning's voice was filled with boundless bitterness, a mixture of relief and sorrow.

Fortunately, he was not seen as a threat by the other party because he was powerless and was only scared off.

He probably wanted to keep it for himself to deal with the imperial court.

The sad thing is that the days that followed were truly difficult.

There really was an extra grandfather above my head.

Not only military affairs must be in the hands of the other side.

He dared not keep a single one of these sources of wealth, including various cultivation medicines obtained under various pretexts.

They all have to be offered as tribute.

"Isn't this much better... If everyone works together and makes Donghai County thrive, why bother with fighting and killing?"

Lu Wubing nodded in satisfaction, and the figure on the rooftop disappeared into the moonlight like a bubble.

Only the sound slowly echoed.

……

(End of this chapter)