Reborn Ouyang Ke: From The Condor Heroes to the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 42 Qian Duguan

After his battle with Ba Feng Han, Ouyang Ke was even more respected by the disciples of the Great River Alliance. Even Jiang Ba and his wife Zheng Shuming treated Ouyang Ke with much more respect.

The intimacy and familiarity between the two sides had diminished, replaced by a more distant and respectful demeanor.

In the Jiaxianglou restaurant in Xiangyang City, Jiang Ba hosted a banquet in the VIP room on the third floor to entertain Ouyang Ke, Dugu Feng, and Sha Zhijing, who had returned victorious.

Jiaxianglou has three floors: upper, middle and lower. The third floor is full of VIP rooms, and reservations are not accepted unless you are a regular customer or a prominent local figure.

Although Dajianglian is not yet considered a local power, the shop owners readily gave up the third floor when the Jiang Ba couple showed up.

The grudge between Dajianglian and Bafenghan had already spread throughout Xiangyang. The shopkeeper was well aware of this. Now that Dajianglian had returned victorious, how could he dare not give them face?

Since entering the Central Plains, Ba Feng Han had continuously challenged renowned masters, local tyrants, and villains from all over the land, never suffering a defeat. Even when surrounded and attacked by a large group of enemies, he could still escape with ease. He was already regarded by the martial arts world as one of the most outstanding young masters of the generation, on par with Hou Xibai and Yang Xuyan, enjoying unparalleled fame. But today, he was defeated head-on on the riverbank!

Once this news gets out, it will surely cause a sensation in the martial arts world. Before long, the name "Ouyang Ke" will be known throughout the land.

Halfway through the banquet, Jiang Ba personally stood up and filled Ouyang Ke's cup with wine. He held the pot with both hands, his posture solemn, as if he were toasting an old friend of many years, rather than a guest who had only recently joined the Great River Alliance.

"After this battle, your name will surely be known throughout the world," Jiang Ba said with genuine admiration.

Ouyang Ke raised his wine cup, took a small sip, and then offered it to the firebird on his shoulder. The firebird, which had been waiting impatiently, lowered its head and began pecking, emitting a satisfied low chirp.

Ouyang Ke looked at it and said calmly, "Although Ba Feng Han's martial arts are not weak, he is not a true opponent at the moment."

His words were neither humble nor arrogant. After his battle with Ba Feng Han, he finally had a clear understanding of where his martial arts skills stood in the martial arts world of the Tang Dynasty.

His earlier sparring with Dugu Feng gave him a rough estimate, but Dugu Feng was, after all, a pampered princess in Luoyang City who had never experienced a real life-or-death battle.

She was like a bird kept in an exquisite cage; no matter how beautiful her feathers were, she could never fly out of that small space.

But Ba Feng Han is different—he crawled out of the mountains of corpses and seas of blood on the grasslands, and every move he makes is filled with killing intent. Only by fighting him without being defeated can one truly test their own strength.

At this moment, Dugu Feng also set aside her usual arrogance and smiled, "Oh? Then, in Brother Ouyang's eyes, who truly deserves to be considered a real opponent?"

Jiang Ba and his wife, along with Sha Zhijing and the others, all listened intently, eager to know who in this world could possibly catch Ouyang Ke's eye.

Ouyang Ke shook his head and slowly said, "Although Ba Feng Han is highly talented, he has not yet reached his peak, so he is naturally not a true opponent. If fate allows, I would like to experience the martial arts of Flying Eagle Qu Ao."

"Flying Eagle" Qu Ao?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ba and his wife, along with Dugu Feng, all changed color.

Qu Ao's identity is extraordinary. He is the spiritual leader and strongest member of the Tiele tribe, second only to "Martial Venerable" Bi Xuan in martial arts among the various tribes of the grasslands. Twenty years ago, although Qu Ao was defeated by Bi Xuan in the Loulan Ruins, it did not diminish his prestige. In the martial arts world of the Central Plains, Qu Ao's reputation even surpasses that of powerful figures like Zhai Rang, Li Mi, and Du Fuwei.

Ouyang Ke naturally understood the reason for the change in everyone's expressions, but he did not regard Qu Ao as a mortal enemy. Qu Ao's martial arts skills were worthy of being called a grandmaster even among the major forces in the Central Plains.

However, times have changed. After his battle with Bi Xuan, Qu Ao became depressed and could no longer muster the confidence to challenge Bi Xuan.

In the path of martial arts, one either progresses or regresses. Having lost his edge, Qu Ao's martial arts skills naturally made little progress.

And such a person is just right to be his next whetstone.

As he was pondering, Ouyang Ke's brows twitched slightly, and his gaze shot downstairs.

"A fine ambition!"

Suddenly, a shout of approval came from downstairs. A moment later, a group of people slowly ascended the stairs. Leading them was a tall, slender, and handsome middle-aged man with a stern and sinister expression on his face, making his smile seem somewhat deliberate.

Jiang Ba and his wife exchanged a glance, clearly recognizing the newcomers.

Before Jiang Ba could speak, the middle-aged man's gaze first fell on Jiang Ba and his wife, and he smiled slightly, saying, "Chief Jiang, please forgive my intrusion." His gaze then shifted to everyone present, "I heard that your alliance's experts repelled the Turkic master Ba Feng Han, who was wreaking havoc in the Central Plains, so I've come to pay my respects today. Chief Jiang won't take offense, will he?"

While he seemed to be looking at Jiang Ba and his wife as he spoke, he had already noticed Ouyang Ke, who had an elegant and refined demeanor, standing to the side.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ba's brows twitched slightly, but he then smiled nonchalantly and said, "Someone, quickly invite Chief Qian to take a seat."

Within the entire city of Xiangyang, the one who could be called the Chief of the Qian Gang was none other than Qian Duguan, the leader of the Hanshui Gang. This "Double Blade" Qian Duguan was the head of the Hanshui faction, a man who lay between good and evil, and had a lot of influence in both the legitimate and underworld circles in the area. He was a wealthy man who ran a silk business.

Although there were some subtle frictions and struggles between the two sides in secret, they did not openly fight. Therefore, Jiang Ba was somewhat taken aback by Qian Duguan's sudden arrival today.

Before anyone else could get up, a man with bulging temples and an air of confidence behind Qian Duguan had already brought him a chair.

After Qian Duguan took his seat, a handsome and refined young man sat down beside him without any hesitation. Qian Duguan glanced at the man beside him out of the corner of his eye and smiled slightly, saying, "Shi Ru is one of my closest friends. He also wanted to come and see Young Master Ouyang, who defeated Ba Feng Han."

Jiang Ba frowned, slightly surprised, and said, "Could this friend be Zheng Shiru, known as the 'Madman of Henan'?"

After a long, hearty laugh, Zheng Shiru said casually, "Boss, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise."

When Dugu Feng saw this person appear, her heart skipped a beat. With her keen eyesight, she could naturally tell that this "madman's" martial arts were not to be underestimated.

Ouyang Ke remained calm throughout, not even lifting his eyelids, and quietly reached out to stroke the firebird in his arms. The firebird seemed to enjoy being stroked, its eyes half-closed, and it made a very soft "cooing" sound.

Seeing that Ouyang Ke remained unmoved, Qian Duguan's expression stiffened slightly, but he quickly recovered and smiled, "This must be Young Master Ouyang, who defeated the Turkic expert by the river earlier. Ba Feng Han is arrogant and has never suffered any hardship since entering the Central Plains. Now that you have taught him a lesson, I'm sure his arrogance will never be so high again."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke finally raised his head. His gaze remained unchanged as he slowly surveyed Qian Duguan and Zheng Shiru before him. With the Nine Yang Divine Skill now only a hair's breadth away from mastery, he could vaguely perceive subtle details that were previously imperceptible. For example, Qian Duguan, who appeared respectful and courteous to him, seemed to be treating him with the utmost courtesy, but Ouyang Ke could vaguely sense an evil glint within his light.

If it were anyone else, they would have thought it was just their imagination. But Ouyang Ke knew that his perception was correct. Qian Duguan was a disciple of the Yin Gui Sect, and the cultivation techniques he practiced were all true teachings of the Demonic Sect. Over the years, he naturally carried some evil aura.

Ordinary people cannot detect it. Only those who encounter masters from Buddhism or Taoism, or those who have dealt with the Yin Gui Sect, will have the opportunity to uncover its secrets.

After practicing the Nine Yang Divine Skill and undergoing a marrow cleansing and transformation, Ouyang Ke further refined the skill by combining it with the gall of the Bodhi Snake, reaching the level that Zhang Wuji had reached when he first left Kunlun Mountain. He also gained a near-spiritual insight into the martial arts of evil sects.

As for Zheng Shiru, his gaze was also sizing up Ouyang Ke and his group. His eyes swept over them, sharp and bright, and when he met their gazes, it was as if he could see into their very souls. He noticed that Dugu Feng and Sha Zhijing were both exceptionally beautiful, and couldn't help but glance at them a few more times. Without any pretense, he cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask who these two are?"

Upon seeing this, Jiang Ba introduced them: "These two are Sha Zhijing, the fifth young lady of the Sha family, and Dugu Feng, the young lady of the Dugu clan."

Upon hearing this, Qian Duguan remained calm and greeted him.

Zheng Shiru, however, wore a half-smile, seemingly both interested in the two women and completely indifferent to them, giving off an air of nonchalance. Sha Zhijing glanced at him curiously, while Dugu Feng remained unmoved, quietly watching Ouyang Ke to the side.

Zheng Shiru turned to Ouyang Ke, stared at him and said indifferently, "I have heard that you wish to learn the martial arts of Flying Eagle Qu Ao."

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Ouyang Ke said, "That's right."

Zheng Shiru's eyes gleamed with a strange light as he continued, "Then you must know, brother, that Qu Ao's martial arts are second only to Bi Xuan on the grasslands. If your words today were to spread, you would surely incur a deadly enmity with Qu Ao and the Tiele tribe."

Ouyang Ke said calmly, "So what? Life is but a short few decades. If one cannot take a chance and pursue what one desires, wouldn't that be a waste of time?"

His tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable firmness.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Shiru's eyes lit up with surprise. After a long pause, he said admiringly, "It seems I have been judging your ambitions with the limited understanding of a sparrow." He raised a cup of wine and said slowly, "I, Shiru, will first offer a toast to Brother Ouyang."

Ouyang Ke smiled slightly, raised his wine glass slightly, and drank it all in one gulp.

Ouyang Ke did not feel any ill will towards Zheng Shiru in front of him.

This person appears to be in cahoots with money, but that is not actually the case.

It turns out that this person is the son of Zheng Hantang, an old friend of Yue Shan. After his father was killed by the Yin Gui Sect, he harbored a desire for revenge. He pretended to be on good terms with the Yin Gui Sect, and at present, he seemed to be paying money to serve them. In fact, he was just trying to protect himself.

Qian Duguan also laughed and said, "Young Master Ouyang is truly a heroic young man with boundless spirit. Based on your bold words today, if you have any orders in the future, please feel free to ask me."

Ouyang Ke glanced at him seemingly casually, then smiled calmly: "Then thank you very much, Chief Qian."

He could naturally guess Qian Duguan's purpose in coming today. As a disciple of the Yin Gui Sect, Qian Duguan not only secretly served the sect's expansion but also had the responsibility of gathering information for the Demonic Sect. With his direct defeat of Ba Feng Han, he would naturally attract Qian Duguan's attention.

However, Ouyang Ke did not take any of this to heart.

In the world of martial arts during the Tang Dynasty, his origins remained a mystery. Apart from himself, no one else could guess his background.

Qian Duguan, as expected, used this as an excuse to inquire, speaking casually as if it were just idle chatter: "May I ask where Young Master Ouyang is from? I am ignorant and have never heard of your esteemed name before?"

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke said calmly, "I was born in White Camel Mountain in the Western Regions, and I learned martial arts under the guidance of my uncle from a young age. Outsiders naturally do not know the names of my uncle and me."

"White Camel Mountain?" Qian Duguan murmured repeatedly, his eyes flashing. "The Western Regions are vast, with countless mountains and rivers. I have heard of many famous mountains and rivers, but I have never heard of this one. I wonder—where exactly is it?"

Ouyang Ke remained calm and casually said, "White Camel Mountain is located in the heart of the Western Regions, not on the main trade routes, and its terrain is not particularly steep. It is not marked on ordinary maps. My uncle and I have lived there for a long time and have little contact with the Central Plains. It is understandable that Chief Qian has not heard of it."

His words were a mix of truth and deception, offering a seemingly reasonable explanation while simultaneously blocking any further questioning. Qian Duguan nodded, secretly noting it down, intending to have someone investigate upon his return. But he could never have imagined that this "White Camel Mountain" simply did not exist in this era.

Ouyang Ke had anticipated this. By the time Qian Duguan and the others had actually obtained the accurate information, he was no longer afraid of anyone.

After the banquet, Qian Duguan and Zheng Shiru took their leave. Jiang Ba and his wife naturally did not try to stop them.

The following day, Sha Zhijing and Dugu Feng were to return to Luoyang. Ouyang Ke and Jiang Ba personally escorted them to the dock.

The fast boat of the Dajiang Alliance was moored at the shore, its sails raised, and the water gently lapped against the gunwale. Sha Zhijing stood at the bow, looking at Ouyang Ke on the shore, her eyes filled with reluctance.

She held the firebird, which had somehow jumped into her arms. She gently stroked its feathers, then waved to Ouyang Ke and said, "Brother Ouyang, if you have some free time, you must come to Luoyang to visit me and Feng'er!"

The firebird poked its head out from her arms and cooed at Ouyang Ke, as if it were also saying goodbye.

Ouyang Ke nodded, a slight smile appearing on his lips: "Definitely."

Dugu Feng stood beside Sha Zhijing, her gaze meeting Ouyang Ke's. She didn't say much, only smiled slightly: "In that case, Jing'er and I will await Brother Ouyang's arrival in Luoyang."

Ouyang Ke couldn't help but chuckle, and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "It's a deal."

The boatman untied the mooring rope, and the speedboat slowly pulled away from the shore. Sha Zhijing stood at the stern, waving to the shore until the white-clad figure receded into the distance, becoming a tiny dot. A firebird took flight from her arms, circled once at the stern, and let out a clear, melodious cry, as if bidding farewell, before flapping its wings and flying back to Ouyang Ke's shoulder.

Dugu Feng watched the departing white figure and murmured to herself, "Ouyang Ke—White Camel Mountain—" She shook her head and turned to walk into the cabin.

On the riverbank, Ouyang Ke watched the speedboat disappear into the middle of the river, while the firebird perched on his shoulder, tilting its head and gazing in that direction.

Jiang Ba and Zheng Shuming exchanged a glance before Jiang Ba finally spoke, "Young Master Ouyang, I, Jiang Ba, know that you have lofty ambitions and will certainly not want to be confined to my Great Jiang Alliance in the future. However, I, Jiang Ba, am still willing to reserve this position of guest elder for you. I ask for nothing else, only that you would be able to help the Great Jiang Alliance in the future."

After Ouyang Ke defeated Ba Feng Han in front of the entire Great River Alliance, Jiang Ba and his wife knew that the Great River Alliance, like a small boat, would likely be unable to hold onto this dragon in the future. After discussing it last night, the couple decided to make a decision ahead of time to avoid eroding the little remaining friendship between them.

Ouyang Ke, understanding the implied meaning in the song, smiled calmly and said, "Chief, there's no need to take it to heart. Now that I've joined the Great River Alliance, I'm naturally willing to contribute my share."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ba and his wife's expressions softened.

Before the two could speak again, Ouyang Ke said, "I would like to trouble you, Chief and Madam, to find me a secluded place. I have gained some insights after my battle with Ba Feng Han, and I need to go into seclusion for a few days."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ba and his wife readily agreed.

A river breeze swept by, fluttering Ouyang Ke's white robes. Gazing at the surging river, his heart was filled with clarity.

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