Volume 2: Breaking into Fengdu Chapter 87: Encounter on the Road

The warm current that began from his dantian, Xu Yan had already felt when he was not yet ten years old. Through years of practice, this warm current had reached his waist and abdomen, shoulders and back, both arms, and finally stopped at the back of his neck. Moreover, this warm current always had a downward tendency, as if wanting to rush into his heart meridian.

The sword manual obtained from Ghost King Gate was too ordinary. Although it introduced the six meridians, it lacked detailed meridian-breaking cultivation methods. Xu Yan had only looked through it a few times out of curiosity before tossing it aside.

Because he increasingly understood that only the movement technique his master had taught him was truly important.

To unknowingly become an innate martial artist, and very likely surpass one-meridian innate, made Xu Yan increasingly respectful of the old Taoist while also becoming more curious.

It seemed his master was definitely no ordinary martial artist.

How many meridians he had broken through wasn’t important to Xu Yan right now. He was only sixteen, his body hadn’t fully matured yet. In another year or two, Xu Yan believed his Flying Stone technique would become even more effortless. At least the third form of Flying Stone that he had never used should now be barely achievable.

After practicing the movement technique for a while, Xu Yan finished his routine and picked up three stones from the ground, flicking them out with a shake of his hand.

Three stones in one hand, hitting the door latch consecutively with three crisp sounds. The latch fell, revealing the woman outside who was about to knock.

Mei Sanniang pushed the door open and entered. Glancing at the latch on the ground, she said irritably, “This brat’s stones are getting more and more powerful. You don’t even need to open doors anymore. Next time when you eat, you should use stones to eat too.”

Except in front of Mei Sanniang, Xu Yan wouldn’t easily display his Flying Stone technique. Seeing Third Sister, he immediately grinned foolishly, “Great idea! Next time I’ll try eating with stones.”

Her willow eyebrows shot up as Mei Sanniang pounced with claws extended, “You little brat, now you’ve learned to tease Third Sister! Let me see how I’ll deal with you!”

The siblings chased each other around the courtyard for a while before Xu Yan finally surrendered, letting Mei Sanniang grab his ear and drag him into the room.

“Pack your things, we’re leaving.”

Once inside, Mei Sanniang’s expression immediately calmed down. “These past few days, Third Sister was being stubborn. It’s just one Plum Fragrance Tower. If we can’t stay in Fengdu, can’t we open another Plum Fragrance Tower somewhere else?”

These past three days, whenever Mei Sanniang thought of the two precious horses Xu Yan had bought back, she felt warmth in her heart.

Those were good horses—she could tell. And Xu Yan didn’t have much money. For a half-grown child to run to Horse King Town by himself to buy good horses, just to leave her an escape route—every time she thought of this, Mei Sanniang would wipe away tears when no one was around.

That silly little Taoist had become closer than her own brother.

“It’s best that Third Sister has thought it through. Let’s leave right now, hehe.”

Xu Yan was very happy because Mei Sanniang’s willingness to abandon Plum Fragrance Tower meant shaking off the trouble that was Yue Chengfeng.

Deciding to leave meant leaving immediately. The exceptionally clever siblings, once they made up their minds, wouldn’t look back.

Xu Yan packed simply and accompanied Mei Sanniang with the property deed to the largest pawn shop on West Street. Since they had decided to withdraw, Plum Fragrance Tower naturally needed to be converted to silver. Such a large property couldn’t be taken with them and could only be sold.

The pawn shop was quite far away, and the siblings chatted and laughed along the way, appearing very relaxed.

When passing through a street intersection, Xu Yan saw a large wooden platform erected in the square, with two demon-faced banners standing on either side of the platform. Many people surrounded the platform below, and he could see they were all Ghost King Gate disciples, including not only Eight Fingers Wang but also Grand Guardian Zhuo Shaoyu leading the other guardians.

Just happening to pass by, Xu Yan only looked curiously for a moment.

Although Yue Chengfeng had only been gone for about five days, the sooner they fled the better. Xu Yan’s steps didn’t stop, but Eight Fingers Wang, who was watching the excitement, spotted a familiar face.

“Brother Yan!”

Eight Fingers Wang chased after them in a few steps. Seeing Mei Sanniang was also there, he hurriedly greeted her, “Oh, Boss Lady, where are you heading? If you need my help, just let me know. I’m just watching the excitement, nothing important.”

“Watch your excitement. We’re just strolling around,” Mei Sanniang replied perfunctorily.

“What’s Ghost King Gate up to?” Xu Yan asked curiously since Eight Fingers Wang had come over.

“Big excitement!” Eight Fingers Wang chuckled. “The big excitement of selecting guardians! Why don’t you come watch later, Brother Yan?”

“Sure, we’ll talk about it later.” Xu Yan waved goodbye to Eight Fingers Wang and continued on with Mei Sanniang.

After four guardians died at Horse King Town last time, Ghost King Gate naturally had to select new guardians. Otherwise, the Eighteen Guardians becoming Fourteen Guardians wouldn’t sound good. However, Xu Yan wasn’t planning to watch this excitement. Once they pawned Plum Fragrance Tower, he and Mei Sanniang would leave Fengshan City today.

In five days, Mei Sanniang’s ability to grit her teeth and decide to leave Fengdu showed considerable decisiveness. However, her decision was made just a tiny bit too late.

While Xu Yan and Mei Sanniang were heading to the pawn shop, at the end of the long street opposite them, two people were walking side by side. One of them was actually Yue Chengfeng! These two had just entered the city, with hundreds of subordinates following behind them.

“Hall Master Lan, on this trip to Pu Nation, did you really hear that Yuan Mountain Stronghold had been completely destroyed? Was Yuan Mountain Stronghold really not called Abyss Mountain Stronghold?”

As Yue Chengfeng walked, he questioned the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master beside him. The reason he hadn’t reached Pu Nation before turning back was because he had encountered Heavenly Dragon Gate Hall Master Lan Polang returning from Pu Nation halfway. Through his deliberate inquiries, he had actually heard about Yuan Mountain Stronghold from Lan Polang.

Lan Polang was a robust man in his forties, broad and large, but his face was full of impatience that he couldn’t express directly. If not for their names combining to form “riding the wind and breaking the waves,” Lan Polang couldn’t be bothered with Yue Chengfeng. His Heavenly Dragon Hall not only ranked in the top eight within Ghost King Gate, but Lan Polang himself had four-meridian innate strength. Moreover, this Heavenly Dragon Hall master was one of Ghost King Gate’s sect master’s true confidants.

Ever since encountering Yue Chengfeng halfway, the man had asked about Yuan Mountain Stronghold and Abyss Mountain Stronghold no less than ten times these past few days. Lan Polang had gone to Pu Nation on the sect master’s orders to secretly contact Money Sect, the foremost righteous faction, to discuss an important matter. On his return journey through Yongning Town, he had heard in the town about Yuan Mountain Stronghold’s destruction.

“Hall Master Yue, I’ve already said this dozens of times. Yuan Mountain Stronghold was completely slaughtered over a year ago. I heard it was done by Great Pu’s Western Garrison Army. Those stupid bandits could have occupied any mountain, but they had to set up their stronghold near the Western Garrison Army. Did they really think Pu Nation’s border troops were vegetarians? They deserved to die.”

Lan Polang said impatiently, which reassured Yue Chengfeng considerably. He hadn’t suspected Xu Yan after all.

That simple, foolish half-grown child naturally couldn’t remember the bandit stronghold too clearly. Saying the stronghold was at Linyuan Mountain was probably hearsay.

Confirming that Yuan Mountain Stronghold had been completely slaughtered by Great Pu’s border army, Yue Chengfeng gave up his thoughts of searching for Liao Jiuming. Since Great Pu’s Western Garrison Army had acted, Liao Jiuming was doomed even with wings. With the Foundation Establishment pill in the border army’s hands, no matter how arrogant Yue Chengfeng was, he wouldn’t dare clash with the border army—that would be suicide.

Fortunately, he had turned back halfway without wasting many days.

Yue Chengfeng sighed inwardly, then perked up again, smiling at the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master beside him, “Hall Master Lan just returned to Fengdu and should naturally report back to the sect first. However, tonight’s welcoming banquet—Hall Master Lan mustn’t refuse. Today I, Yue, am hosting. Not only to welcome and cleanse the dust for Hall Master Lan, but today is also my concubine-taking day! Haha, tonight I’ll set up a banquet at Plum Fragrance Tower. Hall Master Lan must come to show support!”

Hearing that Yue Chengfeng was taking a concubine, Lan Polang wasn’t surprised. He laughed heartily and agreed he would definitely come.

He himself had more than ten wives and concubines. Although Green Wood Hall didn’t rank high in Ghost King Gate, a hall master taking a concubine wasn’t anything new. The two parted ways at the intersection—Lan Polang passed through the city to return to Ghost King Gate’s main headquarters outside Fengdu City, while Yue Chengfeng prepared to head to Plum Fragrance Tower.

The place where the two Ghost King Gate hall masters parted was right in front of Fengdu’s largest pawn shop. Just as Yue Chengfeng turned his head, he happened to see Mei Sanniang walking toward the pawn shop.