Volume 2: Breaking into Fengdu Chapter 95: All is Fair in War

A ruler never tires of loyalty; soldiers never tire of deception.

Xu Yan’s final shout and swinging arm were all just illusions. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to throw stones—he had simply run out of stones.

The instant burst of lightness completely disrupted Xiao Meng’s judgment of his enemy’s speed. Under Xu Yan’s collision, Xiao Meng’s body flew directly backward. Still, he was indeed a four-meridian innate master—after flying off the arena, Xiao Meng landed steadily, only retreating several steps before standing firmly.

His expression changed several times. Xiao Meng helplessly shook his head and chuckled lightly. “What excellent hidden weapon skills. If this young master hadn’t cherished talent, I wouldn’t have let you succeed so easily. Forget it—since you insist on joining Ghost King Gate, this young master won’t force the matter.”

With that, Xiao Meng glanced toward Zhuo Shaoyu’s direction and left the arena with his Paper Fan Gate followers.

The seemingly magnanimous Paper Fan Gate young master earned people’s praise, but no one saw the trace of cold killing intent floating in Xiao Meng’s eyes as he turned to leave.

Not only had he failed to recruit a good seedling, he had also been defeated before a three-meridian innate martial artist. For Xiao Meng, already known as the “Hypocrite,” it would be strange if he let this matter rest.

Xu Yan didn’t know Xiao Meng’s thoughts, but he knew he had made an enemy. Now wasn’t the time for overthinking. Since Xiao Meng had left, even if there was trouble, it would be a future matter. The urgent business now was saving his Third Sister.

Stepping down from the arena, Xu Yan approached the Grand Guardian. Zhuo Shaoyu personally stood and pulled Xu Yan close, looking him up and down before laughing. “Good kid! You could even knock Xiao Meng off the arena—truly worthy of being our Ghost King Gate guardian! Hahahaha!”

Having won three matches, Xu Yan had already obtained guardian status. To win him over, Zhuo Shaoyu didn’t mind letting Xu Yan consider himself a guardian right now.

“That feint was used quite well. Though somewhat clumsy, it achieved victory through surprise.” Zhuo Shaoyu asked with some confusion, “Just now, if you hadn’t rammed him and had just thrown one more stone, you could have injured Xiao Meng. Why did you have to charge and ram him?”

Zhuo Shaoyu’s question was actually shared by many people below the arena, because Xu Yan’s thrown stones had already gained the upper hand—just throwing a few more should have easily injured Xiao Meng.

“No more stones.” Xu Yan scratched his head and said somewhat bashfully. This statement about having no stones immediately made Zhuo Shaoyu laugh again.

“Next time you fight, remember to bring more stones.” Zhuo Shaoyu laughed heartily. “If you can’t carry them yourself, it doesn’t matter—from now on, have your subordinates carry them. Not just a few stones—they can push carts full of stones if needed! Hahahaha!”

“I have subordinates too?” Xu Yan blinked, appearing very excited. “Thank you, Guardian Lord!”

“Hmm?” Zhuo Shaoyu’s expression darkened. “What did you call me?”

Xu Yan was slightly stunned, thinking for a long time before suddenly understanding. He bowed and cupped his fists. “Thank you, Big Brother!”

“Hahahaha! That’s right!”

Amid Zhuo Shaoyu’s laughter, he took an exquisite waist token made of refined iron from nearby—half a palm’s size, with a fierce ghost head on the front and totem-like patterns on the back.

Taking out a sharp iron stylus, Zhuo Shaoyu circulated his true qi and carved the two characters “Xu Yan” on the token’s back, then tossed the ghost head token to him.

“This is the Guardian Token.” Zhuo Shaoyu said solemnly. “You’re a new face—not many in the sect know you. As long as you show the Guardian Token, except for the Four Great Protectors, all Ghost King Gate members are at your command!”

Receiving the token with great joy, Xu Yan looked it over repeatedly before raising his head to ask, “Big Brother, can this token command hall masters?”

“Hall masters all have important duties and can’t be easily mobilized. If you have urgent business, you can naturally go to various halls to recruit people—even hall masters can’t obstruct you.” Zhuo Shaoyu pondered briefly. “In Ghost King Gate, you guardians have status equivalent to the first eight hall masters. Except for those first eight hall masters, all other hall masters must bow and greet you when they see you. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Xu Yan naturally understood Zhuo Shaoyu’s words completely. Because except for the Grand Guardian, the other seventeen guardians were all the sect master’s adopted sons, with status equivalent to the first eight hall masters. As for those hall masters ranked after the first eight, their status couldn’t compare to the guardians.

Learning the true status of guardians, Xu Yan nodded joyfully, looking foolish and naive, which made Zhuo Shaoyu laugh again. This kind of inexperienced young talent was the easiest to control and manipulate. As long as he gave enough benefits and favors, Zhuo Shaoyu wasn’t afraid Xu Yan wouldn’t be completely devoted.

Having gained another sworn brother, Zhuo Shaoyu appeared very happy. The first two people who obtained guardian qualifications hadn’t seen him so overjoyed, showing that Xu Yan’s position was already quite important in this Grand Guardian’s eyes.

Indeed quite important—pigs, how could they not be heavy? Originally thinking he had recruited a young talent, who could have imagined Zhuo Shaoyu had found himself a pig-like brother—and this pig even ate people.

“I’ve been out too long, Big Brother. I want to go home first.” Xu Yan said, clutching his token.

At this time, only three matches had ended, selecting three guardians, but there was still a fourth match, because last time in Horse King Town, four guardians had died.

Hearing Xu Yan wanted to go home, Zhuo Shaoyu didn’t hesitate. With a wave of his hand, he said, “Since you don’t want to watch the excitement, go ahead. Remember to come to Ghost King Gate headquarters tomorrow. The sect master is busy, but he still has time to drink tea offered by his adopted son.”

Since he had become a guardian, he naturally had to pay respects to Ghost King Gate’s sect master. As an adopted son, the first meeting required offering tea to his adoptive father.

Tomorrow’s tea offering didn’t matter. Xu Yan quickly nodded agreement, clutching that token and happily parting the crowd, about to rush to Plum Fragrance Tower when a small figure blocked his way.

“Seventeenth Brother!”

The one blocking Xu Yan was a youth who looked only fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing plain clothes with a thin frame. The long sword on his back almost dragged on the ground. He immediately called Xu Yan “Seventeenth Brother.”

Xu Yan was stunned, looking carefully but not recognizing the youth at all. While he was confused, the other spoke again.

“I’m Eighteenth! Hehe, I’m the youngest, so I should be ranked last. You’re not much older than me, so you must be Seventeenth Brother.”

The plain-clothed youth spoke again, making Xu Yan’s eyes go wide. This fellow hadn’t even taken the stage yet but was already claiming kinship.

Giving a foolish laugh, Xu Yan was too lazy to say more and hurried outward. Behind him came the youth’s sincere voice: “My name is Yang Yi. Take care, Seventeenth Brother—see you tomorrow!”

Without looking back, Xu Yan waved dismissively, squeezed through the crowd, and immediately rushed like flying toward Plum Fragrance Tower.

Already having guardian status, this time Xu Yan had real leverage. A Green Wood Hall master who couldn’t even rank had no standing before a guardian.

As Xu Yan rushed toward Plum Fragrance Tower, the fourth match on the arena officially began. That plain-clothed youth who had called Xu Yan “Seventeenth Brother” actually took the stage, facing his tall opponent without fear and drawing the long sword from his back.

Sword light flickered with cold gleams like lightning before a fierce battle. The next moment, two figures suddenly collided. At the same time, deep within Ghost King Gate headquarters outside Fengdu City, the thunder after lightning seemed to be slowly rolling in.

“The Pang family has no objections, correct?” From the depths of the great hall, a tall figure sitting in a wooden chair made an indifferent inquiry. This was Ghost King Gate’s sect master, Zhuo Tianying, who had recently returned home.

“Reporting to the sect master, the Pang family has no objections. The marriage has been set for next summer.” Heavenly Dragon Hall Master Lan Polang, who had returned to headquarters long ago and waited for some time, was reporting details of his Great Pu journey.

“One year later…”

In the great chair, Zhuo Tianying’s gaze flickered with traces of cold light like an eagle’s. His figure hidden in darkness looked like a fierce beast crouching in the shadows.