Chapter 35: Clouds Move in All Directions on Jiangnan Road

Chapter 35: Jiangnan Province, All Sides Stirring

Inside Ji Shi Clinic.

Zhao Qingmei sat on a chair, her willow-like brows slightly furrowed.

“You're saying that by the time you and Ghost-Faced Buddha arrived, the Cao Gang Main Branch had already been massacred?”

Tan Yun's face was pale as she clutched her chest and said, “That's right. Everyone was killed with a single sword strike, and the blade wounds were perfectly clean. That Peerless Swordsman's sword skills are superior to mine.”

“As I continued deeper into the Cao Gang Main Branch, I found that Swordsman was sparring with Tie Yunshan. Tie Yunshan was killed by an extremely诡异 sword art, his head separated from his body.”

“That Swordsman discovered my presence and unleashed a sword strike at me. I was no match and suffered some minor injuries.”

Zhao Qingmei's brows furrowed slightly. She understood Tan Yun's sword skills, so if she said the sword skills were superb, it must be true.

“First Rank cultivation? I didn't expect such a Master to exist in this small Yu Prefecture City. But who exactly is this Swordsman? Why does he always act before my Demonic Sect?”

“Young Miss, could this person know that our Demonic Sect has already appeared in Great Yan? And intends to oppose our Demonic Sect.”

“It's possible. Although our entry into Great Yan this time was secretive, there are no impenetrable walls in the world. Besides, the Human Sect was responsible for killing Wang Zhiping before. If an interested party investigates, they might not remain unaware. However, whether he opposes our Demonic Sect is another matter.”

“What should we do now?”

“Observe the changes. How much longer until Third Master arrives?”

“By my estimation, Master will arrive within these two days.”

“Good. Once Third Master arrives, have him find an Opportunity to exchange a few moves with this Swordsman, to test his strength and see who he truly is.”

Jiangnan Province, Yu Prefecture City, heavy rain poured down.

Su Family Head's study.

The Su Family, one of the Four Great Families of Jiangnan Province, was known as the head of Jiangnan during its Peak. At that time, the Su Family Head served as the Jiangnan Province Master, practically holding absolute power in Jiangnan Province. His younger brother was a Minister of Rites in the imperial court, and they were backed by the then-rising Crown Prince's faction. The Su Family's prestige was immense, unmatched for a time.

The Su Family alone had three thousand retainers, and people continued to flock to them.

Everyone believed that the Crown Prince would inherit the throne, and the Su Family would have the merit of supporting the Dragon. At that time, the Su Family might even break away from being a Jiangnan Province Family and become one of the Yan State Families.

Although it was just one step, it was a world-changing transformation for a Family.

However, what followed was unexpected. Forty years ago, the shocking Heavenly Book Pavilion coup occurred, resulting in a major shift in Yan State's political landscape and a complete reshuffle of the court. Before the Emperor's death, the Crown Prince died tragically, and the Third Prince inherited the Yan State's imperial line, proclaiming the first year of Taiping.

The word 'Taiping' (Peace) fully demonstrated the current Great Yan Emperor's wish, which was for Great Yan to achieve some peace amidst this turbulent coup.

Subsequently, the Emperor issued a pardon, granting amnesty to the world, reducing taxes, and a series of other measures beneficial to the nation and its people, truly living up to the name Taiping.

But the Su Family was not peaceful.

The reason was simple: the Su Family was part of the former Crown Prince's faction. Now that the Third Prince had ascended the throne, it was natural to purge the old party, and the Su Family was consequently implicated.

The Su Family's power plummeted.

With decades of stagnation, the Su Family was gradually surpassed by the Mu Family and the Cao Family. To say they were on par with the other three Great Families was merely riding on past glory.

Everyone knew that the Mu Family and the Cao Family were backed by the Cao Gang.

The Su Family's prestige hit rock bottom decades ago when Tie Yunshan killed the Su Family Head and dozens of Su Family Masters, then joined the Cao Gang. Even though the Su Family wanted revenge, facing the formidable Aura of Liu Qingshan, they ultimately had no choice but to give up.

At this moment, Su Ze sat at the table, holding a book, “On Commerce.”

“Father, Father.”

A voice sounded from outside the door.

“Come in.”

Su Ze put down the book in his hand and said calmly.

A refined young man quickly walked in, exclaiming joyfully, “Father, there's great news!”

“What good news?” Su Ze asked, composed.

“Tie Yunshan has been killed!”

“Tie Yunshan what? Who did you say? Tie Yunshan was killed?”

Su Ze instantly stood up, staring intently at his son, Su Rui.

Who was Tie Yunshan? He knew him all too well.

“Yes, Father.”

Su Rui said excitedly, “Not only Tie Yunshan, but also thirty-seven Masters from the Cao Gang Main Branch, all dead. These were the Cao Gang's true elites.”

“Good, good, good! Well killed! Hahahahaha!”

Upon hearing this, Su Ze wept with joy.

How many years had it been? How many years had he yearned in his heart to kill Tie Yunshan and avenge his elder brother? But Tie Yunshan was backed by the Cao Gang, and his prestige grew day by day, making it incredibly difficult to deal with him.

Su Rui, seeing his father like this, was also immensely excited.

“Who exactly massacred the Yu Prefecture Main Branch and killed Tie Yunshan?”

After a long while, Su Ze recovered and asked.

What kind of strength did Tie Yunshan possess? Years ago, he was already a Second Rank cultivator, and his strength must have improved even more in recent years. To be able to defeat him was no ordinary person, and to be able to kill him and also massacre the Cao Gang Main Branch, that was an extremely terrifying existence.

Su Rui quickly said, “The deceased Cao Gang members only had a single sword wound, and a black robe was left on the ground of the Cao Gang Main Branch. In my opinion, it's very likely that Peerless Swordsman. His cultivation should be at the Peak of Second Rank or even First Rank.”

“What a formidable Swordsman!”

Su Ze took a deep breath upon hearing this, saying, “I didn't expect such a Master in my Jiangnan Province. What a pity. If we knew where this person was, our Su Family should thank him.”

“I'm afraid that Swordsman has already hidden himself.”

Su Rui smiled bitterly, “Now this matter has spread throughout Yu Prefecture City. When I just returned, there were countless falcons in the sky, so this news will likely spread throughout the Jianghu very soon.”

“That's true.”

Su Ze chuckled, “Never mind that. Tonight, my son and I will have a good drink and celebrate.”

Linjiang City, Cao Gang Main Branch Hall.

The atmosphere in the hall was extremely oppressive, almost suffocating everyone.

Seated at the head was a middle-aged scholar, holding a folding fan, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip with water.

“Mr. Guo, what should we do now?”

Below the hall, a burly, bearded man cupped his fists and asked.

This burly man was over nine feet tall, with a strong build and bulging arm muscles, as terrifying as a coiled Dragon.

This person was Nan Ming, one of the Cao Gang's Seven Vajra.

Originally, this person was a monk from a Buddhist temple. By chance, he learned the Buddhist Xuanwu-level martial art, the Great Vajra Art. After twenty years of diligent practice, his cultivation grew deeper, but he eventually could not endure the Buddhist precepts and returned to secular life.

And that scholar was Liu Qingshan's confidant, the strategist Guo Yuchun.

It could be said that the Cao Gang's rapid development was absolutely inseparable from this person.

Some people in the Cao Gang might not fear Liu Qingshan, as opportunities to meet him were rare, but no one did not fear Guo Yuchun. Once Guo Yuchun invited someone for tea, they were almost certainly in for great trouble.

Therefore, even the Cao Gang members usually avoided him.

“Tie Yunshan's pair of swift blades are not an empty reputation. This person being able to kill Tie Yunshan and massacre our Cao Gang's Yu Prefecture Main Branch means his strength is far superior to Tie Yunshan's, very likely a First Rank Master.”

Guo Yuchun calmly analyzed, “Are there any signs of First Rank Masters active in Great Yan recently? Not for now. Only the Demonic Sect is stirring, plus the death of Yu Prefecture Altar Master Wang Zhiping's family…”

“Demonic Sect!?”

A graceful woman beside him frowned and whispered.

This woman was also one of the Cao Gang's Seven Vajra, Ouyang Yu.

At the mention of these two words, the entire hall became somewhat gloomy and eerie.

The Cao Gang's prestige was growing day by day, subtly showing the might of the number one gang in the world. But it was only subtly. Even if they were truly the number one gang in the world, facing the Demonic Sect that once dominated the Great Yan Jianghu, they still felt a little intimidated.

The Demonic Sect's prestige back then was truly terrifying!

The combined encirclement and suppression by the Five Gangs, Seven Sects, and the Imperial Court's Black Robe Guard—even under such circumstances, they still held out for half a year before retreating from Great Yan.

If they were to make a comeback, the entire Great Yan Jianghu would tremble.

“It's impossible for the Demonic Sect to act so brazenly, right?” Nan Ming thought for a moment and said.

The Demonic Sect hadn't planned to return to Great Yan yet. Acting so brazenly now, weren't they afraid of attracting the attention of others?

“This Swordsman is definitely from the Demonic Sect!”

Guo Yuchun stated with certainty.

Nan Ming and Ouyang Yu exchanged glances, seemingly understanding something.

Guo Yuchun's lips curled into a cold smile, “You spread the news that the Swordsman is from the Demonic Sect, and our Cao Gang will call upon all Families and Sects in Jiangnan Province to unite and eliminate this bandit. This way, it perfectly aligns with our grand plan.”