Ch. 29
Chapter 29: Sword-Forging Manor! Quick Saber Zheng Ping!
Sword-Forging Manor.
Cheng Yu had heard that thunderous name long ago.
Within the jianghu of Great Qian, it was famed for forging weapons.
It was an extremely powerful and prestigious force.
Its strength placed it in the first tier beneath the Nine Great Sects.
Its Manor Lord was at the peak of the Eighth Rank and ranked near the top of the Tianji Tower Earth Ranking.
As one of the very few forces in Great Qian currently capable of forging weapons of High Grade or above, Sword-Forging Manor also possessed several Earth Grade weapons worthy of being called divine armaments. Rumor even had it that it kept a Heaven Grade divine armament in reserve.
If someone earned Sword-Forging Manor’s recognition, they would be gifted a precious weapon.
Because of this, Sword-Forging Manor’s network of connections was vast and powerful, radiating from Dragon Abyss Path across all of Great Qian.
Among the people of the jianghu, there was no greater honor than obtaining a sword forged by Sword-Forging Manor.
The more Cheng Yu thought about it, the more excited he became.
For everyone else, practicing martial arts was a ruinous business that consumed resources and effort.
But Sword-Forging Manor quite literally forged swords in exchange for wealth. They were rich beyond measure.
If he could confiscate Sword-Forging Manor, the gains would be impossible to estimate.
Unfortunately, that was all he could do for now—think about it.
“The Manor Lord of Sword-Forging Manor is Eighth Rank, and through gifting swords he has befriended countless experts. If I rely on myself alone, I’m afraid I won’t be able to covet it anytime soon.”
Cheng Yu stroked his chin and thought it over.
At present, all the clues regarding the secret transport of laborers pointed toward Dragon Abyss Prefecture, and Sword-Forging Manor represented Dragon Abyss Prefecture.
There was absolutely no way those two were unrelated.
“It seems my attention has to shift toward bigger forces for now. They’re more likely to have direct contact with the Dragon Abyss Prefecture side and help me uncover hard evidence.”
“At the same time, I can make the matter bigger and use that to gain help from the Great Qian Emperor. Only then will I have a chance to lay hands on Sword-Forging Manor...”
No matter how he turned it over in his head, household confiscation was still his comfort zone.
If he wanted to develop and progress, then he had to keep steadily improving through efficient, fast, and economical confiscations!
“So which household should I confiscate next?”
Just as Cheng Yu was thinking about whose home to raid next, some of his possible targets were already unable to sit still.
Qingjiang Prefecture City.
The Jinyiwei Hundred-Household Office.
While Cheng Yu rode through Qingjiang Prefecture with his Jinyiwei subordinates confiscating households all over the place, Ma Yuan, the Qingjiang Prefecture Jinyiwei Hundred-Household Commander, was sitting on pins and needles.
He paced back and forth through the hall with his hands behind his back and anger all over his face.
The refined-iron command token at his waist repeatedly struck the scabbard of his Xiuchun Saber, producing crisp clinks.
“That madman—I never thought he’d have that kind of strength. He can even deal with a Third Rank martial artist!”
“And he’s so brazen and lawless that he actually dared detain Li Da and even wipe out the Cui Family. This is simply outrageous!”
Ma Yuan hated Cheng Yu’s actions in Qinghe County and Qingjiang Prefecture so much that his teeth itched.
In just a single month after arriving in Qingjiang Prefecture, that vicious man of great strength had stirred the whole situation into utter chaos.
After working painstakingly for more than ten years, Ma Yuan’s carefully cultivated network of power had nearly been reduced to nothing.
He wished he could immediately run to Qinghe County and kill Cheng Yu.
But that was all it could remain—a wish. He did not dare make an actual move.
As for the death of Wu Lenggang, the General Banner Captain of Qinghe County, and the collusion with the Red River Gang, Great Qian’s upper Jinyiwei command had not made any real intervention, but they had verbally reprimanded him, the superior officer, more than once.
They had ordered Ma Yuan, as Hundred-Household Commander, to redeem himself through meritorious service.
If he really ran off and killed Cheng Yu, then he himself would likely face utter ruin.
The higher Jinyiwei command indeed did not have much energy to spare on trifling details, but that did not mean a subordinate could openly defy orders.
Under such circumstances, all Ma Yuan could do was listen day after day as reports came in of Cheng Yu confiscating households and exterminating families all over the place.
Again and again, he flew into a rage, his heart bleeding.
At the end of the day, those sects and forces were the same as the Red River Gang—they were all tied to him through shared interests. When Cheng Yu confiscated them, he was essentially confiscating Ma Yuan himself.
But aside from the bleeding in his heart, there was nothing he could do.
“Just wait until I get the chance...”
Just as Ma Yuan was gritting his teeth, he suddenly heard that someone had come to visit from outside.
“Who would still come at a time like this... No, this is perfect!”
He had been in the middle of his irritation, but the moment he saw who had arrived, his eyes lit up.
An old man with a white beard walked in, accompanied by a tall young man whose eyes shone with sharp spirit.
Their steps were steady and grounded, and both wore fitted martial attire with weapons at their waists. Clearly, they were both martial artists of considerable strength.
“Sect Master Bai has come at just the right time! And this young hero is?”
With a smiling face, Ma Yuan hurried up to greet them, cupped his fists in salute, and invited them to sit.
After returning the greeting and taking their seats, the old man, named Bai Han, pointed at the young man and introduced him.
“This is Zheng Ping, a disciple of Leaf Blade Mountain. You should have heard his name before.”
Hearing that, Ma Yuan’s expression changed at once, and he looked at Zheng Ping excitedly.
“So it turns out to be the famed young hero of Jiangnan, the prodigy who has entered the Human Ranking. I have long admired you!”
Zheng Ping, “Quick Saber” of Qingjiang Prefecture.
Early Fourth Rank, number one hundred and one on the Tianji Tower Human Ranking!
Zheng Ping’s expression did not change. “It’s only a bit of empty fame. I only got onto the ranking by luck, and I do not really deserve it.”
As he spoke, his brows remained lifted. He did not even look directly at Ma Yuan, and there was a trace of disdain in his eyes.
Ma Yuan naturally knew the other man looked down on his status as a Jinyiwei, but he suppressed his anger and praised him anyway.
“As expected of a true man of the jianghu!”
Zheng Ping glanced at Bai Han, then spoke.
“There’s no need for more nonsense. Hundred-Household Commander Ma, let’s discuss proper business. Recently, that General Banner Captain under your command from Qinghe County, Cheng Yu, has been slaughtering people everywhere and has committed a grave taboo of the jianghu.”
“If a skulking villain like that is not removed, I fear the martial world of Qingjiang Prefecture will know no peace.”
At the mention of Cheng Yu, who confiscated households, exterminated families, and killed people from the jianghu like dogs, Zheng Ping showed not the slightest trace of fear.
Instead, he spoke as though Cheng Yu were nothing more than an ant that could be crushed with a casual pinch.
“I’m furious about that matter as well. Nominally, he is my subordinate, but he acts in complete lawlessness and goes his own way. He even ran to Qingjiang Prefecture City and wiped out the Cui Family. He’s a major threat in my eyes too!”
Ma Yuan gnashed his teeth. “Unfortunately, I’ve already been warned by my superiors, so I can’t personally deal with that thief!”
Under the current circumstances, let alone making a move himself—even if something merely happened to Cheng Yu in Qingjiang Prefecture, Ma Yuan would not be able to escape involvement.
“That is exactly why we came.”
Zheng Ping spoke blandly. “Hundred-Household Commander Ma needs someone to get rid of that General Banner Captain, but it can’t be done too openly... If a man of the jianghu sought him out for a spar, and blind fists and blades happened to kill him, that should be enough to convince everyone, should it not?”
Ma Yuan’s eyes widened, and wild delight appeared on his face.
That was right!
If a martial artist died in a spar, then it would have absolutely nothing to do with him, the superior officer.
“Young Hero Zheng, do you mean that you intend to act?” Ma Yuan was overjoyed.
If a Human Ranking prodigy like Zheng Ping made a move, dealing with some no-name nobody would not be effortless?
But old, crafty, and rich in jianghu experience, Ma Yuan did not immediately show his delight.
Instead, his expression shifted, and he revealed a troubled look.
For them to come to him because they wanted to deal with Cheng Yu meant they certainly intended to drag him into the water as well.
“Young Hero Zheng, forgive my bluntness. That Cheng Yu is a savage and brutal man who kills without blinking, and his strength is quite formidable as well. If a hero like you faces him, I fear your hands may be tied and you may suffer for it.”
In other words, I don’t think you’re up to it.
“Hmph! A hero’s martial arts exist precisely to kill villains and defeat enemies. How could I fear some nameless nobody?”
“That man is only so arrogant now because he has yet to meet a true expert. With me making a move, how could there possibly be any chance of defeat? There is no need for further words, Hundred-Household Commander Ma.” Zheng Ping spoke with disdain.
Ma Yuan was overjoyed inside. You’re the one who’s in such a hurry to go.
He immediately rose from his seat and bowed toward this young expert, who was much younger than him but did not fall short of him in strength.
“That Cheng Yu has been killing endlessly for a month in Qingjiang Prefecture, harming heaven and reason. Everyone wishes to kill him. For Young Hero Zheng to take action is truly a blessing for the people of Qingjiang Prefecture!”
“On behalf of the people, I thank you, Young Hero!”
Ma Yuan knew perfectly well what these jianghu martial artists liked to hear, and with just a few words he made Zheng Ping and Bai Han feel as though they were floating on air.
Inside, however, he sneered again and again.
That fellow surnamed Cheng had broken all the rules and acted in total lawlessness, and no one had been able to deal with him.
But now that a true expert had stepped in, that bastard would not be able to keep jumping around for many more days.
“In addition, Cheng Yu has been slaughtering people everywhere and his movements are unpredictable. We came this time hoping that Hundred-Household Commander Ma might lend us a hand.”
Zheng Ping had long heard that Cheng Yu, that vicious madman, was moody and utterly devoid of morality.
And that his favorite tactic was to have his subordinates fire crossbows in volleys.
He did not want to face that.
“Of course, of course! I’ll issue an order and call him over. As long as you don’t make a move immediately inside Qingjiang Prefecture City, that will be fine!”
...
Qinghe County.
After hearing the inventory report on the confiscated spoils, Cheng Yu frowned as he looked at the letter of summons in his hand.
“What is Ma Yuan up to? Did he learn from Wu Lenggang and decide to stage a Trap Banquet?”
The subordinate beside him did not understand what a Trap Banquet was, but his face was full of anxiety.
“My lord, you absolutely must not trust Ma Yuan lightly. He is certainly planning something harmful against you!”
“It’s fine. I was just worrying that I didn’t have a reason to deal with that old swine.”
Cheng Yu shook his head and raised a hand, glancing at the Hundred-Forged Xiuchun Saber at his waist and the broken Demon-Slaying Sword tucked close against his body.
The distance between the Third Rank and the Fourth Rank was greater than he had imagined, and he was still only at the late Third Rank.
But with his refined and purified Internal Energy, together with divine weapons and divine arts, he had no fear of a Fourth Rank martial artist like Ma Yuan.
If Ma Yuan really dared move against him, then Cheng Yu would simply turn the Trap Banquet upside down.
Sometimes,
a blade spoke far more conveniently than pointless wrangling.