Chapter 548 - 544: Arriving
The commotion from the battle at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion headquarters had long since shaken the various powers in the Commandery City.
On the roof of a three-story pavilion, Zhang Yuanshan, the Patriarch of the County City Zhang Family, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on the sky illuminated by the fiery glow.
He wore a deep purple brocade robe, was about sixty years old, with a ruddy complexion and an aura as vast and profound as a misty sea, making him impossible to fathom.
Behind him stood several core members of the Zhang Family, all with solemn expressions.
"The Tiejiang Gang... such audacity. To dare make such a massive move within the Commandery City, do they take the Government Office for a mere decoration?"
Zhang Yuanshan spoke in a low, hoarse voice, tinged with an anger he couldn’t quite suppress.
More accurately, he felt a shared dread. The Tiejiang Gang was dealing with the Hundred Treasures Pavilion so brazenly now; next time, it could be the Zhang Family.
A middle-aged clansman beside him replied in a low voice, his tone tinged with a hint of helplessness.
"Father, the Tiejiang Gang now has a Grandmaster in its ranks. Even the Government Office is unwilling to offend them lightly."
Zhang Yuanshan fell silent for a moment, an indescribably complex expression appearing on his face.
He had lived for sixty years and had witnessed the rise and fall of many powers.
But a power like the Tiejiang Gang—one that didn’t belong to the Seven Sects, yet had produced a Grandmaster Level expert and risen so forcefully—was unprecedented.
It could be called the greatest upheaval in the county in decades.
...
In the distance, on the roof of another building, several figures stood scattered, their gazes also fixed on the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
"I’m afraid the Hundred Treasures Pavilion is doomed this time."
"Including the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, which is about to be absorbed, this will be the third major power the Tiejiang Gang has swallowed. Aren’t they afraid of inciting public outrage by acting like this?"
"What if they do incite public outrage? Don’t forget, the Tiejiang Gang has a Grandmaster."
The discussion was kept to a whisper, as if they were afraid of being overheard.
...
On top of another building, Governor Zhou Huai’an stood with his hands behind his back. His gaze traveled over the rows of rooftops, landing on the sky above the eastern part of the city, which was reddened by the glow of fire.
He was dressed in casual clothes today, his deep-green robe fluttering slightly in the night wind.
His square-jawed face was so grim it seemed water could drip from it.
"Tiejiang Gang..."
He spat out the two words, each one seeming to be laced with poison.
"How dare they treat my Governor’s Mansion as if it’s nothing."
Behind him, the sound of footsteps was heard.
Yue Zhan also leaped onto the rooftop and strode to his side, his silver-white armor glinting coldly under the moonlight.
His face, which bore some resemblance to Yue Lingtian’s, was just as grim.
"Lord Zhou."
Yue Zhan spoke, his voice low.
"I’ve already sent men to investigate. The Tiejiang Gang has mobilized over a hundred men this time. Their leader, Gang Leader Qi Zhen, is personally taking action, accompanied by a First-Grade Elder."
"Over a hundred men? Qi Zhen is there himself?"
Zhou Huai’an’s expression grew even uglier.
"What are they trying to do? Do they plan to annihilate the Hundred Treasures Pavilion right here in the Commandery City?"
Yue Zhan remained silent, the implication obvious.
Zhou Huai’an fell silent.
He was the Governor of Qingyang County, the highest official in the county, in charge of all its affairs.
Yue Zhan was the Garrison Commander, commanding the County Army and overseeing all military matters.
If the two of them joined forces, even top-level powers like the Seven Sects would have to show them some respect.
But now, the Tiejiang Gang had violated the ban on fighting within the city, openly besieging the Hundred Treasures Pavilion headquarters right under his nose, yet he could only stand here and watch.
Because the Tiejiang Gang had a Grandmaster.
The weight of a single Grandmaster was enough to make any power weigh their options repeatedly before making a decision.
If he were to order troops to suppress them, could the Governor’s Mansion and the Garrison Commander’s headquarters withstand the fury of that enraged Grandmaster?
The answer was no.
"Lord Zhou, what is that?"
Yue Zhan’s voice suddenly rang out, tinged with surprise.
Zhou Huai’an followed Yue Zhan’s gaze.
He saw a green figure, like a bolt of green lightning, vaulting over the city walls and sprinting in a straight line across one rooftop after another.
The speed was astonishing. In just a few dozen breaths, he had already approached the Hundred Treasures Pavilion headquarters.
"Such incredible speed."
Zhou Huai’an’s eyebrows raised slightly.
"That speed is no slower than an average First Grade Martial Artist."
Yue Zhan narrowed his eyes, using the moonlight to get a better look at the figure.
A moment later, he spoke slowly, his voice laced with unconcealable surprise.
"It’s Fang Han from the Qingxuan Sect."
"Fang Han?"
Zhou Huai’an’s pupils contracted slightly.
’Fang Han, the young man who’s number one on the Celestial Pride List?’
’Why is he in the Commandery City?’
"Judging from his aura, he is already an Early Stage Second Grade Martial Artist. His rate of growth is truly astounding."
Yue Zhan’s voice held a note of wonder.
"To have achieved such a cultivation level at such a young age... given time, his achievements will be limitless."
Zhou Huai’an watched the approaching green-robed figure.
’Why is he rushing to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion headquarters in such a hurry?’
’I heard he has quite a friendly relationship with the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. Could he be trying to rescue them?’
The thought flashed through his mind, but he immediately shook his head. ’The Hundred Treasures Pavilion is facing the entire older generation of Tiejiang Gang experts, not the younger generation. Even if he possesses top-level strength among his peers, how can he possibly save the Hundred Treasures Pavilion from annihilation?’
...
On the roof of the three-story pavilion, Zhang Yuanshan also saw the green-robed figure streaking toward them.
"Is that... Fang Han?"
His voice was laced with disbelief.
"Judging from his aura, he’s already a Second Grade Martial Artist?"
The middle-aged clansman beside Zhang Yuanshan also got a clear look at the figure and spoke in a low voice, his tone filled with wonder.
"That boy Fang Han’s growth rate is truly terrifying."
Zhang Yuanshan frowned as he watched the green-robed figure.
He had heard about Fang Han’s friendly relationship with the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
’His arrival at this moment... it’s almost certain he’s here to rescue the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.’
"A pity..."
He muttered to himself, his voice tinged with regret.
"No matter how strong he is, he’s still just one person. What can he do against the entire Tiejiang Gang?"
From several other directions, the onlookers from various powers also recognized the green-robed figure.
"Fang Han? What’s he doing here?"
"I heard he’s very close with Lan Yuexin of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. He’s probably here to help."
"Help? By himself? The Tiejiang Gang even sent a First-Grade Elder. Even though he’s a Second Grade Martial Artist now, what good can he do?"
The discussions rose and fell, but almost everyone’s opinion was surprisingly consistent—
they were not optimistic.
No matter how strong Fang Han was, it was only in comparison to the younger generation.
The Tiejiang Gang, on the other hand, was led by Gang Leader Qi Zhen, a Late-stage First Grade Martial Artist, and had over a hundred elites.
How could Fang Han possibly turn the tide of battle?
...
SWOOSH!
Fang Han’s figure streaked through the night like a bolt of green lightning. As he vaulted over the final rooftop, the ruins of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion headquarters came into view.
The once-magnificent five-story wooden building was now a field of rubble and ruined walls.
Ornately carved eaves jutted out from piles of rubble, and the intricate carvings on the window lattices were licked black by the flames.
The air was thick with the heavy stench of blood and charred wood, a nauseating mixture.
Amidst the ruins of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion headquarters, two groups were locked in a fierce battle.
Flashes of blades and swords glinted, punctuated by the continuous roar of exploding Qi Force.
The guards and Honored Guest Elders of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion stood back-to-back, desperately fending off the Tiejiang Gang’s tide-like assault. But the disparity in numbers was huge, and their defensive line was riddled with holes.
"AHH, AHH, AHH—"
People fell continuously. Some let out a muffled grunt and went silent, while others let out short, blood-curdling screams before being drowned out by the crisp clang of crossing blades.
Fang Han’s gaze swept across the battlefield, quickly locking onto the two most intense areas of fighting.
In one area, two First Grade Martial Artists, Han Kui of the Tiejiang Gang and Shen Cangsheng of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, were fighting fiercely. Han Kui clearly had the upper hand.
Han Kui’s mastery of Martial Techniques was no better than Shen Cangsheng’s; his advantage was his cultivation, which was at the Middle Stage of First Grade, approaching the Late Stage.
In another area, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion’s Pavilion Master, Lan Daoxing, was clashing violently with the Tiejiang Gang’s Leader, Qi Zhen.
Lan Daoxing’s deep blue brocade robe was mostly soaked in blood, and a gruesome wound on his left shoulder showed flesh torn open.
With each ragged breath, beads of blood continued to ooze from it, dripping into the dust on the ground and spreading into dark red patches.
His face was ashen, his aura chaotic. The hand gripping his sword trembled uncontrollably, yet he still used the sword’s tip to prop himself up, struggling to support his faltering body.
The firelight flickered, illuminating Qi Zhen’s towering figure.
He was clad in a dark gold brocade robe that shimmered with a cold, magnificent luster in the shifting light, making him look like a man-eating beast.
He pressed forward step by step, his long saber transforming into arcs of dark gold light that tore through the night sky, each slash accompanied by the dull sound of cleaving air.
His power was as heavy as a mountain, forcing Lan Daoxing to stumble backward.
Lan Daoxing’s Sword Techniques were long in disarray, and the ground he traversed was marked by a messy trail of deep and shallow footprints stained with blood.
"Break!"
A harsh glint flashed in Qi Zhen’s eyes. Seizing a momentary opening as Lan Daoxing struggled to recover his breath, he abruptly changed his blade’s trajectory from a slash to a smash.
The heavy blade, carrying immense force, slammed squarely between the spine of Lan Daoxing’s crossed sword and his chest.
BAM!
Lan Daoxing flew backward like a kite with a snapped string. The faint glow of the Soft Armor on his chest flickered violently before dimming, letting out a whine as if overwhelmed.
Although the armor didn’t break, the domineering shockwave had already penetrated his body.
A sweet taste suddenly filled his throat as a mouthful of blood surged up, which he forced back down by gritting his teeth.
But the metallic-sweet smell filled his mouth and nose as he staggered back seven or eight steps.
Each step left a cracked depression in the ground. He finally managed to stay upright by plunging his sword deep into the earth, but his body was still teetering on the verge of collapse.
Fang Han delayed no longer.
SWISH!
A faint sound of tearing air, almost lost in the night wind, was heard.
The next moment, Fang Han appeared as if out of thin air.
Moving at a speed nearly imperceptible to the naked eye, he crossed several dozen yards in an instant and planted himself firmly in front of Lan Daoxing, blocking Qi Zhen’s path of attack.
"Who’s there?!"
Qi Zhen’s pupils contracted abruptly, and alarm bells screamed in his mind.
’He’s too fast, too sudden!’
But his combat experience was immense. His shock and suspicion lasted only an instant before his long saber, following its momentum, unhesitatingly changed direction mid-air and slashed down furiously at the green figure.
Along the blade, dark gold Inner Qi frantically gathered and compressed at an unprecedented rate, condensing until it seemed like real metal was burning.
Before the blade even arrived, its incomparably sharp edge, which seemed capable of tearing space itself, rushed toward him, forcing the hair on Fang Han’s forehead to fly backward.