My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Liang Cheng had just returned to his courtyard on True Inheritance Peak when he saw Zhao Yuan. He was a bit surprised, as Zhao Yuan was supposed to be resting and recuperating. For that reason, Liang Cheng hadn’t assigned him any tasks.

"Junior Brother Zhao, what brings you here?"

"Senior Brother, Master is here."

"Hm?"

Liang Cheng was a bit surprised. "Master’s here? I’ll go see him."

Zhao Yuan quickly stopped him. "Master didn’t come to the Martial Arts Academy. He went to the Qiao Mansion. Qiao Zhi is about to go into labor, and Master was worried. Senior Brother Zhou Hu went with him as well."

"Master didn’t want to disturb you, knowing how busy things are in Lin Wu City right now. But I know your character, Senior Brother, so I came to let you know."

Liang Cheng stopped in his tracks. "I see. Knowing Master’s personality, he would naturally be worried about Qiao Zhi giving birth."

"Later, I’ll have someone select some nourishing tonics for you to deliver. Since Master is worried about the old feud between me and the Qiao Family, I’ll just pretend I don’t know he’s there."

Zhao Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you for your understanding, Senior Brother."

...

「Treasure Pavilion.」

Qian Wanjing stood respectfully to the side. The mysterious figure from before had appeared once again.

"Prepare to evacuate Lin Wu City. We need to move fast."

"Huh?"

Qian Wanjing was stunned for a moment, not understanding what had happened.

"My lord, why the sudden rush?"

"Shen Jun is besieged by the Fire Worship Sect at the Border Sea. We’ve only just learned of it. I’m afraid things look grim for Lin Wu City this time. No one expected that the Fire Worship Sect was lying low for so long, all for a plot of this magnitude."

"Liquidate all our inventory in Lin Wu City immediately, then evacuate. I’ll give you three days. After that, we’re leaving, no matter what."

Hearing this, Qian Wanjing understood the gravity of the situation and immediately complied. "I understand, but..."

"But what?"

"The Qiao Family?"

The mysterious figure understood at once.

"Since we’re evacuating Lin Wu City, there’s no need to hold back. Just make your move. Besides, the Martial Arts Academy and the City Lord’s Mansion will get the news tomorrow. I expect both Bai Hong and Situ Lang will have to rush to the Border Sea."

"This way, it would be best if we can get what we’re after. If we can’t... make sure no one else can either."

Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Qian Wanjing’s eyes.

"I understand. I will tie up these loose ends as quickly as possible."

The mysterious figure said no more, vanishing from the room in the blink of an eye.

Qian Wanjing thought for a moment, then made his decision.

The high-value trades and auctions were already complete. The rest was just odds and ends that could be sold off cheaply. The important thing was the Qiao Family.

He had paused all operations previously because of Liang Cheng, but now there was no need to be so cautious. Once the Dean of the Martial Arts Academy was gone, only Liang Cheng would be left, and he was not someone to be overly concerned about.

’Time to repay them for all my prior patience—with interest.’

...

The war report from the Border Sea arrived in Lin Wu City as an urgent dispatch in the middle of the night. A swift horse, carrying a blood-soaked man, charged up to the gates of the City Lord’s Mansion.

The man clutched a broken flagpole to his chest. A blood-stained black flood dragon banner drooped from its top.

As he tumbled from his horse, a gurgle rattled in his throat. He managed to force out a desperate warning: "Black Stone Island is besieged..."

He passed out before he could finish.

When Yue Shan was carried from his sickbed to the front hall, the broken flagpole was laid before him.

The Commander’s Flag of the Black Armor Guard.

The one personally carried by City Lord Shen Jun.

Yue Shan gripped the armrests of his chair, his knuckles turning white. After reading the message the soldier had delivered at the cost of his life, he immediately notified Situ Lang and the senior leadership of the Martial Arts Academy.

The lights of the City Lord’s Mansion burned all night long.

In the darkest hour before dawn, a final decision was made.

Vice City Lord Situ Lang and the Dean of the Martial Arts Academy, Bai Hong, would personally lead an elite force to reinforce Black Stone Island.

As for Lin Wu City, it was placed on high alert. No one was allowed to enter, only to leave. A city-wide curfew was imposed. Any who dared to defy the order were to be executed on the spot!

Before the Martial Arts Academy Mountain Gate, Bai Hong stood in plain robes and a loose sash. The morning wind stirred his sleeves. This dean, who normally lived a reclusive life, now possessed an aura as solid and imposing as a mountain.

He looked at Lü Bingchen and said gravely, "Shen Jun can’t hold out for long. I must get there as soon as possible."

Lü Bingchen said anxiously, "Dean, if you leave, what will happen to the Martial Arts Academy if the Fire Worship Sect attacks...?"

"The academy has you."

Bai Hong cut him off. "Even Situ Lang, who has never seen eye-to-eye with the City Lord, is going. If we don’t achieve victory at Black Stone Island, Lin Wu City will be annihilated. The city’s defense is in your hands."

"Rest assured, I am the only one from the Martial Arts Academy who needs to go this time. Not a single disciple or steward is required. Just guard the academy well and await my triumphant return."

「In the early morning, the East Gate swung open.」

Bai Hong and Situ Lang met up, followed by over two hundred hand-picked experts from the Martial Preparation Hall, every one of them exuding a sharp, formidable aura.

Liang Cheng was also in the group seeing them off. There were no lengthy goodbyes. Bai Hong and Situ Lang simply gave a slight nod to everyone before spurring their horses out of the city, quickly vanishing at the far end of the official road.

Yue Shan sat in his wheelchair, watching them depart until even the dust had settled in the distance.

He coughed a few times and said to the personal guard at his side, "Back to the mansion. Relay my orders: Reinforce the four gates. No one is to enter, only leave. Enforce a city-wide curfew. Execute any who dare to disobey on the spot."

...

Liang Cheng told Lady Ning, San Ya, and the others to stay on True Inheritance Peak for the time being and not to leave the Martial Arts Academy’s main gate. For a time, panic swept through Lin Wu City.

Two days later, Li Mu came rushing over.

"Senior Brother, something’s not right with Uncle Wang."

"What’s the situation?"

Li Mu explained the details, and a sharp glint flashed through Liang Cheng’s eyes.

’The Treasure Pavilion is liquidating its goods and preparing to evacuate Lin Wu City, and Uncle Wang chose this moment to go there in person?’

’It seems they want to make their move before leaving. That’s why they’re being so blatant.’

"Senior Brother, what should we do?"

Just then, Zhao Yuan walked in, his face pale.

"Senior Brother, bad news! A message came from the Qiao Mansion! Master and Senior Brother Zhou have been taken hostage."

"Oh?"

Liang Cheng’s expression darkened. ’Qian Wanjing calculated that I would have no choice but to go. It seems he’s planning to go for broke before he leaves, leaving no loose ends behind.’

Li Mu’s expression changed. "Senior Brother, you can’t go! It’s probably a trap."

Liang Cheng patted Li Mu’s shoulder.

"Don’t worry. As long as no True Essence Realm masters make a move, I’ll be fine. Besides, I still have an ace up my sleeve."

’An ace up his sleeve?’

Li Mu was stunned for a moment, then said, "Then I’ll go with you, Senior Brother."

"No need. You stay here and look after my mother."

With that, Liang Cheng strode off. But instead of heading directly for the Qiao Mansion, he went to the back of the mountain to find Elder Huang.

"Elder Huang, I’m being set up tonight. If I encounter danger and find myself outmatched, I will fire a signal flare. I’m asking you to intervene and save me, just this once."

Elder Huang didn’t even look up.

"Why should I save you?"

"How about I test one of your medicines for you?"

"Not enough."

"Plus twenty thousand Contribution Points."

"Deal. Transfer them to me now."

Hearing this, the corner of Liang Cheng’s mouth twitched, but he still took out his Identity Jade Token and transferred the twenty thousand points.

Elder Huang grinned, his eyes crinkling. "All right, off you go, kid. The moment that flare goes up, I’ll be there."

"Thank you, Elder Huang."

Only then did Liang Cheng stride away, heading straight for the Qiao Mansion.