Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Jiangnan Dao Stirs
Editor: Atlas Studios

Inside Jishi Hall.

Zhao Qingmei sat in a chair, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“You are saying that by the time you and the Ghost-faced Buddha arrived, the Cao Gang headquarters had already been blood-washed?”

Tan Yun’s face was pale, clutching her chest, she said, “That’s right, these people were all killed with a single sword strike, the wounds on their bodies were extremely precise. The swordsmanship of that unparalleled swordsman is far superior to mine.”

“As I continued to venture deeper into the Cao Gang headquarters, I found that swordsman dueling with Tieyun Mountain. Tieyun Mountain was killed by an exceedingly bizarre sword technique, his body and head separated.”

“That swordsman noticed my presence and swung a sword at me. I was no match for him and sustained minor injuries.”

Zhao Qingmei’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. She knew Tan Yun’s swordsmanship well; if she said it was superior, it must be the truth.

“A First Grade Cultivation, huh? I never expected such a high-level expert in such a small city as Yu State City. But who on earth is this swordsman, and why does he keep acting before our Demon Sect?”

“Miss, could it be that this person knows our Demon Sect has already entered Great Yan and is deliberately opposing us?”

“It’s possible. Although our entry into Great Yan was discreet, there’s no such thing as an impenetrable wall. Besides, it was the Human Sect that killed Wang Zhiping earlier. If someone were to investigate, they might deduce as much. But whether they’re opposed to our Demon Sect is another matter.”

“What should we do now?”

“Wait and observe. How long until our Third Master arrives?”

“By my estimation, Master should arrive within the next two days.”

“Good. When the Third Master arrives, we’ll have him seize an opportunity to spar with this swordsman and see what he’s made of.”

……

Jiangnan Dao, Yu State City. The rain poured down in torrents.

In the study room of the Su Family master.

Among the four great families of Jiangnan Dao, the Su Family was once the premier family during its heyday. The Su Family head at the time was also the Daoist Master of Jiangnan Dao, wielding supreme power over the region. His brother was the Assistant Minister of Rites in the Court, and they enjoyed the backing of the then-powerful Crown Prince faction. The Su Family’s prestige was unmatched.

The Su Family had over three thousand retainers, and more were continually flocking to their service.

Everyone thought the Crown Prince would inherit the throne, and with the Su Family’s achievements, they could soon transcend their status as a regional family and become a national family in Yan Country.

Though it was just a step, it was a monumental change for the family.

However, what happened next was beyond anyone’s expectations. Forty years ago, the Heavenly Book Pavilion coup shocked the whole country, leading to a major shake-up in Yan Country’s political landscape. Before the Emperor passed away, the Crown Prince was killed, and the Third Prince ascended to the throne, ushering in the Taiping era.

The name Taiping itself conveyed the new Human Emperor’s wish for Yan Country to find some peace amid the turmoil of the coup.

The Human Emperor then issued a series of decrees, granting amnesty, reducing taxes, and implementing other beneficial measures, fully embodying the term “Taiping” (peace).

But the Su Family was far from peaceful.

The reason was simple: the Su Family was part of the original Crown Prince’s faction. With the Third Prince now on the throne, it was natural for old factions to be purged, and the Su Family was inevitably implicated.

The Su Family’s power plummeted.

Over the following decades, as their growth stagnated, the Su Family was gradually surpassed by the Mu Family and the Cao Family. Although they were still called one of the four great families, it was merely a vestige of their former glory.

Everyone knew that behind the Mu Family and the Cao Family stood the Cao Gang.

The Su Family’s prestige hit rock bottom decades ago when Tieyun Mountain killed the Su Family head and dozens of their top experts before joining the Cao Gang. The Su Family wanted revenge but had to relent in the face of the powerful Liu Qingshan.

At this moment, Su Ze sat at his desk, holding a scroll titled “Discussion on Commerce.”

“Father, Father……”

A voice rang out from outside the door.

“Come in.”

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

A scholarly young man rushed in, his face alight with joy. “Father, there’s great news!”

“What great news?” Su Ze asked calmly.

“Tieyun Mountain has been killed!”

“Tieyun Mountain… What? Did you say Tieyun Mountain has been killed?”

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

Who was Tieyun Mountain? Su Ze knew all too well.

“Yes, Father.”

Su Rui said excitedly, “Not just Tieyun Mountain, but also thirty-seven of the Cao Gang’s top experts are dead. These were the elite of the Cao Gang.”

“Good, good, good! Well done….. Hahaha!”

Upon hearing this, Su Ze was overjoyed to the point of tears.

For how many years had he waited for this? He had always wanted to kill Tieyun Mountain to avenge his elder brother, but Tieyun Mountain, backed by the Cao Gang, grew more formidable each year, making the task nearly impossible.

Su Rui, seeing his father’s exhilaration, was equally thrilled.

“Who on earth managed to blood-wash the Cao Gang headquarters and even kill Tieyun Mountain?”

After a long while, Su Ze regained his composure and asked.

Tieyun Mountain’s prowess was formidable. Years ago, he was already at the Second Grade Cultivation level, and his strength must have increased since then. Anyone who could defeat him was certainly no ordinary person. To kill him and blood-wash the Cao Gang headquarters indicated an extremely terrifying proficiency.

Su Rui hurriedly said, “The dead Cao Gang members only had one sword wound on their bodies, and there was a black robe left on the ground at the headquarters. I believe it was undoubtedly that unparalleled swordsman. His cultivation must be at the peak of Second Grade or even First Grade.”

“What a formidable swordsman!”

Su Ze gasped and said, “I never expected Jiangnan Dao to harbor such an expert. It’s a pity we don’t know his whereabouts; the Su Family should thank him.”

“The swordsman is probably in hiding now.”

Su Rui said with a wry smile, “This matter has already spread throughout Yu State City. As I was coming back, there were countless falcons in the sky, so I expect this news will soon spread across the entire Jianghu…”

“Indeed.”

Su Ze chuckled lightly, “Enough of that. Tonight, we father and son shall drink heartily and celebrate.”

…….

In Lijiang City, the main hall of the Cao Gang headquarters.

The atmosphere in the hall was extremely oppressive, making it hard to breathe.

Seated at the head was a middle-aged scholar, holding a folding fan. His expression was as gloomy as if it could drip water.

“Mr. Guo, what should we do now?”

Down in the hall, a burly, bearded man asked with cupped fists.

This man was over nine feet tall, with a robust build and bulging arm muscles as fearsome as coiled dragons.

This person was none other than Nan Ming, one of the seven Vajras of the Cao Gang.

Originally a monk in a Buddhist monastery, he had serendipitously acquired the Vajra-level martial art “Vigorous Vajra Technique” from the Buddhist sect, practicing it diligently for twenty years, increasing his cultivation. However, he eventually left monastic life, unable to endure the rigorous Buddhist precepts.

The scholar was Liu Qingshan’s confidant, Poison Master Guo Yuchun.

The rapid expansion of the Cao Gang was inseparable from this man.

Some members of the Cao Gang might not be afraid of Liu Qingshan, as they rarely interacted with him. But no one dared to cross Guo Yuchun. If Guo Yuchun invited them for tea, it usually spelled disaster.

So, even within the Cao Gang, people avoided him whenever possible.

“Tieyun Mountain’s swift blades were not merely a boast. For someone to kill him and blood-wash our Cao Gang Yu State headquarters, their strength must far surpass his. It’s highly likely to be a First Grade expert.”

Guo Yuchun analyzed calmly, “Have there been any signs of First Grade experts moving around Great Yan lately? Not at the moment. The only sign of activity is from the Demon Sect, and that includes the death of our Pavilion Master Wang Zhiping and his entire family……”

“The Demon Sect!?!”

A graceful woman beside him furrowed her brows and spoke softly.

She was another of the seven Vajras of the Cao Gang, Ouyang Yu.

At the mention of those two words, the entire hall became somber and eerie.

The Cao Gang’s influence was growing, with the potential to become the largest gang in the land. But even if they achieved that status, facing the once-dominant Demon Sect in the Great Yan Martial World, they were still apprehensive.

The Demon Sect’s power back then was terrifyingly overwhelming!

Despite the combined attacks of the Five Gangs, Seven Sects, and the Court’s Xuanyi Guard, the Demon Sect held out for half a year before retreating from Great Yan.

If they were to stage a comeback, the entire Great Yan Martial World would tremble.

“Could the Demon Sect be this brazen when they haven’t planned to return to Great Yan yet? Aren’t they afraid of attracting too much attention?” Nan Ming pondered aloud.

“This swordsman is definitely from the Demon Sect!”

Guo Yuchun asserted firmly.

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

Guo Yuchun flashed a cold smile, “Spread the word that the swordsman is from the Demon Sect. We will mobilize all the families and sects in Jiangnan Dao to join forces and eliminate this threat….. This will serve our grand plan perfectly.”

…….