Far Too Arrogant! Far Too Reckless!

Heavy thuds of kowtowing echoed through the Scripture Pavilion, yet Huang Tian's hand did not stop turning pages, as though he had noticed nothing at all. Seeing no reaction from him, Zhao Changming did not stir, remaining pressed to the floor on his knees. Time trickled past, broken only by the continuous rustle of paper. Drip, drop— Beads of sweat seeped from Zhao Changming's brow, dripping onto the flagstones and splashing into minuscule droplets. His back and waist ached fiercely, his legs grew numb from the prolonged kneeling, and his upper body trembled unsteadily. Yet a stubborn resolve burned within his heart, and he gritted his teeth in silence, persevering through the pain. Outside the pavilion, his elder brother, Zhao Changguang, did not venture inside. He merely gazed worriedly at his younger brother, sighing inwardly. *How could a figure like him take an apprentice on a whim? Besides, when others take apprentices, it is usually because they are growing old and wish to pass down what they have learned, or because they wish to build influence and amass wealth. But Battalion Commander Huang is barely sixteen or seventeen and lacks neither cultivation resources nor support. Why would he have any desire to take a disciple?* He had little faith in his brother's wish to apprentice himself, but having come this far, he could only let him see it through. Shaking his head, Zhao Changguang turned and sat down on the stone steps outside the doors. Leaning back slightly with his hands propped against the ground, he gazed up at the drifting clouds and clear, boundless sky, and a strange sensation of peace welled in his heart. It felt strange because, at this very moment, he was sitting peacefully within a grand sect that boasted seven centuries of heritage—a grand sect that had only just been wiped out! All was still. Only a gentle breeze drifted down from the back mountains, carrying a trace of cool air, and Zhao Changguang felt an unexpected drowsiness stealing over him. Tap, tap, tap— A burst of hurried footsteps broke out, startling Zhao Changguang awake from his daze. Looking up, he saw more than a hundred men brandishing sabers, swords, and crossbows surging toward the courtyard. *Could they be looters coming to pillage the sect in the chaos?!* he thought in alarm. Once news of the Feihong Sect's destruction spread, many martial vagabonds were bound to swarm in to hunt for scattered treasures. He had anticipated this all along, but he had never expected them to arrive so swiftly. Discarding all hesitation about disturbing the peace of the Scripture Pavilion, he sprinted inside and called out toward Huang Tian, who was still flipping through a manual, "Battalion Commander Huang, a band of martial vagabonds has arrived outside! They're heading right this way!" Even as he spoke, the footsteps drew closer. Even Zhao Changming, nearly faint from pain, heard them clearly. Instinctively looking back, he saw a burly man eight chi tall, with a long saber slung at his waist, stride inside. The man then bowed with utmost deference. "Martial Restraint Guard Vice Battalion Commander Tie Chong greets the Battalion Commander! All praise the Battalion Commander's divine might!" Huang Tian paused his page-turning and turned to look at the deeply respectful Tie Chong, showing not the slightest hint of surprise. He had long known that the authorities kept a close eye on the Five Great Sects. The small town outside the Feihong Sect's grounds was bound to harbor plenty of operatives from the Martial Restraint Guard and the Six Doors. In fact, some had even infiltrated the Feihong Sect as disciples or deacons! Thus, it was hardly a surprise that Tie Chong and his men had arrived so quickly. "Your surname is Tie, and you bear a resemblance to Tie Qi. What is your relation?" "This subordinate is Tie Qi's younger brother." Huang Tian smiled faintly. So he was indeed kin to an acquaintance. He said, "Since you are here, see to the aftermath of the Feihong Sect. Gather the contents of their sect treasury and bring everything back to the commandery seat. Deliver a portion to Qinghui Garden and another portion to the government office. As for the rest, take whatever you and your men need from it." Huang Tian had already taken the most precious treasures in the Feihong Sect for himself, and what remained was of little use to him. Still, keeping some at his residence would do no harm. As for the share sent to the government office, it was meant as a gesture of gratitude to Yu Jingcheng and the others for their earlier support—such as bestowing upon him the Crimson Radiance Bow and the Spirit Jade Ganoderma. "Many thanks, Battalion Commander!" Tie Chong rejoiced inwardly. "Very well. You may withdraw." Huang Tian waved a hand dismissively, then turned his gaze toward Zhao Changming, who was trembling all over on the floor, soaked in sweat. In a calm voice, he said, "I have no intention of taking disciples. If your heart is truly set on the martial path, you may go to the commandery seat and find an opportunity to enter the Martial Restraint Guard's Guard Academy. If you can stand out from the rest, that will be your own achievement." Huang Tian felt he had too little time for his own cultivation as it was; how could he spare the energy to take a disciple and teach? Even if he were to accept an apprentice, that was something to consider only after he reached the pinnacle of this realm. Zhao Changming's eyes dimmed, though he had already prepared himself mentally, knowing that Huang Tian's decision was absolute. He knocked his head against the floor once more in a final kowtow, then struggled to rise. His legs nearly buckled beneath him, but Zhao Changguang rushed forward to steady him. Tie Chong silently sized up the two brothers, his gaze lingering on Zhao Changming. Apart from a measure of grit and the ability to endure pain, the youth showed nothing extraordinary. Had he been in Huang Tian's position, he wouldn't have taken him as an apprentice either. He harbored no disdain in his heart, only finding the youth somewhat naive to think that a few knocks of his head could earn him Huang Tian as a master. This was a legendary figure who, while still at the fifth rank, had defeated and slain the Demonic Cult Grandmaster Pei Guan, and then marched up to the Feihong Sect all by himself to slaughter their Supreme Elder, Sect Master, and elders! If kowtowing alone were enough to become his disciple, the line of people knocking their heads would stretch all the way from the commandery seat to the Feihong Sect! "Come with me outside. Do not disturb the Battalion Commander," Tie Chong said with a wave of his hand, his expression cool. Supporting each other, the Zhao brothers walked out of the Scripture Pavilion. Standing outside the doors, Zhao Changming cast a backward glance, only to see Huang Tian already immersed once more in the sea of manuals. With a quiet sigh, he limped away, leaning heavily on his brother. Meanwhile, Tie Chong waved over a dozen subordinates armed with sabers and swords, instructing, "Guard the entrance. Allow no idle persons to come and go or disturb the Battalion Commander." "Understood!" they chorused. "Good." Tie Chong nodded, then summoned another subordinate and asked, "Has the urgent dispatch been sent?" The man replied, "Three letters were sent in quick succession toward the commandery seat. Before long, the Assistant Commander and Pacification Commissioner Bai will receive word from here." "Splendid!" Tie Chong clapped his hands, then strode toward the bluestone plaza. Over a hundred Martial Restraint Guard warriors stood there, clearing away the corpses on the stones and setting up perimeter guards. Clearing his throat, Tie Chong relayed the instructions Huang Tian had given regarding the transfer of the treasury's treasures. Upon hearing that they could each take several items for themselves, the warriors erupted in cheers. They had never expected that merely coming to collect bodies and sweep the battlefield would yield such generous rewards. The items left in the treasury held little appeal for Huang Tian, but for martial artists of the lower three ranks like them, they were genuine treasures! Of course, none of them dared to be greedy, nor would they touch the truly valuable items. Everyone knew their place and what was fitting for their strength and station. "Since you have received a reward, see that the job is done well!" Tie Chong said. "Do not let martial vagabonds swarm this place to loot amidst the confusion and spoil the Battalion Commander's interest. Do you understand?!" "Understood!!" The men answered with high morale, broad smiles spreading across their faces. After ensuring the defenses were in place, Tie Chong turned to look toward the Scripture Pavilion, pondering silently: *The Battalion Commander annihilated the Feihong Sect and its seven-hundred-year legacy all on his own. This will surely send shockwaves through all of Kunyun, and even Qin Province. Once the news spreads, how will the Four Great Sects, such as the Guiyuan Sect, react?* According to the intelligence they had gathered, when the Feihong Sect hired Thousand Faces Old Ghost to infiltrate the city and assassinate Huang Tian, the other four sects had also contributed. Now that the primary culprit, the Feihong Sect, was destroyed, the remaining four sects were bound to be gripped by utter terror. What would they choose to do? Band together the Grandmasters of the four sects for a desperate gambit to slaughter Huang Tian? Or pack up their disciples and flee Kunyun and Qin Province entirely? *** Flap, flap, flap— A magnificent hawk descended into the Martial Restraint Guard government office. A warrior unfastened the dispatch from its talons, and noticing the red seal indicating high priority on the envelope, he hurried to deliver it to the Pacification Commissioner's office. "Pacification Commissioner, an urgent dispatch has arrived!" Bai Yuanfu had been handling official paperwork when he heard the shout. He rose swiftly, knowing that an urgent dispatch at this hour could be about nothing else—it had to be news concerning Huang Tian! Taking the letter from the warrior, he unfolded it and scanned the lines at a glance. *Thud!!* His palm slammed down onto the desk, jolting the brush, paper, and inkstone into the air and scaring the warrior half out of his wits. "Hahahahaha! Good! Good! Magnificent!!" Holding the letter, he could not help but burst into hearty laughter that resonated in all directions. The officials working in neighboring rooms all heard it, every one of them filled with astonishment. Gripping the letter, Bai Yuanfu paced back and forth across the heated room in excitement, as if nothing less could convey the thrill surging through him. "Right, has the Assistant Commander seen the dispatch yet?" Bai Yuanfu asked. The warrior replied, "Not yet." By regulation, urgent dispatches bearing a red seal were always submitted to the Pacification Commissioner first and rarely went directly to Yu Jingcheng unless the latter had specifically requested it. "Should this humble one deliver it now?" the warrior asked. "No need. I will take it to the Assistant Commander myself." Bai Yuanfu waved him off with a laugh and was about to head over when Yu Jingcheng's voice drifted in ahead of him. "Yuanfu, what has made you so merry? I could hear your laughter from clear across the compound." A shadow fell across the threshold, and looking up, Bai Yuanfu saw Yu Jingcheng, clad in green robes with his hair bound in a jade crown, walking inside. Bai Yuanfu held up the letter in his hand and said with a smile, "Word has come from the Feihong Sect!" Yu Jingcheng's eyes lit up. Although he had already guessed as much upon hearing Bai Yuanfu's boisterous laughter—which was why he had been unable to sit still and had come over himself—his heart now settled completely. "Seeing you so overjoyed, it must be splendid news! Quick, let this old man see!" Stepping forward, he took the letter into his hands. With a single glance, a resounding "Good!" burst from his lips. "Haha! As expected of Huang Tian! Truly, killing them was as easy as slaughtering chickens!" Yu Jingcheng laughed heartily. "In the past, that old dog Ke Rujing gave our Martial Restraint Guard no end of trouble. Back then, he never would have imagined this day would come! To die and have his sect destroyed—how laughable, yet how fitting!" Bai Yuanfu remarked with deep emotion, "A Grandmaster dominating a territory in our commandery, possessing such immense authority and awe-inspiring presence... Who could have thought that when Huang Tian marched to his gates, he would abandon his disciples and flee alone? And even then, he failed to escape..." Yu Jingcheng clicked his tongue twice. "There is no need to hold Grandmasters in excessive awe. No matter how strong a Grandmaster is, they remain human. If anything, because they enjoy longer lifespans, they fear death all the more." A third-rank expert enjoyed a lifespan of three jiazi, living decades or even a century longer than ordinary men. With boundless wealth, glory, fine food, and beautiful companions yet to be fully enjoyed, how could they bear to part with life? Bai Yuanfu grew thoughtful. "Ke Rujing could not bear to die. What about the Grandmasters of the other four sects? Will they be willing to throw their lives away?" *** Inside a brightly lit hall of the Guiyuan Sect, one of the Five Great Sects of Kunyun Commandery. The current Sect Master, Wu Dingwen, stared at an urgent dispatch in his hands, his right hand trembling violently. In the past, such a thing would have been entirely unthinkable. How could the hand of a consummate fourth-rank martial artist shake unless his lifespan was nearing its end and he could no longer govern his qi, blood, and true qi? Yet Wu Dingwen was currently only sixty-eight years old, at the very peak of his vitality, with enduring stamina and abundant true qi. He was still far from the end of his years. Yet at this moment, not only was his right hand shaking, but his vision had gone completely dark. He blinked repeatedly until his sight finally cleared. But when he looked again upon the words written on the dispatch, he wished he were blind! Collapsing limply into his chair, he muttered dazed words: "He... he actually slaughtered the Feihong Sect..." The Five Great Sects had long anticipated Huang Tian's retaliation. In this world, there had never been a rule where you could strike another while forbidding them from striking back. Yet the vengeance they had imagined was that Huang Tian might covertly kill several elders, deacons, or inner disciples of the Five Great Sects to vent his fury, or perhaps secretly gather evidence of their misdeeds before leading the imperial army to besiege their gates. No one had imagined that after beheading the Demonic Cult Grandmaster Pei Guan, Huang Tian would march directly to the Feihong Sect alone, without pausing for breath! Far too fierce! Far too reckless! Far too arrogant! Unscrupulous, fearless, and utterly unrestrained! What was even more terrifying was that he had succeeded! The Feihong Sect's Supreme Elder, Ke Rujing, was slain. Sect Master Qian Shan and numerous elders had fallen in battle. The deacons and disciples had scattered in all directions, leaving the entire sect grounds devoid of a single disciple or servant. If not for two elders who were away on an assignment in Funing County, the sect's core fighting force would have been entirely extinguished. Yet once word of Ke Rujing's death spread, those two elders would almost certainly flee Qin Province as fast as they could, hiding under assumed identities in another province. When that happened, the Feihong Sect would be finished for good. Taking a deep breath, Wu Dingwen took the letter, stepped out of the hall, and made his way to an austere, unadorned courtyard. Pushing open the gate in a daze, he caught sight of an old man with a white beard and white eyebrows. Falling to his knees, he said, "Dingwen pays respects to Granduncle!" This old man was the Guiyuan Sect's Supreme Elder, its sole Grandmaster, and Wu Dingwen's great-uncle—Wu Xuefeng. "Rise. Seeing you so unsettled, has some grave matter occurred?" Wu Xuefeng opened his eyes. They were as calm as an ancient well, as though no great matter under heaven could stir a ripple within him. Wu Dingwen hesitated for a moment before drawing the dispatch from his sleeve and presenting it. "You will understand once you see it." Wu Xuefeng took the letter and opened it. The next instant, his white eyebrows twitched abruptly, and an intensely solemn look surfaced in his eyes. He asked gravely, "Is this news confirmed?" "Confirmed," Wu Dingwen said with difficulty. Wu Xuefeng sank into a long silence. Wu Dingwen remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to move. He knew his granduncle's temperament all too well; if anyone dared disturb him while he was contemplating, they would be met with harsh reprimand and punishment. After a long while, Wu Xuefeng fixed a strange gaze upon Wu Dingwen. "Dingwen, back when you allied with the Feihong Sect to hire Thousand Faces Old Ghost to assassinate Huang Tian, you did not inform me beforehand, did you?" Wu Dingwen's heart skipped a beat. "No, I did not." Indeed, he had not. At the time, though Huang Tian already possessed the reputation of a genius, killing him had not warranted alarming the Supreme Elder. After all, the Feihong Sect was the main party behind the hit; the Guiyuan Sect had merely contributed some resources to show solidarity among the Five Great Sects. Such matters were well within the authority of the Sect Master. If every matter required disturbing a Grandmaster, wouldn't that make him appear utterly incompetent as Sect Master? Just like the Feihong Sect itself: Ke Rujing had only learned Huang Tian's name for the first time when he was forced out of seclusion after Thousand Faces Old Ghost failed the assassination. That was precisely why he harbored secret resentment toward Qian Shan—*the trouble you brought about has ended up dragging me to my grave?!* "Hmm, so you didn't inform me in advance..." Wu Xuefeng gave a slow nod, his gaze laden with profound meaning. As if struck by sudden realization, Wu Dingwen's face turned ashen in an instant, his heart growing as cold as dead ashes!