Why do I have so many masters?-Chapter 711 - 26: Why Come Here? (Two in One)_2

Chapter 711 -26: Why Come Here? (Two in One)_2

Jiangnan Road’s Xiahou and the Northern Lands’ Huangfu, as well as the Qimen noble clan of the Eastern lineage, could observe celestial changes and know the affairs of the world, with the only others being the Xuanyuan noble clan from Hedong Road, once the Imperial Family, reigning saints within and kings without, enduring for over seven hundred years without falter. Had they not avoided suspicion, they could have become the ruling power among the world’s noble clans.

The Swordsmanship passed down within their family was profound and unmatched in the world. Although the current family head’s seventh son was young, he had already entered the Deputy List of the Sword List. There had been rumors that he ranked just below the Heavenly Mountain Sword, but when the rankings were released, he fell behind both the Xue Family and the Number One Manor in the World.

The Xuanyuan noble clan of Hedong Road, Xuanyuan Hongsheng. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Wang Anfeng softly murmured this name.

If it was said that although Cao Donglin was a grandmaster and enjoyed a great reputation within Jiangnan Road, he was ultimately alone and shallow-rooted, then this individual’s name carried much more weight, stemming from one of the largest noble clans in the world,

Even in a place like Jiangnan Road, renowned for its elegant scholars, he made a name for himself as a youth, proficient in composing excellent poetry and essays, once praised incessantly by Zhou Fengyue, the Minister of the Imperial Court’s central secretariat.

The latter was widely recognized as a stagnant character on the imperial court, dull as an old turtle. Whether praising or scolding, he was never insincere, which showed the weight of those poems and essays.

Beyond his astonishing literary talent, Xuanyuan Hongsheng also possessed superb martial arts. At the age of thirteen, while hunting in the green mountains, he met a master and joined the largest Jianghu sect within the thirteen counties of Jiangnan Road, One-Leaf Pavilion—one of the top seven sects in the world—and mastered swordsmanship from the six arts of the gentleman.

Now merely in his forties, he had managed to unlock the Heavenly Gate and step into the Grandmaster Realm, a level every martial artist in Jianghu aspired to reach.

Being a highly ranked member of one of the four great noble clans in the world and a sought-after elder in one of the seven major sects, he was truly a first-class figure even across the entire Jianghu.

Considering such a person as an adversary, to say there was no trepidation within would be a complete lie, but thinking of the momentum from recently vanquishing a grandmaster, even such a prominent figure from the Xuanyuan noble clan of Jianghu would probably feel wary. Though one must act cautiously, there was no need for excessive fear.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, he then considered how fortunate it was that during the battle—as thunder roared in the sky—besides him, Xue Qinshuang, and Sikou Tingfeng, none of the Divine Martial Mansion’s soldiers heard that name.

Dressed in a blue robe and with a cold expression, Sikou Tingfeng sat alone at a table on the first floor of the inn. She did not utter any excessive words, yet no one shared a table with her.

Sensing the change in the qi in the air, she put down the wine cup in her hand and looked up to see Wang Anfeng and Xue Qinshuang arriving side by side.

She didn’t know much about Wang Anfeng, but having fought side by side with him that day, she knew his martial arts were among the top of the younger generation.

There were many martial artists in the world, most mired in mediocrity, stuck in the Lower Third Rank. Being able to kill a grandmaster, regardless of the means used, once the news spread, his name would surely resonate through Jianghu.

Sikou Tingfeng’s gaze shifted slightly. Beside this young man, who could barely ascend to the ranks of the world’s experts by wielding a Divine Weapon, sat a young master of the Xue Family, dressed in white and red. Both seemed to be discussing serious matters, their expressions neither grave nor relaxed.

Sikou Tingfeng picked up her drink, her gaze falling on Xue Qinshuang, who had been traveling with them. If after two months she still hadn’t realized the other’s true gender, then she wouldn’t deserve the attention of the First Estate’s master.

Seeing Xue Qinshuang’s calm demeanor as she descended the stairs side by side with Wang Anfeng, maintaining a fist’s distance between them as if to not appear overly intimate—with her left hand held behind her back—she looked graceful and self-assured, adding an air of an easygoing young hero to her beautiful features.

Sikou Tingfeng watched this scene and frowned slightly, then thought that Xue Qinshuang’s purpose in coming here was different from what she had anticipated. Losing the only bit of interest she had, she withdrew her gaze but paused slightly.

In the corner of her eye, she saw a young heroine dressed in a nonchalant manner, her right hand hanging naturally as she walked alongside Wang Anfeng. Her fair fingers tapped rhythmically on the red-painted railings of the inn, light and sprightly, her expression still graceful and composed, perhaps with a fleeting smile, yet never losing decorum.

Sikou Tingfeng withdrew her gaze from the nimble fingers, a calm smile briefly appearing on her lips but quickly put away; she raised her drink and maintained a serene demeanor.

Many warriors from the Divine Martial Mansion saw the timely assistance of Xue Qinshuang and Sikou Tingfeng today, when many others in the world of Jianghu just stood by and watched. Such help was all the more significant.

Mo Xiaoqi took the people from the stockade to help in the kitchen. Although the bald chef was skeptical about these new helpers cooking, he was so short-staffed that he had no choice but to let them try.

When the chef saw a burly man, who looked more suited to wielding a large hawthorn axe, skillfully and heartachingly deal with a fish using a kitchen knife, he finally relaxed. After half a day of hustling, they finally managed to prepare everything.

Dish after dish was served, the shopkeeper opened the wine cellar, and jar after jar of wine was brought up. For a moment, the fragrance of wine filled the air, seemingly washing away the weariness of today’s bloody battle.

After several rounds of toasting and drinking, someone remarked that there was a sense of ‘the world against us’ today, and that those who came to help at such a time were true men, brothers whom they would exchange life for.

Using the courage from the wine, several people came up to toast Xue Qinshuang and Sikou Tingfeng in succession. Sikou Tingfeng appeared indifferent and not keen on much conversation, letting the Divine Martial Mansion warriors toast him while he merely sipped his drink alone, creating a somewhat awkward atmosphere.

Seeing the uneasy expressions on the Divine Martial Mansion warriors as they glanced around, just when the atmosphere was becoming a bit stiff, Xue Qinshuang suddenly smiled, stood up, looked around with her cup in hand, and loudly said:

“Since a friend is in trouble, how can I stand by? There’s no need for thanks when acting as I did today.”

In Jianghu, the way one speaks shows their character. Her statement, bold and gracious, elicited thunderous applause and cheers from all around.

Xue Qinshuang smiled, and without hesitation, she drank the wine in her cup in one go. The atmosphere around them then warmed up once again. Wang Anfeng heard a subtle voice by his ear, which only sounded right after her statement of not standing idly.

“Because I missed you…”

Wang Anfeng was momentarily stunned, looking up only to meet Xue Qinshuang’s gaze. Her black hair cascaded down, and her light brown eyes sparkled under the candlelight as she smiled gracefully.

Just outside the inn, the shopkeeper, hearing this bold declaration, felt an indescribable surge of Jianghu spirit filling his chest, making his steps much livelier than usual. He stepped out to cool off and saw a richly dressed man standing not far from the door.

After hesitating for a moment, he walked forward a few steps and asked, “Esteemed guest, would you like something to eat? Unfortunately, today is not your lucky day, as we have no spare rooms left in our inn, but if you want some food, we still have some available.”

“It rained today, and it’s cold and damp outside. Why not come in and have a drink to warm up?”

The man smiled and shook his head, saying, “Thank you for your kindness, shopkeeper, but no need.”

“Very well, then.”

The man watched as the shopkeeper walked around outside the inn once and then returned inside. He himself just stood in the night, closing his eyes, listening to the lively sounds of toasting and laughter inside.

He had once been one of them, but now, he might have to stand on the opposite side. When he opened his eyes, they seemed pupil-less, eerily pale and alarming.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his fingers slender, his right hand clasping a long, purple sandalwood box intricately carved with a hidden dragon pattern. The Great Qin highly valued protocol; even a prince could not use such an official ceremonial artifact.

It was the imperial decree of the Great Qin.

PS: A double feature today…