Lu Yan silently scoffed in his heart.
Are they still putting on this show for ?
He knew from long ago, the various martial arts schools had deep connections with the Li Family, and most of these ties were with Li Wenxuan’s faction.
Hence, if the Martial School Alliance were to choose a faction to support, it would certainly be Li Wenxuan’s.
Furthermore, observing that the thirteen martial art schools had chosen Li Wenxuan without any hesitation showed that the decision had been made much earlier.
Today, were they trying to assert pressure on him to make a choice?
"Pavilion Master Lu, what is your choice?"
Feng Yueming asked.
"All I, Lu Shanchuan, want is to manage my martial school peacefully and pass on all my knowledge. I have no other ambitions, nor do I wish to get involved in the internal competition within the Li family. So, I choose neither."
Lu Yan shook his head.
Feng Yueming shook his head with a bitter smile, while the faces of the other Pavilion Masters were a mixed batch, their thoughts unknown.
"Shanchuan, I know your independent personality well, but I must advise you, at present, the situation in Baicao City is black and white. If you wish to keep yourself aloof, it would be difficult."
Feng Yueming said.
"I appreciate your good intentions, Alliance Hierarch."
Lu Yan replied with a fist salute, his attitude was firm.
Firstly, he genuinely had no desire to get involved in the competition between the two major factions. He simply wanted to accumulate power quietly and peacefully.
Secondly, even if he had to choose a faction to align with, he couldn’t choose Li Wenxuan.
It could have been a possibility in the past, but since he had killed Li Cangxin, it was absolutely impossible now.
He and Li Wenxuan could never reconcile. Once Li Wenxuan found so clue, a conflict between them was inevitable.
Besides, aligning with Li Wenxuan would risk exposure due to prolonged interaction.
If a faction had to be chosen, it could only be Li Wenxin’s.
"Lu Shanchuan, we, the fourteen martial schools of the Alliance, are of the sa branch and share the sa fate. We all chose Li Wenxuan. Your sole dissent will make others wonder. How would Lord Wenxuan view our Alliance? Would he think that our Alliance is disloyal?"
Duan Shenfei said coldly.
"Indeed, in future discussions, who would dare to include you?"
"It’s better for the Sanjue Martial Arts School to simply withdraw from the Alliance."
The Pavilion Masters chid in one after another.
However, Liu Zong of the Black Blade Martial Arts Hall remained silent.
After unexpectedly getting a visit from a Martial Marquis last ti, he decided to stick to his resolve to avoid offending others.
A few Pavilion Masters didn’t speak, but they were formulating their own sches in their hearts.
They planned to see if the Sanjue Martial Arts School could manage to stay neutral. If it could, they may consider following suit.
"In that case, it’s better to part ways if our paths diverged. I will exit the Alliance."
Lu Yan stood up, took out the token of the Martial School Alliance, placed it on the table, and left with firm steps.
"Hmph, this Lu Shanchuan, thinking he has a bit of strength, he is overestimating himself. He will suffer a great loss sooner or later."
"Correct, he wants to keep himself aloof, but in the end, he will end up offending both factions. We shall see how his Sanjue Martial Arts School will disband."
"In Baicao City, even having broken his limits five tis, it ans nothing."
A few people spoke up dissatisfied.
In the end, soone turned to Feng Yueming and asked: "Alliance Hierarch, now that Lu Shanchuan has withdrawn from the Alliance, what should we do now?"
"Tomorrow morning, et with Young Master Lin. Inform him of the truth."
Feng Yueming ordered.
...
Li Canglin’s mansion was located to the east of Baicao City. It occupied a hundred-acre plot, with multiple buildings and pavilions adorned with prosperous decorations.
In the reception hall, after the thirteen Pavilion Masters of the martial schools left, only Li Canglin and a few of his confidantes remained.
"Sanjue Martial Arts School, they want to keep themselves aloof?"
Li Canglin lounged on his chair, a hint of mockery visible on his face.
"Young Master, shall I send soone to teach them a lesson?"
At his side, a long-robed elder with a goat beard suggested.
This elder was well-known as Li Canglin’s strategist, nad Jia Xun.
"Hmm, send soone, check out Lu Shanchuan’s background."
"At the sa ti, teach them a lesson. If they do not know better, let’s disband the Sanjue Martial Arts School."
Li Canglin casually commanded and left.
"I rember last ti the Young Master did not permit us to take action against the Sanjue Martial Arts School, fearing that we may push them to Li Cangqing’s side. Why does he agree now?"
After Li Canglin left, another follower nad Zhao Lu asked Jia Xun.
"There’s a ti for everything. Now that the Martial School Alliance is aligned with us, but Sanjue Martial Arts School alone withdrew, if we don’t teach them a lesson, what would the other martial schools think? They might consider staying neutral as well?"
"Therefore, even if we push the Sanjue Martial Arts School towards Li Cangqing, it doesn’t matter. Compared to the Martial School Alliance, Sanjue Martial Arts School is insignificant. However, we must show our attitude clearly, to assure the Martial School Alliance follows us."
Jia Xun explained with a smile.
"I see, I have learned a lot."
Zhao Lu saluted.
...
Three days later, five tall n dressed in green robes with long swords hanging at their waists arrived in front of the Sanjue Martial Arts School.
The two gatekeepers saw them and imdiately went up to greet them, carefully salivating, "We’ve seen the five gentlen from Baicao Guard, do you have any business coming to our Sanjue Martial Arts Hall?"
The Baicao Guards are the law-enforcing force under the command of the Li Family, similar to the Red-clad Guards of the Liu Family, replacing the previous arresters.
However, the overall strength of the Baicao Guard far exceeds that of the Red-clad Guard, with team leaders and sub-team leaders all having broken limits five tis.
In addition, it is said that there is a large leader and two deputy leaders, all figures in the Martial Marquis realm.
"Get out of the way."
A Baicao Guard barked coldly, grabbed the two gatekeepers and threw them several tres away. They fell to the ground and couldn’t get up for a while.
The five Baicao Guards proceeded to stride into the martial arts hall.
The apprentices of the martial arts hall all stared at the five Baicao Guards in surprise and halted their activities.
"My apologies for not greeting you earlier, noble sirs."
Li Quan imdiately ca to greet them with a smile on his face when he saw sothing was amiss, smoothly pulling out a hundred-two silver ticket from his sleeve and handing it to the leading Baicao Guard.
The Baicao Guard in charge took it and his face eased a little, "Does your Sanjue Martial Arts Hall have official docunts for teaching apprentices martial arts?"
"Official docunts?"
The color drained from Li Quan’s face. He had never heard Lu Yan ntion this before.
The previous official docunts were issued by the Da Chu Dynasty.
Now, the official docunts naturally refer to those issued by the Li Family.
"You dare to establish a martial arts school, teach martial arts privately, cultivate your own martial arts power without official docunts. What are you trying to do? Are you planning a rebellion?"
The leading Baicao Guard shouted, his voice booming like a lion’s roar, shaking the entire Sanjue Martial Arts Hall.
"This..."
Li Quan, despite being clever, was taken aback and stood there, stunned, by such a heavy accusation.
In the practice room, Lu Yan frowned.
"They’ve finally co."
He stopped his practice and ca out of the room.
"Pavilion Master."
Li Quan quickly jogged over.
"I’ve heard it all."
Lu Yan nodded and walked over to the five Baicao Guards.
"I am Lu Shanchuan, I greet you gentlen."
Lu Yan saluted with his fist.
"Lu Shanchuan, you have heard our words. If you have official docunts, present them for inspection," the leading Baicao Guard said.
"When we initially established the martial arts hall, we were not inford that official docunts were required."
Lu Yan shook his head.
Furthermore, as far as he knew, other martial arts halls had never required official docunts when opening.
This was most likely the work of Li Wenxuan’s faction.
What else could it be? As soon as his refusal to join was confird, the Baicao Guards showed up?
"You don’t have the official docunts?"
The leading Baicao Guard scoffed, "Then... pick a date to close the martial arts hall, dismiss the apprentices, and don’t teach martial arts privately. We will be back in a few days, and if the hall is still not closed... we will treat it as an act of rebellion."
"Let’s go!"
With that, the five Baicao Guards left with large strides.
On the practice field, the apprentices exchanged bewildered glances, at a loss for what to do next.
"Pavilion Master, what should we do now?"
Li Quan asked.
Lu Yan’s brow was furrowed.
Honestly, he had no good solution.
It was clear that they were pressing him to take a stand.
Either he joined voluntarily, or he closed the hall.
"Why is it so difficult to live a peaceful life, to build up our strength in peace," Lu Yan sighed.
"Carry on as usual for now and see how things develop. I have my ways to deal with it," Lu Yan commanded.
If necessary, he could go to Li Cangqing for help.
But if he actively sought Li Cangqing’s help, it would be equivalent to jumping onto Li Cangqing’s boat.
The tree desires peace, but the wind does not cease.
Clang, clang, clang...
In the courtyard of Wang Dao’s residence, two figures were clashing quickly. Two trails of light from the blades shimred and flashed like a horse of pair, dazzlingly fast.
In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged dozens of moves.
After dozens of moves, one blade blazed brilliantly while the other began to shrink rapidly, being pressed within a few feet.
With a clang, one figure stumbled backward.
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