Wang Anfeng couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head, saying: "How is this possible?"
Yet he couldn't stop thinking about that day. When Fufeng climbed the hundredth step of the tower, it already made him anxious. If this event beca known throughout the world and passed down for decades or even centuries, the thought of it was overwhelming, though strangely enticing.
He quickly dismissed the thought, faced Sikou Tingfeng's smile, and rubbed his forehead, saying:
"Sikou, you also enjoy these kinds of jokes."
Sikou Tingfeng turned to look at the outside clouds gathering and dispersing over the mountains, smiled slightly, and said:
"You always like to beat around the bush, which is why you haven't made much progress."
"However, it's too early to speak of that now, but you should transform from Miss Xue to Qinshuang as soon as possible."
"It would be ideal if you could beco Shuang'er."
Wang Anfeng shuddered at the thought of calling Xue Qinshuang "Shuang'er," feeling that the next mont the girl, always in white and red, would flash her bright smile and stab him with a sword, leaving him bitterly perplexed.
Sikou Tingfeng's smile contracted slightly, and she said:
"You helped greatly this ti. The First Estate should assist you, help you establish a foothold in the East Sea. But, my intervention was to help the First Estate out of a bind, and now it's placed under the nation's scrutiny, on the hot seat."
"The Imperial Court needs the First Estate to balance the turmoil of the Jianghu, but if it helps the Divine Martial Mansion, then not only the court but all major sects will suspect that the First Estate intends to dominate the Jianghu. A tall tree catches the wind; you and I haven't established ourselves yet, and this would only draw endless troubles."
Wang Anfeng said: "The Divine Martial Mansion has no plans to claim supremacy in the Jianghu."
"As for the East Sea, we can handle it ourselves."
Sikou Tingfeng nodded and added:
"Naturally, I believe in your strength."
"But words of thanks are ultimately insufficient. If you're willing, we can make a gentleman's agreent, vowing that the First Estate and the Divine Martial Mansion shall support each other and remain friendly forever. Should one side be in trouble in the future, the other would provide assistance to the best of its ability."
"What do you think?"
She extended her right hand.
Wang Anfeng smiled, raised his hand, and shook hers.
"I accept your promise."
The woman spoke.
"To uphold this throughout my life."
......
All traces left from the skirmish at the First Estate were gradually cleaned up.
The blood on the bluestone tiles was washed away with buckets of water, swept off the cliff into the deep valley below. After several rounds, it looked as if nothing had happened, with an added sense of tranquility.
Dongfang Ximing walked out of the First Estate's kitchen.
A suicide squad, dressed as Jianghu heroes, had already taken the pastries and placed them on the table. When the bamboo stear was opened, everyone saw that the pastries were exquisitely crafted. So of the suicide squad mbers who had traversed the Jianghu couldn't help but praise them. In the Jianghu, they usually didn't talk about such things, but the pastries looked as pure and spirited as the young girl.
Zhou Shen sat to the side, stroking his beard. An old scholar his entire life, he couldn't help but recite a couple of lines of poetry.
Li Changxing, being of the highest noble birth, had to have his food and drink tested beforehand.
Although Dongfang Ximing likely bore no ill will, protocol is protocol. The young eunuch Ren Dong volunteered to pick up a delicate pastry. For so reason feeling uneasy, he didn't eat it in one go, simply holding it in his palm, appearing as if he were admiring its craftsmanship.
The mbers of the suicide squad, being less scrupulous, imdiately grabbed a pastry and stuffed it into their mouths.
Two of them suddenly stiffened.
Li Changxing, deep in thought about Li Wu and Wang Anfeng, despite his young age of sixteen or seventeen, had heard many stories of the past. Especially on this journey with his subordinates into the Jianghu, after leaving Heaven Capital City, he saw two sword beams in the sky heading straight to Kunlun.
He thought if he could bring Li Wu and Wang Anfeng into the Capital City, his great-grandfather and Emperor would surely be delighted.
He could also let his aunt realize that she wasn't the only one who could et renowned heroes like the Blade Madman.
He, too, knew so more formidable ones.
Lost in thought, he didn't notice the bulging eyes and gagging actions of the two suicide squad mbers, only seeing out of the corner of his eye that they were still standing, assuming there was no poison. With the grace of a prince, he smiled slightly at Dongfang Ximing, picked up a pastry from the table, and placed it gently into his mouth.
Then he bit down absentmindedly.
......
As Wang Anfeng descended the mountain with Sikou Tingfeng, the woman left for another place, leaving him alone. Upon descending, the masters from various sects seed to have been waiting for him all along, coming forward to pay their respects with bright and amiable smiles. So Jianghu people below the mountain were busy scheming in their minds.
Seeing that the Master of Divine Martial Mansion seed easygoing, they thought they should at least pay their respects and leave a na. In the future, when walking in the Jianghu, they could boast of exchanging na cards with the Master of Divine Martial Mansion at the First Estate, earning admiration wherever they went.
This minor acquaintance may seem insignificant and not imdiately useful, but sotis a single sentence can save one's life, making the difference between life and death.
Jianghu people without any backing bear all kinds of hardships for even a slight opportunity to climb up, having the resilience to endure any humiliation. A re refusal doesn't even register in their eyes.
However, the subsequent developnt took them by surprise.
The Master of Divine Martial Mansion did not look down on anyone due to his status and recent grand deeds, nor did he have any condescending deanor. Instead, his words were sincere, and when a brave young man asked him a question, he truthfully pointed out a path, saying they could try their luck with the forr Giant Whale Gang in Fufeng County.
If they truly had so skills, they could earn a living.
But before they could revel in the joy, Wang Anfeng added:
"The Divine Martial Mansion is governed by military law, and the old rules still apply, with severe consequences for breaking them. Furthermore, the Giant Whale Gang is not affiliated with the Divine Martial Mansion."
The smiles of the Jianghu people froze, their hearts filled with unease.
Unlike the rangers with Jianghu spirit and courage, this group of people were sowhat stained with the habit of being unremarkable in the Jianghu. Indulged and unrestrained by nature, they disliked being disciplined. When they thought of having to abide by regulations for a re al, they beca unwilling.
Wang Anfeng further ntioned that disciples of the Divine Martial Mansion would go to the frontier to engage in skirmishes with the light cavalry from the Northern Frontier and Western Regions.
Seventy percent of the Jianghu people started to retreat, their smiles rigid and forced.
Only a few gritted their teeth, cupped their fists, and left.
Before long, the crowd dispersed like birds and beasts, leaving not a soul behind.
Wang Anfeng watched the nurous Jianghu martial artists scatter, gazing into the distance towards the Northern Frontier, slightly lost in thought.
Before leaving the Northern Frontier, Gongsun Jing had led a thousand Qing Taoqi there.
It had been over two months since, and contact was difficult, leaving him uncertain of their situation.
Many Jianghu people had entered the First Estate, but failed to et the deputy manor masters.
Even the senior figures who were once friendly with these manor masters faced rejection.
Only on the third day did the First Estate announce that there would no longer be positions for deputy manor masters; all matters would be controlled solely by the Manor Master, truly suppressing the Jianghu with singular power. The audacity left people in awe, yet no one dared criticize it.
Wang Anfeng and the others, after four or five days, voluntarily resigned and descended the mountain.
Upon leaving, Wang Anfeng rode a horse with a sword box on his back, glancing at those seeing him off.
There wasn't any white-bearded, scholarly Zhou Shen, nor the ever-smiling Li Changxing.
Word had it the Imperial Grandson was unwell, while the renowned artist Zhou Lao was rely frightened.
Only those two suicide squad mbers almost beca actual suicides, demonstrating absolute loyalty. Despite their martial prowess, they were physically unhard but likely would not be able to face pastries for years.
Wang Anfeng couldn't help but chuckle, then felt morally remiss for laughing, so he composed himself, offering Sikou Tingfeng a clasped-fist salute, loudly bidding farewell, and turn the horse around.
That day, as the Master of Divine Martial Mansion descended the mountain, the First Manor Master personally led experts from the estate to escort him for thirty miles before returning.
PS: Today's update presented...
Organizing the outline in progress...
Thanks to Xin Yuening's generous reward; much appreciated~
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