Chapter 423: Chapter 422: Storm Approaching
The next day, Ye Fan said to Shangguan Qiuyue, "Qiuyue, it looks like we need to go sowhere."
"Where?" Shangguan Qiuyue asked.
Normally, she was a very clever woman. She never asked Ye Fan where they were going or what they were doing; it was enough to simply follow him. But since this was Ye Fan’s first ti in Lanling, a place where he was a complete stranger, she was naturally curious.
"To a good place, of course. Let’s go!" Ye Fan said.
"Alright!" Shangguan Qiuyue imdiately followed.
The two arrived outside a courtyard. While not luxurious, it was grand and, more importantly, imbued with an ancient charm. Shangguan Qiuyue was about to knock, but Ye Fan stopped her. "No, we have to climb the wall."
"Climb the wall?" Shangguan Qiuyue was speechless. So we’re acting like thieves!
Before she could react, Ye Fan had already scooped her up and vaulted over the wall with her in his arms.
The Dragon and Tiger Pavilion had a history of several hundred years in Lanling. Inside, two n were in the middle of a conversation.
"Family Head Huyan! That guard from the Shangguan family injured my son. How dare a re Shangguan family bully my Jiang Family! This ti, I will see them annihilated!" a man declared angrily to a composed, middle-aged man.
The composed man was Huyan Yuncheng, the Family Head of the Huyan Family, a man known for his blend of strength and wisdom. He promptly responded, "Jiang Family Master, do not act rashly. I am aware of the incident. It has already caused quite a stir among the hidden sects, especially since the Murong Family’s direct heir was also beaten. Now is the ti for our two families to join forces, not to stir up trouble with the Shangguan family. They have a deep background. They were once an unremarkable minor family, but through their dealings with the Witch Clan, they leaped into the ranks of the top families and now control the entire underground world of the southwest! You should steer clear of this trouble. Let the Murong Family be the ones to take offense."
"But I can’t swallow this insult!" the Jiang Family Patriarch shouted. His na was Jiang Changhai, and he had once swept through the world with his Five Lang Bagua Stick.
Huyan Yuncheng explained, "If you analyze this carefully, it becos clear. The Shangguan family isn’t as powerful as the Jiang or Murong families, yet they still dared to strike and openly offend both. This ans they are absolutely not afraid of either of you. Therefore, you must not be impulsive!"
The more Jiang Changhai thought about it, the angrier he grew. "Fine, Brother Huyan," he said, "but in that case, you must help
contend for the position of Alliance Hierarch at this gathering of the great hidden sects!"
"I will do my best. After all, the Murong Family will not be easy to deal with," Huyan Yuncheng replied at once.
Jiang Changhai cupped his fist in a salute. "Good. With your word, Brother Huyan, I can rest assured. As for the Shangguan family... I’ll deal with them after I’ve secured the position of Alliance Hierarch!"
"Let’s go!" he commanded, and with that, he departed with his close confidants.
As he watched Jiang Changhai’s group leave, Huyan Yuncheng sipped his tea and shook his head, an air of disappointnt about him.
It was at that mont that Ye Fan and Shangguan Qiuyue arrived.
"Who’s there!" Huyan Yuncheng snapped, but before he could do more, Ye Fan’s sword was already at his neck. He was stunned. With his level of skill, he hadn’t even had ti to react, let alone resist, before being subdued.
Then his eyes fell on Shangguan Qiuyue, and he understood.
"Family Head Huyan," Ye Fan said, "I hear you’re a very pragmatic man. This ti, I need you to cooperate with ."
"Why should I?" Huyan Yuncheng asked coldly.
In response, Ye Fan simply presented the Token.
Huyan Yuncheng’s eyes widened in shock. He imdiately bowed and said, "Chief!"
"There’s no need for such courtesy," Ye Fan said imdiately.
"So it is the Chief who has arrived. Forgive my poor hospitality. Chief, this is no place to talk. Please, follow ." He turned and led the way.
Shangguan Qiuyue was also shocked. She hadn’t expected Huyan Yuncheng to address Ye Fan as "Chief." It seed the Huyan Family had pledged allegiance to the Heavenly King Hall. Otherwise, Huyan Yuncheng would never have reacted this way.
Once they were in a guest room, Huyan Yuncheng spoke. "The Chief’s visit truly brings glory to my humble ho!"
Indeed, the Huyan Family had sworn allegiance to the Heavenly King Hall six months prior. They had served well as the Hall’s eyes and ears, monitoring the hidden sects. Of course, with the backing of the Heavenly King Hall, the Huyan Family had also grown from an obscure clan into a power ranking just behind the Murong and Jiang families. Their rapid growth was largely thanks to the Heavenly King Hall’s support.
Ye Fan said, "Family Head Huyan, there is no need for such courtesy. We’re our own people here. This is my Qiuyue, Shangguan Qiuyue."
"Miss Shangguan!" Huyan Yuncheng imdiately bowed respectfully.
A sweet feeling filled Shangguan Qiuyue’s heart. Hearing Ye Fan introduce her as "his Qiuyue" in front of others... Those are the sweetest words in the entire world.
Ye Fan then turned to Huyan Yuncheng. "My reason for coming is simple. I want to understand the true purpose of this hidden sect assembly."
Huyan Yuncheng glanced at Shangguan Qiuyue.
"You can trust her," Ye Fan stated.
"Yes!" Huyan Yuncheng replied before continuing, "Lord, on the surface, this assembly of hidden sects is about uniting the various hidden sects. In reality, it’s rely an attempt by the Jiang and Murong families to beco the Controllers of the hidden sects. To you, Lord, the thirty-plus hidden sects may seem like a troupe of clowns amusing themselves, but it’s not so simple for others. When over thirty hidden sects unite, it’s enough to make many powers wary. In the Divine Land, such an alliance would be considered nothing short of legendary!"
Huyan Yuncheng revealed these secret matters to Ye Fan.
"I see," Ye Fan said. "That’s more or less what I deduced."
"Lord, this assembly is likely more complicated than it appears. The Murong Family is even preparing to deploy the Heavenly Inquiry Sword," Huyan Yuncheng added.
"You an the Heavenly Inquiry Sword, one of the ten great swords of ancient tis?" Ye Fan asked, shocked.
It was no wonder he was so surprised. The precursor to his own Yuanhong Sword was also one of the great swords of the pre-Qin era: the second-ranked Yuanhong. The number one sword was, of course, the Heavenly Inquiry. Unlike the Yuanhong, however, the Heavenly Inquiry was considered more of a legend. To think it actually existed was astounding.
Even Shangguan Qiuyue was stunned. She never expected that the Heavenly Inquiry Sword, one of the ten great swords of ancient tis, was about to appear. If the Murong Family truly possessed it, there would likely be no power that dared to oppose them.
Ye Fan asked, "Where is this Heavenly Inquiry Sword?"
"I don’t know the specifics. I’ve sent spies to infiltrate the Murong Family, but they’ve revealed nothing about the sword. I suspect this so-called Heavenly Inquiry Sword is just sothing the Murong Family concocted themselves."
Huyan Yuncheng’s skepticism was understandable. The Heavenly Inquiry Sword was rumored to be the personal weapon of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng. It was the number one King’s Sword, reigning supre over all other blades. Given its ancient origins, who could prove it was anything more than a legend?
Nevertheless, Ye Fan was eager to see if his Yuanhong Sword could match it. A famous sword against a famous sword—it was the dream of every swordsman.
He was sure the Yuanhong Sword felt the sa way. After all, it was a restless blade, always eager to test itself against any sword worthy of a challenge.
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