Free Web NovelChapter 275: Chapter 275: A Decisive Victory a Thousand Miles Away
Jizhou.
The sun blazed.
Although the Start of Autumn had passed, the heat of the "autumn tiger" was as scorching as ever.
Outside the main gates of the AM Company.
Under Zhang Wenfeng’s protection, Shen Lingxue and Ma Long returned to the AM Company.
Meanwhile, the group from the Central State Martial Arts Families had set up sun umbrellas and were chatting and enjoying the shade in the middle of the road.
Before long, Xue Zhong, who had not yet shown himself, arrived by car, looking full of vigor.
He too had taken a Gathering Essence Pill the previous night.
Since he had only ever practiced medical arts, this first step into the world of Martial Arts, aided by a single Gathering Essence Pill, granted him a profound transformation.
Now, he was a Fifth-Order Martial Artist, his back straight and his stride vigorous.
"Elder Xue!"
When the members of the Central State Martial Arts Families saw Xue Zhong approaching with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, they all turned to look in unison. freeweɓnovel.cøm
"It’s him. I hear he’s been getting close to Jiang Xinghai recently."
"That old fool should be focusing on his medical arts. Tailing some unknown kid... what a disgrace!"
"Don’t you know? Jiang Xinghai is skilled in both medical and martial arts."
"He cultivates both?"
"No wonder that old coot Xue Zhong is with Jiang Xinghai. Could it be..."
"That’s right. Not long ago, Nong Cuiru, the Lady of the He Family—the Medical and Martial Family from Central State that was wiped out—competed against him in medical skills and actually lost."
"Who on earth is this Jiang Xinghai?"
A buzz of discussion broke out among the crowd.
"I don’t care who he is! He killed my son, so he can forget about leaving here alive!"
Su Tao, a man with a balding crown, took a harsh drag from his cigar and glared at the approaching Xue Zhong.
"That’s right! He killed someone from our Martial Arts Families. That boy must not be allowed to live!"
"Five of the six great families are here today. Even if Jiang Xinghai is a Great Venerable, he will die!"
"It’s just a shame the Li Family refuses to come, no matter what. Truly intriguing."
The hunchbacked elder gave a cold smile. "Li Tu, that old lecher from the Li Family, is ’relaxing’ at the Mu Family’s estate. His old heart is stirring with spring fever."
"Elder Qiu is right. The Mu Family has many women, and that butcher, Li Tu, is a known degenerate..."
"And what about the Martial Arts Department? Why did Yan Qingshan suddenly take over?"
"Yeah, we asked them to send a few people just to show support, but they wouldn’t come. They’re getting more and more arrogant!"
Suddenly, Hunchback Elder Qiu stood up to greet the approaching Xue Zhong. "Master Xue, fancy meeting you here."
"Hehehe."
Xue Zhong didn’t even bother to glance at him. Strutting forward, he barked coldly, "Get the hell out of my way! You dare block my path?"
Everyone’s pupils constricted. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
’This Xue Zhong has some nerve!’
’Was he cursing Elder Qiu, or all of us?’
A few of the men blocking the road were about to shout back, but the hunchbacked elder stopped them with a look.
"Hurry up and clear a path for Master Xue," the hunchbacked elder snorted.
The men reluctantly parted to form a narrow path.
With a grand wave of his hand, Xue Zhong strode past the crowd and toward the AM Company.
"Look at him, so full of himself!"
"The old bastard is just pulling rank because of his age!"
"Alright, that’s enough. He is, after all, one of the ten Saint Hands of the National Medical Hall, and he comes from the Imperial City. He’s also grown close to our Central State’s Martial Arts Department recently. The National Medical Hall falls under the Martial Arts Department’s protection, so there’s no need for us to make things too hostile with him," the hunchbacked elder said faintly.
"Elder Qiu, speaking of the ten Saint Hands, Old Nong of the He Family was one of them. But the He Family was annihilated overnight, and we still haven’t heard a single whisper about how it happened. Something’s not right," Su Tao said, suddenly growing melancholic.
The He Family wasn’t a First-class Martial Arts Family, but they were a Medical and Martial Family nonetheless. To be wiped out just like that after a single rainy night...
"It seems we old-timers from Central State need to get more active. Otherwise, too many things in this world will slip beyond our control," Hunchback Elder Qiu sighed.
The men checked the time periodically, their eyes following Xue Zhong as he walked toward the AM Company.
After covering the hundred-meter distance, Xue Zhong arrived.
"Mr. Zhang, given your position, you shouldn’t be making public appearances like this." Upon his arrival, Xue Zhong’s gaze first fell upon Director Zhang Wenfeng, who had not yet departed.
"Now that Elder Xue is here, I can leave with peace of mind."
Zhang Wenfeng had indeed been waiting for Xue Zhong’s arrival. He turned, bid farewell to the others, and departed. "When Mr. Jiang arrives, please give him my regards."
When he had learned of Jiang Xinghai’s identity, Xue Zhong had taken the initiative to call him.
At the time, Xue Zhong had stated that he would be incredibly grateful if Mr. Zhang could look after the AM Company for the entire duration. If not, he should at least wait for Xue Zhong’s return.
Zhang Wenfeng didn’t dwell on it. As for the reasons behind the request, he had no idea.
"Little Miss Shen—ah, no..."
Xue Zhong turned to Shen Lingxue. Remembering the ambiguous relationship between his master, Jiang Xinghai, and her, he immediately corrected himself, "Miss Shen, you don’t need to worry in the slightest. Regarding today’s matter, my master—His Venerable Self—has spoken. Of all the offenders who came from Central State, not a single one will escape."
"Your master, Jiang Xinghai... ’His Venerable Self’?"
Shen Lingxue suppressed a smile. "I’ve trusted him from the very beginning."
Xue Zhong gave a mysterious smile. "You could say that my master has been devising strategies from afar, securing victory from a thousand miles away."
