Chapter 43: The Great Western Gate

  (I believe everyone can see that the protagonist's next enemy is not just the wealthy Xie family, but the giant obstacle in front of Qin Wushuang is actually the powerful West Gate. Let's see how Qin Wushuang will overcome this mountain. Today, can we still get 800 recommendation tickets? We're still far from it. Brothers, let's fire up again!)

  Ye Feng and Qin Wushuang's battle news was blocked by Da Xi Ming within the Luojing County, indeed without any leakage.

  However, there is no wall that does not leak in the world. Especially for the Zhenwu Holy Land, even in a small place like Luojiang County, their intelligence network was extremely dense and almost flawless...

  In Luojiang County, for the past three days, guests from all directions have been coming in an endless stream, and eight or nine out of ten are here to attend the birthday of Di Yuxiao, the young master of the Dai family.

  ……

  At the east gate of Luojiang County, a large crowd gathered, and the soldiers who usually guarded the city gate were all inside the gate doing their duty.

  Outside the city gate, more than thirty blue-clad servants stood in an orderly manner. In front of these blue-clad servants were several nobles leading them, and at the forefront was none other than Xu Sanli, the master of the wealthy Xu family.

  Xu Sanli's gray and white beard was slightly disheveled in the wind, but his two feet seemed to have taken root, unmoving, his eyes fixed intently on the distance.

  Muttering to himself: "Calculating it out, it should be about time..."

  Just as they were speaking, several riders suddenly appeared at the end of their field of vision, speeding extremely fast and rushing towards the city gate. At first, there were two black dots, gradually getting closer, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived right before them.

  Like a strong gust of wind, it suddenly appeared in front of him. The horse and rider galloped swiftly, then suddenly pulled the reins, causing the horse's head to jump high into the air, stopping right in front of Xu Sanli.

  Two men, one young and one middle-aged.

  Young with a cold expression, a hint of arrogance in his eyebrows and eyes, wearing a magnificent long gown.

  The middle-aged man was short and stout, but his eyes were sharp and piercing, like an eagle's gaze scanning everywhere. At a glance, he looked like a cunning and treacherous person. He wore a green robe, seemingly subordinate to the young man.

  This master and servant are agile and skilled in riding. What's even more remarkable is that the horses they ride, one black and one white, truly make them seem like a dragon and a tiger.

  The young man standing in front of Xu Sanli was no more than thirty years old, with a hawk-like nose and sharp eyes that were also slightly arrogant. He looked up and down at Xu Sanli several times before opening his mouth to say, "Thanks to the patriarch for personally welcoming me."

  A white horse with a body as white as snow, without any miscellaneous hairs, and even when it suddenly stopped, it didn't make any neighing sounds, showing that it was well-trained.

  The horse didn't stop until it was right in front of him, and even after stopping, he didn't dismount. This showed how arrogant this person was. However, the young people from the Xu family, who had been standing behind Xu Sanli, seemed to be used to such behavior that bordered on being rude. They looked at the man in martial attire with a mixture of envy and jealousy in their eyes. Xu Sanli, as the head of the clan, also went up to greet him with a friendly and almost flattering tone.

  "I've long heard that young master Xi Men's sword and horse skills are unmatched; today I see it for myself and indeed his reputation is well-deserved."

  "Xu Zongchang was being polite, this isn't a place for conversation, let's go into the city."

  The man known as Ximen Gongzi simply replied indifferently, the patriarch of the prestigious Xu family seeming like a wisp of air in his eyes.

  "Master Ximen has traveled far and is tired. I have prepared a wine feast at the Wind Pavilion, hoping to welcome Master Ximen and wash away his dust."

  "No need, just prepare two clean rooms will do. Don't bother with anything else, I'll let you know if there's a need."

  "Well, then I invite Mr. Xi Men to move to my humble abode."

  "Let's go."

  Ximen Gongzi pulled the reins and rushed into the city gate with his two subordinates. Even after entering Lujiang County, the two men did not slow down their speed and continued to gallop as fast as before.

  Xu Sanli followed behind with obvious respect, and towards the actions of the group led by Ximen Gongzi, he didn't even dare to have an unusual expression, but instead followed closely behind with a smile all over his face.

  A young man of the Xu family whispered to his companion, "This young master Xi is indeed arrogant, but his riding skills are really good. Arrogant people have their own capital, after all. We, the sons of these wealthy families, may not be able to match his current achievements even if we live a lifetime."

  "Yes. People of this kind of noble birth are born to be the favored sons of heaven. Looking at his young age, I'm afraid his cultivation won't be much inferior to that of the clan leader?"

  Bang! Bang! Two slaps, the two had just whispered to each other and were slapped twice on the face. However, this team has a large number of people, and the sound of the slap was not particularly clear, obviously controlling the force.

  The middle-aged man in front of the two turned around and scolded: "You two little rascals, shut up quickly! Behind the back of a great master's disciple, it is not allowed to discuss right or wrong. The other party is a true Wu Jing six-segment expert, with ears so sharp that you two little devils can't comprehend. If you don't want to die, shut your mouths!"

  "Shinmu sixth dan? Four Seas Uncle! You say he's already Shinmu sixth dan? Impossible, the clan leader is over sixty this year, right? Isn't he only fifth dan?"

  A child who had been beaten covered his burning face and said incredulously.

  "Don't be skeptical, you ignorant kids. And let me tell you, the true Wu Liu Duan is only high, not low! The number one master of the young generation of the Western Gate Sect, how can he have a reputation that's all talk and no action? Otherwise, it would also be unfair to his title as Chi Mu Si Xiu."

  "Akagi Shishu?" Another son who was also beaten up stopped and counted on his fingers, only then did he understand the difference between them.

  They were in the small Luojiang County, and they couldn't even be ranked among the "Seven Gentlemen of Luojiang". This Mr. Ximen was already listed among the "Four Outstanding Ones of Chìmu".

  What is the concept? The entire Akagi kingdom, the four most outstanding young people are called "Akagi Four". And under the Akagi kingdom, there are eight states, each state governs eight counties.

  To put it another way, the administrative levels of Luojiang County and Chi Mu Wang's territory differ by two full ranks. The difference between them is as far apart as heaven and earth.

  "Good grief! It seems I'll never catch up with their current achievements in this lifetime." The two young men grasped the gap between them and let out a low sigh, not daring to utter another word.

  The frontmost Xi Men Gongzi heard the internal transmission of Qing Yi's subordinate: "It seems that not every member of the wealthy Permitted family is a frog at the bottom of the well, there are still some smart people."

  "Like this kind of inferior aristocrat, flattering those above and despising those below, most are like this, not just the Xu family. In fact, they're nothing but jesters. If it weren't for getting involved in Yuzhu's marriage, I wouldn't be willing to waste my time in this small county town..."

  After finishing, Ximen Gongzi urged his horse on and quickened the pace a bit, causing another small commotion among the two-legged welcoming team from the Xu family following behind. Those younger disciples who were not skilled in martial arts could only spread their legs and run forward to avoid being left behind by the group.

  ……

  In Luojiang County, the Xu family was one of the three major wealthy families, and as a family that relied on martial power to establish itself, it naturally couldn't compare with the Qian family, which had shops all over Nanyun Prefecture in terms of wealth. Nevertheless, the Xu family's estate, which housed its family members, still occupied dozens of hectares of land.

  At this time, the Xu family's mansion was brightly lit, with lanterns and streamers everywhere, as if there was a grand celebration. However, everyone in the Xu household knew that all of this was just for the noble guest in the east wing.

  The fifth of the "Twelve Great Families" of Baiyue Country, the young master of the Western Gate of Nanyun State - Ximen Qian.

  Inside the east wing, Xu Sanli stood respectfully still, watching the young man holding a book scroll without daring to move. As for the short and small man behind the young man, he seemed to have merged with the shadow, and if Xu Sanli hadn't seen him standing in front of his own eyes, he wouldn't have even sensed this person's presence.

  "This Thirteen Hawks of Xi Men is indeed not a name in vain." Xu Sanli glanced at the short, almost disappearing figure in the darkness behind him, and couldn't help but break out in cold sweat again.

  Shi Men Thirteen Hawks, Shi Men's thirteen powerful men with at least five segments of true martial arts, all replaced their names with numbers, and they were always figures walking in the dark side. In recent years, they have eliminated many opposing forces for the Shi Men family.

  Xu Sanli knew that the person in front of him was none other than "Cold Blood Eleven", notorious for his ruthless and cold-blooded nature.

  "This book 'Mí Yǐng Quán' is quite interesting, whether it's the boxing routine and internal energy running method, there are unique insights, although there are also some inappropriate places, but the fist walking bias is still quite threatening, it seems that your Xǔ family had some figures in the past."

  At this time, Ximen Qian held in his hand the "Misty Shadow Fist" that had been secretly passed down through generations of the Xu family. This was also what an ancestor of the Xu family had unexpectedly obtained, and it was because of this secret book that the Xu family truly established its position as a prominent family in Lujiang County.

  It was Ximen Qian's behavior that made Xu Sanli feel cold sweat, because after Ximen Qian arrived at the Xu family, he neither attended banquets nor received guests, but only let Xu Sanli take out the secret book to read and pass the time.

  Although this form of entertainment made Xu Sanli feel uneasy, the person in front of him was someone he couldn't afford to offend. Not to mention these martial arts secret manuals that were basically not worthy of consideration by this young master, even if Xu Sanli had to gather all the daughters of the Xu family to accompany this young man, Xu Sanli wouldn't dare hesitate for a moment.

  Although these martial arts secret books are confidential within the family, Ximen's wealthy and arrogant family has so many of this level of martial arts secret books that they can be used as toilet paper, and it is estimated that they will not stoop to covet a noble family's ancestral secret book.

  After finishing the last page of "Misty Shadow Fist", Xi Men Qian still had no expression, and his emotions couldn't be read. This made Xu San Li feel somewhat at a loss.

  "Do you know Daxi Meng from the Daxi family?" He finally spoke up.

  Xu Sanli listened and asked, his heart suddenly moved, remembering that Da Xi had repeatedly stood behind the Qin family to make things difficult for him. He thought about Ximen Qian's origins this time, and his mind was made up. After all, what it takes to be a patriarch of a wealthy family is not only superior martial arts, but also superior cunning.

  "Returning to Mr. Ximen, I know this person Da Xi Ming," said He Sanli, who was momentarily puzzled by Ximen Qian's intention and naturally replied cautiously, fearing that a single misstatement would bring trouble.

  "Let's just talk about it." Ximen Qian's tone was light and casual, making it hard for others to read his thoughts.

  "Da Xu Ming is the eldest son of Da Xu Shi, a prominent family in Da Xu County. From a young age, he was passionate about martial arts and highly valued by his father, Da Xu Heng. Before the age of twenty-five, he had already reached the realm of True Martial Fifth Stage and was hailed as the leader of the Seven Young Masters of Luo Jiang County."

  Xu Sanli's response was still unconvincing. The things he said were all well-known facts that everyone already knew. As for his own views, he didn't mention a single word.

  "What's the reputation of this county?" Ximen Qian tossed the "Misty Shadow Fist" onto the tea table, his tone slightly more tense than before.

  "As the son of a noble family, I, an old man, find it inconvenient to comment rashly..."

  Xu Sanli was old and cunning, best at observing words and expressions. From Ximen Qian's small movements and subtle changes in expression, he vaguely grasped something, but he didn't rush to make a move at this time either.

  "In front of me, but it doesn't matter, just a mediocre son of a noble family."

  Ximen Qian couldn't help but secretly laugh at Xu Sanli's cunning and slyness, he was obviously full of opinions that he wanted to express, yet he was playing hard to get with himself.

  "Now that Master Xi Men has given his orders, I shall speak plainly. This young man's reputation is not bad, and he is indeed a talented young man from Luo Jiang County. However, in recent months, it has been heard that he has become infatuated with a woman of humble origins, and for several months has not returned home, lingering between the woman's residence and the taverns, gradually becoming a laughing stock among the townspeople."

  "Hmph, after all, he's just a young master who hasn't seen the world, crude and impolite. The Ximen family has already shown him great favor. But this kid really doesn't know how to appreciate it!"

  It's clear that the Xi Men family had already heard about everything that happened in Luo Jiang County. Asking Xu San Li indirectly was just to confirm it.

  Looking at Ximen Qian's face in that instant, it looked particularly ferocious. Xu Sanli knew he had guessed correctly. He had long heard rumors of a marriage between Da Xi Ming and the Ximen family that made outsiders speculate wildly. Seeing Ximen Qian like this now, Xu Sanli immediately guessed seven or eight out of ten about Ximen Qian's purpose for coming here.

  As long as Ximen Qian makes Da Xi Ming feel dissatisfied, or even hostile. Then this trick of driving the tiger and swallowing the wolf, borrowing a knife to kill someone is almost successful, not only can he stabilize his own position in the noble family, but also if he can use this opportunity to strike at the Da Xi family, even move the position of the Da Xi family that has been suppressing the Xu family for a long time, all of these are what Xu Sanli is very happy to see at this moment.

  If all goes well, the Xus will take their rightful place as a prominent family and become the leading figures in Lujiang County, which is by no means an impossible dream.

  It all depends on how one makes waves and tides. In any case, the Ximen family will not be able to deal with the Daqi family, and the Xu family will not lose a single hair. This kind of empty-handed business of swindling wolves is precisely what Xu Sanli is best at.

  "What's the background of that poor woman?" Ximen Qian fell silent for a moment before asking again.

  "The daughter of the Qin family from Donglin Town's humble origins, Qin Xiu."

  "The humble Qin family, Qin Xiu..." Xi Men Qian Rong glanced at Xu San Li with a profound meaning and suddenly said, "I heard that this time the family ranking was challenged by a low-ranking outsider from your Xu family?"

  Xu Sanli broke out in a cold sweat, secretly thinking "this is not good", could it be that his plan to kill with a borrowed knife had been seen through? Before he even had time to respond, Ximen Qian waved his hand: "You can go down first."

  Xu Sanli heard this and hastily retreated, his back already drenched in cold sweat. He didn't dare look back, leaving directly, with lingering fear in his heart.