Why do I have so many masters?

Bing Hongcai and Ah Liu stood still where they were until that brief and fierce exchange had ended; they had not revealed their identities, nor had they even so much as moved.

Wang Anfeng and Fei Poyue walked into the courtyard.

Behind them, Yu Jianmu, like a fish hauled out of the water, drenched all over with somewhat unsteady steps, followed them in. As he was about to enter, with curiosity and caution, he glanced up at Bing Hongcai, who had not concealed his presence due to the shock in his heart. Only then did he quicken his pace and catch up.

Bing Hongcai still didn't move.

He clenched his teeth hard, staring intently at the street where Wang Anfeng and the other had dueled.

But if one looked closely, his eyes had no focus at all, as if he were in a coma.

In front of Bing Hongcai, a black and a white spear were furiously clashing. Each move exploited their own advantage to the fullest, and any of them could instantly transform into a thunderous killing move. The fierce flowing light only needed pure technique to cause those around to become spellbound.

He had imagined himself in Wang Anfeng's position.

Three breaths later, a bone-chilling coldness suddenly rose up his spine. The daze in Bing Hongcai's eyes vanished as he staggered a step back, his right hand swiftly raised to cover his heart, breathing in short, rapid gasps, his eyes filled with terror.

Ah Liu reached out to support Bing Hongcai, who did not say anything to explain but only slowly regained steady breathing. After a moment, he pushed away the young man's arm, closed and then opened his eyes slowly, and said:

"Just now, that member of the Giant Whale Gang, they exchanged thirty-four moves with Fei Poyue without a clear winner, right?"

He was not seeking confirmation, nor was he asking Ah Liu. His question was almost an inquiry to himself because he already knew the answer yet was reluctant to believe it. This point, both he and Ah Liu were well aware of.

The young man nodded and added:

"It was a draw on the surface."

Bing Hongcai thought about the 'duel' that had taken place in his mind, laughed lightly, and sighed:

"That's enough."

"That's enough..."

He lifted his head, gazing far into the familiar State City. It was nearly noon, the busiest time of the day, where he could see the bustling crowd, some smoke rising from cooking fires, and children chasing each other. This was Great Qin's land, Great Qin's city, but at the same time, it also lay within Jianghu.

His voice trailed off as he spoke slowly:

"First the Gang Leader fought against a hundred, slaying two Sixth Rank Martial Artists, then someone withstood thirty moves in a duel with a Grandmaster in Martial Arts without being defeated."

"The rise of the Giant Whale Gang is now unstoppable; no one can block it..."

Ah Liu remained silent, standing quietly beside Bing Hongcai, thoughtfully pondering the appearance of that member from the Giant Whale Gang. He couldn't quite place it, but the man following behind was indeed an important member of the gang, and his place was unquestionably within the Giant Whale Gang.

As he pondered in confusion, he suddenly heard Bing Hongcai chuckle softly beside him, his voice complex as he murmured:

"The number one gang in Fufeng, huh..."

"Divine Martial."

...........................

What exactly Wang Anfeng and Fei Poyue discussed that day, only the two of them knew.

Even Fei Poyue's two most valued juniors, Fei Yuanzhen and Fei Yuanbai, were not allowed into the room; along with the disciples of the Fei Family Martial Arts School and the people of Jianghu, they stood outside.

The martial artists had not a trace of discontent in their hearts.

They had come to respect the young man's solemn and domineering martial skills.

Fei Yuanbai sat cross-legged in the foremost right side, his expression still somewhat dazed.

The scene of Wang Anfeng and Fei Poyue's recent exchange replayed continuously before his eyes. Despite being a martial artist who had practiced Spear Techniques for many years, and although not yet qualified to ascend to greater heights, his foundation was solid.

In the heat of battle, one could not react, but now as he forced himself to calm down and savor the moves one by one, the danger beneath the clash became ever more apparent.

Hence his expression grew increasingly dazed.

Meanwhile, Fei Yuanzhen sat on the left side. He did not enjoy Martial Arts and looked more refined and handsome than his older brother by three parts, always carrying a faint, composed smile. This smile paused when he followed the old man toward the room, only to be stopped. Then, it grew even paler.

He looked up at the ancestral home of the Fei Family.

The walls that had endured over a hundred years of wind and rain had spots of moss growing on them, giving them a somewhat cold feeling. As he sat there watching, the walls seemed taller and more oppressive, as if they were about to come crashing down onto his face.

Fei Yuanbai pursed his lips, the pale and transparent smile finally disappearing from his face.

He felt as if something was about to leave him, beyond his control to stop.

All he could do was watch.

God only knows how much time passed, in an unprecedentedly long moment for Fei Yuanzhen; the sound of the door creaking signified the dark wooden door was pushed open from the inside, as Fei Poyue and Wang Anfeng emerged side by side, seemingly blocking out the sunlight, casting a dense shadow difficult to dispel in Fei Yuanzhen's pupils.

........................

Xi Dingzhou, Qian Family.

The original master of this household did not carry the surname Qian. It was a name adopted later, much like the most primal significance the character for "money" connotes. The Qian Family was rich, tremendously wealthy.

But in a world where Martial Artists roamed supreme, to be excessively wealthy without corresponding Martial Skills was akin to silver left on the streets.

Therefore, the Qian Family was also skilled in Martial Arts.

No one knew that the vastness of the Qian estate started from half a rotten bun. The head of the family was a man in his forties or fifties, well-maintained, showing only a few silvery hairs at the temples, and no longer at the age to frivolously misbehave in brothels.

He was currently sitting beneath the main hall, where above, a great plaque with a lacquered base and gilded characters read four large words:

Wealth Breeds All Things.

Hurried footsteps approached from outside. A man clad in brocade, with White Jade hanging at his waist, hurried into the great hall, his face pallid, ignoring all propriety as he rushed straight in. Seeing the man below, he cupped his fists in greeting and said:

"Family Head!"

Qian Dai looked up at him, a smile on his face as he calmly picked up a cup of tea and said,

"What's the matter that you are so panicked?"

"Could it be that Yin Jian has made some unconventional move?"

Yin Jian was a swordsman dressed in black, carrying three swords on his back. His sword strikes were incredibly fast, so fast that people could only see a shadow before falling down. His face was pale, almost as if he were a mere thin shadow himself.

Qian Dai took a sip of his tea, his heart not particularly anxious.

For people like them, the worst situation was stability. Stability meant order, signified strong peace, and indicated that he had to make money honestly.

That wasn't good.

Making money honestly was too slow.

So, if Yin Jian really had done something, not only was there no anxiety in his heart, but he would actually feel a pleasant excitement. It meant it was time for him to enter the game. This kind of 'wager' was dangerous and quite fascinating to him, and he had much confidence in it.

Because he had never lost before.

The man's expression of urgency did not change as he said,

"Yin Jian is dead."

The composure vanished from Qian Dai's face in an instant.

His pupils dilated slightly.

Endless thoughts flew through his mind, colliding and then giving birth to new ideas, before hiding away again, until only one thought remained. This Family Head of the Qian Family, now fifty years old, rarely cursed in his heart.

Damn it!
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Someone has flipped the table...

Qian Dai's eyes flickered with uncertainty deep down, but he still managed to appear relatively composed. Such situations were not unheard of in his not-so-short experience in Jianghu. Travel a lot at night, and you're bound to meet a ghost; walk in Jianghu, and eventually you encounter a few individuals who play the game by their own rules.

Qian Dai closed his eyes slightly, exhaled, and said,

"It appears we can only choose the middle strategy."

The young man below understood Qian Dai's intent. There were three strategies: upper, middle, and lower. The middle strategy was to give up most of the benefits, and just aim for a steady and long-lasting income, which at this point meant turning to someone else – taking refuge with the Fei Family's Martial Arts School.

But the young man was somewhat confused.

The Family Head was also a naturally gifted individual, a Sixth Rank Martial Artist recognized as an expert in Jianghu, and the Qian Family had great wealth, supportingmany retainers from Jianghu. Why would he seek the help of an old man who was half in the grave?

Qian Dai looked at the young man in front of him, his heart regaining its composure.

Young people...

The Qian Family Head slightly narrowed his eyes, smiled at the occasional sparks of brilliance he had seen from the old man, knowing things that young people did not understand due to having lived longer and seen more wonders in Jianghu.

For instance, a Grandmaster hidden in ordinary mortal life.

The sound of hurried footsteps arose once more.

Another young man rushed in; he was Qian Dai's son, personally groomed by him from a young age to be calculating and resourceful, the strongest among the younger generation of the Qian Family. But now, his steps were even more frantic than the youth's before him.

Qian Dai's eyebrows slightly furrowed, a hint of dissatisfaction arising before he could speak. He saw his son rush in, his face filled with panic, calling out,

"Father..."

"Just now, a Martial Artist fought thirty moves with Fei Poyue without losing!"

"Then, the Fei Family has already withdrawn from this affair... their retainers from Jianghu are beginning to leave Xi Dingzhou City..."

Qian Dai's expression changed drastically, his eyes widening.

His head felt like it had been hammered, making stars burst before his eyes and leaving his mind blank. It took several breaths before he slowly regained his senses, but in his mind, there was only one thought.

Fought with Fei Poyue.

Thirty moves without defeat!

Qian Dai clenched his teeth, no longer able to maintain his composure. His mind was a whirlpool of messages, each emerging and sinking in turn.

With Yin Jian dead and the Fei Family withdrawing, the Qian Family had become the last one sticking its neck out.

This was no longer just flipping the table.

This was damn well digging up one's roots!

His right hand slammed heavily on the table.

Just then, footsteps sounded again, exceptionally steady, reaching only the ears of the people present. Qian Dai's pupils suddenly contracted, and he stood up abruptly. In a blink of an eye, the footsteps sounded once more, accompanied by a domineering and tyrannical aura.

Despite its intensity, it was calm and unhurried.

Like the breath of a wild beast.

Like the clash of swords by one's ears, an uncontrollable aura filled the room, leaving the two young men below pale-faced, barely able to stand.

Who could it be?!

PS: The first update is here...