Chapter 93: Chapter 23 Tribal Changes_1
Yan Shi was taken aback, saying, "Brother, you’re so earnest. The Miss Xuan Yue you mentioned, she’s the young lady dressed as a magician we just saw, right? You’ve really been impressed! You’ve found yourself such a beautiful girlfriend."
Ah Dai let out a bitter smile, saying, "She’s not my girlfriend. I’m just her lackey."
Yan Shi looked puzzled, saying, "How can that be? With your skills, how can you be someone’s lackey?"
Ah Dai, thinking of everything he had experienced with Xuan Yue, shook his head helplessly and changed the topic, saying, "Brother Yan Shi, why is your Pu Yan clan so unfriendly to outsiders?"
Yan Shi’s eyes filled with a fierce and resentful light. After a long pause, he sighed and replied, "Because, our Pu Yan clan has suffered too much damage. I can’t tell you now, it’s our clan’s biggest secret. You’ll know in due course if the opportunity arises. Let’s pick up the pace. Not far ahead is one of our small tribes, which is also my home. Your sister-in-law is quite the cook, I’m treating you to a good drink today." He shouted, spurred the war horse between his legs, and galloped off.
Although Ah Dai’s horsemanship was not particularly impressive, the war horse he rode radiated pride, quickening its pace to keep up. Ah Dai, in surprise, had to hunker down to keep his balance.
As Ah Dai and Yan Shi were journeying to the Pu Yan clan, Feng Ping had also returned to Mount Tian Gang. He’d ridden hard for several days, passing through the territories of the Yajin Tribe and the Yalian Tribe, before finally staggering back to his sect. As soon as he climbed the mountain, he ran into an elderly man in his sixties, dressed in white.
"Little Ping, why are you back? Your master tells me you’re now the vice-captain of some mercenary corps?"
Seeing the elderly man in white, Feng Ping hastily bowed in respect, saying, "Uncle-Lu-Wen, hello. Is our master on the mountain? I’ve got urgent news."
Lu Wen, the fourth disciple of the Sword Saint of the Tian Gang, was now sixty-nine years old, known for his loyalty and warmth towards everyone. He was very popular among the younger disciples in the sect. Hearing Feng Ping’s words, a surprised expression crossed his face, and he said, "What’s the matter that you need to disturb the master? He’s in seclusion."
Feng Ping wiped away the sweat from his forehead and briefly explained his encounter with Ah Dai. After listening to Feng Ping’s story, Lu Wen furrowed his brows and said, "Which of our nephews is so talented that he can train a disciple who is not even twenty years old to such a degree? Ping’er, I haven’t heard of any of your fellow disciples having any accidents! Come, let’s hurry up the mountain. We need to understand this matter with your uncles."
Feng Ping followed Lu Wen back to the top of Mt. Tian Gang. The top of the mountain was incredibly flat, with the Tian Gang Sword Sect established there for several decades. The Tian Gang Sword Sect enjoyed a very noble status in the Empire of Huasheng. Feng Wen, the current commander of the entire empire’s forces, was the second disciple of the Sword Saint of the Tian Gang. More than forty years ago, the king of the Empire of Huasheng designated the Tian Gang Sword Sect as the national sect. The requirements for entry into the sect were very strict, with only those who passed multiple rounds of selection allowed in. Aptitude wasn’t the most important factor in their selection; they valued a disciple’s character above all. Over the past seventy years, the Tian Gang Sword Sect had only a little over a hundred disciples spread across several generations. However, these disciples had achieved notable success on the continent. Their skills might not be the highest, but throughout the many years of the Tian Gang Sword Sect’s existence, their disciples had always symbolized justice on the continent.
As soon as they returned to the sect, Lu Wen immediately ordered a disciple to summon his brothers who were on the mountain, including Feng Ping’s master, Shi Wen, who was fifth in line among the second generation disciples. In front of all his uncles, Feng Ping recounted his encounter with Ah Dai again. After listening to his recount, these second generation disciples of the Tian Gang Sword Sect looked at each other in surprise. They thought about it for a long time, but couldn’t figure out who Ah Dai’s master was.
Lu Wen said, "We generally have accurate information about the third generation disciples, and none have died! Ping’er, are you certain that the kid’s swordsmanship was indeed the Tian Gang Swordsmanship?"
Feng Ping nodded, replying, "Uncle Lu, I’m absolutely certain. Even if someone could imitate the Tian Gang Swordsmanship, they couldn’t fake the innate fighting energy that Ah Dai used while crossing swords with me. He may not have reached the fifth realm, but he’s not far off. I blame myself for not keeping him then. If I had brought him back, everything would be clear."
Xi Wen, seated at the head, suddenly opened his eyes. Two sharp beams of light shot out, landing on Feng Ping. As the first disciple of the Sword Saint of the Tian Gang, Xi Wen was the most powerful among his brothers, having reached the eighth realm of the Innate Resolution. Though he was over eighty years old, he looked younger than Lu Wen.
Lu Wen said, "Big brother, do you know who this disciple is? Could it be a disciple of Brother Feng?"
Xi Wen shook his head, saying, "Unlikely. Although Feng’s skills are not inferior to mine, he’s been in the army for many years and hasn’t had time to train disciples. His two disciples, at best, are at the fifth realm of the Innate Resolution. There’s no way they could train such an outstanding disciple. Besides, they’ve been with Feng all along. When Feng came back a few days ago, he even brought them to pay respect to our master." Xi Wen’s eyes suddenly shone brightly, he shot a question at Feng Ping, "Ping’er, do you remember any unique features of the kid’s Tian Gang Sword techniques?"
