Chapter 342: Chapter 341: Assault on the Guan Family (Seeking Subscriptions)
The Guan family, wealthy and powerful, established their base at the peak of a mountain known as Qiyun Mountain, even negotiating with the government to fund the exclusive rights of the entire mountain, forbidding others from trespassing.
In the past, many martial artists or neighboring farmers who accidentally entered the area would be politely asked to leave by the Guan family. If they were in trouble, the Guan family would even offer financial assistance.
These small gestures earned the Guan family a good reputation, and the nearby villagers praised them.
At the foot of Qiyun Mountain.
In a village known as Cloud Village.
"The Guan family has been so kind to our Cloud Village, can you really betray them?"
An honest old man yelled at a young man kneeling on the ground, his hand holding a rattan stick.
"Dad, Chunxiang and I are in love. It was the people from the Guan family who interfered and took Chunxiang away. I just want justice. Is that wrong?"
The young man resisted.
He and Chunxiang had been childhood sweethearts. A few days ago while frolicking in the mountains, they accidentally encountered a young man. Later, Chunxiang disappeared.
Only recently at their secret meeting place did he find a message Chunxiang left behind. It turned out the young man was a young master from the Guan family, who had forcibly taken Chunxiang away because he fancied her looks.
"You, making rash accusations, everybody can see the Guan family’s care for our Cloud Village. Would the young master of the Guan family do such a thing? Reflect well!"
The old man continuously lashed at the young man with his whip, beating him before walking away in tears, slamming the door of the courtyard behind him.
The young man gritted his teeth.
He once believed the Guan family were all good people. But recent journeys introduced him to friends of the Martial World and he learned vaguely of a major event that happened two years ago.
Moreover, as his horizons expanded, the young man realized that the Guan family had used their original land of Cloud Village for a mere ten silver coins per household. Compared to their extensive commercial gains from the land, it was nothing!
Some harsh realities were being revealed to him.
"If you’re not convinced, would you like to accompany me to the Guan family?"
A magnetic voice sounded. The young man looked up to see a handsome young man in a green shirt smiling at him.
"Who are you, and when did you come in?"
The young man got up from the ground.
"I’m only asking if you want to accompany me to Qiyun Mountain."
Shi Xiaole passed through Cloud Village, heard the commotion, and casually strolled in.
"No way! Few can match the Guan family’s power in Qingxue state. Even the government treats them politely. I fear the moment we enter Qiyun Mountain, we’ll be dragged out."
The young man shook his head, a desperate look on his face.
"To give up even the courage to try for your own lover, what a pity."
Shi Xiaole turned to walk away.
The young man’s face changed, shouting, "Who says I don’t have courage? I’ll go with you. At worst, we’ll be thrown out. I’d rather die than not see Chunxiang!"
As soon as they approached Qiyun Mountain, Shi Xiaole clearly sensed many conspicuous and hidden scouts. If the whole mountain was set up like this, not even an advanced Spiritual-Passage Realm martial artist could make it to the top.
As soon as the two of them set foot on Qiyun Mountain lands, the wind whistled as six Guan family experts stopped them. One of them coldly said, "This is Guan, kindly leave."
The young man said, "I want to see Chunxiang!"
"Whichever Chunxiang or Winter Spice, immediately..."
The six Guan family experts suddenly fell silent, staring at the young man in the green shirt as if they’d seen a ghost.
"It seems you recognize me."
Shi Xiaole smiled.
"Coward, you dare come here to die?"
The six men shouted. The fastest drew a flare from his sleeve, preparing to alert others.
Hehe, now’s my chance to prove my worth!
A gentle breeze blew. The six frozen in place.
"Let’s go."
Shi Xiaole passed through the six men. The young man watched in confusion, suddenly realizing the young master might be a martial arts master. Without further thought, he quickly followed.
Only much later, after the two had left, did the Guan men fall breathless to the ground.
All the way up, the young man was astonished.
He realized Guan family’s respected experts became like mice before a cat when they encountered Shi Xiaole, all of them frozen silent.
Walking casually, nearing the mountaintop, finally, the Guan experts behind them detected Shi Xiaole. Suddenly, more than a dozen flares shot into the sky, bursting into fireworks.
"Young master, run. Otherwise we’ll be surrounded!"
The young man was greatly alarmed. He had advised the youth early on, suggesting to sneak around secretly; this pompous, grandstanding display was bound to expose them sooner or later! Now, judging by the experts rushing down from the peak, it seemed the entire Guan Family had been alerted.
"Shi Xiaole!"
The Guan Family experts shouted out, their facial expressions changing drastically.
A few years ago, after seeing a battle, the portrait of Shi Xiaole had been widely circulated in the Guan Family, so almost everyone could recognize him now.
Seeing him, some were thrilled, some excited, but many bore looks of astounded uncertainty.
Had this kid lost his mind, daring to show up here in such a high-profile way? Could it be that he had found some formidable backing?
"Shi the Cur, you killed innocents, destroyed human nature, and were driven away by the Righteous Path of Qingxue State. But now you’re quite capable, aren’t you? Have you sought shelter within the Devil Path, learned some sinister techniques, and hence became so brazen?"
A gray-haired elder spoke in a deep voice. He was Elder Seven, responsible for the security of the Guan family’s periphery. As he spoke, he waved his hand, ordering those around him to maintain a distance of at least thirty zhang from Shi Xiaole.
Everyone had a fresh memory of what happened two years ago in Iron Pass Town. They were not afraid of anything else, only fearing that Shi would utilize some powerful hidden weapon.
Moreover, if it weren’t for using hidden weapons and underhanded tactics, how could the enemy break through the previous outpost without making a sound?
Shi Xiaole could easily sense that the gray-haired elder was at the fifth tier of the Spiritual-Passage Realm, which was considered top-level among the experts in Qingxue State.
"Sir Shi doesn’t seek help from anyone, especially not when dealing with the Guan Family. Why would I need outside help?"
Said Shi Xiaole.
Facing the Guan Family experts who were besieging him from all directions, his expression remained unchanged. This composed demeanor unexpectedly calmed down the panicking young man beside him.
"You arrogant bitch, I will chop you down!"
A Guan Family expert in his thirties lashed out angrily. His strength was surprisingly at the first tier of the Spiritual-Passage Realm. His thinking was simple: to test Shi Xiaole’s strength to provide an idea to everyone else.
Swish.
A Sword Qi passed by like a breeze. No one could see how Shi Xiaole made his move, only knowing that the Guan Family expert was still rushing forward while his head got separated from his body.
Ss!
"What?!"
The Guan Family experts were horrified, they simply couldn’t believe their own eyes.
"You’ve actually advanced to the first tier of the Spiritual-Passage Realm?"
The gray-haired elder’s cloudy eyes widened, and his body trembled.
How was this possible? When he left two years ago, his cultivation was only at the third tier of the Xuanqi Realm. Now he’s in the Spiritual-Passage Realm? How did he do that?!
"Form up the Guan Family battle array!"
The gray-haired elder, true to his position as the security chief, quickly regained his composure. He waved his hand, and the Guan Family experts sprung into action. Around 200 people formed a large circle, encircling Shi Xiaole.
All of these 200 people were top-tier experts in the Xuanqi Realm. One-on-one, of course, they wouldn’t be a match for Shi Xiaole. Yet, what they intended to execute was the Rotating Array System of the Guan Family.
This Array System could merge the aura of 200 people into one, and its might could kill even the experts at tier-six of the Spiritual-Passage Realm.
One must know, in Qingxue State, experts at the fifth tier of the Spiritual-Passage Realm held a place on the Feng Dust List. Which meant, even formidable experts on the Feng Dust List would not have a high chance of success here!
Five years ago, Master Ten Commandments, the ninth on the Feng Dust List, tried to forcibly break into this place, but was pinned down by the Rotating Array System, left with no choice but to retreat helplessly.
Whistling sounds of breaking the wind kept resounding.
The top personnel of the Guan Family in the mountaintop buildings heard the commotion and also rushed over. Seeing the situation here, some of them laughed loudly, "Damn mutt, we have been waiting for you for a long time!"
"Don’t hurry to kill him, leave him to me for some gratifying torture!"
A woman in her thirties snarled angrily. She was the mother of Guan Fei who was killed by Shi Xiaole two years ago. She dreamed about biting off Shi Xiaole’s flesh and swallowing his blood.
"This person is Shi Xiaole?"
Guan Mulei, the master of the Guan family, a middle-aged man with well-preserved skin, squinted his eyes, brimming with deep-seated hatred.
Because of Shi Xiaole, the Guan Family had lost many experts in Iron Pass Town. Although it didn’t entirely damage the Guan Family’s strength, it did hurt their vitality and would take at least a decade to recover.
As the master of the Guan Family, nobody wanted to kill Shi Xiaole more than he did.
Beside Guan Mulei, a man in a five-colored robe had a gloomy face. He was the second strongest in the Guan Family, who had encountered Shi Xiaole in Iron Pass Town - the Five Flower Wanderer, who ranked 28th on the Feng Dust List.
Shi Xiaole regarded some of the main figures, and the killing intent in his eyes gradually thickened. He said word by word: "Wearing the mask of a prominent Righteous Path sect, yet carrying out utterly vile and vicious acts. You coveted my skills, harmed me first, and implicated the innocent afterwards, forcing my friends. I will settle these two scores today with blood!"
"Hahaha, Shi, you’re talking nonsense! The Guan Family walks a right path, sits upright, and will not tolerate your slander! Clearly, it is you who have repeatedly defied the will of the Righteous Path, committing egregious acts, leading to today’s tragic situation. You’ve even put your friends in harm’s way; all are the consequences of your own actions!"
"Shi the Cur, while there’s still time, hand over those people you’ve been hiding. Perhaps our Guan Family can show some mercy and give you a way to survive."
A few people scolded him loudly.
Meanwhile, under the stealthy gesturing of their leader Guan Mulei, the Guan Family high-ranking officials were steadily retreating. The dozen or so experts at the Spiritual-Passage Realm were each standing at their designated locations.
Shi Xiaole wasn’t the most fearsome. What they feared was the backing behind Shi Xiaole.
Fortunately, the ancestors of the Guan Family had buried a formidable Array System here when it was first established, which could attack when advancing and defend when retreating. Now, they just needed to see what card Shi Xiaole had up his sleeve.
