The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 270: Chapter 267: Someone from the Yang Family

"Feng San escaped?"

Cangsong Taoist was a little surprised, but his eyes held a hint of schadenfreude.

When he learned that Fa Ding was also coming to Dingzhou, he lost all interest in the matters here and stopped asking about them.

Fatong naturally saw through Cangsong Taoist’s thoughts, so he hadn’t asked Cangsong Taoist to intervene during the crackdown on the Cao Bang.

Since Monk Fatong had handled this matter alone from start to finish, even if the Celestial Profound Sect decided to assign blame, they would only punish the Buddhist sect.

As a member of the Daoist Sect, Cangsong Taoist was naturally happy to watch the show.

"Yes."

Fatong nodded, his face dark.

He had already scoured the surrounding mountains and forests but still couldn’t find any sign of Feng San or the short, stocky man.

Cangsong Taoist asked curiously, "Who was it that rescued Feng San?"

"I don’t know. All I know is that it was a master of fist techniques."

’Fist techniques...’

Cangsong Taoist murmured to himself. There were countless fist experts in the Jianghu; finding this one would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Monk Fatong lost the desire to continue speaking with Cangsong Taoist. With a flick of his monastic robes, he strode away.

He was no longer interested in dwelling on who had rescued Feng San, as it was now meaningless.

He had more important things to do. Before long, he would have to face the Cao Bang’s counterattack.

...

「Guiyuan County.」

"Ah Yuan, what took you so long?"

Yang Fangyu looked curiously at Bai Yuan, who was walking in through the city gates.

The Yang Family generals who had gone out with Bai Yuan had already been back in the city for half a day, but Bai Yuan was only just now returning.

Bai Yuan said, "I ran into the Celestial Profound Sect and the Cao Bang. I helped out a little."

Hearing this, Yang Fangyu gave a knowing smile. Bai Yuan didn’t elaborate, and Yang Fangyu didn’t press further.

’He didn’t even need to think about it. Bai Yuan had definitely gone to stir up trouble; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been delayed for so long.’

"I’ve had it with those stinking Daoist priests for a long time."

Yang Fangyu spat on the ground.

Just then, Li Huan walked over. After hearing about what Bai Yuan did last night from Yang Fangyu, he also looked excited.

Fenggu County wasn’t far from Guiyuan County. Given the Celestial Profound Sect’s domineering ways, they were bound to covet Guiyuan County. Now that the Cao Bang was keeping them busy, the Celestial Profound Sect wouldn’t have the mind to target them.

This was simply great news.

Besides, that Elder Monk Fatong from Qingzhou was quite close with his third brother, which naturally displeased him.

Li Huan said, "By the way, according to intelligence I received from the Prince’s Mansion, the one presiding over this stretch of the Great Wall in Dingzhou should be Kuaidong."

The expressions on both Bai Yuan’s and Yang Fangyu’s faces changed.

It was truly a small world for enemies.

Still, it seemed logical. After the decisive battle between the Demon Sect and the Northern Garrison Army, all the Demon Sect masters who had been hiding in the Northern Territory had withdrawn to the Great Wall.

As a famous master from the Northern Plains, it was highly likely that Kuaidong would continue to be stationed in Shuofang.

Yang Fangyu said, "Looks like we’ll have to be even more low-key."

Bai Yuan nodded.

Kuaidong was a ruthless man who had even defeated Du Qinghui. If they were targeted in Dingzhou, no one would be coming to save them.

Li Huan said, "But don’t worry too much. The Cao Bang, the Jiangnan Commerce Association, the Celestial Profound Sect, the Lu State Fang Family, and Brother Yang’s family have already sent experts here."

Yang Fangyu nodded. "I just received a message from my family. My uncle will arrive in Dingzhou tomorrow."

The spoils in Dingzhou were so vast that it was impossible for just a few of them to take it all.

Looking back, being able to conquer Guiyuan City was already a pleasant surprise.

Now, the truly top-tier powers of Xuan Yang were finally entering the fray, which was bound to stir up even greater storms.

Yang Fangyu looked at Bai Yuan and Li Huan apologetically. "Ah Yuan, Brother Li, I want to buy this city. I promise to satisfy you with the highest price my Yang Family can offer."

Previously, the Yang Family’s stance was unclear, but now they have decided to come to Dingzhou.

If Yang Fangyu could secure a city at this time, his status within the family would surely skyrocket.

The competition within every great family was fierce, and the Yang Family was no exception.

Although Yang Fangyu was outstanding, he wasn’t the highest-ranked among the Yang Family’s younger generation.

His reason for coming to Ling Province to serve as Prefect was also to vie for a higher position in his family.

Bai Yuan and Li Huan exchanged a look.

’To be honest, for Bai Yuan, Guiyuan City was dispensable. If he could trade it for a Cultivation Technique, he would actually come out ahead.’

’Among the three of them, Li Huan’s opinion was the one that mattered most.’

Li Huan smiled faintly. "Fang Yu, you can’t use your family as an excuse to give your brothers a low price."

Hearing Li Huan’s reply, Yang Fangyu was overjoyed. The heart that had been hanging in suspense finally settled.

To be honest, he deeply valued their friendship, but Guiyuan City was also crucial for his future. Therefore, from the bottom of his heart, he hoped the matter could be resolved perfectly.

Li Huan looked at Yang Fangyu, who was no longer as tense as before.

’Of course, he had his own considerations as well.’

’The current situation was no longer what they had initially predicted. Although he came from the Qingzhou Royal Race, his father, the King of Qingzhou, had no intention of getting involved in Dingzhou’s affairs. This meant he was essentially on his own.’

’Those major powers were clearly determined to carve up Dingzhou. He was powerless to resist them alone, so it was better to sell for a good price now.’

’Besides, he was unwilling to lose two friends with such immense potential.’

’Although their previous small circle had many people, and Zhu Wu, Wang Daming, and Liang Ren were all great,’

’there was no doubt that his relationship with Bai Yuan and Yang Fangyu was now much closer.’

’Furthermore, in Li Huan’s opinion, Bai Yuan’s and Yang Fangyu’s potential was the greatest among them all.’

Yang Fangyu laughed heartily. "Don’t worry, I’ll definitely give my brothers the highest price."

...

「Dusk the next day.」

A procession so long that one couldn’t see its end appeared outside Guiyuan City.

The one leading the way, mounted on a magnificent white steed, was none other than Yang Fangyu’s second uncle, Yang Jiuyan.

"Second Uncle."

Yang Fangyu and Bai Yuan were already waiting at the city gates.

Yang Jiuyan looked at his nephew, a smile gracing his otherwise stern face. "Fang Yu."

Yang Fangyu trotted over to take Yang Jiuyan’s reins, personally leading the procession into the city.

Bai Yuan had already cleared the Poison Array outside the city, which was why the Yang Family members were able to enter Guiyuan City completely unharmed.

Yang Fangyu led Yang Jiuyan to the County Magistrate’s Office.

Yang Jiuyan unhesitatingly took the Grandmaster’s Chair that had belonged to the County Magistrate. The other Yang Family experts stood on either side, while Bai Yuan and Li Huan were also seated among them.

Yang Jiuyan looked toward Bai Yuan and Li Huan and stroked his beard with a smile. "These two young heroes must be the two friends Fang Yu often mentions."

"Bai Yuan, it is an honor to meet you, Senior."

"Li Huan, it is an honor to meet you, Senior."

Bai Yuan and Li Huan rose and bowed to Yang Jiuyan.

Yang Jiuyan waved his hand, his tone easygoing. "We are all family here. There is no need for such formalities."

Bai Yuan observed Yang Jiuyan discreetly.

He had already heard about this "Tiger of the Yang Family" from Yang Fangyu.

The Yang Family was originally a family of scholars. The reason Yang Fangyu had traded the pen for the sword was precisely due to the influence of this second uncle of his.

Yang Jiuyan had once served as General Dingyuan in the Northern Garrison Army and was held in high regard by Xu Dingchun. It was because of him that the Yang Family came to be considered part of Xu Dingchun’s faction.

Yang Jiuyan’s military achievements in the Northern Garrison Army were illustrious, and even Emperor Xuanyang had been prepared to give him a position of great importance. However, he voluntarily laid down his armor and returned to the Yang Family.

After that, nothing more was heard of him. But according to Yang Fangyu, the Tiger of the Yang Family’s realm had advanced again, and his strength was unfathomable.

Bai Yuan’s perception was already sharp, and he could actually sense an aura from Yang Jiuyan that was nearly identical to that of his master, Dong Wanjun.

Yang Jiuyan first looked toward Li Huan. "I wonder, is the old Prince’s health still good?"

"My father’s constitution is robust. He has been without illness for a hundred years."

Yang Jiuyan nodded with a smile.

He then turned to Bai Yuan. "It’s a pity I left the Northern Garrison Army too early. Otherwise, I might have had the chance to fight alongside your master."

Yang Jiuyan had already learned of Bai Yuan’s identity from Yang Fangyu.

Come to think of it, Bai Yuan and the Yang Family both belonged to Xu Dingchun’s faction, which made him practically one of their own.

Bai Yuan said, "My master also used to speak of General Yang’s divine martial prowess."

"Truly?"

Yang Jiuyan’s interest was immediately piqued.

"Of course, it is true."

Bai Yuan said without a change in expression.

Hearing this, Yang Jiuyan was overjoyed, as if he had just won a great battle.

Dong Wanjun was now the Grand General of the North. To be acknowledged by such a man naturally made Yang Jiuyan happy.

Bai Yuan blinked.

’In truth, Old Dong had only mentioned Yang Jiuyan’s name once. The words "divine martial prowess" were, of course, his own addition.’

’But as Old Dong’s only True Disciple, he figured Old Dong wouldn’t mind.’

"I hope to one day have the chance to meet your master."

Yang Jiuyan was in high spirits. He finally turned his gaze to his nephew.

"Fang Yu, you’ve done very well. Not only did you conquer this city, but you also made good friends. I imagine your father will be very pleased."

Yang Fangyu’s expression remained calm. "Thank you for the praise, Second Uncle."

Yang Jiuyan’s status in the Yang Family was extremely high. With his praise, Yang Fangyu’s own confidence and standing within the family would be much stronger.

Despite Yang Fangyu’s free-spirited demeanor, his father’s position in the Yang Family was actually quite ordinary.

It was a complete case of a father gaining prestige through his son.

If Yang Fangyu hadn’t displayed his extraordinary talent in the Martial Dao, his immediate family’s standing in the Yang Family would have been poor, far from comparable to Yang Jiuyan’s branch.

Perhaps as a way for the heavens to balance the scales, all of Yang Jiuyan’s own sons were failures.

The best of them was merely an Advanced Martial Artist, which was why Yang Fangyu had the opportunity to get close to Yang Jiuyan.

Yang Jiuyan chatted amiably with Bai Yuan and Li Huan for a few more moments before his expression became stern once more.

This was the Yang Jiuyan who reminded people that he was once a General of the Northern Garrison Army who had led troops to slay thousands of Northern Barbarians.

"Fang Yu, I hear you’ve had some friction with the Celestial Profound Sect?"

Yang Fangyu nodded. "Yes."

Yang Jiuyan snorted coldly. "The Celestial Profound Sect has been cooped up in the Northern Territory for too long. Do they really think they’re invincible?"

The hall fell silent; no one dared to speak.

Only a man like Yang Jiuyan would dare to say such words.

Everyone called the Celestial Profound Sect the number one sect in the Northern Lands. Even in the context of the entire Xuan Yang, they were a force to be reckoned with.

Yang Jiuyan waved his hand domineeringly. "I will handle this matter myself. You need not worry."

Bai Yuan and Li Huan exchanged a glance.

They had already heard a great deal about Yang Jiuyan from Yang Fangyu.

But they hadn’t expected that after actually meeting Yang Jiuyan, he would be so much to their liking.