Meng Huaiguang frowned thoughtfully upon hearing this.
“As far as I know, those three all come from backgrounds as Unaffiliated Wanderers without any sect.
Now the imperial court has sent them to each guard a province and supports their cultivation unconditionally.
Would they really dare to throw away such a bright future and defy the court’s wishes just to let that old sword slave go?”
Xie Jiuzhen was about to speak when a sudden rush of footsteps came from outside the hall.
A Jinyang Sect disciple stumbled into the room and dropped to one knee, a fine layer of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
“Young... Young Sect Master! Something’s wrong! Someone’s causing trouble at the city gate!”
Meng Huaiguang was already feeling bored, so instead of being annoyed, his eyes lit up as he sat straight in his tiger-skin chair.
“Oh? Who is so bold as to cause trouble here?”
The disciple swallowed hard and said in a trembling voice, “It’s... it’s the people from the Frost-Sigh Sect, along with a young man wielding a spear. Senior Brother Liu is being held with a spear against the back of his neck, and he doesn’t dare to move. A large crowd has gathered at the city gate, and the commoners are all watching and laughing at us...”
“A spear?”
Meng Huaiguang was startled for a moment before he threw his head back and laughed. His laughter echoed through the empty back hall, filled with undisguised contempt.
“These days, any random nobody thinks they can come out and make a fool of themselves?
A spearman?
In all my years, I have never seen a Spearman who could actually amount to anything!”
He stood up abruptly, grabbed the high-quality long saber from the table, and casually flourished it. The blade flashed with a cold light under the candle flames.
“Uncle Xie, isn’t this a coincidence? I was just complaining about being bored, and now someone has delivered themselves to my doorstep to die. Come, let’s go have a look!”
Xie Jiuzhen’s brow furrowed slightly as his withered fingers stroked his sparse beard. He looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated.
He felt that things weren't that simple.
A young man wielding a spear who dared to act against Jinyang Sect disciples at the gate of Luoyan City was either fearless because he had a powerful backing or simply insane.
But seeing his Young Sect Master’s excited expression, he ultimately said nothing. He simply rose silently and followed like a withered shadow.
Meng Huaiguang strode through the front courtyard. When he reached the gate, he suddenly stopped and glanced toward the side rooms to the east.
The doors and windows of those three side rooms were tightly shut, no candles were lit, and they were as silent as if no one lived there.
“Where are those three?” he asked the disciple following behind him in a low voice.
“Reporting to the Young Sect Master, Grandmaster He is sitting in meditation in his room, Grandmaster Liu is on the city wall admiring the snow, and Old Immortal Qiu... your subordinate does not know his whereabouts.”
Meng Huaiguang scoffed, a flicker of displeasure crossing his face, but he quickly regained his arrogant and flamboyant expression.
“No matter. A few insignificant fools who don't know the height of the heavens aren't worth disturbing the three Grandmasters.
I will go meet them personally.
I’ll let the three Grandmasters see that the blades of my Jinyang Sect are not just for show!”
He raised his voice intentionally for the last part, clearly intended for the people in the east side rooms to hear.
Unfortunately, the three rooms remained silent, offering no response.
The smile on Meng Huaiguang’s face stiffened for a moment before he violently snapped his sleeve and strode toward the city gate.
Xie Jiuzhen followed behind him, a hint of worry flashing in his cloudy old eyes.
He wanted to remind the Young Sect Master not to harm the disciple of the Frost-Sigh Sect.
Even if the Frost-Sigh Sect was currently in decline, they wouldn't let such a thing slide.
But he opened his mouth and eventually swallowed his words.
He knew Meng Huaiguang too well.
This Young Sect Master had been spoiled by the entire sect since childhood.
His talent was indeed remarkable, but his arrogance was boundless, and he hated nothing more than honest advice.
The more one tried to persuade him, the more stubborn he became.
Fine, fine. As long as he, this old man, was still around, things shouldn't get completely out of hand.
...
At the city gate.
Chen Zui’s spear tip remained steady against Senior Brother Liu’s neck, the force controlled perfectly.
The tip had pierced the skin, drawing a bead of blood the size of a mung bean, but it didn't truly wound him.
Senior Brother Liu was frozen in place, not daring to take a single breath. Cold sweat poured down his face, dripping onto the snow and creating small pits.
The other Jinyang Sect disciples behind him were as quiet as cicadas in winter, their hands on their saber hilts but not daring to draw them.
Though they usually acted like tyrants relying on the prestige of the Jinyang Sect, when they encountered a truly Tough Nut, their inherent cowardice was fully exposed.
Chen Zui was in no hurry. He stood there lazily, holding the spear with one hand while using the other to pull a wine flask from his waist and take a swig. His posture was as relaxed as if he were cooling off in his own backyard.
The commoners waiting in line to enter the city saw this, and although they didn't dare to cheer openly, their eyes were filled with satisfaction.
The Jinyang Sect had been lording it over the northwest for years, and the people had been forced to swallow their anger.
Now that someone was venting that frustration for them, who wasn't secretly cheering in their heart?
Ye Zhibai stood behind Chen Zui, her hand on her sword hilt as she warily scanned the surroundings.
Xiao Chengyan shrank behind Ye Zhibai, his eyes darting around.
He whispered, “Brother Chen, you’re being a bit too flashy.”
Chen Zui smiled and said, “I came here specifically to find trouble with that Young Sect Master. If I don’t do this, how can I force him out?”
Before his voice had even faded, a mess of footsteps echoed from inside the city gate.
Immediately following that, an extremely arrogant voice exploded through the crowd.
“Which blind fool dares to touch my Jinyang Sect’s people?!”
The crowd parted like a tide, creating a wide path.
Meng Huaiguang strode forward, his fine silk attire gleaming with a dull luster in the firelight.
Behind him followed a dozen Jinyang Sect disciples, each with a gold-scabbarded long saber at their waist, looking aggressive.
As soon as Senior Brother Liu heard his Young Sect Master’s voice, it was as if he had found a lifesaver, and he wailed at the top of his lungs.
“Young Sect Master! Young Sect Master, save me! This unknown brat is pointing a spear at me and has absolutely no respect for our Jinyang Sect!”
Chen Zui didn't even blink. His spear tip remained motionless against the man’s neck.
Meng Huaiguang approached, his gaze first falling on Ye Zhibai with a flicker of amusement.
“I wondered who it was. So it’s Junior Sister Ye of the Frost-Sigh Sect.”
He sized Ye Zhibai up and down, a lewd smile hanging on his lips.
“Junior Sister Ye, instead of staying in your sect to practice your amateur sword techniques, what are you doing in Luoyan City? Could it be you heard I was here and came specifically to throw yourself into my arms?”
Ye Zhibai’s face darkened instantly, and a low hum vibrated from her scabbard.
“Meng Huaiguang, watch your mouth.”
“Oh, getting angry?”
Meng Huaiguang laughed loudly, and only then did his gaze slowly turn toward Chen Zui.
He first looked at the spear in Chen Zui’s hand.
A common red-tasseled spear with no decent decorations on the shaft; it clearly wasn't any sort of valuable weapon.
Then he looked at Chen Zui’s clothing.
Coarse cloth clothes with several tears at the cuffs—he looked like a refugee fleeing a famine.
Finally, his gaze landed on Chen Zui’s face. That young face held a hint of a cynical smile, and he didn't look like an expert no matter how one viewed him.
Meng Huaiguang was completely relieved, and the contempt on his face almost overflowed.
“I say, you’re a spearman. Why aren't you out farming in the countryside instead of coming to the city gate to act wild?”
Chen Zui finally looked up and slowly met Meng Huaiguang’s gaze.
“So you’re the Young Sect Master of the Jinyang Sect?”
“That would be me.”
Meng Huaiguang puffed out his chest, his chin tilted up in an arrogant manner.
“That’s perfect. It saves me the trouble of looking for you.”
Chen Zui smiled slightly and flicked his wrist. The spear tip moved away from Senior Brother Liu’s neck, drawing an arc in the air before pointing directly at Meng Huaiguang.
“I have two matters with you.”
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