Volume 2 Chapter 31: Fine Steeds - Martial God

Chapter 31: Fine Steeds A small snow-white kitten with long fur looked at the people in the hall with glassy eyes, appearing somewhat timid. The people in the hall had long since noticed the kitten hidden in the shadows, but none of them paid it any attention. Although their faces maintained calm expressions, they couldn't hide the anxiety in their eyes. Suddenly, footsteps sounded from outside, followed by the entrance of six people. As soon as the kitten saw one of them, it flew up and jumped directly into He Yi Tian's arms. He Yi Ming's eyes widened, and his gaze became a little fixed. He was puzzled, wondering since when his elder brother had started keeping a cat. Feeling slightly awkward, He Yi Tian smiled and softly said, "This is your sister-in-law's beloved." He Yi Ming immediately understood—it had been brought from the Cheng family. Indeed, the position of his sister-in-law in the family was quite extraordinary, not just because she was the wife of the eldest grandson, but more importantly, her family background was the Cheng family. The dowry she brought was so abundant that even several elders in the family had to take note. Thus, even if she wanted a cat for leisure, or even a tiger, the family would merely turn a blind eye and act as if they hadn't seen anything. Originally, there were three people in the hall. Besides an elderly steward, two travelers bore the marks of long journeys. One was middle-aged, around forty or fifty, while the other was young, roughly the same age as He Yi Tian, about twenty-five. The moment He Wu De entered the hall, the middle-aged man immediately stood up and hurriedly approached He Wu De, dropping to his knees and saying, "Your nephew Cheng Zhi greets Uncle He." He Wu De was momentarily taken aback. Clearly, he hadn't expected such a grand gesture upon their first meeting. However, his reaction was swift, extending a hand to pull him up from the ground, saying, "Nephew Yuan, you've traveled a long way; there's no need for such formalities." Yuan Cheng Zhi had intended to pay his respects deeply, but with He Wu De's gentle touch, he was understandably unable to continue. Yet, he was filled with mixed emotions—delighted that this elder was indeed the formidable expert his father had mentioned. However, with He refusing his respects, he feared their plea for assistance might not go as planned. After getting up, Yuan Cheng Zhi gestured to his son, saying, "Li Ling, hurry over and greet Grandpa He and your uncles." The young man stepped forward and, with only a moment's hesitation, bowed deeply as his father had. This time, He Wu De did not stop him, instead choosing to accept the reverence. Afterward, he beckoned, "Yi Tian, Yi Ming, come and greet Uncle Yuan." Internally lamenting his luck, He Yi Ming dared not defy and joined his elder brother in kneeling and bowing. Yuan Cheng Zhi's expression shifted slightly, hurriedly saying it was too much, and he attempted to assist them but was rendered immobile by He Wu De's grip, forced to reluctantly accept their gesture. Once formalities were complete, He Wu De straightforwardly said, "Cheng Zhi, I’ve read your father’s letter. Our families have collaborated for years. Now that an outsider has come to bully you, I cannot stand by idly." The wistful look on Yuan Cheng Zhi's face vanished, replaced by surprise and delight. Apparently, he hadn't expected old He to agree so readily. In fact, He Wu De also felt quite deeply. Had it been three years earlier, when He Yi Ming had yet to rise, and He Quan Xin hadn't advanced to the tenth level by consuming a golden elixir, no matter how much more Yuan's gifts were, He might not have acted so easily. After all, their opponent was a formidable expert at the tenth level of inner strength. Engaging someone of such supremacy could easily lead to mortal peril. And the He family still needed him, the aged cornerstone, to keep watch. But within just three years, the situation had undergone a seismic shift. Now, not only did the He family boast three masters at the tenth level of inner strength, but they also possessed seven supreme elixirs for use. So, after Yuan offered ten thousand taels of gold and a tenth of their profit, He Wu De agreed. Yuan Cheng Zhi took a deep breath, recalling his father’s parting words. Although the He and Yuan families were far apart, their mutual support made them the most likely to assist each other. It seemed his father's insight had been spot on. A faint glimmer in his eyes, Yuan Cheng Zhi spoke solemnly, "Uncle He, our Yuan family will never forget your generosity." The Yuan family had already scattered countless requests for aid. Despite having no tenth-level expert, their connections included several families with at least one such master in residence. However, to date, none had formally responded. So when He Wu De agreed without hesitation, his emotions were understandably intense. He Wu De smiled gently, "There's no need for gratitude, nephew. I see you've traveled far and are weary. Why not rest here tonight? Tomorrow, I’ll send Quan Xin, Yi Tian, and Yi Ming with you to Jinlin." Yuan Cheng Zhi hastily replied, "Uncle He, when saving lives, every moment counts. If it’s convenient, we could leave immediately..." He paused abruptly, "Uncle He, did you say Quan Xin and the two young masters will accompany me?" He Wu De nodded slowly, "Indeed. With them, it should suffice." Yuan Cheng Zhi's face fell, his lips quivered, and he sighed deeply, "Uncle He, I have a request I hope you will consider." "Speak," He Wu De replied impassively. Yuan Cheng Zhi pulled his son, Yuan Li Ling, close, "This is my son, Li Ling, the direct grandson of the Yuan family’s third generation. If our family faces disaster, I hope you might take him in, offer him a meal, and allow a thread of the Yuan family to survive. For this, we would be eternally grateful." He Quan Xin and the others exchanged glances. His words were so bleak, suggesting the Yuan family was already on the brink of ruin. He Wu De snorted softly, "Nephew Cheng Zhi, if you leave Li Ling here, the He family will certainly care for him. But your Yuan family won’t fall so easily." Yuan Cheng Zhi sighed helplessly, "Uncle He, the current head of the Jinlin Fan family is a peerless master at the tenth inner strength level. Without your intervention, no one else can contend." Yuan Li Ling, who had been silent, stepped forward, "Father, I wish to stay with you. I won’t be left behind." Though softly spoken, his words carried a resolute will like a mountain, signaling his unwavering decision. Yuan Cheng Zhi's face flushed momentarily, suppressing the volcanic rage within. Coldly, he said, "Li Ling, as the direct grandson of the Yuan family, you have your responsibilities. If you can’t uphold them, then the Yuan family will not recognize you." The muscles in Yuan Li Ling's face twitched slightly, but he offered no retort. Instead, he knelt swiftly before He Wu De, bowing hard in rapid succession, his forehead quickly becoming red, a testament to his sincerity. He Wu De promptly helped him up, lamenting, "Good child, since you’ve come to the He family, we won’t let you leave disappointed." Hope rekindled in both Yuan Cheng Zhi and his son’s eyes. Could he mean he would intervene personally? He Wu De gestured to He Quan Xin, "This is my eldest son, Quan Xin. Perhaps you haven’t met before. He should be sufficient to face the head of the Fan family." Father and son were momentarily stunned, then their eyes shone brighter. Yuan Cheng Zhi asked, voice trembling, "Brother He, have you reached the pinnacle of the tenth level?" He Quan Xin laughed heartily, "Brother Yuan, it was merely by a stroke of luck." Father and son were truly overjoyed this time, though they also looked upon the He's newfound prowess with reverence. A family with just one tenth-level master rarely encountered trouble. With two, their fame would surely spread far and wide, even ancient families would be cautious to provoke them. While the He family in Taicang County might not match the Yuan family in size, in martial prowess, they were leagues apart. He Quan Xin glanced at He Yi Tian and He Yi Ming, likely thinking these youngsters were going along to broaden their horizons. Little did he know, despite his broad experience, that He Yi Ming possessed strength surpassing even He Quan Xin. Two hours later, eight swift horses galloped out of He Family Estate. Among these eight horses, aside from He Yi Ming's Hong Ling steed, the other seven were the finest from the He Family Estate. Though they couldn't compare to Hong Ling, they were much better than human endurance over long distances. During these two hours, Yuan Cheng Zhi had eaten, freshened up, and taken a brief nap. Despite being an eighth-level expert in internal strength, the nonstop journey from afar had left him extremely tired. If it weren't for his worry, he would've definitely rested longer. Meanwhile, He Quan Xin and the others quickly bid farewell to their families. Although Cheng Yan Li and Lin Wen Yu had complaints about their departure during the New Year, they didn't object. As for He Quan Xin, being the head of the family, once he decided on something, no one except He Wu De could overrule him. And so, within just two hours, they left the He Family Estate, embarking on their journey to Jinlin. Two days later, on a desolate official road, eight swift horses sped by. Ahead, they saw a small river. Though it was winter, only a thin layer of ice had formed on the river, and they could faintly hear the water gurgling beneath it. One rider gently pulled his reins, bringing the horses to a halt. He Quan Xin glanced around and said, "Brother Yuan, we've ridden for half a day. Shall we take a brief rest?" Yuan Cheng Zhi, visibly tired yet still anxious, agreed without hesitation, "Indeed." The four men brought eight strong horses to alternate mounts. However, even with this rotation under such intense travel conditions, not all horses could keep up. Breaking the thin ice by the river, they organized themselves briefly, feeling refreshed. Yuan Cheng Zhi's gaze fell on the Hong Ling horse beside He Yi Ming, and he sighed, "Nephew Yi Ming, where did you acquire such an exceptional steed? It's truly a remarkable horse." Among the eight horses, Hong Ling's capacity was much higher. It carried the three hundred sixty-pound guandao that none of the other horses could handle, and He Yi Ming had been riding it nonstop without switching. Despite this, Hong Ling was still in the best condition out of the eight, showing eagerness as if the journey hadn't tired it out at all. Such a fine horse could invoke envy in anyone knowledgeable about horses. He Yi Ming smiled fondly, gently stroking Hong Ling's side, "Uncle Yuan, it was a gift." "A gift?" Yuan Cheng Zhi was stunned; the horse's value was immeasurable, and he couldn't fathom who would give such a prized steed to He Yi Ming. He Quan Xin also admired the horse, but knowing some of He Yi Ming's past, he wasn't surprised. Suddenly, the sound of rapid hooves echoed from afar as a group sped down the official road. A troop of over thirty riders approached, led by one who abruptly reined in, guiding them toward the river. Stopping dozens of meters away, they also broke the ice for water, many dipping their heads in heedless of the cold. Before long, their rowdy laughter reached them, causing He Yi Ming and his group to frown slightly. "Bandits," Yuan Cheng Zhi whispered suddenly. He Yi Ming was taken aback, "Uncle Yuan, how can you tell?" Yuan Cheng Zhi gestured, "This area, at the border between Tianluo and Jinlin, is a haven for bandits. Their actions and attire give them away." He Yi Ming focused on their clothing and noticed each had a red scarf around their head or neck. His heart stirred, "The Red Scarf Bandits?" Yuan Cheng Zhi was surprised, "Nephew, you recognize the Red Scarf Bandits?" He Yi Ming nodded slightly, familiar with encounters with them in the past. "They're not in Tai’a County now. Why here?" He Quan Xin frowned, questioning. Yuan Cheng Zhi chuckled, "Brother He, they're bandits; they'll go wherever lawlessness reigns." Feeling a bit embarrassed, He Quan Xin, though formidable in strength, lacked Yuan Cheng Zhi's worldly experience. "Let's move on," Yuan Cheng Zhi suggested gently, "We aren’t afraid of trouble, but we don’t seek it either." He Yi Ming hesitated, "Uncle Yuan, if they are bandits, why aren’t they targeting us?" Yuan Cheng Zhi chuckled proudly, "There must be keen eyes among them. Even bandits choose their targets wisely." Observing their group, He Yi Ming quickly understood. The four of them traveled openly displaying their weapons. Not one but two of them, including He Yi Ming's uncle and Yuan Cheng Zhi, were at least level seven in internal strength, exuding a composed and imposing aura. Even facing thirty fierce-looking men, they remained unperturbed, showing no sign of fear or confusion. He Yi Ming realized that even he wouldn't engage with such unpredictable opponents. After readying themselves, the four led their horses back to the main road without sparing a glance at the thirty bandits. Once on the road, He Yi Ming leaped onto Hong Ling. The steed seemed to sense the continuation of the journey, raising its neck and letting out a loud neigh. From dozens of meters away, two among the thirty kept a close watch on their movements. As Yuan Cheng Zhi had mentioned, unsure of He Quan Xin and the others' strength, they remained cautious. However, Hong Ling's call captured their attention, revealing it as an extraordinary steed. While mingling with the other horses, most wouldn't have noticed its distinction, but now its call had drawn everyone's eye. "Hold it..." A commanding voice came from the bandits, as a burly, bearded man stepped forward, eyes fixed greedily on Hong Ling. "What do you want?" Yuan Cheng Zhi's face hardened, inwardly fuming. He wished to avoid complications on their urgent journey, yet these men were inviting trouble. Nevertheless, his gaze turned to Hong Ling, understanding that had he not known He Yi Ming’s background, he might have also been tempted to claim such a remarkable steed.