Chapter 96 Attacking the Gao Family

The large ship Yan Chu was on belonged to the Raging Flood Dragon Gang.

The large ship braved the wind and waves, the green mountains on both banks rapidly receding as water birds streaked across the vast sky.

Suddenly, dozens of ships of various sizes appeared ahead.

Various flags hung from the ships, and the auras emanating from them varied in strength.

On the ships were various Jianghu ruffians. The leader had a coarse and bold face, with a palm-sized blue-black tattoo on the left side of his face. He was tall and had a cultivation at the Late Stage of the Fifth Realm.

Behind him were seven or eight men and women—two in the Fifth Realm and six in the Fourth Realm—all with rough, dark skin and faces weathered by wind and frost.

"Who goes there?!"

"You dare to intercept Great Hero Yan's ship? Are you looking for death?!"

On the ship, the members of the Raging Flood Dragon Gang had noticed the ships ahead immediately and stood ready on the deck.

The head boatman shouted sternly, his voice filled with severity.

The Raging Flood Dragon Gang was now led by Han Yunlu, the wife of the former gang leader.

But everyone knew that Yan Chu was the true person in charge of the Raging Flood Dragon Gang; the Dragon Head Staff was in his hands!

Yan Chu had destroyed the Sixth Realm and slain a Grandmaster; his prestige in Longhua Prefecture was as immense as the heavens.

After the news spread, Han Yunlu only sent out over ten First Realm Martial Artists with her written orders to visit the prominent powers in Longhua Prefecture, and the leaders of all those powers personally received them.

In less than a day, all powers, large and small, had pledged their loyalty to the Raging Flood Dragon Gang.

Now, in the Jianghu of Longhua Prefecture, there was only one leader!

And that was the Raging Flood Dragon Gang!

As the Soul of the Raging Flood Dragon Gang, Yan Chu's status in the hearts of all gang members was now no different from that of a god.

"Stop!"

Seeing the head boatman appear, the tattooed man in the fleet ahead raised his hand, and the fleet immediately came to a halt.

The tattooed man knelt on the deck and shouted loudly:

"Jin Buhuan, master of Jinsha Fort from the Eleven Forts of Panlong Lake, along with all the brothers of the Eleven Forts, pays respects to Great Hero Yan!!"

"Greetings, Great Hero Yan! May your divine arts advance greatly and your fame shake the Jianghu!!"

Behind him, the water bandits of the Eleven Forts of Panlong Lake all knelt and shouted in unison.

Yan Chu had appeared on the deck at some unknown point.

Ma Qingzong introduced them from behind him:

"The Eleven Forts of Panlong Lake are a group of water forts entrenched in Panlong Lake within Linshui Prefecture, second only to the Gao Family and Big Black Mountain."

"This Jin Buhuan has a great grudge against the Gao Family!"

"His father and brother once died at the hands of the Gao Family's Old Ancestor, Gao Yufei. Jinsha Fort was once a power comparable to Big Black Mountain, but later they could only hide in Panlong Lake and unite with other water forts, collectively known as the Eleven Forts."

Yan Chu nodded, and the head boatman beside him stepped forward and asked:

"Jin Buhuan, why have you intercepted our Raging Flood Dragon Gang's ship?"

Jin Buhuan said loudly:

"Relying on the Prodigy Gao Yang, the Gao Family has acted perversely in Linshui Prefecture, eliminating dissidents and oppressing countless Jianghu comrades."

"This lowly one wishes to invite Great Hero Yan to take charge of Linshui Prefecture, to uproot this tumor for the thousands of commoners, and to return a clear sky to the Jianghu of Linshui Prefecture!"

Yan Chu heard this and said indifferently:

"You want to use the commoners of Linshui Prefecture and the name of righteousness to coerce me over the personal grudges of your Eleven Forts of Panlong Lake?"

"Do you think I won't kill you?"

As he spoke, a terrifying killing intent enveloped the surrounding hundred meters.

On the ships ahead, everyone from the Eleven Forts immediately felt a chill through their entire bodies, as if a blade's tip were pressed against their necks.

Some with weak wills simply closed their eyes and fainted under the impact of the killing intent.

Jin Buhuan's head touched the ground, his heart filled with awe.

He said tremblingly, "Great Hero Yan, please appease your anger!"

"This lowly one absolutely has no such thoughts!"

"I received news that not long ago, the Hidden Sword Palace Elder Zhai Jing was invited by the Gao Family to deal with you, Great Hero."

"Just before the day before yesterday, Zhai Jing arrived at the Gao Family and received the news of you slaying a Grandmaster. He is now hiding in the Gao Family, waiting for others from the Hidden Sword Palace to arrive before taking action against you!"

Yan Chu raised an eyebrow. "How do you know?"

Jin Buhuan said:

"Zhai Jing did not hide his tracks when he arrived at the Gao Manor; many in the prefecture city saw him. Furthermore, I have an informant hidden in the Gao Family, and he told me the news!"

Yan Chu asked Ma Qingzong behind him, "How is this Zhai Jing's strength?"

"Zhai Jing was not well-known before; he only became known after reaching the Grandmaster level two years ago. Based on the timing, he should be at the Early Stage of the God Manifestation Realm, similar to Yue Xingye."

Yan Chu nodded and ordered, "Then I shall make a trip to Linshui Prefecture!"

Since he already had a grudge against the Gao Family and they were now plotting against him in the shadows, he would take the opportunity to settle it all at once.

...

Linshui Prefecture, Gao Family.

The Gao Family had a total of three Sixth Realm Martial Artists: besides Gao Yang, there were the two Old Ancestors of the Gao Family.

Had it not been for Gao Yang joining the Hidden Sword Palace, with the Gao Family's original strength, they wouldn't have been able to dominate an entire prefecture.

At this time, the two Old Ancestors of the Gao Family and the family head, Gao Lingyue, sat in the main hall of the Gao Family with smiles on their faces. In the seat of honor on the right was a middle-aged man with large hands and a short, stout build.

It was precisely the Inner Sect Elder of the Hidden Sword Palace, Zhai Jing.

Zhai Jing's Aptitude was originally not outstanding, and he was frequently mocked by others due to his short stature and ugly appearance.

After later obtaining a fortuitous encounter and advancing to Grandmaster, he jumped to become an Inner Sect Elder of the Hidden Sword Palace, his status and position becoming incomparable to before.

After becoming an Elder, he took revenge for all the bullying he had previously suffered.

Many Sixth Realm Martial Artists in Tongzhou Prefecture had disappeared without a trace; it was he who had acted in the shadows.

Not long ago, he was won over by Gao Yang.

Learning that the Gao Family had provoked a powerful enemy, he volunteered to come to Cangzhou Prefecture, wanting to eliminate the foe for the Gao Family.

After all, Gao Yang was a Personal Disciple of the Palace Master.

If the other party could inherit the position of Palace Master in the future, he, as a confidant, would surely be heavily relied upon in the Hidden Sword Palace.

"Elder Zhai, has your stay these past two days been comfortable?"

The Gao Family Old Ancestor, Gao Xian, asked with a chuckle.

"Hahaha! Many thanks for Brother Gao's hospitality. I am staying very well here!"

A smile overflowed on Zhai Jing's ugly face.

Leaving the Hidden Sword Palace, with his Grandmaster cultivation, people everywhere went to great lengths to fawn over him.

The Gao Family needed his help, so over the past two days, they had arranged for several young girls from the clan to serve him, making Zhai Jing very happy to deflower them.

Gao Lingyue sighed softly from the side:

"It's a pity that Blade Demon Yan Chu killed my Gao Family's disciples. Now that his momentum is growing more and more grand, if we cannot eliminate this scoundrel, he will always be a thorn in the Gao Family's side!"

Zhai Jing felt a bit embarrassed hearing this.

He had come to the Gao Family to eat and play happily.

He had originally boasted that he would destroy Yan Chu for the Gao Family, but now he could only shrink back within the Gao Family, not daring to go out.

"I originally thought he was just a mere Sixth Realm and that this seat could crush him at will. I didn't expect this fellow could kill Yue Xingye!"

"Family Head Gao, rest assured. My good friend is a famous Saber Dao Grandmaster in Cangzhou Prefecture; calculating the time, he should be arriving soon."

"Yan Chu's saber cultivation, compared to his, is like a firefly to the bright moon. Once he arrives, with the combined strength of the two of us, a mere Yan Chu will be nothing to worry about!"

"That's good!"

Gao Lingyue nodded, only able to comfort himself this way for the time being.

"By the way!"

Zhai Jing smiled and mentioned another matter.

"Nephew Gao is highly regarded by the Palace Master. I heard he recently broke through to the Late Stage of the Sixth Realm; his rank on the heavenly pride ranking will likely rise another level next time."

"In his joy, the Palace Master personally arranged a marriage for him."

"The other party is the daughter of the Governor of Tongzhou Prefecture. The Palace Master said that once Nephew Gao breaks through to Grandmaster, he will personally visit to propose the marriage."