Chapter 236

High above the clouds, Lu Xingzhou sat in his wheelchair with Shen Tang nestled in his lap, effectively transforming the wheelchair into a lovers' airship as they leisurely flew back to the sect.

If Wu Jianchen had seen them, he would never have believed that the demure woman nestled in her lover's arms was the same formidable enemy sect leader who had just moments ago destroyed his sect's main hall with a single sword stroke.

"According to you, was causing all this trouble really effective?" Shen Tang mumbled, "I feel like it only offended people more and didn't eliminate future problems... We might as well have just killed them."

"Oh, my little sect leader, quite a strong killer instinct you have."

"...I'm older than you!"

"Alright, alright, big sister."

Shen Tang pouted slightly, then sighed. "It's not that I want to be so ruthless... but in this world, for a sect to rise, it must advance through blood and fire. I've already paid the price for being too soft-hearted."

Lu Xingzhou smiled. "Different opponents require different approaches. Even if we eventually command a thousand li, we can't just wipe out all the smaller sects beneath us. We need various strategies. Trust me, dealing with the Cangshan Sword Sect this way is more suitable than killing them."

"Hmm..."

"The Cangshan Sword Sect is merely a fourth-rank sect, while we are a powerful third-rank sect. Given our connection to the Huanhua Sword Sect, Wu Jianchen can't rely on his own backing and is naturally apprehensive of us. Simply intimidating him will keep them from stirring up trouble. Conversely, if we had truly killed their people, we would have exhausted our connection with the Huanhua Sword Sect, and then our opponents might not be limited to a mere fourth-rank sect. At the same time, we've given Wu Jianchen a target for his frustration..."

Shen Tang interjected, "Our conflict is all due to some bad people stirring things up, right?"

The young couple grinned in unison.

"What about the others?" Shen Tang asked. "The ones who truly need to see blood should be the Dongjiang Gang, right?"

"The Dongjiang Gang depends on the situation... I think the ones who truly need to see blood might be the Lingyun Gate."

"Why?"

"The Lingyun Gate and us have a history of bloodshed, so by rights, their enmity should be the strongest, and they would be more proactive given this opportunity. You see how the Dongjiang Gang deliberately pulled the Cangshan Sword Sect into this, but didn't need to pull in the Lingyun Gate... Yet, they haven't made any moves so far, which probably means they're planning something big. The dogs that bite don't bark... Plus, they have the Chunshan Pavilion backing them."

"Anyway, I'm too lazy to think about it anymore. You can do the thinking."

"Alright, alright," Lu Xingzhou said, leaning his head on her shoulder. "Then I need a reward."

Shen Tang turned and pecked him on the lips.

Lu Xingzhou's hand found its mark.

Shen Tang shivered, struggling gently. "It's broad daylight, and we're outside..."

"We're so high up in the sky, who could possibly see us?"

"No, that's still not allowed," Shen Tang retorted teasingly. "What if someone else is flying by and happens to pass us?"

Lu Xingzhou sighed, dispiritedly retracting his hand.

Shen Tang teased, "What's wrong, didn't Pei Chuyun satisfy you?"

"Why are you bringing her up now..."

Seeing him look like a disheartened puppy, Shen Tang found it amusing. "Alright, alright, once today's matters are done, big sister will reward you."

Lu Xingzhou blinked.

While Pei Chuyun hadn't fully satisfied him, he had experimented with many new "tricks" with her that could now be put to use...

Now he just hoped the Dongjiang Gang's schemes wouldn't start so soon... Hadn't they sought aid from Prince Jin and the Huo family? A round trip to the capital takes a long time; they would have to wait.

Just as he was thinking this, below the clouds, he saw a convoy of carriages, like ants on the road, already nearing Xiazhou.

He guided the cloud lower for a closer look, spotting the large banners on the convoy: "Dongjiang" and "Shi."

They arrived so quickly.

Lu Xingzhou suddenly found it amusing. "They call themselves the Dongjiang Gang and display 'Dongjiang' on their banners. It seems to have some benefits; when transporting goods outside, others might mistake them for an official convoy from Dongjiang Prefecture, which would simplify many things."

Shen Tang smiled. "Perhaps that was part of their intention."

"If so, it just shows they lack confidence."

Outside the city gates, a disciple of the Tianxing Sword Sect called out, "Gang Leader Shi, our sect leader is hosting a welcoming banquet for you all at the Songfeng Pavilion."

Shi Tielong said coldly, "Shen Tang would be so kind? I suspect she just wants to assert her dominance."

The Tianxing Sword Sect disciple replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Our sect leader stated that during the incident at the Fenshang Pavilion, Gang Leader Shi fought alongside us, which established a bond. Now that Gang Leader Shi has traveled so far as a guest, our sect is bound by both sentiment and reason to be a good host. As for Gang Leader Shi's concerns..."

He paused, then sneered, "Our sect leader is an extraordinary figure, a celestial being whose magnanimity is beyond what ordinary mortals can fathom. Whether Gang Leader Shi chooses to attend or not is for Gang Leader Shi to decide. My message has been delivered; I will take my leave now."

"This disciple is good!" Lu Xingzhou whispered into Shen Tang's ear, emphasizing "celestial being." "Where did you find this disciple?"

Shen Tang flinched as if ticklish. "He's one of my original Tianxing Sword Sect disciples. They are all elites now. After all, having been tempered by blood and fire, and having climbed out of desperate lows, they are indeed different from other disciples."

Lu Xingzhou said, "More resources should be allocated to them. They deserve it."

"I know," Shen Tang replied, turning her head to smile. "Don't you think my favoritism might be detrimental to the sect?"

"They are your foundational strength. Even if you show them several times more favoritism, no one can say anything. Besides, I trust you wouldn't go too far."

Shen Tang's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled. "I'm not afraid of what others say, only what you say."

"I will only say, Sect Leader, you should head to Songfeng Pavilion. I'll go invite the Prefect."

When Shi Tielong, accompanied by his uncle Shi Chong, a group of Canglan Sect masters, and over a dozen high-ranking elites from his own gang, poured into the Songfeng Pavilion, only Shen Tang was quietly sitting alone in the private room, drinking tea.

Seeing such a large group accompanying Shi Tielong, Shen Tang was momentarily stunned, then chuckled. "As expected of a major gang, quite imposing."

Shi Tielong was speechless.

"Please, everyone, have a seat." Shen Tang gestured for them to sit.

Shi Tielong truly suspected there were five hundred axe-wielding guards hidden nearby. Otherwise, how could Shen Tang be so calm? There was a second-rank master and a group of third-rank experts here. Was Shen Tang tired of living?

He introduced, "This is my uncle, Elder Shi Chong of the Canglan Sect."

Shen Tang glanced at Shi Chong's grey hair and beard, offering a faint smile. "I've heard much about you."

Yet, she didn't even offer a bow.

Shi Chong could even perceive the disdain hidden in Shen Tang's eyes, and felt a surge of disbelief.

"You, a third-rank, despise me, a second-rank?"

Shen Tang truly did look down on his second-rank status, because a person's appearance could reveal a lot. Generally, after entering the middle three ranks (e.g., 4th, 5th, 6th), aging slows down; for instance, someone in their forties might look like they're thirty, but they will still eventually age. Only by breaking through to the third rank can one achieve eternal youth, which is considered defying nature's creation and thus incurs a minor heavenly tribulation. Most truly talented individuals would break through to the third rank in their prime, like Gu Zhanting, who looks to be in his early thirties—a handsome, seasoned warrior. Someone like the National Preceptor, who achieved eternal youth in her twenties, will always appear as an older sister, no matter how you look at her. This Shi Chong, however, has white hair and a beard. Considering he had already slowed aging before, it's evident he broke through to the third rank at a very advanced age, at least seventy or eighty. He's not even as good as Shi Tielong, who at least reached the third rank in middle age. As for Shen Tang herself, she broke through to the third rank at twenty-two. Before the prodigies Dugu Qingli and Pei Chuyun, these 'twin stars,' broke through to the third rank, Shen Tang was unprecedented, even faster than the National Preceptor. She certainly has the right to look down on someone who only broke through to the third rank in their seventies or eighties.

Actually, the true prodigy is Yuan Muyu, but unfortunately, the world doesn't know how young she was when she broke through to the third rank, which led to her wearing a Yama mask to scare people. To break her record, one would have to look to Lu Nuonuo.

Shen Tang was seated to the left of the main seat, a position for the host. Shi Chong's face was grim as he directly took the main seat. "Sect Leader Shen..."

Shen Tang suddenly raised a hand, signaling him not to sit. "Mr. Shi, this seat is not for you."

Shi Chong's words caught in his throat, his body still half-bowed. His gaze turned exceedingly sinister. "Sect Leader Shen, are you perhaps deliberately trying to humiliate us?"

"Mr. Shi, you misunderstand. I have no leisure to humiliate irrelevant individuals. This seat is indeed occupied."

Shi Tielong angrily retorted, "Are you perhaps implying that you invited my Dongjiang Gang, and I am the main guest? This is my uncle!"

"The Dongjiang Gang are indeed guests, but I never said they were the *main* guests," Shen Tang said with a faint smile. "Originally, when the Dongjiang Gang entered Xiazhou, I was pleased and intended to bring friendly guilds together for mutual development, so I invited an important person to meet everyone. Who knew Gang Leader Shi would think so highly of himself and immediately assume the role of main guest..."

"You..." Shi Chong slapped the table with his right hand. "You are deliberately looking for trouble!"

"Clap!" His right hand descended, but did not touch the tabletop.

Shen Tang extended her palm horizontally, intercepting Shi Chong's hand.

The two forces clashed violently, yet surprisingly, there was no explosive dissipation.

Shi Chong was horrified to discover that his strength could not overpower this seemingly delicate woman. The power emanating from her hand was overwhelming, pushing all of his downward force upwards, so much so that the ordinary wooden table beneath them bore not even a trace of the energy.

Everyone watched, dumbfounded, as Shen Tang parried Shi Chong's palm strike.

A third-rank facing a second-rank, yet they were evenly matched!

Just as some began to stir, contemplating a group assault, Lu Xingzhou's voice came from outside the door: "What's going on? Why is everyone crowding at the entrance?"

Shi Tielong said coldly, "Elder Lu, if this is your sincerity in inviting guests, I'd like to see how you resolve this if the main guest is indeed absent!"

"What?" another voice interjected. "What do you mean the main guest is absent? Can I not be the main guest?"

Shi Tielong turned towards the voice, his face turning green.

It was Prefect Zhang Rongzhi.

The Prefect, known as "upright" and "unyielding," who had rebuffed every invitation since taking office, now appeared openly before them, claiming he was the main guest.

Shi Tielong would never have imagined such a development.

Even though he was only a fourth-rank official, among everyone present, he was only comparable to Lu Xingzhou in standing. Yet, even the second-rank Shi Chong had to acknowledge him as the main guest, or else his nephew's Dongjiang Gang would find it impossible to operate in the prefecture from then on.

Shi Chong and Shen Tang simultaneously withdrew their qi, and only then did Shen Tang cup her hands in a respectful salute. "Greetings, Prefect Zhang. Perhaps Gang Leader Shi has a slight misunderstanding."

Zhang Rongzhi entered the private room, instantly grasping the situation, and sneered, "Sect Leader Shen had originally asked me to mediate, suggesting friendly guilds establish regulations for mutual development. It seems someone was already too eager to bully their way in! If you're trying to seize my seat today, will you demand my prefectural position tomorrow? Is your Canglan Sect planning to appoint and dismiss officials now?"

Shi Chong's face flushed alternately green and white. It took him a moment to shift his position. "It's just a misunderstanding, Prefect, please don't be offended."

"A misunderstanding?" Zhang Rongzhi sneered. "Look at how Sect Leader Shen conducted herself: alone, with only an assisting elder. That is the proper attitude for inviting guests to a banquet. Now look at you: a crowd of gang members surrounding the Songfeng Pavilion below, and over a dozen third- and second-rank experts surrounding Sect Leader Shen in the private room. It seems to me that your Dongjiang Gang isn't here to do business; you're here to flaunt your power! Do you think the imperial court is dead, and your gang's fists decide everything?"