Chapter Twenty-Two: Wrath

Passing on the arts through divine transmission, the blade techniques unfolded directly within the mind—clear and vivid, every subtlety imprinted in the heart, never to be forgotten. The efficiency was multiplied countless times.

"Thank you, Commander, for your gift!" When Changqing awoke, the way he looked at Jiang Ming was as if he were gazing upon an immortal.

"Once you’re proficient, you can teach others as you observe."

"Yes!" Changqing withdrew, his steps brimming with newfound confidence.

At that moment, Lu Yuan also opened his eyes. His gaze toward Jiang Ming was complex. "Such a method is truly a great fortune. Should I pledge myself as your disciple?"

"Kneel, then!" Jiang Ming laughed, pointing to the ground.

"To hell with kneeling!" Lu Yuan rolled his eyes.

Over the next few days, Changqing divided the team into three groups, taking turns to guard, each shift lasting four hours. He also passed down the technique. The newly recruited practiced the first version of the Seven-Slay Blade Method; the veterans cultivated Jiang Ming's newly refined approach. They honed themselves through slaughter, and grew stronger amidst the carnage.

Under the night’s shroud.

In Kaoshan City, at a street corner, there was a small tavern with doors shut. Dim lights flickered inside, and at a table sat two elders.

Two dishes, a pot of wine.

One was Xiao Yuanhai, the second uncle of the Xiao family’s patriarch. He picked up the wine pot and poured two cups, saying, "Old man, how long has it been since we sat together for a drink?"

"Nearly ten years," Elder Liang Dashan of the Liang family replied with a chuckle. "In the blink of an eye, we old folks are half-buried in yellow earth."

"Isn’t it the truth!" Xiao Yuanhai slurped his wine and set the cup down. "What do you make of the events these past days?"

"With my eyes." Liang Dashan laughed, then grew serious. "The bandits in White Cloud Fortress—their origins are unknown, yet they call themselves the Heavenly Martial Army. Their numbers are few, but they’re formidable and fearless. The martial world’s figures fight separately, but their methods are varied. Innate experts have joined, but still none have stormed the mountain."

"Seven innate experts have died already."

"Mysterious origins, claim to be an army, unimaginably strong, their formations seamless. Only one possibility comes to mind: the imperial court."

"And yet they swagger about openly, even killed Xiao Ming. Their target can only be us."

"The court is corrupt, the world in chaos, yet the blade now points at us. Hmph, do they truly think we’re easy prey?"

Liang Dashan’s smile turned grim.

"So, next, we must join forces again!"

"Driven to this point, of course we must. Seize this opportunity to uproot the Six Gates from the city."

"And sort out all the powers within these walls."

"Excellent!"

The two reached an agreement.

Midnight, mountain courtyard.

Jiang Ming sat facing the moon, cultivating while simultaneously pondering the further evolution of various supreme techniques.

Lu Yuan entered, followed by a woman clad in black. "Brother Jiang, let me introduce a friend. This is Jin Yinhua, Captain of Kaoshan City’s Six Gates. Miss Jin has something to discuss with you. Do me a favor: don’t bully her, or I won’t be able to explain to Chief Detective Zhang Tong, and I’ll lose face before Old Master Wang Invincible."

"Captain Jin, this is their commander." Lu Yuan winked at Jiang Ming, then leapt onto a nearby tree, uncorked his flask, and drank under the moon.

"Captain Jin, please." Jiang Ming gestured to the seat opposite.

"Brother Jiang!" Even with her distinctive hat, Jin Yinhua radiated heroic spirit; her rosy cheeks made her adorable, nothing like someone from the Six Gates.

She sat down without ceremony, getting straight to the point. "Brother Jiang, may I ask, which department do you belong to?"

Jiang Ming was taken aback, then smiled in realization. "Captain Jin, you’re mistaken. The Heavenly Martial Army isn’t subordinate to any department. The name just sounded pleasant, so I chose it. These days, bandits run rampant, corrupt officials rule, the people suffer and wander, struggling to survive. I just thought—since I’m here, I ought to do what I can. So I founded an army myself, intending to sweep away the bandit scourge. That’s how we arrived here."

"Founded your own army?" Captain Jin’s eyes widened, then her brows furrowed. "Brother Jiang, your ambition is grand, your concern for the country admirable. But founding an army is a grave offense against the court. Once reported, you’ll be besieged."

She couldn’t help but grimace, adding, "No wonder the Xiao family has been monitoring us so closely these days. So the root lies here. They mistook you for court forces. Even we were misled—Chief Detective Zhang Tong even used special channels to investigate, but the time was too short for confirmation."

Pfft...

Lu Yuan on the tree sprayed wine from his mouth.

Even Jiang Ming’s lips twitched.

He hadn’t considered this at all. He simply wanted to clear Black Wind Mountain’s reputation and leave a mark. Who could have foreseen such a colossal misunderstanding?

"Best to go with the flow," Jiang Ming mused aloud, then said with a smile, "I’ve heard the Xiao and Liang families keep bandits, committing all manner of evil. Why don’t we collaborate to uproot them?"

"I can’t decide that." Captain Jin rose and cupped her fists. "I must consult Chief Detective Zhang Tong. Also, I’ll give you some news: tomorrow, the Xiao family will launch a full-scale assault on White Cloud Fortress. They have two grandmasters, seven or eight innate experts, and have secretly formed a Black Iron Army. The Liang family is not far behind. There are also disciples of other sects in the city. If they’re incited to join, even if you win, you’ll make many enemies among the sects."

"Farewell!" Captain Jin leapt from the courtyard.

"Thank you!" Jiang Ming called after her.

Lu Yuan flipped down from the tree, laughing heartily. "I finally understand why the Xiao family is so cautious. The Heavenly Martial Army—a real army. Anyone would be suspicious. Hahaha! Brother Jiang, you really blundered your way into a huge mess. Zhang Tong will probably want to kill you when he hears. That fellow is in for a tough time, a very tough time."

Jiang Ming deeply agreed.

A private army appearing in his domain—no matter what, he couldn’t escape involvement.

"It all depends on his resolve." Jiang Ming stood, stepped lightly onto the rooftop.

He reached up to grasp the moon, saying, "Lu Yuan, what if I kill them all tomorrow?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Lu Yuan’s face changed. "If you wipe out the Xiao and Liang families, so be it—their crimes warrant it. But if you also slaughter the disciples of other sects who come, you’ll be branded an enemy of the righteous path, an enemy of the world. Even the Six Gates will join the purge against you. Then, no matter how vast the world, you’ll have nowhere to stand. Think not just of yourself, but of the Heavenly Martial Army and Black Wind Fortress."

"Troublesome," Jiang Ming muttered. "It’s easier to be unattached."

He still felt a strange detachment from this world, unable to truly fit in.

Yet the ties to Black Wind Fortress couldn’t be ignored.

But his words made Lu Yuan shiver.

Knowing the urgency, Captain Jin abandoned her horse and used lightness skill to race back to Kaoshan City before dawn—nearly exhausting herself.

Once she explained everything to Zhang Tong—

"Founded your own army? Jiang Ming, damn your ancestors!" Chief Detective Zhang Tong erupted in fury, cursing toward White Cloud Fortress. "You’ve landed me in deep trouble. And that bastard Lu Yuan didn’t give me a heads up. How am I supposed to report to my superiors?"

"Sir, is it really that serious?"

"It’s not about serious or not—it's about whether heads will roll! No, I must report to Lord Wang, or I’ll have to flee. Founding your own army? Who does that! It’s a challenge to imperial authority, the military, the court, the Six Gates. Damned fool!"