A person sacrifices himself to become a saint in a chaotic world of martial arts.

Chapter 149 Golden Knife Alliance

"What should we do then?" Zhong Ji asked.

Jin Tangjing remained silent for a moment, then tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, making a rhythmic tapping sound.

"This matter must be settled, but not with blood for blood." He spoke slowly, his voice steady. "Su Bai will have to pay a price, and the size of that price depends on his abilities."

He turned around, looked at everyone, his eyes blazing: "Tomorrow night, I'll host a banquet at Qingfeng Tower and invite him to the event. I want to see if he dares to come."

"They've arrived?"

"He's here. Let's see if he's a real sword or a silver spear with a candle-like head." A cold glint flashed in Jin Tangjing's eyes, as cold as the frost of a winter night. "If he's a silver spear with a candle-like head, I'll let him know that Qingyuan County is not a place for him to run wild."

"What if he doesn't come?"

Jin Tangjing sneered, a smile that held a deeper meaning: "It's better if they don't come."

He didn't explain further, but simply waved his hand, the back of his hand facing outwards, signaling everyone to leave: "Go down, all of you. Handle Wei Huanzhen's funeral properly. Don't neglect any of the proper etiquette."

The group exchanged glances, their eyes meeting in a mixture of doubt, resentment, and a hint of anticipation. After a moment, they rose one by one, clasped their hands in a respectful bow, and left the council hall. Their footsteps faded into the night.

Only Kindo Kei remained in the council chamber.

He stood by the window, looking at the night sky, his brows slightly furrowed.

The moonlight shone on his face, making it appear exceptionally solemn.

Su Bai.

He kept the name in his mind.

In his early twenties, he killed Wei Huanzhen with a single blow; was he at the early stage of the True Qi Realm?

No, it's definitely not in the early stages.

Hiding their strength?

Mid-term, late-term?

Is it only the knife that's fast?

Or something else?

Jin Tangjing felt a vague unease as he recalled what had happened tonight.

The unease was very light, as light as a feather brushing against the tip of the heart, yet it lingered and could not be shaken off.

He had assumed that Su Bai, being young and new to the area, wouldn't immediately break off relations.

Young people should always be mindful of certain things and leave themselves some room for maneuver.

As long as Su Bai swallows his anger, things will be much easier afterward.

The Golden Knife Alliance took the lead, and the others shared the pressure, eventually squeezing the Zhenfu Division into a corner.

If Su Bai knows what's good for him, he should behave himself; if he doesn't, all the better, it'll be perfect to make an example of him.

But now—

Jin Tangjing gave a bitter smile, a smile that appeared particularly bitter under the moonlight.

Wei Huanzhen's knife shattered all his calculations.

From now on, we can only take it one step at a time.

He looked up at the night sky; the moon was shining brightly, and Qingyuan County was quiet.

The streets were deserted, with only the occasional watchman walking by, striking his clapper and shouting, "The weather is dry, be careful with fire!"

The distant eaves, outlined in the moonlight, resembled a sleeping giant beast.

But he knew that this was just the calm before the storm.

Under the same moonlight, Su Bai was also looking at the sky.

He stood by the window, holding a teacup in his hand, his gaze piercing through the night towards the direction of the Golden Knife Alliance.

The moonlight cast his shadow on the ground, making it very long.

A night breeze blew by, bringing a touch of coolness, and stirred the hem of his robes, causing them to sway gently.

"Kin-Tang Rei," he murmured, his voice so soft it was almost a soliloquy, "what would you choose?"

No one answered him.

Only the night breeze rustled the leaves, as if they were whispering.

Su Bai withdrew his gaze and drank the tea in his cup in one gulp.

The tea had long since cooled, carrying a deeper bitterness that slowly melted on the tip of the tongue.

He placed the teacup on the windowsill, the porcelain cup gently touching the windowsill, making a very faint crisp sound.

No matter what choice Jin Tangjing makes, he is not afraid.

He didn't come to Qingyuan County to just coast along.

The Annam trade route, the predicament of the Zhenfu Division, the pressure from these forces—he would have to face them sooner or later.

Those problems won't disappear on their own, those forces won't back down on their own, and those predicaments won't resolve themselves on their own.

Since we'll have to face it sooner or later, we might as well face it sooner.

Su Bai put down his teacup and turned to walk into the inner room.

The news spread faster than the wind.

Weijia Village, Qingyuan County.

As the sun began to set, the light in the side hall was dim and yellow, and the teacups on the sandalwood table were still steaming.

The head of the family, Wei Zhenghong, was sitting in a grand chair drinking tea, his fingers lightly tapping the rim of the cup, producing a soft, crisp sound.

Elder Wei Anjing strode forward, his robes billowing in the wind, and bowed, saying, "Master, the news is confirmed. The newly appointed Chief Envoy, Su Bai, beheaded Elder He of the Golden Knife Alliance at Hongbin Restaurant at noon."

Wei Zhenghong paused, his hand holding the teacup still, the tea inside rippled slightly. He raised his eyelids: "Kill him on the spot?"

"Yes." Wei Anjing's voice was even lower, almost a whisper. "It is said that the elder made some outrageous remarks and was verbally abusive. Without saying a word, Su Bai drew his sword. His head fell to the ground, blood flowed everywhere, and the entire Hongbinlou was in an uproar. Many guests ran away without even paying for their meals."

Wei Zhenghong remained silent for a moment, then slowly placed the teacup on the table. The bottom of the cup touched the sandalwood, making a soft sound.

He looked out the window: "What's the Golden Knife Alliance's reaction?"

"Vice Alliance Leader Jin Zhenshan smashed the cup on the spot, shards littering the ground. It is said that he was furious when he returned, and the entire Golden Knife Alliance was indignant. Some people were already clamoring to storm the Zhenfu Division to demand an explanation."

Wei Zhenghong's lips curled slightly, revealing a smile that was hard to decipher. He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and walked to the window. The last rays of the setting sun shone through the windowpane, casting dappled light and shadow on his face. In the courtyard, the green bamboo swayed, its leaves rustling softly.

"Very well. This new chief inspector is quite an interesting person."

He paused, his gaze lingering on the depths of the bamboo shadows, and slowly said, "Pass down the word: the entire Wei family should behave themselves for the time being and not get involved in anything. We'll just watch and see how the Golden Knife Alliance handles this."

Wei Anjing understood, bowed and withdrew, his footsteps gradually fading at the end of the corridor.

Wei Zhenghong squinted at the swaying bamboo shadows and muttered to himself, "Young man, it's a good thing that you dare to kill."

But after committing murder, one must also have the ability to clean up the mess.

Qingyuan County Chamber of Commerce Alliance.

In the secluded room where the gathering took place, the candlelight flickered, casting several shadows on the wall, sometimes long, sometimes short. Several business leaders sat around a table, the teacups on the table already cold, yet no one touched them.

"Have you heard? That new Lord Su killed an elder of the Golden Knife Alliance."

"I've not only heard about it, my men saw it with their own eyes. A single, clean, swift decapitation, blood spurting three feet high." The speaker gestured, a glint of excitement in his eyes.

Sitting at the head of the table, Chamber of Commerce President Chen Wenyuan gently waved a folding fan, the fan surface of which was painted with a cluster of ink orchids.

He wore a faint smile, twirling the fan between his fingers, speaking slowly and deliberately: "Young people are hot-blooded and easily provoked. That elder of the Golden Knife Alliance is indeed used to being arrogant, and this time he's met his match."

A portly businessman nearby chuckled twice, his thick chin trembling slightly. "Chairman Chen, do you think this Lord Su is truly confident, or just a hothead?"

Chen Wenyuan snapped his folding fan shut and tapped it against his palm with a "snap": "Whether he is truly confident or just a hothead, one thing is certain—the Golden Knife Alliance has been publicly humiliated this time."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, the candlelight flickering in his eyes: "Gentlemen, how much benefit has the Golden Knife Alliance reaped on our Chamber of Commerce's territory over the years by using force? How much business have they stolen? Now that someone is standing up for us, we are happy to see it happen."

The portly businessman's eyes lit up: "Does the chairman mean to sit back and watch the tigers fight?"

Chen Wenyuan nodded with a smile, unfolded his folding fan again, and gently waved it: "If the Golden Knife Alliance wants to test the strength of the Garrison Command, let them try. If the Garrison Command backs down, the Golden Knife Alliance's arrogance will surely grow even stronger. At that time, our Chamber of Commerce should stick together for warmth. If the Garrison Command stands firm to the end—"

His smile deepened, the ribs of his fan gleaming faintly in the candlelight: "That's even better. When two tigers fight, one will surely be injured. No matter who is injured, it's good news for us."

A few low laughs echoed in the secret room, causing the candlelight to flicker.

The Iron Palm Gang of Qingyuan County.

Inside the council chamber, four figures sat at opposite ends. The hall was dimly lit, with only a few oil lamps burning in the corners, casting half-light and half-shadow on their faces.

Sitting at the head of the table was Tie Lingshan, the leader of the Iron Palm Clan, a wiry old man in his fifties with calloused palms.

He had just finished hearing the report when his gaze swept over the other three: "You've all heard, haven't you? The Golden Knife Alliance has lost someone."

The thin man on the left chuckled and tapped his fingers on the armrest: "The Golden Knife Alliance is really tough. This is going to be interesting."

The one-eyed man on the right said in a deep voice, a glint of light flashing in his single eye: "Chief, the Golden Knife Alliance won't let this go, will they? Should we—"

Tie Lingshan waved his hand, his calloused hands appearing particularly rough in the lamplight: "No rush."

He looked at the fourth person who hadn't spoken yet, a middle-aged scholar with a gloomy face, his eyelids lowered, and his fingers lightly stroking his beard. "Third brother, what do you think?"

The middle-aged scholar stroked his beard, his movements slow and steady, and said gently, "Jin Tangjing isn't a fool. It's true he's at the peak of the mid-stage True Qi Realm, but what kind of place is the Zhenfu Division? It's a government office. Would he dare lead men in to demand an explanation?"

The thin man frowned: "So, we're just going to leave it at that?"

"Of course not." The middle-aged scholar smiled, a smile that appeared somewhat sinister in the dim light. "He'll find another way. For example, an invitation."

Tie Lingshan nodded, his thick fingers tapping lightly on the armrest: "Not bad. A head-on confrontation is the worst strategy, and Jin Tangjing won't do that. He'll most likely use this incident to pressure the Zhenfu Division and demand benefits. He has to get back at least one thing, face or substance."

He paused, his gaze deep and unfathomable: "Now it depends on how Lord Su responds. Will he act impulsively, or will he stand firm to the end?"

The council chamber fell silent, save for the occasional soft popping of the oil lamp wick.

Blood Knife Gang of Qingyuan County.

Blood Blade Gang leader Blood No Trace was a cold-looking young man in his thirties. He was sitting in the gang leader's seat, listening to his subordinates report the news.

He wore a dark red robe, which looked like congealed blood in the candlelight.

"Chief, the Golden Knife Alliance has already announced that they're hosting a banquet at Qingfeng Tower tonight, inviting that Lord Su to 'have another chat.' An Chen is personally overseeing the event, bringing dozens of men. It seems they're here to get revenge."

Xue Wuhen remained expressionless, his long, strong fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. Gazing at the night outside the window, he slowly said, "If the Golden Knife Alliance advances, the prestige of the Zhenfu Division will plummet; if the Zhenfu Division advances, both sides will suffer heavy losses. Regardless of the outcome, it will benefit our Blood Knife Gang."

He raised his eyes, his gaze as cold as a blade: "Pass down the order: everyone in the Blood Blade Gang, keep quiet for the time being. Don't get involved with either side, just observe the situation."

"yes!"

The subordinate accepted the order and left, his footsteps quick and light.

Xue Wuhen stood up, walked to the window, and the moonlight shone on his cold and handsome profile.

He gazed at the brightly lit Qingyuan County in the distance, a cold smile curving his lips.

Let them make a scene, the bigger the better.

The entire Qingyuan County is watching.

Each of the major factions has its own agenda.

But everyone's attention was focused on the same question: what will this new chief inspector do next?

Is it a matter of backing down, offering some compensation to the Golden Knife Alliance, and settling things peacefully?

Or should we grit our teeth and persevere to the end?

Most people tend to agree with the former.

The reason is simple: Su Bai is new here and his foundation is not yet stable, so it would not be good for him to strain the relationship.

Moreover, the Zhenfu Division is currently weak – its strongest deputy commander, Feng, is not in the division, and there are no more experts at the late stage of the True Qi Realm to oversee it.

Jin Tangjing, the leader of the Golden Knife Alliance, is a true peak mid-stage True Qi Realm cultivator.

If a conflict were to break out, the Zhenfu Division might not necessarily come out on top.

Therefore, it is wise to take a step back and offer a way out.

only-

"Would that Lord Su be a wise man?"

The Zhenfu Division of Qingyuan County, the Office of Clerks.

The afternoon sun slanted in through the window, casting squares of light and shadow on the ground.

Sunlight shone on the faces of a group of taxi drivers, their expressions a complex mix of excitement, worry, and an indescribable ambivalence.

"That was satisfying!" A burly constable slapped his thigh, making the teacup on the table jump and spill a few drops of tea. "You didn't see Wei Huanzhen's face back then! Being late is one thing, but he even brought a broken fan as a gift, saying it was to fan you and cool you down, sir!"—Is that even human language? Lord Su did a good job! That was satisfying!"

His mustache twitched as he spoke, and his eyes gleamed with excitement.

A middle-aged taxi driver next to him frowned and sighed. He ran his fingers along the rim of his teacup and said in a deep voice, "Old Zhou, it may feel good, but think about the consequences."

The bearded man was taken aback: "What are the consequences?"

"The Golden Knife Alliance's invitation has arrived." The middle-aged constable pulled a large red invitation card from his sleeve, slammed it on the table with a dull thud, and said, "Tonight at Qingfeng Pavilion, we invite Lord Su to continue our discussion. Tell me, what does this mean?"

The office fell silent for a moment, and even the birdsong outside the window seemed exceptionally clear.

Another young taxi driver whispered, his voice trembling slightly, "This is clearly a trap—"

"Nonsense." The middle-aged man rolled his eyes at him, his brows furrowing even more. "Wei Huanzhen was killed in public. If the Golden Knife Alliance doesn't get revenge, how will they ever be able to maintain their reputation in Qingyuan County?"

The bearded man scratched his head, making his already messy hair even messier, and said with a stiff neck, "So what?"

"Are we, the Garrison Commander, afraid of them?"

The middle-aged man gave a bitter smile, his smile full of bitterness: "I'm not so much afraid. But think about it, the Golden Knife Alliance isn't scary, what's scary are the forces in Qingyuan County who are just watching the show."

"Our Zhenfu Division has been the strongest on the surface for years, but everyone knows that in order to suppress so many forces, we are actually weak. If we were to fall out with the Golden Knife Alliance again, what would the other forces think?"

He paused, then lowered his voice, almost whispering, "They'll think the Garrison Command is easy to bully. From now on, they'll openly and secretly sabotage us, leaving us exhausted and making life even harder."