Upon seeing that Zhu Zefang really wanted to confront Su Xin,Zhu Zefang's brother quickly intervened.Zhu Qifang earnestly advised,"Big brother,Su Xin is not someone easy to deal with.He is ranked fifty-fourth on the People's List,and though he hasn't reached the Divine Palace realm,it is said that when he killed A Xin,he also defeated Cao Zheng'an,the powerful leader of Huayin Mountain,who was indeed a genuine expert in the Divine Palace realm!"
Several other brothers also added,"Yes,big brother,if you want revenge,we won't stop you,but rushing in to confront Su Xin directly is not cost-effective.How about this?Let's endure this for now and find an opportunity later to make Su Xin pay!"
Were Zhu Qifang and the others genuinely concerned about Zhu Zefang?They were merely trying to prevent the wasteful depletion of the Zhu family's strength.Finding someone to deal with Su Xin was easy for Zhu Zefang,given his background as a secular disciple of the Shaolin Temple.He knew many skilled individuals,but even a united group of secular disciples from the Shaolin Temple wouldn't act without compensation.Zhu Zefang would have to offer some form of reward.
The Zhu family itself didn't have much depth,and this revenge could potentially exhaust everything the Zhu family had.Additionally,although they had ambitions for the position of the heir,they didn't want Zhu Zefang to confront Su Xin head-on.
The entire Zhu family had only three or four martial artists in the Innate Realm.Zhu Zefang's strength in the Divine Palace Realm was the foundation that allowed the Zhu family to stand firm in the Han Nan Dao.Even if they had plans for the position of the heir,they genuinely didn't want Zhu Zefang to risk everything in a direct confrontation with Su Xin.
However,at this moment,Zhu Zefang had developed an intense hatred for Su Xin.He coldly snorted,"I killed your son,can you endure it?If you won't deliver the message,I'll do it myself!"
With that,Zhu Zefang turned and left,giving them no chance to argue.
Zhu Qifang and the others exchanged glances,shaking their heads helplessly.In the Zhu family,Zhu Zefang's decisions were absolute.
Now,Zhu Zefang,the martial artist in the Divine Palace Realm,was the Zhu family's backbone in Han Nan Dao.If something happened to him,the entire strength of the Zhu family would plummet.
Unfortunately,Zhu Zefang was filled with hatred towards Su Xin at this moment.He declared,"I killed your son,can you endure it?If you won't deliver the message,I'll do it myself!"
As his words fell,Zhu Zefang walked away without giving them a chance to respond.
Zhu Qifang and the others exchanged glances,shaking their heads in resignation.Zhu Zefang's word was law in the Zhu family.If he decided on something,no one could oppose him.
Finding someone to deal with Su Xin was relatively straightforward for Zhu Zefang.As a secular disciple of the Shaolin Temple,he knew many skilled individuals.However,even a united group of secular disciples from the Shaolin Temple wouldn't act without compensation.Zhu Zefang would have to offer some form of reward.
One such skilled individual was his senior brother from the Shaolin Temple,Duan Tianya,known as the'Moonblade Knife.'Duan Tianya and Zhu Zefang shared the same hometown,both originating from Han Nan Dao.They had the same master at the Shaolin Temple,forging a close relationship.So,when Zhu Zefang sought revenge,his first choice was Duan Tianya.
Just three days after the incident in Han Nan Dao,Zhu Zefang received the news.Whether it was due to Up Guan Yanqing's conscience or an attempt to win over public opinion,he had specifically sent people to inform the Zhu family and the families of others killed by Su Xin.
Duan Tianya welcomed Zhu Zefang personally when he arrived."Haha!Brother Zhu,it's been quite a while.I heard your son has been adventuring with a young master from the Shangguan family in Xiangnan.That's a promising future!"
Only three days had passed since the incident in Xiangnan Dao,so the news hadn't spread widely.Zhu Zefang's swift knowledge made Duan Tianya wonder if it was due to Up Guan Yanqing's guilty conscience or an attempt to win over public opinion.Nevertheless,he welcomed Zhu Zefang warmly.
Zhu Zefang's eyes reddened with grief as he explained the details to Duan Tianya.Duan Tianya slammed the table in anger upon hearing about Su Xin's cruelty.
"Su Xin is truly ruthless!If he had taken the treasures and left after defeating you and even the young master from the Shangguan family,it would have been understandable.But to destroy A Xin and the others so mercilessly is beyond cruelty!You don't need to say more,Zhu brother;I will help you seek revenge!"
Duan Tianya's expression turned serious,and he added,"But Zhu brother,I must be upfront with you.With just our strength,it's risky to go after Su Xin.I don't know about Su Xin's exact strength,but defeating the young master from the Shangguan family and Di Yunfei from the Zhenjian Alliance,not to mention killing the notorious bandit leader'Smiling Night Fiend'Cao Zheng'an from Huayin Mountain,proves he is worthy of his rank on the People's List."
In the days when we were at the Shaolin Temple,we witnessed the prowess of the top-ranking experts of that generation.Anyone who could make it to the top sixty of the People's List was almost immeasurable in terms of their level.
The top-ranking experts of this generation are widely acknowledged to be even more formidable than the previous generation.Although Su Xin is currently only in the Innate Spiritual Perception Realm,the outcome is truly unpredictable if the two of us were to confront him directly."
Zhu Zefang nodded and said,"Certainly,I won't let you accompany me to your death.I've already prepared everything."With that,he opened a wooden box he was carrying,revealing only a few items:a pitch-black dagger,five bottles of elixir,and a pendant made of a light blue stone.
Seeing these items,Duan Tianya took in a sharp breath."Master Jueyan gave you the Yellow-grade weapon'Ordinary Precept Dagger,'five Small Returning Elixirs you've been saving for years,and the tranquilizing stone passed down in your family.Isn't this almost the entirety of the Zhu family's heritage?Are you risking everything?"
Zhu Zefang calmly stated,"I accumulated these items,originally meant for A Xin.Now that he's gone,who else can I give them to?To those useless ones in my family?There's a difference between personal feelings and principles,and I understand that."
Upon hearing this,Duan Tianya could only accept these Small Returning Elixirs.Having cultivated together at the Shaolin Temple for decades,Duan Tianya knew well the assets Zhu Zefang possessed.
The Ordinary Precept Dagger was a Yellow-grade weapon bestowed upon Zhu Zefang by his master Jueyan,an expert in the Divine Transformation Realm from the Arhat Hall at the Shaolin Temple.Although they were expelled from the Shaolin Temple,Zhu Zefang,being a secular disciple,still maintained a strong connection with his master.When Zhu Zefang left the temple,Master Jueyan gifted him the Yellow-grade weapon.
The five Small Returning Elixirs from the Shaolin Temple were carefully accumulated by Zhu Zefang over the years.As secular disciples,they didn't enjoy the same privileges as the formally ordained disciples,receiving limited amounts of elixirs each month.Zhu Zefang had meticulously saved these Small Returning Elixirs one by one.
As for the tranquilizing stone,it was an ancestral treasure passed down in the Zhu family.Although not an exceptionally rare exotic item,it held certain benefits,aiding the wearer in achieving a state of deep meditation and benefiting their cultivation.
These items practically represented all the accumulations of Zhu Zefang.He was risking everything to confront Su Xin.Was he truly willing to go to such lengths?
Zhu Zefang said casually,"I've saved these items,originally meant for A Xin's future.Now that he's gone,who else can I give them to?To those useless ones in my family?There's a difference between personal feelings and principles,and I understand that."
Zhu Zefang continued,"These items were accumulated for A Xin's future.Now that he's gone,who else can I give them to?To those useless ones in my family?There's a difference between personal feelings and principles,and I understand that."
Duan Tianya sighed and said,"Brother Zhu,why go to such extremes?Take back these elixirs;I won't accept them."
Zhu Zefang shook his head,"These five Small Returning Elixirs were originally meant for A Xin's future.Now that he's gone,who else can I give them to?To those useless ones in my family?There's a difference between personal feelings and principles,and I understand that."
Hearing this,Duan Tianya had no choice but to accept the Small Returning Elixirs.In the martial world of Han Nan Dao,Duan Tianya had broader connections than Zhu Zefang.After some thought,he came up with a plan.
"In our group of secular disciples from the Shaolin Temple,there's a senior brother named Zhou Changxin,nicknamed'Crimson Fire Thunder Spear.'He's currently working as a bodyguard at the World Escort Bureau.Let's ask him for help.We can also use the intelligence network of the World Escort Bureau to track down Su Xin."
The name World Escort Bureau may sound grand,but it was well-deserved.They were even considered the number one escort bureau in the world.Most escort bureaus would only operate within the forty-nine territories of the Great Zhou Dynasty,where the risks were relatively low.However,the World Escort Bureau specialized in escorting goods across the Great Zhou Dynasty,Eastern Jin,the Western Regions'thirty-six countries,and the Northern Grasslands,crossing national borders directly.This carried high risks,especially in the chaotic and diverse Western Regions,where bandits and powerful individuals were abundant.The World Escort Bureau relied on its own strength,with five experts in the Divine Transformation Realm and one even reaching the Soul Fusion Realm.While an ordinary martial artist in the Innate Qi Sea Realm could become a leader or supervisor in other escort bureaus,in the World Escort Bureau,they would only serve as ordinary escorts.
Zhou Changxin,with his strength in the Divine Transformation Realm,had served as a chief escort for many years in the World Escort Bureau.Duan Tianya and Zhu Zefang personally visited the local branch of the World Escort Bureau,inviting him to join their cause.Zhou Changxin readily agreed,not just because they were fellow secular disciples from the Shaolin Temple,but also due to the Yellow-grade weapon'Ordinary Precept Dagger'presented by Zhu Zefang.Though Zhou Changxin didn't use a knife,such a weapon,especially one of Yellow grade,could be traded for other valuable items.
