Chapter 34: The Shangguan Family, One of the Four Founding Families of Great Yan Nation

  Huayang Sect, the most prestigious sect in the Great Yan Dynasty. Not only are there many disciples under its gate, but each and every one of them is extraordinary. What's more worth mentioning is that the current sect master of Huayang Sect, Shangguan Yunlong, is also the current head of the Shangguan family. He followed the founding emperor of Great Yan Dynasty, Murong Fu, in his southern campaigns and battles, making great contributions to the establishment of Great Yan Dynasty.

  It was because of this great achievement that the Shangguan family, along with the Huangfu, Nangong and Tuoba families, were conferred by Emperor Murong Fu, the founding emperor of Great Yan, as one of the four noble families of Great Yan. In Great Yan, these four families not only possessed boundless wealth and superior status, but also held unimaginable privileges.

  Let's take the Huayang Sect established by Shangguan Yunlong as an example. The standard for recruiting disciples under Shangguan Yunlong is also very strange. As long as one has a talent that interests the Huayang Sect, they can easily join the sect. As for the character of these people, it's not something the Huayang Sect needs to consider at all.

  By joining the Huayang Sect, the treatment received is also extremely enviable. In addition to getting extremely superior living conditions, what's more worth mentioning is that one can learn the ultimate skills of the sect master, Shangguan Yunlong. It's worth noting that Shangguan Yunlong in the Great Yan Kingdom is a terrifying existence with power that has reached the extreme, known as the Yaoke Wu Sheng. Throughout the Great Yan Kingdom, those who can confront Shangguan Yunlong are probably only the heads of the four major families.

  Moreover, joining the Huayang Sect also allows one to possess some privileges that ordinary people cannot imagine. For example, there was once a disciple of the Huayang Sect who had a grudge with a villager from a small village over something as trivial as a chicken feather. In a fit of rage, he completely annihilated the entire village.

  The evil deeds of Huayang Sect's disciple, Tucun, shocked everyone in the local area. At that time, the county magistrate of the county to which the small village belonged was a man of upright character, and when he heard about it, he became furious and led his men to capture the murderer. After paying a staggering price, they finally managed to apprehend him.

  In order to maintain the dignity of the law and avenge the hundreds of innocent villagers who died unjustly in that small village, the county magistrate had Huayang Zong's disciple Ming Zheng executed on the spot.

  If it is said that a mere disciple of the Huayang Sect can single-handedly slaughter an entire small village with hundreds of people and cause heavy casualties among those who pursue him, then people will truly realize how terrifying the power of the Huayang Sect is. What happened next made people understand what kind of status the Huayang Sect had in the Great Yan Kingdom.

  "I am a disciple of the Huayang Sect, and even if I have made countless mistakes, it is only up to the Huayang Sect to deal with me. A small county magistrate, how dare you take it upon yourself to kill my Huayang Sect's disciple? You have a big nerve!" Because of these words from the leader of the Huayang Sect, Ouyang Yunlong, not long after, the imperial court issued an official document, stripping the county magistrate of his position. The county magistrate's subordinates were also sent to the border regions on various pretexts.

  Not long after that, the news of the county magistrate's suicide spread. The Great Yan State was not lacking in wise people, and they all guessed that the death of the county magistrate had nothing to do with Huayang Zong. The murder of an official appointed by the imperial court was no small matter. People waited with bated breath to see how the imperial court would react. But... but... but from then on, there was never any further news.

  Since then, the disciples of Huayang Sect have become more arrogant and domineering. They do things without considering others' feelings, solely based on their own likes and dislikes. Also since that incident, all people in the Great Yan Kingdom, from high-ranking officials to ordinary citizens, when encountering someone from Huayang Sect, would be extremely polite and courteous, fearing to provoke them and lead to an irreparable outcome.

  "Xiao Chen, Huayang Sect has two ultimate skills. One is the unparalleled poison technique, and the second is the soul-calming and spirit-settling method. As long as someone from Huayang Sect lends a helping hand, they can definitely make them avoid the suffering of separation!" Ling Yun added finally.

  "So you're saying that Huayang Sect's people might really have a way?" Xiao Chen's eyes widened.

  "Xiao Chen, don't listen to Ling Yun's nonsense. Liu Niang said it right, the people of Huayang Sect are indeed powerful and capable, but their temper is extremely eccentric. They do things based on their whims, if they're in a good mood and take a liking to you, they might give you enormous benefits out of thin air. But if they're not in the mood, one misstep and you'll end up dead without even a burial ground. It's not worth taking such a huge risk for just one soul!" Lan Zhiyuan hastily interrupted.

  "Yes, Xiao Chen, I was just saying that. You don't have to take such a risk!" Ling Yun suddenly came to his senses as well. For ordinary people, as long as you can offer them a price that moves their hearts, they will do things for you. But Huayang Sect is different, as the largest sect in Great Yan Kingdom, its wealth and status are second only to the Murong Imperial Family of Great Yan Kingdom. It's hard to come up with conditions that would move someone from Huayang Sect, it's like climbing a sky-high mountain.

  "There's always hope than no hope at all!" Xiao Chen gritted his teeth, "Everyone, who can tell me where the Huayang Sect is?"

  "Xiao Chen..." Everyone was stunned. But looking at Xiao Chen's unyielding face, no one had the courage to persuade him in the end.

  "Xiao Chen, stop dreaming. In this world, probably no one knows where Huayang Sect is except for the people of Huayang Sect itself. Without someone from Huayang Sect leading the way, finding it would be like looking for a needle in the ocean. But Xiao Chen, look at Yuelian now - she's just a soul, and she only has seven days to stay in the mortal world. If she doesn't return to the underworld within those seven days, her soul will scatter completely!" Lan Zhuiyan poured another bucket of cold water.

  "What should we do?" Xiao Chen was anxious.

  "Xiao Chen, actually things aren't entirely as you think. Although you can't rush over there, you can wait for them to come here!" Ling Yun lowered his head in embarrassment. At a time when Xiao Chen was almost despairing, Ling Yun gave him a new glimmer of hope.

  "What's going on here? Lingyun!" The eldest of the Blue family, Zhiyuan, felt a hint of unease.

  "Sorry, Village Chief!" Lingyun's voice had already become barely audible. Although everyone in Pingquan Village knew that Lingyun was the most deserving first brave of this village. But no one knew that his title as the first brave was not earned through his own efforts. A year ago, by chance, at a time when Lingyun was still unknown, he happened to meet someone from Huayang Sect. When he learned of Lingyun's eagerness to improve himself, the person smiled faintly and gave Lingyun a fragrant pill.

  "Eat it. It will help you achieve your dreams!" That was what the person from Huayang Sect said to Lingyun at that time. Although his tone was exceptionally calm, it was filled with infinite confidence.

  After taking the medicine, Lingyun felt a surge of heat flowing through his body, making him feel extremely comfortable. He then broke out in a cold sweat and had to change into several sets of clean clothes before he was finally able to get rid of the strange smell on his body. To his surprise, Lingyun discovered that his senses of sight, hearing, strength, and speed had all greatly improved.

  "Thank you, Master Xian, for your great kindness. I, Lingyun, will always remember it in my heart. If Master Xian needs any help from me in the future, I will not hesitate to offer my services even if it means sacrificing my life!"

  "Kid, I don't need your help now. A year from now, at this time, I'll come find you again. By then, I'll surely make you astonished once more! Hahaha!" The seemingly friendly Huayang Sect member chuckled and floated away.

  "By the way, young man, I'm going to travel all over the world and it's not very convenient to always carry this thing on my back. Can you store it for me?" The person from Huayang Sect took off his backpack and pulled out a brightly colored pillow.

  "No problem!" Lingyun agreed without hesitation. Since he had already accepted such a great favor from the other party, agreeing to their small request was only natural.

  With the help of Huayang Sect's medicinal pill, Lingyun's strength increased dramatically. Not long after, in the village's martial arts competition among young men, he easily won the title of First Brave Warrior. As for what kind of request Huayang Sect would make to him a year later, we'll talk about it then! Surrounded by everyone's praise, Lingyun didn't have time to think about this issue.

  Before receiving the task of hunting down the fierce tiger, before meeting Xiao Chen, Ling Yun, this number one brave warrior, had always lived under the admiring gaze of the entire village. But this time's tiger incident and Huang Liang's strange case poured a basin of cold water on Ling Yun, and compared to Xiao Chen brothers, he himself was actually nothing as the so-called number one brave warrior.

  The dejected Lingyun finally remembered that today was the day when the one-year appointment would expire. But what would be waiting for his own fate?

  "Lingyun, you bastard!" Lan Zhiyuan's nose was crooked with anger. I said, Lingyun a year ago was an extremely dull person. But somehow, Lingyun seemed to have changed into a different person, his strength increasing shockingly. And even more unexpectedly, he became the undisputed first brave warrior of Pingquan Village.

  It was also at that time that he began to pay attention to Lingyun, and only then did he have the idea of marrying his own granddaughter to Lingyun. Who would have thought that the real reason would be like this? Shame! "Lingyun, you scoundrel... I... I..." Lan Zhuiyuan was so angry that he wanted to hit him.

  "Grandpa, don't!" Lan Ran hastily blocked her heart's person in front of him.

  "Old Village Chief, calm down, don't be like this!" Xiao Chen and Liu Yun hastily stepped forward to stop the enraged Lan Zhiyuan.

  "Ah!" Lan Zhiyuan plopped down onto the chair. How could Lingyun be so unreasonable! Did he know or not that dealing with the moody people of Huayang Sect would have very serious consequences?

  Everyone was speechless. At this time, the dawn's light had quietly driven away the last bit of darkness. Everyone was nervous and uneasy, they were all waiting, waiting for that mysterious Huayang Sect person. Who knows whether the person who is about to arrive will bring surprise or pain? Xiao Chen finally deeply felt that waiting was actually a kind of most painful torture.

  "Village chief, there's someone outside the village who claims to be from Huayang Sect. He specifically asks to see Lingyun!" Just then, a villager rushed over in a flurry, what was bound to happen has finally happened!

  "Whether it's good fortune or bad, bad fortune can't be avoided. Ling Yun, follow me!" Lan Zhiyan let out a cold snort and led the way outside.

  "Lan Ran, I'm scared!" Ling Yun's legs began to tremble involuntarily. He really didn't dare imagine what fate awaited him.

  "Lingyun. No matter what happens, I'll always be with you, let's go!" Lanlan gently took Lingyun's arm.

  "I'll go too!" Xiao Chen took a look at the pair of sister flowers, then looked at Liu Yun, and smiled slightly. Even if there was just a tiny bit of hope, he had to try for it.

  "Xiao Chen, I'll go with you too!" Liu Yun also stepped forward and linked her arm with Xiao Chen's.

  Outside the village of Pingquan, a man with a long face, thin mustache and small eyes, dressed as a Taoist priest, sat leisurely on top of a huge boulder. Three years ago, he had given a pellet of Washing Marrow Dan to that young whippersnapper named Lingyun; now it was time for him to collect his due.

  "Nice to meet you, Master Xian." Although Lan's support was there, Lingyun's legs still trembled uncontrollably.

  "Little one, do you still remember the promise from a year ago?" asked the Taoist with narrowed eyes.

  "Remember, remember." Lingyun hastily replied, his heart becoming increasingly anxious.

  "It's good that you remember." The speaker laughed, but his laughter sounded so piercing.