Yuan's Ascension

Chapter 26: Stirrings From All Sides

Just half a night after the battle, meticulously detailed reports reached the hands of the general of defense. What concerned General Xu most were three particular descriptions.

From beginning to end, this spearman killed each member of the Vicious Tiger Gang in a single move, including the gang leader, Yang Long?

From beginning to end, he acted alone, there was no sign of any companions?

Lastly, it seemed that a mysterious Adept who had accompanied Yang Long engaged in a struggle with the spearman? But no one knows the outcome of their battle.

General Xu was greatly shocked, but quickly calmed down and began to analyze the facts. Without a doubt, this mysterious spearman was extremely strong, possibly a first-rate Adept. If he was second-rate Adept, he was undoubtedly among the strongest of that grade. At least, General Xu wasn't confident he could defeat Yang Long in one move.

Even Jiang Dongque's bodyguard Meng Qiang or Guan Zishan from Dongye Municipality couldn’t possibly have such strength. General Xu felt a growing sense of unease.

Cloudstride Sect ruled nearly a hundred counties. Each county mayor was protected by two second-rate Adepts and a dozen third-rate Adepts. Meng Qiang was Jiang Dongque's personal guard in Li County, and was a prevailing existence among second-rate Adepts.

Guan Zishan was the ancestor of the Guan family, the top clan in Li City. At his peak, he was a first-rate Adept, and was given the title of the top expert in Li City. However, he was now well over 80 and his physical condition was on the decline. Hence, he was nowadays considered a peak second-rate Adept, but his abilities were not to be underestimated.

In terms of individual strength, this mysterious spearman could sweep the entire Li City! Who could it be?

There are a few first-rate Adepts in Southdream Province, but few are proficient in the spear. Could it be a foreign Adept? General Xu found this matter exceedingly troublesome.

He was one of the top figures in Li City. But Southdream Province was merely one of the three provinces under the Cloudstride Sect, a sect filled with powerful individuals. As an insignificant general of defense of a county, he should be below the notice of such an expert.

What is the reason for this Adept single-handedly sweeping through the Vicious Tiger Gang? General Xu felt his head throb. Is he targeting me?

Barely any time had passed since the battle, and the information was too sparse. Furthermore, half of the leaders of the Vicious Tiger Gang already lay dead. Even if he planned to analyze the case, he didn't know where to begin.

Regardless, with Yang Long's death and the disintegration of the Vicious Tiger Gang, gaining control over Li City has become all the more difficult. General Xu frowned.

The figure behind the Vicious Tiger Gang was him! He was the keeper of this malicious hound, which bit any force within Li City that defied him.

"Old Xu," General Xu called out.

Clang~ The door swung open, and a purple-robed Steward Xu respectfully entered, "General, what are your instructions?"

"Immediately report this to the headquarters of the sect and request them to investigate whether any first-rate Adepts from the Jiang Continent have been active around Li City," General Xu spoke in a low voice.

"Yes," Steward Xu responded, respectfully bowing and leaving the room. The door closed once more.

"Liu Ye [1]," General Xu said.

"General." A burly man emerged from behind the screen. His temples were high and imposing, and he had an intimidating presence.

"You and Zhu Hong are to take a company of 100 soldiers each and head to Ninecloud Mountain. Bring the remaining three family heads of the Vicious Tiger Gang to Li City, I want to question them," General Xu's voice was ice-cold, "However, if they dare resist, there's no need to show mercy!"

Each soldier of the Southdream Army was clad in heavy armor and rode on horses. Two groups of a hundred each didn't look like much, but once they rallied and charged, even a battalion of foot soldiers composed of thousands of martial virtuosos would find it hard to put up any resistance. A group of tens of thousands of renegades would immediately be scattered to the winds!

"I understand," the burly man solemnly responded.

...

Compared to the oppressive atmosphere surrounding the general's manor, the mayor's manor was euphoric upon receiving this news.

"Congratulations, County Mayor! Congratulations, County Mayor!"

A guard congratulated, "With the disbandment of the Vicious Tiger Gang, Xu Shouyi has lost an arm. From now on, Li City will be in the palm of County Mayor's hand."

"Hold your tongue! This Li City is under the command of my Cloudstride Sect; I am merely its steward!" County Mayor Jiang Dongque scolded, but the jubilant tone of his voice was clear to all.

Those part of the mayor's faction knew full well about the feud between the county mayor and the general of defense. Their relationship was like water and fire!

"The Vicious Tiger Gang has long been a thorn in the side of the people of Li City. Though it has been eradicated, the remaining members still pose a threat," Jiang Dongque solemnly declared, "It is the responsibility of the city guards to ensure peace within our borders. All lieutenant-colonels, heed my command: Immediately mobilize the left and right battalions. Eliminate the remaining scourge of the Vicious Tiger Gang and capture the remaining family heads of the gang alive."

The city guard, consisting of 3000 men, was divided into three battalions: left, middle, and right, with 1000 guards in each battalion.

"Yes."

"Yes!" The lieutenant-colonels of the city guard stood excitedly.

The city guard had no intention of confronting the Vicious Tiger Gang at its peak. Even if they won, they would suffer severe casualties. Why bother?

But to confront the Vicious Tiger Gang without its gang leader, Yang Long? One could earn merits simply by breathing!

The lieutenant-colonels of the city guard exited the room in a single file.

"County mayor, should we not search for this mysterious spearman?" a tall man carrying a saber and clad in red armor asked in a hushed tone.

"Brother Meng, I have already reported it to the Cloudstride Sect. I will also issue a notice to the public to remain vigilant of this mysterious spearman," Mayor Jiang laughed, "There's no point in doing more."

"A first-rate Adept can leap several meters high, and neither mountain nor walls can stop them. They can hold their breath and stay underwater for half an hour, and cross large rivers as if stepping over a stream."

"With their endurance and stamina, they're capable of covering a thousand li in a day, traversing mountains and cliffs as if walking on flat ground," Mayor Jiang shook his head. "This mysterious expert who has never made an appearance before last night’s battle should not be a local expert of Li City. If he has no family ties and is determined to hide, we are powerless to arrest or recruit him. Only experts dispatched by the sect will be able to handle this.”

Mayor Jiang analyzed the situation clearly. Regardless of who this mysterious expert was, seizing the opportunity to strike at General Xu was his top priority.

"Mm." Meng Qiang nodded slightly. He was merely reminding Jiang Dongque. As a personal guard dispatched by the sect, his sole task was ensuring the safety of Jiang Dongque. He never meddled with the county mayor's business.

A mere half a day later.

In a quiet room on the sixth floor of the Starcom Consortium tower in Li City.

"You're saying... this mysterious spearman is very likely to be a local expert from Li City?" The woman clad in purple robes rose to her feet, her face betraying her shock.

"Yes!" The man in black robes confirmed. "Upon receiving this information, we dispatched a team to Ninecloud Mountain to investigate the scene of the stronghold of the Vicious Tiger Gang. Subsequently, we recovered a throwing knife, forged by our very own artisans at Starcom Consortium from the battlefield.

"Moreover, according to the descriptions provided by the fleeing gang members, this spearman seems to have wielded the Luminous Silverfrost Spear sold just yesterday."

"Furthermore, the customer who purchased the spear yesterday also purchased detailed information regarding the Vicious Tiger Gang," explained the man in black robes. "Such purchases are exceedingly rare, hence my vivid recollection of this event."

The woman in purple robes nodded slightly.

"Following an exhaustive analysis, we believe there is a 70% chance that this customer purchased his weapons from the Starcom Consortium in batches via Transfiguration, and then headed straight for Ninecloud Mountain where the great battle ensued at night," continued the man in black robes. "Such an expert would usually have a personal divine weapon. Why would he suddenly purchase a new weapon?"

"There are only two possible explanations. First, he wishes to conceal his identity using newly purchased weapons. But then why did he come to the Starcom Consortium? This would still reveal his whereabouts. "

"Secondly, he might not have had a suitable weapon to begin with."

"After our analysis, we ascertain that there is a 50% chance that this mysterious spearman resides in Li City, and has never revealed their prowess," the man in black robes said gravely. "If our suspicions are correct, he is most likely under the age of 30 and has been training in solitude."

"Search for him! Mobilize all resources at our disposal!" commanded the woman in purple robes. "A first-rate Adept under thirty years old? If this is true and he hasn't joined any sect, our Starcom Consortium must do our utmost to recruit him."

"This would be a massive accomplishment!"

...

Though the downfall of the Vicious Tiger Gang was swift, the aftereffects were far from over. Several factions within Li City collided in the shadows, fervently gathering information. All forces sought to unravel the truth and to locate this mysterious spearman.

But whenever any intelligence concerning Wu Qiming was presented, it would be swiftly dismissed, with no one paying heed to him. No one could ever envisage that fourteen-year-old Wu Yuan could be that terrifying spearman.

Wu Yuan was unaware of these undercurrents, and uninterested in them anyway.

Inside the martial academy, within the tightly locked doors of Wu Yuan’s private practice room.

What connection does this token have with the Chu-Jiang Empire? Wu Yuan toyed with the token in his hand, flipping through a stack of books before him.

1. not to be confused with Wu Liuye, Grandpa Liu from the Wu Clan ?