Little Gui nodded and said, “Senior Brother, while you were in seclusion these past few days, someone from the Huang Clan showed up at our court.”
“The Huang Clan from Northwest City?” Xu Zimo was surprised, but then quickly understood. “They’re here for Yan Buhui, aren’t they?”
“Yes, the one who came is the Huang Clan’s second young master. Word is he’s trying to get Yan Buhui kicked out of True Martial Sacred Ground,” Little Gui replied.
“When did the Huang Clan gain influence in our court?” Xu Zimo asked with a laugh.
“I heard the second young master, Huang Tianxie, is good friends with Shao Xingyu, the First Grand Elder’s grandson. The two of them supposedly made some shady backroom deal,” Little Gui said, chuckling. “With Shao Xingyu’s help, this probably won’t be difficult to pull off.”
“Interesting,” Xu Zimo said, amused.
“Senior Brother, should we help Yan Buhui?” Little Gui asked. “Weren’t you paying close attention to him before?”
“Go spread the word that Shao Xingyu and I are mortal enemies,” Xu Zimo said after thinking for a moment. “Make sure it causes a stir, let it spread far and wide.”
Little Gui nodded. Though he didn’t understand the purpose behind this move, he dared not question it.
Watching Little Gui leave, Xu Zimo smiled to himself. Yan Buhui truly was a talented man.
Perhaps, as many say, no strong one ever walked a smooth road. Everyone reached the Mountain through hardship and failure.
And Yan Buhui, according to Xu Zimo’s memories from his previous life, was destined for greatness even without any help from him.
His plan now was simple: turn icing on the cake into fuel in the snowstorm, maximize the benefit.
Yan Buhui might just have a place among his future war generals.
Xu Zimo intended to help him, but not by offering it. He wanted Yan Buhui to come to him for help.
The living quarters for True Martial Sacred Ground’s outer court disciples was a vast area filled with countless courtyards interwoven together.
At that moment, outside Yan Buhui’s courtyard, several outer court disciples were talking loudly.
“Did you hear? That guy ranked eleventh on the Crouching Tiger List, Yan Buhui, turns out he’s a bastard child.”
“Yeah, I heard his mother was just a lowly maid. One night his dad got drunk and made a mistake. That’s how he was born.”
“Tch, pitiful, huh? Word is the Huang Clan doesn’t acknowledge him at all. He’s treated worse than a dog over there, so he ran off to our sect.”
“If you ask me, his mother was probably a scheming whore. Waited until the clan head got drunk and jumped into his bed just to climb up the social ladder. Despicable.”
Their voices were loud enough to be heard from far away, clearly meant to provoke.
Inside the room, Yan Buhui’s forehead bulged with veins as he clenched his fists.
He knew exactly what these people were trying to do: provoke him into challenging them out of anger.
All of them were ranked in the top ten on the Crouching Tiger List, he couldn’t beat them right now.
Even though he understood everything, he still wanted to rip them apart. The rage in his heart was uncontrollable.
His mother was a forbidden topic, his reverse scale.
Everything he’d done, his relentless cultivation, was to one day destroy the Huang Clan and seek justice for her.
“You really are a good brother,” he muttered through clenched teeth, still hearing those humiliating words outside.
He knew his older brother had come. This was all his doing.
Even though he didn’t accept that family, blood ties couldn't be denied.
He had escaped the Huang Clan and traveled thousands of miles to True Martial Sacred Ground. But still, they refused to leave him alone.
He shut his eyes, trying to calm his emotions and repeatedly telling himself: now is not the time to act on impulse.
Someday, everything they’ve done, he would repay a hundredfold.
After a long silence, Yan Buhui realized his mind was only getting more chaotic.
He looked over at the sword resting on the table, picked it up, and gently caressed its blade.
“A sword should never lose, its edge should reach the heavens,” he whispered, as though making a great decision.
Taking the sword, he opened the door and walked out with a grim face.
When the disciples outside saw Yan Buhui emerge, one of them immediately stepped forward with a mocking grin.
“Well, if it isn’t Junior Brother Yan. I heard your mom was a maid in the Huang Clan. Just wanted to verify that rumor, true or not?”
Yan Buhui raised his sword and pointed it at the youth, speaking in a cold tone:
“Honestly, your attempts at provocation are childish and disgusting… But congratulations. You succeeded.”
“What, you want to challenge me?” the youth blinked in surprise, then grinned.
“Yes. Life-and-death battle. Do you dare?” Yan Buhui said slowly, every word filled with fury and madness.
His voice was steady but trembling. The youth across from him couldn’t even imagine how much hatred burned behind those eyes.
He swallowed nervously, his aura wavered for a moment. But then he remembered, he was at the peak of Meridian Forging Realm.
That cultivation level was more than enough to qualify for the inner court. Yan Buhui was only at Meridian Fifth Layer, nothing to fear.
“Let’s skip the life-and-death battle. We’ll just fight by the Crouching Tiger List rules,” the youth replied cautiously.
Even though he was confident, he wasn’t stupid. He was just paid to do a job, not to gamble with his life.
The youth’s name was Xu Ren, ranked seventh on the Crouching Tiger List.
Under its rules, higher-ranked disciples couldn’t challenge lower-ranked ones. So their only option was to anger Yan Buhui into issuing a challenge himself.
Meanwhile, atop Star Cosmos Mountain, residence of the Grand Elder’s grandson Shao Xingyu,
Two young men sat across from each other in a quiet courtyard.
One wore purple robes, his aura commanding and sharp. Clearly a man who exuded confidence and authority.
Raising his teacup, he smiled and said,
“Brother Tianxie, the fish has taken the bait.”
“Then I’ll be counting on you for this, Brother Xingyu,” the other young man said with a calm smile.
He wore white robes, a black sword strapped to his back, and kept his hair short.
Though not particularly handsome, he had a bright and commanding presence, clearly not ordinary.
“Don’t worry,” Shao Xingyu replied confidently. “As long as he stays in the outer court, it’s tricky to move against him directly.
But the moment he’s crippled, kicking a cripple out of the court? That’s easily within my power.”
“The match is scheduled for noon tomorrow. Shall we go enjoy the show?” he added with a grin.
“I’ll follow your lead,” Huang Tianxie replied with a faint smile.