Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

Chapter 221 - 132: Scheming

Cyan Yang City, the Yuan Family!

A few years ago, the Yuan Family had the opportunity to become a major clan in Cyan Yang City. This was because the family had produced a genius who entered the Inner Sect of the Purple Sun Sect. He became a disciple of Elder Li Yang of Medicine King Peak and was deeply doted on by him.

Unfortunately, two years ago, this genius from the Yuan Family entered the Yunling Mountain Range and never returned. With that, the Yuan Family’s days of glory came to an end.

Not only did their allied clans abandon them one by one, but now even common mountain bandits had begun to target the Yuan Family.

Just a few days ago, a shipment of goods the Yuan Family was transporting out of Cyan Yang City was robbed by the bandits from Qingfeng Ridge. They even killed several Yuan Family servants and sent word with a demand: the Yuan Family was to pay a ransom for the goods and a toll from now on. Otherwise, they would rob every Yuan Family caravan that passed through Qingfeng Ridge.

"Trying to see if the Yuan Family still has a connection to Elder Li Yang? A foolish test. Though my son is gone, he and Elder Li Yang were like father and son. Elder Li Yang won’t ignore the Yuan Family."

A murderous glint flashed in the eyes of the Yuan Family Patriarch, Yuan Gang. The strongest of those bandits on Qingfeng Ridge was merely at Gang Qi Minor Achievement. Elder Li Yang only needed to send a disciple from the Outer Sect at the Gang Qi Great Success realm, and that person alone could wipe out Qingfeng Ridge.

’They want to test the Yuan Family? This is a perfect opportunity for us to make a show of force and let the outside world know that Elder Li Yang still cares about us.’

Beside him, his eldest son, Yuan Yi, said, "Father, be patient. Once the expert from the Purple Sun Sect arrives, Tang Chuan and his men don’t stand a chance."

Tang Chuan was the chieftain of Qingfeng Ridge. He had two sworn brothers, Lu Lin and Meng Yuanshu. The three of them, all masters at Gang Qi Minor Achievement, had raised their banner on Qingfeng Ridge and become bandits.

Because they never provoked the major clans of Cyan Yang City, only robbing families they could afford to offend, they had run rampant for many years without incident.

In fact, Tang Chuan had previously sent a letter to the Yuan Family, demanding their caravan pay a toll. But the Yuan Family had ignored it, believing that with their connection to Elder Li Yang, Tang Chuan and his men wouldn’t dare touch their caravan.

Who would have thought they would actually make a move? This, however, played right into the Yuan Family’s hands.

If no one provoked the Yuan Family, everyone would assume that the Yuan Family and Elder Li Yang no longer had any connection.

Yuan Gang laughed. "Anxious, my ass! They can’t sell off that much cargo in a short time anyway."

In truth, he was a little anxious. After all, it had been a while since the letter was sent to the Purple Sun Sect, yet Elder Li Yang still hadn’t sent anyone.

’What if things aren’t as I imagined? What if Elder Li Yang has truly abandoned the Yuan Family?’

Just then, a servant hurried in to report, "Master, an Outer Disciple of the Purple Sun Sect who calls himself Xu Yang is here to see you."

Xu Yang?!

Both father and son frowned.

’Is this the person Elder Li Yang sent? We might not recognize others, but how could we not know of Xu Yang, a Ten Heroes Genius?’

"How can it be Xu Yang? Isn’t he only at Gang Qi Minor Achievement? Has Elder Li Yang really abandoned the Yuan Family?"

Yuan Yi, who had just been comforting his father, instantly fell into despair.

The title of a Ten Heroes Genius was famous, but without a cultivation at Gang Qi Great Success, going to Qingfeng Ridge was simply a death sentence.

’Could this be a signal from Elder Li Yang? On the surface, it looks like he still cares about the Yuan Family, but we shouldn’t push our luck.’

’Is that why he sent Xu Yang, a Ten Heroes Genius with a big name but no real power for this situation?’

Yuan Gang’s expression shifted. "What’s the use of sending Xu Yang? To negotiate with Tang Chuan?"

’If it really comes down to negotiation, even if we get the goods back, the implications would be completely different. Anyone would dare to walk all over the Yuan Family in the future. Are we supposed to ask Elder Li Yang to send a negotiator every single time?’

’What I want is to annihilate Qingfeng Ridge with overwhelming force, to make others afraid to provoke the Yuan Family ever again! Not to just negotiate for the return of our goods.’

"Master, will you see him?"

Seeing Yuan Gang remain silent, the servant couldn’t help but ask quietly.

Yuan Gang took a deep breath and said, "Prepare some tea, and show Xu Yang in."

’No matter what’s going on, I can’t just send him away. I’ll meet with Xu Yang first and figure things out from there.’

’This isn’t about Qingfeng Ridge anymore. It’s about Elder Li Yang’s attitude toward the Yuan Family. If I don’t get this cleared up, what will we do when trouble comes knocking in the future?’

A few moments later, a servant led a handsome young man into the room.

"Xu Yang, an Outer Disciple of the Purple Sun Sect, pays my respects to Patriarch Yuan," Xu Yang said, cupping his hands in a salute.

Yuan Gang returned the salute and invited Xu Yang to sit. After ordering a servant to bring tea, he asked, "May I ask, Little Brother Xu, what were Elder Li Yang’s instructions when he sent you down the mountain?"

Xu Yang didn’t touch his tea. He shook his head and said, "I have not met Elder Li Yang. The Task Hall simply assigned me a mission to hurry to the Yuan Family and assist with the matter of the stolen cargo."

’He hasn’t met Elder Li Yang?’

Yuan Gang and Yuan Yi were stunned. ’Elder Li Yang really has abandoned the Yuan Family. He sent someone without even a single word of instruction.’

’Otherwise, for something like this, even if he didn’t send a Direct Disciple, he should have at least sent an expert at Gang Qi Great Success. What’s the point of sending Xu Yang, who’s only at Gang Qi Minor Achievement?’

But then a thought struck him. Yuan Gang said, "I imagine Little Brother Xu must have offended someone in the Outer Sect?"

’As expected of a patriarch,’ Xu Yang thought. ’He figured all that out from just one sentence.’

Xu Yang nodded. "Patriarch Yuan is sharp. I did indeed offend someone. I wanted to turn down this mission, but I was unable to refuse, so I had no choice but to bite the bullet and come."

Yuan Gang gave a self-mocking smile. "It’s not that I’m particularly astute. It’s that I know full well that you can’t handle Tang Chuan and his men on Qingfeng Ridge alone. The person who sent you here likely intended to use my family’s troubles to get you killed."

He had initially suspected that Elder Li Yang had abandoned the Yuan Family. But on second thought, if the Elder truly didn’t care, he could have just ignored the matter entirely. Why bother sending anyone at all?