Chapter 84: Cloud State's Great Rivers and Lakes

"He's Meng Qingkong!" Gu Mo exclaimed, somewhat surprised.

Yunzhou was vast, encompassing six prefectures and dozens of counties. Its jianghu (martial arts world) was teeming with various powers: influential families, sects, gangs, schools, and people from all walks of life. Martial arts masters were as numerous as carps crossing a river, countless. However, very few could truly achieve widespread fame in the jianghu. Some enthusiasts in the martial arts world compiled various lists for these individuals, but only one ranking, known as the Heavenly Ranking, had the highest recognition and widest circulation.

The Heavenly Ranking featured the ten individuals widely acknowledged as the most powerful in Yunzhou's jianghu, recognized as the Ten Grandmasters of the jianghu. Each of these ten was a top-tier expert whose reputation resounded throughout their respective regions. These ten included: the Three Grandmasters of the Canglan Sword Sect, the Two Chief Constables of Yunzhou's Six Doors, Sword Head Li Qiuyu from Qiushan Sword Arena, Sword Fanatic Wu Liuzhi of the Wu Family from Spring God Lake, Yang Shentong, leader of the Xinyi Alliance in Dongping Prefecture, Marquis Guangyang Bai Chaoxian, and Hermit Meng Qingkong of the Woods.

"So, was that young man just now the second son of Marquis Guangyang's Residence?" Gu Mo asked.

Hermit Meng Qingkong of the Woods was originally the young master of the Meng family, a prominent clan in Yunzhou. Thirty years ago, however, the Meng family was wiped out by the Moon Worshipping Cult. Meng Qingkong was the sole survivor, relentlessly pursued by the cult. On the verge of death, he was rescued by Bai Chaoxian, who was then just a minor general. The two forged a deep friendship. Later, with Bai Chaoxian's help, Meng Qingkong recovered his family's inherited martial art, "Ten Thousand Swords Returning to One." He slowly achieved mastery in martial arts, gradually gained fame, and established a sect in the jianghu called the Ten Thousand Swords Sect. Ten years ago, after reaching peak mastery, Meng Qingkong discovered a branch of the Moon Worshipping Cult hidden in Yunzhou. Under the title of Grandmaster, he rallied Yunzhou's martial artists to eradicate evil and defend justice, annihilating the cult's branch and avenging his family. Afterward, Meng Qingkong resigned as the head of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect to repay his debt of gratitude to Bai Chaoxian, who had by then been appointed a general and granted a marquisate. He became an honored guest at Marquis Guangyang's Residence and ceased to involve himself in jianghu affairs.

Now, with Meng Qingkong reappearing in the jianghu and showing such respect to a young man, the latter's identity was not hard to guess. He could only be one of Marquis Guangyang Bai Chaoxian's two sons. The Marquis's heir was quite well-known among the populace and was not named Bai Jingqi.

"Yes," Yan Sanniang said. She fed A-Qi a healing pill, then helped him through the door. As they walked, she continued, "Bai Jingqi is the second son of Marquis Guangyang's Residence, and also my... half-brother!"

Gu Mo suddenly understood. "No wonder everyone who knows your identity is so wary of you. Your father is actually Marquis Guangyang."

Marquis Guangyang Bai Chaoxian was a legend. Born a slave, he became a Grandmaster of martial arts through sheer talent and perseverance. Without any backing, he rose step by step to become a general and a marquis. However, he was infamous among the common people because his path to fame was paved with countless corpses. He was exceptionally ruthless; he had once buried eighty thousand enemy soldiers alive on the battlefield and had led troops to massacre dozens of sects. In the imperial court, he eliminated rivals and framed loyal officials—his misdeeds were too numerous to list.

Yan Sanniang helped A-Qi inside the house and said, "He's an evil man. I knew he was evil many years ago, even when I was in the refugee camp. But, honestly, I don't care if he's evil; I only care if he's a good father. And clearly, he's not a good father. I don't know why he brought me out of the refugee camp if he disdains me and refuses to acknowledge me, but I'm also grateful to him. If it weren't for him, I would still be struggling in the refugee camp now. Even though he doesn't recognize me, he certainly gave me a chance to change my fate."

Gu Mo nodded slightly. He had previously heard Yan Sanniang mention that she was an unacknowledged illegitimate daughter. However, from Yan Sanniang's perspective, even though Bai Chaoxian was universally recognized as an evil man and refused to acknowledge her as his daughter, he had undeniably given her a new life.

Gu Chundong asked, "So, Sister Yan, what did your brother... uh, Bai Jingqi, come to see you for today? How did you two end up in a conflict?"

Yan Sanniang sighed and said, "Years ago, the Bai family dropped me off in Linjiang Prefecture and completely ignored me. But then, a little over a year ago, someone from the Bai family suddenly came to me, saying they wanted to add me to the family genealogy. I was quite happy then, thinking he finally acknowledged me as his daughter. But I didn't expect that he merely wanted me to enter a marriage alliance, to become a concubine to a high-ranking court official he wished to curry favor with. That official was old enough to be my grandfather! I refused on the spot. After that, I started thinking about no longer selling alcohol and instead used my connections to get into the 'Chasing Wind' business. Actually, the reason I got into that business was to show him. I wanted to achieve something and make him see that I, his illegitimate daughter, wouldn't bring him shame. But he never even looked me in the eye. For over a year, no one from the Bai family sought me out, and I thought the matter was over. Unexpectedly, it's resurfaced. This time, it was Bai Jingqi, the Marquis's second son, who came personally to give me an ultimatum!"

Gu Chundong asked indignantly, "Don't tell me, if you refuse to marry that old man as a concubine, they'll resort to kidnapping?"

Yan Sanniang shook her head. "Kidnapping isn't likely. After all, if I'm truly unwilling, forcing me into marriage could lead to uncontrollable repercussions. However, Bai Jingqi said that if I still refuse, the Bai family will reclaim all my assets and force me back to being a refugee in the refugee camp!"

Silence fell over the hall for a moment.

Marquis Guangyang's Residence held an extraordinary status in Yunzhou. In terms of jianghu standing, it boasted Marquis Guangyang Bai Chaoxian and Hermit Meng Qingkong, both Grandmasters. Regarding official power, Bai Chaoxian was a marquis and a second-rank Guardian General, commanding significant military forces. Even the Governor of Yunzhou would have to address himself as a subordinate in his presence. For such a figure to say they would reclaim Yan Sanniang's possessions would be as simple as lifting a finger.

A-Qi, who was sitting on a chair using his internal energy to heal, said, "Boss, at worst, we fight them! Killing one breaks even, killing two makes a profit!"

Yan Sanniang chuckled lightly. "It won't come to that. Let's take it one step at a time. If that day truly comes, wandering the jianghu wouldn't be so bad. However, there's still time. The reason I decided to pivot to the Chasing Wind Tower business is to confront the Bai family. Although Marquis Guangyang's Residence is powerful, after the new emperor ascended the throne a few years ago, he grew quite displeased with Bai Chaoxian. Consequently, in recent years, the Marquis's Residence has kept a very low profile, and their actions have become constrained. The Chasing Wind Tower is the fastest way for me to accumulate fame through my connections. As long as the reputation of No. 2 Villa grows large enough, even if Marquis Guangyang's Residence wants to act against me, they'll be hesitant, afraid to deal with me too openly. If it truly comes to a desperate fight, I'll have the confidence to make them pay dearly!"

At this point, Yan Sanniang looked at Gu Mo and said with a smile, "Speaking of which, the main reason Bai Jingqi came personally to give me this ultimatum is because of you, Great Hero Gu. You've put pressure on them. With the recent resolution of the Cat Demon case in Qingyang Prefecture, Great Hero Gu's name will surely shake the jianghu, even more so than the Silver Fox case. Our No. 2 Villa benefits from your fame, and our influence will rise a notch, making the Bai family anxious. They worry that if things continue like this, it won't be long before they might not even dare to touch me!"

A-Qi echoed, "No one could have predicted that this Cat Demon case would involve both the Four Directions Sword Sect and Lingyun Villa. Lingyun Villa has been destroyed, of course, but the biggest impact is the crippling of the Four Directions Sword Sect. The entire Yunzhou jianghu is about to be rocked!"

Lingyun Villa had a considerable reputation in Yunzhou's jianghu, but its main influence was limited to Linjiang Prefecture. The Four Directions Sword Sect, however, was different; it was a true top-tier power, one of the absolute strongest in all of Yunzhou. Yunzhou comprised six prefectures and many jianghu forces. Quite a few could be called first-rate, but most were confined within their respective prefectures. Only seven powers exerted significant influence across the entire Yunzhou: the One Sect, the One Alliance, the Four Directions Sect, the Two Gangs, the One Family, and the One Sword Arena. Originally there were ten, but the Four Directions Sword Sect's influence stemmed from its four constituent sects being closely united, so it was usually considered a single power in the jianghu.

The One Sect referred to the transcendent Canglan Sword Sect. Its jianghu status surpassed the combined influence of the other six powers, as it wasn't confined to Yunzhou but was a top-tier, first-class power across the entire Qian Kingdom.

The One Alliance referred to the Xinyi Alliance in Dongping Prefecture, the only martial alliance in all six Yunzhou prefectures that truly unified the jianghu. Its leader, Yang Shentong, was one of Yunzhou's Ten Grandmasters. With his formidable martial prowess and reputation for righteousness, he founded the Xinyi Alliance and was elected the martial arts leader of Dongping Prefecture by its jianghu.

The Four Directions Sect was the Four Directions Sword Sect of Qingyang Prefecture. Although its four sect masters were not Grandmasters, the Four Directions Sword Sect was closely united, and the four masters fighting together were considered equivalent to a Grandmaster. The Four Directions Sword Sect's status in Qingyang Prefecture was not much different from that of a martial alliance.

The Two Gangs were the Three Rivers Gang of Linjiang Prefecture and the Flying Fish Gang of Yun Prefecture. The Three Rivers Gang of Linjiang Prefecture didn't boast top experts, but its influence primarily stemmed from its geographical location; Linjiang Prefecture was situated at the confluence of three rivers, and the Three Rivers Gang monopolized the canal transport business, claiming tens of thousands of members, making its influence immense. The Flying Fish Gang of Yun Prefecture, on the other hand, derived its influence from Yun Prefecture being the location of Yunzhou City, the center of the entire Yunzhou. The Flying Fish Gang was the largest gang within Yunzhou City, so its influence was considerable. There were even rumors that the Flying Fish Gang served as the Six Doors' unofficial enforcers.

The One Family referred to the Wu Family of Wu Prefecture, the foremost martial arts family in Yunzhou. With a heritage spanning hundreds of years, it held significant influence not only in the jianghu but also within the imperial court. Across the entire Qian Kingdom, it was considered a first-class aristocratic family. Had the Canglan Sword Sect not also been in Yunzhou, the Wu Family would undoubtedly be Yunzhou's number one power. However, strictly speaking, the Canglan Sword Sect couldn't compare to the Wu Family, as the Wu Family's influence wasn't solely in the jianghu; their focus was on the imperial court and officialdom. Yet, even so, the Wu Family's jianghu influence was considerable; Sword Fanatic Wu Liuzhi, one of Yunzhou's Ten Grandmasters, was a member of the Wu Family. People in the jianghu jokingly referred to the "Wu" of Wu Prefecture as the "Wu" of the Wu Family.

The last of the seven major powers was the Qiushan Sword Arena in Jinlan Prefecture. This arena was different from traditional martial arts forces; it was a sanctuary for sword cultivators, founded by Sword Head Li Qiuyu, one of the Ten Grandmasters. Sword Head Li Qiuyu and Sword Fanatic Wu Liuzhi of the Wu Family were known as the "Twin Swords of Yunzhou," representing the pinnacle of sword arts in the region. Wu Liuzhi was obsessed with the sword, staying confined for decades to pursue it, while Li Qiuyu was the opposite. He founded the Qiushan Sword Arena, inviting sword cultivators from all corners of the land to seek the peak of sword dao, pursuing the supreme sword path, attracting a multitude of swordsmen.

The Four Directions Sword Sect was one of these seven major powers. This recent Cat Demon case directly led to the complete ruin of the Four Directions Sword Sect's reputation, built over many years. All four sect masters were imprisoned, leaving the Four Directions Sword Sect virtually defunct in all but name. Although the mastermind behind this incident was not Gu Mo, it was Gu Mo who brought disgrace upon the Four Great Sword Sects and killed the "Cat Demon" Zuo Yue and his son. Therefore, once this matter spread, it was easy to imagine how much stir Gu Mo's name would cause in Yunzhou. And No. 2 Villa, where Gu Mo resided, would be the biggest beneficiary besides Gu Mo himself, gaining considerable fame as well.

"Gu Mo," Yan Sanniang said, pouring him a cup of tea in the hall. "The Silver Fox incident and the Cat Demon incident, two major jianghu events in a row, have made your reputation skyrocket in a short period. Personally, I think we should strike while the iron is hot. If you kill two more notorious wanted criminals at this time, your fame will be solidified. Of course, I definitely have selfish motives; there's no doubt about that. Currently, my No. 2 Villa primarily relies on your support. If I want No. 2 Villa to become famous, I need to depend on you."

Gu Mo nodded slightly and said, "Understood."

"Thank you!" Yan Sanniang then asked, "By the way, you repelled Meng Qingkong with a single palm today, and you weren't even using your full strength. Should we publicize this?"

"Never mind," Gu Mo waved his hand. "Meng Qingkong also wasn't using his full strength, and he acted in haste."

"In that case, then," Yan Sanniang said with a smile, "Still, for you to repel Meng Qingkong with a single palm is indeed astonishing!"

On the streets of Linjiang City, a carriage slowly headed out of the city. Inside the carriage were Bai Jingqi, the second son of Marquis Guangyang's Residence, and Hermit Meng Qingkong of the Woods. At this moment, Meng Qingkong was using his internal energy to heal Bai Jingqi's injuries.

After a long while, Bai Jingqi spat out a mouthful of clotted blood, feeling much more comfortable. He slowly leaned against the carriage window, wiped his mouth, and said, "Rumors in the jianghu say that Gu the Blind's martial arts are unfathomable. I thought No. 2 Villa was just boasting excessively, but after today's exchange, I realize they weren't exaggerating in the slightest!"

Meng Qingkong nodded. "This young man's talent is truly terrifying. To possess such martial arts prowess at such a young age is rare in the world. Given time, he will surely become a Grandmaster. In my brief exchange with him, I could feel that his internal energy cultivation is profound and unfathomable. He wasn't even using his full strength against me."

Bai Jingqi chuckled slightly. "Fortunately, Elder Meng, you were with me today. With you suppressing Gu the Blind, otherwise, I would have been in big trouble today."

Meng Qingkong shook his head slightly. "I did not suppress Gu Mo. If we truly fought, I might not be his match." As he spoke, Meng Qingkong slowly raised his hand, which was visibly trembling slightly and swollen.

Bai Jingqi was astonished. "How can that be? Elder Meng, aren't you a Grandmaster?"

Meng Qingkong shook his head. "Just now, Gu Mo said he has six more palm techniques stronger than the one he just used. If I don't draw my sword, I absolutely won't be able to withstand all his other palm strikes. And if I do draw my sword, he will also have a trump card. Furthermore, second young master, a Grandmaster is not what you imagine."

Bai Jingqi asked, perplexed, "Elder Meng, what exactly is a Grandmaster?"

Meng Qingkong slowly replied, "Having a great reputation and winning enough fights makes you a Grandmaster."

"Huh?" Bai Jingqi looked bewildered.

Meng Qingkong slowly explained, "Grandmaster, Grandmaster, it's merely a title, a respectful address for someone powerful in martial arts. It's just that most people in the jianghu don't understand the true meaning, and through constant retelling, it's been mistaken for a realm of cultivation. Otherwise, think about it: why has Yunzhou always only had Ten Grandmasters?"

Bai Jingqi slowly said, "Because these ten people have the biggest reputation?"

Meng Qingkong smiled faintly and slowly said, "Among those with a great reputation, these ten are the strongest fighters!"