Qingyang Inn, the most famous inn in Qingyang City, belongs to Wan Tang.
Its main store is located in the East District. In addition to the other three districts in the city, there are also branches in some market towns under the jurisdiction of Qingyang City, with different grades.
The Yuelai Restaurant scandal has spread throughout the city. After half a month of fermentation, it has become more and more intense and has become a topic of conversation among the people after dinner.
Especially now that Zhong Yan has returned from Fangshi, he is constantly speculating on the possible follow-up of the incident. He even made a bet in private on who of the Zhong and Xue houses would bow his head first. Some people who watched the excitement did not think it was a big deal and secretly hoped to hurry up. Fight.
At this moment, more than half of the customers in the restaurant on the third floor of the inn's front yard were talking about this matter.
"Brother Donglai, your friend doesn't seem to be very vocal."
Sitting by the window on the first floor was a man and a woman. The woman in a white dress had a slim figure and a pretty face. The cold look between her eyebrows added a bit of fierceness, but she had to blink her big eyes to look cute.
After hearing the discussions around her, she said this, and then added: "But it's normal. The fourth level of Qi refining really has no chance of winning against a warrior at the eighth level of Xiantian realm."
The man sitting on her right was also dressed in white, with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes. He was handsome and handsome. He took a sip of wine and did not speak, but glanced at a table in the corner.
The woman in the white dress turned her head and saw a female monk in a yellow dress who had just sat down. She was quite beautiful. She suddenly felt unhappy and sneered at the corner of her mouth when she looked at her.
His eyes closed as soon as he touched them. Yu Qingyao hurriedly lowered her head, her heart pounding as she secretly wondered when such two masters came to the city.
Although she couldn't see through their cultivation, she could feel that the two men's auras were restrained and much stronger than hers, especially that man, who was probably at least at the eighth level of Qi refining.
"Do they know me?"
"Why did that woman show such obvious hostility to me?"
Yu Qingyao felt nervous and wanted to get up and leave immediately, but was afraid of backfiring. She was sure that it was the first time she met these two people. Except for Zhong Yan, who had resolved their feud, she did not provoke anyone else to form a grudge.
This way.
The young man in white pursed his lips and said, "It's just the first time I've seen the sixth level of Qi Refining in the past few days since I came to Qingyang. I took a closer look. Don't think too much about it, my true sister."
"No way, it's brother Donglai. You have to think too much."
At this time.
The noise in the originally noisy restaurant gradually weakened until it was silent.
But a carriage stopped at the door of the restaurant, and a man and a woman got off and walked into the inn. It was Zhong Yan and his concubine Xia He.
The man in white looked happy and stood up, surprising the woman next to him.
Zhong Yan looked around, feeling surprised in his heart.
One is the unfamiliar woman in white, because he only invited Huo Donglai. Even if there is a female companion, it should not be this stranger;
The second is Yu Qingyao, who is sitting in the corner. Her home is in the South District, and she even comes to the inn to eat alone.
"Fellow Daoist Huo!"
Zhong Yan strode forward with a smile on his face, "Fellow Taoist came to Qingyang, and it was really not thoughtful of Zhong Yan to let him stay at an inn."
"You are so polite, Zhong Daoyou, why do you and I need to be so at odds with each other?"
Huo Donglai grabbed Zhong Yan's wrist and waved his hand to the side, "This is my junior sister, Shi Lingzhen."
"I've met fellow Daoist Shi!"
Zhong Yan greeted him solemnly, he must be an inner disciple of the Fire Cloud Sect, and judging from his appearance and temperament, he was not very old.
"Friend Zhong Dao."
Although the other party smiled and handed over her hand, Zhong Yan could see the obvious arrogance between her eyebrows - the usual attitude of a strong person facing the weak, and he couldn't help but feel suspicious.
He looked around and said with a smile: "I would like to ask you two to move to the humble residence. Wine and food have been prepared in the mansion."
Huo Donglai: "That's exactly what I meant."
The four of them left the inn and got into the carriage in full view of everyone.
When the carriage left, the crowd suddenly broke into discussions.
Yu Qingyao in the corner bit her lip and secretly thought that Zhong Yan had indeed invited experts. If she had run away last night, her body would have been exposed in the wilderness at this moment.
****
Xue Mansion, the main meeting hall.
"You Zhong Yan, how dare you threaten me!"
Xue Shanhu's face was ashen, and he slapped the letter on the table with one palm, shaking the table to pieces and making the servants tremble in fear and kneel on the ground.
After receiving the news, important figures in the Xue Mansion quickly entered the palace.
Guo Qingxue picked up the letter and read it - Zhong only needs a public apology and the matter is over, otherwise everything will be dead. You may be able to destroy my family, but if you let me escape from the city, you will be waiting for endless revenge!
"Are you sure it was sent by the Zhong Mansion?" Guo Qinglin glanced at it with a cold expression on his face. The other party was at fault for the murder. If the Xue Mansion had to publicly apologize for this matter, then he would really have no face to gain a foothold in Qingyang City.
For these high-ranking figures and forces, face is the top priority, and in many cases it is even more important than life.
The servant immediately said: "Yes, the concubine whom Zhong Mansion married not long ago sent it personally!"
Another man in black added: "This concubine and Zhong Yan left the house one after another. Zhong Yan left Wutong Lane and went to Zhengyang Main Street."
At this time, a carrier pigeon flew down and was caught by the man in black. He took off the note and looked at it, his face changed slightly, "Zhong Yan went to Qingyang Inn in the South District, met two monks, and then invited him back together. Zhongfu..."
After hearing the details, my concubine Zhang Hongmei hurriedly asked: "Do you know what state it is?"
"None of the monks present can see clearly. It is speculated that it is above the eighth level of Qi Refining, but it should not reach the foundation building level."
Xue Shanhu sneered, "If he can invite helpers to build the foundation, Xue will admit it and immediately go to his house to apologize."
Birds of a feather flock together.
Guo Qinglin muttered: "Zhong Yan has to wait until Qingyang reaches the fourth level of Qi Refining to break through. If he wants to make a foundation-building friend who has a lot of connections and is willing to help, the possibility is extremely slim. And if he pays to hire someone, even if he is a Fu The teacher has saved some money, but he doesn’t have the financial resources.”
After a pause, he asserted: "To be able to invite two people from the ninth level of Qi Refining is already incredible, and there can't be more."
Xue Shanhu chuckled, "Two people at the ninth level of Qi Refining, do you think my Xue Mansion can't destroy them?"
The man in black stepped forward and handed the note to Guo Qinglin, and said to Xue Shanhu: "Master, according to the situation at that time, Zhong Yan and the man did appear to be very close and familiar."
Guo Qinglin stared at the note, shook his head and said: "This is the flaw. These two people stayed at the inn for four days. Zhong Yan returned to the city yesterday. How could they go to Zhong Mansion now and behave like this in front of everyone's eyes? Huh? , it’s counterproductive, the friendship between them is not deep.”
Zhang Hongmei said: "It's best to find out Chu's specific cultivation level so that we can make preparations."
Xue Shanhu gave the man in black a look and made him turn around and leave.
Guo Qingxue, who had not spoken until now, his eyes flashed and said: "Zhong Yan came here with a message at this time. His words were arrogant but his demeanor was harsh. However, he was also suspected of showing weakness on purpose. No matter what, he still concentrated his force to avoid being taken advantage of. Break every loophole."
Xue Shanhu nodded, "Gather them all back to the house. The helpers he paid for cannot stay in Qingyang City forever to see who can outlast the other!"
Guo Qinglin frowned and glanced at his sister. Although it was the right thing to do, he felt that his sister had other thoughts.
Xue Hongyi looked at Xue Shanhu: "Father, where are those people from the Wulin League?"
Guo Qinglin: "Let me know, it's best if you can stand up and help."
Xue Shanhu snorted: "It doesn't matter if you don't help. I'll settle the accounts with them after I finish handling it!"
Some discussion.
Everyone dispersed and made various preparations.
Guo Qinglin passed by his sister and reminded him in a cold voice: "At this time, you have to take care of the overall situation. You'd better not make any trouble. Without Xue Shanhu, do you think you can control the martial alliance? But don't forget, who removed you and me from the original He was rescued from the dead! Huh!"
Guo Qingxue clenched her fists, feeling a little guilty in her heart, but she was immediately suppressed again.
She has been in the Xue Mansion for more than 20 years and has assisted Xue Shanhu wholeheartedly, but since the death of her eldest son, how has he treated her?
The whole blame for the inability to have children was on her. She had taken concubines one after another and still couldn't have children. What kind of couple would they be if they had sex once a year now?
She even suspected that Xue Peng was not Xue Shanhu's biological child, but a bastard born from Liu Fang and a wild man outside.
"Without me, do you think you could be where you are today?"
"I'm just protecting myself..."
Thinking of this, Guo Qingxue couldn't help but touch her belly, feeling cruel in her heart.
****
City Lord's Mansion.
Qin Ben also received various information about Zhong Yan, and it was more detailed. He knew the specific cultivation levels and origins of Huo Donglai and Shi Lingzhen.
He learned from Uncle Li that the foundation-building monk had nothing to do with Zhong Yan. Now that he was invited to the Qi Refining Stage, even if he was at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, as long as he did not have a deep background in the Fire Cloud Sect, he no longer worried about it, but paid more attention to Zhong Yan.
"These two people alone are not enough to deal with the many warriors in the Xue Mansion, let alone other people in the Martial Alliance who may participate."
Zhang Shundao: "Although I don't know what the mystery is hidden in that letter, Zhong Yan must have other back-ups. The collision is a foregone conclusion, and we can enter."
But this guy is cautious enough. He has set up soundproof barriers at home... Qin Ben muttered to himself, nodded and said: "Get ready, be quiet, don't let Xue Mansion see the clues."
Before Zhang Shun turned and left, he added: "By the way, she also mentioned something. There is a painting and calligraphy hanging in Zhong Yan's training room, which says 'Just for Immortality'. There are also a lot of manuscript papers in the study."
"Just for immortality?"
Qin Ben looked stunned, then burst into laughter.
A monk with inferior qualifications in the Four Spiritual Roots, who is still in the fourth level of Qi Refining in his forties, can hardly even build a foundation, but he still fantasizes about immortality?
Crazy, wishful thinking.
"Hahaha……"
Laughing until tears came out.
But smiling, Qin Ben's smile gradually faded, and finally turned serious. He suddenly remembered the words "Dream Qingyang" in his study, and turned to look at the map of the entire eastern region of Xianwu Continent on the wall.
If others knew that he aspired to become an unprecedented godless king throughout the Eastern Region, they would probably laugh out loud and think that he had lost his mind and gone crazy.
At this moment, a resonance suddenly arose in his heart, and he felt that he and Zhong Yan were like-minded and confidants, and they might be able to work together for a great cause in the future.
This was an unexpected gain that Zhong Yan had not expected - he just assumed that Tang Xiaoshu was sent by the city lord's palace, so he went along with it and told Qin Ben that he had no desire to fight with the world and that it would not shake the foundation of his power.
At this time.
A sergeant came in and reported: "To inform the city lord, the Westport Wharf Ten Thousand People Hall and the Water Transport Gang gathered to fight each other. The number exceeds a thousand people. There are still people rushing there from each hall on both sides. The situation has been controlled for the time being..."
Qin Ben frowned, "What do you mean?"
The sergeant said: "It is said that the loss was caused by the delay of a previous cargo ship transporting slaves in Wantang. It was deliberately caused by the water transport gang, and the two sides kept arguing."
"I'm so full after eating! I get jealous every day over trivial things!"
Qin Ben snorted coldly, waved his hand and said, "Just watch, don't interfere, I'll see if they get out of their wits!"
"Report~"
An urgent voice came, and the sergeant wearing dark red armor and holding a flag rushed directly into the inner hall without warning.
Qin Ben and Zhang Shun couldn't help but stand up and look at each other. This is military sentiment!
The sergeant clasped his fists and knelt down on one knee, and said urgently: "City Lord, urgent military situation! Ten large ships appeared one hundred and twenty miles southwest of the Wei River, with the flag of Qi high, heading towards our West Port. Look at the situation on the deck. There are at least three thousand people, all wearing battle armor, and we don’t know how many people are behind us!”
"Qi State?"
Qin Ben raised his eyebrows, walked quickly to the wall, and looked at the map, "Is there a mission from Qi to Yan recently?"
Zhang Shun definitely shook his head, "I just passed the capital document with Wangcheng yesterday. There is nothing unusual in Heishui and Shunyi. It shouldn't be..."
It is said to be a 'river', but Yan State and Qi State are separated by a large sea area of the Wei River, and the shortest distance requires more than two months of sailing.
Qi State wanted to attack Yan State, which was a waste of money and people, and it was thankless.
Since the founding of the Yan State, only one hundred and fifty years ago, the ambitious Qi State launched an attack once and ended up losing both sides.
"Are you sure it's not a caravan, but soldiers in armor?"
"This is a bit far away..."
The sergeant hesitated for a moment and said: "Every ship has a battle flag, the front row of battle armor can see the reflection, and the formation is neat, there is no doubt that it is a warship! General Mu has sent a small team to come forward to investigate!"
Qin Ben waved his hand and said, "I will report the news as soon as possible."
"yes!"
Zhang Shun suddenly thought of something, blinked and said, "This is strange. On the day Zhong Yan went to Fangshi, the Water Transport Gang sailed out of more than a dozen large merchant ships in one day."
Qin Ben was startled, "There are more than 3,000 people, how could Zhong Yan cause such a big movement?"
Zhang Shun was also suspicious, "There shouldn't be many people on the boat at that time, otherwise there would definitely be news. But if these boats are from the navy of Qi, it is extremely unlikely."
Qin Ben nodded, frowned and asked, "Is it possible that he conspired with the Water Transport Gang?"
"Probably not." Zhang Shun pondered for a moment and said, "However, even if Zhong Yanruo spends money to rent a boat to go to sea, the Water Transport Gang has no reason to refuse the business."
Qin Ben was silent for a while, then suddenly his eyes shone brightly, and he said, "What a concealment!"
The words fell.
Another sergeant came in and reported urgently: "City Lord! Wan Tang and two of the captains of the Caoyun Gang are fighting. People from both sides of the city are moving together, and the situation is a little out of control!"
"Asshole!"
Qin Ben cursed, then his eyes flashed, and he looked at Zhang Shun.
Qin Ben laughed angrily and said, "It must be Zhong Yan who is behind this! This guy is very courageous and bold enough to bring the Caoyun Gang and Wan Tang in. He is not afraid that the city lord will not be able to clean up the situation!"
He scolded him verbally, but he had a cheerful smile on his face.
"In this way, he gave me a great gift! Sir, the Martial Alliance no longer needs to exist, how about building a guest residence?"
Zhang Shun rarely smiled, "The city lord is wise, this move can shorten the time for the city lord's great cause by three to five years!"
Qin Ben's eyes were sharp and he seemed to be saying to himself: "Except for the arsenal, the industries under the Wu League should be used as sweeteners for Wan Tang and the Water Transport Gang. Zhong Yan has brought such a great opportunity, and I can't shrink back. Let him take a look. Do I, Qin Ben, have the courage?"
"I'll make arrangements." Zhang Shun turned and left.
Qin Ben shouted outside the palace: "Come here!"
"The general is here!"
"The Qi State is ruthless and has raised troops to invade. It sends orders to all armies to prepare for war..."
…
