Chapter 462: Chapter 2: Black Wind Stronghold

Next day.

The sky brightened.

Fang Zheng’s figure appeared in the training ground south of the city.

At this early hour, with the night chill still lingering, several hundred robust men were already honing their bodies with shouts.

They were all private soldiers of the Fang Mansion!

The Fang Mansion provided for the families of the private soldiers, including their clothing, food, and shelter, ensuring their unquestionable loyalty.

With just a command from Fang Zheng, these men would dare to surround and kill even officials pardoned by the Imperial Court.

And not just here,

there were over a thousand elite soldiers at the kilns responsible for firing porcelain, and the entire City Defense Army of Gu’an County had also been infiltrated.

Three thousand private soldiers firmly controlled the vast county town.

The Fang Mansion.

It ruled like the lord of the county!

"Master!"

"Master!"

"This humble servant greets the Master!"

"..."

Along the way, aside from the private soldiers who were not to cease their training exercises, the remaining leaders all saluted him one after another.

Fang Zheng nodded in acknowledgment.

Upon stepping into the hall of the training ground, several people were already waiting there.

Among them, a tall woman in fitted soft armor was the most eye-catching.

"Master."

Yang Meng cupped her fists, her eyes lowered:

"You have arrived."

This woman was once part of the Hu Ben Army of the Imperial Court, but due to an unfavorable campaign years ago, half her face was branded with a large mark.

Viewed from the right, she had delicate and pretty features, but unfortunately, the left side of her face was always covered with a fierce mask.

The mask diminished her gentle beauty but added a more commanding and valiant aura.

"Master."

To Yang Meng’s left stood a scholar-like man in white holding a folding fan, indicating he was a Mage.

Golden Needle Shangguan Duo!

He possessed an invincible set of flying needle magical artifacts and was adept in the Artifact Control Technique, capable of killing from a hundred feet away.

He had once used flying needles to annihilate a bandit hideout with over a hundred men.

To Yang Meng’s right stood a burly man with a leopard-like head and swallows’ neck, his beard bristling upwards, exuding authority without anger.

The burly man named Lu Zhi had a fiery personality, courageous yet reckless, fiercely hating evil, and had sought refuge under Fang Zheng after offending someone.

The three of them, along with the head of the nursing staff, Duan Qiongqi, were the main pillars of the Fang Mansion.

"Master."

Before Fang Zheng could sit down, Lu Zhi spoke first:

"I heard you encountered an assassin at Cien Temple yesterday, and I said I should accompany you, but you refused."

"What would have been the point of you going?" Shangguan Duo shook his head:

"With the Master’s cultivation base, it makes no difference whether you are there or not."

"You..." Lu Zhi grumbled:

"I could at least be of some use."

"Enough."

Fang Zheng waved his hand, lowering their voices, and spoke slowly:

"The matter is over, and I’m fine. I called you here today to go into the mountains and eliminate a demon."

The issue of the assassin did not concern him.

There were many who wished to kill him, but even the Seven Kills Sect found it challenging to assassinate a Flawless Martial Artist.

Moreover,

he was no ordinary Flawless Martial Artist.

"Master."

Yang Meng spoke:

"The methods of the Seven Kills Sect are treacherous, and we must be cautious to prevent future assassination attempts."

"As for the demon..."

"We will handle it ourselves!"

"Currently, the Imperial Court’s situation is turbulent, and the energies of heaven and earth are unpredictable, leading to the emergence of anomalies everywhere." Fang Zheng said:

"This particular demon is extraordinary, and even the combined efforts of Master Wuyuan and Yuanxing were no match for it, possibly comparable to a Flawless Martial Artist."

Flawless!

The faces of the three in the room turned solemn.

Among them, Yang Meng was the strongest, capable of barely matching a Flawless Martial Artist with the aid of secret arts.

Shangguan Duo and Lu Zhi were considerably inferior.

"No wonder Cien Temple sought our assistance." Shangguan Duo mused:

"A demon with no intelligence, even if it has the power of a Flawless Martial Artist, may not be able to fully utilize it. As long as we prepare well, we can kill it with ease."

"Master."

"What kind of demon is it?"

"It’s a wolf demon." Fang Zheng said:

"This wolf was originally the leader of a wolf pack and, by chance, activated a special bloodline, gaining Copper Skin and Iron Bone and moving as fast as lightning."

"Additionally, it can summon wolf packs and has gained some intelligence, making it very difficult to deal with."

"A wolf demon?"

Yang Meng’s bright eyes flickered:

"Is it possible to subdue it?"

Demons mostly evolve from birds and beasts, inherently without concepts of good or evil, mostly driven by beastly nature to cause harm.

If it can be suppressed and subdued, it might be regarded as a spirit beast or immortal bird.

Many sects’ guardian spirit beasts were obtained this way.

One wolf demon may not be significant.

But being able to command a wolf pack to fight for it, if subdued, wouldn’t it be equivalent to gaining an entire army?

"The possibility is slim."

Fang Zheng shook his head:

"It devoured two herb-picking villagers, becoming tainted with human blood and filled with a strong malice."

"Even Master Wuyuan’s Demonic Suppression Spell couldn’t subdue it; we likely won’t succeed either."

"Then let’s just kill it directly!" Lu Zhi exclaimed:

"I know wolves well, stick-like legs, tofu waist, as long as you avoid the head, they’re easy to handle."

"They also fear fire and noise."

"When the time comes, Shangguan Duo can use a spell to restrain it and harass it from the side. It won’t even require Miss Yang to step in; I can handle it myself."

"Do not be careless." Yang Meng shook her head:

"Master Wuyuan and Yuanxing are not weak, and they have experience dealing with many demons, making them quite seasoned."

"To be safe, we must prepare thoroughly."

"Agreed."

Fang Zheng nodded:

"This time, I will go into the mountains with you."

"With the Master taking action, it is naturally foolproof." Shangguan Duo complimented and continued:

"I have something that can produce a thunderous sound, which should disrupt the demon’s mind."

"Excellent!"

"The key is to locate the demon quickly, not giving it time to summon its kin; we need to strike swiftly and decisively."

"..."

The group continued to discuss their plans.

Having faced many battles before, and knowing the situation of their target, they could prepare in advance for all possible scenarios.

When the time came to act, they would ensure everything was foolproof.

"Master!"

Just as they were about to finalize their strategy, someone hurriedly rushed into the hall, gasping for air:

"Master, the deputy leader of the Black Wind Stronghold is forcibly trying to enter the training ground with his men."