Chapter 231: Chapter 138: The Heights Are Hard to Reach, the Earth Is Full of Weaklings

This person finds it easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to return to frugality from luxury.

Thinking of abandoning the foundation, dispersing the disciples, and fleeing Xingqing Prefecture, once again stepping into the storm, Cheng Wuduan felt heartache, difficult to breathe.

Back then, stirred by Xu Baxian of Shifang Martial Arts Hall, and with the overwhelming martial force under the Thirteenth Prince of Beizhou suppressing him, he had few choices, and could only turn to the Hu People prematurely.

Not wanting to resort to them was not an option.

The great power came crashing down, and being pulverized to pieces was inevitable.

Cheng Wuduan was poor in his youth, having lived through tough times.

In his teenage years, he mingled among the lower-class people, suffering from the oppression by wealthy families and government offices, tasting the bitterness of lacking power and strength.

Finally, one day, he set a great ambition, determined to live like a person in the future.

By chance, with his sharp mind and natural talent for networking, he climbed to a distant nephew of an elder managing external affairs on Shenxiao Mountain, thus learning peerless skills and starting to prosper.

Ever since, not only did his strength advance rapidly, but he also used the title of a disciple of the Shenxiao Daoist Sect, opening a martial hall in Xingqing Prefecture, living a thriving life. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Although the Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall was externally proclaimed as the legacy of the Shenxiao Daoist Sect,

Cheng Wuduan knew that one of the Four Daoist Sects at the peak of its strength, the Shenxiao Daoist Sect, would never take him, just an outer disciple learning some basic skills, seriously.

When troubles occurred, seeking assistance was impossible.

’The Beizhou army is about to march south, the Thirteenth Prince Yuwen Ying is aggressive, in the situation of prospering by following and dying by defying, what can I do?’

Cheng Wuduan felt agitated, stood up and paced back and forth, then slowly sat down again, asking in a deep voice, "Did the disciple who went to the Wu Mansion come back yet? What did the Thirteenth Prince say?"

"He already returned, didn’t see the Thirteenth Prince himself, but someone relayed a message to us. We shouldn’t initiate military actions in the next few days, should endure as much as possible, mentioned that Fairy Fang Qingzhu from the South Sea dislikes bloodshed, does not wish to see human suffering..."

"What?"

Cheng Wuduan looked speechless.

When you had us intercept and slaughter the opponent, it wasn’t considered initiating military actions.

Once the enmity is established, and the matter can’t be settled, the opponent wants to attack, then you ask me to endure, what is this all about?

"I can endure, if you have the ability, have Chen Ping from the Primordial Martial Arts Hall endure too."

Cheng Wuduan looked completely desperate: "What about Mu Yuanzhen? Each year we send a substantial amount of silver to Shenxiao Mountain, what did he say?"

Having just asked this, he smiled bitterly: "Forget it, no need to ask. This inner sect elder spends his days around Fairy Fang, completely lost himself. He certainly won’t care about us."

"Indeed."

Sun Xiaowen looked distressed, thought about it, and said, "Master, if we can’t beat them, why not join them?

I think Chen Ping from the Primordial Martial Arts Hall is not a bloodthirsty person. Even back then, for the Changkong Martial Arts Hall, he didn’t really settle accounts afterward, but even took in the other hall’s disciples and devotedly taught martial arts. Shouldn’t we... could we..."

Cheng Shaoqiu turned his head and angrily said, "How is that the same? Changkong Martial Arts Hall and Primordial Martial Arts Hall are said to be two martial halls, but they actually originate from one, it’s the legacy of the Primordial Sect, they can easily merge.

But our Wind and Thunder Sword Hall, inherits the techniques from the Shenxiao Sect, if we submit to the Primordial Martial Arts Hall, not to mention whether we would be considered inferior in the future, even with the Shenxiao Sect, we’d suffer unpleasant consequences.

If we anger the sect, could Wind and Thunder Sword Hall survive?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a disciple rushed in from outside, covered in sweat and said, "M-Master, Shifang Martial Arts Hall is finished.

Chen Ping led his forces into the city, encircled Shifang Martial Arts Hall, and broke the Ten Directions Battle Array. The disciples of the martial hall either died, fled or surrendered, it’s completely done."

"No martial virtue, no martial virtue."

Cheng Wuduan’s expression was blank.

Aren’t grudges supposed to last overnight?

Now, it’s too late to disperse the disciples and escape.

Given the opponent’s rapid pace in breaking the Xuanwu Army, slaying Zhang Lianshan, then quickly marching into the city to wipe out Shifang Martial Arts Hall swiftly, surely now he’s nearing the doorway of Wind and Thunder Sword Hall.

And this newly appointed Xuanwu Guard Captain clearly has profound power, yet doesn’t follow any Jianghu rules, directly storms with troops, overwhelming force, leaving no chance for surprise victories...

"Shaoqiu, bring a switch."

"Dad, at this point, I haven’t done anything wrong, why hit me?"

Cheng Shaoqiu looked distressed, utterly confused.

"Why hit you?" Cheng Wuduan was taken aback, shaking his head with bitterness: "This time, it’s because I made a wrong choice, did wrong, and deserve punishment.

These years, I managed the martial hall diligently, maintaining various connections, but when the crisis came, I couldn’t find anyone to help.

Since the root of the matter started with the attempt to kill Chen Ping, it should end here.

Better to take the brunt oneself, rather than dragging others along, I will seek atonement with a switch and offer Wind and Thunder Martial Arts Hall, just to keep you alive."

"Dad."

"Master..."

...

Chen Ping waved his hand, the hundreds of riders behind him halted, postured, and surrounded Wind and Thunder Sword Hall.

He found that at this moment, the sword hall’s gate was wide open, lacking the tension he anticipated, instead, there stood hundreds of people neatly in the courtyard...

The leader, bare-chested, with a switch across his back, knelt at the doorway.

Behind him, thirty-two direct disciples also knelt ceremoniously.

The two side rooms, and further away, within the connecting estate, sounds of soft weeping echoed.