Chapter 41: Clan Subordinate! Fifth Sister

“Is this source reliable? Who spread it?”

Zhang Lingshan asked doubtfully.

Tie Feng replied, “I don't know, but everyone is saying the martial arts hall is in chaos. No one has the heart to practice; they are all hoping Master Hong appears to debunk this rumor.”

“Has Master Hong appeared yet?”

“Not yet. But I see many senior brothers rushing here upon hearing the news, discussing going to the main residence to request an audience with Master Hong.”

“Then let's go too.”

Zhang Lingshan immediately followed Tie Feng to the backyard of the martial arts hall.

Sure enough, they saw a crowd of fellow disciples gathered together. Even some of the elusive Copper-Skin or Stone-Skin experts, who were usually hard to find, had appeared here in unison.

“Senior Brother Zhu Wei is here!”

Someone suddenly shouted.

Another person added, “And Senior Brother Pan Mingzhong.”

“This is great! With these two senior brothers requesting an audience, Master Hong will surely show his face,” the disciples said with joy.

Zhu Wei and Pan Mingzhong were the two strongest practitioners among the Hong Clan's skin-tempering martial artists. Both had remained at the peak of the Copper-Skin stage for a long time, just one step away from breaking through to the Flesh-Refining Realm.

Thus, they could be called "prospective Flesh-Refiners," individuals destined to be taken in as inner disciples by Hong Zhengdao. Their status was entirely different from that of ordinary disciples.

It would certainly be no problem for the two of them to represent the disciples in requesting an audience with Hong Zhengdao.

“Stop making noise!”

Zhu Wei barked sternly.

He had a broad, somewhat stout build and a face full of fierce, rugged features. If he were standing in front of a slab of pork holding a blood-stained butcher's knife, he would look exactly like a butcher.

As soon as he spoke, everyone immediately shut their mouths, not daring to discuss it further.

Pan Mingzhong gave a chuckle and said loudly, “Everyone, do not be too nervous.

“Who is Master Hong? He is a peak Yi-Jin expert with heaven-defying strength. How could he be so easily seriously injured? It must be a rumor!

“The reason Master Hong hasn't come yet is simply because he is exhausted from a long journey. It is only reasonable that he takes a rest.

“Once Master Hong has rested, he will surely come to the hall after lunch to inspect everyone's cultivation progress.

“So, stop being lazy and get back to training.”

Pan Mingzhong had a mature, square face and looked quite reliable. His words made sense and gained the approval of many junior brothers.

But someone suddenly shouted, “What if Master Hong still doesn't show up then?”

“Who was that?”

Pan Mingzhong frowned and glared in that direction.

The disciple quickly ducked his head.

Pan Mingzhong did not press the matter, but instead snorted, “If Master Hong still doesn't come, I will go with Old Zhu to request an audience myself.”

“That would be best.”

Having received this assurance, the junior brothers felt more at ease and immediately went to practice with satisfaction.

However, while they appeared to be practicing, they were actually quite distracted. They still wanted to see Hong Zhengdao; otherwise, they wouldn't feel secure.

After all, as official disciples of the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall, they had always enjoyed the benefits of being Hong disciples, and anyone they met would grant them some level of respect.

But the prerequisite for enjoying all this was not how strong they were, but rather Hong Zhengdao's formidable strength.

If Master Hong were seriously injured and his strength declined significantly, the prestige of the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall would inevitably drop, and their status would surely suffer a major setback.

Society was just that realistic.

Right now, they only hoped the news was just a rumor; otherwise, they truly didn't know how to face the coming changes.

“Xiao Shan, come with me for a moment. I'll take you to see someone.”

Song Dachuang suddenly pulled Zhang Lingshan aside.

Zhang Lingshan felt puzzled. It was rare to see Song Dachuang acting so mysterious, and at a time when everyone was waiting to see Master Hong, who was he taking him to see?

“It's a good thing,” Song Dachuang whispered. “Just follow me, and we'll talk on the way.”

“Alright.”

Zhang Lingshan wasn't worried about Song Dachuang harming him; he had come to trust Song Dachuang's character over these past few days.

He thus quickened his pace to follow beside Song Dachuang.

Once they were out of the Hongwu Street area, Song Dachuang said in a low voice, “What I am about to tell you—if you have questions, ask, but do not cry out in shock.”

“Understood.”

Zhang Lingshan's heart tightened, knowing that what was coming must be inside information.

As far as he knew, Song Dachuang's family owned a blacksmith shop. It didn't look remarkable, but the fact that it could hold a place in the prime real estate of Dongyang Market showed that the power behind it was certainly impressive.

At the very least, it was no worse than the Feng Clan Pharmacy.

Song Dachuang was simply more low-profile than others, but his strength and talent were by no means inferior.

One had to remember that while Zhang Lingshan's strength had been increasing recently, Song Dachuang had also successfully broken through to the Ox-Skin Realm, and Song Dachuang was less than a year older than him.

At this age, possessing such strength meant he had already surpassed many people.

Not everyone could use energy points to increase their stats like Zhang Lingshan.

Song Dachuang spoke: “The news about Master Hong being seriously injured is true. There is no need to doubt it.”

Zhang Lingshan's heart jolted. “Master Hong is a Yi-Jin expert, yet he actually had an arm severed! But this should be a secret; Master Hong certainly wouldn't spread it himself. So, who leaked it?”

“Do you know of the Yuan family in the Inner City?”

Song Dachuang replied with a question.

Zhang Lingshan nodded. “I know. The Jiang, Yuan, Zhu, and Sha families—the four great families of the Inner City.”

“Correct. The four great families of the Inner City control the entirety of Jincheng. In the Outer City, aside from the Huo family of the Great Hero Huo Liuyin, every other power—be it a family, shop, gang, or martial arts hall—is a subordinate to the four great families. The Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall is a subordinate of the Yuan family.”

“So that's how it is.”

This was the first time Zhang Lingshan had heard such a perspective.

While he knew that the Inner City was inhabited by high officials and nobles who were all quite influential and would surely have various powers working to make them money, he never imagined that the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall was one of them.

*Even a peak Yi-Jin expert can only work for the four great families in the Outer City. It seems that if I want to secure a place in the Inner City, I must at least break through to the Bone-Forging Realm!*

Zhang Lingshan thought to himself.

Unaware of Zhang Lingshan's thoughts, Song Dachuang continued, “Besides the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall, my family's blacksmith shop, the Feng Clan Pharmacy of Feng Shaolong's family, and the Zhenwei Escort Agency of Lyu Feng's family are all subordinates of the Yuan family. Because we all belong to the Yuan family, we can gather together; otherwise, the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall wouldn't accept us.”

“I see. So, besides those affiliated with the Yuan family, the rest of the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall consists of ordinary commoners like me.”

“Mhm. Being an ordinary commoner with no ties to any power is actually an advantage; it makes it easier to gain trust and cultivation. The six inner disciples under Master Hong are all commoners. Most other martial arts halls are the same.”

“I understand,” Zhang Lingshan nodded.

Song Dachuang suddenly stopped. “We're here. This is my back gate.”

Zhang Lingshan was surprised. “The person you're taking me to see is...”

“Come in.”

Song Dachuang pulled Zhang Lingshan inside and then closed the courtyard gate.

“Ninth Young Master, you've returned,” a servant greeted immediately.

Song Dachuang asked, “Is my fifth sister back?”

“She is. She is practicing in the courtyard.”

“Good. Xiao Shan, follow me.”

Song Dachuang immediately led Zhang Lingshan through a small door in the attic to a small courtyard surrounded by bamboo.

Six sturdy men stood in a circle around a tall, lithe, and cold-looking woman.

The woman wore a golden hairpin to hold her hair in a high bun. She wore a red short-style top that was split at the bottom, cinched tightly at the waist, accentuating her full chest.

On her lower body, she wore black tight-fitting trousers that clearly outlined the rounded, full curves of her legs.

Just looking from a distance, one could imagine the incredible explosive power contained in her legs.

Zhang Lingshan had entered the basics of the Settling Wind Stance and had strengthened his legs, but he felt he was clearly far behind this woman.

“Hah!”

With a sharp cry from the woman, her legs moved like a whirlwind, kicking fiercely at the nearest man.

*Bang!*