Chapter 17: Taking Over Black Wind Village! A Massive Harvest

The Painting World, Hengduan Mountains.

Wang Hu was in a dense forest, surrounded by a group of Xingfeng Sect martial artists.

These martial artists were the survivors from the Xingfeng Sect, numbering about a dozen or so.

When Chen Feng was locked in battle with He Sandao and Jiang Xiao, these martial artists had fled.

However, upon hearing the news that Chen Feng had slain the leader of the Black Wind Stronghold, they had run back.

Wang Hu did not refuse their return. Had it been before, he certainly would have disdained to associate with such people.

But at this moment, with manpower in high demand, he had no choice but to keep them for now.

Nevertheless, Wang Hu had already made up his mind: these people would never become the core of the Xingfeng Sect; they would remain peripheral figures.

"What have you found out?" Wang Hu asked. He was currently sitting cross-legged, healing his injuries.

After more than a day, his wounds had mostly recovered.

This was thanks to the Xiantian-grade medicinal pill.

A Xingfeng Sect martial artist reported respectfully

"The bandits of the Black Wind Stronghold have basically all fled. Only a few hundred remain inside the stronghold. Some small sects in the Hengduan Mountains seem to have received the news, and several groups have already come to inquire about the Sect Master."

Hearing this, Wang Hu sneered.

He naturally understood the intentions of these small sects. Now that the leader of the Black Wind Stronghold had died at the hands of their Sect Master, the Hengduan Mountains were, in name, already under the control of the Xingfeng Sect.

These people naturally wanted to know what the Xingfeng Sect’s next move would be.

Wang Hu stood up from the ground

"Leave a few people here to wait. The Sect Master will return either today or tomorrow. The rest of you, come with me to the Black Wind Stronghold!"

Wang Hu was heading to the Black Wind Stronghold, naturally, to take control of it.

He certainly couldn't wait for Chen Feng to arrive before taking action; he had to get things done first.

The Xingfeng Sect martial artists were excited upon hearing this. If the Xingfeng Sect occupied the Hengduan Mountains, their own status would rise accordingly.

Moreover, it seemed that Wang Hu did not intend to hold their previous desertion against them.

Soon, Wang Hu led the men toward the main camp of the Black Wind Stronghold.

Although there were only a dozen or so of them, there was no fear on any of their faces.

They had the Sect Master backing them; even if the Black Wind Stronghold were given ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare to make a move against them now.

Seeing Wang Hu and the others appear, the Black Wind Stronghold bandits immediately came out to meet them, a massive crowd of several hundred.

Among the bandits, one man stepped forward. He held a folding fan and appeared to be around forty years old, possessing a scholarly air.

"I am Liu Qian, the strategist of the Black Wind Stronghold. May I ask if Sect Master Chen is present?"

Liu Qian was very respectful.

He had only returned to the Black Wind Stronghold yesterday, having been away on business.

He hadn't expected that upon his return, he would hear that both his First and Second Leaders were dead, and at the hands of a small sect within their sphere of influence, no less.

Faced with such a turn of events, Liu Qian did not choose to flee like the others; instead, he brought a group of people and stayed behind.

He intended to lead the remaining people to defect to the Xingfeng Sect. To him, it didn't matter who he served.

He was merely a mortal; without a faction to rely on, he couldn't survive in this world.

"Our Sect Master is not here. We have come to take over the Black Wind Stronghold. Is this posture of yours meant to be resistance?"

Wang Hu’s eyes were cold; he was not in the slightest afraid of the hundreds of people before him.

He hadn't feared a Xiantian expert before, so these people certainly wouldn't intimidate him.

Liu Qian waved his hands hurriedly

"Brother, you misunderstand. That He Sandao didn't know how many innocent people he had killed. Sect Master Chen slaying him was an act of ridding the people of a scourge. We have nothing but admiration for Sect Master Chen and the Xingfeng Sect; how would we dare to resist?"

"We are simply waiting for Sect Master Chen to arrive, intending to follow him and join the Xingfeng Sect."

Liu Qian’s words not only denounced his former employer but also took the opportunity to flatter the Xingfeng Sect.

Wang Hu looked at Liu Qian, feeling that this man was too slick and not a good person.

However, he could not make decisions regarding Liu Qian’s request on his own; everything would have to wait until Chen Feng returned.

"Take me inside first. Whether you can join the Xingfeng Sect will be decided after our Sect Master returns."

Wang Hu said.

Liu Qian immediately smiled and said, "Naturally. You must be Wang Hu, right?"

After learning of He Sandao’s death, Liu Qian had immediately investigated information on the Xingfeng Sect.

Aside from Sect Master Chen Feng, the most core figure in the entire Xingfeng Sect was this Wang Hu, who was also the person Chen Feng trusted most.

"Mm." Wang Hu nodded without saying much.

He did not like interacting with people like Liu Qian.

"Your display of loyalty that day was truly admirable."

Liu Qian flattered him. Wang Hu had been captured by He Sandao that day and nearly tortured to death.

Yet, at such a critical juncture, Wang Hu had not revealed any information about Chen Feng.

Such loyalty was not something an ordinary person possessed.

"How much wealth does the Black Wind Stronghold have now?"

Wang Hu asked with a straight face, completely unmoved by Liu Qian’s flattery.

Liu Qian immediately replied

"There is about fifty thousand taels of silver, three thousand taels of gold, and various cultivation techniques and medicinal pills, all of which have been recorded in the ledger."

Liu Qian produced a small booklet.

Wang Hu took it and glanced at it, a look of shock flashing across his face.

The wealth of the Black Wind Stronghold far exceeded his imagination.

He had never seen so much money in his entire life.

Seeing Wang Hu’s shocked expression, Liu Qian smiled slightly

"Brother Wang Hu, the entire Hengduan Mountains are in a state of unrest right now. I suggest we first send people to appease the small sects, letting them develop on their own. When Sect Master Chen returns, we can summon the leaders of these small sects to discuss and establish new rules for the Hengduan Mountains. What do you think?"

Wang Hu thought for a moment and nodded: "Mm, do as you say."

In the secret chamber, Chen Feng’s figure emerged amidst a ripple.

Chen Feng had slept for a full ten hours before waking up.

After waking, he gave some instructions to Li Xiaorou and immediately chose to return to the painting world.

His physical injuries had mostly healed.

The efficacy of the Xiantian expert’s medicinal pill surprised him greatly. If he were to take this pill to the modern world, someone might pay ten million for it.

But he wouldn't actually sell it; selling it would surely lead to trouble. Its effects were too heaven-defying to explain.

Ordinary pills would be fine; as long as they didn't deviate too far from modern technology, he could manage those.

Walking out of the secret chamber, Chen Feng immediately saw dozens of people standing guard at the entrance.

Chen Feng had never seen these people before, and he immediately became vigilant.

The dozens of people also spotted Chen Feng. They were stunned for a moment, then all knelt on one knee in unison.

"We pay our respects to the Sect Master!"

These dozens of people were extremely respectful, not even daring to look up at Chen Feng.

Chen Feng asked the person in the lead: "Who are you?"

He did not lower his guard.

The leading martial artist immediately said

"Subordinate was arranged by Lord Wang Hu to guard the entrance of the secret chamber. Lord Wang Hu has already led men to take over the Black Wind Stronghold and is currently there!"

After taking over the Black Wind Stronghold, Wang Hu had immediately sent men to guard the entrance of the secret chamber.

Although Wang Hu did not know what was inside, it was undoubtedly the place Chen Feng valued most. He had always been responsible for guarding the entrance to the secret chamber, so after taking over the stronghold, he had sent men to guard it immediately.

The leading martial artist then explained the current situation in the Hengduan Mountains to Chen Feng.