Chapter 560

Lushan.

The waterfall hung down from the clouds, wrapped in thick water vapor, bringing the coolness of early autumn.

"Achoo!"

A sneeze like a muffled thunder exploded in the empty valley, scaring the tourists at the foot of the mountain so much that their legs shook, thinking it was a daytime lightning strike, and they didn't dare to move rashly.

Zhu Zongwang looked sideways in surprise: "Autumn has just begun, and you've caught a cold? What a weak Sky-Bridge expert."

Huo Hongyuan ignored the joke and looked around.

"Something's not right."

"What's not right?"

"I can't put my finger on it."

"Paranoid."

Zhu Zongwang hugged his arms and sneered.

Huo Hongyuan frowned, stood still, and pondered the root cause of his unease under the roaring waterfall.

After a long while.

"My fate is changing."

Seeing that Huo Hongyuan didn't seem to be having a mental breakdown, Zhu Zongwang lowered his arms, his expression serious: "Fate is changing, are you serious?"

"There can't be a mistake. The military examination ranking the year before last, the change in fate, felt exactly the same as I do now!"

"For better or for worse?"

Huo Hongyuan shook his head.

"Not clear."

"How is that possible..." Zhu Zongwang was still incredulous. "We just came out to visit Lushan, and your fate changed?"

"I've been to Lushan more than once..."

Huo Hongyuan looked up.

Huangzhou and Yunzhou are only separated from Lushan by a great Huaihe River. He had often come to climb it before, and there had never been any strange changes.

"Go back!"

The next day.

The news fermented for a night.

In the sprawling residential complex, no matter what their surname was, what they were called, whether they were a son-in-law, a live-in son-in-law, or even a little lover who was turned a blind eye to while sneaking over the wall to meet, everyone knew that Xu Rongguang's son-in-law was about to step into the Jiang Zongshi Realm, a double happiness.

Even the Xu family ancestor, who rarely showed his face, was alarmed and went to the side courtyard of Lady Xu's family for a light meal.

"Great Ancestor!"

Ninety-year-old Xu Rongguang respectfully offered tea.

The Xu ancestor took the teacup as usual and continued to impart his insights to Yang Dongxiong, down to the smallest detail.

Xu Rongguang stood for a while, couldn't get a word in, and silently sat to the side to drink tea.

Yang Dongxiong bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Ancestor Xu, for your guidance."

"You are Wan'er's husband, so you are half a son to Rongguang. One family doesn't speak of two families. Achieving the Jiang Zongshi Realm is good for everyone. Where is your ninth disciple?

You had the biggest reputation last night, followed by your Wu Sheng direct grandson master. Is there a chance to bring him out for me to see?"

The twenty-eight mansions of the Wolf Smoke Realm are legendary, of course.

But counting Liang Qu's deeds, the Holy Emperor's oral decree, and the Prince of Yue's jade tablet, no one dared to underestimate him.

Not many people believe he can beat the Sea-Patrolling Hai Yecha with one hand, but there are not a few who think the two can fight, and the outcome is hard to predict.

A battle between evenly matched opponents is what people love to watch most.

Yang Dongxiong looked up upon hearing this.

Nan Di replied: "He went out shopping with Sister Eying and the others this morning, saying he wanted to experience the local customs of Huangzhou, and also said they were going to eat at Qixia Tower at noon. Calculating the time, the Ninth Young Master should be there."

"Qixia Tower... not far." Yang Dongxiong looked around. "Zishuai, go find him. If he hasn't eaten yet, or has finished, call him back first."

Xu Zishuai shook his head desperately.

"Not going, not going."

"Hmm?"

Yang Xu knew what happened yesterday—the senior and junior brothers' battle royale, using chain schemes against each other—it was truly funny: "Let A-Wu, A-Zhao, and the others go."

Yang Dongxiong glared at Xu Zishuai.

"Don't delay."

"Yes!"

Qixia Tower.

Liang Qu, who had been shopping for half a day, was just about to sit down to order food when he was called away by his senior brother's two personal guards. He had to let Eying and Binglin eat first, and rode Chishan home by himself.

"Master! Ancestor!"

Liang Qu held his head high and stepped over the threshold.

He had seen many Grandmasters, and there were not a few Martial Saints. Coupled with his own strength as a foundation, his courage had long been tempered. Facing the ancestor of a clan, he was open and aboveboard.

At a single glance, his spirit was stronger than that of the disciples of other families!

Ancestor Xu's eyes brightened. After Liang Qu respectfully greeted him and sat down, he touched his wrist bones and shoulders, and the light in his eyes became even stronger.

"Incredible, incredible. I originally thought that in the nearby prefectures, the Huo family's Hai Yecha of the younger generation ranked first. You are stronger than him! Much stronger! If you go to participate in the military examination, the first place in the Eastern Mansion next year will definitely not be difficult! When are you planning to have a fight?"

Liang Qu was stunned: "Fight what?"

The ancestor was astonished: "Have a fight with Huo Hongyuan, to teach the Hai Yecha that there is always someone better than oneself."

Liang Qu: "..."

Xu Zishuai leaned toward Yang Xu and looked up at the sky.

Ancestor Xu was thoughtful and laughed: "One mountain cannot hold two tigers. Hongyuan is competitive and cannot listen to anyone being above him. Not to mention you are younger than him. If you really want to participate in the Great Hunting Meeting, you will eventually meet and compete for superiority.

I went out today and heard many Xu family disciples secretly opening betting odds, not just on winning or losing, but also betting on whether the Huo family Hai Yecha will make trouble on the spot when he returns from Lushan or endure until the Great Hunting Meeting."

There are betting odds?

Liang Qu's heart moved.

"Which odds are higher?"

"I heard the noise when passing by the residence, I didn't go to see the odds, I only heard that most people bet on him making trouble on the spot."

Ancestor Xu paused. Seeing that Liang Qu was not interested, he encouraged, "It is a good thing for young people to spar more with each other. The winner's martial path becomes firmer, and the loser's character becomes more solid, learning from each other's strengths. As for those who are devastated, they are just so-so.

Don't worry about the severity of your moves. Cultivating to the Wolf Smoke Realm, breaking a few bones is not a big deal. When I was young, breaking arms and legs during sparring was a common occurrence. The second room broke two legs and lay there moaning for half a month—it was all small-minded."

Xu Rongguang heard the ancestor's dissatisfaction with the atmosphere in the clan and hurriedly stood up to express his position.

"Ancestor, rest assured, I will definitely teach the disciples well and cultivate their mettle."

Xu Zishuai was even more supportive with both hands and feet.

"Ancestor's insight is truly profound!"

Yang Xu patted Xu Zishuai on the head: "Don't stir up trouble. I heard the Sea-Patrolling Hai Yecha brought a friend, the 'Tail-Wei Huo Hu' from the year before last, to Huangzhou. When the time comes, Liang Shidi Liang will deal with the Ji Ji Shui Bao, and you go deal with the Tail-Wei Huo Hu. Fair, right?"

Xu Zishuai was embarrassed.

After thinking for a moment, he clenched his two fists.

"Those who are capable should do more work. Why not let Liang Shidi deal with both the Ji Ji Shui Bao and the Tail-Wei Huo Hu at the same time? Since Liang Shidi has two hands, one for each, one punch for each. I'll carry the gun and bow for Liang Shidi?"

"Liang Shidi Liang also has two legs, why not step on you with one too?"

Everyone laughed.

Ancestor Xu looked at Xu Rongguang.

"That Tail-Wei Huo Hu is twenty-nine this year. I remember when he was ranked the year before last, he was already a Wolf Smoke Sky-Bridge. Now he should have entered the Hunting Tiger Realm?"

"Ancestor has a good memory," Xu Rongguang nodded, "He entered it last month, not long before coming to Huangzhou. Otherwise, given the Huo family boy's temper, if he wasn't suppressed by someone, he wouldn't play together."

Just entered the Hunting Tiger Realm?

Liang Qu's eyes flickered.

To be honest, he really wasn't too interested in the Sea-Patrolling Hai Yecha.

But this Tail-Wei Huo Hu...

I really want to try.

At the foot of Lushan.

The flying waterfall turned into a white ribbon among the clouds, splashing misty white fog, dreamlike and illusory.

"Achoo!"

Zhu Zongwang, who was taking a big boat and preparing to return to Huangzhou, sneezed violently, scaring the birds on the mast into flapping their wings and fleeing.

Looking at the birds, Zhu Zongwang's brows tightened.

Huo Hongyuan understood.

"You too..."

"This Lushan is haunted!"

Three days passed.

Heavy rain poured down, not suitable for going out.

Liang Qu opened his arms, waiting for the Xu family tailor to measure his waist. Lady Xu held the fabric and rubbed it repeatedly, looking up at Long Eying.

Two figures wrapped in wind and rain ran all the way from the port to the Xu family.

Just as everyone learned the news, waiting secretly for a good show and opening betting odds.

Huo Hongyuan and Zhu Zongwang plunged into the ancestral hall, took out a jar of incense ash, returned to their room, and closed the door, not coming out.

The bookmakers were confused.

"This..."

"How could this be?"

In the secret room.

The incense ash twisted and turned.

The two retreated in horror.

A blur.

The fate has disappeared...