Chapter 317: Could There Be Axe-Wielding Soldiers?

Shen Qingpeng had always been very "concerned" about the affairs of the Zancheng Association.

He publicly stated: All three branch associations have the Hundred Diseases Cabinet and the Liang Xincheng. Therefore, the predicament the Zancheng Association encountered could fall upon us in the future.

We all stem from the same lineage and should naturally watch out for and assist one another.

We must also draw lessons from the Zancheng Association's experience.

But in reality, Shen Qingpeng cursed Miao Yan as a waste behind his back.

The two Artifacts have always been peaceful and stable; how is it that once they are in your, Miao Yan's, hands, problems constantly arise?

Even if you want to invent excuses and embezzle funds, couldn't you at least come up with a better pretext?

Until yesterday, when the spy he had placed beside Miao Yan returned with a very important piece of news.

Shen Qingpeng immediately rushed over without stopping.

In fact, the San Huo Niangniang Association was not short of money, so whether it was "Wai Miaozhi" or Shen Qingpeng, they all galloped here on fast horses with written orders.

They arrived yesterday evening.

Wai Miaozhi and a few old brothers kicked Shen Qingpeng out and locked him in a room, whispering and muttering all night without sleeping.

They used an Artifact to "seal" the doors and windows; Shen Qingpeng tried every trick outside but could not hear what was being said inside.

But the light in the room stayed on all night!

As soon as Miao Yan returned, Pu Yunzhi, who now ranked first among all the old brothers, lightly clapped his hands and said, "Let Shen Qingpeng come over as well."

Shen Qingpeng had actually been guarding in the shadows outside the hall, closely monitoring the movements of this group of old fellows!

These old things have always strictly guarded themselves against him over the years.

The more they did this, the more Shen Qingpeng wanted to struggle with them openly and secretly!

A group of old stubborn people who are rigid and inflexible.

If the San Huo Niangniang Association were in my hands, according to my philosophy, bringing out the Hundred Diseases Cabinet and the Liang Xincheng to cooperate with the Pingtian Association and other factions—the San Huo Niangniang Association would long ago not be in its current state.

As soon as the messenger association member stepped out, he "happened to meet" Shen Qingpeng, who walked in boldly without any scruples: "What a coincidence, I was just about to come and pay my respects to several Old Masters."

He deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the word "Old" a few times.

Pu Yunzhi was already too lazy to argue with him over such details.

Lady Wang felt that her return should not be publicized, because she would leave sooner or later; many of those she offended back then were still alive, and those who had died had left descendants.

It would bring more trouble to the San Huo Niangniang Association.

Master Fei listens to the Great Ancestor Lady.

All the Masters listen.

But the Masters were so excited they couldn't control themselves: The Great Ancestor Lady has returned, so what is there to fear?

Whatever trouble arises, we will take it for the Great Ancestor Lady!

If we cannot handle it... the San Huo Niangniang Association has successors; the new talent Shen Qingpeng, with his dragon-like appearance and phoenix-like bearing, is fully capable of shouldering great responsibility!

Previously, the Old Masters lacked energy, and their open and secret struggles with Shen Qingpeng required caution everywhere.

Now that our backbone has returned, why bother fighting this kid at all?

Take him to see the Great Ancestor Lady and ask the Great Ancestor to take a look.

If the Great Ancestor truly approves of him, no problem, we will hand the San Huo Niangniang Association over to him.

If she does not approve... his little skills cannot stir up even a single wave in front of the Great Ancestor Lady.

"Let's go, accompany us to see... a senior." Pu Yunzhi said straight to the point.

Pu Yunzhi managed to hold back at the last moment and did not directly say to go see the Great Ancestor Lady.

Shen Qingpeng felt a wave of doubt in his heart: Could it be... that an ambush of axe-wielding soldiers is secretly waiting?

What kind of sinister plots do these old things have?

They guarded against me everywhere before, yet this time they are so straightforward!

Wai Miaozhi looked at his hesitation and said dissatisfiedly, "Are you going or not?"

"I'm going!" Shen Qingpeng agreed immediately, but secretly signaled with his eyes; the few capable subordinates he brought along immediately followed closely.

If there really is an ambush, today we might have to sacrifice our lives to protect "Brother Shen" and cut a bloody path out!

The group marched out in great numbers; not far away, Miao Yan said, "We've arrived."

Shen Qingpeng looked up: Nancheng Patrol Station?!

There couldn't be an ambush on government ground.

What medicine are these old things selling in their gourd?

Zhou Leizi was on duty today.

He pressed his hand on the waist sword, his face dark, and shouted angrily, "Halt, all who approach!"

Master Fei stepped forward: "We have come to request an audience with Lady Wang."

Zhou Leizi's expression softened, and he whispered, "So many people... I cannot let them all in."

Master Fei thought for a moment; apart from a few old brothers, he only brought Miao Yan and Shen Qingpeng.

Shen Qingpeng became even more suspicious: Could it be that they really bribed the Quhui Bureau...

He hesitated outside the door; Zhou Leizi grew impatient: "If you don't want to enter, stay outside."

"Enter, enter." Shen Qingpeng quickly gave an instruction to his subordinates: "Be sharp." Then he hurriedly followed inside.

As a result, after entering and seeing Lady Wang, Pu Yunzhi, Wai Miaozhi, and others suddenly knelt down in a heap with a boom, wailing and crying: "Niangniang, it really is you, I've missed you to death..."

Shen Qingpeng was completely stunned: Niangniang?

The only one who could be called "Niangniang" by a group of old fellows, getting excited like an eight-year-old child... was that San Huo Niangniang!

Is this the Great Ancestor appearing in person?!

Miao Yan knew he had no right to speak and obediently knelt aside with the others.

Only Shen Qingpeng stood there foolishly.

Suddenly he felt: How absurd!

These old fools, to suppress me, actually hired an old woman to act out such a play?!

The more Shen Qingpeng thought about it, the more he felt "this must be so"; unable to hold back the anger in his heart, he shouted loudly: "Enough!"

Aunt Wang was just speaking with several old subordinates when suddenly interrupted by a loud shout; she turned her head to look at this young man, then her eyes rolled: "Whose child is this?"

Pu Yunzhi said: "He is not our junior, but the young disciple with the highest cultivation in the association."

Shen Qingpeng sneered: "This is the Ancestral Grandmother? You are acting quite well."

Aunt Wang looked at Shen Qingpeng: "This child seems rather unwilling to submit to you few."

Pu Yunzhi felt ashamed: "It is our incompetence... but setting that aside, Noble Lady, take a look; is there a connection? In any case, he is the one with the most talent among the next generation."

Aunt Wang shook her head: "It is irrelevant now; this child has cultivated wrongly and probably has only a few days left to live."

Shen Qingpeng was furious: "Truly laughable..."

Aunt Wang raised her hand, and that hand detached itself from her body, floating over to Shen Qingpeng's side, where it pressed on several acupoints on his body one by one.

That hand did not look fast; Shen Qingpeng very much wanted to dodge, not letting this old woman point and poke at him.

But somehow, he simply could not dodge away!

And the first acupoint Aunt Wang pressed made his face change color; the following ones made Shen Qingpeng's face grow increasingly ugly, until finally it turned a deathly gray, covered in cold sweat!

The acupoints Aunt Wang struck were precisely the hidden injuries left behind after he had attempted to break through to the Sixth Rank multiple times and failed!

Now, every time he cultivated, these acupoints would produce various discomforts.

Sometimes numbness and itching, as if a swarm of ants were crawling.

Sometimes excruciating pain, as if a awl were drilling into the flesh.

Sometimes searing heat, as if a branding iron were pressed upon it.

Sometimes stiffness and numbness so he could not feel the condition inside the acupoint...

Aunt Wang waved her hand: "I will not pursue the crime of your disrespect; go down and prepare your final affairs. I will chat with a few old companions; do not come to disturb us."

Secretary Fei, who had already found this fellow troublesome, immediately ordered Miao Yu: "Escort him out."

Shen Qingpeng, dazed, was led out by Miao Yu.

Outside the main gate, his trusted subordinates swarmed around him like a hive: "Brother Shen!"

Shen Qingpeng suddenly snapped back to his senses: No! That old woman... since the Ancestral Grandmother saw my problem at a glance, she must be able to save me!

He grabbed Miao Yu beside him: "Brother Miao, we grew up together since childhood! I will give you both of my branch associations; you must save my life!"

The trusted subordinates: "Ah?!"

Inside the room, Pu Yunzhi could not help but ask: "Is that youth truly beyond saving?"

Aunt Wang: "He cultivated with some problems; he won't die. That youth looks annoying; just scare him a bit."

All the old companions laughed; the Noble Lady is still the Noble Lady, just as she was back then.

(End of this chapter)