Chapter 22: Tiger Head, Snake Tail

Ren Woxing retreated! It seemed a bit like a "tiger head, snake tail" situation, but with the Vermilion Bird Hall people gone, the remaining martial arts world in Xiangnan breathed a sigh of relief.

They were naturally extremely grateful to the Hengshan Sect, but looking at the pale-faced Lv Kai, those people didn't say much, only expressing their gratitude and saying that if the Hengshan Sect had any orders in the future, they would definitely go all out.

As for whether it was true, who knew.

The Vermilion Bird Hall's several hundred people left quickly and in an orderly manner, but everyone was carrying large and small bags, and there were even over a hundred carriages.

The wealth gained from this bloody slaughter in Xiangnan could be said to be enough for their Vermilion Bird Hall's consumption for ten years.

Everyone was flushed with excitement.

"Hall Master, why give up?"

A rather handsome young man beside Ren Woxing looked puzzled. "At that time, I observed that Hall Master, you shouldn't have been at a disadvantage."

"Dongfang, you are right. That old immortal's strength is not bad, but this seat is not bad either. Moreover, he was injured by me first, so his strength was a few points weaker than before."

"However, once I continued to coerce him excessively, he would definitely be prepared to die with me. This seat doesn't need to do that with him. This time, we have already made a huge profit."

"Besides, if we really want to drive the Hengshan Sect back to the mountain, do you think the others of the Five Mountains will watch us continue to run wild in Xiangnan? Once that triggers them to act, it will be a righteous-evil war."

"Our Vermilion Bird Hall is not ready yet."

Ren Woxing shook his head, looking at his right-hand man, and explained with a smile.

"So that's how it is!"

Dongfang Bai nodded, looked back with deep eyes, and then quickly followed the main force away.

However, this battle quickly spread throughout the entire martial arts world, and the name of Ren Woxing of the Vermilion Bird Hall was completely established.

After all, the Hengshan Sect's Sect Leader, Lv Kai, was a famous old-school first-rate expert in the Jianghu. Afterward, it was rumored that Lv Kai was seriously injured and had returned to the mountain to seclude himself.

Ren Woxing severely injured a Sect Leader of the Five Mountains Sword Sects as soon as he debuted. It can be said that this was stepping on the Five Mountains Sword Sects to rise to power.

In the Jianghu, eyes gathered on the Five Mountains again, especially the Huashan Sect. After all, the little brother was beaten; could it be that the big brother wouldn't stand up to give an explanation?

Thinking too much.

The Huashan Sect didn't care about the Jianghu people's views. Ning Qingyu and the others saw the information sent from the Hengshan Sect.

Their expressions became increasingly serious. The strength of a single Vermilion Bird Hall was even stronger than the Hengshan Sect. The Demonic Cult's four halls were likely not weaker than the four mountains excluding the Huashan Sect.

The Demonic Cult's strength had recovered very quickly.

"What do you think? Ren Woxing suddenly retreated; what does that mean?"

Ning Qingyu sat upright on the Sect Leader's seat, looking at a group of elders and asking.

Everyone was silent. After a long time, an old man with a deep face sitting in the first seat said slowly: "I think it might be that he retreated intentionally."

"First, the slaughter he stirred up in Xiangnan was enough. Killing the chicken to warn the monkey has already been achieved. Moreover, having just debuted, he achieved such a record; the fame was gained, and the benefits were gained."

"Then naturally, he doesn't want to offend the Five Mountains to death. If he continues to fight, the Hengshan Sect is not easy to provoke. Even if he wins, it will be a tragic victory, and the gains won't make up for the losses. Demonic Cult people are all selfish; he might have considered that."

"Hmm! Great Elder's words make sense."

Zhou Qingyun is the Huashan Sect's Great Elder, second only to Ning Qingyu in status, and even older than Ning Qingyu. Having lived long, he naturally sees more, and soon he had some guesses.

After hearing his words, everyone thought about it and found it was indeed the case.

"This person, being able to restrain himself at this critical moment, is not simple. It seems we need to pay attention to him in the future."

Zhou Qingyun added another old-fashioned reminder.

Everyone nodded accordingly.

"Sect Leader, according to the news from the Hengshan Sect, just the first-rate martial artists in this Vermilion Bird Hall are no fewer than eight, and it is very likely that their lair also has one or two. The Demonic Cult's strength has recovered so quickly."

Xiong Qingyuan suddenly said. As soon as these words came out, everyone's expressions sank, and the atmosphere became solemn.

Yes, this Vermilion Bird Hall is comparable to the Hengshan Sect, so the White Tiger Hall and Azure Dragon Hall must be even stronger.

Since the last righteous-evil war at the Huashan Sect, the Demonic Cult was wiped out of its Ten Great Elders by their predecessors using a scheme, which weakened their power significantly, leading to them not causing any trouble in the Jianghu for twenty years.

Now that the Demonic Cult's strength has recovered, I'm afraid it will be another major war by then.

As the vanguard against the demons, the Five Mountains cannot avoid it.

Everyone was gloomy and didn't speak.

"It's useless to worry about these now. It's better to improve our strength and increase the power of the disciples under our sect."

Ning Qingyu saw that the atmosphere was wrong and hurriedly said.

"Junior Brother Xiong, your disciple is doing well. This year, in Liaodong, he has been thriving, and he even changed his identity to mix into the army."

"Relying on this official skin, the business is not small. Last month, he even sent back five thousand taels of silver."

"Not bad!"

"Haha!"

"Sect Leader, you praise him too much. That brat of mine just has a little bit of cleverness."

Hearing the Sect Leader praise his eldest disciple, Xiong Qingyuan changed completely, becoming smug, with the face of a petty person.

This made many elders itch with hatred.

They had all misjudged him. That kid's talent for martial arts is not bad, and his ability to make money is even more extraordinary.

They all know that Su Fan also has the Su family; he has made a lot of money in these years.

Money is something they naturally need, especially the Huashan Sect. The money, grain, and medicinal materials consumed by the disciples under the sect every year are a huge number.

The Huashan Sect relies on the offerings of the forces below and some of its own businesses, but it is only barely enough.

But wanting to expand the inner sect and increase investment in outer sect disciples is impossible.

Is it that they don't want to let outer sect disciples promote? It's really that there isn't enough money and resources.

"Don't be there acting humble while getting the benefits."

"Look at that mouth of yours that's smiling crookedly," an elder immediately despised him.

But most were very envious.

"Su Fan is indeed not bad. I heard that in Liaodong, the Huashan Branch is being built very quickly, and he even established a martial arts hall in Shenyang City, layer by layer from outside to inside. This is very good."

Zhou Qingyun also stroked his beard and praised. He was naturally happy that the younger generation could produce talent.

Soon, the Sword-Qi Chongxiao Hall became a venue for praising people.

The atmosphere gradually became cheerful, diluting the news brought by the Hengshan Sect.

Su Fan, who was thousands of miles away in Liaodong, naturally didn't know all this.

He was still in this bitter cold place of Liaodong, training the military households in the hundred-household official post under his command.

They were all poor people. Having received Su Fan's attention, they had enough to eat and drink, and even their families could live a good life. These military households were also willing to follow Su Fan.

Even if they couldn't become Su Fan's servants, they were all willing. ===== CHAPTER 23 =====