Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Sacrifice His Head for My Son’s Memorial
Eleven o’clock in the morning.
Though the Combat Club’s venue was not packed like sardines, it was already filled with martial arts practitioners who came to watch the excitement.
The venue wasn’t very big, and today’s viewing was restricted to a maximum of two hundred people. With less than an hour before the duel, almost everyone who had come to watch the spectacle had arrived, and many were regretfully turned away at the door for being too late.
Jiang Ziman arrived with a Deputy Leader named Du Minghui.
Du Minghui was a middle-aged woman in her fifties with an average appearance but a very dignified air, especially since she was so well-maintained. Coupled with her Inner Strength Cultivation, she looked to be just over thirty years old, exhibiting a remarkable grace and poise.
The arrival of the two added a bit more liveliness to the venue.
"I didn’t expect a Squad Leader to preside over the situation."
"Indeed, it’s a duel between Energy Transformation Level masters after all, and the Martial Alliance takes it very seriously."
"Right, only a Squad Leader has the authority to oversee such a scene and stabilize the situation. Otherwise, once a disturbance starts, I’m afraid even Li Zhengyi wouldn’t dare to intervene."
Amidst the chatter, Jiang Ziman and Du Minghui were led to the area where Yan Zhongshan and others were by Li Zhengyi.
Upon seeing the arrival of Jiang Ziman and Du Minghui, Yan Cheng, Xu Chou, and Wang Xiongying, among others, all stood up to greet them.
Yan Zhongshan remained calmly seated, merely glancing at the two.
Jiang Ziman and Du Minghui were not offended, after all, Jiang Ziman was only at the Energy Transformation Realm Lower Three Grades, while Yan Zhongshan had already advanced to the Energy Transformation Fifth Grade. They had known each other in the Provincial City, but since Yan Zhongshan mostly focused on secluded cultivation, their interactions had been minimal.
After exchanging greetings, Jiang Ziman saluted Yan Zhongshan with clasped hands, saying, "Congratulations to Elder Yan on advancing to Energy Transformation Fifth Grade. With your pace, it won’t be long before you reach Seventh Grade Energy Transformation and achieve the title of a Grandmaster."
Yan Zhongshan, upon hearing the flattery, was quite pleased, nodding with a smile, "I’m old, and I’m afraid my vitality might not be sufficient, uncertain if I can reach the Grandmaster Realm within my lifetime."
Du Minghui smiled charmingly and said, "Elder Yan is too modest. You are a legend in the Martial World, one of those who accumulate knowledge and release it slowly. With your current state, you could well be called a Grandmaster within ten years."
"Hahaha, then I shall take your auspicious words to heart and strive even more," Yan Zhongshan laughed heartily.
"Sect Leader Jiang, Miss Du, please take a seat here," Yan Cheng, keen to please, vacated some prime seats next to his father to invite Jiang Ziman and Du Minghui to sit.
This was also a display of the Yan Family’s power.
Even the two lead figures from the Martial Alliance overseeing the Life and Death duel were seated in our Yan Family’s camp.
Du Minghui nodded, ready to take a seat, when Jiang Ziman chuckled and shook his head, "I’ll have to oversee the situation shortly, I’ll just sit over there at the presiding table."
Du Minghui’s mind flickered, and she too smiled, nodding, "That’s right, we’re here to judge, it’s not proper for us to sit on this side."
Yan Cheng, taken aback by the refusal, gave a slight start, then laughed, "My apologies, I was too forward. Please don’t take offense."
Jiang Ziman looked at Yan Zhongshan and chose his words carefully, "Elder Yan, I am somewhat aware of Yang Fei’s grudge with the Situ family. Although he may be overly murderous, the fault does not solely lie with him. You know the principles of the Martial Alliance, those who’ve reached the Late Stage of Inner Strength are pillars of the state, and those who have achieved Energy Transformation are prestigious assets of our Divine Continent.
Elder Yan, you have attained the Energy Transformation Fifth Grade, and that Yang Fei, despite his young age, has also stepped into Energy Transformation, a talent worth sculpting. Should either of you fall, it would be a great loss to the Martial World of the Divine Continent. May I inquire if I were to mediate personally, could an agreement of peace be reached between both parties?"
At these words, the expressions of Yan Cheng, Wang Xiongying, and Xu Chou all changed on the spot.
Behind them, Situ Yunzhong and several members of the Situ family who came for the meeting were also brimming with anger, with Situ Yunzhong unable to contain himself, "Yang Fei killed my father, my brothers, and my nephew, four people in total. How could such enmity be dissolved just because of your word?"
Jiang Ziman laughed, glancing at him, "Your Situ family provoked an Energy Transformation master first and even attempted to besiege someone. It was only reasonable for that person to strike back. Moreover, this is a dispute between the Situ family and him, it seems a bit bully-like for the Yan Family to get involved."
Yan Cheng furrowed his brows, "Situ Xian was my father-in-law. With my father-in-law murdered, how can I, as his son-in-law, sit by and do nothing?"
Wang Xiongying said, "Moreover, we have followed the rules of the Martial Arts World and issued a challenge to that kid. It’s fair and just, Sect Leader Jiang, you can’t say anything against that, right?"
Jiang Ziman chuckled and nodded, "Indeed, if you insist on going through with this Life and Death Platform, I truly cannot oppose it. But as the leader of the Martial Alliance, I have a duty to keep some talents for the Jiangnan Martial Alliance."
Xu Chou, due to his ties to the Xu Family, was of sensitive status and found it inconvenient to speak.
Yan Zhongshan spoke up, "I understand where Sect Leader Jiang is coming from, but that’s just how the Martial Arts World is—passionate about gratitude and grudges. Besides, there are some matters you probably can’t interfere with, Sect Leader Jiang."
His meaning was already clear.
As a practitioner well into the Energy Transformation Realm and also the leader of the Jiangnan Martial Alliance, Jiang Ziman was invariably well-informed, faintly aware that the matter also involved the two super clans of Imperial City. Thus, he nodded and said with a smile, "Yes, I am indeed powerless. I only wished to play the role of a mediator."
Yan Zhongshan looked at him and said, "If that kid dares to come today and steps onto the Life and Death Platform, his death is certain."
Jiang Ziman let out a bitter laugh and sighed, "Since it’s so, I should not say anymore."
Having said that, he turned and left.
Unaware of the inside story, Du Minghui saw that Jiang Ziman was apparently at odds with the big clans of the Provincial City like the Yan and the Wang families, and couldn’t help feeling anxious. She gave the people from Yan Family and the others a sheepish smile, but still followed Jiang Ziman out.
"Hmph, overestimating himself. Were it not for his status as the leader of the Martial Alliance, what would he be worth in front of my father?" Yan Cheng said coldly, waiting until Jiang Ziman and Du Minghui had walked away.
Wang Xiongying also nodded, "Indeed, compared to Elder Yan, that man is no longer worth mentioning."
Xu Chou said, "Perhaps it would be less trouble for Elder Yan to compete in the next election. Then the Jiangnan Martial Alliance will be at your command."
Pleased by everyone’s flattery, Yan Zhongshan still responded, "I have no interest in these mundane worldly affairs. I’m dedicated to my martial arts. As long as I continue to make great strides in Martial Arts, not just the insignificant Jiang Ziman, even the Hall Masters of the Martial Alliance should show me respect."
In this regard, he saw clearly.
In the Martial Arts World, power was supreme. Only if one’s own realm and strength were formidable could one earn respect from all sides.
After a while, a commotion arose from the entrance of the venue.
Everyone looked over to see a group of people striding in with anger in their steps.
The leader was a man in his fifties with a fierce look in his eyes and an imposing aura. Following him were several younger men, each with a white band of mourning wrapped around their foreheads, their eyes filled with anger.
"Tong Fujun?"
"Exactly, it’s Tong Fujun, the second master of the Tong Family. What’s he doing here? And with the way those from the Tong Family are dressed, it looks like someone has died?"
Soft murmurs quickly spread through the crowd.
Tong Fujun swept his gaze across the entire gathering and quickly approached the Yan Family’s side. He clasped his hands and bowed to Yan Zhongshan, saying, "Tong Fujun pays respects to Elder Yan. I have a favor to ask of Elder Yan today."
Yan Zhongshan held considerable respect for the members of the Tong Family, given that the Tong Family had a nearly ceiling-reaching powerhouse in their ranks.
He nodded and said, "Nephew Tong, you’re too courteous. Speak freely, whatever it is."
"Later, I ask Elder Yan to take the head of that kid, Yang Fei. I want to use his skull to commemorate the spirit of my son in heaven!"