Chapter 173: 162 Responding to Summons

“Big Brother, why don’t we finish up everything here in Wushan Prefecture and then leave? Let’s go to other places in the Great Spirit to seek other masters.

This world is vast, and one day, you’ll surely meet someone who can match you!” Sun Xiaohui of Sunrise Palm suggested.

After all, the core of the Wandering Mountain Tigers is just the three of them.

As long as the three of them are together, they can rebuild the Wandering Mountain Tigers anywhere.

The two of them were saved by Wandering Mountain Tigers and vowed to advance and retreat together from that point on.

By then, they could casually bring some money and food, distribute the rest, and leave lightly to take on the world. Wouldn’t that be enjoyable?

“Great idea!” Ding Yu’s eyes lit up, the emptiness in his heart instantly filled with new anticipation.

“Yes, the world is vast, much bigger than just Dinghe Road in Wushan Prefecture. There are so many other places. We’ll find stronger opponents eventually….”

Ding Yu’s mind opened, and his eyes shone brightly.

“Alright! Let’s settle everything immediately. Second Brother, Third Brother, do you have any enemies or wishes? Once we’ve settled it all, we’ll leave!”

Sun Xiaohui and Xu Xin exchanged a glance, both speechless.

Following Ding Yu, they had always oppressed others; where would they have enemies?

“As for wishes, how about having a meal of braised pork at Golden Sun Pavilion?” Xu Xin finally came up with an idea.

“I don’t have any,” Sun Xiaohui shook his head.

“Don’t you want to find women?” Ding Yu asked.

“With our status, we shouldn’t ruin good girls,” Sun Xiaohui smiled bitterly. “As for some fun, going to a brothel, as long as we pay, any service is available.”

“Indeed. Although our Wandering Mountain Tigers didn’t rob the rich to help the poor, forcibly taking someone’s body will bring a bad reputation for eternity and curses of end-of-line,” Xu Xin nodded in agreement.

“Alright then… let’s go to the city for a meal of braised pork, Golden Sun Pavilion…” Ding Yu smiled, suddenly feeling that having two brothers like this by his side was truly one of life’s great fortunes.

As for the previous kidnapping plan, he had completely thrown it to the back of his mind.

In the past, his robbing of money and people, besides basic food and entertainment, was primarily to find masters to fight with.

Now, there was no potential for strong opponents left in Wushan Prefecture; why waste time here?

Suddenly, an image flashed in his mind of the man who stood in a high tower looking down on him.

That man… seemed to be wearing a black mask with silver threads.

“By the way, is there an organization near Wushan Prefecture that wears black masks with silver threads?” Ding Yu asked.

“That’s the symbol of the Golden Wing Pavilion. Silver threads indicate the highest level spirit agents.”

Xu Xin quickly replied; among the three, he was a jack-of-all-trades, in charge of intelligence, and knew a lot.

Sun Xiaohui was in charge of personnel and managed the organization’s logistics.

“Golden Wing Pavilion? The guy with the arrogant look that night, he’s a Golden Wing Pavilion member?” Ding Yu muttered, deep in thought.

“Fine, Golden Wing Pavilion seems to have a Ninth Grade spirit agent, Old Xu, send them a challenge letter. Invite him for a duel with me.”

“Just an organization selling intelligence….” Xu Xin said in surprise.

“His eyes were disgusting. Killing him before leaving would settle my mind,” Ding Yu replied.

“But such organizations are deeply hidden. If they don’t want to show up, we wouldn’t find them….” Xu Xin hesitated.

“Then curse him out, call him a grandson. If that doesn’t work, forget it. That’s his good luck.”

Ding Yu didn’t care.

“If they really chicken out, then my anger will dissipate too.”

“Alright!”

*

*

*

“A challenge letter?”

Zhang Rongfang looked at the letter in his hands with a hint of surprise.

The letter, after being tested for poison, was handed over step by step to him.

This morning, after accompanying his sister for a stroll, he returned to such a surprise.

“Yes.” Bao Ning bowed his head, standing in front of him.

“It was issued by the bandits outside the city, the Wandering Mountain Tigers. Two days ago, Wandering Mountain Tigers held a challenge, defeating all known Ninth Grades in Wushan Prefecture.

With Qianshan One Sword out on a mission and not returned, Wushan is now in chaos without anyone to control it and has become a great threat.”

“So what does he want by sending me a challenge letter?” Zhang Rongfang was speechless.

Currently, he’s occupied; where does he have the time to play such games with bandits?

Not long after breaking through to the Golden Core, enhancing his combat ability yet again, he received news of a Super Grade Merfolk expert from Sea Dragon approaching.

Currently, all his energy was focused on the Super Grade Merfolk from Sea Dragon.

“Master, this Wandering Mountain Tigers is known for being obsessed with martial arts. Based on intelligence, they aren’t interested in anything else but challenging powerful opponents.

If the master can defeat him, perhaps we could convert close proximity challenges into an opportunity to recruit him….” Bao Ning suggested.

Zhang Rongfang was intrigued.

Indeed, such a possibility existed.

“By the way, in the past, when Weili and Qingsu came to Wushan Prefecture, weren’t they also attacked by this Wandering Mountain Tigers?” he asked.

“Yes, sir,” Bao Ning replied.

“Good, that’s just right.” Zhang Rongfang thought for a moment, then tossed the challenge letter aside. “Respond to him on my behalf, Hanshan Pool outside the city, the morning after tomorrow, for a one-on-one duel. The loser must obey one request from the winner.

If he wants to come, let him. If he doesn’t, don’t bother me.”

“Understood.” Bao Ning nodded solemnly.

Since the subjugation of Cyan Horn and the Huang family, in his mind, the Spirit Agent Leader had become Wushan’s undisputed strongest.

These Wandering Mountain Tigers, defeating a few over-the-hill Ninth Grades, thought themselves invincible; they were truly frogs at the bottom of a well, seeing only a limited view.

“Additionally, within and around Wushan Prefecture, the subordinates have compiled a list of twelve promising geniuses for recruitment or enlistment. Please take a look.” He swiftly produced a list from his sleeve.

Zhang Rongfang accepted it, scanning through. Among the twelve names, the lowest was Grade Five, the highest Grade Eight.

All were under thirty years old.

“Send someone to invite them one by one. Those who join will be granted Pigeon Level treatment immediately.”

“What if someone refuses? Should we….” Bao Ning hinted slightly.

“Depends on the person. If they are malevolent, for the peace of Wushan, eliminate them.

If they aren’t malevolent, invite them to join under the pretext of maintaining peace in Wushan.

Normal people, even if they don’t care about themselves, surely care about their family’s safety.

And who would be foolish enough to reject more information about their loved ones? Using this as a term of information exchange, I’m sure we’ll have considerable success,” Zhang Rongfang smiled.

“Master… brilliant!” Bao Ning was immediately convinced. This approach, offering protection to their family and information support, on the surface, appears as safeguarding. But if…

*

*

*

Time passes, and in the blink of an eye, two days have flown by.

The matter of Dang Mountain Tiger challenging the Golden Wing Pavilion’s spirit envoy again has been spread internally by Dang Mountain Tiger’s people.

Many people in Wushan Prefecture heard about the Golden Wing Pavilion organization for the first time in these rumors.

Some spectators arrived early at the agreed battle location, waiting to watch.

Outside Wushan Prefecture, Hanshan Pool.

A snow-white waterfall, five meters wide, falls from above, crashing into the dark green pool below, splashing up mist-like water droplets.

Dang Mountain Tiger arrived early here, sitting upright on a large rectangular bluestone by the poolside.

The stone layers are stacked like pages of a book, and the rock crevices are covered with green moss.

The green moss almost merges with the green trousers Dang Mountain Tiger wears.

He is bare-chested, with metal armguards on his arms, constantly adjusting his entire body status.

This is his habit.

No matter the opponent, before starting a fight, he will always adjust his body to its best state.

It’s early morning, as the sunrise begins.

The splashing water vapor turns into a hazy mist, permeating all around, almost engulfing him.

Xu Xin and Sun Xiaohui are lurking in the nearby forest, prepared to watch the live battle.

The Golden Wing Pavilion’s reply has already accepted the challenge.

Now they are just waiting for the opponent to arrive.

Since the opponent dares to accept the challenge after knowing Dang Mountain Tiger’s battle record, they must have some confidence.

This slightly raises a sliver of hope in Ding Yu’s heart, a tiny, insignificant hope.

And several miles away from here.

A tall figure in a black cloak, wearing a wide-brimmed mask, is slowly approaching Hanshan Pool.

With each step, he travels several meters forward.

Seemingly slow, yet surprisingly fast.

Before long, the forest area where Hanshan Pool is located becomes gradually visible ahead.

Swoosh.

Suddenly, a short sword spins rapidly through the air like a disk, lands, and plunges into the ground before him.

The sword slices through the black dirt covered in weeds, deeply embedding itself.

Zhang Rongfang pauses and turns his head to look in the direction of the short sword.

“Who’s there?”

No one answers.

The person who threw the sword seems to have already left.

The gentle spring breeze blows over the fabric attached to the short sword.

Writing seems to be inscribed on the yellow cloth.

Zhang Rongfang steps forward, reaching out with a leather-gloved hand to pull out the short sword.

He takes the paper from the blade.

As he unfolds it and examines it closely.

’Merfolk have arrived, Golden Wing clipped. Take care.’

The clean and neat handwriting appears as if written in one stroke, without any hesitation.

“A warning? Why now?” Zhang Rongfang squints his eyes, revealing a trace of contemplation under his mask.

The Golden Wing Pavilion deals in intelligence, yet now a master not under its control appears, quietly warning him.

Suddenly, there is a flapping sound in the air.

Zhang Rongfang looks up.

Little Red Bird dives, landing precisely on his arm.

He removes a bamboo tube, shaking out the paper scroll.

At first glance, his gaze turns cold.

’Ten Thousand Miles Manor was attacked, the culprits are the Sea Dragon Merfolk.’

With a swift motion, he crushes the bamboo tube and scroll, turning around and rushing towards Ten Thousand Miles Manor.

All of Wushan Golden Wing Pavilion’s valuable assets, information, and intelligence files are stored there.

Including former spirit envoy-captured serious criminals, main culprits, traitors, and others.

It cannot be lost!

As for the duel with Dang Mountain Tiger, there’s plenty of time afterward; right now, the trouble with Sea Dragon must be swiftly resolved.

*

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*

Time steadily passes.

The sunrise climbs, hanging above overhead.

It’s already nearing noon.

Dang Mountain Tiger quietly sits cross-legged on the bluestone, head lowered.

His long hair has been dampened by the mist from the small waterfall, yet he seems unaware.

“Big brother… I reckon they won’t be coming, should we leave?” Xu Xin steps out, speaking from afar.

“…” Dang Mountain Tiger remains silent, his head still hanging low.

The mist swirled around him, making him resemble a sculpture for a moment.

“Big brother? I fear the Golden Wing Pavilion won’t be coming,” Sun Xiaohui looks at the cross-legged Ding Yu with some sympathy.

“The spirit envoy of the Golden Wing Pavilion, it seems, is intimidated by your previous accomplishments, big brother. They probably don’t dare to come….” he calls out loudly.

“If that’s the case, why let these insignificant figures affect our mood?”

Ding Yu slowly raises his head, looking at the sky.

“There’s still some time….”

Saying that, but deep down, he already knows the result.

Not only him, but other masters hidden around Wushan Prefecture also express disappointment and have reached a conclusion.

The Golden Wing Pavilion, they’re afraid of the challenge.

The spirit envoy has likely fled.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep