Obtaining Top Art on Family's Extermination Night

"He’s an extremely famous independent figure in the Jianghu."

Gu Yuxian was widely connected and well-informed.

He introduced them to Fang Shuwen one by one. The man baring half his torso in the dead of winter was the Little Madman, Zhang Xuanfeng.

The one dressed all in black, wearing a vicious ghost mask, called himself Ghost Slave. His origins were unknown. He had appeared in the Eastern Domain Martial World three years ago and was a master of Mechanical Art. He carried a black box on his back, which was rumored to contain his weapon.

But no one had ever seen what that weapon was. All who had were already dead.

The young man dressed in lavish robes, looking like the son of a wealthy family, was known in the Jianghu as Young Master San Jue. His real name was Su Heng.

He was, in fact, the son of a wealthy family who had chanced upon a martial arts inheritance. His fist and palm techniques were both masterful, and his third specialty was the Nine-Section Whip.

However, in all his time in the Jianghu, few had ever been able to force him to reveal this third specialty.

The long-haired man holding a Qimei Stick had a more notable background.

He was a laicized disciple from Nianhua Zen Temple. He had originally held a very high status among the disciples of his generation, ranking in the top three of his peers.

Later, however, it seemed he broke one of the Buddhist Sect’s monastic rules. It was never specified whether the transgression was major or minor.

Nianhua Zen Temple permitted him to leave the order with his Martial Arts intact, on the condition that he never teach them to anyone else.

Relying on the Demon-Suppressing Staff Technique and Sumeru Mountain Force he had learned from Nianhua Zen Temple, he had made a considerable name for himself over the years.

He had not abandoned his old Dharma name, still calling himself Wu Hui.

The last woman’s background was even more interesting.

Her epithet was Iron-faced Rakshasa, and her name was Leng Yanqiu.

She was originally a constable for the Court, but some unknown event had extinguished her fervent passion. She abandoned the Court and entered the Jianghu.

Yet even so, she retained the strong sense of justice she’d had as a constable.

She had to right any wrong she saw and intervene in any injustice she witnessed.

It was a good thing her Martial Arts were exceptional and her Saber Technique was sublime. Otherwise, with her penchant for meddling, she would have met a violent end long ago.

According to Gu Yuxian, the skill levels of these individuals varied, but since they had never fought one another, it was difficult to rank them.

Among ordinary Jianghu people, however, they were a cut above the rest, and few dared to provoke them.

That was why they stood out so starkly from the crowd.

As Fang Shuwen was observing the people around him, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure.

He couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

The man stood tall, holding a longsword. He seemed unremarkable in the crowd, but the Qilin Sword Blade immediately caught Fang Shuwen’s eye.

’The Celestial Qilin Sword... Chen Qi!’

Fang Shuwen’s eyes narrowed. As his mind raced, he suddenly heard the sound of rushing wind drawing closer.

He looked up to see a figure soaring through the air from a nearby mountainside.

The figure seemed to step on the air itself, arriving on the high platform before them in mere moments.

The man’s most striking feature was his drinker’s nose.

His face was flushed red as well...

He looked to be over fifty, with snow-white hair at his temples and flushed red cheeks.

He staggered as he landed, and a heavy stench of alcohol immediately wafted from him.

Gu Yuxian’s eyes narrowed and he snorted.

"This guy just loves putting on a show."

"..."

Fang Shuwen was speechless. ’And you’re one to talk?’ he thought.

Fang Shuwen didn’t need Gu Yuxian’s introduction. Just from the man’s appearance, he knew who it was.

The Wine Immortal, Dong Wangyou!

The man’s gaze swept over the crowd. He suddenly burst out laughing, raised his wine gourd, and took a long swig. Only then did he unhurriedly cap the gourd and let out a slow breath.

"Good wine!!!"

A hot-tempered man in the crowd immediately shouted angrily,

"We didn’t come here to watch you drink!"

"Exactly! Tell us where Jinghua Pavilion is! After we go plunder... I mean, after we uphold justice for the Jianghu, then it won’t be too late for you to drink."

"We’ve come from so far away, stop keeping us in suspense!!"

"Hahahaha."

Dong Wangyou roared with laughter and held up a hand to quiet the noisy crowd.

"My friends, this old man knows why you have all come."

"Ye Feihua of Jinghua Pavilion acts with such insolence and depravity! He is an affront to us righteous members of the Jianghu."

"Even I can no longer stand by and watch his deeds..."

"So I decided to gather you all here to reveal the location of Jinghua Pavilion."

"Then, you can settle your grievances and avenge your hatreds. What could be more satisfying!?"

As soon as he said this, cheers erupted from the crowd.

Someone even shouted:

"Elder Dong, just tell us! What’s the plan?"

"Are you planning to pick a leader from our ranks?"

"Or are there conditions? Just name them! We’ll agree to anything!!"

"Yeah, the platform’s already set up. Don’t tell me you plan to have us decide things with our Martial Arts? You want to choose a Flower-Picking Alliance Leader from among us?"

"I say we don’t need all that trouble! Elder Dong is a renowned figure in the Jianghu. With the great Wine Immortal to lead us, I’m sure that even if Ye Feihua has heaven-defying skills, he won’t escape justice!!"

Fang Shuwen, however, watched Dong Wangyou on the stage with a strange look in his eyes.

In truth, even without Yu Yaoguang’s earlier warning, Fang Shuwen felt that Dong Wangyou’s actions were bizarre.

Holding a Flower-Picking Conference to announce the location of Jinghua Pavilion.

It seemed plausible on the surface, but it was utterly absurd.

After all, the people of Jinghua Pavilion weren’t deaf or blind.

Would they really just stand by and watch Dong Wangyou announce the location of their headquarters?

It was true that Dong Wangyou had survived seventeen consecutive assassination attempts since then without a scratch.

But even if Jinghua Pavilion couldn’t get to him, couldn’t they just move?