While on Mount Hua, my mind is at peace!

Chapter 41 The Night Banquet at the Xu Residence

Hengyang City, Xu Mansion.

Yue Buqun and the other leaders of the Five Mountains Sword Sects were warmly welcomed by Xu Jiaxuan, the head of the Xu family.

Earlier that day, Yue Buqun and his companions received an invitation from Cao Yi, inviting them to the Xu residence that evening for a drink. The invitation specifically mentioned that Yue Feng was also currently a guest at the Xu residence. Yue Buqun and the others assumed that Cao Yi was trying to reconcile Yue Feng and the Xu family, so they didn't think much of it and accepted the invitation.

In the living room, Yue Buqun and the others took their seats one after another, but neither Cao Yi nor Yue Feng were seen. Seated in the main seat was a distinguished young man who bore a resemblance to Cao Yi. Xu Jiaxuan introduced him to everyone; the young man was Cao Yi's son, Cao Jun, whom everyone called "Young Master Cao."

Because of Cao Yi, Yue Buqun and the others had a favorable impression of this young Master Cao. After exchanging pleasantries, Yue Buqun, concerned for his beloved son, asked Cao Jun, "Where is my son now? Could you please have him come out to see us?"

Cao Jun laughed and said, "My father greatly admires Young Master Yue, and even takes him with him when he goes out on business. He went out this evening and hasn't returned yet. I've already sent my men to look for him, and I'm sure they'll find him soon."

Yue Buqun felt slightly relieved. Tianmen Daoist, holding a wine cup, leaned closer and sneered, "Yue Buqun, oh Yue Buqun, your son is involved with both the Six Doors and the Eastern Depot, playing both sides. Aren't you afraid the boat will capsize?"

Yue Buqun's expression changed slightly; Tianmen's words had truly struck a chord with him. As the saying goes, "No one knows a son better than his father." Based on Yue Buqun's understanding of Yue Feng, he wasn't the kind of person who would waver between two sides, unless the Six Doors treated him badly or even betrayed him. But as far as Yue Buqun knew, that wasn't the case.

Liu Zhengfeng also chimed in, "Senior Brother Yue, I'm just giving you a friendly reminder. These are turbulent times, so it's best to mind your own business and avoid getting involved in a power struggle between two tigers!"

"Thank you for the reminder, Junior Brother Liu. I will definitely ask that unfilial son a question when he returns."

At this moment, Cao Jun raised his cup: "You are all renowned figures in the martial arts world. I have long admired you, but I regret that I have never had the chance to meet you. The Eastern Depot will need your help in the future. I will drink this first as a sign of respect. Please, everyone, go ahead."

After Cao Jun finished speaking, he downed the wine in his cup in one gulp. Yue Buqun and the others exchanged bewildered glances. Tianmen Daoist, the most impatient of them all, was the first to ask, "Young Master Cao, what do you mean by asking us to lend a hand in the future?"

Cao Jun answered succinctly and forcefully: "Merge them into the Eastern Depot, and let them serve the court!"

Tianmen Daoist slammed his fist on the table and stood up, pointing his finger and cursing, "Bullshit! How can you, a mere brat, swallow up my Taishan Sect's centuries-old foundation with a single word? Cooperation is fine, but don't even think about swallowing us up!"

Cao Jun coldly said, "Cooperate? You're not worthy!" He waved his hand, and dozens of men in purple robes rushed into the hall. Yue Buqun and the others recognized that each of these men was a top-tier martial artist, and their expressions changed. Yue Buqun said:

"This matter was caused by my son. You all go ahead, I'll cover the rear."

Liu Zhengfeng said, "If the Eastern Depot wants to take action against the martial arts world, even without my nephew Yue's matter, something else will. If Senior Brother Yue doesn't leave, I won't leave either."

Tianmen and Dingyi refused to leave, and just as the group of purple-clad men were about to block the hall entrance, an unusually long sword suddenly appeared, whistling through the air. The purple-clad men quickly dodged, and a figure arrived with the sword, sword in hand—it was Xie Tianqing, the new leader of the Qingcheng Sect!

Behind Xie Tianqing followed a dozen or so Qingcheng disciples from Hengyang. Xie Tianqing glanced at Yue Buqun and the others, then said to Cao Jun, "What do you mean by inviting the Five Mountains Sword Sect but not me? Do you also think... the Qingcheng Sect is inferior to the Five Mountains Sword Sect?"

Cao Jun said, "If the Qingcheng Sect is willing to merge into the Eastern Depot, then it will naturally be far superior to the Five Mountains Sword Sects; otherwise... hehe."

Xie Tianqing sighed: "I also don't want to be merged into the Eastern Depot. It seems that you are just an ordinary person like them. Only Brother Yue is my true friend."

Cao Jun sneered, "Let me show you that your brother-in-law is trapped underground and will never come out. Fortunately, he has a beautiful woman with budding romantic feelings by his side. Compared to you all, he is much luckier."

With a loud crash, a large hole was pushed through the wall behind Yue Buqun and the others. Deng Jun, Chen Ji, and Linghu Chong filed in. Deng Jun asked, "Oh? Is that so?"

Cao Jun frowned and looked at Xu Jiaxuan: "What's wrong with you? Didn't I give you a lot of people and tell you to arrange them in various places throughout the mansion?"

Xu Jiaxuan was on the verge of tears: "I...I did arrange it! They must have secretly killed him; that has nothing to do with me!"

Cao Jun waved his hand, signaling the man in purple to step back. He relaxed his brow and said to Yue Buqun and the others, "Since you all have made arrangements, I will not insist any further. Please return. I will definitely pay you a visit when I have time in the future."

Yue Buqun and the others naturally understood Cao Jun's intentions, but they didn't want to fight to the death on the spot. So they planned to prepare in advance and then settle accounts with them door to door. But even though they understood, they didn't have the courage to fight to the death. Seeing that the men in purple had made way for them, they walked out one after another.

As they approached the hall, a villager wearing a straw hat and carrying a fish basket on his shoulder walked towards them, calling out to Yue Buqun and the others, "Make way, make way! Fresh fish have arrived!"

The voice sounded familiar to Yue Buqun and the others, but their faces were obscured by their bamboo hats. Just as they were wondering what was happening, the villager had already passed right through them, his speed astonishing. Yue Buqun and the others stopped and turned around, only to find that Xie Tianqing and the others hadn't moved an inch, all their eyes fixed on the villager.

Xu Jiaxuan was furious when he saw the villager carrying the fish basket into the living room. Just as he was about to explode, the villager suddenly removed his straw hat, revealing a handsome face that looked more like that of a prince than a villager. Before Xu Jiaxuan could even close his mouth, he heard the villager ask him:

"Master Xu, one of these two baskets of fish is for Lord Cao, who is here now; the other is for your second young master, but I don't know where he is. Could you please call him over so we can settle the matter in person?"

Xu Jiaxuan roared, "Who are you, daring to bark like that here?"

Cao Jun raised his hand to silence Xu Jiaxuan, then stared at the villager and said, "Yue Feng, you're still alive?"

Yue Feng chuckled: "Yes, I'm not dead. Since I'm not dead, it's you who should die."

Cao Jun sneered, "I am the son of the Governor-General of the Eastern Depot in Hengyang. You dare to kill me? You think you can kill me?"

"I don't know martial arts, so I can't kill you; now that I've learned martial arts, if I still can't kill you, wouldn't all my learning have been for nothing?"

As Yue Feng spoke, he slowly walked towards Cao Jun.