Chapter 508: Chapter 422: Adopted Son

「At the crack of dawn.」

Halfway up Kao Mountain, a figure sat cross-legged upon a massive, flat boulder. He faced east, performing a Breathing Technique as Sword Qi flowed around him, vying with the rising sun for brilliance.

It was the Supreme Elder of the Celestial Sword Sect, Sword Three, Lu Hansheng.

Only when the sun had climbed higher did he slowly conclude his technique, drawing his Sword Qi inward and opening his eyes.

He rose to his feet, his gaze turning to a spot several miles away.

There, the encampment of the official army, which had been stationed for over ten days, was now stirring with activity.

The camp gates stood wide open. Squadrons of soldiers in gleaming armor were rapidly assembling, looking as though they were preparing to break camp and depart.

At the sight, a flicker of unconcealable joy passed through Lu Hansheng’s eyes.

Ever since news of the Kao Mountain Cliff Little World spread like wildfire, the entire Jiangnan Martial Arts community had been in an uproar, seething with hidden currents.

Countless eyes were fixed on this place, with various factions watching hungrily.

At first, it was only a few wandering Jianghu Travelers and desperados, drawn by the rumors and hoping to fish in troubled waters.

The Celestial Sword Sect showed these people no mercy. They used ruthless force to eliminate the first few groups that emerged, temporarily stabilizing the situation and scaring off the rabble from getting too close.

But as time went on, a number of formidable factions also began to intervene and test the waters, both overtly and covertly.

Even a power like the Celestial Sword Sect had to tread carefully.

It was at this very moment that the Hai Jiao Bang and the Saltwater Bang made their move, which ended up doing the Celestial Sword Sect a huge favor.

The two gangs believed they were the ones who had primarily destroyed the Seven Kills Association, and that the Celestial Sword Sect had merely swooped in afterward to pick up the scraps and steal the fruits of their victory.

Thus, under the banner of seeking justice, they joined forces to pressure the Celestial Sword Sect, demanding a share of the Little World.

The Hai Jiao Bang had its origins with Water Bandits, while the Saltwater Bang made its name smuggling illicit salt. Neither could be considered a righteous or reputable sect.

The Celestial Sword Sect was looking for someone to make an example of, and they immediately decided to use these two gangs to assert their dominance.

Lu Hansheng took action personally, cutting down the leaders of the two attacking gangs on the battlefield.

Instantly leaderless, the two gangs’ morale shattered, and they scattered in disarray.

This battle served as another stark warning to the many watchful factions.

Lu Hansheng had thought that this battle would buy him a period of peace.

But he never expected that Governor Xu Yuanzhi and the Duke of England would somehow get wind of the news and arrive together.

These two were no ordinary Jianghu Travelers.

One was a provincial Governor, in charge of both military and political affairs for the entire province.

The other was a hereditary Duke, a man of exalted status.

If anything happened to either of them, it would be enough to incur the Court’s wrath and bring endless trouble.

But the most crucial factor was their strength!

Lu Hansheng privately estimated that against Governor Xu Yuanzhi, his chances of winning were about fifty-fifty; there was no guarantee of victory.

If he also had to face the Duke of England—a man of unknown depth but who absolutely could not be underestimated—he would have no chance of winning at all.

Lu Hansheng was even somewhat grateful for his earlier decisiveness.

He had led the core disciples of the Celestial Sword Sect out of the Little World ahead of time. He had then concealed and sealed the stone entrance from the outside, hiding it so well that it would be nearly impossible to find without prior knowledge.

Therefore, when Xu Yuanzhi and the Duke of England arrived with their army and inquired about the Little World, Lu Hansheng had simply given them the runaround, feigning ignorance and talking in circles.

He staunchly insisted that there was no such thing as a remnant of a Little World, claiming the scenery was simply pleasant and that he was only here for secluded Cultivation.

He even thwarted their requests to patrol Kao Mountain, using a variety of excuses.

Everyone involved was an old fox; naturally, the two of them didn’t believe his story.

But despite several attempts to probe and investigate in secret, they found no conclusive evidence or the hidden entrance, aside from some limited information they got from Gao Changhe.

After all, Gao Changhe’s knowledge was limited.

So, the two men decided not to rush things. They simply brought their five hundred personal guards, made camp at the southern foot of Kao Mountain, and drilled their soldiers every day.

Lu Hansheng’s plan was also clear, and it could be summed up in a single word: stall!

Although he was the Supreme Elder of the Celestial Sword Sect, others could handle the sect’s affairs; his head disciple was more than capable of managing things alone.

His disappearing for a few months to focus on the situation here would have little impact.

But Xu Yuanzhi and the Duke of England were different!

One was a Governor, with countless military and administrative matters in Jiangzhou awaiting his decision.

The other was a Duke, assigned to oversee Jiangzhou. Surely he had official duties and could not possibly linger for long in the remote wilderness.

They might be able to hold out for ten days or even half a month, but what about a month, two months, or even longer?

The longer things dragged on, the more it favored Lu Hansheng.

He was counting on them being so tied up with official business that they would be forced to leave on their own.

And now, seeing the troops in the camp assembling and preparing to depart, the great weight on Lu Hansheng’s heart was finally lifted.

He breathed a silent sigh of relief. A smile touched his lips, tinged with a hint of mockery.

’Just the two of you, high-ranking Court officials, think you can outlast an old Jianghu hand like me in a game of patience? Don’t you know how much responsibility rests on your shoulders? Couldn’t take the wait anymore, could you?’

Seeing that the soldiers had finished assembling and the carriages and horses were beginning to move, Lu Hansheng decided he would go "see off" his two "friends."

He chuckled softly. With a flicker of his body, he descended from the massive boulder like a wisp of green smoke. In just a few bounds, he crossed several miles and landed gracefully outside the main gate of the military camp.

"Who goes there?!"

The soldiers patrolling outside the encampment were instantly on alert. They drew their sabers, nocked their arrows, and fell into formation, warily eyeing the uninvited guest.

These soldiers were the personal guards of Xu Yuanzhi and the Duke of England. All were trained in martial arts, elite and battle-hardened. Having been stationed here for more than ten days, how could they not recognize the Supreme Elder of the Celestial Sword Sect?

An officer quickly stepped forward and saluted with a clasped fist. "Elder Lu, you honor us with your presence. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

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