Chapter 145 - 115: Discussing the Situation, Old Man Hua Takes a Son-in-law

Chapter 145: Chapter 115: Discussing the Situation, Old Man Hua Takes a Son-in-law

A horse is a living thing, so it couldn’t be placed in the Ba Snake Space.

Thus, it was more convenient to just give them away.

The lucky couple who received the carriage thanked them repeatedly.

To the sound of their gratitude, Lu Changfeng and Bai Touweng, disguised as master and servant, began strolling through Qin City.

The architecture in Qin City was typical of the Jiangnan Prefecture style, largely the same as in Jiangzhou Prefecture City.

After a brief stroll, the two arrived at a rather nice inn, where they booked a room and ordered some food.

They were only halfway through their meal when Lu Changfeng saw the Hua Family siblings arrive together.

The two were certainly true to their word; it hadn’t been long at all, yet they had already found Lu Changfeng’s exact location.

Judging by Hua Yiran’s proud expression, her brother had clearly helped her sort things out with their parents.

"Brother Changfeng!"

"Brother Lu, you don’t mind if we join you for a meal, do you?"

Lu Changfeng gestured for them to sit. "Please, join me!"

The Hua siblings didn’t stand on ceremony and immediately took their seats.

The three of them had a very pleasant conversation over the meal.

It was mostly Hua Youran asking Lu Changfeng about matters concerning the Martial Arts Realm in Jiangzhou.

Due to his habit of hiding his true abilities from a young age, Hua Youran had always remained in Qin City, quietly building up his strength, and had never traveled far from home.

In truth, however, he greatly yearned to see the outside world.

Especially now, with Daliang Country having launched a war.

Three of his brothers from the Hua Family had already gone to the front lines, representing the family by joining the Jiangnan Prefecture’s Martial Arts Army to fight the invaders from Daliang.

Hua Youran also wanted to go to the front and fight the enemy, but he felt his own strength was still insufficient.

He was conflicted.

"Brother Lu, what are your thoughts on the current situation in Jiangnan Prefecture?"

"I read in the Hundred Knows Thousand that Daliang took another city yesterday."

"Sigh... if this continues, our Jiangnan Prefecture is bound to be destroyed at the hands of Daliang Country."

The worry on Hua Youran’s face was genuine. If Jiangnan Prefecture were truly destroyed, how could any of its people survive? After all, when the nest falls, no egg remains unbroken.

Even if he wanted to continue laying low and building his strength, there would be nowhere for him to go. When that time came, he, along with the entire Hua Family, would have to find a new place to survive.

"Let’s see how things play out. A mere Daliang shouldn’t be a match for our Song Country."

"Our Song Country is more than just Jiangnan Prefecture. It is a land of seven prefectures, teeming with talent. Once Song Country is reunified, crushing a clown like Daliang will be a simple matter."

"For now, all we in Jiangnan Prefecture need to do is hold our ground," Lu Changfeng replied.

After hearing this, some of the worry vanished from Hua Youran’s face. "I’m just afraid that Song Country will remain fractured. The new emperor’s Four-Color Dragon Army has only just been formed; we still don’t know how effective it will be in battle."

Hua Youran clearly still regarded the Song Country’s Royal Family in the Capital Region as the legitimate rulers.

"Does it have to be someone with the surname Hong? Look at the history of this land—has the name of the ruler ever really mattered to Jiangnan Prefecture? What do you think, Brother Hua?" Lu Changfeng said, subtly planting a seed of doubt.

Hua Youran frowned slightly. "But of the four major warlords currently in Song Country—the Profound Nether Sect, the Blood Evil Sect, the Meteor Sword Sect, and the Saint Demon Sect—most are Demon Dao influences. If they were to unify Song Country, could they truly bring peace?"

Lu Changfeng let out a laugh. "I wonder, Brother Hua, have you ever heard of the Holy Dragon Country?"

’Holy Dragon Country?’ Hua Youran searched his memory. He was, after all, born into a Martial Arts Family with a long and storied history.

The knowledge passed down in his family was vast, and Hua Youran quickly recalled reading about it in an ancient text. "That would be the nation founded by the Saint Demon Sect several thousand years ago, correct?"

"Its territory was said to be five times the size of present-day Song Country."

"The Holy Dragon Army they assembled was even capable of carving out permanent routes through the Hundred Thousand Mountains and the Polar Icefield."

The Hundred Thousand Mountains lay to the north of Song Country. It was an incredibly vast primeval forest, spanning hundreds of thousands of miles, making it utterly impossible for an ordinary person to cross.

Even experts of the Bone Refining Realm who traversed it were an exceedingly rare sight.

Now, with the Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy so thin, the paths carved out in Ancient Times have gradually vanished. Song Country has almost no contact with the nations beyond the Hundred Thousand Mountains anymore.

The Hundred Thousand Mountains acted as a natural barrier, isolating Song Country from the nations to the north.

The Polar Icefield to the west of Song Country operated on the same principle; its vast expanse and extremely frigid climate were simply insurmountable for ordinary people.

During the era of the Holy Dragon Country, they could rely on their formidable national power to establish outposts and create passageways.

Now, the Polar Icefield has become nothing more than a death zone.

These two natural barriers were the main reason why, after the Holy Dragon Country disintegrated, it ultimately lost control over the territories beyond what is now Song Country.

As the Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy grew weaker, experts of the Rebirth Realm gradually vanished from the world.

In the time since, several nations have risen and fallen on this land, but none possessed the national power to support expeditions or open routes through the frozen wastes.

"So, in your opinion, who was stronger? The Holy Dragon Country or Song Country?" Lu Changfeng asked.

This time, Hua Youran didn’t hesitate. "The Holy Dragon Country, of course."

"But... is the Saint Demon Sect of today truly the same organization that founded the Holy Dragon Country?"

Lu Changfeng smiled. "On my way back from Yunyang Prefecture, I actually had a chance to meet the Saint Demon Sect Master."

"That Saint Master is quite capable. He commands his subordinates well and has rooted out the vile practices of the Demon Sect. In the cities of Yunyang Prefecture now ruled by the Saint Demon Sect, the common people are all singing the praises of the Qilin Saint Master."

"I believe that if it’s him, there’s a decent chance he could lead the Saint Demon Sect to restore the glory of the Holy Dragon Country."

Had anyone else said this, Hua Youran would have dismissed it out of hand.

But the one speaking was Lu Changfeng—one of the Nine Heroes of Jiangzhou, a Hero whose Martial Arts Root Bone and Talent might even surpass his own. Hua Youran had no choice but to consider his words seriously.

’Could it be that this Saint Demon Sect Master is truly no ordinary man?’