Chapter 147 - 107: Hidden Sword Manor, Zhang Su Is Here

"Manor Master Ouyang, your Hidden Sword Manor is renowned throughout the Jianghu. Our coming here today to request a sword is rather forward of us."

Shen Mufeng said to Ouyang Chuan with a smile.

He was Ouyang Zhi’s senior brother, and he had a way about him that put people at ease, as pleasant and refreshing as a spring breeze.

Dressed in white robes, with features as fine as carved jade, his every word and action exuded a transcendent air.

Ouyang Chuan waved a hand. "You are all Zhi’er’s senior brothers and sisters, as well as Inner Sect Disciples of Medicine Valley. Your presence graces my humble Hidden Sword Manor."

"I heard from Zhi’er that you’re looking to have swords forged? No problem. If there’s one thing Hidden Sword Manor isn’t short on, it’s Treasure Swords. Later, I’ll have Zhi’er take you to the Sword Storage Pavilion. Take a look first; there’s no rush to begin the Sword Forging. Hidden Sword Manor has many Treasure Swords. If you find one you like, I’ll make the decision and gifting it to you would be no trouble at all."

’Ouyang Chuan was well aware that these three Medicine Valley disciples were still young, with plenty of room for advancement.’

’If they could reach the Danjin realm, their futures would be boundless.’

’To forge a connection with them simply by gifting a Treasure Sword was an absolute bargain.’

"Then we thank you, Manor Master."

Shen Mufeng and his two companions were quite pleased.

They were good friends with Ouyang Zhi, and upon learning she came from the renowned Hidden Sword Manor in the Jianghu, they had wanted to come and have a Treasure Sword forged.

But if there were ready-made Treasure Swords available, they certainly wouldn’t refuse.

After all, Sword Forging took a very long time.

Just then, Ouyang Jing arrived in a hurry.

"Father, something terrible has happened."

Ouyang Jing’s steps were hurried as he strode quickly into the main hall.

His face was a little pale, and his forehead was beaded with fine sweat. He had clearly run all the way here.

"Hm?"

Ouyang Jing saw that there were a few strangers in the hall.

However, he also saw his second sister, Ouyang Zhi.

"Second Sister, you’re back?"

Ouyang Jing was a little surprised, but his expression quickly turned serious again.

"Third Brother, you’re in such a rush. Did something happen?"

Ouyang Zhi asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

"This..."

Ouyang Jing looked toward his father, Ouyang Chuan.

Shen Mufeng was tactful enough to immediately stand up and say, "The Manor Master has important matters to discuss. We will take our leave for now."

With that, he prepared to leave with the other two Medicine Valley disciples.

Ouyang Chuan quickly waved his hand. "What important business could there be? You don’t have to leave. Ouyang Jing, go ahead. What’s made you so flustered?"

Seeing his father say this, Ouyang Jing no longer hesitated.

He immediately gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "It’s Zhang Su from the Guiyuan Sect. He sent a calling card. He’s right outside the gate..."

"Zhang Su?"

Ouyang Chuan’s pupils contracted sharply.

’Of course he knew who Zhang Su was.’

’An Inner Sect Disciple of the Guiyuan Sect.’

’The Jianghu Pursuit Order against Zhou Sandao and Jiang Kui had been issued in his name.’

’Hidden Sword Manor had given them refuge, effectively ignoring the order.’

’He’d thought they were safe within Medicine Valley’s sphere of influence. He never imagined Zhang Su would actually dare to travel from the Guiyuan Sect all the way to Hidden Sword Manor.’

Ouyang Chuan had, in fact, made inquiries about Zhang Su.

The news from Hengshan County had only circulated within the Guiyuan Sect and the Five Elements Sect.

But many disciples of the Guiyuan Sect didn’t quite believe the news, let alone outsiders.

As for the Five Elements Sect, because they had failed in the struggle for the mineral veins in Hengshan County, they were unwilling to mention anything about it.

Therefore, Ouyang Chuan had only heard about Zhang Su killing Wei Yunzhou in the Guiyuan Sect.

But Wei Yunzhou was, after all, only a Half-Step Huajin.

’After all this time, even if Zhang Su had progressed to be on par with the Huajin realm, Hidden Sword Manor had nothing to fear.’

’Hidden Sword Manor had many Huajin Martial Artists, and even a Danjin Strongman in residence.’

"How many people did Zhang Su bring?"

Ouyang Chuan asked, his gaze fixed on Ouyang Jing.

’Zhang Su has friends, too. If he brought a Danjin Martial Artist, that would be a real problem.’

"One person delivered the calling card, but I had my men watch from a distance. There are four in total. One of them appears to be a woman dressed as a man, and she doesn’t seem to be a Martial Artist. The other two are only Outer Force Martial Artists. But Zhang Su... he doesn’t feel like he’s at the Inner Force realm. He has this incredibly distinct aura... almost... like a Huajin!"

"Huajin?"

Ouyang Chuan frowned, tapping his fingers twice on the armrest of his chair.

’It seems I underestimated Zhang Su before.’

’He’s actually reached the Huajin realm already?’

’But there was good news, too. No one at the Danjin realm.’

Ouyang Chuan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. ’As long as there’s no Danjin Martial Artist, we’re fine.’ His expression relaxed slightly.

’But he was still uneasy. Would Zhang Su really dare to come to Hidden Sword Manor so unprepared?’

"Manor Master Ouyang, you mentioned the Guiyuan Sect just now... Could it be that a disciple from the Guiyuan Sect has come to visit?"

At that moment, Shen Mufeng suddenly spoke up, a peculiar glint in his eye.

When Ouyang Chuan saw Shen Mufeng, his eyes lit up.

’Shen Mufeng and his two companions were Inner Sect Disciples from Medicine Valley, after all.’

’And Huajin Martial Artists at that.’

’With the three of them here, so what if Zhang Su was a Guiyuan Sect disciple?’

"My young friend, it’s a long story. An Inner Sect Disciple from the Guiyuan Sect, Zhang Su, holds a grudge against some people under my manor’s protection. He even issued a Jianghu Pursuit Order for them... I thought that would be the end of it, but I never expected Zhang Su to actually pursue them to Hidden Sword Manor. He is outside our gates now. He is a prominent Inner Sect Disciple from the Guiyuan Sect, while my Hidden Sword Manor is merely a power within the Jianghu. This matter puts me in a truly difficult position."

Ouyang Chuan didn’t deliberately hide the details, recounting the general gist of the matter.

His tone sounded somewhat helpless, but his eyes were calm.

’Hidden Sword Manor had stood firm in the Jianghu for many years. What storms hadn’t it weathered?’

’A single Inner Sect Disciple from the Guiyuan Sect wasn’t enough to cause him real trouble.’

’The only reason he said all that was to gauge the attitude of these Medicine Valley disciples.’

’After all, even though Hidden Sword Manor was technically under Medicine Valley, its disciples weren’t people one could meet just any day.’

’This was a rare opportunity, and Ouyang Chuan naturally wasn’t going to let it pass him by.’