Chapter 687 - 686: I Have an Idea
Pan Bai did not know exactly how much Ling Xiao had uncovered. Thinking about his disappearance over the past few months and seeing him standing here unharmed, his heart was already in turmoil.
He couldn’t allow Ling Xiao to continue speaking, planning to secretly make a move.
However, back then, if Ling Xiao wasn’t severely injured by the Sect Leader of Tianwu Sect, he wouldn’t have succeeded, let alone the current Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao evaded his sneaky and sinister methods and instead captured him.
Pan Bai’s behavior clearly showed his guilty conscience. He still wanted to continue arguing and was preparing to seize the opportunity to attack again with the dagger hidden in his sleeve.
But he quickly discovered something terrifying; Ling Xiao actually knew he still had a weapon in his sleeve and directly broke his arm. Brutally and mercilessly broken, the scene was bloody and cruel.
Before being framed, Ling Xiao was just a bit awkward in dealing with others, but kind-hearted, never bothered by many things, and even if his senior brothers sometimes went too far, he would just avoid them without disputing.
But now, Ling Xiao’s heart was filled with hatred. He thought of his kind teacher’s wife, who was murdered by this villain’s wild ambitions because he wanted to marry Junior Sister Susu. Her death was not even a decent one. Even though he did nothing, he bore the stigma, was pursued and scorned, and if it weren’t for Xia Wenjin, he would have long been dead.
After a brush with death, Ling Xiao’s hatred was irrepressible, and he showed no mercy in his moves.
His gaze was as cold as ice, and his entire aura was extremely strong, a case of the student surpassing the master.
Soon, Pan Bai confessed.
The Sect Leader of Tianwu Sect finally understood that his heartless disciple had caused his family to be ruined. Susu, with a broken heart upon learning the truth, collapsed in tears.
Pan Bai and his accomplices were all brought out for the Sect Leader to deal with personally.
Helping Pan Bai in his treacherous acts was tantamount to betraying their mentor and harming fellow disciples. Such acts were intolerable in Jianghu.
The guests sighed with emotion.
The wedding was naturally canceled.
Ling Xiao cleared his name, knelt before his master, kowtowed, and then went to his teacher’s wife’s grave to pay his respects before leaving Tianwu Sect.
He was deeply saddened, knowing that if not for framing him, his teacher’s wife wouldn’t have died.
She died because of him, and he felt too ashamed to stay at Tianwu Sect.
As for the matters between him and Junior Sister Susu, Ling Xiao was eager to return the favor of his life-saving grace, and he was very clear that back then, Junior Sister did have feelings for him, but he was solely focused on practicing martial arts and hadn’t even realized his feelings, passively accepting this affection.
Now he understood that while he had good feelings for Junior Sister, whether it was love, he was not sure.
Having experienced so much, whether they could come together in the future would depend on what was to come.
Xia Wenjin was certainly happy for Ling Xiao’s emergence, and so he entrusted all matters of Feiyun Pavilion in the Capital City to him. Now, Ling Xiao is the Hall Master of Azure Dragon Hall.
Xia Wenjin shared the overall plan and goals of Feiyun Pavilion with Ling Xiao, asking him to follow that direction. Moreover, Feiyun Pavilion currently did not lack funds, so there was no need to skimp on necessary expenses.
Ling Xiao, sharp and capable as in the past, was someone who was grateful and repaid kindness. Even if he were not the Hall Master of Azure Dragon Hall but just an ordinary disciple, he wouldn’t have held any grudges.
Xia Wenjin, not one to bind others with gratitude, saw Feiyun Pavilion as her own, as well as belonging to her brothers.
Ling Xiao welcomed Xia Wenjin inside, reporting on the affairs of Feiyun Pavilion during this period one by one.
Xia Wenjin cared about nothing else, only asking how he planned to develop the talents within the pavilion.
Ling Xiao had already prepared for this, understanding the Pavilion Master’s initial intentions. Though Feiyun Pavilion was to be a backbone for all brothers and sisters, it still needed to grow stronger.
Feiyun Pavilion would not keep idle people. Those the pavilion rescued who could not learn or accomplish anything within half a year were not qualified to become disciples.
Even with strict selection, Feiyun Pavilion developed rapidly.
Xia Wenjin did not break her promise. Within two years, Feiyun Pavilion gained fame in Jianghu, and although not comparable to old forces like Haotian Village, it was not far behind.
Discussing the minor drawbacks currently faced by Feiyun Pavilion with Ling Xiao, they made corresponding adjustments and then analyzed the situation in the Capital City.
An outsider force like Feiyun Pavilion, it was not easy to establish a foothold, much less grow rapidly?
The complex interweaving of forces in the Capital City meant one wrong step could lead to ruin.
Ling Xiao looked at Xia Wenjin, saying, "Pavilion Master, I had the brothers in the pavilion compile a summary. With Xue Niang’s help, the data is now relatively complete. Currently, there are five major Jianghu forces, seventeen medium-sized forces, and forty-three small forces in the Capital City. Our Feiyun Pavilion, having just taken root, is still considered a small force."
This did not surprise Xia Wenjin. She was even very clear about the background of these forces; in her past life, because of her Jianghu status, Huangfu Yuxuan had her negotiate with these forces one by one. Those who could be used were gathered under his wing as his claws; those who could not be utilized were mostly eliminated through his schemes.
However, no matter how thoroughly Huangfu Yuxuan operated, she dared not move against Shadow Pavilion.
Even though most forces were used by Huangfu Yuxuan in the end, he could never shake Shadow Pavilion. Since Shadow Pavilion did not engage in Court matters, after several setbacks, Huangfu Yuxuan no longer opposed them.
Though Xia Wenjin had great ambition, she knew of Shadow Pavilion’s centuries-old heritage, and since there was no conflict of interest with her, she had no need to oppose them.
Currently, Feiyun Pavilion is just a small force, barely worth mentioning.
Yet, having just taken root, one cannot become successful overnight.
Ling Xiao recalled a previous statement from Xia Wenjin and felt it was worth asking, "Pavilion Master, you mentioned striving to become a medium-sized force within half a month and a large one within three months. I have an idea!"
"Let’s hear it!"
"The fastest method is to transfer some of our brothers from headquarters here, then negotiate with those forces. If necessary, determine the winner through martial arts contests, what do you think?"
Xia Wenjin smiled and asked, "How many brothers do we have with us now?"
"Thirty!"
"What level are they?"
Ling Xiao replied, "Seventeen are of the Second-class skill level, nine are of the First-class Initial Tier, three are at the Mid-Tier, and one is at the High-Tier!"
"Are you the only one at the High-Tier?" Xia Wenjin calculated and was somewhat dissatisfied; the numbers weren’t large, but neither were the number of experts, proving it was indeed a small force.
Ling Xiao, feeling ashamed, responded, "Most brothers in Azure Dragon Hall have tasks at hand, and only these could be transferred."
Xia Wenjin said, "It’s enough!"
Ling Xiao lifted his head, "Pavilion Master agreed with my suggestion?"
Xia Wenjin said, "There’s no need to go through such trouble, there’s an even simpler method."
"What method?" Ling Xiao’s eyes lit up, eager to quickly achieve the goal set by the Pavilion Master.
"Arena Challenge!"