activa-t Chapter 51 The Old Swordsman
Chapter 51 The Old Swordsman
Cao Lie looked at the old man, his expression revealing a complex mix of emotions.
"It's been so many years, Lao Huang."
In the past, the two heroes of Xinyu were unparalleled in their prowess. Cao Lie controlled the city patrol, while Huang Zhan held the reins of the Black Armor Army's city defense. The two fought for half their lives, but also cooperated to protect the city for the other half.
"Congratulations."
Huang Zhan had a kind and friendly smile. He looked to be about sixty years old, but he was actually four years older than Cao Lie and was already over seventy.
However, Cao Lie would never be fooled by this heartwarming smile.
If the Cao family were to encounter problems, he had no doubt that Huang Zhan would use any insidious means to completely destroy the Cao family.
However, the situation is now reversed.
Once Cao Lie returns to the Xiantian realm, he will inevitably regain power, avenge the humiliation of having his heir beheaded, and launch a heavy attack on the Huang family.
Both of them knew that this was the last time they would ever smile at each other.
At this age, simple grudges can no longer affect one's mind.
Huang Zhan sighed deeply and said sincerely, "Old friend, as a lifelong rival, I concede defeat. From now on, in our adjacent territories, my Huang family will automatically step back."
The city lord Wang Hui, standing beside him, was quite surprised. This Huang family patriarch was indeed extremely pragmatic and knew how to bend and stretch.
Beg for mercy?
Cao Lie smiled knowingly, "That's perfect. Xinyu is currently beset by internal and external troubles. Why should our two families fight each other?"
The two men chuckled knowingly, their smiles radiating warmth and harmony, but anyone with discerning eyes could see the slight embarrassment on the faces of the Huang family members.
The real struggle cannot be resolved with just a few words.
"Gentlemen, after this banquet, I will be setting off again with my sword drawn," Cao Lie said loudly, raising his cup to the crowd.
City Lord Wang Hui's expression changed drastically. He said, "Elder Cao is going to take action personally?"
Cao Lie said calmly, "This demon killed my eldest grandson and wreaked havoc on Xinyu. How can I, Cao Lie, stand idly by? This time, I, Cao Lie, will personally take action to eliminate this scoundrel and restore peace to Xinyu!"
Huang Zhan listened and then let out a long sigh.
After so many years of competition, I had long expected that Old Cao would do this.
This demon is rampant in Xinyu, causing havoc in all directions. Whoever can slay this villain will gain immense prestige.
After slaying that demon, who will Cao Lie target next with his burgeoning prestige? Huang Zhan knew without even thinking.
"Respect to the old hero Cao!"
Amidst the shouts of the mountains,
Everyone raised their glasses, cheering sincerely for this aging swordsman who was starting afresh.
Once the banquet was over,
All the romance has faded away.
Only those in the family know their own situation. As Cao Lie sat there reviewing the family's recent business operations, he couldn't help but feel a chill about his own family's predicament.
It's been years since I last saw the Cao family, and they've become so run-down?
The first to be affected was the pharmaceutical workshop under the jurisdiction of the First Madam, which was heavily in debt. If it weren't for all the recent events, Cao Lie would have even wanted to interrogate the First Madam about what kind of situation she was.
So lively and energetic!
As his inner energy surged out of control, Cao Lie felt a tightness in his chest and quickly suppressed the rampaging power.
Strangely enough,
Since swallowing that dragon pill, Cao Lie broke free from his shackles, defied his innate nature, and his power reached new heights. However, he often felt demonic thoughts arising. When he circulated his energy, terrifying black scales inexplicably appeared on the back of his hands, and his transformed fingernails fell off, extending into sharp claws and fangs.
A terrifying urge to swallow human blood inexplicably arose within me.
Months of refining couldn't suppress the powerful demonic nature within the dragon's bloodline?
If it weren't for the recent sudden changes in his family and their deteriorating situation, he wouldn't be in such a hurry to take the pill.
Unfortunately, given the current situation, he has no choice but to accept the price.
However, having entered the Innate Realm, given time to stabilize his cultivation, he will surely be able to completely refine this demonic nature.
Cao Lie wasn't too worried.
Footsteps sounded outside. Cao Lie said, "Come in."
Cao Shenghai stepped inside: "Father, did you need something?"
Cao Lie said coldly, "When I handed this huge family over to you, everything was thriving. But in less than ten years, you've managed to turn it into this mess. Tell me, should I break your legs?"
Cao Shenghai had lost all his former dignity as the head of the family. At this moment, he was so frightened that his legs trembled, and a smile on his face was even more unsightly than that of Ku Hai.
Ugh!
Old Master Cao sighed inwardly, "What a pity! Ayu isn't a boy, otherwise I would have made her the head of the family today. Zhang'er has some talent, but unfortunately, you've spoiled her. Ayang... it's time to properly nurture this child."
Cao Shenghai immediately said, "Shall I call the second brother over right now?"
Cao Lie waved his hand and said, "You don't need to call him. I'll find my own grandson myself. Now tell me, what's the deal with this bodyguard named Song Shen?"
Cao Shenghai looked bewildered, not expecting his father to ask about a servant so soon.
"Father, this servant is someone we've raised since he was a child. After the spy was discovered in the medicinal herb field last time, I wanted to look among these servants to see if there were any reliable ones with some talent. I didn't expect to actually find some, and this Song Shen is one of them."
"Oh? Tell me more."
Cao Shenghai said briefly, "In just one year, this young man has become quite strong. Moreover, he is calm and composed. He first made great contributions at the fishing grounds and then made contributions at the medicinal herb fields."
"Is there anything else about the medicine field?" Cao Lie asked, surprised.
Cao Shenghai recounted Cao Zhang's underhanded tactics with a wry smile, which made Cao Lie's face darken, and he cursed:
"With such a narrow mind, how can the family not perish!"
Cao Shenghai was speechless. The family infighting had reached this point, which was truly due to his poor leadership.
"So, this young man surnamed Song is quite promising, a rather formidable character. Why do you dismiss such a talent and not utilize him?"
Cao Shenghai said in a deep voice, "This kid is indeed formidable, but he is also unruly. Not only does he dare to defy his master, but he also beats up his own father and brothers, which is contrary to human ethics and shows no humanity whatsoever..."
Old Master Cao listened to Cao Shenghai's account with a stern face, his expression becoming complex towards the end.
"He is indeed a carefree young man. He practices martial arts, so he should have some fierce and violent spirit. This young man was sold to our family when he was young and has long been ungrateful to the family. What you said about him being against human ethics is too sensational! As for the offense of insubordination, I did see Zhang'er and your wife persecuting A Yu and his men. It is normal for him to have some temper."
Cao Shenghai was about to speak when the old man interrupted him, saying, "Now is the time to recruit talents without being bound by convention. I shouldn't have hired those teachers to teach you those classic texts back then. Look at you, you've gone stupid from all that studying. Our clan has nurtured its own talents, and you want to discard them? It's utterly ridiculous and pedantic!"
Although Cao Shenghai did not admit defeat, he dared not argue further.
"Go and fetch Song Shen. I want to see him in person!"
-----------------
It is no exaggeration to describe the recent situation in Xinyu as full of twists and turns.
Ever since the Three Calamities Demon swept through numerous martial arts centers near Xinyu, slaughtering martial artists everywhere, and then the bloody massacre at Flying Dragon Pool, leaving the entire city patrol area empty, thieves and bandits from all directions have been stirred up by the news, and many notorious thieves who had been on the run for years now dare to act openly.
Who would have thought that at this critical juncture of change, a powerful innate expert would suddenly appear?
Even an innate expert who is over seventy years old would be enough to terrify these scoundrels.
Especially after hearing that the old man was going to personally pursue that devil, the bandits were terrified and dared not act rashly again.
Who knows what Old Beeden will do next after he kills the Three Calamities Blade Demon?
All horses were silenced.
The whole world is terrified.
Even Song Shen, who had been deposed and was now unemployed, was amazed. The Cao family was about to be swept into the dustbin of history by the hands of the First Madam, the Eldest Son, and that useless family head, but then the seventy-something-year-old Old Master Cao suddenly broke through to the Innate Realm. Who could have imagined that?
Having witnessed the oppressive aura emanating from Old Master Cao these past few days, Song Shen felt that the power of this innate ability was simply terrifying.
Without even drawing a sword, all sides were subdued.
However, Song Shen did not feel wronged by being implicated, since only he knew that the eldest son Cao Zhang was not killed by the Three Calamities Demon, so he did not feel sorry for himself.
Yes, he is short of money right now, but he's not in a hurry.
Sure enough, after that solemn oath, Old Master Cao summoned Song Shen.
This time it was a private audience.
Song Shen happily took his sword and went.
Passing through courtyards and gardens, a huge lotus pond stretches out before you.
Song Shen stood on the shore, gazing at the magnificent mansion, wondering just how powerful this innate master must be.
Hu Yong said from the side, "Master Song, please."
Song Shenman thought that by killing Hu Yan, he would repay the old steward for his hostility. However, he never expected that the old steward's smile would never fade every time he saw him, and that he would never overstep the proper boundaries in any matter.
Song Shen was quite surprised by the other party's professional attitude.
Upon arriving at the courtyard gate, Hu Yong stepped forward and knocked twice on the gate. Another elderly figure opened the gate.
Song Shen immediately recognized that the old man inside the door looked 90% like Hu Yong. Could this old man be the previous head steward of the Cao family?
The old butler and the new butler looked at each other like strangers, their only interaction being a rigorous professional one. Apart from the deep father-son affection in their eyes, they were just like two colleagues.
"This must be Master Song?"
"The old servant inside the door asked."
Song Shen cupped his hands and said, "It is indeed I, young man."
"Please come in."
Song Shen greeted Hu Yong, entered through the main gate, and stopped in the courtyard.
A cough,
A powerful aura was constantly approaching within the courtyard.
With Song Shenlong's superb senses brought about by his powerful physique of steel bones, he can sense the strength of the person approaching even from the slightest disturbance in the airflow.
But the old man before him was the most powerful person he had ever seen in his life. The gas flow caused by his every move was orderly, and the powerful force field fluctuations he brought when he got close felt like a blazing sun.
Song Shen only glanced at him; the old man gave him a very simple impression.
old,
Beside him was a sword of unpredictable power.
The figure stood still.
"Li Chan's disciple?"
An aged voice asked.
Song Shen respectfully said, "Greetings, Old Master."
Cao Lie looked down at the young swordsman before him, his penetrating gaze scrutinizing him intently.
A hint of doubt slowly emerged amidst the surprise.
"You are extraordinary. They are all blind and cannot see your true colors. Let this old man see what you are made of!"
After saying that, he suddenly reached forward with his large hand.
An overwhelming aura pressed down on Song Shen.