Chapter 46: This is Just Too Intense

Whether startled by Ma De's words or for some other reason, Zhang Yun stood dazed atop the city gate tower, failing to take any action for a long time.

"Why are you just standing there like a blockhead? Do I really have to give you a whack before you know how to move?" Ma De voiced his dissatisfaction once again.

Hearing this, Zhang Yun hurriedly scurried down the ramparts, disappearing from everyone's sight.

"Brother Jiang, just wait a moment. It won't be long before that old fellow Zhang Changfeng comes crawling over here himself," Ma De said with absolute confidence.

Jiang Li wore a dark expression and remained silent. He had originally wanted to keep his identity under wraps, but this bastard just had to throw around his name to bluff and intimidate others. Wasn't this forcing him right out into the open?

"Brother Jiang, I know what you're thinking, but consider this carefully: none of those fellows inside the city are easy to deal with. The more cautious you are, the more they will think you are afraid."

"On the contrary, entering with great fanfare will leave them hesitant and unsure of what to do," Ma De said in a low voice.

"Even if those bastards despise me no matter what, I could still manage just fine inside the city. At least I wouldn't end up chased out and hunted down like you," Jiang Li retorted unhappily.

Ma De chuckled. "What kind of talk is that, Brother Jiang? Since you've come, could it be that you intend to share this city with others?"

"Why not just wipe all these fellows out? Once Brother Jiang is up here, far away from the emperor's reach, wouldn't life be grand?"

To this, Jiang Li did not voice a refusal.

When he had first transmigrated here, he had been cast away on an island. Following Jiang Tian's death, he had been demoted and banished to this place, and the influence of the Jiang family would undoubtedly be carved up and devoured by the major aristocratic clans.

How could a man not exact such vengeance?

If he wanted to exact revenge, he needed a stronghold. This island was situated overseas, covered in mountains and forests, and rich in resources. There could be no better place to use as a base of operations.

Even so, being pushed out into the limelight like this by Ma De still left Jiang Li feeling somewhat displeased.

"Ma De, brothers are brothers, but if you ever make decisions for me again without consulting me first, don't blame me for turning hostile and refusing to recognize you."

"Understood, understood," Ma De quickly replied.

Meanwhile, inside the city.

Near the city walls, within a courtyard.

A young man dressed in a long gown was seated at a tea table. For some reason, his brows remained furrowed, as if he were wrestling with some indecisive matter.

"Young master! Young master!"

Two urgent cries echoed out as Zhang Yun ran all the way to the young man. Someone who could command such a reaction from Zhang Yun needed no introduction: Zhang Changfeng, the decision-maker for the Zhang family in this place.

"So flustered. What happened?" Zhang Changfeng picked up his teacup and asked nonchalantly.

Across the entire city, the Zhang family only occupied the area around the city gate, with no other expansion to speak of. Zhang Changfeng truly could not believe that anyone would cast a covetous eye on such a meager patch of territory as their own gatehouse.

To take a step back, anyone who did set their sights on the city gate lacked the strength to wipe out the Zhang family.

And anyone with that kind of strength would look down on this tiny piece of land in the first place.

Though occupying merely the city gate felt somewhat humiliating—bordering on the role of a gate-keeping dog—this position was relatively safe, all things considered.

"Young master, Ma De..."

"What the hell!" Zhang Changfeng instantly flew into a rage. You're merely a collateral family member, how dare you curse in front of me?

Zhang Yun waved his hands frantically. "No, no, young master! I wasn't cursing you, I was swearing in general!"

"What the hell!" Zhang Changfeng stood straight up, staring unkindly at Zhang Yun.

"Zhang Yun, have you gotten too big for your boots? Or do you think that a general away from home can ignore the ruler's commands? What is this? Are you trying to rebel?"

"No, no, young master!" Zhang Yun was sweating profusely. Finally, slapping his forehead, he blurted out, "Young master, do you remember Ma De from the Ma family?"

Zhang Changfeng was momentarily stunned, then seemed to recall something. "Oh, you mean that Ma De from the Ma family? I have some vague impression."

"Isn't that fellow already dead, though? What, did you find his corpse outside?"

"What does that have to do with us? We didn't kill him, so the debt won't be counted against our Zhang family."

After nodding repeatedly, Zhang Yun said helplessly, "Young master, Ma De isn't dead. He's still alive, and right now, he's standing at the city gates."

"What?" Zhang Changfeng took a couple of steps forward, then turned back.

"That's not right. Even if Ma De is alive, what does that have to do with me? If he wants to enter the city, just let him in."

After a moment of inner conflict, Zhang Yun finally lowered his voice and said, "Earlier, not realizing who he was, I spoke inappropriately and offended him. Now he has specifically named you, young master, and wants you to go meet him."

"Hmph," Zhang Changfeng sneered twice and turned back to sit down.

"And here I thought it was something major. This mess was stirred up by you, Zhang Yun, so you should just clean it up yourself."

"Besides, Ma De was chased out and hunted down; there are hardly any of his people left in the city. He's completely isolated. What gives him the right to demand that this young master go and meet him?"

"Young master, but Ma De said... he said he has someone with him that you absolutely cannot afford to offend. He even said that if that person is unhappy, the entire Zhang family will suffer the consequences," Zhang Yun stammered through Ma De's words.

Zhang Changfeng's expression shifted once again. The Ma family of the capital was already an extraordinary aristocratic clan, yet now Ma De had brought along another powerful backer?

"Let's go, we'll go take a look together and see what kind of game Ma De is playing!"

When the two of them reached the city gates, Zhang Yun tried to mount the ramparts, only for Zhang Changfeng to send him flying with a kick.

"Why the hell are you climbing the city wall? Do you want to give people gossip fodder?"

"Quickly open the city gates for me. I want to see which deity Ma De has invited over this time."

"I just hope he isn't playing games with me. Otherwise... hmph."

Outside the city gates, Jiang Li licked his somewhat dry lips.

He hadn't had a drop of water all day, and he was truly reaching his limit.

Creak—creak!

After a few loud, grating noises, Jiang Li's eyes widened.

The gates were open!

For a whole month, he was finally going to enter the city!

"Haha! Brother Ma, I never believed you were dead in the first place. It turns out to be nothing more than a rumor!" Zhang Changfeng laughed heartily, stepping forward to welcome them.

"Tsk tsk, Young Master Zhang, long time no see," Ma De said casually.

Zhang Changfeng's gaze swept over the group before quickly locking onto Jiang Li.

For no other reason than among the crowd, Chu Chunqiu and Su Yang were dressed in guard attire, while Lightning appeared to be an aboriginal tribesman. Only Jiang Li, with his delicate and fair complexion, looked like someone of considerable background.

As for Li Tongxuan, although quite fair-skinned, her face was frosty, making her look more like a martial arts expert following behind a person of high status.

"This brother has an extraordinary appearance. May I ask your honored name?"

"Jiang Li."

"Jiang Li?" Zhang Changfeng repeated doubtfully, his eyes widening involuntarily as he stared at Jiang Li in utter shock.

"You... you are the Grand Preceptor's only son, Jiang Li?!"

Jiang Li nodded silently. "Indeed, it is this young master."

Zhang Changfeng could not help but swallow hard. As the saying goes, only a fierce dragon crosses the river, but this dragon was far too ferocious!