Chapter 296 - 243: A Sudden Golden Wind Rises, the White Tiger Shakes the Mountain City (Part 1)

Chapter 296: Chapter 243: A Sudden Golden Wind Rises, the White Tiger Shakes the Mountain City (Part 1)

The Huang Family of Ganshan City was known for making a scene, even when they were in the wrong.

Even stray dogs knew to take the long way around their gate.

And now, one of the Huang Family’s Extraordinary masters was dead.

This was simply unacceptable.

Their caravan began to wail, "Murder! This is an outrage!"

"These girls dared to kill someone from the Huang Family! It’s treason!"

"Quick, light the signal flare!"

BANG!

A flare shot into the sky, exploding into the character for "Huang."

But the women paid it all no mind, neither fleeing nor flinching.

The White Tiger yawned, leisurely ambling in the direction of Ganshan City.

A merchant from another party, unable to bear the thought of such beautiful women walking to their deaths, couldn’t help but send a private message: "Ladies, you’ve killed a member of the Huang Family! You need to change direction and run! Whatever you do, don’t let them catch you. It will mean the annihilation of your entire clan!"

The woman riding the White Tiger tilted her head to look at him, the corner of her mouth quirking up in what might pass for a smile.

Then she turned her head back and continued on her way, her face devoid of expression.

’Uh, are these seven women actually marching to their deaths?’

The Huang Family’s response was swift.

The White Tiger and her party had traveled less than ten li when two Sixth-Grade masters from the Huang Family suddenly caught up from behind.

"You killed one of our Huang Family and think you can just walk away?!"

"Leave your lives behind!"

The two men blocked the women’s path, one in front and one behind.

The moment they landed, they had intended to strike immediately. But upon getting a clear look at the women’s faces, both men had a change of heart.

They spoke in unison, "Forget it! As punishment, the seven of you will become our slaves!"

’It’s not like they killed someone from the Huang Family’s direct lineage, just a member of a branch family.’

’But these women... they’re absolutely stunning!’

’Oho, look at that one. An ice queen. Wouldn’t it be all the more satisfying to conquer her?’

ROOOAAAR!

A world-shaking roar erupted.

The two Sixth-Grade masters froze on the spot, the light slowly draining from their eyes.

POP! POP!

With two sickening pops, their heads exploded. A demonic wind scraped past like a blade, scooping up brains and marrow and depositing the slurry into the mouths of the two White Tigers at the front.

’The Sixth-Grade masters are dead?’

’Just like that? In the blink of an eye?’

The passing merchants were all stunned. Then, they fled for their lives, scattering into the distance...

Two headless corpses were left standing on the road.

In less than a quarter of an hour, masters from other factions who had heard the roar rushed over. Their faces paled at the sight.

They grabbed a fleeing merchant and, after some questioning, learned the full story.

"You’re saying they went in the direction of Ganshan City?"

"Y-Yes, that’s right!"

"So there really are people who aren’t afraid to die. Did they think having two Fifth-Grade masters made them invincible? Let’s notify the Huang Family!"

"They’re riding White Tigers. It seems they’re also connected to the Black Water Gang."

"Oh? Well, this is getting interesting. Notify them, too. Hmm, let’s inform the Black Water Gang first. Then, half an hour later, we’ll inform the Huang Family."

"Boss, maybe we just... shouldn’t inform the Huang Family at all."

"*Ahem.* We still have to follow the rules."

If you didn’t inform the Huang Family, the next time your own people were in trouble and the Huang Family came across them, they wouldn’t just refuse to help—they might even kick them while they’re down.

The area around Ganshan City was considered a relatively safe zone by the various powers.

Not many masters were stationed to guard this region.

With two of the Huang Family’s Sixth-Grade masters dead, there was no one left in charge in the immediate vicinity.

By evening, the news had reached the city. When Shui Qianjun heard it, he felt a massive headache coming on.

’The White Tiger Race I summoned has Fifth-Grade masters?’

’And they killed two of the Huang Family’s Sixth-Grade masters?’

’No, wait. Who gave them the nerve?’

He couldn’t afford to dwell on it. He immediately summoned all the Supreme Elders of the gang to discuss a counter-strategy.

At the same time, he dispatched Sixth-Grade masters to liaise with the Ganshan City Commerce Association, the Giant Rock Martial Arts Hall, and the Inner City’s Lu and Chen Families. His orders were to inquire about any information they had on the White Tiger Village.

Half an hour wasn’t a long time, but it wasn’t short, either.

It was enough time to make some preparations.

First, they assessed the White Tiger Village, combining intelligence from several of the Black Water Gang’s Supreme Elders with information from the Commerce Association and the Lu and Chen Families.

The White Tiger Village was located in a distant mountain range to the southwest.

The area was apparently barren and dangerous; according to their combined intelligence, more than one Fifth-Grade master had gone missing there.

As for the White Tiger Village itself, everyone knew it was home to a White Tiger at the Peak of Sixth Grade.

Its strength was, at most, equivalent to a human master at the Initial-Stage Fifth Grade.

In Ganshan City, such combat strength was nothing to speak of.

The consensus was that the White Tiger Village was merely a minor local power struggling for survival.

Its only peculiar feature was that it was run entirely by women.

This was supposedly because their inherited Cultivation Technique was better suited for women.

Beyond that, there was nothing else worthy of note.

Which brought them to the question.

Why did they dare to kill the Huang Family’s Sixth-Grade masters?

Had that White Tiger at the Peak of Sixth Grade gone berserk?

Elder Zhang took an unhurried sip of tea and asked, "What was the skill level of those two Sixth-Grade masters from the Huang Family?"

Shui Qianjun looked to Vice Gang Leader Zhao.

The Vice Gang Leader gave a wry smile. "They were already Senior Sixth-Grade masters years ago, and one of them was from the Huang Family’s direct lineage. Don’t tell me... that White Tiger broke through to the next grade?"

Shui Qianjun pointed to the documents on the table. "The White Tiger Village submitted to our gang seven years ago. Every year, their people come to the city to trade—at least three to five times a year, sometimes more than ten. Even if they don’t know Ganshan City like the back of their hand, they should know that Fifth-Grade masters are hardly considered top-tier within the city walls. They should also know not to mess with the Huang Family. How could they dare to do this with just one White Tiger?"

Everyone frowned.

’That’s right. How did they dare?’

Shui Qianjun added, "The key point is that the White Tiger Village came here on my orders."

Elder Zhang nodded. "That does complicate things. However, weren’t they previously under Zhao Zhe’s command?"

"They were."

Elder Zhang raised an eyebrow. "Zhao Zhe is still alive?"

"He is."

Elder Zhang said, "Let’s sit on the fence, then. Don’t take a clear stance on how to handle this. Let the Huang Family test the waters themselves. If the White Tiger Village turns out to be more trouble than they’re worth, we can just throw Zhao Zhe to the wolves to appease the Huang Family’s anger."