Chapter Sixty-Four: My Followers Are Not Yours to Discipline

The large entourage arrived at the foot of Tianmen Mountain in less than half an hour. Such a commotion quickly alerted the patrolling sentries. One of them emerged from the woods, shouting sternly, “Stop! Who are you people? Beyond this point is the territory of Tianmen Stronghold. Strangers are not allowed to enter.”

“Trespassers will die!”

Xiang Ao cupped his fists toward the sentry, his tone warm and polite. “Would you kindly inform your chief that the headmaster of Luoyang Martial Arts Hall has come to seek an audience?”

The principle of courtesy before force is always effective, no matter the circumstance.

Upon hearing that this authoritative-looking man was the head of Luoyang Martial Arts Hall, the sentry became visibly uneasy, his tone growing more respectful for fear of offending Xiang Ao.

“So it is the esteemed Master Xiang. I shall report to our chief at once.”

With that, he slipped quickly back into the woods. In less than a minute, he returned.

“I have already sounded the notification bell. The chief will come down the mountain to meet you shortly.”

Tianmen Mountain had many sentries of varying martial skill. Not all possessed inner strength or mastery, so to avoid delays in passing messages, many hidden lines were set up. A simple tug on a rope would ring a bell, instantly sending the message up to Tianmen Peak.

The number of bell tolls also signified different messages.

Soon, several middle-aged men descended swiftly from the peak—presumably the chiefs of Tianmen Mountain.

The main chief, Lin Ruhai, wore a dark blue robe, his authority unmistakable. His deep, dark green eyes swept over the crowd before coming to rest on Xiang Ao. Narrowing his eyes with a false smile, he cupped his hands and said, “I wonder what brings the great Master Xiang here to Tianmen Mountain with such a large group?”

His tone was flippant, with little sign of respect.

Xiang Ao was unbothered, replying with a smile, “I've merely come to ask Chief Lin to hand over a few unruly underlings.”

“Oh? A few underlings? May I ask what my men from Tianmen Stronghold have done to offend you, Master Xiang, that you would come with your disciples to demand justice?”

A sinister, cold smile curled on Lin Ruhai's lips. His hooked nose made his face seem all the more severe.

At these words, Xiang Ao's expression darkened, a touch of coldness in his voice. “Those underlings seized someone they should not have. I simply ask that you hand them over to us for punishment.”

Lin Ruhai’s dark green eyes narrowed, resembling those of a dangerous serpent. He snorted coldly. “The people were rescued by you last night; I haven’t even pursued that matter yet. Now you dare to come here demanding my men? The men of Tianmen Stronghold are dealt with by us alone; no outsider has any say.”

At this, the hotheaded Chen Xiangru could no longer restrain himself and shouted, “Damn you, your mountain bandits kidnapped Manager Su! Now we're just asking you to hand those men over, but you refuse. Are you trying to disrespect Luoyang Martial Arts Hall and our master?”

Hearing this, Liang Zhenyun wanted to say something but held his tongue, remaining silent in the end.

Chen Xiangru’s words further enraged Lin Ruhai. He let out three sharp laughs before saying, “Others may fear you, Xiang Ao, but I, Lin Ruhai, do not. You've already trespassed on Tianmen Mountain, and now you brazenly demand my men. Are you not putting me in your eyes at all, convinced I won’t dare do anything to you?”

The third chief, Peng Qinghua, glared at them, roaring, “Exactly! You lot clearly have no regard for us at Tianmen Stronghold. Now you even dream of us handing over our own brothers? Pure folly and arrogance!”

Luo Changning snorted coldly, unwilling to endure any longer. Her eyes, cold and cruel, fixed on Lin Ruhai as if she were staring at a dead man.

“Though you refuse to hand them over, Chief Lin, I, Luo Changning, will have those underlings regardless!”

Lin Ruhai burst out laughing, as if he’d heard the most ridiculous thing. “Little brat, you’re still wet behind the ears and already making threats! Tell me, if I refuse, what can you do to me or to Tianmen Stronghold?”

Before Luo Changning could reply, Ma Qingyun, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said in an icy voice, “Naturally, we’ll slaughter your entire Tianmen Stronghold.”

Lin Ruhai’s face turned terrifyingly grim. “So the demand to hand over my men was just an excuse—you really came to destroy us. To think that the highly esteemed Master Xiang is nothing but a hypocrite in the eyes of outsiders.”

“Shut up, you thieving bandit! You’re not fit to speak of my father’s character. Since you’re so stubborn and refuse to hand them over, don’t blame us brothers for showing no mercy!”

In that instant, the air was thick with tension, as if swords were drawn and a fight was about to erupt.