In Little Mountain City.
The plaque of the San Shan Sect had been replaced with that of the Shanyao Gang.
Outside, a large group of disciples was still kneeling.
From inside the hall, the roar of Wei Baizhu could be heard: "Back then, one after another, you betrayed the sect and joined the enemy. Now, seeing that the Shanyao Gang is prospering and backed by a Human Ranking Expert, you want to come back? Where in the world is there such an easy deal?"
"Haha, Master Wei, don’t get angry, it’s not worth damaging your health over. Although that’s the case, our Shanyao Gang is rebuilding... After all, there are few of us... and even fewer that are of any use..."
The voice of Zhong Shenxiu came from outside the hall.
"Liu Yi, you’ve returned? How did it go?"
Wei Baizhu’s eyes brightened.
"Naturally, it was a success."
A corner of Zhong Shenxiu’s mouth curved up, carrying a hint of an unfathomable smile.
That Nine Elements Sect Master, after being visited by him late at night, readily admitted defeat and promised that he wouldn’t harbor any ill intentions towards the Shanyao Gang in the future.
Zhong Shenxiu didn’t believe a single word of it.
However, he didn’t take it to heart, only seriously assuring the other party that he was about to travel and venture out into Jianghu, and that he would not return for a long time.
In this way, without him as the top expert, the Shanyao Gang, short on hands, might not be able to catch up to the Nine Elements Sect even if they developed for another ten years.
Once this major conflict was out of the way, everything else became negotiable.
The Nine Elements Sect Master even promised to take good care of the people from the Shanyao Gang.
He couldn’t refuse, otherwise, he might find his head cut off by Zhong Shenxiu in the middle of the night.
Although this person had made it onto the Human Ranking, when it came to martial arts, he was still slightly inferior to the Star Plucking Hand, and certainly no match for Zhong Shenxiu. He clearly understood the situation, saving Zhong Shenxiu a lot of effort.
This return was simply to bid farewell.
"Good, with the Nine Elements Sect’s agreement, my Shanyao Gang’s foundation in Little Mountain City is finally secure..."
Wei Baizhu sighed, looking at Zhong Shenxiu: "You’re leaving?"
As an old hand in Jianghu, he naturally saw the signs.
"Yes, I want to go out, venture in Jianghu, and pursue the Marrow Refining Secret Technique..." Zhong Shenxiu replied resolutely.
"I’ve always wanted to keep you, but who would have thought, you young fellow, in such a short period, would soar so high... Alas, it is what it is, the great vengeance has been avenged, and this old bag of bones can hold up a little longer... The waters here are ultimately too shallow to raise a dragon. To become a Grandmaster, you must go out and make your way!"
Wei Baizhu’s expression was solemn as he stared at Zhong Shenxiu: "I have only one request, you must come back alive, even if you are gravely injured, have lost all your martial arts, and have no face left, remember, here in Little Mountain City, you have a home!"
"You doing this... are you cursing me?"
Although he knew that Jianghu was perilous and the other was kindly reminding him, Zhong Shenxiu still couldn’t help but respond with a mixed sense of laughter and helplessness, bowing and then turning to walk out of the hall.
Wei Baizhu watched this scene and let out a long sigh.
On the training ground.
The Shanyao Gang’s training ground was much larger than Shanyao Hall, and it was extraordinarily grand.
Shi Yu and Lu Yang, these two youngsters, had recently come into their own. In Little Mountain City, they were the young masters that everyone sought to please.
Moreover, with the Shanyao Gang recruiting young disciples, they were naturally the two senior brothers; now, they were as happy as if they’d fallen into a honey pot, so overjoyed they could hardly tell north from south.
Even the daily punching of sandbags didn’t seem burdensome anymore.
Wei Hongyao stood on the side, quietly watching the two youngsters work up a sweat.
As the senior brother of the younger generation, if he didn’t have solid skills, he couldn’t command respect. Therefore, Wei Baizhu issued a strict order to double their training.
Before anyone knew it, Zhong Shenxiu had joined her, watching the two youngsters together.
"Sister, you don’t seem very happy, do you?"
After a pause, it was Zhong Shenxiu who spoke first.
Wei Hongyao’s eyes held a hint of bewilderment, "Back at Shanyao Hall, everyone was suppressing a feeling of revenge... But once the great revenge was actually taken, all that was left was emptiness..."
"Such is the way of Jianghu."
Zhong Shenxiu sighed, avenging doesn’t mean the dead can come back to life.
Subtracting from both sides, what is lost forever will never be restored—that is reality.
Of course, he wouldn’t stop people from taking their revenge because of this; such an idea was simply naivety.
In his view, Wei Hongyao and the others were just too idle!
This wasn’t something to be afraid of, with Shanyao Gang rebuilding there were already a ton of things waiting to be done.
Once he left, and they were without such a backdrop, there would be all sorts of challenges in the future to keep them so busy they’d forget even their own names, let alone have the energy to ponder such philosophical questions.
After chatting with Wei Hongyao for a few more sentences, Zhong Shenxiu didn’t mention anything about Huo Qingtian, and then called over his disciple.
Shi Yu performed his salutation honestly, while Lu Yang beside him drooled with envy.
After being in the sect for so many days, and beginning to understand Jianghu, he finally knew what calibre his own master was, and what sort of caliber Shi Yu’s master was.
Not to mention, Little Shitou’s master had recently made it onto the Human Ranking!
This was a glory that was few and far between in the entire Great Wu Dynasty!
However, since he had already taken solemn vows, if he dared disrespect his lineage, Wei Baizhu would be the first one unable to let him go, and he could do nothing but drool.
"I plan to travel and roam Jianghu. You haven’t even begun to learn the Medicine Sand Palm, so stay in the gang and practice hard... Later, listen to Master Wei Baizhu’s instructions and train well. As for my true teachings, I have left a part with our sect under the care of Master Wei. Once you have achieved something, you can go to him and ask for it..."
The so-called true teachings were the four volumes of the Five Elements Thief Palm.
Zhong Shenxiu wouldn’t expose his own secrets, nor would he leave the complete method in the Shanyao Gang.
Shi Yu looked up in surprise, then resignedly agreed, "Yes!"
Zhong Shenxiu looked at his unfortunate disciple with some pity.
Although he was called his disciple, in reality, Wei Baizhu taught him more; any true teachings and direct advice were just a figure of speech.
Even in terms of seniority, he was a step lower.
For instance, Lu Yang nearby, if they were to get technical, Shi Yu would have to address him as Uncle Master.
"Let’s leave it at that..."
With that thought, he smiled slightly, and his mood inexplicably improved a great deal.
Shanyao Gang put on a banquet to farewell Zhong Shenxiu.
Due to reasons such as avenging a great enmity, even Senior Brother Li and others drank themselves into a drunken stupor, completely unconscious.
The next morning, Zhong Shenxiu didn’t bid farewell to anyone; he simply picked up his bundle and walked out of Shanyao Gang.
Before leaving, he looked back one last time, smiled and waved, then mounted his fine horse and vanished around the corner.
Behind the doors, Wei Hongyao rubbed her somewhat reddened eyes and suddenly choked up.
Wei Baizhu appeared beside her at some point, softly consoling, "Your younger brother Xun is a true dragon, he won’t linger long in shallow waters... Perhaps one day, his name will make it to the Earth Ranking and cause a sensation in Jianghu; you should be happy for him..."