The Post Sky Tipping Era
Chapter 175 - 139: Hosting a Guest

Chapter 175: Chapter 139: Hosting a Guest

Just as Li Yi and Rong Niang had guessed, Zhao Ge’s actions were indeed going smoothly. Once he, a Qi Cultivation Expert, made an appearance, the Mighty Escort Agency formed an alliance, the three major workshops submitted, obediently handed over Zhao’s disciples with both hands, and even agreed to support Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall with ten Blood Refining Warriors to assist Zhao Ge in his endeavors. They also promised that Sanyang City would certainly look up to Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall as the leader in the future.

Before the matter was concluded, some had already begun to come over to his side.

However, Zhao Ge had also guessed that everything was going smoothly on Li Yi’s side, that the guild takeover was successful, Han Tianbao was killed, and the second martial arts hall was seized.

Since the three major workshops were willing to defect and cooperated by handing over the disciples, and since the imprisoned disciples hadn’t suffered much, Zhao Ge accepted the goodwill of the three major workshops. After all, when he would dominate alone in the future, he couldn’t afford to offend all the forces. He needed to align with some, suppress others, and eliminate yet others.

But while Zhao Ge accepted their offer, he still put forward his own conditions, "The business of Cao Yun and the pharmacy will be taken over by my Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall. If the three major workshops are truly willing to defect, then help my Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall take down these two enterprises. After this is accomplished, your status in Sanyang City will remain unchanged."

At this moment, the faces of the three workshop masters showed difficulty.

"Since you three are not grateful, then in the future, we’ll just see who is more capable," Zhao Ge huffed coldly, turned around, and was about to leave with his disciples.

The Weapon Workshop master, Zhang Tiefeng, quickly said, "Master Zhao, it’s not that we are unwilling to undertake this task. You also know that we three major workshops don’t come from martial arts hall backgrounds, and the number of Blood Refining Warriors we raise is limited. If we take down Cao Yun and the pharmacy, I’m afraid even if we exhaust all our strength, we’d only end up both suffering heavy losses, and how would we maintain our businesses afterwards?"

Zhao Ge replied coldly, "What’s there to be afraid of? If you really exhaust all your resources, the safety of you three major workshops will be the responsibility of my Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall from then on. I know that you have close ties with Cao Yun and the pharmacy, but times have changed. The martial arts halls of the Han and Jin families in Sanyang City have been wiped out, and from now on, the only people who will be calling the shots are those from my Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall."

"If you’re not willing to exert yourselves now, don’t blame me, Zhao Ge, for being unfeeling later and taking over your business."

It was both a threat and pressure, aimed at ensuring that the three major workshops would firmly stand by his side, and not be fickle as fence-sitters. And with Meng De’s unexpected entrance onto the scene, he believed that these people would not be able to stir up any trouble.

"Mr. Zhao, don’t be so hot-tempered. Can’t we sit down and talk things over slowly? Can’t you feel our sincerity at all?" Hua San, the workshop master of Hua Fang, spoke up at this moment. She was a beautiful woman in her thirties wearing court dress, with a voluptuous figure and seductive eyes that could captivate souls. In her younger days, she had charmed countless young martial artists in Sanyang City, and even now, many still couldn’t forget her.

However, don’t think that Master Hua of Hua Fang only had beauty and figure. She, too, was at the Peak of Blood Refining, always on the verge of stepping into Qi Cultivation.

Being a woman who managed to cultivate to such heights, she was certainly not as simple as she appeared on the surface.

Zhao Ge frowned, pondering for a moment, then said, "Fine, I’ll accompany you. After all, my Zhao’s disciples have spilled their blood at Cao Yun and the pharmacy; it only makes sense for me to show my face and settle scores. However, you three major workshops must provide at least thirty Blood Refining Warriors, one less, and you’ll bear the consequences."

"Of course," Master Hua replied, slightly relieved, then picked up her hand-held fan, hiding half of her charming face, and smiled again.

With a Qi Cultivation Expert like Zhao Ge leading the team, their losses could be greatly reduced. Moreover, the most important thing was that this bill wouldn’t fall on them in the future.

The three major workshops didn’t wish to get entangled in the struggles and fights between martial arts halls; they only took sides when circumstances forced them to.

Like the last time Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall was besieged, although they had exerted effort, they had been very measured. The Zhao’s disciples they captured weren’t tortured or killed but were just detained.

After all, as long as Zhao Ge wasn’t dead, who knew if he might suddenly come back for vengeance one day?

So, leaving room for maneuver was the way the three major workshops survived. They didn’t completely offend Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall in the past, and in the same way, they wouldn’t completely offend Cao Yun Liu Family and Sun Family’s pharmacy either.

As the saying goes, what goes around comes around. Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall was now rising, powerful and unstoppable, but who could say whether the trees that fall today won’t be scattered by the monkeys tomorrow?

"Then let’s get moving right away. The three workshop masters, bring your people and follow me to Cao Yun and the pharmacy. After rescuing my disciples, we can start wreaking havoc, and there’s no need to rush." Zhao Ge showed the cold and ruthless side typical of a martial artist in this world.

Once in power, show no mercy.

This is true for fighting as it is for handling affairs.

"Naturally," Master Hua said with a smile. "But after the matter is settled, may I trouble Master Zhao to introduce me to your great disciple? I’m very curious about the person who could seize two halls in one day and cause such bloody turmoil in Sanyang City."

"What business do you, Master Hua, have with Brother Yi? Brother Yi has no dealings with you; don’t go looking for trouble." Before Zhao Ge could speak, Zhao Qian retorted angrily and impolitely.

Master Hua was not annoyed and just said with a grin, "Miss Zhao, why are you so nervous? Are you worried that I’ll snatch away your Brother Yi’s soul? Rest assured, Miss Zhao, I only admire such a person and would like to get acquainted. I have no other intentions."

Zhao Qian’s demeanor suddenly became evasive, as if Master Hua had hit a nerve, and she didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

Zhao Ge then mounted his horse and said, "Master Hua, if you wish to meet the senior brother of my Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall, that’s fine. After this matter is resolved, I, Zhao Ge, will rebuild the martial arts hall and invite guests from all around. If Master Hua can attend the banquet, you will naturally meet Meng De. For now, I ask the three workshop masters to depart with me immediately, without further delay; otherwise, I might suspect that you are intentionally buying time for the other two families."

"We wouldn’t dare. Master Zhao, please go ahead, and we will follow immediately," said the Weapon Workshop’s master, Zhang Tiefeng, as he cupped his fists.

Zhao Ge glanced briefly, said no more, simply led Shou Hou and Zhao Qian to rein in their horses and depart. He was not worried about the three workshops reneging on their deal; after all, the workshops had no Qi Cultivation Experts to hold the fort. Even though they had been on good terms with the martial hall and the City Lord on ordinary days, now they were struggling to protect themselves. How could they possibly step forward for the workshops again?

This was the terrifying aspect of Li Yi, the fierce dragon plunging into the fray—the once intricate relationships had instantly crumbled to dust, all to make way for him.

"Drive!"

Accompanied by the echoing sound of iron hooves trampling, the workshop masters of the three workshops could only politely watch Zhao Ge and his company walk away.

Some situations Zhao Ge didn’t have to point out, the workshop masters could see for themselves.

From now on, Sanyang City would likely only be ruled by the elusive elder brother of Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall, Li Yi.

"Just what kind of character has Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall produced? In just one day, the whole city was turned upside down—two Qi Cultivation Experts dead, dozens of Blood Refining Warriors, and now he’s probably going to settle accounts with the City Lord. He wouldn’t go so far as to kill the City Lord too, right? Killing the City Lord is akin to rebellion, with grave consequences," said Zhang Tiefeng, the Weapon Workshop master, unable to help himself.

"Who knows? This servant has seen countless people and has never seen such a lawless person," Hua San said with a beaming smile, her curiosity about this person growing ever stronger.

While these events continued to unfold.

At this moment.

Li Yi was riding on horseback through the streets with Rong Niang.

Suddenly, the Eight Treasure Deer that had disappeared into an alley earlier emerged, then respectfully followed behind Li Yi’s steed with its head slightly lowered.

"You’re quite clever, disappearing without a trace whenever there’s a fight, and slipping out once it’s over. With so many martial artists running around in the city, how did none of them capture you?" Li Yi laughed when he saw the Eight Treasure Deer.

The Eight Treasure Deer didn’t respond, only chewing on something dry and grass-like, swallowing it slowly.

Rong Niang noticed the details and said, "It went looking for food, managed to find its way into someone’s pharmacy, and ate its fill. Look, brother, it’s still chewing on a ginseng root. While you were out there working yourself to the bone, it’s been living the life of luxury."

Then, seeing the Eight Treasure Deer wasting such a good thing, she couldn’t help but feel some regret.

Li Yi laughed and said, "At least it knows how to embrace good fortune and avoid disaster, not bad. We don’t have to worry about it starving to death; I certainly don’t have the time to look after it."

Upon hearing the praise, the Eight Treasure Deer lifted its head and its steps lightened considerably.

Rong Niang said, "You can’t spoil it too much; otherwise, if it only eats without working, even the greatest fortune will eventually be squandered. Later, we’ll have to find an opportunity for it to prove its worth."

As they spoke.

The two had arrived before a grand and majestic mansion.

This was the City Lord Mansion.

But no sooner had the pair appeared than the mansion’s gates opened, with rows of young and beautiful maids standing to the left and right. They held fresh flowers, fine wines, glorious parasols, and played enchanting music, all seemingly in preparation to welcome Li Yi’s arrival.

Clearly.

The City Lord Mansion had received news of Li Yi taking over the two halls and made the appropriate preparations.

"What is this? Courtesy before force, or a trap like the Banquet at Hong Gate?"

Li Yi reined in his horse and stopped, then squinted his eyes, his radiant pupils looking towards the inside.

It was a pity that his view was blocked by a screen wall, preventing him from seeing clearly.

However, at that moment, a hunchbacked old servant walked out from the City Lord Mansion, quickly approached Li Yi, and then bowed respectfully, "The City Lord has ordered to invite the elder brother of Zhao’s Martial Arts Hall, Li Yi, to enter the mansion for a meeting to discuss the affairs of Sanyang City."

Li Yi scrutinized the old servant for a moment.

To others, he might seem unremarkable, but Li Yi, with his inspiration, could see clearly.

This was a Qi Cultivation Expert.

And his strength was no less, if not greater, than that of Wind Listening Blade, Jin Zhihuan.