Chapter 106: The Northern School Appears

Although Chen Fengyun had outright extorted an antique from him on the spot, he was tactful enough not to bring it up again—even if Chen Fengyun didn't hold it against him, Thirteenth Uncle would give him a good scolding if he ever found out.

"Haha, Old Yang, we got to know each other through a clash of fists, and that thing you gave me was a great help. I'll find a way to thank you properly someday." Chen Fengyun nodded at him.

"Mr. Chen, it's still dark out. You should rest a while; I'll have breakfast sent to your room. Third Brother and Fifth Brother haven't arrived yet. Wangshu will be coming with Fifth Brother. Once everyone's here, we'll have lunch together at noon." Feng Tianbao said to Chen Fengyun.

"That works. I'll take a walk around in the morning and be back by noon. Go ahead and attend to your own affairs." Chen Fengyun said as he turned and entered his room.

Chen Fengyun knew both Chu Wangshu and Ye Mingfu. Of the Southern Sect's members, only Third Brother Xie Zhihua was someone he hadn't met, though he'd learned from Feng Tianbao's introduction that Xie Zhihua commanded considerable influence across the provinces of Hunan and Hubei.

Back in his room, Chen Fengyun meditated for a short while and fully recovered his energy. Then he quietly slipped out of the hotel and began strolling through the small county town.

He didn't bother asking for the town's name. He merely wandered idly, soaking in the local flavor of the Northeast, taking in scenery wholly different from the Southwest.

Chen Fengyun had grown up in Rongcheng and had rarely traveled far from home. His earlier trips to Yunnan and Hangzhou had already felt like great distances, but this was his first time in the Northeast, and everything before his eyes was novel and strange, so unlike the customs and landscapes of the Southwest.

Whether it was the architecture, the local accents, the layout of the streets, or the goods on display in the shops, everything carried a rich northern character—yet it was all brimming with the vitality of everyday life.

This was the hottest season in the south, and Chen Fengyun had assumed the north would be cooler. But upon arriving, he realized that apart from the sharp temperature difference between day and night, the north under the blazing sun was every bit as scorching as the south.

The morning, however, was not too hot, and people filled the streets and alleys. Chen Fengyun's plain clothes made him look like an ordinary student, so no one paid him any attention.

But as he passed the mouth of a small alley, his spiritual sense suddenly detected powerful fluctuations not far ahead. Though they weren't spiritual energy, they were unmistakably the formidable aura of an ancient martial artist in cultivation.

"Could it be that this little county town is hiding a powerful martial arts grandmaster?"

Chen Fengyun didn't pause in his steps, but his heart stirred. He extended his spiritual sense toward the source of the fluctuations deep within the alley and discovered a courtyard house at the alley's end, from which the intense aura emanated.

It was an ordinary courtyard dwelling, but inside it had gathered a crowd of people—old and young, male and female, with most being middle-aged.

In Chen Fengyun's spiritual perception, a white-haired old man radiated a powerful aura, having already reached the realm of a martial arts grandmaster.

The others emitted fluctuations of varying intensity, roughly on par with Feng Tianbao and his group. However, there was a young woman of about twenty whose aura was subtle and elusive; even Chen Fengyun's spiritual sense couldn't clearly gauge her strength.

What was more, when Chen Fengyun's spiritual sense swept past, the white-haired old man noticed nothing at all. Yet the young woman suddenly furrowed her brow and raised her head to look around, as if she had sensed something.

"Judging by their attire and the tools in the courtyard, could they be the Northern Sect? If so, the Northern Sect's strength is nothing to sneeze at."

Chen Fengyun acted as though nothing had happened, withdrew his spiritual sense, and continued walking at a leisurely pace. But his mind was churning with thoughts. The Southern Sect had Thirteenth Uncle as their anchor, and now the Northern Sect turned out to have a martial arts grandmaster as well—and that young woman of unknown origins, whose strength was likely no less than Thirteenth Uncle's.

"The Northern Sect showing up here means Feng Tianbao and the others should be getting word soon. So this is the path leading to the Changbai Mountain underground palace. A fierce battle is probably unavoidable."

Chen Fengyun understood that the Southern and Northern sects had been locked in strife for decades, perhaps even a century. This time the Southern Sect had mobilized in full force, venturing deep into Northern territory to seize their fortunes, so a violent clash between the two was all but certain.

Still, although he would lend his aid to the Southern Sect, he was not their nursemaid. He could hold off the experts, but he wouldn't trouble himself with everything else.

Of course, if he found cultivation resources inside the Changbai Mountain underground palace, he wouldn't stand on ceremony. If anyone dared to try and snatch them, he would show no mercy.

After two hours of wandering, Chen Fengyun returned to the hotel. By then, Xie Zhihua, Ye Mingfu, and Chu Wangshu had all arrived. Xie Zhihua had a shrill, crowing voice, and his laughter came out in a series of cackles.

"Mr. Chen."

Ye Mingfu and Chu Wangshu greeted Chen Fengyun with great deference when they saw him. They knew him personally, knew how close he was to Thirteenth Uncle, and had heard of his recent exploits, so they treated him with the same respect they would show Thirteenth Uncle.

Xie Zhihua, on the other hand, had heard of Chen Fengyun's name before and knew something of his ties to the Southern Sect, and he had certainly heard of the young man's recent feats in the martial world. But seeing how young he was, Xie Zhihua's outward respect masked a private dismissiveness.

Chen Fengyun naturally took note of everyone's demeanor, but merely gave a faint smile and said nothing. Still, he knew that if these people ran into danger inside the Changbai underground palace, there were only a few he would bother saving. The rest would have to fend for themselves.

The Southern Sect's party consisted of the five elders under Feng Tianbao, the younger generation led by Chu Wangshu, and a number of sturdy young men—fifteen or sixteen people in all.

During lunch, someone reported to Feng Tianbao: "The Northern Sect has already set out. In addition, some foreigners of questionable identity have been spotted in the county town. They seem to be aiming for the Changbai underground palace as well."

"So it seems the Changbai underground palace is known not just to our two sects. I suspect many martial arts families at home, as well as martial arts masters abroad, are all aware of its secrets." Feng Tianbao remarked with a sigh. The Changbai underground palace had surfaced several times in history, each time sparking fierce contests that claimed countless experts. It was hardly surprising that so many knew of it.

"Mr. Chen, we'll set out after lunch. Would that be all right?" He still sought Chen Fengyun's opinion.

"I'm not familiar with the Changbai underground palace, so I'll leave all the arrangements to you. I only care about whether there's anything I need inside. Anything else is none of my concern. But I should warn you—the Northern Sect isn't just fielding a martial arts grandmaster. That young woman is even more formidable. You'd all do well to be careful." Chen Fengyun reminded them with a smile.