Volcanic Age

Zhou Xuchuan passed through Shandong and Henan, arriving in Shaanxi.

Though he passed by Mount Hua, he didn't stop at the sect and continued south to Ankang, a city directly in front of Chongqing.

After settling in at the guest house and unpacking his luggage, the door to his room opened, and a group of visitors entered.

"Senior Brother Zhang Hong, Senior Sister Zhang Xuen!"

Luo Xiaoyue's eyes widened in surprise as she saw a group of swordsmen with plum blossoms on their sleeves.

Among them, the man and woman in front looked familiar.

It was Zhang Hong and Zhang Xuen, two seniors from the Lotus Pavilion, who had entered the gangho on their cultivation journey before Zhou Xuchuan and Luo Xiaoyue had.

Behind them were many other disciples of the Mount Hua Sect.

"Junior Brother!" Zhang Hong called out approaching Zhou Xuchuan with a bright smile.

"Good to see you too, Junior Brother."

There was no trace of his former youthful appearance. Now, Zhang Hong smiled, his appearance full of manliness.

"Well, as I got involved in various matters, I…"

Zhou Xuchuan was comfortable being alone, whether it was in his previous life or this one. So, unlike the others, he never took the time to go visit other members of the Mount Hua Sect.

He also had many other things to do and little opportunity to meet any of his acquaintances.

In fact, this was the first time he had seen them within the gangho. The last time he had seen them was when he had been ordered to return and stay in the sect due to the Seven Swords War.

"You little brat, this wasn't a ploy to monopolize Junior Sister Luo, was it?" Zhang Hong teased, poking Zhou Xuchuan's side. In that moment, a glimpse of the old Zhang Hong resurfaced.

He was still lively and a little mischievous.

"Please don't say anything that could stir up trouble, Senior Brother. I heard that you were confirmed to join the Plum Blossom Swordsmen with Senior sister this time around.

"Yes, I was lucky."

The mention of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen stunned everyone present, including the warriors of the nearby Gold Will Sword Sect, who gasped in surprise.

Mount Hua's elite swordsmen!

How could they not know the title?!

If the Shaolin Temple had their Arhats, the Mount Hua Sect had the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.

That title, which was only passed down to twenty-four disciples, had a weight that not even experts of the previous generation could ignore.

It was only then that they connected the dots, going over the names Zhang Hong and Zhang Xuen again.

The Chivalrous Plum Sword Zhang Hong and the Jade Plum Flower Zhang Xuen!

The Plum Blossom Order Sword wasn't the Mount Hua Sect's only noteworthy younger generation talent. His name was just famous because he had become such a hot topic and overshadowed the others, making the other disciples to be temporarily forgotten. However, it was a given that there were other disciples who had been famous before, Zhang Hong and Zhang Xuen being among them.

Before the Seven Swords War, they had spent their time interacting with the younger generation talents of the famous sects and gangs. Eventually, they made a name for themselves as Mount Hua's younger generation leaders.

They had also returned to Guizhou, where they had fought against the heretical forces and made significant contributions when they were younger.[/ref]This term appears in chapter 139 but is basically a mishmash of all the other forces—literally, Evil Demon Other Path.[/ref] The two of them had been talented from a young age, and they both worked hard on top of their talent, stimulated by the growth of their monstrous junior brother.

As a result, by the time they entered the world of the murim, they were among the best of the younger generation.

Although they may not have been strong enough to join the ranks of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes, their names were still renowned.

"I never thought that you two would be the ones to come."

Although Zhou Xuchuan had asked Mount Hua for help, he had expected them to send him the youngest Fourth Generation Disciples at best. That was expected and understandable, as this matter was more of a personal matter.

Since Zhou Xuchuan didn't care about the gazes of people around him and spent time with the Gold Will Merchants openly, anyone could discover their connection with just a little research.

Even without research, there were already rumors that the Eighteen Stockages of the Red Forest were currently targeting the Gold Will Merchants.

Since he had contacted the sect to subdue the Eighteen Stockades in this situation, his intentions were clear.

The Eighteen Stockades of the Red Forest didn't harass powerless commoners. Therefore, taking them down wasn't a good excuse for the sect to send support, so he didn't have high expectations.

"I had thought that, at most, the sect would send ten people, but…"

Including Zhang Hong and Zhang Xuen, there were twenty disciples of the sect.

"Because we owe you a debt."

"Exactly. Have you forgotten what happened while we were at the Lotus Pavilion?"

In the past, when they had first entered the world of the murim, Zhou Xuchuan and the others were attacked by bandits on the Yangtze River while returning to Mount Hua.

That day, Zhou Xuchuan had been swept away by the rapids, leaving the sect to believe they had lost a young disciple.

Fortunately, Zhou Xuchuan had later returned. However, the Mount Hua Sect was still furious at the Eighteen Stockades.

Not only had the attack itself been infuriating enough, but to think that it had been on a disciple who hadn't reached adulthood yet. A disciple who was also from the prestigious Lotus Pavilion at that!

"Still, I never expected them to send out the Plum Blossom Swordsmen."

"Haha. Anyway, it seems I've gotten too used to hearing Junior Brother Zhou praising us. While we've been appointed, we aren't actually Plum Blossom Swordsmen yet."

"If we were fully appointed, we might not have been able to come."

While the Eighteen Stockades of the Red Forest were not to be underestimated, they still weren't at the level where Mount Hua needed to send out the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.

"I'm sorry if you're disappointed that we're still Swordsmen Initiates."

"How could that be?"

Zhou Xuchuan was grateful that Zhang Hong and Zhang Xuen had come.

He wasn't happy only because they had strong martial skills but also because they were disciple siblings he had become close with in Mount Hua.

Hadn't he always been alone in his previous life?

It felt good to be with his disciple siblings like this.

While Zhou Xuchuan was enjoying his reunion with his disciple siblings, the Eighteen Stockades of the Red Forest had also heard the news.

"So the Gold Will Sword Sect is sending a punitive force?"

While they were busy raiding the Gold Will Merchants, it was no surprise that the Eighteen Stockades knew them well. After all, they had fought the Gold Will Merchants as they tried to loot them at every turn.

In the meantime, there were names that were even more concerning.

"Zhou Xuchuan and Zhuge Shengji…"

There was no way that they wouldn't recognize those names.

After all, weren't they the ones who had caused them to become enemies with the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhuge Family?

About seven years ago, the Martial Alliance and the Evil Valley had fought a battle for territory in Guizhou, resulting in a decisive victory for the Martial Alliance.

While the damage the Evil Valley had suffered wasn't fatal, the Evil Valley Master's pride was deeply wounded by the fact that he had been 'completely defeated'.

Not wanting just to let this slide, the Evil Valley Master set a trap for Mount Hua Sect and the Zhuge Family, who were the leading players at the time.

At that time, Zhou Xuchuan's party was returning. Since their return trip included crossing the Yangtze River, he had left it to the Nine Water Gangs.

However, the plan didn't go as planned.

Who could have thought that the Fourteenth Sword Hero would defeat the Watertop Spearman on the Yangtze River?"

"I should have killed them then!"

Later, they had heard news of Zhou Xuchuan and Zhuge Shengi's miraculous return, but they hadn't really cared about the children.

However, when they heard the Plum Blossom Order Sword's name after all this time, the Eighteen Stockades of the Red Forest became nervous.

It wasn't some weakling from any other place but a disciple of one of the Nine Sects and One Gang, the Mount Hua Sect, who had a grudge and had become an expert. They couldn't just ignore him.

"Hmph. What are you so stressed about?"

"Even if they call him a Hero, he's still just a kid. I heard that there aren't many of them, either."

"Things would be different if it were a falling mountain or a torrential river, but what's there to be scared of when a brat wants to come to stick his head in the tiger's jaws?"

"Maybe they're just trying to make us worried and force those of us already outside of the stockade to come back."

The Gold Will Merchants had a lot of money. If they could just take down one of the caravans, they would have enough money to survive for quite a while.

The stockade bosses didn't want to give up this income. If they got scared and retreated with their subordinates for no reason, it would be a more significant loss.

"Just respond with who we have remaining!"

"How can you bastards say you have balls if you have to hide, terrified of a single kid?!"

"Yeah! That's right! Who do they think we are?!"

"Aren't we the Eighteen Stockades of the Red Forest that rule the mountains and the rivers?"

"Hahaha! Good! Hey, over here! Bring me wine and women!"

****

The punitive force that had joined the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect in Ankang went straight south and arrived at the northern mountainous region of Chongqing.

Although they encountered a few bandits along the way, dealing with them didn't require much effort.

"All I see are forests."

Zhuge Shengji had a tired expression on his face.

Thinking about the road ahead, he felt like turning around and going home.

The Nine Forest Gangs hadn't been established here for no reason. Chongqing was primarily composed of mountains and forests, especially in the northern regions.

As the sun began to set and the punitive force unpacked their bags, they suddenly sensed a presence.

"Who is it?!"

Chu Lian took the lead, and the Gold Will Sword Sect warriors gathered around Zhuge Shengji, forming a protective circle. The Mount Hua disciples opened their eyes, radiating a fierce fighting spirit and a sword-like aura.

Their quick reaction to the presence they sensed was impressive.

"It's fine."

As Zhou Xuchuan raised his hand to stop the others, a middle-aged man with an unusual aura walked out of the bushes.

"Oh! Big Shi!"[1]

Zhou Xuchuan greeted him happily after seeing his face.

"You still have no manners, Zhou Xuchuan. Who are you calling Dashi?"

Big Shi, no, Yuan Dashi's face turned mottled crimson.

"Do you know him, Senior Brother?" Luo Xiaoyue asked, tilting her head to the side.

Yuan Daishi's expression changed instantly. Since ancient times, people have always been kind to beauties.

"I am Yuan Daishi, a warrior of the Tang Family. Although I am lacking, I am tasked with guarding Lady Poison Phoenix."

"Poison Phoenix!"

The punitive force's eyes widened in surprise.

"The young lady is waiting, Zhou Xuchuan."

Yuan Daishi made a face and gestured for them to follow him. The expedition force packed their bags again and followed him.

"Senior Brother, did you ask the Tang Family for help?" Luo Xiaoyue asked curiously. The others following behind also perked up their ears and focused.

Wouldn't it be reassuring if the Tang Family, one of the Five Great Ancient Families, joined them?

"No, that's not it."

"Then, perhaps…"

"Poison Phoenix."

"Phoenix Slayer!"

When that nickname, the title that filled him with sorrow, resurfaced, Zhou Xuchuan felt like clutching his chest.[2] He would definitely get rid of this nickname later.

"Junior Brother, I believe you didn't call them because there's no way you'd want to risk getting stabbed in the back during the expedition. Are you sure this is okay?" Zhang Xuen asked in a low voice, glancing around to ensure Yuan Dashi couldn't hear her

The story behind the nickname 'Phoenix Slayer' was very famous. Everyone knew about the relationship between Zhou Xuchuan and Tang Hui.

However, the story they knew was a little wrong.

Most people thought that Tang Hui held a deep grudge against Zhou Xuchuan because she had lost the bet.

Anyone that was a part of the murim knew precisely how terrifying it was for the Tang Family to hold a grudge. It was the same, even if they were members of the same faction.

Zhang Xuen and the others were worried about that.

"It's fine. I've already made up with the Poison Phoenix. I'm actually quite close with her," Zhou Xuchuan thumped his chest and boasted.

"Welcome, Zhou Sichuan."

"It's Zhou Xuchuan."

"Oh dear. I've already forgotten your name because I haven't seen you in a while. Zhou Xuexi. As an apology, would you like to try the poison I prepared for you? I haven't been able to sleep because of how much I was looking forward to seeing you rolling around the floor, trying to hold your melted stomach together. This time, I'm confident."

"..."

The punitive force was dazzled by the Poison Phoenix's beauty when they first saw her. Even the fact that she mastered poisons was seductive.

It wasn't for nothing that men risked their lives to challenge the Poison Phoenix's wager. The beauty of the Poison Phoenix was just that amazing.

I did well to follow him.

Hmph, how infuriating!

Just being with Luo Xiaoyue made Zhou Xuchuan anxious and caused his heart to pound, but to think Tang Hui would be here, too.

Even if he never said anything to them, if the two beauties traveled with him, many men would surely envy him.

"Let's stop talking nonsense and get to the point."

Zhou Xuchuan turned his head in the direction of the green forest.

"Your preparations?"

"We arrived four days ago and finished everything, so don't worry."

"Good."

Zhou Xuchuan smiled contentedly and relayed the plan to the punitive force.

"One of the Nine Forest Gangs, the Great Tiger Stockade, is ahead of us. We'll attack it when the sun rises."

"Captain, you should have at least told us in advance. While we're ready to fight, we still need to prepare a strategy."

There was a big difference between fighting blindly and fighting with a plan.

If one didn't have a strategy, the forces would be anxious, but if one did, it was better to tell the others in advance. That would be the most beneficial method.

"We've been coordinating opinions all the way here, which is why we're a little late. It won't be that difficult, so don't worry."

After all, someone might sneak into the battle.

The reason he hadn't mentioned the support forces wasn't because he wanted to be difficult or try to surprise them.

If it were known that the Tang Family, especially the Poison Phoenix, was going to participate, the Dark Heavens Association or the Eighteen Stockades of the Red Forest would be on high alert.

Wasn't it better to strike when they were off guard?

While it wouldn't matter even if the Eighteen Stockades were to go all out, there was no reason to put them on high alert before everyone had gotten together.

This is just the beginning.

1. A double entendre, as Dashi (Tang Hui's guard's name) could also be read as Big Shi ehehe. ☜

2. I feel like I didn't explain this well enough, but to clarify, as a man, being called 'Phoenix anything' is quite insulting unless you have a connection to the divine beast Phoenix. In this case, he's being called Phoenix Slayer because he rose to fame on the coattails of a Phoenix, not through his own merits, and that's why he both hates this title and was also relieved to get his own later. ☜