Chapter 67: Conflict

Chapter 67: Conflict

The Old Manor, Main Hall.

At this moment, every last scion of the Yang Family's Second Branch who still drew breath had gathered here.

Blood stained them all; wounds marked every man.

They did not use the Main Hall to continue their resistance now. Instead, they leaned on one another, standing outside the door, clustered behind a grand master's chair placed squarely at the entrance.

The forces of Shu Dao Logistics and Tianfu Heavy Industry surged like two distinct, differently colored tides, clearly separated as the Jing and Wei rivers, spreading from the east and west to the very foot of the steps.

Facing the dense forest of gun muzzles before him, Yang Huchou remained unmoving, eyes closed in the chair, like a weary tiger fallen into slumber.

The sea of men in the black uniforms of Shu Dao Logistics' Security Division suddenly parted to the left and right, and Gu Yong walked out from the midst with a smile on his face.

Clad in martial attire, Gu Jia followed close behind, his eyes fixed from start to finish on the young scholar in Confucian robes standing beside Yang Huchou.

The youth's features were refined, his bearing tall and straight, his hands respectfully cradling a scroll.

"Disciple Gu Yong pays respects to County Magistrate Yang."

Gu Yong's expression was sincere; he cupped his fists and bowed, performing the disciple's salute of the Confucian school toward the old man.

"Since I resigned as County Magistrate of Mianzhou, it has been a long time since anyone addressed this old man so."

Yang Huchou's eyelids lifted a sliver, revealing a narrow gap, sizing Gu Yong up and down without the slightest reservation.

"So you are the helmsman the Gu Clan placed at Shu Dao Logistics these past few years? The business has fared passably well in your hands."

Seeing Yang Huchou dare speak to his young master with the tone of an elder judging a junior, Gu Jia's face instantly darkened. He was about to reprimand him when Gu Yong raised a hand to stop him.

"To receive such praise from County Magistrate Yang is this disciple's deep honor."

Seeing Gu Yong maintain his breezy, untroubled demeanor, a flicker of surprise flashed in Yang Huchou's eyes.

"Unmoved by favor or humiliation—you possess a scholar's backbone, after all."

Gu Yong smiled faintly, about to return thanks with cupped fists, when a sharp, acrid voice suddenly rang out from the side.

"What kind of nonsense is this? I might believe Yang Huchou is unmoved by favor or humiliation, but him? Gu Yong? He's worthy?" "If you pointed this many guns at him, let's see if he flinches!"

Gu Yong's half-bent waist stiffened abruptly, his face turning instantly gloomy and ugly.

He didn't need to turn his head to know who spoke.

The only one who dared rebut his face so brazenly was that reckless old cur, Wu Jinfeng!

Sure enough, Wu Jinfeng pushed through the crowd in a brocade robe, his gaunt cheeks full of mockery.

"Gu Yong, your hands are stained with the lives of so many of the Yang Second Branch. And you still have the face to stand here spouting flattery?"

"Should I praise your acting, or praise your thick skin?!"

The moment the sneer fell, a fierce gale suddenly swept from the steps toward Wu Jinfeng!

*Clang!*

Two fists collided violently in the inch of space before his face, the explosive sound like a sharp cleaver splitting wood.

This scene, placed before ordinary folk, would be enough to scare the liver and gall out of them.

Wu Jinfeng seemed oblivious, still standing ramrod straight, eyes locked dead on Yang Huchou.

"Yang Huchou, you, a mere cadet branch head of a scholar clan, dare hold out against two great aristocratic houses for the sake of family honor, leading a pack of green, milk-smelling juniors to fight us to this point. This backbone and spirit—I, Wu Jinfeng, admire you!"

The surging fist wind before him snapped the corners of his brocade robe, yet Wu Jinfeng's voice held not a shred of fluctuation.

"But I have a question for you: how many more of your Yang Second Branch can die? Ten? Or twenty?"

Another exchange of fists, fierce and unmatched.

Gu Jia flew backward, landing once more beside Gu Yong, his right hand hidden behind his back, trembling slightly.

A man of ordinary features appeared at Wu Jinfeng's side, deep-set eyes gleaming like blades.

Gu Jia knew this face down to the bone—his mortal enemy from years of struggle.

Tianfu Heavy Industry Operations Division Chief, Division One Head, Shi Chengfeng.

Wu Jinfeng's voice was sonorous and forceful: "If there are none left, then hand over Yang Zhan's brain tissue slices! I guarantee it on Tianfu Heavy Industry's reputation—I'll leave a single root for your Yang Second Branch line."

"All of Shu says Tianfu Heavy Industry has a surnamed Wu old mad dog, so crazy even his master Wu Gong can't hold the leash. Seeing you today, the reputation is well-deserved—truly mad enough."

Yang Huchou smiled without smiling: "Old Dog Wu, if I give you the goods, can you hold them? With so many wolves around, I fear a single dog can't block them."

Wu Jinfeng narrowed his eyes, voice deep: "That's not for you to worry about."

"I don't need to worry, but one cannot be partial."

Yang Huchou shook his head with a laugh, slowly rising from the grand master's chair.

"Gentlemen watching from the shadows, traveling thousands of miles to be guests at my Yang Manor—still not showing your faces?"

Under the dark gazes of Gu Yong and Wu Jinfeng, the previously empty eaves and wall corners suddenly revealed several figures.

These figures varied in height and build, their only commonality being the objects used to conceal their faces.

Only one or two went uncovered, and the faces revealed were stiff, stunningly beautiful—obviously temporary transplants.

"Friends from afar—what joy! Alas, my Yang family's coffers are shallow; we've failed to host you properly. From here on, you'll have to look after yourselves!"

Yang Huchou patted the shoulder of the scholar youth beside him, bowing to the surroundings.

"What you want is within this scroll. Whoever can ensure the safety of my Yang Second Branch juniors—I, Yang Huchou, will gift half my ancestral legacy!"

"Today, Yang Huchou's word is his bond. As long as you keep your promise, it is not seizure, but a gift! You need bear not a shred of infamy."

"Let's see who dares!" Wu Jinfeng's spine bent slightly, a ferocious visage on his face.

"Hiding shapes, concealing shadows, sneaking about—wanting to fish in troubled waters? In Chengdu Prefecture, only so many can use these brain slices. You'd best weigh whether you have the guts to snatch, and the life to use them!"

Gu Yong stood with hands behind his back, scanning the surroundings, voice raised in warning: "Gentlemen, do not bring ruin upon yourselves!"

"Yizhou's Gu, Yanzhou's Wu—two third-rate aristocratic house hounds daring such big talk, aren't you afraid of biting your tongues?"

"Well said. Publicly, this is the Great Ming's Zhuangyuan; privately, this is another's Yang ancestor. The Yangs have no objection—what right have you to stop us?"

"Heaven's mandate is inconstant; treasures are likewise inconstant. Only the virtuous can possess them!"

"Today, whoever grabs it, owns it!"

Voices high and low rang out from all directions; in an instant, the area before the Main Hall was like a marketplace, clamorous beyond measure.

Yang Huchou watched with a satisfied smile, settling back into the grand master's chair with composure. That scholar youth stood beside him, scroll in hand, his boyish face showing not a trace of fear.

The other Yang Second Branch disciples retreated silently back into the Main Hall.

"A troupe of clowns who don't know their own weight."

Wu Jinfeng, utterly lacking a scholar's bearing, turned his head and spat, then suddenly roared: "Open fire! Kill without mercy!"

"Move!" Gu Yong's voice rang out almost simultaneously.

After a split second of silence, rapid, frantic gunfire once more shook the entire Yang Old Manor!