Immortal of the Nine Realms

Fang Chen and the others watched the commotion as well. Upon hearing their words, he asked, “What’s the background of the Ghost Tiger Sect?”

“It’s a small sect made out of thugs. They only have a couple of Ki Condensation martial artists among them. They make a living out of borrowing money at high interest rates. They probably came here to take advantage of the townsfolk after learning the Heavensword Mountain Villa had been massacred,” Huangfu Jie replied.

While Fang Chen and Huangfu Jie were chatting, the two sides came to blows. Old Eighth Qian had several guards on his side, but unfortunately, they weren’t a match for the Ghost Tiger Sect.

“Fellow townsfolk, how can we let an outsider climb over our heads? If the Ghost Tiger Sect dares to mess with me, Old Eighth Qian, tomorrow, they wouldn’t hesitate to mess with you in the future!” Old Eighth Qian declared.

The Qian Clansmen were roused by the speech.

The Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader pointed at the mountain and sneered, “The Valiant Defenders are at the Heavensword Mountain Villa right now. I just need to give the word, and they’ll rush over. Since we dare to loan our money, do you think we wouldn’t have the means to collect it back?”

The crowd fell silent. Old Eighth Qian’s face darkened.

It was common for some sects to have ties with the Valiant Defenders. They didn’t know if the Ghost Tiger Sect had a strong backing in the Valiant Defenders or not, but they dared not to bet on it. If the Valiant Defenders stepped up for the Ghost Tiger Sect, they might incur more losses than they had expected.

The Valiant Defenders had the power to mobilize more than ten thousand soldiers, after all. Each time their chiliarch made a move, the entire South Immortal Commandery trembled.

“Heh!” the Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader sneered. “Men, pour oil on Old Eighth Qian and the others!”

“Yes boss!”

The members of the Ghost Tiger Sect carried a few buckets of oil over and poured them toward Old Eighth Qian, his family members, and the manor they were residing in.

“Old Eighth Qian, are you sure you aren’t going to fork out the 3000 silver taels?” the Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader took out a flammable paper tube as he asked with a threatening edge.

“You’re vicious!” Old Eighth Qian’s face turned pale, and his lips quivered. “I don’t have 3000 silver taels with me…”

“You can sign a debt note. I can give you a year or so to raise the money,” the Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader replied.

Huangfu Jie couldn’t stand it anymore. With a cold harrumph, he leaped off the back of his mount toward the Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader to first snatch the flammable paper roll. Following that, he sent the other party flying with a kick.

“Who are you? How dare you make a move on our Ghost Tiger Sect?”

The members of the Ghost Tiger Sect were alarmed.

“The Heavensword Mountain Villa has just suffered a tragedy, but here you are, taking advantage of them. Scram off. Don’t let me see you ever again!” Huangfu Jie roared.

“Who are you?” the Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader asked with narrowed eyes.

“I’m Profound Saber Sect’s Huangfu Jie,” Huangfu Jie coldly replied. “What do you intend to do? Settle the score with me? Sure, I’ll be waiting for you in the Profound Saber Sect then.”

“Ah…”

The crowd gasped in shock. Those from the Ghost Tiger Sect revealed fearful looks, and their leader turned pale out of fright.

However, the nearby Qian Clansmen looked at Huangfu Jie with a sliver of enmity and resentment in their eyes. There were rumors that the Profound Saber Sect was the one behind the Heavensword Mountain Villa’s massacre, after all!

“So you’re Seven Profound Saber Huangfu Jie…” The Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader took a deep breath and regained his composure. “You might be strong, but you don’t have the right to interfere in my business with Old Eighth Qian. Shall I call the Valiant Defenders over to judge? I’m certain they’ll agree that it’s only right for someone to repay their debt!”

Huangfu Jie was surprised. He hadn’t expected the other party to not be afraid of him. Money really blinds one’s eyes. Recalling that Chiliarch Jue was on this mountain, he said with a smile, “Go ahead and call them then.”

“Seven Profound Saber, some of the higher-ups in the Valiant Defenders are with us. Don’t you think you should at least give us some face?” the Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader stepped forward and whispered in Huangfu Jie’s ear.

“I’m telling you to call them,” Huangfu Jie insisted.

The Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader snorted in anger. He glanced at his subordinate, and the latter quickly ran up the mountain.

Around fifteen minutes later, the sound of horse hooves could be heard approaching. Jue Panshi was heading in their direction with a few centurions and over a hundred soldiers.

“Sss!” The crowd gasped.

Isn’t that Chiliarch Jue?!

The Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader was initially taken aback, but an overjoyed smile soon emerged on his lips. He didn’t think that his connections in the Valiant Defenders would have the means to bring Chiliarch Jue over.

He was still worried whether his connections could curb Huangfu Jie, since they were against the number one martial artist of their southern region. But with Chiliarch Jue here, Huangfu Jie was nothing at all!

There was a rule in the southern region that pugilists shouldn’t interfere in the affairs of the bureaucrats. They would be no match for bureaucrats if it really came down to it!

However, Huangfu Jie knew that Jue Panshi had only come down after hearing he was here, which meant that Fang Chen had likely arrived too.

“Milords, Old Eighth Qian owes me money but refuses to pay up, and Seven Profound Saber insists on standing up for him…” The Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader stepped out and clasped his fist toward Chiliarch Jue and the others.

Before he could finish his words, Chiliarch Jue kicked him onto the ground. The other centurions directed subtle glances at him before turning away.

Jue Panshi and subordinates leaped off their steeds and rushed up to Fang Chen. They clasped their fists and said, “Paying respect to…”

“Enough, let’s get to the main issue at hand.” Fang Chen waved his hand.

Jue Panshi immediately eyed the few people present and asked, “I heard that someone is stirring trouble here?”

Old Eighth Qian and the other Qian Clansmen looked at Fang Chen in surprise. Who is this young man that prompted Chiliarch Jue to specially get off his horse to greet him? Is he from the capital?

The Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader sensed that something was amiss, and his subordinates fearfully lowered their heads to stare at their own toes.

“Chiliarch Jue, I know that the southern region is a chaotic place. There are many sects here, which means that there are many pugilists too. It’s not an easy job to manage so many pugilists, am I right?” Fang Chen asked.

“Indeed,” Chiliarch Jue frantically nodded. “Fortunately, the sects have their rules, and major sects like the Heavensword Mountain Villa and the Profound Saber Sect helped us maintain order too. Most pugilists dare not to oppress civilians.”

Fang Chen laughed. “But there are some minor sects who don’t know the rules. This Ghost Tiger Sect is an example. They are a bunch of bloodsuckers who issue high-interest-rate loans to bulk themselves up. The South Immortal Commandery ought to crack down on such unsavory practices, lest the civilians begin complaining. It’ll be terrible if the capital hears of it.”

“So, should I…” Jue Panshi looked at Fang Chen questioningly.

“Crack down on such practices. Punish those who engage in such practices, whether it’s imprisonment, execution, or confiscation of properties,” Fang Chen instructed.

“I understand.” Jue Panshi’s face darkened.

Most of the Valiant Defenders who came here with Jue Panshi revealed unnatural looks.

The Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader realized that he had messed with someone he shouldn’t have, and his face paled. Cold sweat dripped down his face, and he nearly fell on his bottom.

This was just a small interlude, so Fang Chen didn’t dawdle around. He followed Jue Panshi and the others up the mountain.

Right after they left, Old Eighth Qian burst into laughter. He pointed at the Ghost Tiger Sect’s leader and his subordinates and scoffed, “Your good days have come to an end!”

Before those from the Ghost Tiger Sect could argue, a group of Valiant Defenders marched forward and captured them.