Chapter 229: The Hero Violates the Law with Martial Arts
At nine in the morning, a rugged off-road vehicle stopped at the mouth of an alley, with Meng Huai in the driver’s seat.
Meng Huai shifted his gaze from the breakfast shop at the distant street corner and turned to the side, only to see Wan Yue sitting in the passenger seat, the window rolled down as she leisurely smoked a cigarette.
With a new style of a low bun, she wore a black off-shoulder knit top and a white skirt with black floral chiffon, paired with light purple knee-high stockings. This early summer outfit made Wan Yue exude both elegance and intellectuality, as well as sensual charm.
“Are we going to the Wang family?”
Meng Huai hesitated for a moment but still spoke up.
Since he was suddenly appointed as Wan Yue’s driver early in the morning to pick up Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao, Meng Huai had been somewhat perplexed.
“There’s nothing strange about it; Fengxinzi is now relying on the Wang family. With just a word from them, we have to obediently run over. You’ve seen how she manages the Luo family, completely obeying the Wang family, let alone someone like Fengxinzi.”
Wan Yue exhaled a puff of smoke, her expression calm.
“Why do I have to go as well?”
With both hands resting on the steering wheel, Meng Huai shifted his gaze back to the mouth of the alley. The Wang family was quite mysterious; he had no idea where they were heading.
Zhao Peng was currently organizing a training session at the Fengxinzi Mountain Villa and couldn’t leave. Besides, it was a bit extravagant to have a man as the driver.
Wan Yue looked at the profile of Meng Huai and slowly showed a hint of a smile: “So this time, let you gain some experience. The world of blood clans in Huaguo is far more complex than you imagine, and it is foolish to rely solely on your limited understanding and feelings to envision it.”
“This time, let you see a side of Huaguo… Regardless of whether you are antagonistic toward the Wang family, whether they are good or bad, they are an existence you must face and even understand.”
“This nation is, after all, the home of all Huaguo people. There are many complex interests and issues that require ordinary people and blood clans to participate in resolving together. Your thoughts are too rigid; just Fengxinzi alone is not enough to break your information cocoon.”
As she spoke, Wan Yue took out her phone to check something, seemingly receiving a message just now.
Meng Huai glanced at her actions; he did not need to say anything.
“Meng, go inside and hurry them up. Sigh, girls of this age are so dilatory; they might take hours just to decide what to wear before leaving.”
Wan Yue put away her phone, opened the car door, ostensibly signaling Meng Huai to help the Jiang sisters. However, he understood very well that she wanted him to temporarily step aside.
Did Wan Jie really have no suspicion about Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao, or does she actually hold the true facts… At the moment of stepping out of the car, Meng Huai slightly tilted his head, then strode away.
Meng Huai’s back delved deep into the alley until it disappeared around a bend, when another off-road vehicle rolled in behind Wan Yue.
“What, you’re also going today?”
Wan Yue tossed her head into a nearby trash bin and laughed as she looked at Lao Jin, who was dressed in a suit.
I just sent you the exact address location of the old ancestor on Guanyin Mountain because some things are better said face to face than over the phone.
Lao Jin opened the back door of his vehicle, welcoming Wan Yue inside.
Once the door closed and before she could settle down, Lao Jin let out a heavy sigh:
There’s been an urgent intelligence report from the south—Old Fourth Uncle received it. Feng Jiulong is dead, killed in his safe house in Hong Kong. We don’t know yet who did it.
Wan Yue’s expression remained unchanged; she only lowered her head slightly to listen.
In fact, Feng Jiulong should have died earlier, but news on secret arrows and Hong Kong have been sealed off. Old Fourth Uncle speculates that it was the Liang family’s rebels. Before, the secret arrows had launched an assault against the Liang family, and the results were quite good; there were rumors that Feng Jiulong had provided intelligence to the secret arrows from behind.
But Old Seventh Uncle does not believe this conclusion; after all, the group of rebels from the Liang family had only high-end combat power equivalent to a high-ranking viscount and a few upper barons, while Feng Jiulong himself is at least a mid-ranking viscount, and even if Deng Baoyi is dead, he still has several barons under him.
The internal power struggle within the Hidden Alliance is quite severe. Of the six elder executives, four have died in less than two months, and one position has remained vacant for many years. The three middle extreme elders, Elder Gao and Elder Shen, have been delaying their appearances, leaving only Old Master Chu to hold the fort.
Moreover, there’s been some unsettling news circulating in the circle these days: during the last assault on the Liang family’s rebels, the secret arrows unveiled a trump card, revealing that they possess a secret blood clan army.
I never expected that even the secret arrows would engage in such activities; I thought this was only the domain of certain Western countries, hidden so deeply…
Lao Jin’s emotions remained relatively stable, or rather, with the Wang family continuing to lose power, he wouldn’t be too surprised by this kind of upheaval within the Hidden Alliance.
“Ha ha, the secret arrows’ blood clan army…”
Wan Yue let out an enigmatic laugh, sighed softly, and then opened the car door to step out.
Lao Jin couldn’t help but laugh bitterly in the car:
Right now, on the surface, the Wang family, the Song family, and the Hidden Alliance have been rendered ineffective. Next, I don’t know who will be next… Xiaoyue, do you think the Zhou family will be next? The Zhou family has been in a familial alliance with the Wang family for generations, always hiding and watching what happens with Miyamoto.
Xiaoyue, my old ancestor values you very much. The information you know is probably more than mine. After Uncle Five’s defection, information sharing within the family has tightened. As a small lord of the Wang family, I can’t even see the situation clearly anymore and have to run to you often for inquiries.
After speaking, Lao Jin self-deprecatingly tapped his chest.
Wan Yue turned her head to glance at Lao Jin and gave a cold laugh: “It’s simple; someone is forcing the secret arrows to reveal their greatest trump card. Once the news that the secret arrows possess a secret blood clan army leaks out, all the various clan powers in this country, big or small, will remain highly vigilant and distance themselves from the secret arrows.”
Once the tacit understanding is broken, the secret arrows will become utterly deaf and blind… Lao Jin, you’re not in Huaguo. For you prominent families, it has been quite normal to have some dirt with the secret arrows over the past seventy or eighty years, but no one wants to inadvertently find themselves infiltrated by the secret arrows or suddenly discover a knife hanging over their heads.
But you, Elder Meng, have suffered more than we have endured; you should just guard your territory well. Lao Jin, today your melancholic demeanor indeed resembles that of a cultured man; keep it up.
Wan Yue exhaled a puff of smoke, walked up to Lao Jin with a grin, and gently patted his suit.
Just then, in the depths of the distant alley, three figures appeared—the first being Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao, followed by a tall young man, each holding bags in either hand.
The sisters were dressed in a unified style today, wearing traditional long-sleeved blouses paired with black velvet floral skirts, with their hair styled up in traditional ornamental knots—the only difference being that Jiang Yan wore white, while Jiang Yao wore red.
Upon entering the Jiang family’s back courtyard, the sisters began showing certain consistent detail changes in their appearances, making them resemble each other even more closely.
The old ancestor is growing old and nostalgic, so he likes this kind of youthful appearance. Did you arrange this? It indeed pleases the old man… No, why did you allow Meng to follow along?
“I’ve got a big household to manage now; what’s wrong with having a private chauffeur? Over the years, hasn’t the female doctor and nurse driving you been any less?”
Wan Yue directly rolled her eyes and headed towards her vehicle.
“I didn’t mean that; I meant he seems to have reached mid-tier knight level. I remember he’s only been blood-primitive for about four months, right? Even if he’s a mixed breed, it shouldn’t be possible to progress so quickly… How much Jiang… blood did he drink?”
Lao Jin didn’t mind Wan Yue’s sarcastic tone, but his brows gradually locked together.
The blood of Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao has a terrifying promotion effect on blood clans; Lao Jin had already received some hints from Old Ninth Uncle.
Right now, Fengxinzi’s power is rapidly growing, like a pig immediately fattened for slaughter, which deeply shocked Lao Jin. The sudden emergence of an incomprehensible and unknown system evolution from the Jiang sisters further shattered his traditional understanding of blood clans.
Wan Yue merely smiled slightly, extended a slender jade finger to her mouth, signaling silence, and then opened the passenger door.
Meng Huai had ingested at least two thousand milliliters of secret blood; even forcing a high-ranking knight to be elevated to baron, or raising a high-ranking attendant to knight, would be easy. In Wan Yue’s view, Meng Huai being “enhanced” to mid-tier knight seems still too low in terms of cost-benefit ratio.
“Xiaoyue, does that blood… have a market?”
Lao Jin walked to Wan Yue’s car door, glanced around, and lowered his voice.
“What, you, a so-called handsome young lord of the Wang family and senior baron, also have ambitions? Aren’t you afraid of instability at the roots?”
Wan Yue turned her head, smiling brightly as she looked at the slightly eager old acquaintance, knowing deep down that what was coming was inevitable.
“Sigh, I actually didn’t care about these things before, but I haven’t made any progress over the years. Even if a little advancement wouldn’t hurt to reach the pinnacle of high rank, it’s better than being stuck in this half-heaven status…”
Lao Jin greedily touched his nose, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.
The so-called pinnacle of realms or “half-step XX” often stems from the cautiousness of many clan heirs, which isn’t very common. These situations usually occur among individuals with either poor talent or exceptional individuals.
The former may continue to grow within their current realm to an extreme due to not triggering breakthroughs, while the latter could build a stronger foundational realm effortlessly and end up being stronger than others at the same level, like Wan Yue.
“You should just stay away from women; maybe that’d help you pass through it. However, for your personality, it doesn’t seem necessary to progress much, does it?”
Wan Yue thought for a moment, still took out a small blood vial containing only a few dozen milliliters from her handbag, and went to Lao Jin: “Hey, take this to try it out; it’ll help break your obsession, or you might not die. I’m not hiding anything from you; this kind of blood is actually very ineffective for anyone above baron.”
“Ha ha, then forget it; I know my limits and will treat it as if I never mentioned this matter.”
After hesitating for a few seconds, Lao Jin returned the small blood vial into the car, then got into his vehicle and turned to leave.
“Ha ha, I’m sure it was Old Ninth Uncle who sent you to pry into my words; what a sweet-hearted but cowardly good guy…”
Playing with the small blood vial, Wan Yue shook her head repeatedly, feeling quite helpless.
Lao Jin left just as Meng Huai and the other three arrived at Wan Yue’s vehicle.
Shifting her gaze back from the departing Lao Jin, Wan Yue turned to Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao who just sat in the rear seat: “The Wang family’s old ancestor is in the northeast mountainous area of D city, and it’ll take about seven hours to drive there; we’ll make our way close together on the road.”
As she spoke, Wan Yue glanced at Jiang Yao for a few seconds, and when she sat back down, she realized she brushed her hand against her own nose.
Jiang Yao exuded a unique aura that only individuals with a mid-tier viscount level or those with high sensitivity to human hormones, like Wan Yue, could perceive.
Sigh, this girl truly is a peculiar existence… A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Wan Yue’s mouth.
……
Not long after setting off, a steady spring rain shrouded the earth, which affected the journey of Wan Yue and the others, along with a minor accident on the expressway that delayed them for over an hour.
Time passed, and besides the necessary breaks at the service area, the entire journey was extremely tedious. As the vehicle passed through D city and continued towards the northeast Guanyin Mountain, the time had already reached after six in the afternoon.
On the misty mountain expressway shrouded in rain, Wan Yue rested her eyes in the passenger seat while Jiang Yan took over driving.
At sunset, the view outside the car window was filled with endless undulating mountains and lush dark green vegetation washed by rain, dull and oppressive.
After yet another long mountain tunnel, Meng Huai caught sight of a vaguely visible valley road weaving between the distant mountain ranges, winding deeper into the mountainous interior.
That direction led to the starting point of all the peculiarities of this world—a large abandoned state-run underground factory in the mountains.
On a night two years ago, more than twenty soldiers from the Arrow team and much of the Tang family were buried there, entangling all the individuals in this off-road vehicle and the entire blood clan of Huaguo into a different path of fate.
Although Jiang Yan was focused on driving, she couldn’t help but slightly turn her gaze towards that direction, casting an imperceptible look of mixed emotions.
Finally, the vehicle turned off the expressway; after a few bends, it entered another obscure mountain road, with significant reductions in speed and distance from the sections of road that Meng Huai and Jiang Yan wanted to avoid.
Through the car mirror, Wan Yue noticed Meng Huai was staring blankly out of the window, while Jiang Yao had long since fallen asleep in Meng Huai’s arms, seemingly mistaking him for Jiang Yan.
Meng Huai not only allowed Jiang Yao to rest against him but also thoughtfully unbuttoned his suit coat and covered it over Jiang Yao, resembling a caring relationship.
It made Jiang Yao seem like a younger sister who looked down on a poor brother-in-law but unknowingly accepted his presence…
After checking the navigation below the dashboard, seeing that they were almost at their destination, Wan Yue rolled down the window, lit a cigarette, and a sly grin appeared at the corner of her lips.
……
Jiang Yao blushed and didn’t dare to respond to this statement, while Meng Huai remained unmoved, as if he hadn’t heard anything, sitting upright and gazing steadily out the window without showing any signs of fatigue.
“Meng Huai, didn’t that mountain we just passed feel a bit familiar?”
Wan Yue suddenly turned back, her gaze locking onto Meng Huai’s mysterious smile, which grew more evident.
“Mm…”
Meng Huai withdrew his gaze from outside the car, gently propping up the slightly falling Jiang Yao, then slowly nodded. This small motion was naturally caught by Jiang Yan in the rearview mirror, making her grip on the steering wheel tighten.
“Often, whether it’s the Secret Arrow, the Wang family, or the Fengxinzi, the small fry at the bottom overestimate their own importance, thinking the other side doesn’t know what they’re doing…”
Feeling that both Meng Huai and Jiang Yan were focused on her, Wan Yue continued to speak, as if advising Meng Huai while also addressing Jiang Yan.
“And they have no idea that during certain crucial moments in this nation’s operation, the blood clans and ordinary people aren’t as distinctly different as they imagine… The rise and fall of this nation cannot simply be attributed to the merits or wrongs of any camp.”
For instance, you and I have both existed within these narrow mindsets. Even if there exist universal standards for judgments, what is deemed correct or evil is often relative.
Hao De, I will reiterate, my intention in having you experience and observe the world of blood clans with your whole heart is not only to teach you how to interact with those around you but also to help you understand how to interact with yourself.
As she spoke, Wan Yue tilted her head slightly towards Jiang Yao, hinting subtly.
Whether a person is friendly or whether the nature of an event is correct should be viewed on a larger scale. Many times, what you feel is right in the moment may not hold true on a broader scope, and vice versa.
Wan Yue flicked her fingers; they flew towards the window, the glass closing softly as the noise of the raindrops outside gradually faded, leaving only the clear sound of the windshield wipers.
Jiang Yao almost broke down; she was even more certain of Meng De’s heart remaining with the Secret Arrow… Jiang Yao bit her lip, tightly gripped the steering wheel, and despite her nerves, she felt more at peace.
She knew that with Wan Yue’s observational ability, she would inevitably notice some abnormal behavior from Meng De. Even with her assistance, it couldn’t be hidden. Moreover, it was clear that Wan Yue was patiently guiding Meng De and likely believed it could yield benefits.
I know that the relationship between the Wang family and the Secret Arrow has been very tacit. Our enemy, Fengxinzi, is not the Secret Arrow.
Meng De pondered for a moment, quietly replying.
Yeah, but the hero violating the law with martial arts, even a prominent blood clan family, including Fengxinzi, despite being able to restrain themselves and choose to conform to ordinary society, ultimately holds the power to instill reassurance, easily swayed by rules and balances… The overflow of the dark blood clan didn’t just emerge out of thin air.
Furthermore, would you understand if I told you that the Wang family and the Secret Arrow are just two sides of the same coin?
Wan Yue sighed, finally letting out a long-held confession.
The car suddenly braked sharply; under the powerful inertia, Meng De instinctively hugged the sleeping Jiang Yao next to him to prevent her from flying out.
This abrupt change completely interrupted the mysterious topic Wan Yue had just initiated.
“Sorry, Wan Jie…”
The section of road ahead was still under construction and seemed to have come to a dead end; could it be that Jin Ye’s navigation was wrong?
Jiang Yao blushed, repeatedly apologizing to cover up her inner turmoil brought on by Wan Yue’s earlier words, as she gestured toward the mountain road curve ahead.
“Are we there…?”
Jiang Yao woke from the disruption, rubbing her eyes as she stood up, only to realize she was leaning against Meng De, causing her face to change drastically. She quickly protected her side arm and straightened her posture, not daring to look up at him.
“Your energy used to be quite exuberant; what’s got you feeling so sleepy today?”
Wan Yue glanced at Jiang Yao’s flushed face and displayed a teasing smile.
“It’s been such a long ride; it makes sense… Ah, how is it almost evening already? I thought we’d arrive around the afternoon?”
Looking outside, the light had already dimmed considerably. Jiang Yao then noticed her phone showing that it had passed seven in the evening. After carefully distinguishing the outside scenery, she realized they were now deep within an unfamiliar mountain forest valley.
“Exactly, we’re here; someone will come to guide us…”
All of a sudden, as if summoned, they spotted two figures on a distant hillside path amidst the ongoing downpour.
Two plainly dressed middle-aged individuals held umbrellas and stood on the hillside path, gesturing towards Wan Yue’s vehicle.
Jiang Yao recognized the slightly shorter woman dressed similarly to a housekeeping nanny—weirdly familiar, as she was the unknown female baron who had cared for the Wang family’s old ancestor.
As for the other man, appearing to be around fifty, serious and unsmiling, he was entirely unfamiliar, and at that distance, she couldn’t discern any hint of his aura.
Guanyin Mountain is a provincial forest park in S Province, located in the southern foothills of the Qinling Mountains. The natural environment here has nothing particularly remarkable, mostly boasting a high forest coverage and abundant negative oxygen ions; aside from that, it offers only limited Buddhist tourism resources.
Decades ago, this area represented a typical wilderness, and the entire Daba Mountains became an important part of the national three-line construction period.
Transportation here is exceedingly inconvenient, and the poverty and seclusion while embraced by nature formed its long-standing character. Even as the new century arrived and the affluent city people began pursuing a so-called natural and healthy lifestyle, the older local residents still had little pride in this place.
Transportation switching from vehicle to foot, combined with the persistent drizzling weather, led them along a wooden hillside path winding past two ridges. When darkness finally fell, Wan Yue and the others reached a newly opened valley estate.
Their guide left, leaving the guests once again in the night rain. This also provided Wan Yue and others some time to admire the architectural landscapes inside and outside the valley.
Compared to the picturesque Longquan Mountain Fengxinzi Manor, this place was far more primitive and crude.
The manor’s buildings were sparse, mostly low-rise wooden or mixed wood structures. Each building was not exactly exquisite, but they were built according to the terrain, with a well-considered layout, featuring a beauty derived from uneven heights, showcasing a simple and generous style.
“Older sister, I remember this used to belong to the Tang family’s sphere of influence…”
Jiang Yao, who had slept through most of the journey, changed expression when she learned from Jiang Yan the exact location of Guanyin Mountain, and could not help but look back in the direction of the volcano.
It was there that she and Jiang Yan experienced an unforgettable bloody battle, escaping from the underground factory, and from that moment on, changed identities, gaining unimaginably new lives and identities.
“There were viscounts from the Tang family hundreds of years ago, but they were merely on the periphery, yet they have deeply influenced the surrounding areas of D city throughout generations.”
Wan Yue interrupted, stating that this remote baronial family had its quirks, making it not surprising if they did something foolish.
The Tang family had sought to transform their industries a few years prior, intending to develop a wellness tourism base here in the province, but unfortunately, the funds were limited, and progress was slow as they squeezed out money like toothpaste. Before achieving any results, it fell through.
With the Tang family now scattered, the place was taken over by the Wang family.
As she spoke, Wan Yue pointed to the mountains and valleys under the night sky, her demeanor one of disdain: “Look, with such poor traffic conditions, how can there be development here? But if there’s plenty of money burning a hole in your pocket, then a peaceful summer retreat isn’t too bad either.”
Seeing Wan Yue daring to voice her opinions under the Wang family’s watchful eyes, Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao fell silent, while Meng De was busy inspecting several retro dilapidated buildings in the distance, showing a keen interest in the people.
“Miss Wan, the old ancestor knows about the rain possibly causing delays, so he’s waiting to have dinner with you and the two young ladies.”
The housekeeping servant returned and politely bowed slightly to Wan Yue. After saying this, she smiled at Meng De: “As for this little brother, just sit in that rain shelter for now; someone will take you to the guest room for a meal later.”
From ancient times until now, perhaps all supporting roles have faced such treatment, with no opportunity to walk beside significant figures, or even to chance a glance.
Glancing at Meng De, Jiang Yan said nothing, walking beside Jiang Yao and Wan Yue along the intricately paved stone path through the woods, deep into the manor’s interior.
As Wan Yue and the others’ figures disappeared into the night, Jiang Yan’s familiar aura faded away, leaving only the rain shelter on the sloping mountain in view, devoid of anyone else.
Upon reaching the rain shelter built according to the terrain, looking up, the cluster of buildings in the valley only displayed a few distant lights, flickering like fireflies in the dimness.
A hint of earthly warmth was powerfully embedded in nature, making each moment feel increasingly precious. Suddenly, Meng De felt that this place might be where he could spend a lifetime.
Focusing his attention, he fully activated his various sensory abilities. He discovered that aside from himself, no one seemed to pay attention to him—at least, within a two-hundred-meter radius, he identified over ten unfamiliar presences, ranging from attendants to knights.
In the darkness, the distant mountain forest loomed with shifting shadows, almost visible figures clad in battle uniforms, wearing military helmets, armed and ready.
“The Wang family’s private armed forces…”
His excellent night vision allowed Meng De to capture many details. Each of those individuals, discreetly positioned in the woods and well-equipped, could rival the regular army of many nations, putting Meng De briefly into silence.
Observing intently, a thought suddenly flared in Meng De’s mind—those five words Wan Yue had previously mentioned in the car: “The hero violates the law with martial arts.”
In truth, historical interactions between blood clans and ordinary individuals in Huaguo have been more “orderly” compared to other countries, featuring a kind of unified civilizational consensus that is incomprehensible to blood clans in the West.
Cooperation and opposition, intimacy and exclusion coexist, intricately blended. This peculiar state of relative stability has persisted for over two thousand years.
Today’s Huaguo regime has experienced monumental changes compared to the old Guan Nation in history, yet perhaps the other side of the world they face has never truly changed.
No matter how powerful the consensus of Huaguo civilization becomes, the strength possessed by blood clans is far beyond what ordinary individuals can contend with, making self-restraint to a degree recognized by the masses a daunting challenge.
When the power of a group or individual reaches a certain level, the constraints imposed by societal rules tend to weaken, and the so-called ethical codes of conduct gradually blur.
Moreover, this extraordinary power inherently bears elements of corruption and persistent internal divisions. The secret history of the entire Huaguo is filled with bloodied power struggles between various ruling dynasties and blood clans.
“Mr. Li, right? Please follow me.”
A female attendant from the Wang family, dressed similarly to hotel staff, quietly approached the rain shelter, respectfully bowing to Meng De, breaking him out of his reverie.
