Chapter 99:

Yan City, the Lord’s Residence. "Big brother, there’s been a big commotion in Heyang City recently…" "Don’t call me big brother, call me the Lord. Even though this is the Lord’s Residence, we must be more cautious in our actions, don’t be careless…" In the study of the Lord’s Residence, Wang Songhe was rebuking his subordinate mountain bandit Zhang Kui, who had suddenly barged in. Ever since Qiao Sen stabbed City Lord Guo Yan in the street, Wang Songhe also obtained the "Flesh Changing Skill". He deeply felt that as a mountain bandit, he could at most protect a small village hidden among the mountains. With a large group of people, they wouldn’t be able to deceive the government of Great Yan. So he used the "Flesh Changing Skill" to change his appearance and entered Yan City. The former City Lord Guo Yan was both scheming and powerful. During his rule, he held all the power, and the other officials and powerful figures in Yan City were far inferior to him. After Guo Yan and his son were killed by Qiao Mu, Wang Songhe expended some effort to subdue the various smaller forces within Yan City and assumed the position of City Lord under a false identity. Wang Songhe used to be a high-ranking official in the imperial court. His skills and strength were far superior to the ordinary forces in Yan City. It was quite easy for him to handle Yan City, so there was no suspense left. Zhang Kui agreed with what he heard and nodded. "Sure, big brother. You should read the news about Yan City first before we talk. This is news from the Tide Listening Building… Although it’s almost spread everywhere." Wang Songhe quickly glanced over the news and his gaze froze instantly. The Martial Saint… Can it still bring news about him? "What is he paying attention to? And Heyang City is also a place of troubles." Wang Songhe let out a sigh. In the past, he gave Qiao Mu a recommendation letter and planned to recommend Qiao Sen, who had suffered a great injury, to become a small constable in Heyang City, so that he could temper his overly sharp edge. After ten or eight years, when Qiao Sen’s injuries recovered completely, perhaps he could become a strong assistant for Wang Songhe… But soon after, news spread that the former head catcher of Heyang City, "Qiao Pifu," was killed and burned by the Immortal Gate Saintess. Although he didn’t know the false name "Qiao Pifu," based on the style of his actions, it was not much different from that of Qiao Sen. "If I had known he would be so bold, why did I recommend him to be a catcher? Instead, it ended up costing his life…" Wang Songhe let out a small sigh. At that moment, a servant knocked on the door and entered the study. "Master Wang, there is a guest surnamed Wu who claims to be an old friend of yours, passing by Yan City and wishing to pay a visit." "Old friend?" Wang Songhe furrowed his brows. His current identity was a false name, "Wang He." He randomly took on this name after entering Yan City, so how could he have any old friends? "….Then please invite him in," Wang Songhe pondered. It may seem like trouble is coming, but we’ll handle it when it comes. If there’s anything fishy, we’ll deal with it when we meet. What’s there to be afraid of? After a short while. Wang Songhe stared at the Martial Saint sitting in the study, dumbfounded. "Wang Shanhe, don’t you know how to serve tea to old acquaintances?" Martial Saint said calmly. "Tea is for guests. We have different paths and cannot work together," Wang Songhe also realized and his face turned sour. Wang Songhe, originally named Wang Shanhe, was once a high-ranking official in the court and served as the Minister of Justice. Both were skilled in different fields, with Wang Songhe being slightly younger in age, but they could still be considered as contemporaries. Of course. When Wang Songhe was the Minister of Punishments, he was just a pure civil official without any martial arts or cultivation skills. Therefore, his position and fame in court were far inferior to the Martial Saint, who was already the leader of the military officials at that time. However, many of the civil officials and military generals from that generation forty years ago have died, and very few have survived till now. Moreover, most of them are already very old. The Martial Saint, who was unrivaled in martial arts, and Wang Songhe, who started cultivating after the age of forty, can be considered as two exceptional survivors. These two people can also be regarded as remnants of the officials from the previous era. "If the paths are different, we cannot work together… Wang Shanhe, you devoted yourself to the cultivation path, only to become a small-town lord from a 2nd rank official. Where does your path lie?" Martial Saint asked calmly. "Among the inhumans, there is the belief in fate. Wang Shanhe, you are cultivating the path of immortality, serving as a worldly official, and even having thoughts of secretly forming a rebel army… Will this grant you eternal life?" "What use do I have for eternal life? I only study magic and not immortality. If the path of immortality is stronger, then I will cultivate it; if the martial path is stronger, then I will practice martial arts… Sadly, this martial path…" Wang Songhe looked at the Martial Saint before him with a complex expression. The person he knew was the ambitious 1st rank military official forty years ago, not the eighty-five-year-old Martial Saint who devoured people’s lives to enhance his own. "You have your path, and I have mine," Martial Saint said. "My martial arts, is to use extreme strength, to slay all inhumans and bring eternal peace to the world." "Martial Saint, do you still need to talk about this sense of righteousness in front of me?" Wang Songhe’s face showed little emotion, he was calm. "The first-ranked general from forty years ago said these words, he said that you hold the world in your heart, and I believe him." "But now, with hands stained with blood and having slaughtered half of the martial arts world, how can you make me believe?" Over the years, Wang Songhe had also heard about the infamous deeds committed by the Martial Saint, so he didn’t harbor much fear or respect for the Martial Saint in front of him. "There are no saints in this world at all. Talking about righteousness all the time but ultimately being a coward who cherishes life and fears death, how rare is that?" He stood up and shouted: "No matter how much righteousness is spoken, once blood is shed, human nature will decline." "Martial Saint, how much humanity do you have left?" "Whether you believe it or not, it has nothing to do with me." The Martial Saint casually touched his ear, paying no attention. Wang Songhe was speechless for a moment. Sёarᴄh the NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I hope to see the day when you sacrifice for the martial arts, rather than having others sacrifice for your sake," said Wang Songhe coldly. "But I’m afraid I won’t live to see it. Even if I cultivate the path of immortality and have a longer lifespan than an ordinary person, I may not be able to wait for that day." "If I die, the martial arts will cease to exist, and there will be no one to resist the path of immortality. So I cannot die," said Martial Saint. Wang Songhe fell silent for a moment. Martial Saint is the strongest in martial arts, surpassing anyone else, so according to his "survival of the fittest" philosophy, he is more important than any other martial artist in the world. If he were to die, it would only be after all the other martial artists have perished, and Martial Saint would be the last one to sacrifice himself. "No matter how you put it, it’s all up to you," said Wang Songhe, shaking his head. "Before all the martial artists of the martial world are gone, no one can know whether you are a selfish person who demands the price of the entire martial world for your own achievements, or a sacrificial person who truly wants to make sacrifices." "Not bad," Martial Saint nodded too. He wouldn’t prove his innocence, nor did he care about it. After speaking, he stood up directly and walked towards the door. "Wang Shanhe, come with me to meet someone," Martial Saint said. "Hmm?" Wang Songhe was slightly surprised. "Do you really think I came all this way to catch up with you? Don’t think too highly of yourself," Martial Saint said lightly. "There’s a person who has used the Flesh Changing Skill to change his appearance. He is also surnamed Qiao… and you have had contact with Qiao’s family more than once, right?"