Chapter 031: The Distress Signal

"The Grey-Clad Gang has already pledged allegiance to the western Xia Kingdom. They cause havoc everywhere within the borders of Wu, attacking disciples from any sect they encounter. Their aim is to disrupt Wu and simultaneously weaken the martial world here," Feng Xia explained.

"In that case, Xia must have a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm as well. Otherwise, the Grey-Clad Gang wouldn't dare stir up so much trouble," Fang Xian mused.

"The court magicians of all five nations are Grandmasters of the Innate Realm. Moreover, Xia boasts the Carefree Sect, a martial faction supported by the royal court, whose leader is also an Innate Grandmaster. With such power, Xia has the confidence to continue its aggression against Wu," Feng Xia replied, her knowledge befitting a disciple of a major sect.

"Then I've really gotten myself into trouble, haven't I? If one of those Grandmasters comes after me, I'm finished," Fang Xian sighed.

"That won't happen. My Grandmaster once told me that the Innate Grandmasters have an agreement not to attack martial artists of lower realms. If any breaks this rule, the others will rise against them. If the strong were free to kill at will, chaos would reign throughout the martial world. Of course, beneath the Innate Grandmaster realm, no such regulation exists, so grandmasters of the Transformation Realm can strike at first-rate experts. Even so, they're generally mindful of their reputation in public," Feng Xia said.

"That's a relief," Fang Xian exhaled.

"Besides, every Innate Grandmaster has their own rivals, with other formidable warriors keeping them in check. You need only be wary of the Grey-Clad Gang and Xia's Transformation Realm grandmasters," Feng Xia smiled, her expression gentle.

"Grandmasters of the Transformation Realm... that's still daunting. By the way, how many Transformation Realm grandmasters does your Hundred Flowers Abyss have?" Fang Xian asked in alarm. He was barely able to contend with first-rate experts, let alone those of the Transformation Realm.

"Three: my master and her two sisters. They are the three elders of our sect," Feng Xia replied with a smile.

"Seems I ought to cling tightly to your support, so I can have a Grandmaster and three Transformation Realm elders backing me up," Fang Xian joked, grinning shamelessly.

"Ugh." Feng Xia blushed, misunderstanding his words, and with a soft sound of annoyance, lowered her head to eat.

Fang Xian ate in silence, calculating inwardly. If he wished to challenge a Transformation Realm grandmaster, it would take at least a year. For now, he would need to borrow strength from other factions and keep a low profile while he developed himself.

Yet, recalling he had already sent men out to spread word of his presence, he couldn't help but mentally berate himself. Had he spoken to Feng Xia sooner, he might not have done so. Now, however, it was too late to take it back.

"What's wrong? Are you scared?" Feng Xia glanced at him, noticing his sudden silence.

---

"Yes. I expect the Grey-Clad Gang already knows where we're staying. If you have fellow disciples in the city, you'd best summon them quickly. Otherwise, tonight the Grey-Clad Gang will launch a full assault, and we'll be left as a pair of doomed lovers," Fang Xian said, nodding.

Feng Xia's expression changed. "What have you done? How could the Grey-Clad Gang have found us so quickly?"

"I sent my men out to spread the word—announcing the presence of this divine physician throughout the city. It's a personal tradition: wherever I go, I offer consultations to the local people, specializing in rare and difficult ailments, accumulating virtue," Fang Xian replied solemnly, though he had no intention of revealing his true motive for fame.

"You really do have a talent for courting disaster," Feng Xia exclaimed, both anxious and angry. After a moment's thought, she drew a bamboo tube from her sleeve and stepped to the doorway, launching a signal into the sky. With a loud burst, a dazzling seven-colored flower blossomed above Qingyang City, lingering for all to see.

This was the highest-level distress signal for disciples of Hundred Flowers Abyss, signifying mortal danger. Disciples within a hundred miles would see it and rush to aid if they were nearby.

…

"This is bad—something must have happened to Feng Xia." On Fei Feng Ridge, eighty miles from Qingyang City, a woman whose features closely resembled Feng Xia's saw the signal and her expression darkened.

"Chief, what's happened?" Soon, several strong men from the stronghold gathered at her summons.

"My younger sister Feng Xia has sent an urgent distress signal from Qingyang City. She must be in grave danger. Second Brother, stay here and watch over Jiutian. Third Brother, bring some of our best men and come with me," she commanded.

Fei Feng Ridge was a mid-sized stronghold with three first-rate experts. The chief, Feng Ling, was at the peak of first-rate mastery and a core disciple of Hundred Flowers Abyss, wielding a divine weapon that enabled her to contend even with Transformation Realm grandmasters. The others respected her wholeheartedly.

Moreover, Feng Ling was the widow of the previous chief, with whom she had a son. Not long after the child was born, the former chief had been killed in an ambush by government troops, leaving Feng Ling to shoulder the burden of leadership and keep the stronghold alive.

Soon, seven or eight riders galloped from Fei Feng Ridge toward Qingyang City, but even at their speed, it would take two hours to arrive, and whether they'd be in time was uncertain.

"That wretched woman is indeed in the city. The rumors about that so-called divine physician Fang Xian staying at Fortune Inn are true. Gather our men; when the sun sets in two hours, we'll act before Hundred Flowers Abyss reinforcements can arrive," ordered an elder in a manor outside Qingyang. He was one of the two masked men previously frightened away by Fang Xian, now regrouped with others. Seeing the colorful signal bloom in the sky, he spoke decisively.

---

This manor was one of the Grey-Clad Gang's bases. They had informants within the city, who were immediately notified after the two men returned and reported. Fang Xian's actions had exposed his location.

"Master Zhou, Fang Xian deliberately revealed his whereabouts. That woman sent a distress signal as well. Shouldn't we be cautious of possible deception?" a middle-aged scholar reminded.

"Mr. Zhao, do you mean this is a trap to lure us in?" Zhou inquired.

"We can't rule it out. All we know is Fang Xian's archery is exceptional. We know nothing of his true background, nor whether his companions include any first-rate experts, or if Hundred Flowers Abyss has strong allies lurking nearby. If they join forces to ambush us, we'll be in serious trouble," Zhao replied.

"Then gather more men. Tonight, we'll send our best to probe their strength. If they're weak, we'll take them down. If they're tough, we'll withdraw and call for reinforcements," Zhou decided.

The others nodded and dispersed to prepare.

Inside the Qingyang City Governor's residence, Governor Li Changlin was chatting with a middle-aged man when he noticed the seven-colored flower signal rise above the city, frowning slightly.

"Order the City Guards to increase vigilance. If there are clashes between martial artists, as long as civilians aren't endangered, we needn't intervene," Li Changlin instructed his subordinate.

"Yes, sir."

"Governor, you're too lenient with these martial artists. Those who don't cooperate with the court ought to be eliminated," the middle-aged man remarked with a smile.

"You may not know, Brother Zhang, but Qingyang is near the border and has long been at war with Xia. The people are fierce, many practice martial arts, and martial factions are deeply entrenched. We can't afford to offend them all. Take those who sent the signal—their origin is known to you, I presume? Hundred Flowers Abyss, with its Innate Grandmaster, is a martial sect the court treats with respect; how could our frontier city dare provoke them? Thus, all we can do is protect the common folk and prevent disorder, but their martial feuds are beyond our control," Li Changlin replied with a bitter smile.