Why do I have so many masters?

"Are you not afraid of death?"

People around whispered in secrecy.

At this moment, Wang Anfeng finally confirmed that this person in front of him wasn't someone he lured out, but rather originated from the patrol guard he had rescued initially.

He never expected that this person, though a martial artist of middle third rank, could be so petty and domineering, believing that those poisoned by his disciples should just await death?

What's more, the one poisoned was an Iron Guard; it was truly unimaginable within Great Qin.

But upon noticing the spectacle, he paused and instantly understood that this was probably the Tian Qing Elder's plan to establish his authority, picking an easy target to stomp on hard and gain some fame, intending to bargain, thus coincidentally coming to find him.

At this moment, a woman beside the elder spoke crisply:

"The Sect Leader doesn't mean to make things difficult for you."

"Since you have the skill to save people, you should have the skill to handle this killing technique. Otherwise, you are bringing misfortune upon yourself, not wanting your life; just kneel, kowtow three times and admit your mistake, and you'll be spared."

Wang Anfeng needed rest and was not intending to provoke more trouble, but he only ever knelt before his master and father, even when seeing the Pillar of the State and Crown Prince of Great Qin, he would only clasp his hands in salute. Hearing this, it stirred his latent spirit, he lazily raised his eyes and responded:

"Unfortunately."

"My bones are rather stiff, can't manage to kneel. Why doesn't this Tian Qing Elder demonstrate how to kneel and kowtow three times?"

The woman's expression turned slightly cold upon hearing this, snorted, and said, "In that case, Junior Brother Lu, since this doctor intends to test our skills, go and instruct him well, beware of being careless and suffer losses."

That 'Junior Brother Lu' happened to be the one holding the sword to Wang Anfeng's neck. Hearing this, his eyes lit up, he first withdrew his sword and stepped back two paces, then made a sword finger gesture, posing with striking elegance and coldly mocked:

"Lu Wenxuan, disciple under Tian Qing Sect."

"Here to offer my teachings."

Wang Anfeng remained indifferent, without offering any salute, simply amused the small beast on his knee, uninterested in looking. The young man assumed such a solemn posture, yet seemed less worthy of attention than the small beast resembling a cat but not a cat. More people were around, even mentors and elders; feeling slighted by someone seemingly devoid of martial skills, anger brewed within him, he sneered without further words, approached with his sword.

"Boy, stand down!"

Just at that moment, a spectator suddenly shouted loudly, then a swirling violent wind spun towards Lu Wenxuan, a rush so menacing it alarmed him, his sword moved like blossoming flowers, blocking the object with a clang.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a heavy curved saber, with a tiger head on the hilt, sent flying and embedded into the ground, its blade humming loudly.

Soon, a robust man jumped down from the side wall, rushed to Wang Anfeng's front, pulled up the Tiger Head Saber, holding it in his hand, his beard and hair bristling, he angrily declared:

"Wang Doctor saved me; if there's any shady moves, all come at me!"

Then slightly turned his body, nodded towards Wang Anfeng, full of apology, and said:

"Terribly sorry, Wang Doctor."

"Rest assured, as long as I have half a breath left, I won't let this bunch harm a hair on you."

This person was tall, wearing light armor, his right arm exerting force with faint discomfort; he was the Iron Guard whose life Wang Anfeng saved that day. As was customary in the Central Plains, he should be called Ren Yongchang. Mainly due to the poison, coupled with the period requiring manpower, he hadn't taken leave, just patrolled safer areas.

Upon hearing the commotion this day, he hurriedly rushed over. Unable to break through because of the crowd, he jumped over from Pu Yongyan's home next to Wang Anfeng, stood before him, holding the saber, faced numerous martial artists and evidently masters of third rank, with youthful courage not yet dispersed like superior officers, he steeled his heart and shouted:

"Whatever the matter, I'll handle it!"

Lu Wenxuan's eyes showed a trace of disdain; he being a disciple of the sect looked down on ordinary patrol guards or Iron Guards, feeling superior in his heart, yet he still glanced at the sedan chair.

Once seeing the woman who spoke earlier nodding, he steadied his heart, turned and said, "Humph, if you wish to bring trouble upon yourself, then you can't blame others. A life you barely recovered last time, today you'll leave it here."

"Watch the sword!"

With those words and a loud shout, he charged forward, the sword in his hand instantly swung dozens of beams of cold light, exhibiting sharp essence like winter snow blossoms, it was indeed a renowned swordsmanship of the sect.

Ren Yongchang refused to be outdone, wielding his saber forward. He came from humble beginnings, considering the Jianghu situation within the Parthian Empire; for someone of his background, the only way to learn profound martial arts was to join the patrol guard.

But now, you're just an ordinary member, with Inner Strength and saber techniques that are rather mediocre. The progress is quite fast, but the power is ordinary and focuses on being solid and balanced. Each move and form, although not as fierce and graceful as Lu Wenxuan, does not fall behind either.

Wang Anfeng watched the fight in front of him and suddenly glanced at the distance.

......

"Is this alright, sir...?"

On a slightly higher stone building, Pu Yongyan's face was full of struggle. In front of him stood a middle-aged man, over thirty, with phoenix eyes, a few long beard strands, radiating authority without showing it. Upon hearing the words, he said indifferently:

"What did you say?"

Pu Yongyan was momentarily stunned. The man continued: "If you're talking about your subordinates, then don't worry. Tian Qingzi is not so arrogant. His action this time is to establish authority, not to kill."

Pu Yongyan felt a bit more at ease. As he held the sword, a thin layer of sweat formed in his palm, and he said:

"Then, when do we go out?"

The man shook his head and said: "No need to hurry. If what you said is true, and the medical skills of the people of Great Qin are truly so formidable, that with a single Elixir, the injuries you sustained yesterday could heal, then I will not let him suffer any harm."

"Moreover, I will give him great benefits, recommend him to the lord's residence to become his retainer. By then, wealth and honor will be at his fingertips, and he will surely thank you thoroughly."

Pu Yongyan's heart grew anxious; he stepped forward and said:

"But..."

The man glanced back at him, a massive chill instantly rising from the depths of Pu Yongyan's heart, robbing him of the courage to speak, and causing his right hand to spring away from the sword hilt as if shocked.

The man withdrew his gaze and smiled:

"Colonel Pu, do you know a saying from Great Qin?"

"Win the heart to win the person."

His eyes gleamed, looking at the courtyard, smiling:

"The scholars of Great Qin are more rigid, and some are exceptionally so, the so-called hard neck decree. If you truly hope that he can wholeheartedly serve the lord, you must bestow grace upon him, bestow great grace."

"Wait a moment longer, when those people start to insult him, you and I will appear to save him. How could he not bow down? How could he not be sincerely convinced?"

At that moment, he saw the man from Great Qin seemingly glance this way, and he was slightly stunned. Then he found that the other's gaze shifted away again, seemingly unintentional.

Wang Anfeng's right hand hung low, fingers hidden under the sleeve, lightly sketching.

The subtle Qi Mechanism was stirred, forming talismans in the air and slowly dissipating. Wang Anfeng murmured in his heart: "It's really chaotic here, the predicted one in white is one, and the Tian Qingzi intending to establish authority and find a 'seller.'

"And who knows which other force's figure is watching."

"Balman Royal City, this pool is truly muddy. It seems previously it was forcibly suppressed by the iron-fisted King Balman. Once he got into trouble, all sorts of strange creatures surfaced together."

"One plans to establish authority, another plans revenge, and further away, someone probably has plans like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the bird behind."

"Their calculus is excellent."

"But are you sure you all can swallow this cicada?"

He sighed, raising both hands to embrace the bronze patterned brazier.

Originally, he was leaning whole-bodied against the chair, with eyes half-closed, displaying a somewhat lazy demeanor that clashed with the solemn and perilous situation. Now he sat a bit straighter, then picked up a chess piece from the table, casually playing with it, suddenly speaking:

"By cutting down with the front-breaking saber, then transitioning to slant shear with the willow raising."

PS: Today's update is presented... five thousand eight hundred words, split, it's two thousand nine per chapter like that.

Somewhat fewer, ha...