He Zhong moved his body like a swimming fish traversing through the water, just a flicker, and he had already darted over ten zhang away.

From a distance, it looked like a white thread breaking through the water.

Fishing boats, passenger ships,

in the blink of an eye, were left far behind him.

The Cultivation Technique operated, and the True Qi merged with the surrounding waters, pushing him forward at a thought’s command.

The speed reached its peak, yet it did not cause big waves.

At a certain moment.

"Splash!"

He Zhong leaped up, bringing countless water droplets with him, charging to the sky.

A Martial Arts Grandmaster can fly in the air, but unlike a Magical Sage, a Martial Sect mainly relies on their physical body in combat.

The void offers little to leverage, which causes inconvenience during battles.

Especially for He Zhong, who has been wrestling in water since childhood; leaving water and land causes a sharp decline in his strength.

Unless necessary, he usually wouldn’t fly into the heavens.

"Whizz!"

A human shadow pierced through layers of mist, pulling out a trail of smoke behind, transforming into a stream of light, rushing towards a place up in the clouds.

Above the clouds, a small boat was floating, with an old man sitting cross-legged at the stern, wearing a bamboo hat and a raincoat.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao!"

He Zhong landed on the small boat, clasping his hands to the old man in respect:

"I’m back."

"Master He." Elder Xiao, named Xiao Haisheng, was a renowned Magical Sage of the East Sea. Hearing this, he turned his head:

"Why not let me, Xiao, take action?"

"The intelligence is inaccurate." He Zhong’s face was solemn:

"Fang Zheng is also a Martial Sect."

"So what if he is?" Xiao Haisheng spoke in a muffled voice:

"With our combined strength, capturing him is not difficult, but the gang leader wants us to control Gu’an County; this time, I fear it’s hard to complete the task."

The two had discussed it before coming.

He Zhong would lead Fang Zheng out of Gu’an County’s town first, probing him out, then give a signal to let Xiao Haisheng assist.

Once they captured Fang Zheng, they could control Gu’an County, allowing Exclusion Sect to plant a nail in Zhaonan Prefecture.

"Not necessarily!"

He Zhong shook his head:

"Fang Zheng keeps a Ghost King; surely, you and I know the Ghost King’s strength, unafraid of death, leaving no one unharmed."

"Moreover..."

"I could feel that he had a backup plan while fighting me."

"Had a backup plan?" Xiao Haisheng raised an eyebrow:

"Fang Zheng just became a Martial Sect in the past year or two; how could he have any methods in such a short time?"

"But you, Master He, you certainly have quite a few methods not yet displayed!"

He seemed somewhat dissatisfied about this.

"Who told you that Fang Zheng became a Martial Sect in the past one or two years?" Hearing this, He Zhong snorted lightly, looking grave:

"Weren’t there few who failed at Gu’an County before?"

"The reason they failed was nothing but underestimating Fang Zheng’s true strength, and this time is no different."

"Besides, I’ve arranged a marriage with Fang Zheng, which makes us family; at critical moments, it’s advantageous, so why go for mutual destruction?"

Xiao Haisheng was silent.

Indeed.

Everything he said assumed that Fang Zheng had just become a Martial Arts Grandmaster and wasn’t that strong yet.

But what about reality?

Not necessarily!

"Congratulations!"

Xiao Haisheng’s thoughts turned, then he clasped his hands and said:

"Master He has found a good match for your daughter. Fang Zheng himself is a Martial Arts Grandmaster and keeps a Ghost King."

"Even in the Zhenren Realm, he has few opponents."

As his voice fell, he was secretly amazed.

This Master He already had vast connections and was closely associated with Immortal Master Ge of Fangxian Dao and Fang Zheng of Gu’an County.

Considering all these,

even within the Exclusion Sect, he had deep roots. If he aimed for the position of gang leader...

"It’s nothing." He Zhong squinted his eyes:

"Fellow Daoist Xiao, I remember you mentioned that Fire-Eyed Lion Zou Yuan of Lanping Mountain urgently needs a Flying Sword?"

"Indeed."

Xiao Haisheng came back to his senses and nodded:

"Several decades ago, Fire-Eyed Lion acquired a Superior Sword Technique; after years of practice, he’s achieved some success, but he lacks a high-grade Flying Sword."

"If he had one, his strength would increase significantly. For this, he’s even willing to exchange the Separation Alloy Wheel."

The Separation Alloy Wheel is extraordinary, able to emit Separation and Union Divine Light, and once refined, it can unleash immense power.

It’s said to have other wonderful uses too.

After this news spread, many were tempted, but the Flying Swords offered couldn’t meet Fire-Eyed Lion’s requirements.

"Good then."

He Zhong smiled:

"Trouble you, Fellow Daoist Xiao, to act as a mediator; I’d like to introduce Fang Zheng to him."

"Hmm?"

Xiao Haisheng’s eyes flickered, then he nodded:

"Good!"

"Hmm?"

He Zhong was about to say something when his expression suddenly changed, taking out a Jade Pendant from his body to look at.

The next moment.

The look of surprise appeared in his eyes.

"Yama Secret Realm?"

......

Fang Mansion.

"Uncle!"

Cai Shu’s eyes were red, her shoulders trembling incessantly.

"There, there." Linghu Qiuchan’s heart ached at the sight, instinctively stepping forward to wrap her arms around her shoulders:

"Don’t cry, don’t cry."

"In the future, if Fang Heng dares bully you, just come to your aunt, and see if I don’t give him a good scolding to vent your anger."

"Aunt." Fang Heng was speechless:

"Why would I bully Cai Shu?"

"Alright."

Fang Zheng waved a hand, speaking slowly:

"He Zhong is not a kind father. Since the He Family can’t tolerate you, consider Fang Mansion your home from now on."

"Uncle!" Cai Shu choked on tears:

"Thank you, Uncle."

Not to mention the feelings with Fang Heng.

In these few months, she’s received unprecedented affection at Fang Mansion, and it’s hard for her to let go.

The family atmosphere at Fang Mansion is very harmonious, and the head of the family doesn’t talk much but always gives a sense of reassurance.

When discussing matters, he also respects others’ opinions.

"We’re family, no need to speak like outsiders." Fang Zheng said:

"Though He Zhong is your biological father, I dislike his character. However, if he harbors no ill intentions, becoming in-laws isn’t an issue."

"What?" Linghu Qiuchan, hearing the subtext, turned her head to look:

"Is there a problem with Cai Shu’s father?"

"Yes."

Fang Zheng nodded:

"With He Zhong’s cultivation base, secretly sneaking into Fang Mansion to take Cai Shu without alarming others isn’t a big issue."