Bai Castle was built on top of a mountain.
Rather than a castle, it was more like a small town.
It was built on the top of a high mountain, boasting of its abundant manpower and financial resources, overlooking the multitudes of living beings in the West River.
It was not an exaggeration to say that it was the local tyrant of Xichuan.
It was the first time for most of the people of Jianghu to see Bai Castle. They were used to hearing about the Bai Family's power in Xichuan and the Bai Family's domineering ways in Qinzhou. However, hearing about it ten thousand times was not as good as seeing it in person. The continuous cluster of buildings on top of the mountain was the destination of their trip.
How magnificent, how magnificent, how magnificent … Perhaps it was only at this moment that they realized what kind of colossus they were about to face.
Many people had already exclaimed, and the timid people had already started to plan their escape route.
Fortunately, they were not the main force of this trip, and no one had ever counted on them.
Sun Lang sat upright on the horse with a dignified bearing. His steady posture made the people around him feel at ease … In this world where mortals could become peerless warriors, their divine sense could be condensed into a solid substance, and their aura could oppress living creatures. Naturally, a peerless general who had dominated the battlefield and won hundreds of battles would also have an invincible bearing. Even if it was just a figure, it would be enough to calm the shaky morale of the army.
He squinted his eyes and looked ahead for a while.
Bai Castle was built on top of a mountain. It was not easy to travel from the foot of the mountain to the foot of the mountain, but they had used a huge amount of manpower and resources to open up a broad road. From the top of the mountain to the foot of the mountain, the wide and smooth road spiraled gently. There were pavilions set up at intervals, and there were also two platforms, plazas, houses, and taverns along the way. As for the flowers and trees, the scenery was tranquil and the air was refreshing.
Sun Lang sighed and said, "Ah, every inch of this beautiful land is soaked in the sweat and tears of the poor and laboring people …"
Obviously, if such a good place was placed in the Celestial Empire, the family that owned it would be the first to be turned into idiots during the land reform, and this precious land would also encounter all kinds of bumpy fates. However, there was no need to panic. In the end, it would be made into a famous scenic spot. With extremely high ticket prices, extremely expensive prices, and fabricated touching legends, it would attract wave after wave of tourists to come and pay money...
XiMen Qing was obviously the most loyal member of the Bai Family. When he heard this, he agreed, "Senior is right. This luxurious house is filled with the wealth of the people. It's best to burn it all down!"
Sun Lang smiled meaningfully. "Don't be in such a hurry to start a fire. The other side wants to use peaceful means before resorting to force. Look, the welcoming team is already here."
While he was speaking, a cloud of dust rose from the ground as five or six riders galloped over on horseback. The one leading them was none other than Bai Zhenming's right-hand men, the loyal butler of the Bai Clan.
The butler dismounted from his horse a stone's throw away from Sun Lang. He walked forward and cupped his hands in a manner that was neither servile nor overbearing. "This one is the Bai Clan's butler, Bai Hengqing. Honored guests have come to visit, so I apologize for not going out to meet you."
Master Zhiying and the others were all respectable people of Jianghu. Their businesses were very big, and their status in Jianghu was very high. Therefore, they had to pay attention to etiquette and rules. They couldn't be like when they were young and talk about how to chop your father. Even if the two sides were to fight in private, they still had to pay attention to etiquette on the surface. Seeing that Butler Bai was so polite, they also returned the courtesy.
XiMen Qing was a twisted member of the Bai Clan. He had an unresolvable hatred with the Bai Clan. After the two sides finished their greetings, he sat firmly on his tall horse and looked down at Butler Bai. He arrogantly said, "We're all people of Jianghu. Your master didn't call for help from the imperial court, so let's just leave Jianghu matters to Jianghu.
People of Jianghu don't care about formalities, so let's get down to business. "
The several knights who followed Housekeeper Bai couldn't help but show anger. Although Housekeeper Bai didn't get angry, his eyes also dimmed down. He calmly said: "You lead thousands of Jianghu friends, all of you are holding swords, showing off your martial prowess, blocking my Bai Family's door. It turns out that you want to talk business. This really makes me feel relieved."
XiMen Qing coldly said, "Don't try this with me. If you don't want to use your mouth to reason, then we can use another way to reason!"
Butler Bai proudly said, "I don't know what reason Master XiMen is here to talk about?"
XiMen Qing pressed the hilt of the saber at his waist and stared at Butler Bai. He slowly said, "Naturally, it's the reason for the 318 lives in the Huaichuan Massacre."
Butler Bai nodded and said, "This one has also heard about that matter. For the dead and injured Jianghu friends, our Bai Clan is also very sympathetic. In Jianghu, swords and sabers have no eyes. There are too many examples of people flaunting their power today and being buried tomorrow. It's better to go home and live a stable life … However, the Huaichuan friends have been killed and injured.
XiMen Qing was secretly stabbed by Housekeeper Bai, and his heart was already furious. Seeing the situation, he was even more furious. He directly pulled out his knife: "Good, I knew that your Bai Family would refuse to admit it. But the heavens are clear, and there are witnesses and evidence. Even if your Bai Family denies it, it will be difficult for you to escape from the mouth of everyone!
Princes who break the law are guilty of the same crime as commoners. Today, the murderer must pay with his life! "
Butler Bai calmly looked at XiMen Qing and said coldly, "Listening to Master XiMen's words, is the murderer hiding in our Bai Clan?"
XiMen Qing raised his hand and slashed. The heavy saber cut out a stunning edge in the air. The fierce saber collided with the air and made a burst of sound. He stared at Butler Bai and said sternly, "Don't play dumb with me!
As the Butler of the Bai Clan, how can you not know that the murderer is your ancestor, the Golden Radiance Sword Saint Bai Yuwei! "
When Butler Bai heard this, he suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed. His internal force was deep and his voice spread far and wide. It startled the birds in the forest and even the people at the back heard it clearly.
After hearing the sharp point of the other party, he didn't say anything and laughed to the sky first. This was basically a common routine in debates. Because laughing could hide one's panic, it could also buy time to think of a way. At the same time, it could also tactically despise the enemy and attack the enemy's mentality — after all, even the most confident person would feel instinctively irritated after hearing a burst of hysterical laughter.
Basically, there was only one meaning in laughing in a debate, and that was to tell the opponent — you are an idiot.
As for how you are an idiot, I'll tell you when I'm done laughing.
But Butler Bai only laughed halfway when Sun Lang impatiently dug his ear. There was a piece of loose earwax in his ear. It was buzzing because of the loud laughter, but it couldn't be shaken off. Damn, his martial arts was so bad, it was really annoying.
He dug twice, and then coldly said, "If you laugh again, I'll twist your head off."
When Butler Bai heard this, he bitterly stopped laughing. As the right-hand man of Bai Zhenming, he fully understood Sun Lang's temperament. He knew what kind of virtue he had.
But he still took the opportunity to look at XiMen Qing and wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes. "Hero XiMen, I know that you have some disagreements with our Bai family. There are grudges between our ancestors and the current generation. I'm not surprised that you are the enemy of the Bai family. But in order to attack the Bai family, you can't even distinguish the most basic right and wrong. This really makes me feel funny."
XiMen Qing was about to curse, but Housekeeper Bai spoke first, "Master Zhiying, you are an esteemed monk of Sanskrit Temple, Daoist Master Bai, and you are a revered elder of Zhengyang Palace. Both of you are experts outside of the world, old seniors whose names are known throughout the martial world. Do you also believe in such rumors?"
Butler Bai took two steps back, raised his arms and said loudly, "My old master is a famous general of the Tian Yuan Empire. He spent his whole life on the battlefield and was loyal to the country. He spent his whole life fighting against the Sky Demon and dedicated his whole life to the country. Thanks to the mercy of the heavens, he was able to return to his hometown in glory. Although he is old and no longer young, he can at least enjoy the rest of his life at home …"
When Butler Bai said this, his eyes turned red. He looked at the masters in front of him and gritted his teeth angrily. "He has been living in seclusion in the Bai family castle for the past two years. He doesn't care about worldly affairs and doesn't see outsiders. He is no different from an ordinary old man. Our old master has completely withdrawn from the imperial court and Jianghu. He didn't even respond to His Majesty's summons. Why would he go to Huaichuan to kill people and ruin his reputation?"
Butler Bai's acting was really good. He probably revealed some of his true feelings. What he said was also very reasonable.
Indeed, Bai Yuwei was almost the number one official of the Tian Yuan Empire. He had been a senior official for three dynasties and had made outstanding contributions. He had also personally ended the Great War of the Tian Yuan Empire. He was greatly favored by the emperor and was famous throughout the world. At this point, he was also old and had no more pursuits in life. Why would he come out to kill people and ruin his reputation?
Master Zhiying and the others looked at each other. This was indeed a very suspicious point, but …
XiMen Qing said loudly, "This matter is indeed very suspicious, but there must be some inside story!
Bai, even if you have a glib tongue, you can't resist the irrefutable evidence!
Many people saw your old master kill people in Huaichuan with their own eyes, including this senior. He was the one who defeated Bai Yuwei in Huaichuan. He saw it with his own eyes. How can it be false? "
Butler Bai's eyes fell on Sun Lang.
Both of them looked at each other for a moment and then calmed down.
Sun Lang said calmly, "Instead of arguing here, it's better to confront him face to face. Whether it's your old master or not, we can just call him out and let him know."
According to Bai Zhenming's instructions, Butler Bai immediately said, "No!
Our old master's status is very noble. He's not someone you can meet just because you want to! "
XiMen Qing said loudly, "Usually, it's fine, but this matter concerns the reputation and survival of your Bai family. No matter how arrogant Bai Yuwei is, he should come out!
I think you're obviously guilty! "
Housekeeper Bai glared at him and said, "You called your friends and intimidated the Bai family. For an inexplicable accusation, you went up the mountain and forced my Bai family's ancestor to come out to meet you. You're quite arrogant!"
Seeing the two quarreling, Master Zhiying came out to mediate. "Both of you, please calm down.
Almsgiver Bai, we all admire Master Bai's reputation and achievements. If we weren't confident, we wouldn't have dared to come here rashly to provoke Master Bai.
So … "
Butler Bai glared at him and said, "Well, Master Zhiying, do you also think that my old master is the murderer?"
Monk Zhi Ying was at a loss for words. 'Monk Zhi Ying is a monk who doesn't take action if he can talk. They won't easily fall out with each other. You can't possibly say that your ancestor did it, right?'
At this moment, Sun Lang said, "I've fought with the murderer in Huaichuan. I think it's Bai Yuwei. After that, there were survivors who drew a sketch of Bai Yuwei. Those who have seen Bai Yuwei also think that it's Bai Yuwei. At least, this means that we're not slandering him for no reason. We're here today to get a result. Therefore, I want to ask your old master to come out and cooperate with us. This is for your own good."
Butler Bai said with red eyes, "What? If we don't agree, you're going to use force?"
Sun Lang waved his hand and said, "That's not what I mean. I mean, we've all seen Bai Yuwei's murderer. What if the murderer isn't Bai Yuwei? What does that mean?
The murderer's martial arts are extremely high and rare in the world. If it's not Bai Yuwei, it can only mean that there's a Seven Luminaries Sword Saint pretending to be the Gold Luminaries Sword Saint and framing him … "
He took a deep look at Butler Bai and said slowly, "Do you understand?
If it's not Bai Yuwei who did it, it means that your Bai family has provoked such a strong person. Maybe there's something more troublesome … For example, the situation now. The rumors in the martial arts world are getting more and more intense. Maybe it's also part of the conspiracy to frame you. "
Butler Bai's face turned pale when he heard this. He muttered, "This …"
Even Master Zhiying and the others became surprised and doubtful. They exchanged glances and thought, 'Why did Senior say this?'
Only Yang Tian Du, who had been silent all this time, lowered his head slightly to hide his slightly frightened eyes.
He screamed in his heart.
It's starting … he's going to make a move!
He really wants to pour all the dirty water on the Tensei Province!
Moreover … he really is colluding with the Bai family!
Just as Hero Yang thought, he heard Steward Bai's sigh.
"Senior's foresight is exactly the same as my master's … My family's head also suspects that there's a huge force targeting the Bai family …"
Hero Yang could even hear his own heartbeat. 'This is really a double act between me and Butler Bai!'
'They've already discussed this before!'
At this time, Sun Lang said, "Is that so?
In other words, the Bai family's head is willing to talk to us? "
Butler Bai calmed down and took two steps back. He bowed solemnly, "I'm Bai Hengqing. I've been ordered by my family's head, Bai Zhen Ming, to invite all the martial arts world friends up the mountain for a meeting."
This turn of events was so sudden that Master Zhiying and the others almost sprained their backs due to their old age. They all had strange expressions on their faces as they thought, 'Eh? We were here to demand an explanation from the Bai Clan. We were here to demand payment from the Bai Clan. How did it suddenly become a conspiracy?'
'What's going on?'
Only Yang Tian Du knew what was going on.
All of this was a conspiracy. Sun Lang colluded with the Bai family to plot against the Tensei Province.
'But he was wrong.'
Sun Lang and the Bai family were not as united and close as he thought.
There was only a fine line between betrayal and loyalty.