met free 83. Obstruction
83. Obstruction
At the summit of Junji Peak, discussions on the draft of the "Jianghu Covenant" continued for a full day, only temporarily concluding as night fell. Although not finalized, most clauses had gradually become clearer through heated debate, gaining basic acceptance from the participating factions. Many leaders of smaller sects wore long-lost excitement and anticipation, as if they could already see a fairer future for the Jianghu. Lin Mo, as the alliance leader, publicly announced an adjournment for the night, instructing representatives of each faction to carefully consider the details of the draft, and to discuss and vote on it again the following day.
That night, the Cloud Hidden Manor was brightly lit. Lin Mo, Zhao Kun, and several key advisors were still sorting through the opinions raised by various parties during the day and making final adjustments to the draft. However, this hard-won consensus and enthusiasm did not last until dawn.
The next morning, as the sun rose above the horizon, casting its golden light upon the peaks of Mount Song, a solemn atmosphere quietly permeated the meeting place.
The first to show signs of trouble was Liu Yuan, the chief镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of the Huainan Wuliu镖局 (escort agency) who had been actively offering suggestions the previous night. He approached Lin Mo with several bodyguards, looking embarrassed, and said, "Alliance Leader Lin, the agreement we discussed yesterday was indeed a good plan. However… however, I received an urgent report from home last night that there had been some mishaps on the canal transport, involving a large shipment. I, Liu, must return immediately to handle it. Therefore, I… I'm afraid I cannot participate in this alliance meeting. Please forgive me, Alliance Leader Lin."
Lin Mo looked calmly at Liu Yuan, noticing his shifty eyes and avoidance of eye contact, and understood immediately. The Five Willows Escort Agency's foundation lay in the Huainan Grand Canal, and the lifeline of that canal was largely in the hands of the Nangong family, who controlled the vital waterways and land routes of the south. "Since Chief Escort Liu has important business to attend to, I cannot insist on keeping him. However, I hope that Chief Escort will not let a small matter cause a greater loss," he said calmly, yet with a hidden meaning.
Liu Yuan's face flushed red and then turned pale. In the end, he simply bowed deeply and hurriedly led his men down the mountain.
Then, similar situations occurred one after another.
Sima Yan, the leader of the Xichuan Green Bamboo Gang, also came to take his leave, explaining that the ownership of an important medicinal mountain belonging to his gang had suddenly been questioned by the local government, requiring him to personally return to handle the matter. The Green Bamboo Gang had close ties with the Murong family of Xichuan, and many of its specialty medicinal herbs were purchased by the Murong family. It was self-evident who was manipulating things behind this "government questioning."
Pang Hong, the leader of the Jiangbei Iron Fist Sect, was quite resolute and did not immediately resign. However, several important branch leaders under his command jointly sent an urgent letter stating that several important mines and shops within their sphere of influence had been harassed and suppressed by unknown forces, resulting in significant losses. Pang Hong was furious, but he had no choice but to send men back to maintain order.
Xie, the old leader of the Jiangnan Water Village, had a gloomy expression. He had received news that several fishing grounds and secret waterways on which the Water Village depended for survival had been blocked by government ships under the pretext of "inspecting smuggled salt." Some small gangs affiliated with the Water Village had even received "warnings" from the peripheral forces of the four major families.
In just half a day, the gathering place, which had been packed yesterday, appeared much emptier. More than 30% of the representatives from the smaller sects had left early for various reasons, some real and some not. Among those who remained, most looked worried and whispered among themselves, clearly under varying degrees of pressure.
"Alliance Leader," Zhao Kun quickly walked to Lin Mo's side and whispered, "Our spies planted everywhere have reported that from last night to this morning, the four great families used their networks of connections in the government, business world, and even the underworld to exert pressure on all the major sects participating in the alliance. They cut off their financial resources, disrupted their foundations, threatened their relatives... they used every means at their disposal."
Lin Mo stood on the edge of the peak, looking down at the cloud-shrouded mountains, his eyes cold. He had long expected that the four great families would not sit idly by and watch the alliance succeed, but he had not expected their counterattack to be so swift and brutal, directly targeting the lifeblood of these small and medium-sized sects.
"Lin Mo!" A furious voice boomed like thunder on the mountaintop, shattering the remaining silence.
Following the sound, everyone looked and saw several figures leaping up the mountain at incredible speed, their auras overwhelming. The four at the head were representatives of the four great families: Nangong Ao, elder of the Nangong family; Beitang Ying, head of foreign affairs of the Beitang family; Murong Feng, a direct descendant of the Xichuan Murong family; and Dongfang Liang, a steward of the Dongfang family. Behind them followed dozens of sharp-looking young men from other families, clearly all skilled fighters.
The arrival of these four individuals, representing the four great families, was far more intimidating than the previous covert pressure. The remaining leaders of various factions paled and instinctively took a few steps back, instantly escalating the tension in the room to its limit.
Nangong Ao's beard and hair stood on end, his gaze sharp as lightning as he stared directly at Lin Mo: "Lin Mo! You've gathered this rabble here to hold some kind of martial arts alliance, attempting to establish a so-called covenant and overturn centuries-old rules of the martial arts world. What exactly are you trying to achieve?"
Beitang Ying retorted sinisterly, "The martial world has its own order. How dare you, a mere child, disrupt it? You're inciting people and stirring up trouble. Do you perhaps aspire to be the supreme ruler of the martial world?"
Murong Feng waved a folding fan, appearing elegant, but his words were sharp as knives: "Master Lin, the rapid rise of your Yunyin Manor is a good thing in itself. But to think you can climb over the shoulders of the four great families to rise to power, or even attempt to redistribute the interests of the martial world, is wishful thinking. Remember, the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind."
Dongfang Liang was even more direct. He glanced around at the uneasy leaders of the smaller sects who remained and sneered, "Gentlemen, let me give you a piece of advice: don't let yourselves be used as pawns. You should know what the consequences are for making enemies of the four great families. It's not too late to turn back now. If you remain obstinate..." He snorted coldly, the threat in his unfinished words sending chills down the spines of many.
The representatives of the four major families spoke one after another, their tone aggressive, directly accusing Lin Mo of "disrupting order" and "being ambitious," while also making blatant threats against the other sects.
Pang Hong, hot-tempered, flew into a rage upon hearing this and strode forward, shouting, "Bullshit! When you four great families monopolized resources and oppressed your fellow practitioners, where were you then? What's wrong with Alliance Leader Lin leading us to seek a way to survive? You want us to withdraw from the alliance? You'll have to step over my dead body first!"
Elder Xie also said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, the martial world is not the domain of one family or clan. The pact proposed by Alliance Leader Lin is for the long-term benefit of the martial world, not directed against anyone in particular. Your aggressive tactics are hardly befitting of a prestigious family."
However, those as resolute as Pang Hong and Xie Laobang were few and far between. The majority who remained, under the combined pressure of the four major families' representatives, showed struggle and fear. The flame of hope that had just been ignited by the draft bill seemed to have been doused with a bucket of ice water, flickering and threatening to be extinguished.
Nangong Ao completely ignored Pang and Xie, staring intently at Lin Mo: "Lin Mo, do you see? This is reality! Without the approval of our four great families, your alliance is nothing but a joke! If you know what's good for you, disband this alliance immediately, take your people back to Yunyin Manor, and we might forgive and forget the past. Otherwise…" His true energy surged, his robes fluttered without wind, and a powerful sense of oppression spread out, "Today, this Junji Peak will probably be stained with blood!"
Beitang Ying, Murong Feng, and Dongfang Liang simultaneously stepped forward, their auras connecting with Nangong Ao's. The four powerful auras pressed down on Lin Mo and his alliance behind him like mountains. The scions of noble families behind them also gripped their weapons tightly, their killing intent palpable.
The air seemed to freeze, the tension palpable, ready to erupt at any moment.
All eyes were on Lin Mo. Faced with the combined pressure and blatant threat of force from the representatives of the four great families, how would he respond? Would he compromise and back down, causing this nascent alliance to die in its infancy? Or…
Lin Mo slowly turned around. Facing the menacing approach of the representatives of the four great families, his face showed no fear. Instead, a cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. He did not immediately answer Nangong Ao's question, but first glanced at the leaders of the small and medium-sized sects behind him, whose faces were filled with anxiety yet also with a hint of expectation as they looked at him.
Then, his gaze returned to Nangong Ao and the other three. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an undeniable firmness:
"Let bygones be bygones? Bloodstained Junji Peak?" Lin Mo shook his head slightly, as if he had heard something ridiculous. "Elder Nangong, you seem to have misunderstood something."
He paused, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp as a sword. An aura, even more powerful and profound than the combined power of the four great families, slowly awakened within him, resonating with the Taixu Ancient Sword behind him and emitting a deep sword cry.
"It's not that I, Lin Mo, need your approval," he said, his voice sharp and icy, "but that this martial world needs a new order. And this new order will be established whether or not you four great families exist."
"As for the bloodstains..." Lin Mo stepped forward. Although the Taixu Ancient Sword was not yet drawn, its chilling sword intent soared into the sky, suppressing the combined aura of the four great families and even pushing it back. "You can try it."