Volcanic Age

The Black Shadow Division had always been managed by the younger generation of the Tang Family. Moreover, those involved were either direct descendants or even the next in line to lead the family.

Considering it was the Martial Alliance's hidden darkness and required the utmost secrecy, it was only natural that those involved had to hold significant status.

The current head of the family, Tang Youqi, and the previous head of the family had done the same, and the successor of the family, Tang Mingren, who would become the next head of the family, was currently doing the same.

"Welcome."

Tang Mingren greeted Zhou Xuchuan and Tang Hui with a tired expression.

He politely cupped his fist toward Zhou Xuchuan and gave a faint smile to Tang Hui.

“It’s been a while, little sister."

However, his smile seemed forced, enough to make one wonder if they were truly blood-related siblings.

"By the way, why did you leave the main gate and come in through the back entrance?"

"Ah, that's my bad. Everyone is so busy here because of the incident with the blood cultists that we must not have heard."

Tang Mingren scratched the back of his head.

"Oh, right, Plum Blossom Order Sword… No, Great Hero Sword Dragon. Please keep the back entrance a secret. While it doesn’t matter that you know about it, since the Alliance Leader has already given you a general explanation about the Black Shadow Division, it’s still a place even the elders have limited information about."

"Of course. I will keep that in mind.”

In Tang Hui's case, although she wasn't a member of the Black Shadow Division itself, as a direct descendant of the Tang Family, she had access to the information. After all, she would need to take charge if anything ever happened to Tang Mingren.

"AGH! SAVE ME! SAVE ME!!!!"

Zhou Xuchuan was about to respond when a scream suddenly echoed from the underground prison.

How vicious.

The man's skin was completely peeled off, and there were other traces of torture.

If Zhou Xuchuan hadn't experienced the hell of war in his previous life, he might have vomited at the sight.

"Oh, my apologies. I didn't mean to show you something like this… let's head up first."

Tang Mingren didn’t even raise an eyebrow and led Zhou Xuchuan and Tang Hui up through another door.

Unlike the hell that unfolded underground, the Poison Institute's main building seemed relatively normal.

Since it was a Poison Institute, wisps of poison occasionally leaked out. However, since it didn't affect him that much, it didn't matter.

The building otherwise appeared ordinary, aside from the many medicinal manufacturing labs and storage rooms.

After drinking the tea Tang Mingren had served, Zhou Xuchuan told him everything he had heard from Nangong Weiwu and Zhuge Xiang.

Tang Mingren nodded strangely, not asking a single question, which made Zhou Xuchuan wonder if he had even been paying attention. Finally, Tang Mingren suggested they step outside.

"While I’m comfortable here, it’s better for us to be seen by others. There’s no point staying hidden in a place no one will venture. Hui, would you like to join us?"

"Yes, Orabeoni."

Tang Hui became prim and proper in front of Tang Mingren. Her usual harsh words were nowhere to be seen, making Zhou Xuchuan doubt his eyes.

"Ha! It's the Sword Dragon and the Poison Phoenix!"

As soon as they stepped into the garden, the trio drew attention.

It was no surprise that Tang Hui, whose stunning beauty turned heads wherever she went, was quickly recognized. She often participated in public events, so she was well known.

As for Zhou Xuchuan, though he rarely showed his face in public, a few people recognized him because of the recent war.

After all, this was Hefei, the center of the Righteous Faction and the headquarters of the Martial Alliance.

"Ha! The perfect couple, really, the perfect couple!"

"I heard that the Sword Dragon and the Poison Phoenix have that sort of relationship."

Because they were so famous, all sorts of rumors circulated. A significant number revolved around the supposed relationship between the Sword Dragon and the Poison Phoenix.

Though no one mentioned it anymore, there had been a time when the Sword Dragon was called the Phoenix Slayer, and the main phoenix that was 'slain' was Tang Hui. So, it would be stranger if the two weren't involved.

"Huh? But, who's that person next to them?"

“I’ve never seen him before…”

If it were just the two of them, there would have been all sorts of rumors. However, since Tang Mingren was also there, people's interests shifted.

"Huh? Isn't that the Poison Dragon? What’s he doing out here?"

"To think the Poison Dragon would leave his den…"

Tang Mingren, despite being the Poison Dragon of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes, wasn't very recognizable.

This was partly because, as a member of the Black Shadow Division, he rarely went out, and partly because he simply preferred to keep a low profile.

Still, it wasn't like he didn't go out at all. Moreover, there were people who went in and out of the Poison Institute, so some of them recognized him.

"To think I would be able to see three of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes…"

In the past, as the leading figures of the younger generation of the Righteous Faction, the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes held regular gatherings to promote friendship.

However, with this generation, the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes were a little different.

The Poison Phoenix had a crazy personality and didn't get along well with the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes, and the Poison Dragon didn't meet with people at all.

The Knowledge Dragon, trained as a Vice Strategist of the Martial Alliance, traveled extensively, making it difficult for others to meet him.

The Seal Dragon, who had just recently died in battle and had to step down, was also far from sociable.

Four out of eight.

Half of them were absent from society, and recently, because the gangho murim was so noisy, there was no time for the rest to interact.

"What? The Sword Dragon and the Poison Dragon are meeting?”

Meanwhile, the leaders of the Martial Alliance frowned, their expressions complicated as they received the news.

It was understandable. The prime suspect in a recent incident was spending time with the hero of the Righteous Faction. Those who harbored ill feelings toward the Black Shadow Division or the Tang Family wanted to rush over and sabotage them immediately. However, as all three of them were members of the younger generation, and since there were so many eyes on them, they couldn't do so carelessly.

"What's going on?"

"Wait, we aren't mistaken, are we?"

"That's impossible! Then who else would do something like that?! Based on the circumstances, it can't be anyone other than Tang Mingren of the Poison Institute!"

"But… this isn't just anyone we're talking about. It's the hero Zhou Xuchuan. From what I heard, he also knows exactly where the Poison Dragon is affiliated."

The reputation of Zhou Xuchuan, the hero of the Righteous Faction, carried immense weight.

If Tang Mingren was his friend and Zhou Xuchuan publicly defended him, it would mean clashing directly with the Great Hero.

If they ended up at odds with the most popular hero of the era, their standing in the Martial Alliance could be jeopardized. Unless they were willing to develop a grudge against Mount Hua, foaming at the mouth and rushing them at every turn, like the Mount Heng Sect, they’d have to tread carefully.

Since Zhou Xuchuan’s arrival at the Martial Alliance, rumors began spreading about how he often spent time with Tang Mingren. Surprisingly, just being seen with a hero like Zhou Xuchuan gradually dispelled some of the suspicion surrounding the Poison Dragon.

The Martial Alliance could also sense the popularity and power of the hero.

Meanwhile, in addition to spending time with Tang Mingren, Zhou Xuchuan also spoke publicly in front of martial artists, as requested by Nangong Weiwu and Zhuge Xiang.

"Fellow members of the gangho, please listen to what I have to say. As some of you may already know, there have been movements of a disturbing force in Xinjiang just outside the Central Plains. That force is none other than the Demon Cult."

It was preparation to respond to the Demon Cult’s activities.

"There will probably be another war soon."

The people grew anxious and dissatisfied at the mention of war.

Before the wounds of war had fully healed, there would be yet another war. The relief they had felt once the war had ended felt like it had been in vain.

Some of the disgruntled even shouted out loud, asking him if he really liked fighting that much.

"I don't want to fight either. I don't want to see any of you bleed, and I don't want to experience the pain of sadness or suffering. However, we can't run away. We can't give in. The cultists are dangerous. They'll rape your lovers, your daughters, and they'll plunder and trample on the food that we've stored to survive the winter."

The Demon Cult were all demons. This wasn't Zhou Xuchuan trying to incite them.

They were madmen whose minds were filled with nothing but demonic thoughts.

"That's why we must fight against them. No, we must protect. We must protect our friends who we drink with, our lovers who we can whisper sweet words to, and our children whom we love more than anything from the hands of these demons."

Zhou Xuchuan spoke as if his tongue had been greased. His words were spread throughout the murim by the people and poets.

“However, we lack strength. To put it bluntly, we lack money and manpower.”

There was no need to beat around the bush.

To change people's minds and gain support, he had to speak clearly. In war, vague statements could lead to people's deaths.

"As you know, the Martial Alliance suffered heavy losses while protecting our families and property from the madmen of the Blood Cult. Unfortunately, before we could fully heal from those wounds, the Demon Cult is planning to invade the Central Plains. We need your help.”

During his time as one of the Five High Elders of Mount Hua, he read a lot of books, giving him many chances to pick up different skills. As a result, he had no trouble speaking.

"A little, even a little, is fine. Even that small amount alone would be a great help. Please, we need your support."

Zhou Xuchuan bowed.

"People call me a hero. However, I am not the only hero."

People admired Zhou Xuchuan and followed in his steps.

Zhou Xuchuan admired the people and followed in their steps.

"As long as you want to help someone, as long as you can take a step forward with a little more courage, you are the hero."

Those words moved people’s hearts.

***

“Hahaha!”

Blessed Existence slapped his knee and burst into laughter. His empty sleeve swayed with each movement, a reminder of his missing arm.

"As if anyone would say he wasn't of the Righteous Faction! How hypocritical!"

Blessed Existence looked down at the world and laughed.

"Lao Tzu once said, Fu Wei Bing Zhe, Bu Xiang Zhi Qi, Wu Huo E Zhi, Gu You Dao Zhe Bu Chu."[1]

Weapons were inauspicious tools. Nature itself hated them for that reason.

Therefore, those who obtained enlightenment of the Path would never use them.

"The founder of their Daoist sect said as much, but those who had inherited his will are asking for help because they lack the people to wield their weapons and the money to afford them! If something like this isn't called hypocrisy, then what is?! Zhou Xuchuan!"

Blessed Existence roared in anger.

"What is right, what is wrong?! He's supposed to be a hero! In the end, Righteous, Evil, Demonic? Aren't you all the same?!"

The hero's speech moved both money and men.

When he said the words, 'As long as you want to help someone, as long as you can take a step forward with a little more courage, you are the hero,' money and people both flowed into the Martial Alliance.

Zhou Xuchuan's fortune, the money of Gold Will Merchants, also moved quite a bit.

Others who had once been helped by Zhou Xuchuan, whether in big or small ways, also came forward to contribute. Though each individual’s help seemed minor, the collective effort snowballed into something substantial.

Even the reclusive eccentrics and masters began to come out.

Soon after, the Demon Cult moved on a grand scale.

They numbered ten thousand and they headed to Qinghai, the first battleground, for the invasion of the Central Plains.

"The Seven Swords War, the Evil Valley's Civil War, the Great War of Good and Blood… and now, the Great War of Good and Demonic. They've all happened in less than ten years."

The busybodies all whispered to each other.

“This is truly an era of war!”

1. Dao De Ching, Chapter 31. ☜

Cyncoco's Thoughts

It's me, Cyncoco!

Dao De Ching, Lao Tzu.

Chapter 31

Good weapons are instruments of fear (夫唯兵者不祥之器). All of nature hates them (物或惡之). Therefore, the followers of the Dao never used them (故有道者不處).

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!