A faint smile touched Hong Zhenjie’s face as he withdrew his gaze from Qingyu, his eyes then sweeping over Teng Yunlong and Teng Qingshan.
“Joining the White Horse Camp? Isn’t that just becoming a bandit?” Teng Yongxiang frowned, lowering his voice.
Teng Yunlong felt troubled and looked to Teng Qingshan beside him: “Qingshan, what should we do?”
“This White Horse Camp isn't easily dealt with,” Teng Qingshan mused.
As the clansmen of Teng Family Village were murmuring amongst themselves.
“Many people dream of entering the White Horse Camp; this is a rare opportunity.” A cavalryman beside Hong Zhenjie pointed to the twelve armored strongmen, “Look at these twelve brothers; they were chosen from the five villages we just visited! Every single village had someone join the White Horse Camp. Your Teng Family Village won’t be an exception, will it!”
Teng Qingshan and the others certainly understood the veiled threat in those words.
“Young Master!” Teng Yunlong cupped his hands and spoke loudly, “The men of our Teng Family Village are reluctant to leave the clan. As for Teng Family Village…”
“Silence!” The cavalryman who spoke bellowed angrily, his warhorse suddenly stepping forward several paces, his long spear thrusting down.
“Thwack!”
Teng Qingshan caught the shaft of the spear with one hand and looked up at the cavalryman: “Brother of the White Horse Camp, regardless of whether anyone from my Teng Family Village joins the White Horse Camp today, just the fact that my maternal grandfather is the Clan Leader of the Teng Clan means you cannot simply strike or kill him? If you dare touch my Clan Leader today, my Teng Clan will ensure you don’t leave this gate alive!”
“Dare to hit my grandfather? You’re courting death,” Teng Qinghu roared as well.
“Do you really think our Teng Family Village is easy to bully!”
“I’ll cleave you in two!”
The men of Teng Family Village, each holding their weapons, had ferocity flashing in their eyes, ready to draw steel at the slightest provocation.
“You—” The cavalryman yanked his spear hard twice, but the spear remained motionless in Teng Qingshan’s grip. Suddenly, Teng Qingshan released his hold, causing the cavalryman to stagger backward, nearly falling off his horse, only managing to regain his seat by gripping the reins—a truly pathetic sight.
Teng Qingshan watched him with cold indifference.
Young Master Hong Zhenjie witnessed this scene and was inwardly startled: “This Teng Qingshan truly lives up to his reputation. Ah Yan, that kid, was trained by my father and practices Inner Strength, yet he couldn’t budge this spear shaft. It seems the rumor from two years ago—that Teng Qingshan was equal to the Second Leader of the Iron Mountain Gang—is true!” He glanced at the entire Teng Clan. “The White Horse Gang suffered considerable losses in the battle against the Iron Mountain Gang. It’s best not to incur more losses. Otherwise, if a real fight breaks out and we slaughter the Teng Family Village, my White Horse Camp might lose more than half its strength!”
The White Horse Camp truly was composed of elites, especially when paired with heavy armor and warhorses.
Even Wang Tiehai, the Third Leader of the Iron Mountain Gang, who was at the peak of the Houtian realm, was killed in a single charge. The other two leaders of the Iron Mountain Gang could only retreat and avoid their (sharp edge). This illustrated the terror of the White Horse Camp.
Once a hundred heavy cavalry charged, leveling the Teng Family Village would not be difficult.
“Haha, Teng Qingshan, hmm, not bad,” Hong Zhenjie laughed. “If you join my White Horse Camp, your Teng Family Village’s annual tribute will be waived. How about it? I can make you the new leader of the White Horse Camp!” What Hong Zhenjie needed most right now were genuine masters.
The leader of the White Horse Camp?
“Thank you, Young Master, for thinking so highly of me, but Qingshan is fond of home and does not wish to go to White Horse Lake for the time being,” Teng Qingshan replied, cupping his hands.
Teng Qingshan was gambling!
He was betting that the White Horse Gang was currently in crisis, and Young Master Hong Zhenjie would be reluctant to waste an elite on the Teng Family Village.
“Hahaha…” Hong Zhenjie, seated on his warhorse, burst into laughter. “Fine. Whenever you wish to join my White Horse Gang in the future, just come! Today… I will not press the matter with your Teng Family Village.” Upon hearing this, many people in Teng Family Village breathed a sigh of relief. Teng Qingshan, Teng Yunlong, and the others, however, felt confused.
The White Horse Gang was practically the local emperor.
When had they ever seen the White Horse Gang back down? When had they ever seen the White Horse Gang resort to reason?
Reasoning wasn't the White Horse Gang's style.
“Teng Qingshan, what is the name of the girl behind you?” Hong Zhenjie suddenly asked.
Teng Qingshan’s face darkened.
Qingyu, standing behind him, immediately clutched Teng Qingshan’s clothing and hid behind him.
“She is my sister,” Teng Qingshan stared intently at Hong Zhenjie.
“Young Master, why are you asking about this young girl?” Clan Leader Teng Yunlong asked in a low voice.
Hong Zhenjie paid no mind to Teng Qingshan’s gaze, laughing heartily: “Your sister? Hmm, the elder brother is quite the man, and the younger sister is also beautiful and delicate. I, Hong Zhenjie, will swallow my pride today and propose a marriage alliance with your Teng Family Village. How about letting your sister marry me as a concubine?”
“Young Master,” Teng Yongfan, the father, anxiously interjected, “My daughter is already betrothed.” He could only use a lie to deflect for now.
“Already betrothed? Then break it off! If you can’t break it off, tell me who that man is, and I’ll go kill him,” Hong Zhenjie chuckled lightly. “Marry me, and you will have endless wealth and honor.”
“I won’t marry you!” Qingyu suddenly shouted.
Hong Zhenjie’s eyes lit up, and he smiled: “Your voice is lovely.” He then glanced at the Teng Clan Leader. “Elder Clan Leader Teng, what do you say?”
“Qingyu is already betrothed; it’s truly impossible,” Teng Yunlong refuted using the same excuse.
Hong Zhenjie’s expression turned grim. He coldly surveyed the assembled people of Teng Family Village: “I, Hong Zhenjie, have given your Teng Family Village enough face today. Do not mistake courtesy for weakness! Don't assume my temper is perpetually mild. Listen closely, everyone: one word, and this woman leaves with me. If you dare utter a single ‘no’… Today, I will soak your Teng Family Village in blood!”
Instantly, the White Horse Camp cavalrymen advanced forward.
Every single person in the Teng Family Village felt their hearts leap into their throats.
“Hmph,” Hong Zhenjie’s face was dark.
In Hong Zhenjie’s view, with his father dead, he was the true emperor of Yicheng, and everything in Yicheng was his to command! Any woman from the Teng Family Village he desired was her fortune. He had tried to play the gentleman today, but he hadn’t expected the Teng Family Village to refuse him such an honor. Hong Zhenjie was furious.
“Damn it, who cares! At worst, we kill them all! If we lose a few White Horse brothers, hmph, my White Horse Gang still has at least six thousand core disciples! Those minor factions—do they dare rebel?” Hong Zhenjie had grown up in a bandit’s den; his entire bearing reeked of brigandage.
His temper flared; who cared about the consequences, kill first and ask questions later.
“Qingshan!” Teng Yongfan looked toward Teng Qingshan.
“Qingshan, what should we do?” Teng Yunlong asked quietly. “If we fight… are you confident?”
Confidence?
If a fight broke out within the Teng Family Village, and the White Horse Camp’s hundred-plus heavy cavalry charged, it would take time for Teng Qingshan to kill all hundred-plus men. By then, many clansmen would likely be slaughtered.
“Brother,” Qingyu tugged at Teng Qingshan’s clothes.
Teng Qingshan turned to look at his sister. Qingyu’s face was streaked with tears; she seemed to sense the darkness encroaching on her future.
“Xiaoyu, do you trust your brother? No matter what decision your brother makes, you will trust it?” Teng Qingshan looked at Qingyu.
“Yes,” Teng Qingyu gritted her teeth. “I listen to you, Brother.”
Teng Qingshan held Qingyu’s hand, then looked up at the murderous aura radiating from Hong Zhenjie: “Young Master, actually, my sister hasn't reached adulthood yet. Even if married, it should be after the coming-of-age ceremony. Furthermore, a marriage of this magnitude should be decided by the parents. Why don’t we go to my home, sit down, and discuss this matter properly, what do you say?”
Hong Zhenjie narrowed his eyes slightly, then sneered: “Fine, let’s see what good words you have to say!”
Immediately, Hong Zhenjie and his large entourage proceeded along the village path toward Teng Qingshan’s residence. Teng Qingshan, Teng Yunlong, Teng Yongfan, and the others naturally followed.
...
“Qingshan, what is he plotting?” Many clansmen looked toward Teng Qingshan’s home, confusion stirring in their hearts.
“Qingshan, he isn't actually going to marry Qingyu off, is he?” Some clansmen worried.
An elder in the clan sighed: “What other way is there? It’s a blessing that Qingyu will marry that Young Master formally; she won’t suffer too much later on.”
“What kind of talk is that? How can Qingyu marry that Young Master?”
...
In the main hall of the Teng Qingshan residence, many people were seated. In the courtyard, it was filled with White Horse Camp men holding weapons.
“Speak,” Hong Zhenjie sat down swaggeringly, surveying the surroundings.
Teng Qingshan smiled and said, “Since Young Master is so eager to marry my sister, you must show sincerity. Never mind the betrothal gifts, but at least, you should set a good date for the wedding procession then.”
Teng Qingshan felt Qingyu’s hand tighten in his own.
“Qingshan!” Many people looked at Teng Qingshan, utterly astonished.
“Wedding procession?” Hong Zhenjie glanced at the tearful Teng Qingyu.
By his nature, he should just take Qingyu away—to hell with a wedding procession. However…
“This girl is truly captivating. Moreover, her brother is a master. If I marry his sister, wouldn’t he become my brother-in-law? Then I can persuade him to join my White Horse Gang,” Hong Zhenjie thought happily. Marrying a beautiful girl while gaining a master—what could be better?
“Haha… very well, then let’s set a date,” Hong Zhenjie laughed.
“Grandfather, in the later period, which day is auspicious?” Teng Qingshan inquired.
Teng Yunlong remained composed: “The sixteenth of the third month is a good day.”
“Won’t that be several days away?” Hong Zhenjie immediately shook his head. “How about the day after tomorrow, the ninth of the third month? That’s a good day! I will come personally to escort the bride the day after tomorrow.”
“Fine, the day after tomorrow,” Teng Qingshan nodded.
“Straightforward,” Hong Zhenjie laughed heartily. “Teng Qingshan, my dear brother-in-law… I will come the day after tomorrow with my men to escort the bride. You must come to my place for the wedding feast.”
“Certainly. Since Young Master personally invites me, how could I dare refuse?” Teng Qingshan replied.
“Good.” Hong Zhenjie stood up, not bothering to say goodbye to anyone else, and turned around. “Brothers, let’s go!”
Watching Hong Zhenjie and his group depart, chaos erupted inside the main hall.
“Qingshan, what were you thinking, letting your sister marry that Young Master?” Yuan Lan asked anxiously.
Teng Yunlong was also confused: “Qingshan, do you really intend to let your sister marry him?” Teng Yongfan also looked at Teng Qingshan.
“Brother!” Qingyu beside him looked at Teng Qingshan. Teng Qingshan held his sister’s hand and comforted her: “Xiaoyu, it’s fine, trust your brother.”
“Isn't the wedding still set for the day after tomorrow?” Teng Qingshan said.
“The day after tomorrow comes very quickly,” Yuan Lan urged anxiously.
“However, Hong Zhenjie won’t see the day after tomorrow,” Teng Qingshan turned to look outside. “Judging by the sound of the hooves, this contingent of the White Horse Camp should be leaving my Teng Family Village now.”
There were not many outsiders in the hall—only Teng Yongfan and his wife, Teng Qingyu, and Teng Yunlong. Everyone else was kept outside and not allowed in.
“Qingshan, what are you going to do?” Teng Yongfan and the others sensed something was amiss.
“I’m going out for a bit,” Teng Qingshan smiled slightly, not taking his Reincarnation Spear. He activated the Horizon Walker technique, instantly transforming into an afterimage and vanishing from the courtyard. In a flash, he reappeared on a distant rooftop, and with another flicker, his figure disappeared from Teng Yunlong’s line of sight.