Chapter 113 two local bullies

Dragon Whisker City, although one of the closest cities to the Longyan Mountain Range within Anyun Country, was not the best choice for those seeking to explore the mountains for strange treasures or to undergo training. There were several other similar cities in Anyun Country that lay closer to the depths of Longyan Mountain Range. If one were seeking treasures or training, the gains there would likely be greater. Hence, Tenth Rank Great Swordsmen would not normally come to Dragon Whisker City.

With such strength, running a few thousand or even tens of thousands of miles would not be a hardship.

The elderly man and the middle-aged man noticed each other’s presence and exchanged a glance, both showing a hint of surprise in their eyes.

"I didn’t expect you to come to Dragon Whisker City," the elder spoke first, his tone suggesting acquaintance with the middle-aged man, but his expression indicated there was no strong friendship between them.

"There was no choice. If I went to another city, it might arouse suspicion from those with ulterior motives. Only Dragon Whisker City attracts less attention. I guess you must be thinking the same, aren’t you?" said the middle-aged man with a forced smile.

"I thought I was the only one with such concerns. It seems there are other clever people in the world besides me. If I’m not mistaken, apart from the two of us, there should be quite a few others who have come to Dragon Whisker City," the elderly man said, shaking his head.

"Yes, I was surprised too. Just two days ago, I saw the sign of a strange treasure’s appearance. Yet someone had already arrived in Dragon Whisker City before me. Getting this strange treasure won’t be as easy as I thought," the middle-aged man remarked somberly, then added, "Old Man Zong, although I’ve always looked down on you for not advancing to the Sword Saint Master Realm at your age, meeting here could be considered fate. Why don’t we strike a deal?"

"What sort of deal?" Old Man Zong asked, unfazed by the blunt disrespect, displaying impressive composure.

"With the strange treasure’s emergence, there are more than just the two of us eyeing it. If we really have to fight for it, we might not be able to outcompete the others. Why not join forces instead? After success, we can split the gains evenly; how about it?" the middle-aged man suggested.

"That sounds good. Brother He, to have the strength of a Tenth Rank Great Swordsman at your young age and to join forces with you would indeed be a great pleasure in life," chuckled Old Man Zong.

Although both men harbored hidden agendas, they smiled radiantly, like long-lost friends reuniting in a foreign land.

Neither of them took Mu Hanyan and the other young ones seriously, speaking without much reservation, inadvertently providing Mu Hanyan with valuable information.

"How did we run into these two monsters!" Mu Hanyan frowned to herself.

She wasn’t clear about their backgrounds at first, but upon hearing them address each other familiarly, she remembered who they were. The elder’s name was Zong Dingfang, and the middle-aged man was He Songhua. Both were well-known experts in and around Dragon Whisker City, with their families also holding considerable influence—they were local big shots.

With these two in Dragon Whisker City and rumors of other experts having arrived, what could this strange treasure actually be?

Could it also be the Dragon Blood Stone? Mu Hanyan felt an ominous premonition.

Worried about being noticed, Mu Hanyan dared not go out and inquire further.

Despite Tenth Rank Great Swordsmen also falling under the Swordsman category and not having stepped into the Sword Master realm, their title alone revealed their stark difference from other Swordsmen. Their mastery over Qi and sword techniques had reached a completely different level.

The Fifth Rank Swordsman represented a watershed within the Swordsman hierarchy, whereas the Tenth Rank was yet another divide. However, this divide was so solitary that once crossed, one entered the realm of Sword Masters.

If Swordsmen below Level 5 and those from Level 5 to Ninth Rank could still hope for a reversal of fortunes, then facing a Tenth Rank Great Swordsman presented no such chance, regardless of one’s natural gifts or even if at the peak of the Ninth Rank Swordsman. This was an ironclad rule.

Mu Hanyan’s previously lighthearted mood began to cloud with worry.

Before dawn broke, Mu Hanyan, along with Mu Nanzi Rong and the others, left the