Urban Martial Saint

Once Huangfu Ziyu got hold of the Sun Shooting Bow, the only person in the room who could rival her was Helian Tiehua. The crowd initially intended to use Helian Tiehua to suppress Huangfu Ziyu. Unexpectedly, Helian Tiehua supported Huangfu Ziyu, leaving everyone else at a loss.

Those who were clamoring to kick Ye Qing out of the meeting room now fell silent. Zhou Junliang and Bai Yingqi, unable to achieve anything on their own, looked at each other, and finally, Zhou Junliang slowly turned his head to the side, avoiding Bai Yingqi’s gaze.

Zhou Junliang knew he couldn’t contend with Huangfu Ziyu. Even members of the Seven Great Families, including those from his Zhou Family, had fallen silent, so he had no temper left. Fortunately for him, Huangfu Ziyu was only trying to drive away Bai Yingqi to give his seat to Ye Qing and wasn’t targeting Zhou Junliang himself. Hence, he didn’t need to face the situation head-on; he simply waited to see how Bai Yingqi would handle the matter since he wouldn’t be the one embarrassed.

Seeing Zhou Junliang’s attitude, Bai Yingqi was nearly driven mad with anger. In dealing with the Huangfu Household, the Bai Family and the Zhou Family had always been united. Moreover, before Huangfu Ziyu arrived, he had reached an agreement with Zhou Junliang to suppress Huangfu Ziyu together, preventing her from seizing power over the Seven Families. But now, Zhou Junliang wasn’t standing with him, which felt no different from a betrayal, and his inner rage was evident.

In just this short time, Bai Yingqi’s fury towards Zhou Junliang surpassed even that towards Huangfu Ziyu. The feeling of being stabbed in the back by an ally was the most unbearable thing.

After a long silence, Bai Yingqi stared daggers at Zhou Junliang, gritting his teeth as he said, ”Since it’s like this, then Mr. Ye can surely sit here!”

”That’s good, then. Master Bai, could you move aside?” Huangfu Ziyu said with a faint smile.

Bai Yingqi stood up, teeth clenched, and relinquished his seat. Around the table, the heads of the Seven Families each had their places. Having vacated the foremost seat, he couldn’t remove others, so he had to go to the last spot. At such a conference table, the place you sit represents your status, and his feelings now could be well imagined.

However, for Bai Yingqi at this moment, there wasn’t much resentment towards Huangfu Ziyu; he was more infuriated with Zhou Junliang. After all, he previously regarded Zhou Junliang as an ally, and now being betrayed by him, his hatred naturally surpassed that of being suppressed by Huangfu Ziyu.

Noticing Bai Yingqi’s expression, Zhou Junliang was well aware that he had fallen out completely with Bai Yingqi, and any future alliance was out of the question. But he had no choice; with Huangfu Ziyu having the Sun Shooting Bow and Helian Tiehua backing her, she had the upper hand. Even with all Seven Families rising in resistance, they wouldn’t be able to overcome her. Moreover, since everyone else remained silent, he certainly wouldn’t become the one to stick his neck out. Offending Bai Yingqi was much better than being struck down by Huangfu Ziyu on the spot!

Of course, this incident made Zhou Junliang no longer underestimate Huangfu Ziyu. Previously, he thought she was merely a young lady, incapable of much. But now, it was clear he had totally underestimated her. Huangfu Ziyu’s abilities far exceeded his expectations. With just a casual request for Bai Yingqi to yield his seat, she managed to pit him against Bai Yingqi, showcasing her formidable strategy.

In fact, everything went just as Zhou Junliang speculated. Huangfu Ziyu’s tactic of forcing Bai Yingqi to give way to Ye Qing was to better control the Seven Families. Having been around for so long, she was most familiar with the Seven Families’ circumstances. At present, the strongest were only three families, of which the Bai and Zhou Families formed an alliance. For anyone aiming to control the Seven Families, these two families would be an obstacle. Therefore, the best approach to mastering the Seven Families was first to dismantle the Bai and Zhou alliance.

Huangfu Ziyu wasn’t a mere weak girl. After all, she had emerged tenaciously in her teenage years, single-handedly wielding power over a province’s underground forces, unachievable by ordinary people. Her scheming might even rival Ye Qing’s, and her understanding of human nature was extraordinary. Forcing a wedge between Bai Yingqi and Zhou Junliang was merely the first step; she had numerous other methods to completely dismantle the alliance between the Zhou and Bai Families. In doing so, the three strongest forces among the Seven Families would operate independently, unable to form alliances and thus unable to restrict her, allowing her to control the Seven Families fully.

Helian Tiehua sat beside, lightly chuckling without speaking. Having led the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance for so many years, he could naturally see through Huangfu Ziyu’s strategies. And this was exactly what he wished to witness. The families had always been highly arrogant, disregarding even him, the Left Envoy of the Hong Alliance, leaving him unable to fully control the Seven Rudders’ forces. If Huangfu Ziyu could successfully consolidate the Seven Families’ forces to collectively oppose the Twelve Green Halls, it would indeed be beneficial for the Seven Steering Committees of the Hong Alliance.

Seeing Bai Yingqi stand up, Ye Qing took his seat beside Huangfu Ziyu without hesitation. He could see through Huangfu Ziyu’s intentions and, considering Huangfu Ziyu wanted to control the Seven Families, he would unconditionally support her. Furthermore, now Ye Qing had the strength to support Huangfu Ziyu. With all his meridians cleared, he had fully integrated his Inner Strength. Were it not for the meridian constraints, he could already fully employ the Inner Strength of Northern Fist King Li Changqing. Even now, despite not fully utilizing it, his strength surpassed top-level masters, establishing him as the foremost below the acme!

”That’s great,” Helian Tiehua laughed beside them, ”Ye Qing, you and Zi Yu should find some time to settle your matter. From now on, you’ll be part of the Hong Alliance’s Seven Steering Committees!”

Ye Qing smirked but said nothing. He truly didn’t wish to get involved in the affairs between the Seven Steering Committees of the Hong Alliance and the Twelve Green Halls, but with Huangfu Ziyu there, he would certainly stay.

Huangfu Ziyu’s face flushed slightly; she smiled softly and said, ”Uncle Helian, let’s first handle the matter at hand.”

”True enough!” Helian Tiehua nodded, looked around at everyone present, and said, ”Now that Patriarch Huangfu has obtained the Sun Shooting Bow, which acknowledges her, by ancestral tradition, any member of the Seven Families who obtains the Sun Shooting Bow becomes the master of the Seven Families and the Right Envoy of the Hong Alliance’s Seven Steering Committees. Therefore, from today onwards, Patriarch Huangfu will take charge of the Seven Families, managing all their affairs. Internally within the Seven Families, any matters can be addressed to Patriarch Huangfu, who also has the right to involve herself in all the Seven Families’ affairs.”

Listening to his words, the few Family Heads of the Seven Families looked at each other. Although some were unconvinced, who dared to voice it? This was the ancestral tradition. Huangfu Ziyu controlling the Seven Families was a rule set by their ancestors that they couldn’t change.

”Rest assured, Patriarch Huangfu. Our Chen Family will certainly assist you with all our strength!” Amid the silence, White Horse Chen San was the first to speak. The Chen Family’s situation was quite similar to the Huangfu Household, now left with only a few members, with Chen San serving as the family head.

Seeing Chen San’s stance, the other Family Heads couldn’t maintain their silence any longer. First, the heads of two relatively weaker families voiced their support, followed by the remaining three Family Heads, who also had to express their support.

”Since everyone supports this, the matter is settled.” Helian Tiehua smiled and continued, ”Furthermore, Patriarch Huangfu will also serve as the Right Envoy of the Hong Alliance’s Seven Steering Committees, having the same status as myself and capable of directing the Seven Steering Committees’ members.”

Hearing this, everyone gazed at Huangfu Ziyu with envy. Helian Tiehua’s move virtually handed half of the Hong Alliance’s Seven Steering Committees, cultivated over many years, directly to Huangfu Ziyu. For her, this was a chance to soar to the sky in one step. Members of the Seven Families couldn’t even command the Hong Alliance’s Seven Steering Committees.

Helian Tiehua had reasons for his action. Currently, the Twelve Green Halls were formidable, while the strength of the Hong Alliance’s Seven Steering Committees was clearly inferior. He needed to further expand the power of the Seven Steering Committees to match the Twelve Green Halls. Huangfu Ziyu, having gained the Sun Shooting Bow and with strength comparable to the Five Uniques, naturally deserved an absolute status within the Seven Steering Committees.

Moreover, behind Huangfu Ziyu was an equally formidable force, the Southern Fist King Shen Tianjun, one of the most renowned figures among the Five Uniques. Plus, Ye Qing was now also formidable, sharp-witted, and absolutely behind Huangfu Ziyu. By elevating Huangfu Ziyu, Helian Tiehua could gain two masters, something greatly beneficial.

Considering Helian Tiehua had spoken, nobody else had any objections. The few Family Heads unconvinced by Huangfu Ziyu had no choice but to bow their heads in silence. With Helian Tiehua elevating Huangfu Ziyu to such a status, even they weren’t her match and had to resign to it.

The meeting didn’t last much longer. Huangfu Ziyu proposed a few rules, and without opposition, the meeting concluded quickly.

After sending the Seven Families’ members away, Ye Qing, Huangfu Ziyu, Helian Tiehua, and Ao Wuchang remained in the meeting room. Without concealment, Ye Qing mentioned borrowing the Sun Shooting Bow for a rescue mission in front of Helian Tiehua.

”One-Eyed Ding Lianshun and Red Snake Yin Fairy!” Helian Tiehua slowly repeated their names, then turned to Ye Qing, saying, ”Ye Qing, are you aware of the consequences if these two are rescued?”

”I know!” Ye Qing replied calmly. ”But since I’ve said I’ll save them, I must do so at all costs. It’s my debt to them!”