I turned to look at Wang Butcher, who said, "Little brother, I want to join Liangjie Tang."

While I was still stunned, Wang Butcher added, "Representing the Wang family in joining Liangjie Tang."

I stared at Wang Butcher for a long time, "Are you willing?"

Wang Butcher shook his head, "What can I do if I'm not willing? The Wang family is not what it used to be. Even if I don't join Liangjie Tang, how long can the Wang family last?"

"Besides, my joining Liangjie Tang makes the battle against the Bai family different. Liangjie Tang versus the Bai family is a conflict between sects. If you fight the Bai family on behalf of the Wang family and lose, you'll become a family slave of the Bai family. That can never happen."

While I was pondering, Feng Ruohang said, "That's good. Butcher joining Liangjie Tang can also dispel those rumors in the art world."

"I know you don't care about those rumors. But it's always better to not give the other side a chance to make a fuss than to passively fight back."

I pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, let Zhao Ci send a message to the art world. Say that Wang Butcher, a Xiangzhu (incense master) under Liangjie Tang, is challenging the Bai family to a battle to the death. The decisive battle will be tomorrow at nine o'clock."

"Only one side, Liangjie Tang or the Bai family, will leave the mountain alive."

The news of Liangjie Tang challenging the Bai family instantly exploded in the art world. Within a few hours, various rumors escalated, becoming increasingly outrageous. Some even spread rumors that Liangjie Tang wanted to annex the Northeast art world.

I said in a deep voice, "Tell Zhao Ci to track down the source of the rumors. I want to see who's targeting Liangjie Tang."

Zhao Ci was fully engaged in collecting information when Feng Ruohang told me, "Someone is leading the public opinion to confront the art world. And there are quite a few of them..."

"Huh?" Feng Ruohang said in surprise, "Twenty sects have already spoken out in support of Liangjie Tang, and many art world experts are also coming forward to support you. Who has such a big reputation?"

Feng Ruohang exclaimed, "Someone has released the news that the Bai family is deliberately stalling you, trying to disrupt the Yang Jian Jie Ming Ren (Yang Jian Life Borrowing) mission. People in the art world are starting to denounce the Bai family."

"Ling!" The first person I thought of was Ling. Besides her, I couldn't think of anyone who could call in reinforcements for me in such a short time.

Ling didn't contact me, but within an hour, she brought the public opinion of both sides to a relative balance.

Ling managed to turn the art world's denunciation into a spectator event.

Now, the one in trouble wasn't me, but Bai Hanfei.

Some art world experts who stood up to uphold justice had already taken the Bai family under surveillance, just to ensure that both sides had a "fair" fight.

Fair?

What fairness is there in the martial world?

If Ling hadn't been secretly orchestrating things, Liangjie Tang would have been the one facing unfairness.

I didn't need to go out to know the Bai family's movements. They were returning to the Wang family's mansion under the guidance of three arbiters.

When we met again, Bai Hanfei had lost his former composure, and the entire Bai family was silent and waiting.

The leading arbiter said, "I am Ma Yingji. Entrusted by the Bai family head..."

As Ma Yingji spoke, a similar voice rang in my ear, "Hall Master Li, I am an Anwei (covert guard) under the Nan Weiyang sect. The leader asked me to tell you to stall the Bai family as much as possible. She wants to know who is behind the Yin Si (netherworld) secret order? Finding that person is beneficial to both of us."

Shuang Yin Mi Yu (Dual Voice Secret Language)!

I had heard my master say that it was not uncommon for people in the martial world to transmit sound through secret channels. The real experts who could transmit sound under other people's noses were those who knew how to use "Shuang Yin Mi Yu." They could talk to one person while secretly transmitting sound to another, multitasking without being noticed.

Ling's subordinates are full of talent!

As soon as Ma Yingji finished the secret transmission, he also finished his courteous remarks. After a slight pause, he said, "Hall Master Li, proposing a life-and-death arena matches the rules of the art world, but it's too violent. Both sides are elites of the art world. Any damage to either side would be a loss to the art world. I think..."

Before he could finish speaking, I interrupted, "Old brother, your words sound a bit biased, don't they? The Bai family carried my Liangjie Tang Xiangzhu's ancestors to force us into battle. Are you saying that Liangjie Tang isn't allowed to fight back?"

Another arbiter's face darkened, "Li Po, who are you calling 'brother'?"

Wang Butcher stepped forward, "Our Hall Master is giving you face by calling him 'brother.' If we're really going to talk about seniority, you'd have to kneel down and call our Hall Master: Martial Uncle!"

"Impudent!" That person slammed the table, but Wang Butcher slowly waved his folding fan and said, "In terms of seniority, the Hall Master is my junior brother. I am the fifteenth generation successor of Tu Men (Butcher's Sect). Do you dare to compare seniority with me?"

The person's face turned ashen. He knew that Wang Butcher was being unreasonable, but because of Tu Men's special status, it could indeed claim seniority over most art world sects. Moreover, it could reliably suppress ninety percent of the art world sects in terms of seniority.

Ma Yingji laughed, "As the saying goes, 'Heroes have no age, and the martial world has no seniority.' Let's not engage in such unnecessary disputes."

"Hall Master Li's words are not without reason. The Bai family's matter of carrying the coffin to invite a challenge is indeed somewhat inappropriate. I wonder if the Bai family head can give me some face and return the remains of the Wang family's ancestors first?"