The Glory of the Tribe

"Have you heard of Jiang Xuan from Heitan Mountain, Coach Luo?" Xie Hanjie kneeled, not getting up. "He’s only sixteen, but he has already mastered a Robbery Realm sword technique. Yesterday, he publicly killed Feng Fu, the fourth ranked on the Innate List of the Shen family, and heavily injured Shen Taiping. His talent in swordsmanship is said to be something that hasn't been seen in a thousand years!"
"I’ve heard about it. Didn’t that cause a stir in Feixue City last night?" Luo Yingcheng, the elderly man in simple clothes, replied. "It’s been spreading in the Eastpan Camp too. I overheard those young men discussing it this morning. They even said... Jiang Xuan’s talent was forced out through intense training, desperately fighting to save his tribe. He’s considered a hero!"

Luo Yingcheng spoke with some admiration. Who wouldn’t love the story of a young hero?
"That... hero?! Pfft!" Xie Hanjie suddenly cursed angrily, "He’s just a barbaric beast! He’s relying on Lei Hong’s favor to act like a tyrant, using his power to oppress others!"
Xie Hanjie, a man already over thirty, was now so worked up that his eyes were red with emotion.

A man shedding tears is rare; this scene was deeply moving.
"He... what did he do?" Luo Yingcheng asked, his curiosity piqued.
"He... he actually... seduced my fiancée!" Xie Hanjie managed to speak, his voice shaking with grief. He closed his eyes in despair, his fists clenched tightly, nails digging into his flesh.

Luo Yingcheng paused for a moment.
When had Xie Hanjie been engaged?
Then, it hit him—the rumors from a month ago: Xie Hanjie was planning to marry into the Chen family! Before these rumors were confirmed, many people couldn’t believe it. After all, Xie Hanjie was Feixue City’s youngest and most promising Inspector! A Robbery Realm expert! The disciple of the first Inspector, Zou Kang! Marrying into a family? Was he out of his mind?

"Are you really planning to marry into the Chen family?" Luo Yingcheng asked, wide-eyed. "Is it... Chen Yuanxuan? Your fiancée, Chen Yuanxuan? She and Jiang Xuan were involved?"
Luo Yingcheng was starting to get angry.
"No! It’s not Yuanxuan’s fault! Coach Luo, you should know, Yuanxuan was born with the appearance of a goddess. Even after being injured, her talent remains extraordinary. The Chen family raised her with great care, and everyone around her respects and loves her. She doesn’t understand the malice of others! She stayed in the Jiang Tribe for just over a month, and then... then..."

Xie Hanjie seemed unable to continue. It was too painful, but then he quickly shifted his story.
"Jiang Xuan, relying on his youth and good looks, kept courting Yuanxuan. He’s the leader of the Jiang Tribe, with immense power in the Earth City, and he’s close with many of the Black Armored Guards. Yuanxuan couldn’t refuse him. After some time, they became familiar..."
Xie Hanjie started to tell an impassioned tale about how the "seducer" used sweet words and courted the vulnerable Yuanxuan, leading her astray!

People from the tribe had a reputation for being wild and unrefined.
On this basis, Xie Hanjie painted a picture of how Jiang Xuan was domineering in Earth City, using forceful means, which aligned with the recent rumors. Jiang Xuan was indeed domineering, but if he hadn’t been, Feng Fu would still be alive.
"My marriage into the Chen family was decided before I went to Heitan Mountain. I was supposed to bring Yuanxuan back with me, and the Chen family hoped I would marry into them quickly. Yuanxuan had already agreed, and once her challenges with Jiang Xuan were over, whether it was Shen Taiping or her brother Chen Yuanzhou who faced him, she would come back with me to Feixue City..."

"But! But they..."
"You caught them?" Luo Yingcheng asked, his face darkening.
Xie Hanjie opened his mouth, but didn’t answer. His expression said it all.
"Then why didn’t you kill this scoundrel?" Luo Yingcheng’s voice grew harsh.

"I... I’ve been pursuing Yuanxuan for ten years, Master! I know she was just confused for a moment! Even if I die, I can’t let Yuanxuan be hurt!" Xie Hanjie’s face seemed to scream "lover" as he clenched his fists.
"You’re still worried about her?" Luo Yingcheng mocked, then continued, "What about Jiang Xuan? He was caught in the act with your fiancée, and you still endured it? You couldn’t kill him either?"
"I... if I acted recklessly, Yuanxuan would probably never forgive me. If such a scandal spread, her reputation...”

"Are you even a man?" Luo Yingcheng snapped, suddenly kicking Xie Hanjie in the shoulder, sending him tumbling to the ground.
Xie Hanjie gasped for air, clearly shaken, and Luo Yingcheng’s anger boiled over.
This reaction stemmed from his own life experiences.

About forty years ago, at the age of twenty-eight, Luo Yingcheng was on the verge of breaking through the Innate realm when he received an urgent mission to go with the army to Dragonbone Mountain and battle demon beasts. That battle lasted for over a month, leaving the skies and earth darkened with blood. Luo Yingcheng had hoped to achieve a glorious breakthrough in battle, but he was severely injured by the demon beasts, his talent destroyed! While his cultivation level remained, there was no way to advance any further!
In the following years, Luo Yingcheng went through a tough period. Once filled with ambition, he descended into a drunken haze, drowning his sorrows. It was during this low point that his wife betrayed him, not staying by his side but instead becoming involved with one of his younger subordinates. After ten years of marriage, the betrayal crushed him.
In the end, Luo Yingcheng killed the "seducer."

Since that day, Luo Yingcheng became indifferent to women, focusing all his energy on his spear techniques. After discussing with the generals, it was decided that he was mentally unstable, and when he returned from recovery, he wasn’t reinstated but instead became a coach.
Unexpectedly, he became a legendary instructor!
Three years into his coaching role, he was recommended as a candidate to become a "model Innate expert" and was summoned by the Demon Castle Lord.

In the Eastpan Camp today, few remembered this past, not only because of time, but also because it was considered taboo. The military had issued a gag order at the time, and as time passed, no one spoke of it anymore.
Xie Hanjie had heard of this past through Zou Kang, but didn’t know the details. He had secretly investigated and confirmed it.
This was the only reason Luo Yingcheng, now in his seventies, was unmarried and childless. It was said that he had never truly recovered from the betrayal.

He despised "seducers" more than anything.
"Jiang Xuan and Yuanxuan are still far from being actual ‘seducers’. Yuanxuan and I don’t even have a formal marriage contract yet... If I want Coach Luo to help me, I need to make him furious and invoke his sympathy!" On his way back to Feixue City, Xie Hanjie had carefully thought about how to make Jiang Xuan die. He could "invite" the top three Innate experts to challenge Jiang Xuan, and Jiang Xuan would die in the duel!
But using hidden exchanges to hire people to kill Jiang Xuan carried the risk of being exposed. That could lead to a "contracted murder."

Not secure enough.
In the end, Xie Hanjie chose what he thought was the safest option.
He would kneel before the strongest Innate, Luo Yingcheng, and ask him to kill the seducer!

"Master! Coach!" Xie Hanjie crawled back after being kicked out. "Please, you must help me! Yuanxuan was just momentarily deceived, all because of Jiang Xuan! He knew I was already engaged to Yuanxuan, and still he seduced her! Master! Our parents arranged the marriage, and we are a match made in heaven! I must marry her! Please help me!!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Xie Hanjie kowtowed several times.

What does it mean to be a "lover"? When your beloved does such shameful things, and you endure, seeking only to punish the seducer?
This is what true love is!
Luo Yingcheng glared at Xie Hanjie, but deep inside, he couldn’t help but feel sympathy!

He was Feixue City's youngest Inspector! He was willing to marry into the family! And now he was speaking up for Chen Yuanxuan. It was truly pitiful!
Luo Yingcheng saw the most humiliating side of a man in Xie Hanjie.
How pathetic!

"Ugh!" Luo Yingcheng sighed and walked over to the window, "What can I do to help you?"
"Master! I heard that in recent months, many powerful demon beasts in the depths of Heitan Mountain have left the Ten Directions Abyss, even a giant red serpent that had been chasing the demon Lü Kong. It reached the outskirts of Heitan Mountain, so it’s normal for Feixue Army to send people to investigate!" Xie Hanjie quickly continued.
Luo Yingcheng raised his eyebrows. This was a good plan!

He turned back to face Xie Hanjie. Xie Hanjie had clearly come prepared.
"Master! I am not trying to use you! I really have no other choice! If you challenge him, it will be in accordance with the rules! Not bullying him... Jiang Xuan challenges anyone, and he insists on signing a death pact! Plus, he has mastered Robbery Realm swordsmanship. You challenging him will also help maintain your position as the strongest Innate expert. It won’t be unfair to him!"
"Go to Heitan Mountain?" Luo Yingcheng frowned. He had no reason to go to Heitan Mountain.

He almost never took breaks!
He couldn’t just go to challenge a "junior" and try to kill him!
Luo Yingcheng didn’t care if anyone found out why he killed Jiang Xuan. He had long stopped caring about his reputation. The main concern was Xie Hanjie—Jiang Xuan could die, but Yuanxuan’s reputation and Xie Hanjie’s face had to be preserved. Xie Hanjie couldn’t be made a laughingstock.

"Master!"
Xie Hanjie hurriedly continued, "I also heard that recently, some powerful demon beasts have left the Ten Directions Abyss near Heitan Mountain, including a giant red serpent that chased Lü Kong! It almost reached the outer regions of Heitan Mountain, and it’s normal for the Feixue Army to send people to investigate!"
Luo Yingcheng’s eyes widened. This was a good idea!

He turned to Xie Hanjie. Xie Hanjie had clearly come prepared.
"Master! I’m not trying to use you! I have no other choice! You challenge him, and it’s a fair challenge!"