Chapter 5: The Master of All Beasts Descends

Zhang Mingyao was deep in thought when Zhang Tingting suddenly tugged at his sleeve, saying: "Father, Brother Jian has taken care of them." Zhang Mingyao looked up and saw that the four men were all lying on the ground, Lin Jian just sheathing his sword. Zhang Mingyao smiled and said: "Son-in-law, your martial arts are remarkable; you dealt with these four so quickly." Lin Jian replied with a smile: "It was because Uncle was present; they were already intimidated before the fight, having lost half the battle, which allowed me to handle them easily." Zhang Mingyao laughed heartily and said: "You do not seek credit for your actions, which is commendable; it gives me much more confidence in your future endeavors in the martial world." Lin Jian smiled slightly and was about to step away when suddenly five men sprang out from the woods. Zhang Mingyao laughed and said: "Son-in-law, your martial arts are remarkable; you dealt with these four so quickly." Lin Jian replied with a smile: "It was because Uncle was present; they were already intimidated before the fight, having lost half the battle, which allowed me to handle them easily." Zhang Mingyao laughed heartily and said: "You do not seek credit for your actions, which is commendable; it gives me much more confidence in your future endeavors in the martial world." Lin Jian smiled slightly and was about to step away when suddenly five men sprang out from the woods, led by a thin man. Upon seeing Zhang Mingyao, the man scrutinized him and said: "Are you the master of the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor?" Zhang Mingyao felt a slight chill; from the man's footwork and skills, he could tell he was not an ordinary person. Zhang Mingyao replied: "Forgive my lack of insight; may I ask who you are?" The man cupped his hands and said: "I have long heard of Master Zhang's great name; seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary. I am Xiao Qingsou." Zhang Mingyao said: "So you are the infamous 'Soul-Draining Hook' Xiao Qingsou?" The man replied: "Indeed." It turned out that after this man reported the news of Zhang Mingyao's return, Hu Meng was greatly surprised. At that moment, the renowned 'Soul-Draining Hook' Xiao Qingsou from the underworld of Xiazhou happened to arrive. Hearing that Hu Meng was in trouble, he volunteered to challenge Zhang Mingyao. The two had never met due to their respective territories, and Xiao Qingsou was unaware of Zhang Mingyao's prowess.

Zhang Tingting smiled and said, "Of course, our family's Five Animal Skills are second to none in the martial world." Zhang Mingyao sighed and said, "It's a pity that I have only learned about thirty to forty percent of it; otherwise, I wouldn't be bringing shame to my ancestors. The name of the Wan Shou Manor should be resounding in the Jianghu!" Lin Jian exclaimed, "You have only learned thirty to forty percent?" He was greatly astonished; if such martial skills were already so formidable with just that much knowledge, then if one could fully comprehend them, wouldn't they be invincible in the world? Zhang Mingyao smiled wryly and said, "Indeed, this skill is too profound. I have studied it for several decades, yet I have not made any significant achievements." Lin Jian said, "With your level of skill, there are not many in the Jianghu who can match you." Suddenly, Zhang Mingyao's expression turned somber, and he said, "There are many talented individuals in the Jianghu; one must not make hasty conclusions." He paused for a moment, then changed the subject, saying, "Let's talk about this when we get home. Let's go and deal with those thieves!" Lin Jian immediately felt a surge of enthusiasm and followed him. After walking for a while, they were about to reach Wan Shou Manor. Lin Jian and Zhang Tingting felt a mix of emotions. Suddenly, Zhang Mingyao stopped, turned his head away, and said, "Hmph! A few little thieves, why don't you hurry up and get out here!"

Zhang Mingyao sighed, "Before my father passed away, he entrusted me with this secret manual, but I do not know the name or sect of that person, so where can I begin to search? After I mastered my martial arts, I roamed the Jianghu with the sole intention of finding that person. Now, over forty years have passed, and that person must be old by now, unlikely to wander the Jianghu anymore. Therefore, to find that person, I can only start with his disciples, but even my father did not know the martial arts style of that person, leaving me at a loss. This matter has lingered for forty springs and autumns, and I have now nearly reached fifty years of age. I fear that I may not find that person in my lifetime, let alone retrieve the secret manual!" Zhang Tingting pouted and said, "Father, don't talk nonsense. You must live to be a hundred years old!" Zhang Mingyao smiled bitterly, his expression revealing a hint of barely perceptible worry. Lin Jian asked, "In these past forty years, has anyone with exceptional whip skills appeared in the Jianghu? I think if he obtained the secret manual of the Nine-turned Ring Dragon Whip, he would surely practice the whip techniques diligently. If there is someone with exceptional whip skills, it is likely to be that masked man from back then, or perhaps one of his disciples." Zhang Mingyao replied, "I have thought about this as well, but I have not been active in the Jianghu. The main reason I have been at the Beast Manor is to keep the bandits of Tiger Mountain at bay. I have inquired with friends in the Jianghu, but ultimately, I found no such person. However, I recently received a letter from a friend, who mentioned that a whip master of extraordinary skill had appeared in the Western Regions. Upon hearing this, I went to the Western Regions to search, but unexpectedly, the bandits of Tiger Mountain attacked the manor at that time."

Lin Jian nodded and said, "I see, that is indeed very similar." He couldn't help but glance at Zhang Mingyao, when suddenly Zhang Tingting burst into laughter, saying, "Father is tall and strong, no matter how he tries, he can't resemble a crane." Lin Jian was thinking the same thing as *the book*, and upon hearing Zhang Tingting's words, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. Zhang Mingyao, with his keen observation, naturally heard this and immediately said, "Well! You little girl, how dare you make fun of your father!" As he spoke, he raised his hand and with a loud "slap," he struck Xiao Qingsou heavily. Although Xiao Qingsou was not weak in martial arts, he could not evade this slap and was momentarily stunned. Zhang Tingting covered her face and laughed, "That hurts, Father, you are really ruthless!" Lin Jian saw the father and daughter teasing Xiao Qingsou and couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, thinking, "This uncle is not young anymore, yet he is still fooling around with Tingmei like this; truly, like father, like daughter." Xiao Qingsou, having been humiliated in such a manner, could not help but become furious, shouting, "Xiao has not finished with you!" Suddenly, Zhang Mingyao said, "Good son-in-law, you better pay close attention!" Lin Jian was taken aback, but Zhang Mingyao released Xiao Qingsou, who, with an angry shout, swung his dual hooks and charged at Zhang Mingyao. Lin Jian suddenly understood: "So this uncle is taking this opportunity to teach me martial arts!" With this thought, he began to watch attentively.

Zhang Tingting anxiously said: "Why aren't you saving him quickly?" Zhang Mingyao sighed and replied: "People say that girls are outgoing, and that is indeed true. This girl, before even getting married, is always helping her lover. She doesn't even consider how her old father has been hurt, ha ha! You think this kid doesn't have a few tricks up his sleeve? He just didn't think of them earlier, but now that he reflects, it seems that this kid is indeed using the sword technique of the Nine Slashes of the Demon God." Zhang Tingting helped Lin Jian to stand up, walked to her father's side, and while bandaging the wound on his left shoulder, she said: "Alright, my dear father, your daughter has bandaged your wound." Lin Jian couldn't help but show a look of guilt, saying: "It's all... it's all the fault of the younger generation, I hurt the master of the manor..." Zhang Mingyao shook his head and said: "No, no, that's not right." Zhang Tingting asked: "What's not right?" Zhang Mingyao replied: "My daughter is practically half married to you, yet you still refer to yourself as a junior, which is a mistake. Secondly, I am going to be your father-in-law, yet you still call me the master of the manor, which is even more of a mistake." Lin Jian panicked and said: "I, I..." He truly did not know how to refer to himself, and he didn't know how to apologize either. Zhang Mingyao angrily said: "You surely don't want to go back on your word!" Zhang Tingting pulled Zhang Mingyao and pleaded: "Father, why do you speak like that?" Lin Jian hurriedly said: "I, I will take good care of Tingmei for a lifetime, please, please..." Zhang Mingyao suddenly patted Lin Jian on the shoulder and laughed: "Calling me the master of the manor feels too formal, just call me uncle for now, and you can call me father-in-law in a few days, it's not too late."

Zhang Mingyao furrowed his brows and said, "You were doing well in Xiazhou, why do you have to come and stir up this muddy water?" Xiao Qingsou chuckled strangely and replied, "I am friends with Hu Meng in the underworld. When a friend is in trouble, how can I stand by and do nothing? Moreover, we, as brave men in the underworld, have our own rules. If you oppress the Tiger Mountain stronghold like this, won't they lose their means of livelihood, leaving them with no way to survive?" Zhang Mingyao retorted, "Their burning, killing, and looting is already wrong; why all this unnecessary talk?" Xiao Qingsou responded, "Those in the underworld are bound to burn, kill, and loot. Everyone has their own way of living. The authorities will take care of their actions; you don't need to meddle in their affairs!" Zhang Mingyao was furious and said, "Well! You, a little bandit leader, dare to meddle in my business? Are you tired of idle life?" Xiao Qingsou, enraged, waved his hand and said, "You deal with those two young ones; I'll handle this!" As he spoke, the four men he brought rushed towards Lin Jian. Lin Jian smiled and said, "Tingmei, you stand back and watch your brother's skills." Zhang Tingting giggled and said, "Alright, but you've fought several rounds after your injury; be careful." As they spoke, the four men had already pounced. Lin Jian's long sword suddenly thrust forward, aiming at the one on the far left. He saw that the man was raising a meteor hammer to block, but unexpectedly, Lin Jian's sword path changed direction, and the man beside him was struck, letting out a cry as he fell. The man felt a chill in his heart. Lin Jian then executed another move, "Adding branches to the root," stabbing another person. In the blink of an eye, two of the four men had already fallen, leaving the remaining ones filled with fear.

Lin Jian sighed softly, thinking to himself: "Today has truly opened my eyes." Zhang Mingyao placed the box on the stone cabinet and said to Lin Jian and Zhang Tingting: "These are the martial arts manuals passed down through generations by our ancestors." He paused for a moment, sighed, and continued: "The only thing missing is the secret manual for the Nine Turns Ring Dragon Whip." Lin Jian replied: "When I venture into the martial world in the future, I will definitely help Uncle look for it." After pondering for a while, Zhang Mingyao said: "I cannot find that person, but I have heard his name in the Western Regions. It seems he only operated in the Western Regions, and his title is the Ghostly Whip, though I do not know his name. I sighed again: "The only thing missing is the secret manual for the Nine Turns Ring Dragon Whip." Lin Jian said: "When I venture into the martial world in the future, I will definitely help Uncle look for it." After pondering for a while, Zhang Mingyao said: "I cannot find that person, but I have heard his name in the Western Regions. It seems he only operated in the Western Regions, and his title is the Ghostly Whip, though I do not know his name. However, none of my friends in the Central Plains have heard of this name, so it is impossible to determine whether it is true or false." After a pause in his tone, he continued: "Alright, back to the main topic. The martial arts passed down by the Wan Beast Manor over seven generations amount to no less than dozens of styles, especially my grandfather, who specialized in fifteen types of boxing. My father achieved nothing in his life but added annotations to the original martial arts of our ancestors, which made it much easier for me to learn back then, allowing me to master over forty types of martial arts." Lin Jian exclaimed: "Over forty types? But I heard from my elder brother that mastering a superior martial art might not be enough in a lifetime. How could Uncle possibly practice so many martial arts?"

Zhang Mingyao said, "Your elder brother makes a valid point, but who is he?" Lin Jianyi hesitated and replied, "His name is Jiang Butong, and he is from the Kunlun Sect." Zhang Mingyao was quite surprised and remarked, "Your elder brother is Jiang Butong; no wonder you have mastered the North Star Divine Skill of the Kunlun Sect." He paused and continued, "Your elder brother is Jiang Butong; no wonder you have mastered the North Star Divine Skill of the Kunlun Sect." After a moment, he smiled and said, "It's just a pity that Jiang Butong does not understand my background, so he is unaware of the reasons behind it." Lin Jian asked curiously, "Background?" Zhang Mingyao replied, "Indeed, the martial arts of my Ten Thousand Beasts Manor originate from a single lineage, and all are cultivated based on the Five Animal Exercises. Therefore, although the martial arts I practice differ, it is akin to producing different patterns from the same mold. If you have also practiced the Five Animal Exercises, then learning the other martial arts of the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor will come easily to you." Lin Jian said, "So that's how it is, but I have never practiced the Five Animal Exercises. Wouldn't it be very difficult to learn the martial arts of the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor?" Zhang Mingyao replied, "That is indeed the case, so I will only select a few that are relatively easy to start with for you to practice. Once you have grasped the basics, you can delve deeper according to your own cultivation level." He picked up a book and flipped through it one by one, saying as he went, "I have learned some of these martial arts, while others I have not, so I can only teach you those that I have learned." He flipped through the books one by one, saying as he went, "I have learned some of these martial arts, while others I have not, so I can only teach you those that I have learned."

Zhang Mingyao gradually stopped his furious shouting after a moment, his mouth slightly agape as he breathed heavily, clearly having expended a significant amount of internal energy. Lin Jian felt puzzled, not understanding why Zhang Mingyao had to exert himself so much to shout; if it were merely to vent emotions, there would be no need for such a prolonged effort, consuming so much internal energy. After resting for a moment, Zhang Mingyao quickly recovered. Lin Jian thought, "His speed of recovering internal energy is comparable to the North Dipper Divine Skill." Not long after, hurried footsteps could be heard, as many servants and maids gathered from all directions. Lin Jian suddenly realized, "So that’s it, he is using his shouts to summon the subordinates. With the vastness of the Beast Manor, it is no wonder he had to shout for so long." Those servants were all unskilled in martial arts; when the Tiger Mountain Bandits attacked, some of the timid ran away to hide, while the bolder ones attempted to resist but were all killed. Zhang Mingyao understood that it was human nature for them to flee for their lives, given their lack of martial skills, and thus did not blame them. He said, "Is everyone alright? Rest assured, the Manor Master has returned, and I will not allow those Tiger Mountain Bandits to act arrogantly any longer. Everything they have done at the Beast Manor, I will make sure to repay in full!" The servants were all invigorated and cheered loudly. Zhang Mingyao continued, "We must give a proper burial for Steward Wang, who was killed by the bandits for the young lady. We must also quickly find the brothers who fled to the mountains or elsewhere." After giving instructions to some servants, he and Lin Jian headed straight to the main hall. Zhang Mingyao instructed the servants to settle Lin Jian and sent someone to relay a message to Lin Qiu, while also calling for people to clean up the manor and bury their companions. Once everything was arranged, everyone went to rest.

Lin Jian nodded and said, "Yes, Jian'er remembers." Zhang Mingyao replied, "From today onwards, I will thoroughly explain martial arts to you, treating your injuries while teaching you these three sets of skills." Lin Jian bowed and said, "Thank you, Uncle." Zhang Mingyao helped him up and smiled, "Once you recover, you can call me father-in-law." Zhang Tingting blushed and pouted, "Father, what nonsense are you talking about!" Zhang Mingyao laughed heartily and said, "Alright, let’s first get out of this cave, have a good meal, and then study martial arts." The three of them then exited the underground chamber, had a hearty meal, and Zhang Mingyao began explaining the three sets of martial arts to Lin Jian. He spoke extensively, and with a wide range of topics, Lin Jian truly benefited greatly. Thus, a month passed in a hurry. During the day, Zhang Mingyao explained martial arts to him, and at night, he helped him heal his injuries. Lin Jian recovered quickly, and his martial arts progressed rapidly. However, this left Zhang Tingting feeling neglected, and with nothing else to do, she could only practice martial arts to pass the time. Before long, Lin Jian's injuries had healed, and Zhang Mingyao no longer needed to help him with his recovery. Lin Jian felt that his internal strength had suddenly increased significantly over the past month. After some contemplation, he realized that during the healing process, Zhang Mingyao had secretly transmitted some internal energy to him. Since he had initially sustained internal injuries from the Five Animals Technique, and after being treated with it, receiving the internal energy from the same technique would not cause any conflict. Moreover, Zhang Mingyao transmitted it gradually, so even though Lin Jian practiced the Big Dipper Divine Skill, which was quite different from other internal arts, he did not feel any discomfort.

That night passed quickly without a word. The next morning, Zhang Mingyao called Lin Jian and Zhang Tingting to the study. Lin Jian had changed into a neat outfit, which was Zhang Mingyao's clothing from his youth. However, Zhang Mingyao was much taller than Lin Jian, so the clothes were somewhat long on him. After washing up, Lin Jian still revealed a handsome face. After changing her outfit, Zhang Tingting looked even more beautiful and charming. Zhang Mingyao smiled slightly and said, "Truly a match of talent and beauty! I, Zhang Mingyao, am indeed fortunate." Lin Jian smiled and replied, "You flatter me." Since moving into the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor, he felt as if he had truly become the son-in-law of the manor, and unconsciously spoke with a bit more respect. Zhang Tingting asked, "Father, did you call us for something?" Zhang Mingyao, with his hands behind his back, said, "Jian'er is also considered my son-in-law in the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor, only lacking the marriage. Therefore, according to our ancestral teachings, I will teach Jian'er the martial arts of the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor." Lin Jian was taken aback, and Zhang Tingting asked, "Father, did you call us for something?" Zhang Mingyao, with his hands behind his back, said, "Jian'er is also considered my son-in-law in the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor, only lacking the marriage. Therefore, according to our ancestral teachings, I will teach Jian'er the martial arts of the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor." Lin Jian was shocked and said, "How can I accept that?" Zhang Mingyao replied, "The martial arts of the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor have always been kept from outsiders, but since you have entered the Zhang family, you are no longer an outsider. It is only natural for me to pass on the martial arts to you today. If you are unwilling to learn, then you are not willing to be the son-in-law of the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor." Lin Jian hurriedly said, "I want to learn, I want to learn!" He was not greedy for the ancestral martial arts of the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor, but was afraid of losing Zhang Tingting. Compared to martial arts, Zhang Tingting was certainly more important.

Lin Jian's face flushed, and he stammered, "Zhuang... Uncle, you must be joking." Zhang Mingyao's expression darkened, and he said sternly, "I am not joking. If you do not take good care of Ting'er and let her down, I, Zhang Mingyao, will not let you off easily!" Lin Jian felt a chill in his heart and replied, "If I, Lin Jian, ever let Ting Mei down in this life, may I suffer a terrible fate." Zhang Mingyao suddenly smiled and said, "I know you are a person of deep feelings, which is why I entrusted my daughter to you without worry." Zhang Tingting was taken aback, gazing intently at Zhang Mingyao, seemingly trying to find an answer in his expression. Zhang Mingyao continued, "Alright, we should head back now. If that group of bandits from Tiger Mountain burns down my old nest, it would be a serious matter." Lin Jian said, "Indeed, but are we just going to return like this? Aren't those people from Tiger Mountain searching for us everywhere?" Zhang Mingyao laughed heartily and said, "Returning home doesn't require sneaking around. We will go back openly; I don't think those bandits are worth my concern!" After saying this, he laughed heartily, his laughter resonating, indicating his abundant internal energy. Lin Jian admired him greatly; after such a long struggle, his internal energy was still so robust. Lin Jian thought to himself, "Not to mention other skills, just in terms of internal energy, none of the masters I have encountered can compare to him." He couldn't help but praise, "Uncle, your internal energy is truly profound!" Zhang Mingyao smiled slightly and said, "In terms of martial arts, I cannot claim to be among the top masters in the current martial world, but if we talk about the depth and abundance of internal energy, heh heh! I fear there are not many in the Jianghu who can match me."

Zhang Tingting asked, "Why did Grandpa pass away so early?" Zhang Mingyao replied sadly, "That is because Grandpa fell ill." Zhang Tingting inquired, "Ill? What kind of illness?" Zhang Mingyao explained, "A kind of illness that is difficult to treat, known as a heart ailment." Zhang Tingting curiously asked, "What kind of heart ailment?" Zhang Mingyao sighed, "This matter must start from Grandpa's youth." He gazed up at the sky in contemplation for a moment before saying, "This was something my father told me before he passed away. He said that he had been practicing martial arts at the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor since childhood, and by the age of twenty, he had not yet ventured into the martial world. My father also longed to explore the martial world, but Grandpa always refused him, claiming that his martial skills were not yet sufficient. What kind of illness?" Zhang Mingyao continued, "A kind of illness that is difficult to treat, known as a heart ailment." Zhang Tingting asked again, "What kind of heart ailment?" Zhang Mingyao sighed, "This matter must start from Grandpa's youth." He gazed up at the sky in contemplation for a moment before saying, "This was something my father told me before he passed away. He said that he had been practicing martial arts at the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor since childhood, and by the age of twenty, he had not yet ventured into the martial world. My father also longed to explore the martial world, but Grandpa always refused him, claiming that his martial skills were not yet sufficient. My father believed that Grandpa did not want him to go out, which is why he said that. Time passed, and my father started a family and established a career, but he never stepped into the martial world, spending his entire life confined to the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor. He felt proud and thus gave himself a name, "Wusheng," meaning never having fought with anyone. When I was six years old, I slept with my mother. It was deep autumn at that time, and my father said that a man in black came that day, wanting to steal our family's ancestral martial arts. My father naturally refused to agree, but the man provoked my father into a duel, stating that if he won, my father would have to let him take away the secret manual of the Nine-Turn Spiral Dragon Whip. Time passed, and my father started a family and established a career, but he never stepped into the martial world, spending his entire life confined to the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor. He felt proud and thus gave himself a name, "Wusheng," meaning never having fought with anyone. When I was six years old, I slept with my mother. It was deep autumn at that time, and my father said that a man in black came that day, wanting to steal our family's ancestral martial arts. My father naturally refused to agree, but the man provoked my father into a duel, stating that if he won, my father would have to let him take away the secret manual of the Nine-Turn Spiral Dragon Whip. My father, incited by his words, agreed to duel him." Zhang Tingting asked, "Did Mother and Father know about this at that time?" Zhang Mingyao smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "We did not know, for my father was defeated within three moves!" My father, incited by his words, agreed to duel him." Zhang Tingting asked, "Did Mother and Father know about this at that time?" Zhang Mingyao smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "We did not know, for my father was defeated within three moves"

Zhang Mingyao pondered for a moment and said, "Your lightness skill and footwork are quite exquisite, and there is no need for me to teach you further on that. However, your martial arts are rather eclectic, and you only know a few sets. Your swordsmanship is quite remarkable; our Wan Shou Manor has a set of sword techniques, but I heard from my grandfather that it was lost when it was first created, so it was never passed down. Moreover, our Wan Shou Manor is not adept at sword techniques, and thus no one has created any sword techniques since then." He paused slightly and continued, "You have a very peculiar technique; may I ask what it is called?" Lin Jianxin thought, "Elder brother told me never to speak of it to others, but since Uncle is not an outsider, it should be fine." He then replied, "This is the Golden Shuttle Snake Hand from Golden Snake Island." Zhang Mingyao was taken aback and asked again, "The Golden Shuttle Snake Hand! How did you come to learn it?" Lin Jian briefly recounted the origins of the technique, saying, "The Golden Shuttle Snake Hand! How did you come to learn it?" Lin Jian briefly recounted the origins of the technique. Zhang Mingyao nodded and said, "I see. Jian'er, after you learn the martial arts of Wan Shou Manor, you must not use the techniques from Golden Snake Island anymore, lest you bring about your own demise." Lin Jianxin thought, "Uncle's words are the same as elder brother's; they are all for my own good." Suddenly, Zhang Mingyao said sternly, "But Jian'er, until you have mastered the martial arts of Wan Shou Manor, you must not engage in combat with others, to avoid bringing shame to Wan Shou Manor!" Lin Jian's heart tightened, and he replied softly, "Yes, Jian'er will remember this." Zhang Mingyao patted Lin Jian's shoulder and gently comforted him, saying, "Jian'er, I am doing this for your own good! You will understand in the future." Lin Jian's heart trembled, and he felt that Zhang Mingyao's words were quite similar to what Jiang Butong had said when he taught him the Golden Shuttle Snake Hand.

Lin Jianyi was taken aback, turning to look back, only to see some movement in the grass by the mountain path. Four individuals emerged, each wielding a knife. It turned out that these individuals had discovered Lin Jianyi and his companions, but fearing Zhang Mingyao, they had followed stealthily. However, they were soon noticed by Zhang Mingyao, who had already sent one of their group to report back. Thus, the purpose of these four was to delay Zhang Mingyao. With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhang Mingyao looked up to the sky and said, "Given my status, you are not worthy to engage me in combat. However, since my esteemed son-in-law has been injured and is in poor health, I am left with no choice but to act. If you fear the pain caused by the Five Animal Exercises affecting your lungs, you might as well end it quickly to avoid dirtying my hands." The four exchanged fearful glances, and finally, one stepped forward and said, "Zhang, Zhang Zhuangzhu, do not think that our Tiger Mountain Stronghold fears you! The stronghold leader has come personally, and I see that you cannot escape unscathed. It would be wise to negotiate a truce to avoid mutual destruction..." Suddenly, Zhang Mingyao turned his head, his face showing anger, and retorted, "Negotiate a truce? I, Zhang, want your Tiger Mountain Stronghold to run with blood! I am determined to avenge Wang Zhen!" The man let out a furious roar at Zhang Mingyao, causing him to involuntarily take a few steps back, while the others secretly wondered why their stronghold leader had not yet arrived. Lin Jian drew his sword and said, "Uncle, please calm your anger; let me handle this kind of scum." Zhang Mingyao looked at Lin Jian and said, "Good! Let them see the might of the son-in-law of Wan Shou Zhuang!"

Zhang Tingting suddenly said: "Could that letter have been written by the Tiger Mountain Stronghold, intending to divert Father?" Lin Jian pondered: "I don't think so, because it takes quite some time to travel back and forth from Jiangling to the Western Regions, and the Tiger Mountain Stronghold only attacked the manor the day before yesterday. If the letter were written by them, they should have attacked the manor much earlier. I believe they only learned about it later." Zhang Mingyao praised: "What Jian'er said makes sense! I think they must have found out later." Zhang Mingyao continued: "But I know that if the Tiger Mountain Stronghold knew I was going to the Western Regions, they would come to harm my Ten Thousand Beasts Manor. Therefore, my trip this time was very secretive, yet I do not know how they obtained the information." Lin Jian asked: "Uncle, did you encounter anyone while you were in the Western Regions? Did you find that whip wielder?" Zhang Mingyao hesitated for a moment before saying: "I didn't encounter much, and I couldn't find that whip wielder, which is why I returned early." Lin Jian thought to himself: "If he only went to look for that whip wielder, he should have returned earlier. What did he go to the Western Regions for without saying?" Zhang Mingyao said: "Alright, Jian'er, let me show you the martial arts that have been passed down in my Ten Thousand Beasts Manor since the end of the Tang Dynasty!" Lin Jian responded and walked over with Zhang Tingting. He saw Zhang Mingyao kneeling in front of a stone cabinet, bowing several times. The stone slab in front of the cabinet gradually sank, and with a crack, a door opened in the cabinet. Zhang Mingyao respectfully took out a box from inside, then took out a key from his bosom and opened the box. Inside, there was a pile of books, all of which were the martial arts manuals passed down from ancient times in the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor.