"Marquis, to think that you would grace us with your presence. Forgive us for not coming out to greet you. This one is Wu Jiumei, an elder of Wushang Village. There must have been a small misunderstanding in this matter. Our villagers and Marquis's subordinates had a small conflict. We tried to dissuade them time and time again, but Marquis's subordinates refused to listen and insisted on barging into the village. We had no choice but to take action.
"But even so, we've already shown mercy. Marquis's subordinates are temporarily imprisoned in the village, and we haven't done anything to them. In a moment, I will have them hand over Marquis's subordinates. "
The speaker was an elder in his seventies or eighties. His temples were grizzled and his hair was silver, but his spirit was hale and hearty. His expression was solemn, and his words exuded a dignified aura. It was clear that he had an extraordinary status in the village.
Before Wang Chong could speak, Li Siye behind him gave a long sigh of relief.
This was the first time he had heard of the whereabouts of his missing subordinates.
"Marquis, these people are very powerful. If I hadn't taken out my WuZi Steel sword, I would have been captured by them. Marquis, you must not be careless! "
Li Siye suddenly took a few steps forward and whispered into Wang Chong's ear.
"I know. Have a good rest first."
Wang Chong didn't even turn his head as he spoke in a light and breezy voice.
"Old Sir, this one bears no ill will. The Imperial Court is in trouble in the desolate border, and the smoke of war is rising in all directions. It is time to mobilize the army. As the saying goes, everyone has a responsibility for the rise and fall of the world. The people of Wushang are brave and skilled in battle, and this one just happens to be building a city in Wushang, so I sent my subordinates to Wushang to recruit brave soldiers.
"If we can defend the desolate border and protect the people of the Central Plains, we will contribute to the country and the people. I believe that this will be a glorious matter for the people of Wushang."
Wang Chong went straight to the point and stated his intentions.
If he wanted to subdue Wushang's people, using trickery or schemes would only backfire on him. He might as well state his intentions directly. In fact, now that things had developed to this point, Wushang's people probably already knew why he was here.
If he were to be secretive at this time, he would be looked down upon.
Sure enough, upon hearing Wang Chong's words, Wu Jiumei and the other elders of Wushang Village appeared to be completely unsurprised, clearly having anticipated his intentions.
"It is our Wushang Village's honor to receive Marquis's favor. It's just that our Wushang Village has always been isolated from the rest of the world and is used to peace. I'm afraid it's not suitable for war. "
Wu Jiumei immediately rejected Wang Chong's request.
"Moreover, our Wushang Village is just a bunch of mountain villagers with limited abilities. How can we help Marquis conquer the world? I'm afraid that we will not be able to live up to Marquis's expectations. Marquis should look for someone else. The world is vast, and there are bound to be people more suited to Marquis's vision than our Wushang Village. "
"That's right, Marquis should look for someone else!"
The other elders also chimed in.
Wushang Village had lived in seclusion in the mountains for nearly a thousand years, living a peaceful and aloof life. This had already become a tradition that no one could break, so how could it be easily changed just because of a few words from Wang Chong?
"Elder is too modest. If even the Wushang Village's abilities are limited, then I'm afraid that no one else in the world is capable. My subordinates are all seasoned warriors, elites who can fight against a hundred on the battlefield, but when they arrived at Wushang Village, they were immediately captured by the warriors of the village. The Wushang Village is definitely the most valiant warriors in the world!"
"If we can obtain the help of the Wushang Village, the Tang Dynasty will definitely be able to pacify the borders and bring peace to the people. We will also be able to protect more people from the chaos of war. Moreover, the Imperial Court has always treated warriors who can fight for the country generously. I can also promise you that as long as Wushang Village responds to my recruitment, I will bestow upon Wushang Village a large amount of gold, silver, and resources. "
Wang Chong sincerely said.
With the Wang Clan's current influence and power, as long as Wang Chong was willing, he could bestow upon Wushang Village unimaginable wealth, status, and reputation.
On the other side, Wu Jiumei and the other village elders all had wonderful expressions on their faces. If Wang Chong's words had been a little more forceful, they would have immediately refused, but Wang Chong's words were extremely tactful, and his words were filled with praise and reverence for the Wushang Village. This left everyone speechless.
And most frightening of all was that Wang Chong's subordinates had truly been wounded by the villagers.
Wu Jiumei had never imagined that these soldiers lying on the ground were elites who could fight against a hundred soldiers.
"This …"
Wu Jiumei and the other elders glanced at each other, their expressions hesitant, momentarily at a loss for words.
"The Young Marquis's eloquence is worthy of this old man's admiration, but I advise Marquis to stop wasting his breath and scheming!"
Just when all the elders were stumped by Wang Chong, a voice came from a stone house deep within Wushang Village.
"This is!!"
Wang Chong's eyes widened, as if this familiar voice had evoked something in his mind. It was this voice that had let him in during his battle with Huang Botian outside the village.
But now that he was in the village, Wang Chong could no longer hear this voice.
"Chief!"
As Wang Chong was thinking, he suddenly heard Wu Jiumei's respectful voice. The Wushang Village elders turned their heads and bowed in the same direction, expressions of subservience and respect on their faces.
Wang Chong turned his head in that direction and saw a hunchbacked white-haired elder dressed in linen, leaning on a wisteria cane as he slowly walked out of a stone house several dozen zhang away.
Wang Chong hadn't paid much attention at first, but after a single glance, Wang Chong couldn't help but widen his eyes. The white-haired elder's footsteps were extremely slow, but each step seemed to carry the weight of a thousand jun, giving off an intense impression.
His footsteps did not seem to be on the ground, but on space itself, treading into the hearts of everyone present. He gave off an unfathomable and unrivaled aura.
And at such a close distance, even if Wang Chong focused his eyes, he still wouldn't be able to make out the elder's face. The white-haired elder seemed neither too close nor too far, not too blurry, but also impossible to see too clearly.
And what made Wang Chong most apprehensive was that he couldn't sense this elder's aura. It was like this elder was just a shadow that didn't exist at all.
This made Wang Chong's heart shiver.
If he were just an ordinary person, it would be fine, but Wang Chong had long since broken into the Imperial Martial realm and cultivated the Great Yinyang Heaven Creation Art. There was almost no martial artist on the same level as him who was a match for him.
Even an expert like Huang Botian, who had cultivated the Stone General to a superb level, had been powerless against Wang Chong, completely toyed with in the palm of his hand.
But now, in front of this ordinary white-haired elder, Wang Chong couldn't even sense his aura. This was simply inconceivable.
"Saint Martial realm!"
Wang Chong's pupils constricted as a thought flashed through his mind. He wasn't unfamiliar with this feeling. Wang Chong had felt it before, from Zhangchou Jianqiong, Huoshu Huizang, Duan Gequan, and the other great generals.
And as the former Grand Marshal of the world, a supreme Saint Martial expert, Wang Chong couldn't be more familiar with the aura of someone on the same level as him.
"How could this be?"
At this moment, Wang Chong's mind was in turmoil. He had never imagined that this tiny Wushang Village would be hiding an expert of the Great General level.
Any country or faction that possessed an expert of the Great General level would assuredly have a massive rise in influence and status, instantly becoming an influential figure among the other countries.
For such an expert to be hidden in Wushang Village was a massive blow to Wang Chong.
Wang Chong suddenly understood why the otherworldly invaders had been so heavily wounded when they had charged into Wushang Village.
An expert of the Great General level leading several Saint Martial experts, many Imperial Martial experts, and fifty to sixty thousand True Martial and Profound Martial realm villagers … Wushang Village had the strength of a regular army, and it was on the level of a small protectorate.
This was the first time Wang Chong had seen the true resources of Wushang Village.
However, Wang Chong still sensed a hint of disharmony. Although the white-haired elder had done his best to hide it, Wang Chong had still sensed an abnormal ripple of chaos from his body.
It seems that not even he was able to escape that fate.
Wang Chong thought of something and immediately understood.
"Elder, my apologies for my lack of manners."
Wang Chong clasped his hands and respectfully bowed to the Wushang Village Chief. Elders were respected, and this person was as old as Wang Chong's grandfather.
The white-haired elder's eyes flashed at Wang Chong's respectful attitude, but his stern face did not soften in the slightest.
"For Young Master to be made a marquis at such a young age is truly a dragon among men, leaving a deep impression on others. However, a country has its laws and a clan has its rules, and Wushang Village also has its own rules. All the villagers of Wushang Village are not to lightly leave the village and involve themselves in the struggles of the outside world. This is a rule set down by our ancestors. Marquis, there's no need to waste your efforts. Please return! "
The white-haired elder sternly said as he walked toward the group.
His steps seemed slow, but they were actually fast. When he first spoke, he was still several dozen zhang away, but by the time he finished speaking, he was only ten zhang from Wang Chong's group.
"Elder …"
"Marquis, please return!"
The white-haired elder's expression was inflexible and inflexible. With these words, he loosened his hand and gestured toward the exit of the village, clearly intending to send the guest away, not giving Wang Chong a chance to speak.
"Buzz!"
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