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Chapter 342: 182, Eager to Show Off_2
Chapter 342: 182, Eager to Show Off_2
Both men looked up at the group of martial artists in black at the city gate, their expressions slightly unsightly, especially Fan Longhe, who noticed the black and white lotus emblem on their chests, recognized it as the clan emblem of the Hou Clan, and his face instantly flushed with an uncontrollable rage.
He was born in Boyang Prefecture of Jiuling Prefecture, a bona fide citizen of Yongzhou. Recommended by his family, he participated in the selection of the Holy Church. Initially, he diligently served as a County Lord for over fifty years. Once his cultivation improved and combined with his efforts to curry favor, he finally got the position of Tongling Governor more than twenty years ago.
Over these twenty years, though he was mostly overshadowed by Ding Dian, thanks to Ding Dian's overbearing arrogance and his own alliances with several minor forces within the prefecture, he had risen prominently in Tongling and accumulated quite a fortune.
Of course, without Ding Dian, his future would have been much smoother!
It was hard earned, but when Ding Dian foolishly betrayed the church, deep down, Fan Longhe was quite delighted since he had enough confidence in the Holy Church's ability to clean up the mess in Tongling. However, he never expected the Hou Clan to emerge halfway and create the current situation…
Thinking of Hou Yuxiao, Fan Longhe felt his teeth itch with hatred!
At the end of last year, when Hou Yuxiao killed Cheng Yue at Shengxin Residence, he had lent a hand. His intention was partly because Hou Yuxiao had some connections with the Holy Maiden and also to ally another partner to deal better with Ding Dian. Now it seemed he had nurtured a wolf cub.
Remembering three days ago, the audacity of Hou Yuxiao to win people's hearts right in front of him, Fan Longhe's eyes turned extremely sinister. Master Fanyin was also present then; it was impossible for Hou Yuxiao not to know, yet he still chose to do so.
As Master Fanyin later said, a demon chaos had occurred, and the hearts of Tongling's people had all swung to the Hou Clan's side. Let alone him as the Governor, even the Holy Church, unless they took drastic measures, would be helpless.
Hou Yuxiao's actions, now that he thought about them, were clearly deliberate and intended to show him, the Governor, clearly stating:
This Tongling is now under Hou Yuxiao's control.
"I have been hunting hawks all my life, and now I've been pecked in the eye by one! This devil, Hou Yuxiao, taking Tongling from me, I will never forgive him!"
Apparently overwhelmed by his anger, Fan Longhe violently flicked his sleeve, his words chilling with evident hatred toward Hou Yuxiao.
Gui Yutang's expression turned slightly dim, and after a moment of contemplation, he couldn't help but step forward and say, "Governor, from what I see, the current situation in the city does not favor us. Governor Peng is now leading the Mansion Army to lay siege to Wanyang County. Without the explicit support of the Master, we hold no sway in Tongling, and those more than five thousand brothers of the Mansion Army are probably already thoroughly infiltrated by the Hou Clan.
Now is not the time to provoke Hou Yuxiao!"
Deep down, Fan Longhe of course realized the reason in Gui Yutang's words. However, he was furious, and hearing any contradiction was particularly grating, he immediately turned back and glared fiercely at Gui Yutang, saying, "I am the Tongling Governor, personally appointed by the Holy Church! Even if Hou Yuxiao has some tricks and currently holds power, dare the Hou Clan defy the Holy Church!
Even if Hou Yuxiao has reached the heavens, he is just a Grandmaster of the Two Realms Divine Communication phase. My cultivation is still above his, and now that I've recovered, if he dares to misbehave, I can behead him right here today!"
Having said this, Fan Longhe seemed to have cleared some of the air in his heart, and he turned back to look at Gui Yutang, his eyes flickering before he said softly, "By the way, it seems the families of Leader Gui also live in the central city district. Could they also have been saved by Hou Yuxiao? Leader Gui, do you perhaps intend to join the Hou Clan?"
Gui Yutang, hearing these words, immediately showed anger and said, "What are you saying, Lord Fan? I still don't know whether my family is dead or alive. If I really intended to pledge allegiance to the Hou Clan, why would I still be following the Governor these past three days? All the skills I possess were nurtured by the Holy Church. Alive, I belong to the Holy Church; dead, I remain its spirit. I have never harbored a second loyalty!"
Fan Longhe snorted coldly. He understood Gui Yutang well, knowing him to be an orphan raised by the Holy Church, and hence less likely to betray the Church than himself. However, overwhelmed by his anger, he refused to back down and simply turned to head towards the city gate, ready to enter the city.
On the first day of August, the Master had instructed them that they should notify Hou Yuxiao on the third day to meet her. They had come today to proceed to the city to notify Hou Yuxiao.
Fan Longhe had also considered how to take control of Tongling, such as being pompous when meeting Hou Yuxiao, using Master Fanyin's name to intimidate him and curb his arrogance.
Now at the city gate, hearing those people's discussions, although he was displeased, he deeply realized that Tongling was no longer the same as before the war, and his weight as the Governor, especially compared to the Hou Clan and Hou Yuxiao, was not comparable at all.
Currently, with over ten thousand martial artists in the city and probably more than half of those five thousand Mansion Army following Hou Yuxiao, even the other half who remain loyal to the Holy Church would definitely not help him against Hou Yuxiao. That is to say, even if his strength surpassed that of Hou Yuxiao, he could not afford to be reckless upon entering the city, for not only could it lead to his disgrace, but Hou Yuxiao could also easily manage to do so.