Chapter 106: The Name of a Man, the Shadow of a Tree

The Huo family estate.

As Huo Xiao’s car pulled into the garden, he caught sight of his younger brother, Huo Lei, recklessly speeding out. Huo Xiao rolled down his window and called out, "It’s almost dinner time. Where are you off to?"

"Big brother, I have things to take care of, so I won’t be eating at home. Catch you later!" Huo Lei, dressed in the flamboyant attire of a playboy, gave a dismissive reply before slamming his foot on the accelerator and roaring away.

Huo Xiao felt a flicker of irritation. Such a massive crisis had befallen the family, yet his brother remained oblivious, spending his days carousing with a pack of sycophants. On second thought, however, he realized this was perhaps for the best; if the old man chose to discuss the situation with him instead of Huo Lei, it seemed his position as the heir to the family business was secure.

Entering the house, Huo Xiao was greeted by the elderly butler. "Young Master, the Master is waiting for you in the study."

"Understood, Uncle Fu."

He nodded and walked briskly to the door of the study, knocking softly. "Dad, it’s Huo Xiao."

From inside came the voice of Huo Xingge, the patriarch of the Huo family: "Come in."

Huo Xiao pushed the door open and stepped inside. To his surprise, apart from his father, there was a gray-robed, long-bearded man with a serene and scholarly air. It was Zhou Boxuan, the renowned master of mystical arts from Hong Kong. Huo Xiao immediately offered a respectful bow. "Master Zhou, you are here as well. Please accept my greetings."

Master Zhou offered a faint smile. "Please, sit, Young Master. Master Huo has been waiting for you."

"Sit down. Master Zhou has something to ask you," the elder added. "What was the name of the man who said he would be visiting the Huo estate tonight?"

"He said his name is Jiang An. He appears to be under thirty," Huo Xiao replied honestly as he took his seat.

Upon hearing this, Master Zhou stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and said, "That must be the person I am thinking of."

"Who is he?" the elder asked urgently, with Huo Xiao looking on in equal curiosity.

Master Zhou, however, maintained an inscrutable expression. Instead of answering directly, he remarked, "Things have reached this point. I believe you should lay everything out clearly for the Young Master, Master Huo."

"Indeed, Master Zhou is right. Dad, you only told me that a great enemy of the Huo family was coming for revenge and that if we were not careful, the family could be wiped out, but you never told me the specific reasons," Huo Xiao chimed in.

The elder gritted his teeth and nodded. "Very well, I will tell you. Xiao, do you remember me telling you that before I made my fortune, I had a sworn brother?"

"I remember. You mean Tang Xianbo? Didn't he pass away many years ago?"

"Yes, he has been gone for a long time. The man coming for revenge is his son, Tang Yaozu. He believes Tang Xianbo’s death is linked to me and claims I seized the foundation of the Tang family to build the current Huo fortune. He has returned to take everything back. If he were an ordinary man, I would not fear him, but he spent many years in the South Seas and somehow mastered dark occult arts. Furthermore, he has powerful backing. If he insists on vengeance, the Huo family will face catastrophe."

Seeing the grave and anxious look on his father's face, Huo Xiao knew the situation was dire. He chose not to press on whether his father was truly responsible for Tang Xianbo's death. After a moment's thought, he said, "I have seen South Seas sorcery before; it is unsettling—gu poisons, curses, spirit possession—but don't we have Master Zhou?"

"If he were to come alone and openly, I would be confident in my ability to handle him," Master Zhou said, acknowledging his own capabilities. "However, he has allies. The 'Yama Gate,' the most formidable hitman organization in Southeast Asia, is his sponsor. Ultimately, I cannot fight them all alone."

*Yama Gate?*

Huo Xiao felt a jolt of shock. Though this organization had only risen to prominence a few years ago, it had gained a fearsome reputation. Huo Xiao had even hired them for tasks in the past and knew well how terrifying they were; they had never failed a mission. The thought of such a ruthless organization becoming their enemy was chilling.

"Dad, with a crisis of this magnitude, why don't we seek help from the government? If the Hong Kong authorities aren't enough, we can petition the central government. Surely they wouldn't sit idly by? No matter how powerful the Yama Gate is, would they dare provoke a major power?" Huo Xiao reasoned.

The elder looked somewhat embarrassed. "That is not an option. Firstly, this avenger, Tang Yaozu, seems to possess evidence that could be damaging to the Huo family. Secondly, even if we got the authorities involved, it would only infuriate these outlaws. The central government can help for a moment, but not for a lifetime. Who would suffer in the end if not us?"

Hearing this, Huo Xiao understood his father's predicament. The accumulation of wealth for any tycoon inevitably involved unsavory dealings; who would willingly hand over leverage to the authorities? Moreover, his father had spent most of his life in the colonial era and found relations with the central government awkward. While Huo Xiao and his generation had built better ties with the mainland, a desperate last-minute plea might secure temporary protection, but it wouldn't solve the long-term threat. They couldn't exactly send the military overseas to wipe out the Yama Gate.

It was a classic hostage situation: the kidnappers forbid you from calling the police, or they will exact a far worse revenge.

Huo Xiao carefully avoided embarrassing his father further. "How have you been handling this until now? By relying on Shenyao Mountain?"

"Yes, Shenyao Mountain. We have had dealings in the past, so there is a degree of mutual respect. You know as well as I do that their connections and influence are vast—in some aspects, even greater than the Protectorate Mountain Manor. My intention was to ask them to mediate and bring both sides to the table," the elder sighed. "But not only is it impossible to contact anyone from Shenyao Mountain now, the situation has become even more complicated. By the way, Master Zhou, you should tell us who this Mr. Jiang An is."

Huo Xiao turned his gaze back to Master Zhou.

"It seems you have been out of touch with the cultivation world for too long, Master Huo, to be unaware of such a major figure," Master Zhou chuckled. "This man appeared out of nowhere and in less than half a year has carved out a formidable reputation. He is now with the Protectorate Mountain Manor..."

Upon hearing that Jiang An was associated with the Protectorate Mountain Manor, the father and son were surprised, yet they could accept it. But Master Zhou’s next words made their expressions change instantly!

"If the rumors are true, the Sovereign Organization, Blood Moon, Snake Pit, and even Shenyao Mountain have all been defeated by him. At least nine grandmaster-level experts have died by his hand! The Sovereign Organization even dubbed him 'The Demon,' signifying one who specializes in defying the gods. Even more impressively, the great Japanese Onmyoji, Master Kamiya, has challenged him to a duel. They are set to face off at Great Lone Reef on the second day of the second lunar month. It is currently the most sensational news in the cultivation world."

*The Sovereign Organization? The world's top transnational entity?*

*Blood Moon and Snake Pit? Global hitman organizations that make the Southeast Asian Yama Gate look like child's play?*

*Shenyao Mountain? The untouchable peak of the world of medicine?*

*Master Kamiya? A legendary figure the elder had heard of since childhood.*

These massive forces and figures—all offended by this Jiang An, yet he was still alive?

With these comparisons, the Huo family finally grasped the status and power of Jiang An. How could they have been so ignorant of such a famous man? They were truly behind the times.

It was inevitable. While Hong Kong was an international metropolis with a strong tradition of mysticism, it was ultimately a tiny place. With a province as vast as the East, only a handful of grandmasters were born locally, let alone in Hong Kong. It was true that in the past, Hong Kong's martial arts scene was vibrant, but that was predicated on the constant wars on the mainland, which forced experts to flee to the relative safety of Hong Kong. Now, the trend had shifted; any major mainland city could outshine Hong Kong. The fortune of martial arts had flowed back to the mainland, leaving Hong Kong with a few masters of occult arts, but not a single martial arts grandmaster. While the Huo family's wealth rivaled that of the great mainland clans, they lacked the martial depth. In times of trouble, they could only rely on masters like Zhou.

This peculiar cultural environment had left these tycoons somewhat insular. It was no wonder they didn't know who Jiang An was.

"Since this Mr. Jiang is with the Protectorate Mountain Manor, he should not have any malicious intent. But at such a critical juncture, why is he coming here?" the elder asked Master Zhou.

That was the question that mattered most.