170: Chapter 50 Ouyang Ke's Pure Accident

That night, the moon was bright and the stars were few.

Guo Jing, Yang Kang, Yang Tiexin, the Jiangnan Six Monsters, and Huang Rong went to the tavern to wait for their prey.

Since the matter started because of Yang Kang, Yang Tiexin insisted on solving it himself; Guo Jing and the Six Monsters went along to provide support.

Huang Rong went along just to join in the fun.

Meng Li knew the plot, so he didn't follow. He stayed home to guard with Mu Nianci and Bao Xiruo.

Mu Nianci was in her room cultivating Internal Skill.

Bao Xiruo was in the main house mending clothes for Yang Kang.

Meng Li took a lounge chair and was reading a book by the moonlight at the courtyard gate. After reading just a few pages, he suddenly sensed someone approaching using Lightness Skill. Looking closely in the direction of the sound, the person was dressed in white—none other than Ouyang Ke.

Seeing this, he casually plucked a leaf and shot it over using his usual technique.

The leaf, infused with True Qi, grazed past Ouyang Ke's Face.

Ouyang Ke, who was about to push off a tree, was startled. He braked hurriedly and flipped down to the ground.

When he saw Meng Li, his surprise grew even deeper.

Because if he hadn't landed, he wouldn't have noticed such a large living person like Meng Li being there.

Immediately, he cupped his hands and greeted with a smile, "Young Hero Meng, it's been a long time."

Meng Li glanced at him. "It has indeed been a while. Has your previous injury healed?"

Ouyang Ke's expression looked a bit awkward, but he still said, "It's healed. I must also thank the young hero for showing mercy."

Meng Li said, "Now that the injury is healed, behave yourself."

Then, he pointed out directly, "Even an honest official finds it hard to settle family matters. You're not even an official, so don't meddle blindly in other people's family business."

"Not to mention, you haven't even sorted out your own family's affairs."

"Your father Ouyang Feng only has Martial Arts in his eyes. If you want him to think more highly of you, practicing Martial Arts diligently at home is more useful than coming here to stir up trouble."

"If you can surpass him, let alone getting him to acknowledge you, you could even make him call you 'father'."

Ouyang Ke's eye twitched. He felt as if his entire being had been seen through by Meng Li, and he was inwardly terrified.

Then, he corrected, "Ouyang Feng is my uncle. The young hero is mistaken."

Meng Li, however, said, "Whether I'm mistaken or not, you know better than I do."

"Things can happen once or twice, but not three times. You've met Yang Kang once before. You understand your purpose, and I know it too."

"This is the second time."

"If there is a third time, the Western Venom will have to find a new successor."

Hearing this, Ouyang Ke felt a chill in his heart.

Ouyang Feng was a Martial Arts fanatic who only wanted to become the best in the world; he had no interest in starting a sect or taking disciples.

Ever since Wang Chongyang set a trap to break his Toad Kung Fu years ago, he had been entirely focused on rebuilding his Martial Arts.

Ouyang Ke could become his successor because of their Bloodline and because the latter needed a sparring partner. For these same two reasons, Ouyang Ke's status as the successor to the Western Venom could not be replaced by anyone else—unless he died.

Sensing the hidden meaning, Ouyang Ke lowered his gaze slightly. "I'm afraid my uncle would not agree."

Meng Li laughed softly. "If you want to use him to pressure me, wait until he comes out of seclusion. Otherwise, this matter won't be up to him to choose."

"Is the young hero so confident in killing me?"

"You can try."

"No, I value my life." Ouyang Ke thought of Meng Li's palm strike from last time and immediately chose to follow his heart, then said, "For the sake of the young hero's Face, I can refrain from meddling in the Yang family's affairs. It's just that regarding the Prince's side, it's not something I can control."

After saying that, he turned and used Lightness Skill to leave.

Meng Li looked in the direction he left, recalling the plot related to him in the original series, and thought to himself that he was another tragic character.

In the original series, Ouyang Ke's tragic nature was even more pronounced than Yang Kang's to some extent.

About thirty years ago, his mother married into White Camel Mountain. On the second day of the wedding, she encountered Ouyang Feng, who was practicing his skills and had a tall, sturdy build.

This version of Ouyang Feng was played by Great Master Xu, a regular in erotic films, and he was practically bursting with hormones.

Thus, Ouyang Ke's mother fell uncontrollably in love with Ouyang Feng.

To attract his attention, she didn't hesitate to Cultivate Toad Kung Fu, which resulted in her being disfigured, but she unexpectedly achieved her goal and had a relationship with Ouyang Feng.

However, it was only a one-night stand.

After Ouyang Feng learned the secret of practicing Toad Kung Fu from her, he cast her aside and never looked at her properly again.

Unexpectedly, that one night bore fruit, and Ouyang Ke was born.

Thus, he was an accident; his biological father didn't care for him, his biological mother didn't love him, and his nominal father was just a background character.

So, despite Ouyang Ke's extraordinary status, he was spiritually empty. He had many women around him, but they were all for physical pleasure, not emotional connection.

Over time, he became fond of toying with emotions.

Because he felt that emotions were all fake—a game.

But paradoxically, he also hoped there was true affection in the world and wanted to obtain it, especially Ouyang Feng's affection.

To put it bluntly, this guy had been starved of love since childhood and wanted his biological father's recognition.

Thus, he joined the Zhao Kings Manor, intending to achieve something.

The reason he meddled in the feud between Wanyan Honglie and the Yang family, besides being loyal to his employer, was also because he felt Yang Kang's experience was similar to his own. Coupled with his habit of toying with emotions, he treated it as an experiment, or rather, a game.

Because of Mu Nianci, Meng Li had a relationship with the Yang family, so naturally, he wouldn't let him stir up trouble again.

Ouyang Ke was a smart man; after this warning, he shouldn't cause any more trouble.

As for Wanyan Honglie...

Before Meng Li could think of a conclusion, Yang Tiexin and the others returned.

The group was happy; the matter must have reached a Perfection resolution.

Meng Li greeted them and asked a question.

Guo Jing talked on and on, explaining everything in detail.

Nothing unexpected happened; they waited at the tavern and found the eccentric man with the cane.

The subsequent development was similar to the original series: seeing that Guo Jing and Yang Kang dared to return, the eccentric man immediately attacked in anger. Prepared beforehand, Yang Tiexin, wanting to stand up for Yang Kang, raised his spear and fought him, gradually gaining the upper hand.

Seeing this, the others didn't intervene.

Halfway through the fight, Yang Tiexin and the eccentric man recognized each other and switched to using secret codes.

Once the codes were exchanged and their identities confirmed, the two turned their hostility into friendship.

It turned out the eccentric man was named Zhang San, an old acquaintance of Yang Tiexin and even Guo Xiaotian—a true sworn brother.

Afterward, both sides drank together, and their enmity vanished with a laugh.

Midway through, someone reported them to the authorities, and the officials arrived.

Zhang San had liked to rob the rich to help the poor in his youth and had a criminal record, so he slipped away on the spot.

Yang Tiexin and the others were a step slower but were not troubled.

Because the people around them knew Yang Tiexin was a descendant of the Yang family, they helped cover for them.

Yang Kang was very surprised by this.

After realizing this was the effect brought by being a descendant of the Yang family, he accepted this identity a bit more.

Seeing this, Yang Tiexin took Yang Kang to a corner for a private chat, telling him about the deeds of the Yang family ancestors and explaining the prestige of the Yang family descendants in the Song Dynasty.

With a shot of adrenaline, Yang Kang, who was already fired up, felt his identification, sense of belonging, and pride as a descendant of the Yang family surge significantly. The original awkwardness and estrangement disappeared, and he officially transitioned from "Wanyan Kang" to "Yang Kang," calling Yang Tiexin "Father."

...