<h4>Chapter 206: Backing Down</h4>


    Indeed, the Long n wasn''t the only n to suffer in this manner. In Ning, the Wang n was likewise surrounded by elites from the ckwind Fort; in fact, because Zhang Lie and his dojo were both situated in Ning, there was a stronger military presence near the Wang n.


    Almost all the Wang assets were seized by the military in the blink of an eye. At the top floor of the Tianlin condominium in Ning, Wang Han was bowing to a ck-clothed young man sitting in front of him. The man was Lin Yue, the team leader of one of the ckwind Fort''s field-operation teams, as well as a trusted aide to Su Feng.


    "Team Leader Lin, may I ask what you''re doing here?" Wang Han asked politely, realizing the delicacy of his situation.


    "n Head Wang, are you sure you don''t know why I''m here today?"


    "No, Team Leader Lin, please exin yourself!"


    .


    "You don''t know about the assassination attempt on Dojo Leader Zhang? ording to verified sources, these assassins were sent by at least three factions. Do you im to be innocent of this charge, n Head Wang?"


    "A false usation, Team Leader Lin! The Wang n took no part in this! Surely you can''t ce the me on the Wang n out of mere conjecture alone?"


    Lin Yueughed. "Is that so?"


    "I, Wang Han, swear on my cultivation and honor that the Wang n truly wasn''t involved! To be honest, the Wang n did have a feud with Zhang Lie, but ever since Zhang Lie sessfully founded his dojo and became the champion of the Void Cup, most of the Wang elders were unwilling to go against him any longer. Given his importance in discovering the existence of limit fragments, many in the n support developing a friendlier rtionship with him instead. A week ago, our n halted all our ns against Zhang Lie and the Zenith Dojo," Wang Han admitted somewhat sorrowfully.


    He had been invited—and had wanted!—to participate in the assassination attempt, but the n had banded in vehement disagreement, forcing him to drop some of his unhatched ns against Zhang Lie. Although he was still upset, he was now immeasurably grateful to those elders who had objected and saved the Wang n from deep trouble.


    "Very well. Let this serve as a warning of what would happen if you chose to go against Zhang Lie, then," Lin Yue replied.


    "Team Leader Lin, does that mean that Zhang Lie''s being backed by the military now?"


    "Don''t try to pry for information. All I can tell you is to drop whatever feud the Wang n has against him. He''s not an existence the Wang n can afford to offend—not even ten Wang ns! Believe me, this is for your own good!"


    "Yes, Team Leader Lin, I understand!"


    Lin Yue nodded, then turned to leave. "This meeting was a secret. I trust you won''t publicize it," he added, walking out of the condominium.


    Wang Han exhaled. The sooner he could let his enmity go, the better.


    The Qin and Li ns, which harbored a deeper grudge against Zhang Lie, took the news rather badly. In the Li manor, the Li n head sat with three ck-clothed military officials, the atmosphere so tense it was almost palpable.


    "What do you mean? Does the military intend to step into Li n matters?" n Head Li pressed.


    "To restrict, not to interfere," one of the military officials rified. "If the Li n persists in trying to interfere with Zhang Lie, it shall be destroyed. This is your final warning, n Head Li."


    "Destroyed! Why?! Is a single first-realm hunter like Zhang Lie worth so much that you''d destroy the honored Li n over it?" the Li n head retorted.


    "Justice? n Head Li, do you really wish to speak of justice? Your n''s initial disagreement with Zhang Lie grew out of your avarice—whence the justice? The Li n''s past des were a testament to your ancestors'' skill and character, not the basis by which you can get away with bullying others! Indeed, if not for those des, we wouldn''t be here today—the Li n would simply have been annihted from a distance. Come to your senses, n Head Li!"


    "Very well. I understand. The Li n will ede to the military''s demands," n Head Li replied, taking a deep breath. Really, what other choice did he have? Once the military stepped in, the oue was a foregone conclusion. The major ns knew the military''s might best; they might have been able to get away with bullying smaller ns or individual hunters, but against the military...


    Affairs yed out in much the same manner in the Qin n. In a single night, Zhang Lie''s enmity with many of the major ns of China was wiped clean.


    Indeed, they couldn''t even dare plot and scheme against Zhang Lie secretly. The military was sure to continue surveince on them, and if they were to discover anything, their ns would be destroyed in an instant. It seemed as though the military had truly be Zhang Lie''s backer, and the gulf between them and Zhang Lie was widening day by day.


    Once everything was settled, in one of Odinstadt''s inns, Yan Long and Su Feng again met up for drinks. They groused and grumbled at the hunter for whom they had done so much, who had spent the entire day and night cultivating in preparation for the tournament, and had no idea what had happened in his name.