"What are you trying to do? Feng'er was just giving you a few words of advice, and you've gone to such lengths!" Song Xia glared angrily at Ouyang Zhen, while Ouyang Wan and Yin Shihuai also looked indignant.

Ouyang Zhen looked at them coldly: "It's none of your business to interfere with what I do. As disciples, you should be punished for disobeying orders."

"The wind is doing this for your own good!"

"I think he's been taught to be timid and short-sighted by you. Running for the leader of the martial arts world is such a big deal. How can two foreigners compare?"

“Ouyang Zhen…”

"Master's wife, I'm fine." Ouyang Feng was afraid that she would clash with Ouyang Zhen, so he quickly pulled her back.

"Song Xia, don't forget the grand ambition your father entrusted to me. He hoped that I would carry forward the glory of Linghe Valley. Now is the best time. Are you not even going to keep your father's last wish?"

Song Xia looked at him without backing down: "But I believe that my father made this wish on the premise that all the disciples of Linghe Valley are well-fed and clothed and safe from harm. It was definitely not something you used as a raft to gain fame. Do you really think that once you become the leader of the martial arts world, all martial artists in the world will obey your command?"

"Why not? The leader of the martial arts alliance commands the world; this is a tacit agreement among all sects."

Song Xia just sneered at him, which made Ouyang Zhen even angrier.

"I think that entrusting you with the sect's trivial matters has nurtured your ambition. Guards, lock the madam in the backyard. No one is allowed to release her without my order."

Not to mention Ouyang Feng and his group, even the disciples who were close to Ouyang Zhen were somewhat stunned. How could they just lock up the lady like that?

Just as Ouyang Wan and the others were about to say something, Song Xia stopped them with a look.

“Ouyang Zhen, ignoring the needs of the disciples in the valley and the people in the city, and blindly pursuing fame and power will only take you further and further away from these things. I’m waiting to see how far wrong you are.”

After saying that, she returned to the courtyard. In any case, everything had already been arranged, and she didn't need to personally intervene. If Ouyang Zhen wanted to run for the leader of the martial arts alliance, let him go and see who would listen to his orders in the end.

Ouyang Zhen exuded an intimidating aura, and Ouyang Feng and the others all lowered their heads and remained silent.

"Summon all the stewards from the valley and the city."

When Song Ling and Song Lang heard that he had come out of seclusion, they were slightly surprised. Then they returned to the valley at a leisurely pace. They answered whatever he asked. Apart from the increase in the number of refugees, everything else was basically the same as before he went into seclusion.

Ouyang Zhen sneered: "I thought she had managed Linghe Valley and Linghe City very well, but isn't she just continuing the old model?"

Song Ling and Song Lang kept their heads down, their faces expressionless. When their master was still alive, Ouyang Zhen looked down on them, his junior brothers and sisters, who had lower martial arts skills. After he became the valley master, his attitude became even worse. Therefore, they knew long ago that Ouyang Zhen was unreliable. When their master married their junior sister to Ouyang Zhen, they were against it.

Unfortunately, Master was stubborn and thought that Ouyang Zhen was talented, so it was okay for him to be a little arrogant. But looking at Ouyang Zhen's current behavior, is it just a little arrogant? He put his junior sister in solitary confinement with just a few words. His junior sister is Master's only daughter! Ouyang Zhen doesn't care about past kindness at all.

Fortunately, my junior sister made preparations in time. Otherwise, if Ouyang Zhen had really taken the position of leader of the martial arts alliance, how could the disciples in the valley have a peaceful life?

Ask away, investigate, and see what you can find out.

Song Ling and Song Lang were well prepared, but they were surprised to find that Ouyang Zhen actually believed them after asking only a few superficial questions. How could someone like that dare to have ambitions to command the world? Did he really think that having martial arts skills was enough?

"Song Ling, Song Lang, you two make arrangements to select fifty disciples to accompany me to the Zizai Sect next month. Feng'er, Wan'er, and Shihuai, you should also come with your master to broaden your horizons, so that you don't lose your chivalrous spirit by being influenced by your mistresses."

Song Ling hesitated and said, "Valley Master, aren't fifty disciples too many? There are many refugees outside the city now, and we need the disciples to lead and discipline them."

Ouyang Zhen snorted coldly: "Since Song Xia brought them here, let her handle it herself. From now on, I don't want anyone to question my orders."

"Yes, Valley Master."

The decision of who would accompany Ouyang Zhen out of the valley was something Song Xia and the others had already discussed. Although they did not agree with Ouyang Zhen's candidacy for the leader of the martial arts alliance, the disciples in the valley did need to broaden their horizons, especially Ouyang Feng and the other two.

In fact, the Linghe Valley disciples who had already joined Song Xia had been assigned to carry out missions for more than a year. Each time they returned, they felt a deeper sense of belonging to Linghe Valley and had more faith in Song Xia's decisions.

Only Ouyang Feng and the other two were too young, so they had been confined to practicing martial arts. Now it was indeed time for them to go out and see the world.

Only after truly understanding the outside world will they know what they should do in the future.

"Aren't you afraid something might happen to them?" Shangguan Jin appeared in the courtyard from nowhere. "Are you just willing to be locked up by him like this?"

Song Xia sheathed his sword: "I just don't want to have a direct conflict with him for the time being. Besides, the Linghe Valley disciples who are on his side need to go through some things before they know what's best for them. And besides..."

"What are you saying?"

"Besides, aren't you here? If the three of them encounter any danger, I'll trouble you to come to their rescue."

Shangguan Jin grinned: "I'm no match for Ouyang Zhen."

"I didn't let you and Ouyang Zhen face off. For the time being, he won't make a move against the three of them. I'm afraid the cult will cause trouble. Recently, the cult's behavior has become increasingly strange, and many righteous disciples have suffered terrible fates. I'm afraid they'll run into them. After all, Ouyang Zhen is obsessed with his position as the leader of the martial arts alliance, so he won't be so considerate in protecting them."

Shangguan Jin nodded: "It would be a real pity if such a good disciple were to die young."

As he spoke, his expression became more serious: "You're recruiting refugees so openly, do you have some ulterior motive? Song Xia, I have to tell you, no matter how powerful your disciples are, or how corrupt the court is, if you cross their bottom line, the disciples of Linghe Valley are still no match for the court's 100,000-strong army."

"I know, but I still have you, don't I?"

Shangguan Jin was so anxious he jumped up and down: "I just want to make money, don't try to drag me down a dead end."

"Shangguan Jin, you have no choice but to take this path." Song Xia said seriously. "The wealth of Wuhua Tower is comparable to that of a country. Do you really think that if you remain neutral, the imperial court and the cult will have no designs on you?"

Shangguan Jin's face darkened, and he did not reply.

"They'll make their move on you sooner or later. Only by cooperating, and by speeding up, can we deal with this crisis. Don't think you can get rid of trouble by handing over your wealth. Greedy people will think, 'Who's so generous? What if they're keeping some for themselves? How can I repay such a great favor?' You understand that great kindness can turn into great enmity, don't you?"