From Now On, East Hall Could Have Only One Voice

From this moment on, East Hall could have only one voice.

Walking along the bluestone road of Tong'an Alley, Fang Xuan's boots crunched softly over the snow.

Fang Xuan glanced back at the straw raincoat hanging behind the window and could not help smiling faintly.

Fang Li was still a clever lad, after all.

"Brother Xuan."

As he stepped out of the alley, four figures were already waiting there.

One Line Sky, whose eyes were narrow slits; Water Monkey, small and dark-skinned; Big Eyes Chen Jingming, with huge eyes and delicate, fair skin; and Chu Chong, whose muscles were wrapped in fat, a scar running from his left eye down to his chin. His nickname was Mad Boar.

These four were Fang Xuan's trusted men in the gang, among the first to follow him when he first made his name.

Of the four, One Line Sky was the oldest. His wife was already six months pregnant, and before long, he would become a father.

Water Monkey had grown up playing with Fang Xuan. His skill in the water surpassed Fang Xuan's by several degrees; he could cross half the Ping River in a single breath. Ever since his parents had died in the Ping River, he had followed Fang Xuan into the jianghu to make a living.

Big Eyes Chen Jingming had originally come from a decent family. Unfortunately, his father was a gambler. After owing a mountain of debt at a West Hall gambling den, he had taken the family money and fled to the prefectural city, leaving behind only a widow and her child to depend on each other in these troubled times.

Chu Chong had met Fang Xuan the latest. Originally, he had been East Hall Branch's strongest fighter, until Fang Xuan beat him into submission.

Because he dared to fight and charge, risking his life whenever he fought, and because he was covered in thick flesh, he was known in the jianghu as Mad Boar—meaning a crazed pig.

If not for Fang Xuan, East Hall's foremost fighter would now have been Chu Chong.

"Come on, you're about to be a father. Stop coming out to run wild with us, will you? I don't want your wife cursing me during the New Year!"

Fang Xuan glanced at One Line Sky.

"Brother Xuan, if that woman dares curse you, I'll divorce her!" One Line Sky declared grandly.

"If you dare say that in front of your wife, I'll admit you've got guts!" Fang Xuan said disdainfully.

One Line Sky instantly shrank his head back and gave an awkward laugh. "Ahem. I've got the guts, sure, but I'm afraid I'd lose my life too."

The moment he said that, the other three burst out laughing.

Who in all of East Hall did not know that One Line Sky was afraid of his wife?

The only person in East Hall who could be thrown out of his house and onto the street with an over-the-shoulder throw by his wife was probably One Line Sky.

"How are things with South Hall?"

Fang Xuan shook his head and turned to Water Monkey.

Among the group, Water Monkey was the quickest and sharpest, with the most alert mind. He usually handled surveillance.

"Brother Xuan, that big fool Xie Han has been gathering men nonstop lately. They've been prowling back and forth around the border between East of the City and South of the City. He should be testing us," Water Monkey replied.

"Putting on a show."

Fang Xuan curled his lip, then looked at Chu Chong and said solemnly, "Ah Chong, now that something has happened to the hall master, the men throughout East of the City are a scattered heap of sand. I have other matters to deal with over the next few days. You're in charge of twisting all of East Hall into one rope!"

"For these ten days, I want all of East Hall to have only one voice! My voice—Fang Xuan's!"

Chu Chong nodded. There was little expression on his scarred, ferocious face.

"If Xie Han brings men across the line, how should we deal with it?" Chu Chong asked in a hoarse, clipped voice.

"If he dares stretch out his hand, then chop off his hand!"

A cold glint flashed through Fang Xuan's eyes.

"Fine." Chu Chong spat out a single word.

He could not beat Fang Xuan, but when it came to dealing with Xie Han, he truly had nothing to fear!

After arranging everything, Fang Xuan finally looked at Big Eyes Chen Jingming and smiled.

"Ah Ming, I heard your father made it big in the prefectural city and came back with your sister to acknowledge you?"

Chen Jingming's shoulders immediately drooped. He nodded lightly, his eyes full of confusion and gloom.

"Why do you look so miserable? Cheer up! Damn, you're about to have great wealth and become a rich young master. Isn't that a good thing? Once you make it big, don't forget to give us poor brothers a hand!"

Fang Xuan patted his shoulder and teased him.

"Brother Xuan, what are you saying? You gave me this life of mine. How could I..." Big Eyes Chen Jingming forced a smile, then said softly,

"It's just that man... he abandoned his wife and child back then. Now that he's old and sick all over, he wants to come back and acknowledge me..."

Before he could finish—

"Ah Ming, this is your family matter. None of us can interfere, nor would it be right for us to. But I'll still say this: brothers carry each other in their hearts. If there's anything you need from me as your big brother, call for me anytime!"

Fang Xuan said seriously.

After saying that, Fang Xuan took a deep breath and looked at the sky.

"Alright, I'm leaving. I'll have to rely on you all these next few days."

With that, Fang Xuan strode away.

Ping River, at a bend in the water.

Waves towered into the sky, charging with the force of ten thousand galloping horses.

Fang Xuan untied his belt and stripped off his clothes. He broke the seal on a bamboo tube, tipped his head back to drink, and held Whale Blood in his mouth.

Hiss—!

Fang Xuan drew a deep breath, then leaped forward and plunged into the river!

The icy river water rushed over him. It was still bitterly cold, but no longer did it feel as if the cold would shatter every crack in his bones.

His blood and qi surged through his body, as though he had become a small furnace.

Splash—!

A huge wave crashed into him, still tossing Fang Xuan dizzyingly about, sending him reeling from side to side.

Yet there was no longer that sensation of his entire body being torn apart.

"So this is improvement!"

A look of realization appeared in Fang Xuan's eyes. Then, as he had done yesterday, he seized a gap between the waves, avoided the very center of the current slightly, sat cross-legged, and slowly sank into the depths of the river.

"Hold the Dipper's guiding principle, grasp the essential formula; it is the great key of the Dao, the primal order of all methods. Ride true qi to command things, govern divine mechanisms to transform and move."

Fang Xuan closed his eyes and silently recited the words in his heart.

In an instant, the Whale Blood in his mouth melted over his tongue like ice and snow, becoming a stream of heat that surged through his limbs and bones, strengthening his flesh, skin, and skeleton.

You held Whale Blood in your mouth amid the raging waves, tempering flesh and skin. "Dragon Whale Technique" progress +1

Lines of tiny words spread across the Black Talisman.

In the blink of an eye, ten days passed like a finger snap.

East of the City lay beside the river and contained Pingjiang County's largest ferry dock. Countless fish stalls had been set up there.

Fang Xuan had previously been responsible for managing the entire dock. Not only did he collect protection fees from every ferry landing, but even passing merchant ships and vessels making temporary stops were charged according to who they were.

But beyond that, East of the City had countless inns, restaurants, teahouses, taverns, and markets that made their living around the dock. These were managed by East Hall's other leaders.

Under Chu Chong's actions, a bloody storm swept through all of East of the City in Pingjiang County.

His methods were vicious and violent. Everywhere he went, blood flew and miserable screams rang out without end.

If Fang Xuan was merely ruthless, then Chu Chong was insane!

Whoever dared resist, he truly would cut down, without the slightest regard for brotherhood within the same hall!

Bang!!!

Inside the second floor of a restaurant.

Chu Chong charged about like a crazed wild boar. At last, he threw a punch that sent a burly middle-aged man flying straight out from the restaurant's second floor.

He raised a hand and wiped away the steaming blood covering his face. The scar on his face became ever more savage and terrifying, so glaring that no one dared meet his gaze.

With a clang.

He casually picked up a steel saber from the ground, his gaze sweeping down over the terrified thugs sprawled limply on the floor.

"From now on, all of East Hall can have only one voice!"

"That is Master Fang's voice!"

"Understand?"