A Woman Like a Lion (Part 2)

The Golden Tiger Gang's hundred-plus burly men suddenly reacted, letting out a continuous stream of angry curses as they chased after Li Feng and the others. However, many in the Golden Tiger Gang were still confused: "Didn't that shrew just beat up the Third Boss? Why are we listening to him now? Those Golden Dragon Gang guys, although we have our usual grudges with them, at least they helped us today... Strange, strange... Ah, I get it, that young lady is the Second Miss of the White Emperor Sect, so she's our backing, right? No wonder."

Li Feng and the others fled frantically ahead, with over a hundred shouting and constantly swinging their fists Golden Tiger Gang members chasing behind. It was the busiest part of the night market, and these hundred-plus people charging through the streets immediately threw the entire street into chaos. Li Feng was incredibly fast, and his attacks were particularly vicious. As soon as he saw vendors selling roasted, fried, or stewed food by the roadside, he would immediately throw a gold or silver ingot, then grab their cooking pots and hurl them backward.

With a loud 'sizzling' sound, after Li Feng threw out seven or eight large stew pots, oil pots, and soup pots, over thirty Golden Tiger Gang members were already screaming and falling to the ground. Countless blisters were rising on their faces and hands, and a faint aroma of cooked meat wafted through the air. Seeing Li Feng's maliciousness, the Golden Tiger Gang members' pursuit slowed down. No one was stupid; who was willing to charge to the front anymore?

Li Feng laughed heartily. Seeing the Golden Tiger Gang members slow down, he immediately rushed into a general store, grabbed over ten pounds of chili powder and pepper powder, and quickly charged a few steps towards the Golden Tiger Gang members. The fiery powders were flung out with his internal energy. Coughing and sneezing erupted, and another forty-odd Golden Tiger Gang members stopped with strange cries. Their eyes were burning, and their noses felt incredibly hot; how could they continue chasing?

A Zhu also became interested. He picked up a wooden stick from the roadside and followed Li Feng, charging backward. While the Golden Tiger Gang subordinates were fumbling and rubbing their eyes, crying and wailing, he fiercely struck their heads with the stick. He had practiced Iron Sand Palm for several years, and his palms indeed had some power. One strike was enough to ensure those strong as bulls immediately fell to the ground, unable to get up again.

Chasing and fleeing, they knocked down countless night market stalls. Finally, the group ran to the gates of the Golden Dragon Gang's compound. Li Feng and A Zhu calmly stopped, looking at the dozen or so foolish Golden Tiger Gang subordinates still chasing them. The burly men were overjoyed to see Li Feng and the others suddenly stop, but then they let out a strange cry and turned to run. Curses erupted from all around, and hundreds of Golden Dragon Gang members, wielding wooden sticks, rushed out from the surrounding alleys. They surrounded these men and beat them severely, turning them into something like tattered rag dolls before dragging them by their legs and throwing them into a nearby stinking ditch.

A Zhu nodded, very pleased with his subordinates' speed of reaction. He looked at Li Feng and suddenly said, "I didn't expect you to have such good skills, kid. That woman had so much strength, yet she was sent flying by a single palm. A Feng, you weren't bragging, were you?"

Li Feng smiled, nodded, and asked, "Do you want to learn? But I warn you, you can't reveal that you learned martial arts from me, and you can't show it off in front of others. Otherwise, I guarantee you'll be in big trouble, very big trouble... because the manual I learned was stolen."

A Zhu was stunned for a moment, unable to comprehend that the martial arts Li Feng had learned for six years came from a stolen manual. However, he knew the opportunity was before him. He nodded, gritted his teeth, and said, "Learn, why wouldn't I? But I have to tell you, kid, don't hold back. You have to pour out all your martial arts for me." A Zhu's hand already reached Li Feng's neck as he whispered, "You, kid, have always liked to hold back. Huh? After you disappeared, I healed my injuries and went to the cellar where you hid your money. I found over two hundred taels of silver. You never told me, always crying poor in front of me, didn't you?"

Li Feng chuckled awkwardly, "Well, as they say, prepare for a rainy day. I have to plan for our future. So saving some private money is a must." Suddenly, Li Feng jumped up, grabbed A Zhu's collar tightly, and asked, "You bastard, how did you know where I hid the silver? Huh? You took the silver too, didn't you? Spit it out for me, with ten times the interest. One year's interest is two thousand three hundred and forty-five taels of silver, how much is six years? Including the principal of two hundred and thirty-four taels and five qian of silver, spit it out for me."

A Zhu turned and ran, shouting, "No way, you brat! Keeping private money from me is one thing, but you want interest too? You're loaded now, why do you still want interest? Bah, don't even think about it."

Under the astonished gazes of a group of Golden Dragon Gang subordinates, Li Feng chased A Zhu into A Zhu's room. After a bout of screaming and wrestling, Li Feng suddenly cursed, "What a waste of time! That shrew is the Second Miss of the White Emperor Sect? Why did she go to a brothel? Does she really think she's some important figure, on a secret visit? She ruined my mood." Saying that, Li Feng plopped down on A Zhu's bed, leaned back, and hummed a folk song.

A Zhu called over a maid, ordered her to prepare some late-night snacks and drinks, then sat down beside Li Feng with a serious expression. "This is a bit troublesome. You've offended the Second Miss of the White Emperor Sect. The White Emperor Sect is a very famous sect in the martial arts world, with many experts. Especially since they are the backing of the Golden Tiger Gang, they'll definitely make a fuss and make things difficult for us. They might even take this opportunity to eliminate the Golden Dragon Gang. This is a big problem."

Li Feng hummed his song without worry, "Isn't Old Tou'er your backer? Just go to the yamen and file a report, say there are bandits trying to rob the Golden Dragon Gang, and that'll solve it. You control those shop owners, right? Tell them to report to the yamen and falsely accuse those White Emperor Sect experts, let the yamen get entangled with them. I don't believe the White Emperor Sect people dare to rebel, do they? Hmph... I've never heard of martial artists daring to be registered in the yamen. Do they really think they're invincible, immune to blades and spears?"

A Zhu laughed, "However, using such methods might be a bit too dirty, and our Golden Dragon Gang's reputation won't be good if it gets out."

Li Feng sneered, "So what? Bad reputation? What's reputation worth? Actual benefits are what matter... As long as no one knows, why do you care? Even if it gets out, what then? As long as the Suzhou Prefecture only has the Golden Dragon Gang left, who's afraid of rumors? Who dares?" Li Feng thought of his junior sister who was killed by Wei Ziqun. Didn't the Mount Hua Sect have any gossip internally? Yet Wei Ziqun was still the Sect Master, wasn't he? Was he having any trouble?

Li Feng suddenly realized, "Nowadays, as long as you have power, influence, and strength, you can turn black into white and white into black. Those in power, with a few words from their mouths, can cause countless deaths... Take Gu Cangyue, his power is only half of what it used to be, but with his title as Chief Constable of Suzhou Prefecture, forcing out the White Emperor Sect experts would be very simple, right? Who would care if it's a false accusation?"

Li Feng kept sneering, feeling fortunate for his discovery. He sighed, "I finally figured out the most important thing. Ha, I'm quite smart, aren't I?"

A Zhu gritted his teeth and pondered for a while, then suddenly jumped up and strode out the door, shouting loudly, "Guards! Tonight, my brothers will be on high alert, don't let the Golden Tiger Gang cause any trouble. Tomorrow morning, bring Boss Jin from the silk shop here. Hmph... Why ask so many questions? Do the Hall Master's words need explanation? Go quickly, don't slack off... No drinking, no gambling. If you mess up this Hall Master's business, you'll pay dearly."

After giving a majestic set of orders, A Zhu re-entered the room, closed the door, and said with a smile, "This is also an idea, but I'm afraid those White Emperor Sect people might play dirty and ambush some of our brothers from behind. That would be troublesome."

Li Feng lazily said, "What are you afraid of? How many people they send, I'll take them on. White Emperor Sect, hmph, they're the biggest in Three Gorges White Emperor City. No, in the entire Sichuan region, except for... they're the biggest, right? But this is Suzhou, not their territory. Why should I care about them?" Li Feng pondered, "The Emei Sword Sect, they shouldn't be colluding with the White Emperor Sect, right? One is a sect of immortal cultivators, the other is a sect fighting for worldly power. They shouldn't have any connection."

Without waiting for A Zhu to speak, Li Feng straightened up and said excitedly, "Didn't you say Boss Niu wants to gain a military title, and you want to be the Gang Leader? This is the perfect opportunity. Just watch, I'll help you eliminate the Golden Tiger Gang, force out the White Emperor Sect people, and make the Golden Dragon Gang the sole power in Suzhou Prefecture. This is a tremendous contribution. If you don't become the Gang Leader, who will? With Boss Niu's influence, and you working a bit harder, expanding the Golden Dragon Gang tenfold won't be difficult."

A Zhu's heart raced. He became extremely interested in Li Feng's plan. He no longer cared about the consequences of forcing out the White Emperor Sect and eliminating the Golden Tiger Gang; he was just excited about what he might gain. He said urgently, "Little Feng, are you serious? But the Golden Tiger Gang also has some good fighters. Boss Niu took a group of people north, and the Golden Tiger Gang is still stronger than these good-for-nothings I have. Especially since the White Emperor Sect sent people to Suzhou, we might not be able to withstand the conflict."

Li Feng slapped the rosewood table beside him. With a crisp 'crack,' the entire table was shattered by the soft, yielding force from his palm, turning into a pile of wood dust on the ground. A Zhu stared dumbfounded, then suddenly grabbed Li Feng's smooth, calloused-free palm and cursed, "Heavens, this is unjust! I've worked hard for years practicing Iron Sand Palm, and I can't break a table like this, but you... Heaven has no eyes!"

A knock sounded on the door. A Zhu irritably shouted, "Who is it?"

A woman's voice replied fearfully, "Hall Master, it's this servant, bringing late-night snacks for the Hall Master."

A Zhu stood up somewhat annoyed, opened the door to let the three maids in, then went out to carry a table from Li Feng's adjacent room. After placing the late-night snacks, he quickly ushered the three maids out like chasing ducks. Li Feng grabbed a braised pig's trotter and mumbled, "Your boss is amazing, finding such beautiful maids. Don't harm them and then abandon them... Hmm, don't worry about the White Emperor Sect. You can collude with Old Tou'er to drive them away. As for the Golden Tiger Gang, no matter how many good fighters they have, they're no match for me."

As Li Feng spoke, he suddenly remembered something. He rummaged in his pocket with his greasy hand and pulled out a thousand-year-old Purple Lingzhi mushroom, tossing it to A Zhu. "This thousand-year-old Lingzhi, I painstakingly found it on the mountain, risking my life. Alas, after such great risk, I only stole three pieces from the fangs of that two-headed python. I ate two pieces myself, and this one is for you... It should increase your cultivation by thirty years. Ha, you'll be a first-rate expert then."

Li Feng, without batting an eye, spun out this lie. Damn it, a thousand-year-old Lingzhi? He had wasted who knows how many ten-thousand-year-old Lingzhi mushrooms. There was a time when he used dried Lingzhi as firewood for roasting venison.

A Zhu, however, was different. He carefully held the small piece of Lingzhi, still bearing Li Feng's greasy fingerprints, and was so grateful he almost shed tears. "Good brother, you finally remember your old brother... But you've definitely hidden some for yourself. Damn it, you said you ate two pieces, that means you ate at least four... I know your character, don't I? Otherwise, how could you have such strong power?"

Li Feng yawned, patted his belly, and laughed, "I'm full. Ah, it was tough on the mountain. For six years, I didn't have a proper meal of worldly food. Heh heh... I practice diligently, I have high talent, I'm a genius, that's why I have such strong power. You can't be convinced, but it's the truth. Especially before that old man died, he gave me over a hundred years of internal energy cultivation. How could I not be strong?" Li Feng's eyes rolled as he spun another lie. He remembered the adventure stories he loved listening to with A Zhu as a child, and immediately fabricated a story based on them.

A Zhu's eyes turned black with envy, and he repeatedly sighed, "Heaven has no eyes! To let such a cunning thing like you get so many benefits. Damn it, doesn't Heaven think about it? If this kid gets such strong martial arts, will the martial arts world ever have peace? Truly, Heaven has no eyes."

Li Feng affectionately put his arm around A Zhu and laughed, "If I didn't have such strong martial arts, how could you become the Golden Dragon Gang Leader? Hmm, ahem, I'll help you circulate your Qi later, help you lay the foundation for Qi Refining, and then you can familiarize yourself with the circulation path of 'Little Heavenly Star Palm.' This palm technique has no moves. As long as your power is sufficient, you can naturally generate thousands of methods. This is a secret of the Mount Hua Sect that cannot be passed down! My late master painstakingly stole it from the Mount Hua Sect. Don't let this great martial art go to waste."

A Zhu swallowed, and asked blankly, "'Little Heavenly Star Palm'? The 'Little Heavenly Star Palm' that is ranked third in palm power in the martial arts world? Am I dreaming?... A Zhu, if I learn this palm technique, will it cause trouble?"

Li Feng sneered, "Trouble? What trouble? As long as you don't release your Qi externally, who will know you're using Little Heavenly Star Palm? Are you going to find the Mount Hua Sect's Sect Master and hit him with this palm technique?... I'm teaching you a special skill, so that you, the future great Gang Leader of the Golden Dragon Gang, won't get yourself killed. Where else would I find a brother?"

Li Feng whispered, "But absolutely no wind must leak out, otherwise the Mount Hua Sect will really trouble us. I plan to impersonate a Mount Hua Sect disciple while wandering the martial arts world. I've even thought of my background and origins. But if word leaks from your end, I'll either have to flee the martial arts world or charge up Mount Hua and kill everyone clean."

A Zhu repeatedly agreed, "No problem, no problem. I'd be an idiot to tell anyone about this... Hmm, hehe... It's really 'Little Heavenly Star Palm'? I'm going to be rich! Damn it, if I knew there was such a martial art to learn, why would I practice this low-class Iron Sand Palm? Iron Sand Palm, heavens, it's embarrassing to even mention it! Who in the martial arts world isn't bragging about their Iron Sand Palm?" A Zhu was almost drooling. Li Feng suddenly felt that A Zhu's current appearance was very similar to Little Cat... Thinking of this, Li Feng's heart ached again.

The night passed without incident. Relying on the vast True Essence he cultivated on Qingyun Flat, Li Feng forcefully cleared A Zhu's meridians. Although the method was violent, and A Zhu's screams of pain were somewhat agonizing, it was ultimately completed successfully. Afterwards, along with two Spirit Pills, A Zhu took that piece of thousand-year-old Purple Lingzhi. Under Li Feng's protection, A Zhu smoothly became a quasi-first-rate expert with forty years of cultivation overnight.

Subsequently, Li Feng taught the 'Little Heavenly Star Palm' to A Zhu without reservation. After a brief practice, A Zhu could already unleash one-tenth of the palm technique's power. After some thought, Li Feng maliciously taught A Zhu modified versions of the Mount Hua Sect's introductory skills like 'Heavenly Gang Steps' and 'Shattered Jade Fist.'

These martial arts, which could barely be considered first-rate, were so mangled by Li Feng that they immediately dropped below second-rate. However, they were sufficient for A Zhu to conceal his true strength. Even the Mount Hua Sect's founding ancestor wouldn't be able to recognize what moves A Zhu was using.

After a night of hard work, relying on his own powerful strength, Li Feng hastily manufactured a martial arts master. Combined with A Zhu's rich street fighting experience, Li Feng believed that even if A Zhu faced a true first-rate expert head-on, even if he couldn't win, the opponent wouldn't be able to do anything to him. At the very least, for a gang of the Golden Dragon Gang's size, having a leader with such martial arts was already an outrageous matter. A gang of the Golden Dragon Gang's scale would be lucky to have a leader with second-rate skills.

Opening the door, A Zhu leaped two zhang high in the air in the courtyard, then with a clumsy palm strike, hit the ground. A square foot of bluestone turned into over a hundred fragments. A Zhu triumphantly shouted, "Hahahaha, I'm finally a true master! The Golden Tiger Gang and the White Emperor Sect, what are they worth?"

Li Feng shook his head repeatedly, thinking, "A Zhu has gained martial arts, and he's even more arrogant than me? Back then, I only bullied monkeys on Qingyun Flat. This guy, it seems, is going to bully people." He didn't realize that back then on Qingyun Flat, he couldn't bully anyone; it was others who bullied him.

A Zhu was gleefully smashing the bluestones in his courtyard with palm strikes when several bruised and swollen Golden Dragon Gang members rushed in, shouting, "Hall Master! There's a fierce woman outside, saying she wants to speak with the Hall Master... Damn it, what a fierce woman! She took down over fifty of our brothers by herself!"

A Zhu's hair stood on end with anger. He was at the peak of his newly acquired divine power, full of confidence. Hearing that someone dared to cause trouble at his hall, he let out a yell and shouted, "Brothers, follow me out and see who has such bad eyes to come looking for trouble first thing in the morning. Brothers, bring your weapons, prepare to fight for your lives!"

Li Feng stood behind, grinning sinisterly, and whispered, "Interesting. It seems that the Second Miss from last night finally couldn't hold back, or perhaps her maid was instigating her to seek revenge? Very good, very good. I was just looking for a reason to report you to the yamen. Now you've delivered yourselves? Heh heh, I never thought I, in this lifetime, would have a day where I report people to the yamen. Before, it was always others shouting about throwing me in jail for life."

Li Feng proudly flicked his messy hair, strode out with swagger, and sang an unknown tune, looking as arrogant as a general leading an army. The dozen or so Golden Dragon Gang members following him, like tigers borrowing prestige, also looked quite imposing, as if they were going into battle.

At the entrance of the Golden Dragon Gang's hall, on the wide plaza in front of the gate, a white figure was moving rapidly. Every time a Golden Dragon Gang member rushed forward, they were immediately punched back, unable to get close to the Second Miss, who had changed into women's clothing. Beside her, more than a dozen middle-aged men, looking relaxed and with their true energy concealed, were smiling and commenting, "Second Miss, this move is excellent... Hmm, this one is even better... 'Bashan Shushui,' this move is even more agile and ethereal, wonderful!"

Li Feng tilted his head and shouted loudly, "Guards! Report this to the authorities! Is there no law? They're attacking the gates of us good citizens! Is the law useless?"

A Zhu almost fell to the ground. The Golden Dragon Gang and good citizens were definitely not related.

The Second Miss's eyes widened like copper bells. She let out a sharp cry, "Brat, take my palm!" Her figure flashed across ten zhang, and she attacked Li Feng like a ferocious tiger with a palm strike.