Zhang Clan Martial Hall

"Do you know the rules?"

The fish-eyed man spoke in a neither-yin-nor-yang tone. Not only Li Yan and Sha LiFei—even Wang Dao Xuan's eyes turned slightly colder.

"The rules... Of course I know them!"

Sha LiFei chuckled, rose, and rubbed his gleaming bald head. "Let's put aside the rules of fighting in the arena for now. When speaking to someone, you have to identify yourself first. That's a rule of the jianghu..."

"It's a rule of being human!"

"You don't even understand the rules of being human, yet you're spouting nonsense here!"

Sha LiFei's martial skills were only average. He traveled the jianghu relying entirely on his silver tongue, and he had never lost an argument. How could he let someone come knocking at his door and not talk back?

Unexpectedly, the fish-eyed man did not get angry. His attention merely shifted to Sha LiFei as he said blandly, "I understand some of the rules of being human too. Everything has to be done in threes."

"Keep three parts of a smile, yield three parts of reason, drink three parts of wine. And before anything even happens, you flip the table and fight someone in a Life and Death Arena. Do you really think your fists are that hard?"

"Whether they're hard or not, we'll know after trying!"

"I'm afraid you'll go soft before we even try!"

The two traded one sentence after another, unexpectedly matching each other blow for blow.

Moreover, the atmosphere had inexplicably grown tense.

Sha LiFei's eyes widened.

The fish-eyed man's expression turned solemn.

They sized each other up, like generals meeting a worthy opponent before their battle lines.

Li Yan rubbed his brows and spoke. "What exactly do you want?"

He had a strange feeling that if he let the two of them keep arguing, he would get nothing done all morning.

The fish-eyed man was clearly somewhat regretful at having his argument interrupted, but he also began introducing himself. He casually cupped his hands and said, "Zhang Clan Martial Hall, Zhang ShiTong. I'm also a traveling inspector for the Xianyang Divine Fist Society."

Li Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Were you sent by Zhou Pan?"

He naturally understood the rules of fighting in a Life and Death Arena.

First, one had to send a challenge. Since he had issued it, he had to be the one to deliver the challenge.

Second, one had to invite witnesses. Whether officials or jianghu elders, someone had to be present to bear witness and sign the life-and-death contract. Even if someone was killed, there would be no need to face a lawsuit.

Third were the rules on the arena itself.

Once he sent out a challenge, the other party had to accept it. Refusing meant admitting cowardice.

But after accepting, the other party got to set the rules. Whether it was fighting on level ground, on Plum Blossom Poles, or with fists, blades, or other weapons, none of that was for him to decide.

If he did not dare accept, he could only admit defeat and leave Xianyang.

That was called one exchange following another—what went out had to come back.

As for traveling inspectors, they were officials within the Divine Fist Society.

The Divine Fist Society branches in various places were mostly formed from local martial halls. In the jianghu, they were considered the Guazi Trade. Some were hired by officials and gentry as household guards, while others established escort agencies, placing them relatively close to the imperial court.

At times, they also helped the imperial court handle jianghu disputes and suppress banditry. Thus, they had ties with local militia groups as well, and often sent people to teach the use of sabers, spears, and cudgels.

Traveling inspectors were the ones responsible for roaming various regions and gathering intelligence.

The original plan had been to deliver the challenge today. How had the other side sent someone over first?

"Heh."

The fish-eyed man gave a cold laugh. "The Divine Fist Society isn't solely controlled by that fellow surnamed Zhou. My father is the vice president. That fellow Zhou isn't qualified to order us around."

Li Yan was puzzled. "Then what does this have to do with you?"

"It originally had nothing to do with us." The fish-eyed man, Zhang ShiTong, grew solemn. "Those two disciples of that fellow Zhou have been running wild in Xianyang City, disgracing the entire Divine Fist Society. We can't stand by and watch, but we're powerless to do anything."

"If you had simply butchered them, we would have secretly praised you as a true hero."

"But you challenged them in Li Hu's son's name. That makes this matter connected to our martial hall."

"My father... wants to invite you over for a bout!"

The Zhang Clan Martial Hall stood in the area around Medicine King Temple in the Northeast.

This was Xianyang's old city district. Unlike in his previous life, it had been preserved fairly intact. There was even a ruined section of the old Qin capital's wall. After being reinforced, it separated two streets.

The martial hall covered a considerable area and had been built long ago. Its walls were likewise made of old Qin Bricks. Together with the faded plaque, they gave the place an even greater air of age and gravity.

What drew the eye more than anything else was the pair of stone lions at the entrance.

Li Yan had not even approached when a strange look appeared in his eyes.

Stone lions used as warding objects had originated in the Han dynasty.

At that time, Parthia in the Western Regions and the Yuezhi kingdom had presented lions as tribute. Later, as Buddhism and Taoism spread eastward, the lions were endowed with divine properties, and stone lions used to guard homes became widespread from then on.

This pair of stone lions had a simple, archaic design. Many parts had already been worn smooth, yet their fierce, overbearing aura still rushed at him. They were in the Han style and were by no means ordinary objects.

Sure enough, after opening his Olfactory Mystical Power, Li Yan immediately caught a scent. Within the incense smoke was a trace of majesty. Clearly, astral energy had gathered here, forming a small "configuration."

They could be considered warding treasures, far stronger than the plaque at his home.

With this thing holding down the fort, he estimated that no evil entity would dare enter.

Zhang ShiTong had sharp eyes. Seeing that something was off about Li Yan's expression, he immediately sneered. "These are treasures passed down by our martial hall's ancestors. Even my father has to call them Masters."

"I heard you entered the Profound Gate?"

"Let me warn you in advance. Although the Profound Gate is the head of the jianghu, it has rules of its own. And the Zhou family has an even stronger warding object. Don't try any tricks."

"Otherwise, the people who come looking for you will be someone else..."

"Of course I know!"

Li Yan replied with a calm expression.

The Great Xuan Dynasty was powerful. Whether the Profound Gate or the jianghu, all had to obey its laws. If you killed someone openly, whether you were a jianghu swordsman or a mystic, you would be wanted.

Of course, what happened in private was another matter.

Before he even neared the martial hall, orderly shouts rang out from within. Clearly, some disciples were practicing their fists.

Zhang ShiTong arrived at the entrance and first respectfully saluted the two stone lions. After saying, "Greetings, Masters," he brought Li Yan inside.

At those words, Li Yan's heart tightened.

Well, well. This must have been a tip from an insider.

After so many years, perhaps this pair of stone lions had developed a spirit and become the guardian deities of the Zhang Clan Martial Hall, much like the methods used by certain famous mountains and great religious sects.

Inside the entrance were two enormous practice grounds.

One had a yellow-earth floor, with sabers, spears, cudgels, and other weapons placed on racks.

The other was lined with Plum Blossom Poles, along with stone locks, stone balls, and other training equipment.

Autumn had already arrived. After several autumn rains, the weather had turned cold, but the disciples on the practice grounds were all wearing short jackets. Their muscles knotted like coiled dragons, their fists swift and powerful, and steam rose from their heads.

Xinyi Liuhe Fist?

Li Yan recognized the style at a glance.

This art took "the heart's movement gives rise to intent, and where intent points, the fist follows" as its principle. It transformed spearwork into boxing, and the fists struck in six harmonies, hence the name Xinyi Liuhe Fist.

In Guanzhong, Red Fist was the mainstream, but Xinyi Liuhe Fist had also spread widely. It was hardly strange for martial halls devoted to teaching it to exist.

The main hall of the martial school was also quite spacious. At the rear of the room, an image of the Zhang family's Old Ancestor was enshrined on the wall, with two grand chairs beneath it. There was a row of chairs on either side of the hall, and several magnificent landscape paintings hung on the walls.

An old man sat in one of the grand chairs. He was not tall and wore a blue cloth jacket. His brow ridges ran together, his hair was somewhat white, and he likewise had a pair of fish eyes.

"Greetings, Senior Zhang." Li Yan cupped his fists in salute.

Although he was arrogant and unrestrained, he was not ignorant of etiquette.

The old man was named Zhang YuanShang. He was both the vice president of the Xianyang Divine Fist Society and the master of this martial hall. He also had ties to several escort agencies, making him a respected local martial-arts elder.

Old Man Zhang was smoking a Water Pipe. When he saw Li Yan enter, he merely raised his brows slightly. The several disciples in the hall immediately withdrew, closing the door behind them.

Amid the clanging sounds of the door closing, the light in the main hall immediately dimmed.

The entire hall was left with only the Zhang father and son and Li Yan.

Zhang YuanShang looked at Li Yan with those fish eyes. A cold, sinister gleam flickered in them as he said hoarsely, "Though Li Hu couldn't control his crotch, he was still a bold and imposing man. How did he end up producing a pretty boy?"

The old man was not tall, but his presence was astonishing.

His icy gaze shot over like a knife pressed against Li Yan's brow.

Li Yan's expression did not change. He turned to glance at Zhang ShiTong standing beside him and shook his head. "Senior, you're impressive. As expected, your whole family is alike."

The Zhang family and Zhou Pan were at odds. They had clearly invited him here not to attack him.

The old man merely wanted to establish dominance and test his courage.

But that foul mouth was exactly the same as his son's.

"Country bumpkin. You've got some temper, at least."

Old Man Zhang did not get angry either. He leaned back and sighed. "If you had come to me first, how could things have come to this?"

"Forget this Life and Death Arena. Leave Xianyang. At least you'll be able to keep your life!"

Li Yan laughed. "What does my match have to do with you, Senior?"

Old Man Zhang said, "Your life or death has nothing to do with me. But you're Li Hu's son, and you're fighting in a Life and Death Arena in Xianyang City. That makes it my concern!"

As he spoke, he looked outside the window and said calmly, "The jianghu may seem simple, but it isn't. It may seem complicated, but it isn't that complicated either."

"The simple part is that whoever has the bigger fists stands straighter!"

"The complicated part is that rules and human dealings exist inside and out, everywhere you turn."

"Ten years ago, several old friends and I took a liking to your father. We also knew what kind of person Zhou Pan was and did not want him to become president of the Xianyang Divine Fist Society. So we worked our connections and made plans, expending no small amount of effort."

"Just when everything was about to succeed, your father died in Chang'an—at a brothel, no less—letting Zhou Pan rise to power with ease. We were mocked along with him."

"The other old friends all yielded, but I did not. Yet with you carrying Li Hu's name, if you were beaten to death in Xianyang as well, that Old Monkey would have a much stronger voice, and I would no longer have the face to leave my house."

"Do you understand this logic?"

"I do!"

Li Yan nodded calmly. "You're simply afraid of putting me on the scale. Once my weight is determined, some things will become difficult to say."

"Good that you understand."

Zhang YuanShang nodded slightly, then picked up the Water Pipe and lit it. "Whatever you want to do, the moment you say you're fighting in a Life and Death Arena, it will have nothing to do with that lowlife Meng Hai Chen anymore. Whether you win or lose, he'll be unable to keep his little life."

"Zhou Pan has already entered Transformed Strength, and he cares enormously about face. Forget fighting—he probably won't even show himself..."

"His famous disciples include the Eight Great Vajras, all of whom have already reached Hidden Strength. The leaders of the Iron Saber and White Ape gangs are among them. Any one of them could beat you to death..."

"But Zhou Pan won't let them fight either. You're too young, and they're disciples with different surnames who have been famous for years. Even if they won, it wouldn't count as a true victory."

"If I'm not mistaken, Zhou Bai will be the one to fight. He's the most outstanding disciple of the Zhou family's generation, only seventeen or eighteen years old. He entered Hidden Strength last year, and he's a martial arts fanatic who challenges people everywhere, with abundant experience."

"When there is no tiger in the mountains, the monkey becomes king. Only if Zhou Bai beats you to death will that Old Monkey be able to swallow the anger in his heart."

"So? Do you still have the courage to step onto the arena?"

Li Yan raised an eyebrow and said indifferently, "I think that Old Monkey will probably have to keep choking on that anger."

"Good. At least your mouth is hard enough!"

Zhang YuanShang clapped his hands and nodded.

"ShiTong, test his weight."

"If all he has is a hard mouth, break his legs and throw him out of Xianyang!"