A Branch of Pear Blossoms Presses the Crabapple

"A swordsman in black?"

"Yes."

"Even you were no match for him?"

"His swordsmanship is ordinary, but his movement technique is incredibly fast. In a life-or-death struggle, he and I were evenly matched."

"Could he be from the Sun Moon Divine Cult?"

"Probably not. Actually... Adoptive Father has met him before."

"I've met him?"

"It was at the martial arts competition for marriage this past October. The one who defeated 'Little Giant Spirit God' Fan Zhutian with a single sword strike."

"Ah, I remember him now. What was his name, Li... something fish?"

Lin Youlan said coldly, "Zhang Liyu!"

In the center of the Dragon Scale Hall hung a plaque inscribed with the four characters 'Dragon Soaring Across the Seas'. This was the handwriting of Zuo Lengchan, the sect leader of Mount Song. The Dragon Scale Association had obtained it by paying the Mount Song Sect thirty thousand taels of silver annually.

Beneath the plaque, in the main seat, sat two people.

One old, one young, both dressed in red.

Lin Kun wore a red robe embroidered with twin lotus flowers at the corners.

The woman beside him, only sixteen years old, was his newly acquired concubine, Fourth Miss, the daughter of Shennong Gang's leader, Sikong Huan.

Lin Kun had no main wife. Given Sikong Qingqing's status and how well she had served him last night, he allowed her to accept the tea ceremony from the Dragon Scale Association disciples in the position of the main wife.

At this moment, seated on either side were Lin Family's eldest daughter, Lin Youlan, and another vice-president, Ni Jinbiao. Below them sat Lin Kun's four adopted sons and five or six high-ranking experts within the association. These were the prominent figures of the Dragon Scale Association.

Lin Youlan sat in the uppermost seat of the right row, closest to Sikong Qingqing. She looked at this stepmother, who was younger than herself, a hint of sadness in her eyes. After the name 'Zhang Liyu' was mentioned, her gaze turned resentful.

Lin Kun nodded, "His name is indeed Zhang Liyu. On that stage, I saw that he and Fan Zhutian each had their strengths. I intended to recruit both of them into the Dragon Scale Association. I didn't expect him to join the Wild Wolf Gang? And to have gravely injured you?"

"This child is incompetent."

Peng Canghu, his chest wrapped in bandages, stood in the hall to confess his fault.

Ni Jinbiao stroked his beard and chuckled, "Joining the Wild Wolf Gang at this time shows he's a foolish fellow who doesn't know his place."

Ni Jinbiao's martial arts were mediocre, but he was educated and came from a wealthy family, holding considerable prestige in Pingyang Prefecture.

Lin Kun frowned, puzzled, "I saw his skills on the stage that day. While there were some merits, they were merely child's play. Now, after only two months, he's on par with you."

Peng Canghu was also confused. He couldn't explain it, so he could only say, "Perhaps this person is a martial arts prodigy."

Lin Kun heard this and his frown deepened.

Seeing this, Peng Canghu quickly knelt, "Adoptive Father, this child requests permission to attack Wolf Head Mountain. I will not retreat until Zhao Xia and Zhang Liyu are captured!"

Lin Kun pondered for a moment and sneered, "Wolf Head Mountain should be attacked! If what you say is true, then in another two months, even I won't be a match for Zhang Liyu?"

"Adoptive Father's martial arts are profound. 'Dragon Catcher Hand' is invincible throughout Pingyang Prefecture's nine counties. Zhang Liyu, even in ten years, wouldn't be a match for Adoptive Father's little finger."

Peng Canghu regretted his words. He didn't know which sentence had been wrong.

Lin Kun was already a man of deep thoughts. Previously, when facing external enemies, he had shown magnanimity. Now, his suspicious and easily provoked nature was fully exposed.

Lin Kun chuckled, "You are injured and inconvenienced. This time, I will personally go. It's been a while since I've made a move, and the martial world might have forgotten about 'Dragon Catcher Hand'."

Peng Canghu lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Ni Jinbiao reminded him, "Guild Leader, Wolf Head Mountain has treacherous terrain. There's only a narrow mountain path into the mountain. If the Wild Wolf Gang prepares rolling logs and giant stones, I fear we will pay a heavy price if we attempt a frontal assault."

"A frontal assault is not feasible, but a clever approach is!"

Lin Kun looked at his new wife beside him and said softly, "Qingqing, are the Shennong Gang's brothers ready?"

"Replying to my husband, everything is prepared. We await only my husband's command."

Sikong Qingqing was extremely charming. Lin Kun, hearing her call him 'husband' repeatedly, felt his bones go soft. He felt as if he had become twenty years younger overnight.

If he could capture that girl Zhao Xia as well, one fiery and passionate, the other gentle and yielding, wouldn't that be a wonderful life of enjoying the blessings of both?

Moreover, Zhao Xia was Zhao Laodao's daughter. At that time, it would be right in front of his enemy...

After the Wild Wolf Gang entered Pingyang City, the Dragon Scale Association had nearly been wiped out several times.

Suppressed for over ten years, a certain lock in his heart had opened. Certain evil things...

In short, Lin Kun stopped pretending. He revealed his true intentions.

After all, in this martial world, the victor becomes king and the loser becomes a bandit. He was on the side of righteousness, and even certified by Zuo Lengchan, the sect leader of Mount Song. As long as he remained the overlord of Pingyang City and still had value for alliances, no matter how dirty his actions, there would be righteous individuals to justify them.

Thinking of this, his heart burned with passion.

Lin Kun rose and issued an order, "Good. Today, your husband will gather his forces and crush Wolf Head Mountain, capturing Zhao Xia and Zhang Liyu alive!"

The Dragon Scale Association had twenty Dan Energy disciples. Besides Lin Kun and Peng Canghu, there was an Elder surnamed Sun who had reached the Po Jia realm. There were also several skilled fighters from external martial arts schools, and ordinary disciples who were proficient in martial arts. In a one-on-one duel, they were not inferior to veteran border soldiers. They were indeed a formidable force in Pingyang Prefecture.

North Gate of Pingyang City.

A group of people, flying the banner of the Dragon Scale Association, clad in bright armor and fully equipped with swords and sabers, marched out of the city in grand fashion.

The seven or eight soldiers guarding the gate quickly moved aside the deer antlers and, understanding the situation, drove the common folk to the sides.

Outside the city, it was a vast expanse of white.

On the distant hills, seven or eight riders had halted their horses to observe.

"Over five hundred people, they usually station themselves in Pingyang Prefecture City, swaggering through the streets with swords and spears. According to the Ancestor's decree, this is a crime punishable by extermination of the nine generations of their clan. They don't even give this prefecture a second glance. If this continues, where is the imperial authority?"

The speaker was a scholar, around fifty years old, the newly appointed Prefect of Pingyang, Fang Zhilian. He had lived in the Capital City for a long time and, through connections, had secured this position as Prefect after serving as an official in the Ministry of Works.

Fang Zhilian was preparing to make a fortune, but he discovered that the profitable businesses in Pingyang Prefecture were basically monopolized by the Dragon Scale Association. Lin Kun didn't pay him much mind either. Apart from the eight hundred taels of "filial piety" he received on the day of his appointment, there had been no further communication.

"These local gangs are going too far! Commander Ji, can your Imperial Guards intervene and curb them?"

In the Great Ming's two capitals and thirteen provinces, during the Ancestor's reign, there were originally only fifteen Garrison Commanders, holding the rank of fourth grade.

Later, with the empire facing many troubles, in addition to the fifteen Garrison Commanders, Imperial Guard Commanderies were established in strategic passes and important cities, holding the rank of fifth grade.

Ji Ling chuckled, "Lord Fang, you've lived in the capital for too long and are unfamiliar with local conditions. Times have changed. Those like the Dragon Scale Association are considered law-abiding and obedient. Worse still, there are instances of them attacking government offices and impersonating bandits to kill officials."

"This... this..."

Fang Zhilian was momentarily speechless. He had taken up his post alone and had no foundation in Pingyang Prefecture. It seemed the Imperial Guards in Pingyang were unwilling to offend the Dragon Scale Association for his sake.

"Are we just going to let them be so arrogant and overbearing?"

Ji Ling smiled, "There are priorities and urgency. The directive from above is that the primary task is to deal with the Sun Moon Divine Cult, and we must win over all possible allies. Once the Sun Moon Divine Cult is annihilated, we can slowly deal with these dregs."

Fang Zhilian breathed a sigh of relief, "Commander Ji's insight is far-reaching, beyond my capabilities."