Li Musheng

Great Li, Wanzhou, Shun'an City.

The renowned Yu Family Martial Arts School was festooned with lanterns and decorations inside and out today, gongs and drums thundered, and guests from all corners streamed in without end.

"Asheng, there aren't enough tables in the east hall. Come with me to the rear courtyard and bring a few more over."

Amid the noisy clamor, a burly man packed with muscle hurriedly called out, then dragged the young man standing idly in the front courtyard toward the back.

The young man had sword-like brows, bright eyes, and handsome features. It was precisely because he had such a fine face that he had been assigned the easy task of greeting guests in the front courtyard.

"Brother Zhang, what's the rush? Let those guests stand around for a while. It won't kill them."

Li Musheng yawned and dawdled after Zhang Dazhuang.

Zhang Dazhuang turned back and glared at him, saying irritably:

"Today is the big day when our old master washes his hands in a golden basin. The guests are all big names in the martial world. If you keep loafing around like this, be careful not to stir up trouble and get beaten."

At that, Li Musheng rolled his eyes. He rather wanted to find someone who could beat him up now, but such a person would probably be hard to find.

At this point, Zhang Dazhuang shook his head, slowed his steps, and spoke earnestly:

"You brat, you're too high-minded but low-skilled. With a face as handsome as yours, if you were a little more diligent in martial arts, perhaps the old master might even marry the Second Miss off to you."

"Brother Zhang, spare me. The Second Miss weighs four hundred jin, and her palm is wider than my head. With this build of mine, I'm not blessed enough to enjoy that."

Li Musheng chuckled, but then his tone shifted.

"If that iron rooster Old Yu would give me the Third Miss, though, I could reluctantly consider it."

"Give it a rest. The Third Miss is a celestial beauty, and her martial talent is terrifyingly high. She even joined the renowned Azure Cloud Sect of Wanzhou. You think she'd fancy you?"

Zhang Dazhuang snorted, then mercilessly jabbed at Li Musheng a few more times.

Li Musheng did not mind. After trading banter with him for a while, they soon reached the storeroom in the rear courtyard.

Zhang Dazhuang stacked five tables together and heaved them onto his shoulder, striding briskly toward the front courtyard. Yet the instant he stepped into the yard, a voice like a great bell rang over the entire residence:

"Yu Zhentian, twenty years have passed since we last met. Today, I have come to take your dog life!"

The voice exploded beside their ears like thunder, making their eardrums ache. The man himself had yet to appear, but his voice had arrived first, and the once-boisterous residence abruptly fell silent.

Inside the main hall, the gray-haired Yu Zhentian sat in the seat of honor, while the golden basin for washing his hands had just been brought forward.

"This man's inner breath is formidable!"

A middle-aged man in fine robes seated below him showed a trace of surprise. He was broad and powerfully built, with wide shoulders and a thick back, carrying an imposing air even without anger.

"I had long sensed that today would not pass peacefully. I have made Lord Hao laugh at me."

Yu Zhentian rose and cupped his hands toward Hao Shen, his expression immediately turning grim.

At the same time, a group of disciples had already rushed anxiously outside the hall to protect him.

"Master, this is terrible! Someone has come to attack us!"

"What are you panicking for? This mere rat skulking in the shadows is beneath my notice."

Yu Zhentian gave a cold snort, then strode toward the entrance of the hall, every step stirring the wind.

"Lord Hao, wait a moment. Once I have dealt with this matter, I shall return and drink three cups with you to our hearts' content."

At those words, Hao Shen's gaze flickered. Yet he rose and followed, saying:

"Brother Yu, wait. I'll go with you. I'd like to see who dares cause trouble in Shun'an City."

The group marched menacingly into the front courtyard.

By now, the guests in the courtyard had crowded together, all gazing up at the rooftop and whispering among themselves. The atmosphere was somewhat grave.

Upon the black tiles of the roof, which rose like a mountain ridge, stood a tall man in black, his face covered by a black cloth. He stood ramrod straight, and the long saber in his hand gleamed with a chilling light.

Zhang Dazhuang and Li Musheng were squeezed behind the crowd.

Zhang Dazhuang gripped a staff, his face full of anxiety as he stared at the black-clad man above. Beside him, Li Musheng stood with his arms folded, looking as though he were simply enjoying the spectacle.

"He doesn't even dare show his face. One look tells you he's a criminal and villain who cannot bear the light of day," Zhang Dazhuang said indignantly.

Upon seeing Yu Zhentian and the others arrive, he wanted to rush over and help. But there were too many people gathered in the front courtyard, and he could not squeeze through at all.

Li Musheng reached out and tugged him back, smiling.

"This man is no weaker than Old Yu. Brother Zhang, going up there wouldn't help. You wouldn't withstand even one slash from him before losing your life."

Zhang Dazhuang froze slightly, immediately recalling the man's technique of being heard before he was seen. He had to be an expert with profound internal strength.

His steps halted, and he did not continue forcing his way forward. He was not a brainless, reckless man; he knew exactly how much he was worth.

"The old master will surely capture such a bandit with ease."

Zhang Dazhuang coughed twice and promptly stayed beside Li Musheng, merely leaning on his staff as he peered toward the center of the courtyard.

"Who are you, sir? Why do you hide your true face? What grudge do you have against this old man?"

Yu Zhentian suppressed the anger in his heart and directly questioned the man in black.

"You old fool really have gone senile!"

The man gave a heavy snort and said sinisterly:

"Let me help you remember. Twenty years ago, in the battle at Mount Junliu, you cut off one of my Fifth Brother's arms with a single sword stroke. Do you remember now?"

Yu Zhentian's gray brows furrowed as though he were recalling what the other man had said.

Very soon, he suddenly looked up. "Which of the Scum River Seven Bandits are you?"

"What? The Scum River Seven Bandits!"

The guests in the courtyard were all startled at those words.

The Scum River Seven Bandits were infamous. For the past ten years, they had committed countless atrocities throughout Wanzhou and murdered innumerable people, remaining among the top three on the government's wanted list year-round.

More importantly, the Scum River Seven Bandits possessed exceptionally high martial arts. Quite a few renowned experts of the martial world had met miserable deaths at the hands of those seven.

Their most recent major crime had occurred three months ago, when they slaughtered the entire Zhao Family Arms Shop in Shen City overnight. More than a hundred men, women, old people, and children had perished, with not a single survivor.

Once word of the incident spread, the entire Wanzhou martial world turned pale at the news.

The Zhao Family Arms Shop was, after all, a century-old martial arts family. Their clan lacked no martial experts and was one of the foremost powers in Shen City.

Yet even so, they had still failed to escape the Scum River Seven Bandits' poisonous claws. It was clear how terrifying the strength of those villains was.

"Good. You finally remember."

Scum Third's gaze was icy as he slowly swept it over the guests below, who were buzzing with commotion. Then he suddenly said in a grave voice:

"From this moment on, you have ten breaths' time. Anyone not from the Yu Family may leave this place."

"After ten breaths, anyone who remains will be killed without exception!"

Scum Third's voice, propelled by his profound inner force, split the bark and snapped the branches of the jujube tree in the courtyard. Leaves rustled down in showers, while everyone's ears rang unceasingly and their heads swam.

The ordinary people with no martial arts were even more terrified out of their wits, their livers and gallbladders trembling. Some of the more timid ones even wet themselves on the spot.

Once they came to their senses, no one dared spare another thought. They fled in panic.