The Four Great Protectors

The Liu Family.

Inside the hall, Liu Dafu, who should have been seated at the head, now sat rigidly at a lower seat.

Every so often, he cautiously raised his eyes to look at the middle-aged man seated at the head, who was resting with his eyes closed.

The man had a deep, imposing presence. Even his wide-sleeved robe could not conceal his fierce, battle-hardened air, which made people shrink back in awe.

A saber rested beside him.

It was a heavy, broad-backed saber, immensely weighty, its spine adorned with gilded patterns. Its edge gleamed with a chilling light, and its dragon-head pommel enclosed the blade's mouth. The handle was more than a foot long.

When Liu Dafu saw the saber, he instinctively swallowed, a flicker of fear passing through his eyes.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the hall.

The man seated at the head opened his eyes slightly and turned his gaze toward the main entrance.

A lean fellow hurried in and bowed.

"Greetings, Gang Leader."

The middle-aged man was Cheng Sihai, leader of the Shashen Gang.

He gave a slight wave.

"Did you find anything?"

The lean fellow shook his head.

"Nothing at all. I went to the courtyard where they were staying, but there wasn't a trace of anything inside.

"For now, we can't be sure whether they met with an accident... or left of their own accord."

"Hmph."

Cheng Sihai spoke coldly.

"Chu Yunfei was attacked, and Wu Ganqi is fighting alone. In his fury, he's locked down Heavenly Dance City, allowing people in but not out.

"He's busy searching for the assassin who attacked Chu Yunfei. I doubt he has time to deal with anything else."

The lean fellow was about to nod when a voice came from one side of the hall.

"When something is out of the ordinary, there's bound to be a hidden reason. Heavenly Dance City is now sealed up tight, and we have important business here...

"Gang Leader, Second Boss and Third Boss would never abandon their posts at a time like this."

The lean fellow looked up and saw a young man entering.

He wore a white martial outfit and carried himself with easy grace.

He simply wasn't good-looking. His long face and small eyes made even his otherwise decent mouth look unpleasantly out of place.

"Impertinent!"

The lean fellow roared in anger.

"Bai Yuntian, how dare you speak so recklessly in front of the Gang Leader?"

"Wu Sun, be quiet."

Cheng Sihai waved a hand and looked toward Bai Yuntian.

"You mean to say Wu Ganqi has discovered that we're hiding in Heavenly Dance City?"

Bai Yuntian nodded.

"Gang Leader, this is Heavenly Dance City, after all.

"We're staying under Steward Liu's roof, and with him covering for us, it's not easy for us to be exposed.

"But Second Boss and Third Boss have been acting outside.

"They know exactly what we're plotting. There's no way they'd simply give up at a time like this.

"What's more, Wu Sun just said there wasn't a trace of anything in that little courtyard...

"But that was where the two of them had been living. How could there not be even the slightest trace?

"Someone must have cleaned the place up and covered their tracks."

Hearing this, Liu Dafu immediately put on a bitter expression.

"My lords, you can't say that...

"If Master Cheng hadn't saved my life before, and I hadn't known who you all were, then even with the gall of a thousand men, I wouldn't have dared take you in."

Cheng Sihai smiled faintly at Liu Dafu, then suddenly reached out. Liu Dafu felt an immense force seize him, and he was pulled toward Cheng Sihai against his will.

Cheng Sihai grabbed him by the front of his robe.

"Steward Liu, are you so displeased by our visit?"

"Not at all, not at all."

Liu Dafu's forehead was beaded with sweat. He shook his head again and again.

"Master Cheng, my lords, having you stay at my humble home brings it great honor. How could I... how could I be displeased?"

"Hmph."

Cheng Sihai flung Liu Dafu aside, then glanced at Wu Sun and Bai Yuntian.

"Where are Zhang Hua and Qi Niang?"

The Shashen Gang's Four Great Protectors were led by Zhang Hua, followed by Qi Niang. Third Brother Bai Yuntian came next, with Wu Sun bringing up the rear.

Now that two of the Four Great Protectors were missing, Cheng Sihai's expression darkened.

"Qi Niang went to scout the situation. She still hasn't returned," Wu Sun said, glancing at Bai Yuntian.

Bai Yuntian gave a helpless smile.

"As for Brother Zhang... he's in Steward Liu's bedchamber right now, exploring the ways of human passion with his two wives."

At this, Liu Dafu's face turned as dark as iron...

He was now in his forties. His first wife had died young, and afterward he had married two more.

Both were in their twenties, young and beautiful.

Zhang Hua was a lecherous wolf. Not content with hiding in Liu Dafu's home, he had also taken both of the man's wives, carousing with them night after night...

Liu Dafu knew perfectly well, but he only dared swallow his anger and say nothing.

"Outrageous."

Cheng Sihai slapped the table.

"Tell him to get over here."

"Gang Leader, Gang Leader, no need to call me. I've already come."

A voice rang out. A pale-faced man in his thirties was walking toward them, straightening his clothes as he went.

He didn't finish adjusting his belt until he entered the hall. Then he bowed to Cheng Sihai and asked with a smile,

"Have Second Boss and Third Boss been found?"

He noticed Liu Dafu glaring at him and smiled.

"What's the matter, Steward Liu? Who upset you? Tell me. For the sake of your two wives, I'll go teach him a lesson."

Liu Dafu trembled with rage. He pointed at Zhang Hua but couldn't get a word out.

Cheng Sihai glanced at him.

"Say no more. Qi Niang still hasn't returned. The rest of you, go look for her.

"Something's wrong in Heavenly Dance City, and Ten Thousand Night Valley has yet to make a move... We may have to make plans sooner rather than later."

Hearing Cheng Sihai say this, the others didn't dare delay. They clasped their fists and acknowledged his order.

They turned to leave, but Cheng Sihai suddenly looked up. Something whistled through the night, tearing through the darkness as it shot toward the hall.

A voice followed.

"Gang Leader Cheng of the Shashen Gang has come in person to Heavenly Dance City, and we failed to welcome you.

"Please accept this small gift. Do not refuse."

Cheng Sihai's expression changed. Zhang Hua spun around and stepped forward, striking the incoming object with one palm.

It felt soft to the touch. It was clearly a person!

Zhang Hua eased his palm, but the force carried in the body drove him back three or five steps before he managed to steady himself.

He looked down and was instantly overcome with shock.

"Qi Niang?!"

A woman was in his arms.

She looked to be in her twenties. A sword had pierced her throat, and she had been dead for quite some time.

Zhang Hua was overcome with grief and fury.

"Qi Niang... h-how could you be dead? I haven't even had a taste of you yet!!!"

Ignoring everyone else's reaction, he jerked his head up.

"Who was it?"

The instant the words left his mouth, a deafening crash rang out. A figure burst straight through one side of the hall and appeared before them in a flash. A seemingly simple punch, wrapped in a fierce gale, was already at Zhang Hua's face.

Zhang Hua, who had been wailing over Qi Niang's body moments before, flung her corpse up to block the punch.

But the man's fist drove the body straight through and smashed toward him.

Zhang Hua thrust out a palm to meet it, only to feel as if a mountain had crashed into him.

The immense force sent him flying.

He twisted in midair, borrowing the momentum to execute a thousand-catty drop and steady himself. Then he glared at the attacker.

"Who are you?"

An imposing man stood before him, his gaze imperious as he spoke coldly.

"Chu Fan of the Taiyi Sect."