A Fight to the Death

Tang Qizheng's words instantly silenced the hall.

A helmsman with a face full of jowls stood up and said gruffly, "Chief! We absolutely cannot let this matter go! Lately, those bastards from the Grain Transport Gang have repeatedly caused trouble at the docks, fighting us for territory. The brothers are all seething with anger.

"If they find out one of our men was beaten by a lowly Pearl Diver, and we didn't even so much as fart in response, how will the brothers ever hold their heads high at the docks again? The gang's morale will surely take a heavy blow!"

"Exactly! We've always been the ones to deal with those mud-legged peasants. We can pull out their tendons and skin them alive if we please! Since when did it become the turn of these wretches to bite us?" another gang leader slammed the table and shouted, his face full of savagery.

"If we let this matter slide, won't any stray cat or dog dare to tug at the whiskers of our Sea Shark Gang from now on?"

"That kid has to pay the price! And the Iron Mountain Hall owes us an explanation, too!"

Below, the crowd seethed with indignation. They all shouted over one another, spittle flying, every one of them outraged.

The Sea Shark Gang had lorded it over Hepu for years. When had they ever suffered such a humiliating disgrace? And their opponent was a Pearl Diver, someone they usually regarded as no better than a pig or a dog! No matter what, they couldn't swallow this insult.

Tang Qizheng slowly raised his right hand and pressed down with his fingers.

The uproar in the hall stopped dead. Everyone held their breath and looked toward the chief.

Tang Qizheng's narrow eyes narrowed slightly as he surveyed his subordinates. His voice returned to its earlier evenness, but carried a cold, unquestionable finality.

"If Zhou Jingfeng wants to protect him, fine. The Sea Shark Gang isn't unreasonable. Give him two choices—"

Tang Qizheng raised one finger. "First, let that Pearl Diver come to the Sea Shark Gang's main hall in person. In front of all the brothers, he must kowtow three times and bow nine times, serve tea and apologize, and cut off one of his own arms. Then we might let the matter go."

He paused, then raised a second finger, his tone even more chilling. "Second, if Zhou Jingfeng can't bring himself to do that... then we'll follow the rules of the martial world and hold a fight to the death!

"He can choose the place and time. The Sea Shark Gang will send someone to the stage to fight that Pearl Diver! Whoever loses will remain on the stage forever, and that will be the end of it!"

As soon as Tang Qizheng finished speaking, the hall erupted in enthusiastic agreement.

"Wise, Chief!"

"Right! A fight to the death! Beat him to death right there!"

"He dared to lay hands on one of the Sea Shark Gang's men—he can pay for it with his life!"

In their eyes, what difference was there between the life of a Pearl Diver and that of an ant? He would make a perfect example to frighten all those who dared to cause trouble.

Incense smoke curled through the main hall of the Iron Mountain Hall.

Zhou Jingfeng sat in the seat of honor, while Chen Yue stood at his side below. Father Chen and Mother Chen had been given chairs nearby, but the two of them only perched on the edges, looking ill at ease.

Zhou Jingfeng's gaze swept over Chen Yue's family. After a moment's thought, he slowly began, "Now that Chen Yue has joined my school, we must consider some things carefully.

"Given my connections in the county, I could spend some silver and grease a few palms, and find a way to remove your family's Pearl Diver registration and change it to commoner status in the next few days. But at present, that would actually be unwise."

At his words, the faint hope that had just risen on Father Chen and Mother Chen's faces turned to bewilderment. They had never dared dream of escaping the lowly Pearl Diver status that had weighed on their ancestors for generations. Why couldn't it be done now?

"Master, why is that? Since Junior Brother has already passed the County Examination and has a bright future ahead of him, wouldn't escaping his lowly status sooner be more proper and more beneficial to his prospects?"

Ma Jun, who stood nearby, read the room. Seeing that his master intended to explain and that Father Chen and Mother Chen looked confused, he spoke at just the right moment.

Zhou Jingfeng smiled. "It's precisely because Chen Yue has a promising future that we must be more cautious.

"Given the strength and talent he showed today, passing the Academic Examination and earning the title of Martial Scholar is all but certain. He even has a good chance of earning the title of Martial Juren in the Martial Examination at the provincial capital in the future."

Zhou Jingfeng paused, his tone turning grave. "By then, he will truly hold an official title bestowed by the imperial court. If, before earning that title, someone discovers that he bribed officials and had his household registration changed in violation of the rules...

"That would give others grounds to attack him, and could even cost him his eligibility for an official title. Taking a shortcut now would invite disaster and leave us worse off."

Chen Yue listened attentively, and suddenly saw the light. He had only thought about escaping this heavy shackle as quickly as possible and hadn't considered the crucial details.

Father Chen and Mother Chen listened beside him. Although they only half understood words like "violation" and "attack," the word "Juren" exploded in their minds like a thunderclap.

A Juren lord!

That was the sort of great person they had once needed to kneel and crane their necks to look up at. And Master Zhou was saying that their own son, A-Yue, might become someone like that one day?

A jumble of overwhelming shock and disbelief surged through them, leaving their mouths dry and their hearts pounding like drums.

Father Chen rubbed his hands together instinctively and looked at Zhou Jingfeng. "Master Zhou, you know so much! We'll listen to you in everything. As for A-Yue, whatever you say we should do, we'll do!"

Mother Chen nodded vigorously beside him.

Zhou Jingfeng smiled. "Good. I'm glad you understand. Don't worry, your Pearl Diver status won't be an obstacle for now. Until Chen Yue passes the Academic Examination and earns an official title, you can settle in the county town without worry. You don't need to return to Pearl Village."

Zhou Jingfeng thought for a moment, then continued, "How about this? In a couple of days, I'll arrange for you to stay at the Su residence for the time being.

"The Su Family is a prominent clan in the city, and I have some ties with them. You can do some light work at their residence. That will give you a safe place to stay and make it easier for us to look after you. We can make long-term plans after Chen Yue takes the Academic Examination."

"The Su Family?" When Yu Kan and Ma Jun heard that, they both looked at Chen Yue.

The Su Family had deep roots and considerable influence in Hepu and even the provincial capital. For ordinary people, being able to enter the Su residence already meant excellent protection.

At those words, the last great stone in Chen Yue's heart finally dropped.

His greatest concern had been his parents' safety. Now his master had not only promised to protect them, but had also found them a reliable place like the Su residence. His worries about them had been settled.

He took a step back and bowed deeply to Zhou Jingfeng once more. "Your disciple Chen Yue thanks you for your thoughtful kindness, Master! I'm sorry to trouble you with my parents' affairs!"

"Haha! We're master and disciple, so we're family. There's no need for such formalities!"

Zhou Jingfeng laughed heartily, clearly in high spirits. He made a gesture as if to help Chen Yue up, then grew serious. "After sparring with you just now, I already understand your foundation. You've mastered the essence of the three basic arts: Iron Mountain Fist, Iron Mountain Saber, and Roaming Mountains and Rivers. It's time for me to teach you more advanced techniques."

"Yes, disciple will follow your arrangements, Master," Chen Yue replied respectfully.

But Zhou Jingfeng waved his hand and smiled. "You don't have to follow everything I say. In cultivation, the master leads you through the door, but the rest is up to you. Much of the time, you need to adjust according to your own feelings and insights. Blindly following the path laid out before you may instead stifle your natural talent."