Ambush (Thanks to the Great Zhai Zhu for the Alliance Leader)

Wang Yiyang sat in the car, smiling as he watched the curtain of rain outside the window.

"Do you need me to take care of that person from just now?" Lei Wei asked in a low voice from the front seat.

"Handle it however it should be handled," Wang Yiyang replied casually.

He wore his habitual smile, but his mind was on other things.

As for that woman, she was merely the relative of the second-generation heir who had provoked him that night when he was out for barbecue with An Yuxi, Xia Ying, and the others.

He had almost forgotten the heir's name; he only remembered that the man had been arrogant, going around forcing people to drink, coercing An Yuxi into having quite a few, and then foolishly coming over to force him to drink as well.

That woman was the heir's older sister.

She had happened to be there for a parent-teacher meeting and recognized him. She had come forward to plead, begging him to spare her family's business.

It was clear that her family had suffered a significant blow.

Wang Yiyang didn't care. Based on the habits of his subordinates, he guessed that the heir must have tried to use connections to retaliate after that night, only to have his family's business targeted in return.

For a behemoth like Mister, suppressing a mere local wealthy merchant only required pulling a few strings to cause them serious injury.

Then, by maneuvering through banking channels, one could snap their capital chain, sending them plummeting from heaven into the abyss in an instant.

The transition from a wealthy person to someone drowning in debt was, in reality, often just a matter of a single moment.

"Didn't I tell you not to come pick me up?" Wang Yiyang asked, snapping back to reality.

"Per your instructions, there have been new developments back in your hometown, so we are rushing to get you to the station," Lei Wei said in a low tone.

"Developments? Is my grandfather alright?" Wang Yiyang paused.

"He is fine. It's just that we discovered Mantis is making another major move. Many suspicious individuals have been frequently heading toward Guixi Town, and quite a few of them are martial artists," Lei Wei replied.

"Is it not a mobilization by the Martial Alliance or the Yanhu Sect?"

"We have verified it; it is not."

"That makes things interesting." Wang Yiyang nodded. "By the way, why are we going to the station? Can't we just drive there directly?"

"If you wish to drive, you certainly can, but the fastest option is the maglev train at the station," Lei Wei replied.

"Fine." Wang Yiyang stopped talking and reached out to tap the back of the seat in front of him.

With a soft swish, a black display screen unfolded from the back of the seat. The screen showed a real-time satellite map of the entire Guixi Town.

On the map, clusters of blue dots were gradually converging toward the location of the Yuekong Martial Arts Hall.

"When can our people arrive? How many are currently near the martial arts hall?" he suddenly asked.

"About three squads, thirty elites. All of them are equipped with the latest gear and weapons from the Security Department."

"When will I arrive?"

"In one hour."

"Keep monitoring. I don't want any trouble at the final moment."

"Understood."

The black vehicle slowly accelerated, kicking up clouds of dust as it drove straight toward the maglev station.

Guixi Town, Yuekong Martial Arts Hall.

Wang Xinlong stroked his goatee, watching as the three great disciples of the martial arts hall stepped forward one by one to offer incense, bow, and pay their respects to the portrait of the founder. A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Among his many disciples, he was currently most proud of his three true-lineage disciples.

Zhong Can, Nicholas, and Xiao Hong.

Of the three, Nicholas used business methods to steadily promote the Moon Sky Fist of the Yuekong Martial Arts Hall, even showing promise of joining the Martial Alliance.

Because of this, he had also helped the other brothers and sisters, who were originally poor, escape their plight.

Xiao Hong was sincere and steady; although she was a woman, her understanding and mastery of the Moon Sky Fist were the strongest and most comprehensive among all the disciples.

Wang Xinlong had always regarded Xiao Hong as his successor. He was just waiting for her to eventually teach a few more heirs of the Moon Sky Fist to carry on the martial art.

As for Zhong Can.

Wang Xinlong's gaze couldn't help but fall on Zhong Can, who was standing to the rear right of the other two.

This disciple could be said to be the strongest person in the entire Yuekong Martial Arts Hall.

He possessed innate divine strength and extraordinary talent, and he had an incredibly exaggerated learning speed for the Moon Sky Fist and any other martial art.

Originally, he was the most suitable person to inherit the Yuekong Martial Arts Hall.

Unfortunately.

Zhong Can's personality was too violent.

His exterior was calm and dull, but his heart was like a volcano; it remained hidden until it erupted, and when it did, it destroyed everything.

Although Wang Xinlong had spent these years trying to use other things to restrain Zhong Can's heart, the other party still slipped bit by bit into unfathomable depths due to his overly powerful martial arts talent.

"Ritual concluded!" the disciple in charge of the ceremony shouted aloud from the side.

"Teachers, take your seats."

Wang Xinlong slowly sat down, crossing his legs on the straw cushion.

"Disciples, take your seats."

Zhong Can, Nicholas, and Xiao Hong sat facing Wang Xinlong, separated by a low table.

"Close your eyes," the disciple in charge of the ceremony shouted again.

The four of them quickly closed their eyes and sat upright.

"Steady your spirits."

Another loud shout rang out.

Including Wang Xinlong, the four of them pressed their palms together, falling into a quiet, silent stillness.

Quietness allows a restless heart to slowly settle, thereby discovering more details that one would normally fail to notice.

In Moon Sky Fist, this is called Ritual Stillness.

This was also the final stage of the entire Founder's Sacrifice.

The Ritual Stillness lasted for a full fifteen minutes.

Only then did the four of them slowly open their eyes, feeling a sense of clarity as if they had returned from another world.

Sitting quietly for fifteen minutes with a completely clear mind is a process of exercising dull patience.

Not practicing anything, not imagining anything, just quietly feeling one's own perception.

Wang Xinlong looked at the three disciples sitting before him, especially Zhong Can.

He saw that the look in Zhong Can's eyes had become clear once again, and he couldn't help but smile.

During this period, he had vaguely sensed that Zhong Can was troubled by something. That was why he had taken advantage of the Founder's Sacrifice to let Zhong Can use this opportunity to clear his inner mind.

Now it seemed his goal had been achieved.

"Zhong Can." Wang Xinlong exhaled gently, the invisible breath causing the incense smoke on the low table in front of him to bend slightly.

"Does Teacher have any instructions?" Zhong Can's expression was calm as he bowed slightly.

"Have you started feeling restless again recently?" Wang Xinlong asked slowly.

"Yes, Teacher. I often ask myself: the heart is the root of martial arts, and strengthening the heart strengthens the body, yet my heart remains full of flaws. Therefore, I have been anxious," Zhong Can answered truthfully.

"Why be anxious? You are already the strongest person in the Moon Sky Fist school. Even the founder who created Moon Sky Fist might not have reached your current height," Wang Xinlong said calmly. "You have already surpassed me, surpassed our predecessors, and brought Moon Sky Fist to an unprecedented peak."

"But I still often feel my own weakness," Zhong Can revealed a trace of distress.

Ignoring the strange looks from his senior brother and sister, he raised his head and said in a deep voice, "I want to transcend everything through martial arts, but I see no hope."

"..." Wang Xinlong was silent.

"I have realized that the physical body has limits, while the heart is infinite. Every living thing has a heart. If one could crush the opponent's heart beyond the physical level, then all opponents would be defeated without a fight," Zhong Can's voice carried a certain coldness and suppression.

"That is the evil path," Wang Xinlong sighed. "Body and heart must be balanced. A powerful heart cannot be a rootless source, so besides the physical body, we need more external things to support us, such as love, responsibility, morality, and..."

"And fear!" Zhong Can interrupted Wang Xinlong, suddenly saying.

"Enough!" Wang Xinlong's expression darkened. "I don't know where you picked up this twisted logic, but the essence of martial arts is to overcome fear, not to create it!"

"Weapons do not distinguish between right and wrong. Teacher, you told me that yourself."

"A weapon that can influence a person's heart should not be viewed as a mere inanimate object!" Wang Xinlong's voice vibrated, causing the floor of the entire martial arts hall to tremble.

"With my heart, the body becomes fear; this is hope without end!" Zhong Can lowered his head.

"Absurd!" Wang Xinlong slammed the table, his strong body rising at once. His muscles bulged slightly, radiating a majestic aura. "If everyone thought like you, our martial arts would have no legacy. Everyone would live only to spread fear to one another. There would be fighting and slaughter everywhere. Do you think such a world has any meaning??"

"Meaning? What is the use of such a thing? Can it help me advance further? Teacher, you always use these empty, high-sounding words to fob me off. But I am no longer a child..." Zhong Can said in a peaceful voice.

"A life without meaning is no different from a machine. Even if you succeed in finding a path of martial evolution, what will be left of your own heart?" Wang Xinlong said angrily.

"My heart has always been only for martial arts."

"You still have family, the relatives you haven't found! You still have your senior brothers and junior brothers, your senior sisters and junior sisters! They are all your attachments!"

"But I cannot feel what an attachment is," Zhong Can said in a low voice.

"When you are cared for, your heart will soften and become more powerful. Everyone needs the support of love. The purpose of martial arts is sublimation, not conquest! Do you still not understand this point?!" Wang Xinlong shouted sternly.

"When the heart softens, hesitation follows. When the heart hesitates, the hands lose their strength. This is what you taught me, Teacher."

"There are many kinds of softness, and softness can also become a strength," Wang Xinlong argued feebly.

"Then let me see just how strong it is," Zhong Can said, lowering his brow.

"Zhong Can... you!!" Wang Xinlong pointed a finger at his most prized disciple, the agony in his heart surging like a spring, relentlessly eroding his body.

He never imagined that the disciple he had once pinned his greatest hopes on would end up walking down such a twisted path.

"Teacher."

Zhong Can remained silent for a moment before slowly standing up.

"You have all become my shackles."

Rumble...

A low roll of thunder vibrated slowly from the cloud-covered sky.

The light began to fade.

Wang Yiyang had just stepped onto the maglev carriage when he suddenly looked up at the sky.

"The light is getting a bit dim."

"Please board, sir. The assessment materials you requested have been placed at your seat," Lei Wei reminded him in a low voice, her expression calm.

Wang Yiyang smiled and stepped into the carriage.

He had chartered all three carriages to travel to Guixi Town alone.

His carriage was the one in the very center; all the seats had been cleared away, and the empty space was used to set up a desk, a bar counter, a projector, and a workstation computer.

It was as if he had turned the maglev train into a mobile home.

These were things that money alone could not accomplish.