Past Events

Su Derong led Chen Jianghe through the bustling courtyard of the escort agency to a quiet tea room in the east wing.

As soon as they sat down, a servant served hot tea.

Su Derong took a sip, spun his fan in his hand, and suddenly asked, "Jianghe, do you know of the Green Dragon Gang?"

Chen Jianghe was startled and shook his head. "The Green Dragon Gang? I've only heard of the Black Tiger Gang, the Iron Hand Gang, and the Caoshui Gang in the outer city, as well as the Sun Moon Cult... Is this Green Dragon Gang a faction from the inner city?"

"Not the inner city." Su Derong shook his head and smiled bitterly. "Well, that's fair; you've been training hard at the martial arts hall for over half a year, ignoring the world outside. This Green Dragon Gang is a ruthless force that has recently risen outside the city."

He paused. "Thirty miles outside the city, there used to be the Lin Family Fort. You've heard of it, right?"

Chen Jianghe nodded. "I've heard a little. They say the Lin Family Fort is wealthy enough to rival a nation, and even the five great families of the inner city give them some face."

"That was in the past." Su Derong sneered. "Three years ago, the Lin Family Fort took in a son-in-law named Xiao Qing. It is said this man had top-tier martial talent and was already at the Dark Energy stage when he married into the family. He was highly valued by the Lin family."

Chen Jianghe listened quietly.

"Who would have thought that Xiao Qing was a wolf that couldn't be tamed?" Su Derong toyed with the ribs of his fan, his tone turning cold. "He used the Lin family's resources to advance his cultivation by leaps and bounds. A while ago, he broke through to the Transformation Energy stage. While the old master of the Lin family was in seclusion, he united with several elders of different surnames within the fort, slaughtered the direct descendants of the Lin family overnight, and seized the position of fort master."

Chen Jianghe's pupils constricted. "Transformation Energy?"

"It is absolutely true." Su Derong's expression was grave. "This man has immense ambition and did not stop after swallowing the Lin family. Recently, he has frequently set up checkpoints on the roads outside the city, imposing heavy taxes on passing merchant caravans. Several families in the city, including my Su family, have sent people to sound him out, but he is impervious to reason. He only left behind one sentence: 'Jianghu matters are settled by the Jianghu,' and told everyone to 'fend for themselves.'"

He turned to Chen Jianghe. "The meaning behind those words couldn't be clearer. For now, everyone is still watching, unsure if his next step is to settle into his territory or... if he wants to stretch his claws into the city."

Chen Jianghe felt a chill in his heart.

In these chaotic times, the strong are respected. The rise of such a formidable figure often signals a new wave of bloodshed. He must become stronger, faster.

Today it is the Green Dragon Gang; tomorrow it might be some other faction. To protect himself and his mother, he must constantly grow stronger.

The Heaven Rewards Diligence fate is his greatest reliance.

As long as he has enough resources, Dark Energy and Transformation Energy will both come naturally.

But the prerequisite for all of this is that he must first preserve his life and survive in this treacherous world.

"And then there is the Sun Moon Cult." Su Derong continued, his tone filled with disgust. "Recently, a plague has been rampant outside the city, and many have died. This evil cult has taken the opportunity to grow, using the banner of 'saving the suffering' to recruit followers everywhere, while in reality, they are hoarding wealth and taking lives. Many slums in the outer city are already their territory."

He sighed, waving his fan listlessly. "This world is becoming increasingly unstable. Those of us struggling in the cracks live in constant fear, never knowing when we might be swept away by some sudden storm."

He then gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Enough, just keep these things in mind. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. Let's focus on securing our own livelihood for now."

As they were speaking, footsteps echoed at the end of the corridor.

A middle-aged man walked over quickly, looking to be in his early forties. He wore a long robe of indigo silk with a jade belt, his face bearing a five or six-part resemblance to Su Derong, though his brows and eyes were more composed, and he sported a short beard. It was Su Derong's uncle, one of the current managers of the Su Family Escort Agency—Su Jingming.

"Uncle." Su Derong stepped forward and bowed.

Chen Jianghe also bowed. "Junior Chen Jianghe, greetings to Senior Su."

Su Jingming swept his gaze over Chen Jianghe and nodded slightly. "No need for formalities, sit."

The three of them sat down again.

Su Jingming picked up his teacup but didn't drink immediately, looking at Su Derong. "Derong, is this the junior brother you mentioned?"

"Indeed." Su Derong smiled. "Chen Jianghe, my junior brother from the Xingyi Martial Arts Hall. He has been enrolled for over half a year and just broke through to Bright Energy yesterday."

Joy filled Su Jingming's eyes, and he patted Chen Jianghe on the shoulder. "Master Li has been quiet for many years, and now he has finally taken in another good seedling! Excellent!"

He looked at Chen Jianghe. "How is your master doing lately?"

Chen Jianghe replied respectfully, "Master is doing well, drinking wine every day and living a carefree life."

"Carefree..." Su Jingming repeated the word and suddenly smiled, his expression filled with emotion. "Master Li still has that same temperament. If it weren't for him back then, my Su family might not be where we are today."

Chen Jianghe felt a stir in his heart, knowing this was the mention of the past, so he listened intently.

Su Derong took over the conversation, saying to Chen Jianghe, "Jianghe, it's a long story. My Su family was not originally from Yilin County, but from Yongchuan County, three hundred miles to the north."

Su Jingming nodded and continued, "Yongchuan County is located on the border, where various factions are mixed and fighting is constant. Our Su family ran an escort agency there, and while we had some foundation, we were ultimately weak. Twenty years ago, a great battle broke out, the three major gangs of Yongchuan suffered heavy casualties, and the county was in chaos. My father, Derong's grandfather, made a decisive decision to move the whole family south."

He paused, looking out the window as if recalling the past. "Derong was still young then, and I was just in my early twenties. The thirty-some members of the Su family, carrying our belongings and valuables, set off south in a dozen carriages. We thought that by leaving the place of trouble, we could live in peace..."

"Who would have thought that our enemies had already set their sights on us. When we reached Black Wind Ridge, a group of masked men attacked. The leader was actually the second-in-command of the Blood Wolf Gang from Yongchuan. That scoundrel had an old grudge with our family and wanted to wipe us out once we were away from our base."

The tea room fell silent for a moment.

"That battle was incredibly tragic." Su Jingming said slowly. "Half of our escorts were killed or wounded, and my father was seriously injured. Just as we were about to be wiped out, Master Li happened to pass by."

He looked at Chen Jianghe, his eyes filled with nostalgia. "Your master was only in his thirties then, dressed in dark blue, carrying a wine gourd, looking like an ordinary traveler. He stopped for a moment and suddenly asked in a loud voice, 'Is the one surrounded on the road the Su family of Yongchuan?'"

"My father was too weak to answer and could only manage a nod. Master Li then said, 'Does Old Master Su still remember, three years ago outside Yongchuan, inviting a passing drunkard to drink a pot of "Burning Knife" wine?'"

Su Jingming smiled as he said this. "Just for the sake of that pot of wine, Master Li took action."

"I was young then, but I remember it clearly!" Su Derong couldn't help but interject, his eyes shining. "Master just walked into the fray, empty-handed. The second-in-command of the Blood Wolf Gang was a veteran Transformation Energy expert, wielding a nine-ringed broadsword, his ferocity legendary. But Master only threw three punches—"

He gestured. "The first punch, Crushing Fist like an arrow, shattered the broadsword; the second punch, Cannon Fist, exploded and crushed his chest; the third... he didn't even need to throw it. The second-in-command vomited blood and collapsed, and the rest of the bandits scattered."

Su Jingming nodded. "Three punches to drive away the enemy and save my entire family. Afterward, my father wanted to reward him with heavy gold, but Master Li only took a jar of wine, saying, 'Wine debts are paid with wine, we are even.' When asked for his name and lineage, he just smiled and said, 'Xingyi Fist, Li Chengyue.'"

Chen Jianghe was deeply moved.

In his mind, he pictured his master, usually slumped in a bamboo chair with bleary, drunken eyes, and found it impossible to reconcile that image with the righteous and powerful Xingyi master who had suppressed the crowd with his fists as described by Su Jingming.

"Later, when our Su family settled down in Yilin County, we always wanted to repay Master Li." Su Jingming shook his head with a bitter smile. "But the old man... he was indifferent to fame and wealth. He wouldn't accept money, nor would he take a house. He only said, 'It was just a casual act, no need to take it to heart.'"

Su Derong rubbed his nose and chuckled sheepishly, "Back then, I just thought Master was amazing. A single punch to suppress a crowd of enemies... how imposing!"

Su Jingming glared at him. "You thought it was imposing? You just thought the way Master Li drank was dashing, and that that was what a life of true freedom looked like!"

Su Derong didn't argue, merely grinning.

Su Jingming shook his head and looked back at Chen Jianghe, his expression turning solemn. "Jianghe, since you are Master Li's disciple and possess outstanding talent, our Su family will naturally do our best to look after you. I called you here today to discuss your honorary position."

Chen Jianghe composed himself, bowing with a serious expression. "This junior will listen to your arrangements, Senior."