The rapid sound of horse hooves pierced the silence of Yilin County just before dawn.
"Yufeng Martial Hall Martial Arts School--Yufeng Martial Hall Martial Arts School was destroyed!"
"Master Liu is dead! All his disciples are dead!"
"Green Dragon Gang! Zhao Family! Zhou Family! They worked together!"
The shouts exploded from Outer City East Street, sweeping the whole city like wildfire.
In the backyard of the Xingyi Martial Arts Hall, Chen Jianghe is practicing boxing.
Halfway through the punch, he suddenly stopped and listened.
The sound of horse hooves, cries, and panicked discussions—mixed with the morning breeze, poured into the courtyard.
He frowned slightly, and just as he was about to speak, the courtyard door was slammed open.
Zhou Yong stumbled in, his face as pale as paper and his forehead covered with cold sweat.
"Jianghe! Something big happened!" Zhou Yong's voice was hoarse, with uncontrollable trembling, "Yufeng Martial Hall Martial Arts School----has been wiped out!"
Chen Jianghe's pupils shrank suddenly. "What's going on?"
"Last night at midnight!" Zhou Yong gasped, with shock in his eyes, "Green Dragon Gang, together with the Zhao Family and Zhou Family, dispatched two top Huajin masters and three Huajin masters to raid the Yufeng Martial Hall martial arts gym!"
He paused and spoke in a lower voice, as if he was afraid of disturbing something. "The master of the gym Liu Tong----died in the battle. Several direct disciples----all died in the battle, and no one was spared. The main hall of the martial arts hall was burned, and the flames shot into the sky, and half of Outer City could be seen!"
Chen Jianghe is silent.
On Martial Arts Tournament, the gym owner also commented in a low voice on his battle with Zhao Litian, and his words were quite insightful.
Now----has become a dead soul?
"What's the reason?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"Reason?" Zhou Yong laughed miserably, "Need a reason? Yufeng Martial Hall Martial Arts School's refusal to join Yilin Chamber of Commerce" is the biggest sin! Green Dragon Gang announced to the outside world that Master Liu had consorted with bandits and plundered Chamber of Commerce's goods.
Fornicating with bandits?
Chen Jianghe's eyes flashed coldly.
If you want to impose a crime, why bother?
"What's going on Outer City now?" he asked.
"It's chaos." Zhou Yong wiped his face, "Yufeng Martial Hall There are dozens of ordinary disciples and handymen under the Yufeng Martial Hall martial arts school. Some escaped last night and are now scattered all over Outer City. They are crying, seeking revenge, and hiding - people are panicking.
Inner City Over there, all the martial arts schools and Lineage are closed, and the streets are frighteningly deserted."
Chen Jianghe's heart sank.
He knew that this was just the beginning.
Kill the chicken and become a monkey.
Yufeng Martial Hall Martial Arts School is the chosen "chicken".
And all the forces in the county that are still waiting, hesitating, or even resisting are "monkeys."
On the same night, Inner City, Qian Mansion.
In the deepest secret room, candlelight flickered, reflecting three gloomy faces.
Qian Shouyi, Sun Hanshan, Li Changfeng.
Qian Shouyi was sitting in the main seat, and his small eyes that were always squinted were now wide open. The calculating smile of the past was gone, leaving only an icy chill.
Sun Hanshan is sitting on the left side. The face with the leopard head and eyes is flushed red, the fists are clenched and the breath around him is fluctuating, as if a volcano is about to erupt at any time.
Li Changfeng was sitting on the right side, his face still calm, but the index finger of his right hand resting on his knee was tapping unconsciously and very slightly, revealing his inner unrest.
"Have you heard about it?" Qian Shouyi spoke slowly, with a dry voice, "Yufeng Martial Hall Martial Arts School----it's gone."
"I heard." Sun Hanshan squeezed out three words from between his teeth.
"Zhao Wuji! Xiao Qing! Zhou Family that old immortal! They are going to kill them all!"
"Although Liu Tong and I have no close friendship, we have been acquaintances for decades." Li Changfeng said slowly, with a low voice.
"His body Through-Arm Fist has been trained to the peak of energy, his arms are like whips, and his strength is bone-deep. Yufeng Martial Hall The disciples in the martial arts school can be regarded as the masters of the younger generation. Last night---- was destroyed overnight.
"So many people are surrounding us!" Qian Shouyi twitched his lips, his smile full of sarcasm and chill, "Not to mention Liu Tong, how long can we last if we continue to fight on our own?"
There was a moment of dead silence in the secret room.
The candle flickered softly, illuminating the faces of the three people.
After a long time, Qian Shouyi spoke slowly and in a very low voice, "Yufeng Martial Hall is killing a chicken and making a monkey out of the family. Liu Tong refused to join Chamber of Commerce, and this is what happened. Who will be next? Guangde, Xingyi, or one of our three families."
Sun Hanshan's eyes widened. "How dare they?!"
"Why don't you dare?" Qian Shouyi asked.
"Zhao Family wants to unify Inner City, Xiao Qing wants to annex the entire county, and Zhou Family wants to take advantage of the situation to stand up. The three of us are their biggest stumbling blocks. Now Chamber of Commerce has become the trend. They have resources, channels, and Green Dragon Gang's force as their backing--what can we do to stop us?"
"Then just fight them!" Sun Hanshan growled, "I, Sun Family, have no cowards! The worst case scenario is that the fish will die and the net will be broken!"
"The fish is dead and the net is broken?" Qian Shouyi sneered.
"Brother Hanshan, the three of you and I combined can only convert a few people into each other. Zhao Family, Zhou Family, Green Dragon Gang----Do you know how much energy you have? There are more among them. Zhao Wuji is even more powerful at half-step Gangjin. So do you know if Xiao Qing can cooperate with him now? I'm afraid the fish will die by then, but the net--can't be broken."
Sun Hanshan's chest rose and fell violently, but he didn't say anything after all.
Li Changfeng spoke slowly, "Brother Shou Yi, what are your plans?"
Qian Shouyi was silent for a moment and said slowly, "If you resist hard, you will lose. But if you bow your head and join Chamber of Commerce, you will hand over Lineage's century-old foundation to others, and you will become a vassal of the Zhao Family and look up to others."
He paused and his eyes flashed. "We----need variables."
"Variable?" Sun Hanshan frowned.
"Li Chengyue." Qian Shouyi slowly spit out three words.
Sun Hanshan was startled. "That old drunkard? He is really powerful, with half a step of strength, he can beat Five Great Families. But now he is seriously injured and has not recovered - he cannot protect himself, how can he be a variable?"
"Because he was seriously injured, this is an opportunity." Qian Shouyi said slowly, "Li Chengyue's injury is rooted in the backlash of Gang Jin. Ordinary medicines can only regulate Qi and blood and relieve pain, but they cannot cure the root cause. But if——"
He paused and took out a palm-sized jade box from his arms.
The jade box is completely green and as clear as ice. The body of the box is carved with complex cloud patterns, and there is a faint cold air coming out.
Qian Shouyi Open the lid gently.
"Jade Marrow Ganoderma." Qian Shouyi said slowly, "I, Qian Family, have a treasure that has been secreted for a hundred years. It was born in the earth's spiritual apertures and took shape for hundreds of years. It can nourish the internal organs, connect the tendons, and resolve the injuries caused by the backlash of the gang energy. This medicine may help Li Chengyue recover part of his strength."
Sun Hanshan's pupils shrank. "Old Qian, are you even willing to do this?"
"I can't bear to let the child catch the wolf." Qian Shouyi smiled bitterly, "Master Li Family, Master Sun Family, what about you?"
Li Changfeng was silent for a moment, then took out a Ebony Vial from his sleeve: "Li Family Life-Creation Pill" Three pieces can heal injuries and replenish energy, and can replenish energy and blood deficiency."
Sun Hanshan gritted his teeth and took out a fist-sized, red-blooded spar from his arms. "I don't have those delicate gadgets of yours! This Earth Fire Blood Crystal" is the It was brought out by our ancestors from a volcanic secret realm in 1999. It has a great tonic effect on warriors who practice masculine skills, and it can also revitalize the blood! Li Chengyue That old guy practices the strong and fierce method, so it will come in handy!"
Three treasures are placed on the table.
If anything leaks out, it will be enough to cause the warriors to fight for it.
Now, it has become a bargaining chip for three companies to gamble on their future in exchange for a glimmer of hope.
"I bet Li Chengyue can compete with Zhao Wuji and Xiao Qing after recovery and give us a chance to breathe." Qian Shouyi covered Cold Jade Box with a heavy voice.
"When are you going?" Sun Hanshan asked.
"Now." Qian Shouyi stood up, "The night is long and the dreams are many. It's too late, I'm afraid we will be the next Yufeng Martial Hall."
Xingyi Martial Arts Hall, Backyard.
Li Chengyue leaned back in the recliner, closed his eyes and rested.
Chen Jianghe stood under the locust tree, typing Five Elements Fist slowly. His movements were very slow, but his mind was entirely outside the hospital.
The news of the Yufeng Martial Hall family's demise is like a huge stone weighing on everyone's heart.
"Knock, knock."
There was a gentle knock on the courtyard door.
Chen Jianghe stopped and looked towards the courtyard gate.
It's not the kind of hurried and panic knocking during the day, but calm, restrained, and a certain kind of polite temptation.
"Who?" Chen Jianghe asked.
"Guangde Martial Hall, Wu Qingquan, please see Master Li." An old, dry voice came from outside the door.
Chen Jianghe and Li Chengyue looked at each other.
Li Chengyue opened his eyelids and nodded.
Chen Jianghe stepped forward and opened the door.
There was a person standing outside the door.
It is Wu Qingquan, the owner of the Guangde Martial Hall.
Wu Qingquan is in very bad condition.
His face was sallow, his breath was weak, and there was dark blood seeping out of his robe on his left shoulder, obviously injured.
"Master Wu." Chen Jianghe turned sideways, "Please come in."
Wu Qingquan stepped into the yard and saw Li Chengyue under the locust tree. He cupped his fists and bowed with a very low posture. "Master Li, you have no choice but to bother me late at night."
Li Chengyue did not stand up, but only raised his hand. "Sit."
Wu Qingquan sat down on the stone bench and scanned the courtyard with vigilant eyes.
"Is Master Wu injured?" Li Chengyue asked.
"Small injury, nothing to worry about."
Wu Qingquan said with a bitter smile, "Before Yufeng Martial Hall's accident last night, three masked men infiltrated my Guangde Martial Hall with the intention of doing evil. The old man noticed and fought with them a few times, and was struck by a sinister palm force, which injured the lung meridian."
He paused and said in a lower voice, "Those three people - although they are masked, they are recognized by their martial arts skills. They are people from Green Dragon Gang."
Chen Jianghe's eyes narrowed.
Taking action against the Guangde Martial Hall means that Guangde is the next target on Green Dragon Gang's cleaning list.
"Master Wu is here to ask for help?" Li Chengyue asked directly.
Wu Qingquan was silent for a moment and nodded slowly. "Master Li, I have lived for sixty years and have been running Guangde Martial Hall for thirty years. I dare not say that I have made great achievements, but there are more than a hundred disciples in the martial arts school, all of whom were brought up by me, and I regard them as my nephews."
He raised his head, and his eyes, which were always squinting, were full of bloodshot eyes and pain at this moment. "Yufeng Martial Hall's fate, Master Li saw it. Liu Tong Brother and old man We have known each other for thirty years. His Through-Arm Fist and the old Mantis Fist used to have many exchanges with each other. Now that he is dead, the martial arts hall has been burned down, and all his disciples have died - not even a whole body has been left."
His voice trembled. "I'm not afraid of death. But the kids in the martial arts school - the oldest is only twenty-five and the youngest is only fourteen - they don't deserve to die, let alone die like that."
Li Chengyue listened quietly and said nothing.
Wu Qingquan took a deep breath, took out a thin book from his arms, and placed it on the stone table.
The cover of the album is old and has four clumsy handwriting written on it - Mantis Fist Essentials.
"This is my Guangde Martial Hall Mantis Fist true biography, including the key points of boxing techniques, grappling locks, and footwork."
Wu Qingquan's voice was hoarse, "I would like to use this boxing record as a basis, please Master Li---- take in the remaining disciples of the Guangde Martial Hall. I would like to lead my disciples to merge into the Xingyi Martial Arts Hall. From now on, only Master Li will follow the lead and fight against the powerful enemy together!"
After saying that, he actually stood up, faced Li Chengyue, and bowed his head deeply to the end.
There was silence in the courtyard for a while.
Chen Jianghe looked at the boxing book, and then at Wu Qingquan's rickety but determined back.
This is risking the entire martial arts heritage in exchange for a chance of survival for the disciples.
Li Chengyue Sit up slowly.
He didn't read the boxing manual, but just stared at Wu Qingquan for a long time.
Then, he spoke slowly and in a low voice, "Master Wu, do you know that Xingyi Martial Arts Hall cannot protect itself now?"
"I know." Wu Qingquan maintained his bowed posture, "But I know better that if we can survive alone, Guangde will be the next Yufeng Martial Hall. And if we join forces with the Xingyi Martial Arts Hall, maybe there is still a glimmer of hope."
"A chance of survival?" Li Chengyue twitched his lips, "Maybe he will die faster."
"That's better to die in battle than to be cleansed as a coward!"
Wu Qingquan raised his head suddenly, his eyes bloodshot, "Master Li, Xiao Qing and Zhao Family want, it's Yilin County All martial arts schools must surrender or disappear! Xingyi Martial Arts Hall Now it is difficult to survive alone. The three families of Qian, Sun, and Li have their own agendas, and it is difficult to achieve success! Only by uniting all the martial arts schools that are still bloody and twisting them into one rope can we have the strength to fight!"
He paused and said in a resolute voice, "I am willing to be the pioneer! Guangde Martial Hall up and down, willing to be the barrier of the Xingyi Martial Arts Hall! I just ask Master Li---- to give the children a way to survive!"
Li Chengyue is silent.
Just then--
Outside the courtyard door, there was another knock on the door.
Chen Jianghe looked at the master.
Li Chengyue's eyes flashed with a hint of ridicule. "It seems that my poor yard is quite lively tonight."
He raised his hand. "Open the door."
Chen Jianghe stepped forward and opened the courtyard door.
Outside the door, there were three people standing.
Qian Shouyi, Sun Hanshan, Li Changfeng.
The three heads of the family were all wearing casual clothes and did not bring any entourage. They only held something in their hands.
Qian Shouyi holds Cold Jade Box, Sun Hanshan holds Crimson Blood Crystal, Li Changfeng holds Ebony Vial.
Seeing Chen Jianghe opening the door, Qian Shouyi was the first to hand over his hand, with a gentle smile but unable to hide the seriousness in his eyes, "Young Hero Chen, I'm taking the liberty of asking to see Master Li late at night. We have something important to discuss."
Chen Jianghe turned sideways. "Three family heads, please."
The three of them stepped into the courtyard and were startled when they saw Wu Qingquan who was not bowing down in front of the stone table.
Wu Qingquan also straightened up and looked at the three family heads, with complex expressions flashing in his eyes.
"Master Wu is here too?" Qian Shouyi quickly recovered his smile, "What a coincidence."
"Unfortunately." Wu Qingquan said in a dry voice, "The three family heads must have come here for the same purpose."
Sun Hanshan glanced at the Mantis Fist score on the table, then looked at the blood on Wu Qingquan's shoulder, frowning. "Master Wu is injured? But what happened to Green Dragon Gang?"
Wu Qingquan nodded and said nothing.
Li Changfeng's eyes fell on Li Chengyue, and he cupped his fists and said, "Master Li, Yufeng Martial Hall must be known. Now the situation is critical, Xiao Qing and Zhao Family have already shown their swords. The three of us have discussed and are willing to form an alliance with the Xingyi Martial Arts Hall to fight against the powerful enemy."
Li Chengyue leaned on the recliner, glanced at the objects in the hands of the three people, and then looked at the Mantis Fist music score on the table, and suddenly smiled.
That smile was very weak, with a hint of fatigue and sarcasm.
"An alliance?" He spoke slowly, "Master Qian Family, Master Sun Family, Master Li Family, you three, plus Master Wu, plus me, a half-crippled old man, and a group of old, weak, sick and disabled apprentices."
He paused and said word by word, "What are you going to do to fight Green Dragon Gang, Zhao Family, Zhou Family, and the martial arts schools under their command that have already bowed their heads and surrendered?"
There was dead silence in the courtyard.
There was only the rustle of the locust leaves in the night wind.
Qian Shouyi took a deep breath, stepped forward, and gently placed Cold Jade Box in his hand on the stone table, side by side with the Mantis Fist music score.
"Based on this." His voice was calm, "Jade Marrow Ganoderma can heal the wounds caused by the backlash of Gangjin. If Master Li can restore some of its strength, it will be our greatest reliance."
Sun Hanshan put Earth Fire Blood Crystal down, and the crimson crystal shimmered in the moonlight. "I, this blood crystal, will help you replenish your energy and blood!"
Li Changfeng put down Ebony Vial: "Three Life-Creation Pill, heal your wounds and replenish your energy."
Three treasures, plus Mantis Fist spectrum.
Qian Shouyi took a step forward and spoke in an unprecedentedly solemn tone, "Chamber of Commerce is powerful, Xiao Qing is ambitious and wants to annex the whole city. Yufeng Martial Hall has been poisoned, Guangde is in danger, and our three families are also in despair. I sincerely ask Master Li to accept this medicine and recover from his injuries as soon as possible. From now on, the three families of Qian, Sun, and Li are willing to follow Master Li's lead and fight against Chamber of Commerce!"
Sun Hanshan and Li Changfeng also bowed at the same time. "Please Master Li!"
Wu Yunfeng raised his head, a glint of hope flashed in his eyes.
Li Chengyue leaned back in the chair and slowly glanced at the four people in front of him.
Finally, his eyes fell on Chen Jianghe beside him.
"In that case----" his voice was low, "Then let's give it a try."