Ouyang Zheng's face registered shock. He raised his longsword with all his strength, trying to block the spear, never expecting Lu Shaolin to be so fast.
With a thunderous bang, the longsword snapped in two. Ouyang Zheng's skull shattered, and his corpse slammed into the floor, yellow, white, and red splattering everywhere!
"Hiss—"
Everyone sucked in a sharp breath, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
Ouyang Zheng, Hall Master of the External Affairs Hall—the "Thunderclap Sword" Ouyang Zheng, whose name resounded throughout Ping County—had been beaten to death with a single spear strike?
After the silence came a boom of voices as everyone began discussing Lu Shaolin.
Among them, Steward Yu Shan was hurriedly saying something to Wan Tong, Hall Master of the Internal Affairs Hall.
"Silence!"
An elderly, lean man standing beside Gang Leader He Zhonglang shouted from the hall.
As his voice fell, the hall gradually quieted.
"Who are you?"
He Zhonglang asked in a deep voice from his throne.
"Gang Leader, this junior is Lu Shaolin, a headman of the External Affairs Hall."
Lu Shaolin cupped his hands as he spoke.
"Since you belong to the External Affairs Hall, why did you fight Ouyang Sheng?"
"Gang Leader, Ouyang Sheng sought to take my life first. Your subordinate was forced to strike back. Tu Hei can testify for me."
At that moment, Tu Hei also came through the hole.
"Tu Heizi, is that so?"
He Zhonglang looked at Tu Heizi and asked.
Tu Heizi shot Lu Shaolin a terrified glance, then looked at Ouyang Zheng's corpse on the ground. "Young Master Ouyang Sheng was indeed the one who attacked first."
"Even so, you should not have killed Hall Master Ouyang!"
The lean old man beside the throne barked.
"Your subordinate merely fought back in self-defense. I am sure everyone saw it. I simply did not expect Hall Master Ouyang to be so utterly incapable of withstanding a single blow that he could not even block one strike from my spear!"
Lu Shaolin sighed helplessly.
Hearing Lu Shaolin's words, everyone in the hall wore strange expressions.
Ouyang Zheng's strength ranked third in the gang. Other than Gang Leader He Zhonglang and Ye Baiquan, Hall Master of the Discipline Hall standing beside him, no one dared claim they could defeat him with certainty. Otherwise, he would never have become Hall Master of the External Affairs Hall.
"Gang Leader, since things have come to this, why not let Brother Lu participate in the duel against the Little Knife Society?"
"If he wins, we shall write off his offense of defying his superior with one stroke of the pen, and let him take the position of Hall Master of the External Affairs Hall. If he loses, then he will naturally pay for his crime with his life!"
Wan Tong, Hall Master of the Internal Affairs Hall, stepped forward.
Ye Baiquan bowed and began discussing the matter with He Zhonglang.
Afterward, He Zhonglang looked at Lu Shaolin. "A hero indeed emerges from the young! We shall do as Hall Master Wan suggested. If you win ten days from now, not only may you become Hall Master of the External Affairs Hall, you will also receive thirty percent of the profits from the newly built docks!"
"Chen Ying, you will temporarily take charge of the External Affairs Hall's affairs!"
After saying this, He Zhonglang rose and left through the back of the throne.
Wan Tong and Yu Shan smiled at Lu Shaolin before leaving as well.
"Come find me at the External Affairs Hall later."
As Chen Ying passed Lu Shaolin, he spoke softly.
"Alright!"
Lu Shaolin nodded.
Everyone left, yet not a single person paid any attention to Ouyang Sheng lying on the ground.
Everyone understood that Lu Shaolin's rise was now unstoppable with strength like his. Naturally, no one wished to offend him for Ouyang Sheng's sake.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. These people really are pragmatic! Look, in the end, I'm still the one who has to send you on your way!"
Lu Shaolin crouched down and looked at Ouyang Sheng, who had been staring at him all along.
"Heh... heh..." Ouyang Sheng struggled to say something, but no words came out. Blood merely continued to spill from the corners of his mouth.
Lu Shaolin grabbed his neck and, with a crack, sent him to join his father.
Lu Shaolin then searched his corpse and found a one-hundred-tael silver note, along with more than twenty taels of silver.
He then went over to search Ouyang Zheng's body and obtained three one-hundred-tael silver notes and over ten taels of silver.
Stuffing all the banknotes and silver into his clothes, Lu Shaolin strode out of the Council Hall in high spirits.
He was no longer short on silver. He now had more than four hundred and sixty taels. Sure enough, murder and arson brought belts of gold!
When he arrived at the External Affairs Hall, Tu Heizi gave him a strange look and handed over twenty taels of silver. "This is the reward for that monster."
"Thank you!"
Lu Shaolin accepted the silver, tucked it into his clothes, and cupped his hands.
"Hall Master Chen is waiting for you in the inner room."
Tu Heizi pointed behind him.
Lu Shaolin nodded and headed inside.
When he entered the inner room, Chen Ying was sitting beside the tea table, drinking tea.
"Please, sit!"
Chen Ying gestured invitingly.
Lu Shaolin leaned his spear against the tea table and sat across from him.
"You still do not know what the duel in ten days is about, do you?"
Chen Ying poured a cup of tea and handed it to Lu Shaolin.
"I truly do not!"
Lu Shaolin took the teacup and nodded.
"The Little Knife Society has built a dock south of the county town, and it is nearly complete. This is cutting at the roots of our Blackwater Gang!"
"Who does not know that our Blackwater Gang rose to prominence through the docks? If the Little Knife Society gains this dock, not only will they seize half our gang's sources of income, they will also leave our gang with no face to show."
"The Gang Leader reported this matter to the authorities. The county magistrate stalled for a month, then issued notice today: the two gangs may not engage in large-scale fighting and may only determine the victor through a duel. Furthermore, for the sake of gang stability, the two gang leaders may not take part in the duel."
"Because of this, the gang was arguing endlessly in the Council Hall just now. The Little Knife Society has a Perfected Muscle Tempering expert, Wang Xiaofeng, the 'Gate-Breaking Saber.' His saber technique is close to the realm of perfection. In previous clashes, even Ouyang Zheng was at a disadvantage against him."
"Even Ye Baiquan, Hall Master of the Discipline Hall, does not dare claim he can defeat him, after all, Hall Master Ye is already advanced in years."
"Now that we have you, with the skills you displayed just now, defeating Wang Xiaofeng will absolutely not be a problem!"
"Where are you currently stationed?"
After explaining everything in one breath, Chen Ying asked another question.
"At Chen Family Ravine."
Lu Shaolin replied.
"Chen Family Ravine? Why were you assigned somewhere so far away? From now on, you need not go to Chen Family Ravine. Stay home and train properly. I will have someone transfer your squad back from Chen Family Ravine."
Chen Ying frowned.
"Alright, thank you, Hall Master Chen!"
Lu Shaolin cupped his hands with a smile.
"No need. If you win, you will be my superior, and I will have to call you Hall Master."
Chen Ying tugged at the corner of his mouth, trying to smile but unable to manage it. He was too accustomed to being cold and indifferent.
Lu Shaolin saw at once that Chen Ying was much like Ma San—a man with a stone face!
After the two exchanged a few awkward remarks, Lu Shaolin cupped his hands and left.
After leaving Water Fortress, Lu Shaolin touched the more than four hundred and eighty taels of silver against his chest and headed straight for the county town once more.
Upon reaching the county town, Lu Shaolin rode his horse through the city gates.
The moment he entered, several burly men in gray clothes blocked his path.
One of them was Liu Dadao—Liu Bao!
"Brother Lu, long time no see!"
Liu Bao cupped his hands in greeting.
"Why are you blocking my way?"
Lu Shaolin asked without dismounting.
"We are not blocking Brother Lu. We have come to invite you."
Liu Bao said with a smile.
"Who is inviting me?"
Lu Shaolin asked.
"Our society's vice president invites you to gather at Hundred Flowers Pavilion."
"Your vice president is?"
"The 'Gate-Breaking Saber,' Wang Xiaofeng!"
Before you continue