When Situ Liang entered the hall, three people inside were whispering among themselves. Hall Master Zhao sat silently in his original seat, drinking tea. It seemed that since Situ Liang had gone out, he had not moved at all.
Situ Liang's footsteps abruptly cut off their conversation. The three exchanged glances. The white-haired old man remained seated, while the other two rose. One was a medium-built, capable-looking man; the other was a slightly taller, fair-faced and somewhat stout middle-aged man of around forty or fifty. They walked to the center of the hall to greet Situ Liang. After exchanging courtesies, Situ Liang asked, "Hall Master Zhang, Hall Master Xing, did you have a good New Year at home?"
The stout middle-aged man said, "Not bad. A New Year spent with one's family naturally has its flavor. Compared with Hall Master Situ keeping watch over the gang alone, Xing feels somewhat uneasy."
Situ Liang waved his hand. "I'm all alone. Where I spend the holiday makes no difference. Could I possibly have Brother Zhang, with wives and concubines in droves, keep me company too? I heard Brother Zhang had just taken a young concubine before the New Year."
A flush rose on the capable man's face. He hurriedly said, "Hall Master Situ has wronged me. Zhang is merely an ordinary man; the seven emotions and six desires cannot be severed. I cannot compare to Hall Master Situ, who has received the true teachings of an immortal, cut off mortal ties, and stepped beyond the red dust."
Situ Liang wore a strange expression. "Brother Zhang, do you take me for a monk? I'm still planning to find someone to carry on my family line."
Upon hearing this, both men said, "Wonderful. We have all been waiting for that day."
While the three stood there chatting idly, Elder Chu had already grown impatient. He gave a soft cough. Situ Liang hurried over and saluted him. Elder Chu frowned, nodded, and gestured for Situ Liang to sit.
Only then did Situ Liang take a seat in the chair opposite Elder Chu. Before he had settled properly, Elder Chu impatiently asked, "Little Liang, is there any news of Ping'er?"
Elder Chu was one of the gang's elders. He had practically watched Situ Ping and Situ Liang grow up. Ordinarily, in the hall, he addressed them as Gang Leader and Hall Master. Now that he suddenly called them by their childhood names, he was clearly deeply worried about Situ Ping.
Warmth surged through Situ Liang's heart, and he quickly said, "Elder Chu, my cousin is fine. She simply cannot return to the gang for the time being."
Hall Master Xing also asked, "What exactly is going on? The Gang Leader has always acted prudently. Something must have happened this time. We asked Old Zhao just now, but he refused to say anything and insisted on waiting for you. Hurry and tell us. Don't keep us in suspense."
Situ Liang nodded, took the letter from his robes, stood, and handed it to Elder Chu.
Elder Chu drew out the letter and read it carefully, his brow furrowing ever more deeply. Afterward, Hall Masters Xing and Zhang also read the letter with great care.
Once everyone had finished reading, the hall fell deathly silent.
Elder Chu spoke first. "Little Liang, this letter is genuine?"
Situ Liang nodded. "It is indeed my cousin's handwriting, and the timing matches as well. There should be no fraud."
Hall Master Zhang took over. "But this is strange. Why would Wan Jian Peak take the Gang Leader as a disciple? She has long passed the best age for martial training. If she enters Wan Jian Peak's sect now, how could she ever distinguish herself?"
Hall Master Xing said as well, "Most suspicious of all, the Gang Leader actually asked disciples of Wan Jian Peak to temporarily manage the gang's affairs while she is away. What does that mean?"
Situ Liang also said, "If the Gang Leader enters Wan Jian Peak's sect, then we will naturally become an offshoot of Wan Jian Peak. For the Fierce Tiger Gang, that would be joy falling from the heavens, something we could never obtain even if we begged for it every day. But since the Gang Leader cannot return at once, could it be that she needs to cultivate some profound martial art?"
Elder Chu frowned. "To Wan Jian Peak, our little bit of strength is no more than the scrap of flesh on a fly. Why would they take notice of us? And even send several disciples to take over? They are placing far too much importance on this."
After remaining silent for a long time, Hall Master Zhao finally spoke. "There are too many doubts in this matter. At the very least, the Gang Leader must return once and explain everything clearly. Just finding a few people and sending a letter, then asking us to hand over the Rivers and Mountains we painstakingly built with our own hands—wouldn't that make a child's game of it?"
Situ Liang gave a bitter smile. "Then what should we do? Can we refuse to endure it?" He seemed to bite out the word "endure" with particular clarity.
The others fell silent as well. Yes, what else could they do? Before absolute martial force, every scheme and stratagem, every act of resistance, was futile.
But...
Seeing that everyone had lapsed into silence, Elder Chu asked, "Where are Wan Jian Peak's disciples?"
Situ Liang said, "They have all been arranged to rest. They should have finished dinner by now."
Elder Chu said, "Then have them come over so everyone can meet them. Let us discuss things in detail."
Situ Liang nodded and sent someone to invite Qu Xiangfeng and the others.
Before long, the seven people from Wan Jian Peak arrived at the hall together.
The Fierce Tiger Gang's members stepped forward to greet them. After exchanging courtesies, they took their seats.
Elder Chu said warmly, "Young Hero Qu, this is a poor and remote place, and supplies are rather scarce. I wonder whether you have been able to adjust?"
Qu Xiangfeng hurriedly said, "Elder Chu is too courteous. Those of us who wander the jianghu often sleep rough and dine on the wind. There is nothing here at your gang that we cannot adapt to."
Elder Chu stroked his beard. "That is excellent."
Then he asked, "Could Young Hero Qu tell us in detail about our Gang Leader Situ's circumstances?"
Qu Xiangfeng smiled. "Senior Sister Situ is blessed with good fortune. By a fortunate twist of fate, she caught the eye of Yun Feng, an elder of Wan Jian Peak, and was accepted as his disciple. She is now in secluded cultivation at Wan Jian Peak. Elder Yun is a renowned master of our sect. I trust that Senior Sister Situ's martial arts will rise another hundred feet atop the pole and advance further, allowing her to join the ranks of Jianghu experts. As for the specific details, Qu does not know them clearly either. We must wait until Senior Sister Situ returns to the gang before asking her in detail."
His words were watertight, and the others could not glean the slightest clue from them.
Seeing that no one else spoke, Qu Xiangfeng smiled. "Qu came this time under my master's orders to temporarily take over your gang's affairs. I wonder what the rest of you have decided?"
Though he addressed everyone, Qu Xiangfeng's gaze was fixed on Elder Chu, seated in the place of honor.
Elder Chu saw Qu Xiangfeng's gaze and was just about to speak when someone else spoke first.
"You expect us to obey your command on the strength of a single letter, Young Hero Qu. How can that possibly convince us?"
Qu Xiangfeng turned his head and saw that it was Hall Master Xing.
Qu Xiangfeng asked, "Then what does Hall Master Xing think should be done?"
Hall Master Xing said, "At the very least, you must first pass Xing's test and let me witness Wan Jian Peak's swordsmanship."
Elder Chu hurriedly stopped him. "Hall Master Xing, do not be so discourteous."
Qu Xiangfeng said, "No matter. Asking your gang to obey our orders so simply is indeed somewhat improper. Then I shall spar with Hall Master Xing and exchange a few moves, so that Hall Master Xing may be thoroughly convinced."
Situ Liang hurriedly said, "Young Hero Qu, Hall Master Xing, we are all on the same side. There is no need to go to the Martial Arts Demonstration Ground. Spar here in the hall, stop at the proper point, and do not harm our harmony. How does that sound?"
Both nodded in agreement.
Hall Master Xing shouted outside, "Bring me my weapon."
Before long, someone brought in a Fine Iron Spear measuring eighteen feet long. It was Hall Master Xing's famous weapon.
Hall Master Xing caught it one-handed and gave it a powerful shake. The spearhead traced several arcs, while the long shaft let out a "whooo, whooo" sound. The Fierce Tiger Gang's members could not help thinking, Though Hall Master Xing has grown somewhat stout, he has not neglected his martial arts. In just a few days, he has improved again.
In contrast, the people from Wan Jian Peak seemed not to notice at all. Their faces remained expressionless.
Qu Xiangfeng drew the greatsword from his back, held it in one hand as well, and walked to the center of the hall.
As Hall Master Xing looked at Qu Xiangfeng, doubts began to stir in his heart. There were as many sword users in the Jianghu as ox hairs, but those who used such a broad greatsword were rare. Moreover, the sword seemed quite heavy, yet Qu Xiangfeng carried it one-handed. His arm strength must be considerable.
As he pondered this, Qu Xiangfeng spoke. "Hall Master Xing, please."
Hall Master Xing did not stand on ceremony. "Very well, Young Hero Qu. Take my spear."
With that, he gripped the spear in both hands and leaped forward, thrusting its tip toward Qu Xiangfeng's heart. Qu Xiangfeng was in no hurry. Only when the spearhead neared his body did he shift his feet, twist his waist, and, still holding the sword in one hand, flick upward at the spearhead. Hall Master Xing felt a tremendous force travel through the spear, and his body involuntarily tilted aside. He immediately stamped his foot and used his lightness skill to steady himself. Just as he was about to catch his breath and exert force anew, he saw Qu Xiangfeng use the upward sword motion to leap high into the air. At the peak of his jump, Qu Xiangfeng gripped the hilt with both hands and hacked down at Hall Master Xing with all his strength. Hall Master Xing was startled. He had always known swords to thrust and cleave, but he had never imagined someone would wield one as a saber and chop down so fiercely. He gripped both ends of the spear, raised it overhead in the Burning Heaven Art stance, and met the blow.
In the blink of an eye, sword and spear collided. With a thunderous CLANG, Qu Xiangfeng's greatsword bounced off the shaft of the Fine Iron Spear, while Hall Master Xing staggered back three steps. He had barely planted his stance when Qu Xiangfeng swung the greatsword again, borrowing the rebound to hack down once more. Hall Master Xing's mouth turned bitter. With no time to change moves, he could only raise his spear in the Burning Heaven Art stance again. Another CLANG rang out, and the greatsword sprang back. This time, however, Qu Xiangfeng did not continue his attack. He simply stood there calmly, sword tip lowered to the ground, gazing ahead. Opposite him, Hall Master Xing staggered back another four steps. This time, he could not stabilize his stance at all. His legs went weak, and he fell to the floor. The Fine Iron Spear slipped from his hands and landed to one side. When Hall Master Xing rose again, he discovered that the webbing between both his thumbs and forefingers had split from the shock. Fear lingered in his heart. Who could have imagined such terrifying strength hidden within that lean body? It truly was godlike power. Fortunately, this was only a spar. Otherwise, if he had struck with one more slash, my life would have been forfeit.
Seeing Hall Master Xing's face pale as earth, Qu Xiangfeng cupped his fists and said, "I concede."
Hall Master Xing returned the salute. "I am impressed. Truly impressed."