Black Glory Ward, East Prosperity Street.
Fire Ox brought Wei Sheng, Che Zhenzhong, and Niu Yong to a residence with three successive courtyards at the end of the street.
High above the entrance hung a plaque bearing two characters-Weiyuan!
This was one of Weiyuan Hall's branches in the Outer City.
On either side of the gate stood a Third Refinement gang member in a short blue tunic, with a pattern of three white fish embroidered on his chest.
"Tsk, tsk... using Third Refinement experts as gatekeepers..."
Wei Sheng clicked his tongue in wonder, thinking that this was only to be expected of Weiyuan Hall's master.
Fire Ox could not obtain the Third Refinement experts he sought, yet Black Tiger used them to guard his gate.
"Brother Fire Ox!"
At the sight of Fire Ox, the two Third Refinement gatekeepers hurriedly called out.
Fire Ox nodded. "How many have arrived?"
"Brother Shanjia is already here. You're the second. We're still waiting for Brother Violent Bear and Brother Biao!"
"Hmph, that Violent Bear certainly puts on airs."
Fire Ox sneered and stepped into the courtyard, with Wei Sheng and the other two close behind.
After watching them enter, the two gatekeepers lowered their voices.
"There doesn't seem to be anyone at the Third Refinement with Brother Fire Ox. Could he be giving up on this selection of the Five Tiger Generals?"
"I heard he originally had a Third Refinement expert named Xiao Ran... he got caught up in the case of the Eldest Master of the Hong Family's death and was crippled by the Hong Family Guard Team... it all happened so suddenly that he had no time to train a second Third Refinement expert."
"No wonder he was so angry just now. I heard the rumor that Xiao Ran murdered the Eldest Master of the Hong Family seemed to have come from Violent Bear's men."
The residence was enormous.
The first courtyard alone, just beyond the entrance, was twice the size of Fire Ox's outer courtyard.
The second courtyard was even more spacious, like a basketball court.
The paths within it stood out clearly, paved in blue bricks in the shape of a cross. They served as both walkways and dividing lines, splitting the vast courtyard into four sections.
The left and right arms of the cross led to the eastern and western side rooms.
The bottom led to the entrance of the second courtyard, while the top ran straight to the main building.
A jujube tree grew in each of the four divided corners.
The courtyard was empty except for several people standing in the rear left corner.
Had Wei Sheng not noticed Fire Ox turning his head early, even he might not have spotted them.
They were positioned right in a blind spot.
Damn!
Hiding yourselves so well-who are you trying to assassinate?
Their leader was a middle-aged man who looked like a merchant and smiled at everyone. Beside him stood a fat man in brocade robes.
Brocade-Furred Rat!
The identity of a middle-aged merchant who could have Brocade-Furred Rat guarding his side went without saying.
Shanjia!
One of the Five Tiger Generals under Black Tiger, responsible for gathering intelligence and skilled in defense.
"Fire Ox, you took your time!"
Seeing Fire Ox look his way, Shanjia could not help saying with a smile.
"You still have the same old habit. All this space, and you insist on huddling in a corner like this."
"Heh heh, I'm used to it."
Despite his words, Shanjia showed no intention of coming out.
Fire Ox said no more and led Wei Sheng and the other two to the rear right corner.
Shanjia smiled without speaking. His gaze swept over Wei Sheng and the other two, then lingered no further.
Brocade-Furred Rat, however, nodded to the three of them in greeting.
After that came wordless silence.
The awkward atmosphere did not last long before more people entered.
Judging by the noise, there seemed to be quite a few of them.
Sure enough.
Two groups entered the courtyard one after another.
There were only two men at the very front.
Leading the way was a lean young man of medium build, unkempt and resembling a wild man, with eyes that held a faint golden hue.
Yet-
Both the smiling Shanjia and Fire Ox, who stood with folded arms and a cold gaze, grew solemn at the sight of him and called out, "Brother Biao!"
Golden-Eyed Biao!
The foremost expert under Black Tiger, and the only one among the Five Tigers to have reached Tendon Refinement!
He was also Black Tiger's adopted son!
"Mm."
Golden-Eyed Biao nodded expressionlessly, walked straight to the jujube tree beside the eastern side rooms, and leaned against it.
Following him all the while was a young man with a leopard-like head and round eyes. He was not tall, but his whole body exuded a tough, capable air.
He was none other than Ximen Bao, the Third Refinement expert under Golden-Eyed Biao!
Once there, Ximen Bao stood in attendance behind Golden-Eyed Biao without a word.
A full six men followed them in!
Their leader was an exceptionally burly, dark-skinned man two meters tall.
At first glance, he looked like a wild bear walking upright, exerting an intense sense of pressure.
He was Violent Bear, one of the Five Tiger Generals.
Of those behind Violent Bear, the most conspicuous was a delicate-looking boy of thirteen or fourteen.
His eyes were dull, and he looked utterly unremarkable. Never mind comparing him with a vicious gang member like Black Vajra, who looked dangerous at a glance-even an ordinary gang member like Cao Defa was more intimidating than him.
Yet-
Both Brocade-Furred Rat and Ximen Bao, standing behind Golden-Eyed Biao, grew solemn at the sight of the delicate-looking boy, as though facing a formidable enemy.
Huang Man'er!
A martial arts prodigy!
Violent Bear's prized subordinate!
He was also the seeded candidate with the best chance of taking first place among the Third Refinement experts competing in this selection of the Five Tiger Generals!
"Violent Bear!!"
Fire Ox's eyes turned cold at the sight of him.
"Oh, isn't this my good brother Fire Ox? Why don't I see Xiao Ran?"
With a broad smile, Violent Bear glanced at the three men behind Fire Ox and asked a question whose answer he already knew.
Fire Ox's face darkened. "Violent Bear, I haven't come after you yet, and you still have the nerve to ask? Were you fanning the flames behind the scenes when Xiao Ran got into trouble?"
"Did everyone see that? He's shlandering me! Slandering me!!"
Violent Bear pointed at Fire Ox, making his accusation with an aggrieved expression.
Shanjia and Golden-Eyed Biao merely watched the show, neither offering a word.
"Slander? Of the four of us, you're the one who most enjoys shooting arrows from the shadows... who else could it have been?!"
Fire Ox said coldly.
"You couldn't protect your own underling, and you still have the nerve to blame me? Then again, of the four Tiger Generals, you're the only one without a Third Refinement expert under you, just a pack of useless trash. As the leader of that trash, all you can do is rage helplessly! Hahaha..."
Violent Bear's face was full of mockery.
At these words, Niu Yong and Che Zhenzhong both looked extremely displeased, but neither dared voice his anger. Wei Sheng remained expressionless, merely giving Violent Bear a long look.
"You're courting death!"
Fire Ox's long-suppressed fury was thoroughly ignited, and he was about to attack.
Suddenly-
Golden-Eyed Biao, who had been leaning against the jujube tree watching the show, abruptly straightened and bowed toward the courtyard entrance.
Shanjia's smile vanished. He hurriedly led Brocade-Furred Rat and the others out of their corner to a conspicuous spot and likewise bowed toward the entrance.
Wei Sheng held Fire Ox back. Seeing Golden-Eyed Biao's and Shanjia's reactions, Fire Ox also realized something. He glared coldly at Violent Bear, then bowed with Wei Sheng and the other two.
Violent Bear did the same!
Soon-
A group walked in.
The three men at the front all carried themselves with imposing dignity and an oppressive presence. Most striking was the white-haired, middle-aged man in the center, wearing a white, front-buttoned riding jacket. He was like a crouching tiger, his bearing intimidating, radiating an invisible pressure.
"Tiger Lord!!"
The four Tiger Generals all lowered their heads and bowed.
"Mm."
Black Tiger nodded and walked straight inside. The gang members behind him swiftly brought over three chairs and placed them before the Main Hall's doors.
Black Tiger?
What was black about him?
Wei Sheng stole a glance.
The middle-aged man in black robes to his left, with his stern, unsmiling face and intimidating gaze, looked more like a Black Tiger than he did.
To Black Tiger's right was a young man in white, with white crane patterns embroidered on his collar and cuffs.
Having practiced the White Crane Skin Refinement Method, Wei Sheng was no stranger to that pattern.
White Crane Martial Arts Hall?!
Before you continue