The sky was overcast, and the snow was pale.
Spring in the north was suffocated by a chilly atmosphere.
A lone rider galloped past, leaving a trail of swirling snowflakes.
The ancient snow road was thus marked with a deep hoofprint.
The horse galloped swiftly like the wind, the snow dust fell like a dream, and the rider, a man in a blue robe with a cold expression, was even more striking. Though his eyebrows were frozen by frost and snow, and though the lining of his cloak, which should have been blood-red, was now stained and darkened by the weariness of the journey, it could not conceal the vibrant life force within his forlorn and mocking expression—his eyes were dark yet burning. In this twilight, with heavy snow falling, on such a muddy and difficult road, where was he going? What was he doing?
Nobody knows. But if someone does recognize him and knows the purpose of his trip, the news will surely shock the martial arts world.
Because—there is a type of person who never leaves the mountains, but when they do, it's enough to cause a sensation in the martial arts world.
The horse, weary from its long journey, reared up and neighed loudly upon seeing its master's joy. For a moment, man and horse neighed in harmony across the vast, icy landscape of Liaodong. The man on horseback, with his long breath, continued his neighing for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before finally stopping. Once the sound ceased, he patted the horse's neck and sneered, "Horse, horse, run faster! We'll show those upright gentlemen what good it will do them to force me out of the mountains again!"
"How many years has it been—" the man on horseback coldly curled his lips—who still remembers me? His black horse, Wuzhui, hadn't galloped so spiritedly in years. But even if I had truly sheathed my sword and let my horse graze freely, would this world truly be at peace? Suddenly, the man on horseback raised his head and let out a long, resonant roar. His voice was powerful and high-pitched, its energy soaring and unrestrained in the dry, cold air, yet beneath the surface, there seemed to be a hidden, tearing pain.
Xinglongji was a large market town in Liaodong, but with such a fierce blizzard, the streets were practically deserted. Everyone was huddled indoors, their houses covered with thick cotton curtains. As a major thoroughfare town, it received many travelers from the north and south, and to keep warm, most had sought refuge in restaurants and inns, where they would often enjoy a few sips of strong liquor. And once the liquor was in, the conversation naturally flowed more freely.
The "Hu Ji" restaurant at the south end of Xinglong Market was bustling with business, its fourteen or fifteen tables all full. —In the Liaodong region, bedrooms are heated by kang beds in winter, while restaurants of a certain size use stoves in the main hall. The air was thick with the smells of dampness, alcohol, and oil, plus the acrid odor of newly arrived guests who had leaned too close to the stoves to escape the cold. Xinglong Market was inherently dirty and chaotic, but if you had walked down from a vast expanse of white spring snow stretching for dozens of miles, even the dirtiest and most chaotic place would seem much better than that snowy field—this filth and chaos, ironically, added a touch of liveliness to this otherwise rough market.
Just then, a rough, hoarse voice chuckled, "Hey, Zhao, you're here too. It's so cold, who are you planning to call to warm your feet tonight?"
Before he could finish speaking, the hall erupted in laughter. Zhao, the man being laughed at, could only awkwardly rub his hands, speechless. He was a seasoned merchant who traveled through three provinces, usually shrewd and honest, except for a humiliating experience in Xinglong Market two years ago. That March, due to a flood on the Liao River, he was stranded in Xinglong Market for nearly half a month. During that time, he was bewitched by the top courtesan of the "Yicui Tower," Po Tiancui, and ended up being stranded for three months. He spent countless amounts of money on wine, jewelry, and silver, only to end up with nothing, becoming a complete sucker and the laughingstock of the entire place. He almost couldn't get home after running out of money, only managing to escape thanks to his familiarity with the area and the help of a close friend who settled his debts at the brothel. —The speaker meant no harm, just trying to soothe his sore spot and amuse everyone.
The man called Zhao Tou'er was actually only in his thirties. Because he was usually reliable, he had formed a business partnership with more than a dozen people, which earned him that nickname. At this moment, he felt embarrassed, and a plan quickly came to mind.
He recalled a news article, chuckled, and knew that he could easily divert everyone's attention from his much-discussed matter by simply opening his mouth. Instead of answering the person who had been teasing him, he said to one of his young companions, "Warm feet? We don't have that luxury. In this awful weather, having a place to sit and have a couple of sips of strong liquor is already a blessing. Do you know that while we're sitting here, 'Liaobantian' Hero Hu and 'Haidongqing's' leader haven't been idle; they're freezing in the snow."
As soon as he finished speaking, he poured himself another cup of wine from the flask and slowly drank it. Despite his quiet nature, he seemed to know everything that was happening in these three provinces. Everyone knew he had many friends and a wide network of sources, and they always trusted him. So, when he suddenly uttered this remark, they were all stunned. They were all out on the move, and it was always good to know about any news, however slight. Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, those who heard him fell silent—there were only a few dozen people in the hall, and half of them suddenly became quiet. This silence was unusual, and others immediately noticed. At first, some people, not knowing what was going on, made jokes, but seeing everyone suddenly sit up straight and look serious, they swallowed back the jokes they had already uttered. Then, a more refined guest asked quietly, "Are you sure you're not mistaken? What are they doing out here in this cold weather? Did they run into each other?"
It's no wonder everyone was worried. The roads in Liaodong had been relatively peaceful these past few years, thanks to that man known as Manager Hu, Hu Bantian. Liaodong originally had several notorious bandit gangs, but they all later fell under the command of Manager Hu, a man from Jinzhou known as "Liaodong Half-Sky." This Manager Hu's real name was Hu Bantian, but because he loved to talk, he was nicknamed "Liaodong Half-Sky"—a homophone for "chatting for half a day," a playful reference to his ability to talk for half a day, yet also implying that his power covered half the sky of Liaodong.
He was a powerful figure in the bandit world, originally a one-legged thief. He always conducted business with wealthy and powerful families, rarely getting involved in underworld disputes, which earned him respect in Liaodong. Whether in the underworld or the legitimate world, people invariably sought his mediation when trouble arose. Over time, he became the de facto leader of the bandit alliance in Liaodong, the overlord of the region. However, he was generally kind-hearted and showed some compassion for the small-time traders and timber merchants. Therefore, he issued a decree that those who frequently traveled this route should pay a certain amount of tribute annually, in exchange for him settling accounts with the notorious bandits on several mountain strongholds along the way and ensuring their safety. And he truly kept his word.
But the "Haidongqing"...
Just then, the oldest guest among the group of Shanxi cloth merchants spoke up and asked, "Brother Zhao, are they really going to meet? — This is no joke. Do you know which road they're going to fight on?"
Zhao rolled his eyes, about to retort, "When have I, Zhao, ever lied?" But when he turned around and saw that the person asking the question was the old Shanxi customer who had helped him when he was down on his luck, he quickly straightened up and replied, "I heard it with my own ears—I have several heads, even if I dare to joke around with you all, would I dare to joke about those two gentlemen?"
The old man nodded repeatedly, while a timid person beside him trembled with fear, saying in a trembling voice:
"So—they—aren't—going to—fight—each other?"
After asking that question, he was so frightened that he slid down to the chair, licking his lips repeatedly. But no one laughed at him.
Those who hadn't heard the first sentence couldn't help but mutter under their breath, "Who, who's going to fight?" Upon hearing that it was "Liao Bantian" and "Hai Dongqing," they immediately felt their mouths go dry—good heavens, if these two guys were to meet, the Liaodong region would be turned upside down!
Suddenly, the curtain outside was abruptly swung open, followed by the hotel door being flung open with a thud. A gust of icy wind swept in, causing the lamplight to flicker and everyone to shiver. The waiter looked up and saw two people barge in. At first glance, their attire seemed ordinary, but upon closer inspection, one wore a fox fur coat, and the other a grey sheepskin coat, though the fabric covering their faces was plain. The fox fur coat had a ring of fine white fur peeking out from the collar and cuffs, indicating a person of high status; the other coat had a ring of grey fur peeking out from the cuffs, but it was ordinary grey sheepskin, presumably the servant of the first man.
Their manner of entering would normally have drawn criticism, but no one in the hall seemed to care. They glanced back coldly before turning away again. The first boy to barge in was only fifteen or sixteen, with a roguish look, dark golden skin, furrowed brows, and handsome features. He possessed a shrewish air, which, combined with his swagger, made him even more lively and interesting. As soon as he entered, he crossed his arms and cursed the weather. The young man who followed him was much more refined. He was barely twenty, thin, and the dim light where he stood obscured his features, though a hint of melancholy seemed to linger between his brows. The two appeared to be master and servant. Both were young, clearly from within the Great Wall.
The young man who barged in first was anything but well-behaved. He immediately started picking at tables and calling for waiters, his noise louder than a whole herd of mules. Everyone was eager to hear news about Hu Bantian and 'Hai Dongqing,' and his commotion made it impossible for them to continue. Several people became dissatisfied and turned to yell at him, but hesitated after glancing at the young man who looked like a young master. The rather refined young man probably sensed this too and scolded his noisy follower, "Little rascal, can't you calm down a bit?"
Although the boy named Xiao Ku'er looked lazy, he seemed to obey his young master's words. Sure enough, he became much quieter and said with a grin, "Young master, you've kept me quiet all the way. Let Xiao Ku'er speak."
The young man seemed helpless against him. Then he saw the little boy had already ordered the food, wiped his chopsticks with his sleeve, handed them to his master, and said with a grin, "Young master, why has it been so quiet on our journey? We haven't encountered a single bandit, not even a petty thief. Where have all the outlaws of Liaodong gone?"
The boy rolled his eyes at him and said, "You're just looking for trouble. Who doesn't want to be safe when they go out? Why would you want to run into a thief? Are you tired of living?"
The little boy chuckled: "That's right, but didn't that fortune teller Lu Banxian say that you're currently destined for a love affair and will face a 'rouge calamity'? I'm always thinking that we'll run into some kind of female bandit, wicked woman, or 'Rouge Tiger' on the road, and then it'll be quite a lively and fun affair."
He chuckled after speaking. The young master's face flushed slightly, and a hint of anger flashed across his face. The little boy, already aware of the situation, shrank back and, before the young man could react, cheerfully interrupted, "Young master, look, the dishes are served. Please eat first, lest they get cold." The young man stopped talking and picked up his chopsticks to eat, but his mind was clearly not on the food. He seemed to be preoccupied with something, his brows furrowed in gloom. The little boy, however, looked at him with a hint of pity in his eyes.
By this time, the crowd was already bombarding Zhao with questions: "Where are they meeting? Are they really going to fight? This is a huge mess!"
It's important to understand that while the Hai Dongqing bandits were a relatively new group, small in number, their men were surprisingly skilled, quickly gaining notoriety within two years. Originally operating only in western Liaoning, they had somehow gradually moved towards eastern Liaoning. Manager Hu, ever the ruthless one, couldn't tolerate such a powerful rival, and clashes between the two sides had been frequent in recent years. It's said that in the battle at Changbai Mountain alone, the Hai Dongqing's "Sky-Turning Hawk" Lu Xiaokong suffered heavy losses in a fight with Hu Bantian's sworn brother, Long Jianxi, resulting in nearly a hundred casualties for Long Jianxi. This deepened the animosity between the two sides. Because of this, the roads in the Liaodong region had become increasingly turbulent in the past two years. Savvy travelers feared that the leaders of both sides might actually break off relations and fight, making the road truly difficult to traverse. When news broke that Manager Hu and the Hai Dongqing's never-before-seen leader had met in such cold weather, everyone guessed that this was no small matter. He thought to himself: If the underworld is thrown into chaos, petty thieves will take the opportunity to stir up trouble, and then it will be these honest businessmen who suffer the most.
A flurry of activity filled the hotel as people huddled in small groups, discussing the news they had just heard and speculating whether Hai Dongqing or Hu Bantian would prevail. No one noticed that Zhao Tou'er poured himself another cup of wine, muttering to himself, "Earth, return to your home; water, return to your ravine; insects, do not act; grass and trees, return to their marshes… Why did my father say that once these words were uttered, the martial world would be thrown into chaos, and that I should quickly do business for two years before leaving the city? What do these two sentences mean? — Was it really these two sentences that I vaguely heard yesterday at Mao'ergang?"
But then someone, growing impatient with the previous topic, shouted, "Who cares who wins or loses? We're all going to get hurt anyway, so what difference does it make? Drinking is the real deal!" The others weren't so magnanimous, but considering the turbulent times they lived in, they had no other choice. For a moment, except for a few particularly preoccupied individuals, the others refused to dwell on those unpleasant matters. Just then, a rough, boisterous voice asked, "Big Six, haven't seen your brother in ages! Where has he gone?"
Everyone looked at Da Liu'er, who was a big, dark-skinned, and simple-minded man. He just grinned but didn't say anything. The others, even more eager to get him to talk, asked, "Did you and your brother fight again?"
Although Da Liu'er was simple-minded, he had a very close relationship with his brother. Seeing that everyone suspected that the two brothers had fought, he hurriedly spoke up to explain, "That's not true—our brother had a stroke of good luck a couple of days ago, and he's going to make a lot of money."
After saying that, he looked rather smug. Seeing his 憨态 (simple and honest) manner, some of the crowd couldn't help but laugh.
The gruff voice asked, "What good thing has happened to your brother? Is he about to make a 'big' fortune?"
He deliberately emphasized the word "big," intending to mock him, but Da Liu'er had no idea—he and his brother were rickshaw pullers for the well-known chain "Lu Family Cart Company" outside the Great Wall, making a living by driving carts. Although the two brothers were simple-minded, they took good care of the animals, were hardworking, and didn't haggle over money, so they had an exceptionally good reputation among merchants traveling to the Northeast. But everyone also knew he was a poor man, and whenever someone gave them a penny or two, the two brothers would be overjoyed, always wanting to know how "big" a sum of money it was.
Da Liu'er, oblivious to the mockery of the crowd, continued excitedly, "That person said that as long as you bring the item, he'll be very generous to the person who receives it, and he'll reward them with at least a thousand taels of silver."
Everyone burst into laughter. A thousand taels of silver—Da Liu'er wouldn't see that much even in a lifetime. Some guessed that some unscrupulous fellow was trying to scam the two brothers out of their money. The brothers had suffered similar losses countless times over the years, but never learned their lesson. Someone then asked with a laugh, "Who asked you to deliver it? Where is it being delivered?"
Da Liu glanced at the person who asked the question and said bluntly, "Who is he? Neither my brother nor I recognize him. He's a young man, no, a monk—I've never seen anyone so handsome before!"
Those who heard this were taken aback and asked, "A monk?"
The man said, "Yes, he doesn't seem to be from around here. He must be from inside the Great Wall. He doesn't speak our dialect either. He has a soft accent that sounds very pleasant."
Someone already laughed and said, "Since he's a monk, what could he possibly give as a gift? A begging bowl or a certificate of ordination? Most likely, it's worthless. And what generous people does he know who would give your brother a thousand taels of silver? I'm afraid your brother will end up being asked for alms on this trip."
Everyone in the room laughed. Someone asked, "Where are you sending your brother? You're not sending him to Shanhaiguan, are you?"
It should be noted that Lu Laoda, the owner of Lu Ji Car Dealership, also knew that the two brothers, Da Liu and Da Liu, were a bit simple-minded, so he rarely let them travel long distances. In addition, people outside the Great Wall were honest and simple, and they always thought that people inside the Great Wall were cunning by nature. The farthest the brothers drove was Shanhaiguan.
That big guy said with a proud look, "How could it be so close? Earning other people's money can't be that easy. Of course, you have to put in the effort! He said he was going to some place in Shaanxi, but he didn't tell me the exact location. He only told my brother and made him swear not to tell anyone else. I didn't dare to ask, so I don't know."
Those with experience had already sensed something was amiss. Everyone was also surprised, for the furthest among them came from Shanxi and Shandong. It was already rare to see a traveler from Jiangsu or Zhejiang on this route. Da Liu'er's brother had never traveled far before, yet he was going all the way to Gansu and Shaanxi. No wonder everyone was astonished.
Some well-meaning people already sensed something was amiss. They hurriedly asked, "You really sent your brother? And your brother actually believed him? What exactly did he send someone all this way to deliver? Explain the whole process to everyone so they can help you figure it out—your brother might have been scammed. If you don't find out soon, he might never come back!"
Seeing the serious expression on the speaker's face, Da Liu'er became nervous and stammered, unable to utter a word.
A kind person poured him a glass of water and said, "Drink this and then tell me slowly." He took a sip, choked, and coughed for a while before finally stopping. He then said, "I didn't give you anything, just a small feather."
Everyone was stunned as his explanation became increasingly unclear. Da Liu'er, who wasn't very eloquent to begin with, only managed a rough outline after a long pause. He said, "That day, my brother and I were washing our horses at the mouth of the Liusha River. My brother's horse was better cared for than mine, tall and strong. I was praising it as we washed it when suddenly I noticed my brother's eyes widen. I followed his gaze and saw him staring at a ferry crossing. It was evening, the river was frozen over, and the ferry was deserted. I saw a white-robed monk standing there. I've seen many monks, but I've never seen one like him."
Monks are usually quite dirty, like the ones at Ganye Temple in my hometown; they always smell of incense ash. But he was different. The spring snow was melting, leaving a patch of black mud, but his white robes didn't seem to be dusty at all. The cloth was very soft and fine, making him look incredibly clean. I've never seen such a clean person in my entire life. I don't know when he arrived; my brother and I must have been there before him, because there was no one at the ferry when we came. But somehow, he started standing there, and we heard him sigh from afar.
"
As he spoke, Da Liu sighed, mimicking his voice as softly as he could. Although his imitation was far from perfect, the others could still discern a hint of what he meant, showing how deeply the events of that day had left on him. He continued, "A moment later, he turned around. Against the sunlight, I couldn't see his face. He seemed to really like horses, looking at each of my and my brothers' six horses one by one, and sighing, 'They're good horses. With horses like these, we could probably reach Shaanxi in twenty days.'"
"My brother adores his horse. He gets excited whenever someone praises it. He asked, 'Where is Shaanxi?' I saw the monk smile but didn't answer. My brother then insisted that he ride his horse to test its strength."
Everyone smiled slightly, thinking that the two brothers, Da Liu and Da Liu, were quite honest; someone had only casually praised them, and they insisted that the other person try the horse. Da Liu continued, "He was facing my brother, backlit, so I couldn't see his face, but when he reached out and took the reins, I was stunned—I'd never seen such a delicate hand before. He must be no ordinary person. He just smiled and said, 'I'm injured and can't ride anymore, and I don't like riding. Buddha said: All beings are equal. How can a monk like me ride it? I just want this horse to do me a favor.' Then he looked at my brother very intently, as if trying to determine if my brother was reliable." "My brother was stunned by his gaze. After a long while, the monk spoke again: 'I see you are an honest man. Can you do me a favor? — Deliver a message for me, and also bring some things. This is very important to me, a matter of life and death. As long as you deliver the things, it will be a life-saving act. The person who receives the things is not a rich man, but he is quite generous. You have helped me so much, he will surely reward you with a thousand taels of silver. Of course, you may also ask for something else.' My brother was stunned. To be honest, for no other reason than the man himself, if the distance wasn't too far, my brother would probably deliver it even without payment. For some reason, I just felt he was a good person. My brother asked him what he was delivering, and he stood there for a while before taking out a feather from his robes. It was three inches long, black, very light and soft, like the feather of a swan, and said: 'This is what I'm delivering.'" He looked at the feather with a peculiar expression, as if it were a rare and precious object. My brother didn't know what he wanted the feather for, but he didn't dare ask—I didn't know why he had agreed so readily either. However, if it were me, I probably would have agreed too; a thousand taels of silver! I believed he wouldn't lie to us; he didn't seem like a conman. Early the next morning, my brother set off with three of his best horses, because according to the monk, they needed to deliver the goods without stopping, changing horses but not riders along the way.
Everyone was stunned, feeling that the matter was very strange, but no one could put their finger on what was wrong.
After a long pause, someone finally closed their mouth and asked, "Did your brother really give it to you?"
Da Liu nodded blankly, "Yes, I promised to deliver it!"
Some shook their heads, others nodded. Some said the Big Six brothers were foolish, others said their actions were old-fashioned, and perhaps they really would have good fortune this time. But then Zhao Tou'er coughed and said, "Sending a feather from a thousand miles away, sending a feather from a thousand miles away... Heh heh, surely no one would actually joke like that?"
His words left everyone feeling uneasy, and the young master and servant at the other table seemed to take it to heart as well. The young master remained silent, but then the little boy said, "Young master, I think this is a bit strange. Sending a feather from a thousand miles away—is there such a custom in the martial arts world? It sounds odd. I'm afraid that monk is no ordinary person; he must have some background."
The young master frowned and thought for a moment, his eyes filled with confusion. He said, "Could it be that another eminent monk from Shaolin Temple has emerged from seclusion?"
"The one in white must be a disciple of the lowest rank; they wouldn't act like this." Little Ku'er was worried about her young master's tendency to overthink things, always deliberating before acting, which made him unhappy. Wanting to distract him, she whispered with a smile, "Young master, didn't that fortune teller Lu say that only a monk could resolve your 'Red Phoenix Calamity'? Could it be him?"
The young master frowned, but before he could speak, another lewd man laughed, "Big Six, your brother made so much money all of a sudden, aren't you envious? Will he share half with you? Now you two brothers are so lucky, you can both get married and won't have to stay up all night as bachelors anymore! It's just that you're too stupid, you've met such a once-in-a-century rich man, didn't you ask him for any benefits?"
Big Six just chuckled sheepishly. Others teased him, "Didn't he give you a hundred or so taels of silver as a reward so you could make some too? You just saw the pigs running, but ended up not even getting a single hair to eat?"
The man with the big, silly grin said, "That monk also taught me a saying. He told me that if I memorized it, and sold it to the richest, most powerful, and most influential person in Jinzhou City with connections to the martial arts world, it would definitely be worth a fortune, enough for me to live on for the rest of my life." After saying this, he sighed and said, "However, people's hearts are not what they used to be. If you want to earn this money, you'll be taking a huge risk. You might even lose your life. You'd better not try!"
'"
The expressions of the master and servant on the other side turned serious, knowing that there must be something more to this. Some people nearby were listening as if it were a joke, asking, "What is it? Read it to me. One sentence is worth so much silver, enough for you to live on for a lifetime? -- Then we don't need to do business, we can just learn to say this sentence."
Da Liu scratched his head: "He only said it once, and I didn't remember it. I only heard something about soil, water, insects and stuff..."
Some people in the room couldn't help but stroke their beards and smile, while Zhao, the headman, involuntarily exclaimed "Ah!" with a look of surprise on his face. Before anyone could say anything, a man suddenly stood up and shouted, "What soil, water, insects? Explain yourself! What are you talking about?!"
The speaker was quite a big guy. Da Liu'er was startled by his shout. The man had been sleeping soundly at the table in a corner with his head covered, and no one had noticed him. But when he stood up, it startled everyone.
He was eight feet tall, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted. Even Da Liu'er, who was already considered tall, was half a head shorter than him. Half of the man's face was covered by a large, dark purple birthmark, which covered both his eyebrows and eyes.
His accent was unclear, and it was impossible to tell where he was from; his appearance was quite fierce. His shout alone, coupled with his angry entrance, was enough to send shivers down everyone's spines. The burly man continued shouting, "Isn't he saying—'Earth, return to your home; water, return to your ravine; insects, cease their activity; grass and trees, return to their marshes!'"
Da Liu'er was silenced by his imposing manner and nodded involuntarily, saying, "It seems to be just a few sentences."
But then the big man laughed loudly, "Haha, it's like finding a needle in a haystack! Good heavens, I, Old Zhan, have actually found it! -- Good grandson, you've really made some money this time, come with me."
As he spoke, he walked over, extended a giant hand, and grabbed at Da Liu'er. Da Liu'er was a large man with considerable strength, weighing at least two hundred pounds, but his body was lifted up as lightly as a straw by this grab. Several people who wanted to reason with the big man, seeing his posture, opened their mouths but dared not utter a sound. The big man seemed extremely excited, laughing incessantly. There were many people in the hall, and he didn't have time to push through the crowd. He simply lifted Da Liu'er's body with one hand and leaped up, carrying Da Liu'er's massive body, directly over the tables where the guests were seated. When he was about to leap over the table where the master and servant were sitting, the boy called Xiao Ku'er snorted, pointed a finger at the big man's sole, but his master gently shook his head at him, gesturing towards the door. Xiao Ku'er was startled, then understood, and stopped.
The burly man leaped and bounded to the door. He opened it and rushed out, and everyone watched his retreating figure, wondering what fate awaited Da Liu after he was taken away. The seasoned merchants already knew that Da Liu had overheard a secret of the martial world, a major taboo for those in business, who could easily lose their lives and fortune. They couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Suddenly, everyone in the room gasped in surprise. The man who had abducted Da Liu'er was standing in the doorway, seemingly in no hurry to leave, but rather swaying back and forth. He was so large he almost blocked half the doorway; when the curtain was lifted, the darkness outside was overwhelming, making everyone somewhat uneasy. The man then swayed left and right, constantly shifting back and forth in the doorway, making everyone dizzy.
A cold wind blew in, chilling the room and causing the candlelight to flicker. Everyone wondered what he was up to, why he was just standing there by the door. The burly man dodged a few times, then, growing impatient, yelled, "Damn it!" and stumbled backward, heading straight for the window on his left. But just as he reached the window, he suddenly froze. The sudden stop was so abrupt that the sound of his boots splitting could be heard. Then he slowly retreated, his face grim, until he reached the doorway, and hissed, "Who are you, daring to block my way? Show yourself!"
Only then did everyone realize that he had been blocked when he went out. Who could possibly stop such a large man? They all looked towards the door. After a while, a slow, leisurely chuckled from outside the door: "Mr. Yu—is your surname really Yu?"
The murder of thirty-three members of the Lu Family Escort Agency three years ago wasn't committed by someone surnamed Yu. A true man should be bold and responsible; has Brother Zhan really become a coward after committing that crime? And has he gone into hiding under an assumed name? No wonder there's been a certain Yu making a name for himself in Liaodong lately; it turns out it's Brother Zhan. —If my old eyes aren't deceiving me, you must be the Black Gatekeeper Zhan Kuhua, right?
"
The burly man inside the door changed his expression slightly and shouted, "Who are you? So what if my surname is Zhan!"
The person outside the door spoke softly: "Never mind who I am. Are you really Zhan Kuhua, the 'Black Gatekeeper' who caused such a stir in Jinyang City three years ago with a bloody case? The Lu family of thirty-three people was murdered. His disciples are looking for you. This grudge has nothing to do with me, but your hiding in Liaodong Road might be related to me."
If you had behaved yourself while hiding in Liaodong, out of consideration for our shared lineage, I wouldn't have said anything. But you actually resorted to violence right under Manager Hu's nose. If I, Dong Banpiao, didn't speak up, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to explain myself to my boss.
The "Black Gatekeeper" suddenly realized what was going on and chuckled, "I should have realized it sooner. With such a large establishment like 'Hu's Restaurant' located at the entrance of such a big town, doing this kind of business, even if it's not Manager Hu's capital, it must have some connection to him. I really messed up in the wrong place. But, I haven't offended any of Manager Hu's people. Are you going to stand up for this Da Liu'er too?"
Upon hearing the name Dong Banpiao, nearly half the people in the shop were terrified. In the Liaodong region, everyone knew that Dong Banpiao was the right-hand man of Manager Hu, Hu Bantian. Hu Bantian was a one-legged bandit who never took on disciples; his power was all built for him by Dong Banpiao. The Liaodong "Five Phoenix Blades"—not exactly a small sect, but also Manager Hu's birthplace—had become disorganized after the death of its previous leader, "Winged Blade" Xu Gongren, but Hu Bantian had been managing it. However, Hu Bantian disliked tedious matters and entrusted them all to Dong Banpiao. Later, the "Five Phoenix Blades" became renowned, and the men under Dong Banpiao's command accounted for a large portion of Manager Hu's fortune.
Dong Banpiao himself wasn't originally from the "Five Phoenix Sabers" school. It's said that he took over the "Five Phoenix Sabers" to repay a debt of gratitude owed to him. Over the years, under his management, the "Five Phoenix Sabers" school produced exceptionally talented disciples, with most of the bodyguards and guards in the Liaodong area coming from its ranks. Even Hu Bantian himself said, "In terms of martial arts alone, even if I could defeat Brother Dong by a single move, I would never be as willing to risk my life for him; as for handling internal affairs, he is many times better than me," demonstrating how highly he valued Dong Banpiao.
Those who travel the streets to make a living are well-informed, and some even know that Dong Banpiao comes from the "Tianqin Sect." His "Mengdong Fist" once won a jar of aged wine from Zhiqing, a senior elder of Shaolin Temple, which shows that he is no ordinary person.
But despite the rumors, this Mr. Dong was always a man of few words, and it was even harder to meet him than to meet Manager Hu. No one in the room had ever seen him in person, so everyone couldn't help but be curious and looked towards the door.
After a while, Dong Banpiao coughed and asked wearily, "Is everyone on high alert?"
Only then did they hear echoes from all four windows: "We've held out, don't worry."
Only then did everyone realize that he had waited so long to make meticulous arrangements. They were quite puzzled; was it worth it for a mere black doorkeeper?
The black-faced gatekeeper grinned maliciously and sneered, "Stop pretending. If you can keep me here, you'll be left with me too; if you can't, what good are your bastards?"
He was telling the truth. The cotton curtain at the door had long been drawn, leaving only the door open. Suddenly, the curtain was lifted, and a person entered. This person was ordinary and unremarkable. If the crowd hadn't already heard of his name, they probably wouldn't have guessed that this thin old man was Dong Banpiao, the notorious bandit leader of Liaodong, whose every stomp of his foot caused a stir, and the second-in-command of the "Liaobantian" faction. He wore a worn-out, grayish-blue cotton robe, sported a small, unremarkable goatee, and had some dark soot stains on his clothes. He had dim, yellowish eyes and droopy eyebrows, and was thin and small, looking more like a decrepit old man than a chivalrous hero.
He entered the house without even glancing at the "black door god," then leisurely closed the door himself, carefully lifting a large bolt to secure it. Seeing the effort he put into lifting that thick bolt, everyone was truly baffled as to how he had managed to stop such a formidable figure, as wide as a door, at the very entrance.
The 'Black Gatekeeper' looked nervous and said, "Cars have their roads, and boats have theirs. I, the Black Gatekeeper, have neither offended the Hu family nor harmed any of your family members. What right do you have to stop me?"
Dong Banpiao chuckled: "You know perfectly well why our boss and Hai Dongqing are meeting right now. Such a big matter, such earth-shattering news, and it hasn't even been revealed yet. Do you think you, a reckless brute, would ruin it? Hehe, 'Earth returns to its home; water returns to its ravine.' Your mistake was hearing that saying and pretending not to know. Otherwise, if you hadn't shown your face, I really wouldn't have known there was a hero of the martial world here."
As he spoke, he glanced around the window again and said expressionlessly, "If I don't keep you here, you'll go out and make a scene, and the whole world will know about the 'evil monk's' whereabouts. Heh heh, then I'll really have a hard time explaining it to my master."
The little boy's expression changed, and he whispered to his young master, "Young master, what is a 'demon monk'?"
His young master also shook his head, indicating that he did not know. But both of them knew that this one sentence of incantation could cause these heroes of the martial world to fight each other, which showed that he was no ordinary person.
Knowing there was no way to resolve the situation peacefully, the "Black Gatekeeper" slowly released Da Liu'er, but was reluctant to let him stray too far from him, keeping him pinned three steps away. He sneered, "Words are useless, let's fight!"
Dong Banpiao rubbed his wrists: "These old bones of mine haven't moved in ages." As he spoke, he bent over and stretched his legs, actually starting to move them in front of everyone. The black-clad doorman didn't stop him, but just sneered and said, "Stop pretending. If you want to loosen your bones, let Grandpa Black loosen them for you."
Before he could finish speaking, Dong Banpiao had already made his move. Everyone, seeing his deliberate and methodical actions, assumed he would mostly strike after the opponent had acted, but unexpectedly, he struck first! "Black Gatekeeper" was also taken aback, not expecting this old man to be so cunning! In that moment of surprise, he lost the initiative, as Dong Banpiao's hands lightly tapped towards his vital points on his chest. But Zhan Kuhua, a seasoned veteran, seeing the situation was dire, ignored Dong Banpiao's hands tapping towards his chest and instead launched a full-scale counterattack, unleashing a powerful "Mount Tai Pressing Down" move, his massive fists aimed directly at Dong Banpiao's small head. Dong Banpiao hadn't expected such a ruthless attack; it was a life-or-death struggle from the start. His technique was already outdated; his hands lightly struck "Black Gatekeeper's" chest, but "Black Gatekeeper's" massive palms had already struck his head. He felt a throbbing pain in his forehead and had no choice but to withdraw his attack, blocking "Black Gatekeeper's" right arm.
The "Black Gatekeeper" suffered a slight loss with this move, but he didn't stop. With a muffled groan, he launched a "Straight to the Yellow Dragon" attack, determined to regain the upper hand in this one move. The Black Gatekeeper was thick-skinned and tough, and was naturally more resilient to blows than Dong Banpiao.
Dong Banpiao hadn't expected such fierce fighting spirit. He retreated two steps, refusing to engage in direct confrontation. The Black Gatekeeper, however, pressed his advantage, launching a series of attacks. Dong Banpiao dodged left and right, his movements agile, yet he refused to retreat even half a step. Now, everyone witnessed the power of his "Foolish Fist." He swayed left and right, like the "Drunken Eight Immortals." Those present, lacking expertise, couldn't discern its subtlety, but his swaying and dodging deftly neutralized the Black Gatekeeper's relentless onslaught, even managing to counterattack in the midst of the crisis. As the saying goes, a strong wind doesn't last all morning, nor does a sudden downpour last all night. If he could withstand this onslaught, his chances of victory in this battle would likely be greater.
The "Black Gatekeeper," unable to break through his defenses, grew increasingly anxious. He knew that being outnumbered and unable to win a prolonged battle was a grave mistake in the martial world, so he unleashed a barrage of assassins, determined to finish the fight quickly. He was impatient, but Dong Banpiao remained calm, his attacks continuous and deliberate, aiming to wear him down, observe his weaknesses, and then strike decisively. Their differing mindsets gave the "Black Gatekeeper" the upper hand initially. However, those with expertise could see that while the two appeared evenly matched, Dong Banpiao hadn't actually used his full strength. This battle, however, was one that no one knew how long it would last.
Everyone in the room wore a tense expression, except for the young man among the master and servant, who seemed oblivious to the fight. He held his cup, head bowed, as if lost in his own thoughts. The boy named Xiao Ku'er, on the other hand, was more enthusiastic, his eyes glued to the struggle between Dong and Zhan. He would occasionally purse his lips, seemingly with disdain. His expression, however, suggested he was neutral. He appeared to dislike Dong Banpiao's sinister demeanor and preferred Hei Menshen to win.
Unfortunately, despite his formidable fighting prowess, the Black Gate Divine Fist was deeply troubled. Just then, a series of crackling sounds came from outside the door.
At the sound of knocking, Dong Banpiao frowned. It was one of his men knocking. A young man's voice came from the doorway: "Master Dong, ... the job is here."
"—Their senior and junior brothers and sisters didn't stop at Thirty Mile Fort, they rushed straight here, and they might pass by Big Tree Slope where our boss is doing business. But nine times out of ten they'll stop here for a meal first."
Dong Banpiao frowned and said, "So fast? Has the news already leaked?"
"Black Gatekeeper" knew his opponent must have run into some trouble, and laughed, "Boss Dong, what's wrong? Another good friend has come?"
When he spoke in his haste, his voice was inevitably choked with gasps. Dong Banpiao sneered, "A good friend has come, but I'm afraid you won't have a good time. You two siblings, 'Tie Zhongtang' from Shanxi, do the math. Would you be more comfortable in their hands, or in Dong Banpiao's?"
The "Black Gatekeeper" trembled slightly, letting out a cold snort, seemingly quite wary of the brother and sister. After a moment's thought, he said, "Old Dong, your master is in big trouble, having attracted these two wicked stars to your doorstep. What are you still doing bothering me for? Just let me go obediently, and I won't interfere in your affairs, how about that?"
Dong Banpiao sneered, "It's not that easy. Hmph, even if those two really came for the 'evil monk,' our leader doesn't necessarily take them seriously. You should think about yourself. Although they are just passing through on business, if they run into you, they might as well take care of you."
The Black Gatekeeper knew he had encountered a menacing figure and fell silent. The little boy, however, murmured, "Tie Zhongtang, Tie Zhongtang—what is this 'Tie Zhongtang'? Is it another name in the martial world? In times without heroes, so many scoundrels can still become famous." He mimicked his young master's misspelling of a phrase. The young man, seeing that he had used the appropriate term this time, smiled slightly.
Before the young boy could finish his thought, he saw Dong Banpiao's fist technique change. He bent over, his arms bent, and moved with a frog-like, duck-like gait, unleashing a set of fist techniques that none of the assembled crowd had ever heard of or seen before. Each move was as stiff as a worm, as still as a withered cicada, as strange and clumsy as an old monk feeling bones or an elephant crossing a river—indescribably bizarre and heavy, yet indescribably difficult to parry and block. The young boy, who had initially looked scornful, now realized that Dong Banpiao had been hiding his true abilities all along; indeed, his reputation was well-deserved!
While the onlookers were still thinking this, the "Black Gatekeeper" in the arena was in an even worse state. Sweat was pouring down his forehead, and everyone could tell at a glance that he was at his last gasp. He could be heard trembling as he said fiercely, "Old man, so you had this trick up your sleeve."
As he spoke, he was struck on the right groin by a vicious claw; the 'Black Door God's' black face paled in pain, and a chunk of flesh on his thigh was almost torn off. Now, only thinking of escape, he suddenly turned, grabbed Da Liu'er, and hurled him at Dong Banpiao, then leaped out towards the window. His momentum was immense; the window shattered with a loud crash—Liaodong windows were double-glazed, and in winter, they were reinforced even more tightly; the force with which he broke it was remarkable. But no sooner had the window broken than the 'Black Door God' let out a scream, followed by a furious curse: "You old dog!"
Everyone looked over and saw him standing outside the window, his face ashen, covered in blood, and his clothes, except for the window paper, were covered with iron filings and needles. It turned out that Dong Banpiao had anticipated his escape route and had placed hidden traps on the window before entering, intending to force him to take this desperate measure and jump out of the window, hoping to win without a fight.
The "Black Gatekeeper" was quite robust. He said in a trembling voice, "Fine, you're vicious enough. As long as I, the 'Black Gatekeeper,' live, we'll settle this score until the very end."
His words were filled with resentment, but he couldn't bear the pain any longer; his teeth chattered as he spoke. He took a step closer to the window. Dong Banpiao, inside the shop, also wore a grim expression, knowing that this underworld figure's death throes would be no small matter. He sneered, "—Not dead? You think you can escape this calamity today?"
As he spoke, he suddenly leaped into the air, and the 'Black Gatekeeper' also jumped up. Then, the two attacked. Dong Banpiao's first move was a palm strike that dimmed the lights in the shop. Unexpectedly, the Black Gatekeeper didn't even try to block his attack. Instead, he swung his hands, throwing two hidden weapons at Dong Banpiao in a desperate attack. Dong Banpiao, being a seasoned veteran, knew that the Black Gatekeeper might want to fight to the death and had already prepared for it. He quickly dodged, and several people behind him screamed in pain as they were hit by the hidden weapons. Those with sharp eyes saw that the Black Gatekeeper had thrown a bunch of death nails.
Fortunately, Black Gatekeeper was severely injured and unable to travel far; his accuracy and momentum were greatly diminished, so the customers in the shop only suffered minor injuries. Before dodging him, Dong Banpiao pressed his hands against Zhan Kuhua's chest again, and then the two fell to the ground simultaneously. Dong Banpiao was still light on his feet, but Black Gatekeeper had already lost his balance. The two remained one inside the window and one outside. Black Gatekeeper suddenly shouted wildly, "Old Seventh Wu, why aren't you coming out!"
Dong Banpiao was taken aback when he saw a figure suddenly emerge from the shadows and leap to the side of the Black Gatekeeper.
Just as Dong Banpiao was about to intervene, the figure clapped his hands together, and the lights in the room went out simultaneously. Before the lights went out, Dong Banpiao had already made his move. The figure seemed to have suffered a loss, letting out a cry of pain. Dong Banpiao also let out a soft groan, as if he had been injured. Then a shrill voice complained, "Hei Zi, how did you offend such a troublesome person? I, Lao Qi, made a mistake today. I might end up dying here with you."
Dong Banpiao's voice suddenly hardened, and he angrily said, "Wu Xiaoqi, when did you get entangled with Hei Menshen?"
You dare to wade into the waters of my 'Five Phoenix Blade'? You've really improved! — What's that you're holding in your palm? "It turns out that when the two of you were exchanging blows just now, Wu Xiaoqi had a hidden weapon between his fingers. Dong Banpiao was ambushed, but fortunately, he was always alert and stopped in time, so he wasn't seriously injured."
Wu Xiaoqi said, "Old Dong, I don't want to offend you, and I can't afford to. But if I don't save this big black guy, our boss won't forgive me. Please, just do me a favor."
Dong Banpiao snorted, wondering when Wu Xiaoqi had recognized someone as his boss. Just as he was about to speak, Wu Xiaoqi suddenly pursed his lips and let out a sharp cry, shouting, "Listen up, Tie Zhongtang and his sister from Shanxi! There's an ambush ahead! Someone is trying to harm you two!"
Dong Banpiao's expression changed immediately. Wu Xiaoqi, nicknamed "Black-Footed Chicken," had an extremely shrill voice, as he practiced the "Chicken Crows Summoning the Souls of the Five Grains," and his true cry could probably be heard ten miles away. Just as Dong Banpiao was about to speak, he heard a cat meow in the distance, presumably a secret signal from his sect. He immediately lay down and listened intently, hearing the clatter of hooves. He muttered, "So fast," and as he said this, Wu Xiaoqi, along with the Black Gatekeeper, had already turned and left. Dong Banpiao's face darkened, and he was about to attack when Wu Xiaoqi preemptively laughed, "Old Dong, I didn't use my full strength just now. If you attack again, I can't beat you, but I'm afraid my brother will scream. As the saying goes, 'A bird about to die sings a mournful song.' I held back just now, showing mercy; 'Iron Zhongtang' definitely didn't hear it. But now, hehe, have you thought it through…?"
Dong Banpiao hesitated for a moment, and in that short time, Wu Jiaoqi had already hurriedly led Hei Menshen away. Watching them disappear into the darkness, Dong Banpiao sighed softly, called over a disciple, and instructed, "Go to Dashupo and tell the master that if you see Wu Jiaoqi and Hei Menshen passing by there, don't forget to keep them there."
The disciple acknowledged and left. Dong Banpiao, seemingly sensing that time was running out, turned and went back into the shop. He glanced around, then changed his expression and said to the crowd, "Everyone, you've all been frightened. You all saw what happened just now, and I'm sure you're all sensible people who know the rules of the martial world and won't say anything carelessly. However, for the next few days, you'll have to make do and stay here to rest. It's not that I want you all to stay, but you all overheard things you shouldn't have. I'll send you on your way after this is over. What do you all think?"
The hall fell silent. Who would dare to challenge them? Everyone could only meekly agree. Suddenly, a shrill voice cried out, "Old man Dong, you've gone too far!"