Chapter 39: Night Assault On The Martial Arts School
Wushan County’s alleys and streets are narrow, nestled against the mountains.
After nightfall, apart from the red-light district and a few restaurants and tea houses in the central commercial district that occasionally buzzed with noise, almost all human voices had ceased, leaving an empty silence.
Concealed by the night, a figure quickly traversed the desolate street and arrived before a mansion with a spacious courtyard.
With knees slightly bent, the figure leaped up, lightly landing on the courtyard wall, which was nearly a zhang high.
After a brief scan of the courtyard scene, he began to run along the palm-wide wall top, his movements agile, more nimble than a cat. In a flash, he reached the end of the wall and once again sprang onto the roof of the main house in the courtyard.
Standing on the rooftop ridge, he listened intently to the sounds within the house below. Suddenly, with a forceful step, a crisp “crack” sound, he crushed a roof tile.
Swish!
At the same moment, he flipped and leaped, as nimble as a soaring hawk, landing steadily on the courtyard ground. He stood with his hands behind his back, facing the main house’s door, quietly waiting.
Looking around the courtyard, one could see various implements such as wooden stakes, sandbags, and stone locks. To the left and right, weapon racks were placed, fully equipped with sabers, spears, and clubs.
It was clearly a martial arts school.
“Who?”
The person inside heard the commotion and grunted, not emerging from the main door. Instead, there was a “crash” as a window shattered, and a burly man with a short, thick neck climbed out.
This man had clearly been woken from sleep and hadn’t had time to get dressed, only wearing a pair of shorts. He held a steel saber, glaring with ill intent at the uninvited ‘guest’!
He observed that the visitor had a slender build, stood tall and straight, was dressed all in black, with a black cloth covering his face, only his calm eyes surveying him.
The burly man took a step forward, pointing his steel saber, and said in a cold voice, “Who are you?”
“Master Zuo, there’s no need to worry. I have no ill intentions; I’ve only come to spar a few moves with you.”
The man in black spoke in a calm tone.
This burly man was Zuo Lie, the master of the Zuo Family Martial Arts School in Wushan County. Upon hearing this, he spat, “Hiding your face and acting sneakily. If you want to spar, come honorably during the day. Sneaking in late at night like this is the act of a thief, not a hero.”
The man in black chuckled, “I’m looking out for you, Master Zuo. I heard you recently lost a contest. If you lose again in public, your martial arts school might lose its livelihood.”
Hearing the opponent mention his embarrassment, Zuo Lie became enraged, “Although Yue Feng is arrogant, his martial arts are indeed formidable. My losing to him was a matter of skill inferiority, not for you to mock, young man.”
From the man in black’s voice, Zuo Lie could tell he was young.
And that Yue Feng was the fierce dragon who had recently arrived in Wushan County, causing a stir.
Upon arrival, he had already defeated Zuo Lie and another martial arts school master, establishing his reputation, then recruited people and fought with other gangs to seize territory.
“You’ve got a big mouth, kid. Then come and test my saber. Don’t blame me if you die.”
Zuo Lie stomped on the ground, the green bricks beneath him shaking violently. He rushed forward, closing the distance to the man in black in just two or three steps. He twisted his heel on the ground, using the force to spin, and wielded his saber like lightning, launching a horizontal slash.
Having been defeated by an outsider and severely embarrassed, he had been suppressing a fire within him. This unwelcome guest dared to rub salt in his wounds and mock him, instantly causing him to lose control of his anger. He struck without holding back.
A mere rat who hides his face and sneaks over walls at midnight, if he dies, he dies. Others will only praise him for killing well.
Ssssh!
The long saber sliced through the air, emitting a short whistle, its momentum ferocious.
The man in black suddenly retreated, easily evading Zuo Lie’s slash. Zuo Lie frowned, thinking that anyone who dared to seek him out must indeed have some skill.
With rapid, intricate footwork, Zuo Lie pressed his attack, dancing his long saber into a whirlwind. It moved left and right, high and low, his attacks swift and his angles cunning.
However, the man in black’s reaction speed was far beyond Zuo Lie’s imagination. Every time he moved his saber, the opponent’s footwork had already shifted, narrowly dodging the blade’s edge. Though it appeared perilous, not a single hair on the man in black was harmed.
Zuo Lie’s expression turned surprised, and his saber technique faltered.
“Faster, faster!”
“Your saber technique is so slow, how do you make a living?”
The man in black continued to urge him on. Though his voice was light, it made the veins on Zuo Lie’s forehead bulge.
“Kid, are you only going to dodge around like a flea? If you have the guts, then face me fair and square with real steel.”
Zuo Lie thrust his saber forward, an aggressive aura emanating from him.
The man in black tapped his foot and retreated like a swift wind towards the weapon rack, responding, “Fine!”
He clapped his palm on the rack with a “snap,” and an iron spear flew out. He caught it in his palm, instantly turning from defense to offense. Taking two steps at a time, he surged forward with tremendous force. The iron spear coiled like a dragon in his hand and suddenly thrust out!
“Clang!”
A metallic explosion resounded through the night. The spearhead accurately struck the saber, spitting out a few sparks. Simultaneously, Zuo Lie felt an irresistible surge of force, staggering backward.
Swish!
The long spear attacked again, a lift, a strike.
Zuo Lie’s arm had already gone numb from the powerful impact of the saber and spear clash. Now, he could no longer hold on, and the long saber flew out of his hand.
A cold gleam flashed as the long spear, like a poisonous snake, darted forward, precisely aiming for his throat.
Zuo Lie had no time to react. He was so terrified that his limbs turned cold, his heart filled with dread: ‘My life is over!’
However, the spear tip stopped upon touching his throat. The icy sensation made Zuo Lie’s heart leap into his mouth. He stiffened, afraid to move.
“Master Zuo, in your opinion, how does my martial arts compare to that Yue Feng’s?” the man in black asked with a smile, moving his wrist to withdraw the iron spear.
Zuo Lie touched his neck and immediately realized not even his skin was broken. He was astonished by the opponent’s control over his strength.
“Balance of hardness and softness, freely controlled?!”
Zuo Lie was also a martial artist who had entered force. He had the discernment and knowledge to control pure strength, which was certainly not harder than controlling qi and blood.
However, to strike the body of his slung saber in the dark with a spear, and for the spear to flash out as fast as lightning, aiming for his throat without breaking the skin.
Such precise control of force was not something an ordinary martial artist who had entered force could achieve.
His shock had not subsided when he suddenly felt that even though the man was masked, his face appeared kind.
This person’s martial arts were so extraordinary, yet he hadn’t beaten him soundly during the day. Instead, he had come late at night, avoiding public view, which was giving old Zuo ample face.
He hadn’t understood the ‘expert’s’ intentions and had even spoken disrespectfully. It was truly inexcusable.
With this thought, Zuo Lie felt immense guilt and quickly said, “Master Yue Feng’s martial arts are certainly no match for yours, Sir. I am far, far behind.”
“Good!” The man in black nodded and said lightly, “We’ve tested the weapon skills. Now let’s discuss hand-to-hand combat.”
“Sir…”
Zuo Lie inwardly cried ‘Woe is me!’ A black shadow flickered before his eyes. The opponent’s hand shot out, and a fierce gust of wind attacked, like a grasping tiger’s claw.
Zuo Lie’s eyes twitched. He drew back and retreated, but found the claw seemingly attached to him. No matter how he retreated, it relentlessly pursued, forcing him to summon all his strength and engage with his utmost effort.
Zuo Lie mustered his full attention, daring not to be negligent.
He wouldn’t naively believe the opponent wouldn’t kill him just because he showed mercy with the spear. What if?
Responding to the surging, wave-like offense, Zuo Lie was forced to display all his learning, unleashing his martial arts without reservation.
There were even times when he felt he was surely doomed, but suddenly a flash of inspiration struck his mind, leading to brilliant responses he had never achieved before.
It felt as though this man in black’s pressure and coercion had ignited his potential.
However, the more he fought, the more his strength was depleted. Zuo Lie was already feeling a lack of energy. Suddenly, a palm strike cut through the air, incredibly fast, aiming for his chest.
Before the palm even arrived, Zuo Lie felt an unprecedented death threat. With a fierce shout, he pushed his palms forward, unleashing his true force.
The man in black retracted his hand, spun his body, and dodged Zuo Lie’s thunderous palm strike with the ease of a stroll in the countryside. He then moved behind Zuo Lie and grabbed him by the neck.
Coincidentally, Zuo Lie had just unleashed his true force, his qi and blood completely drained, leaving him weak and about to collapse. The man in black actually supported him.
The man in black flung Zuo Lie aside, dropping him onto a stone stool, and said, “Master Zuo, how do you think Master Shi’s martial arts compare to yours?”
Wushan County had only two martial arts schools: this Zuo Family Martial Arts School and the Shi Family. Both had been challenged by the rogue dragon Yue Feng.
Zuo Lie panted heavily, cold sweat rolling down his forehead. After a moment, he finally replied, “Shi Meng’s martial arts are no less than mine. Moreover, he is much younger than I am and has progressed greatly in martial arts in recent years; he may have surpassed me.”
Zuo Lie’s eyes darted around. Upon hearing this, he knew the man in black’s intention. He likely planned to challenge Shi Meng after defeating him, just like Yue Feng.
Among the two martial arts schools in the county, there was naturally no shortage of rivalry. He immediately began to extol Shi Meng’s virtues. The hardships he had endured must not be known by his old rival!
Little did he know that in the darkness, the man in black saw his expression clearly and simply smiled, “Master Zuo, how about I make you another deal?”
A short while later, the man in black leaped out of the Zuo Family Martial Arts School and onto the long street. He gently pulled off his mask, revealing a handsome and heroic face – it was Hong Yuan.
With a flip of his left hand, a thin piece of paper covered in small characters appeared before him, which was none other than the Zuo Family Martial Arts School’s secret medicine formula, ‘Bone Tempering and Meridian Unblocking Oil’!
Besides the formula, there was also a bottle of the medicine that Zuo Lie had already prepared but not yet used.
It wasn’t exactly a forceful seizure; he had spent five hundred taels to buy it from Zuo Lie.
He believed Zuo Lie wouldn’t dare to tamper with it to deceive him. After all, this medicine was for external use, and even if it was slightly off, it wouldn’t cause him any serious harm. But if he detected any issues, Zuo Lie would have to pay with his life.
Even for some secret medicines that could be taken internally, the medicinal ingredients were openly displayed.
It was after hearing the stories of Yue Feng, the dragon crossing the river, in a restaurant that gave Hong Yuan inspiration.
However, his objective was different. Yue Feng challenged the two martial arts schools to establish his name as quickly as possible.
Hong Yuan, on the other hand, aimed to absorb the martial arts moves, various force application techniques, footwork, and even ‘trade’ secret medicine formulas or prepared medicines through these encounters.
“The Shi Family Martial Arts School cannot be missed either…”
Hong Yuan stepped lightly and quickly disappeared into an alley.
Approximately two hours later, Hong Yuan leaped out of a large compound. He pulled off his mask, a look of joy appearing on his face.
The master of the Shi Family Martial Arts School, Shi Meng, was indeed slightly superior to Zuo Lie. Despite his imposing name, the man was quite short and practiced a type of ‘Cat Fist’!
Most importantly, the ‘Cat Fist’ shared many commonalities with the Tiger Subduing Fist Hong Yuan practiced. While the former, compared to the latter, lost some ferocity, it excelled in its sharpness and speed, which benefited Hong Yuan greatly.
Moreover, the ‘Cat Fist’ was more agile in its footwork and body movements, providing Hong Yuan with considerable inspiration.
In addition to the martial arts benefits, he naturally acquired another secret medicine formula.
Unfortunately, Shi Meng had just run out of prepared medicine, otherwise, he could have saved himself the time to concoct it.
Hong Yuan closed his eyes, recalling his previous sparring session with Shi Meng, and began to integrate the moves, stances, and footwork of the ‘Cat Fist’ into his Tiger Subduing Fist. He felt he could completely digest it within a few days.
Having defeated the masters of two martial arts schools consecutively, and with only about half an hour having passed, Hong Yuan thought he couldn’t let that rogue dragon off either, lest he show favoritism.
During the day, Hong Yuan had already inquired about Yue Feng’s residence.
After Yue Feng decapitated the leader of a rival gang, he led his subordinates to take advantage of the ensuing chaos to utterly crush the gang and immediately occupied their former base.
In this current era, the central government is weak, and powers are rising in the local areas.
The term ‘Xia’ (knight-errant) who violates the law with martial arts is not unique to Hong Yuan.
Of course, this is also because Mingzhou has historically been a land of abundance and a vital hub for north-south water transport. Grain transport, salt transport, and commercial goods converge here, known as ‘the convergence of all rivers and boats in the world’!
Such prosperity naturally attracted the covetous gaze of various forces: noble clans, noble families, aristocrats, military commanders, martial arts sects…
Some have been rooted in Mingzhou for generations, even for more than ten generations. Others have squeezed in with great effort, and there are many more watching with greedy eyes, restless!
The forces are intricately intertwined and mutually check each other, which leads to the absence of a single, decisive power.
Outside of Mingzhou, in other prefectures, there are already powerful forces that have carved out one, several, or even directly control an entire prefecture.
In those territories, ordinary Jianghu figures and even gang forces must act like minnows lying low, and any slight overstepping will result in death, let alone challenging great families or the government.
It is only at the Microscopic Level Grandmaster level that martial artists dare to cause a little disturbance in those territories.
With his thoughts racing, Hong Yuan moved swiftly, and in a moment, he arrived outside a manor in the western part of the city.
Compared to the two martial arts schools, this place had significantly more guards. Both inside and outside the walls, numerous thugs patrolled.
However, it was, after all, a newly formed gang, so one couldn’t expect them to be particularly elite. Although the thugs weren’t drinking or making noise, many were yawning and lethargic.
Hong Yuan followed the same method, rapidly ascending to the roof. He observed from a high vantage point for a while, confirming that the number of thugs in the entire manor was between seventy to eighty, with over a dozen servants.
The main house was lit up, with light spilling out. Yue Feng was inside, and two figures appeared, clearly discussing something with someone.
Two thugs patrolled the courtyard, glancing around, much more cautious than those outside.
Hong Yuan hooked the roof eaves with one foot and landed lightly. Just as his face was about to touch the ground, he supported himself with one palm on the ground, standing up steadily without making the slightest sound.
Concealed in the shadows, he quickly moved to within a few zhang of the two guards. He darted out like the wind, striking each of them on the back of the head.
The palm strikes were soft, without a hint of wind. They fell gently, and the two men’s bodies immediately trembled. Their mouths gaped open, but they couldn’t utter a sound, dying on the spot!
Before the two men could fall, Hong Yuan lifted one in each hand and gently set them down.
For these two palms, he had used the soft force technique. The moment his palm touched the back of their heads, he released a gentle burst of force, which instantly permeated into their brains, destroying their internal structures.
As for methods to knock people unconscious without killing them, Hong Yuan didn’t have any at the moment.
Even if he did, there would be no need. Being members of a gang, killing and being killed were both reasonable. If Hong Yuan were to be killed someday, he would only consider it a matter of skill inferiority and wouldn’t complain.
In this life’s martial arts, the essence after entering force is actually to increase the total amount and control the output.
Open the source!
Reduce the outflow!
Just having entered force, there is too much ineffective overflow.
For instance, the palm strike Yang Erhu demonstrated to crack a jujube wood stake did not require such immense force to kill someone. A tenth of that power, striking a vital point, would be sufficient.
Subsequent cultivation is actually about controlling the output and reducing ineffective overflow, hence the gradual control of force leading to Three-Stage Waves, Nine-Story Mountains, and the Twelve-Story Building…
When one reaches the level of freely controlling force, they can divide it into tens or even more parts, and can contain the force within a single palm, sending it out and retrieving it at will.
If Hong Yuan’s force is considered one hundred, he used less than one part of it with his soft force to kill these two guards, and he could recover it with a slight breath and exhalation.
His root bone is too strong.
The generation of force originates from the martial artist’s own muscles, bones, qi, and blood. Therefore, in terms of the total amount of force, Hong Yuan is already extremely robust, though he doesn’t know how he compares to a Microscopic Level Grandmaster.
Hong Yuan holds expectations for this.
‘Microscopic level’ is not some mystical realm; it is merely a technique for controlling force, but it also requires a strong physique to wield.
Silently arriving under the eaves’ shadow, Hong Yuan did not rush to act. With his hearing, he could clearly hear the conversation inside the house.
“With these reinforcements, I’ll have two to three hundred usable men. The remaining gangs in Wushan County are no match for me. My only concern is the few great families in the county…”
A young voice said, “With just this rabble in my hand, it’s still too difficult to contend with those great families. We need the Manor Lord to send more men to help.”
“You defeated Zuo Lie and Shi Meng. How were they? Their skills are not weak, and they’ve trained many martial arts school apprentices. If you could subdue these two, they would be two great reinforcements.”
A steady, gentle male voice sounded.
Hong Yuan’s eyebrows rose, and a playful expression flickered across his face. This was because he was very familiar with this voice, but encountering it here was truly extremely unexpected.
