After Brother Sha was also introduced to Qi Yun, everyone chimed in to order a bowl of fresh pork wontons for him as well. As the group sat together around the table, Li Xiangyi asked, "Brother Yun, why have you only just arrived in Yangzhou City?"
Qi Yun took a bite of a small wonton, and instantly understood why the others had crammed into such a small stall. Fragrant and savory, it truly was a culinary masterpiece! After swallowing the food in his mouth, he replied, "I hadn't planned on attending this year's Martial Arts Tournament in the first place. A friend and I accepted a bounty that required us to travel to Taizhou, and since it was right on the way, I decided to make a trip home. When I heard from my father that you had come to Yangzhou City, I came over specifically to see you."
Hearing this, Li Xiangyi asked with keen interest, "Brother Yun, what kind of bounty did you two take on?"
Recalling the bounty, Qi Yun glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention to them, then sighed softly, a trace of sorrow clouding his face. "The matter is actually quite complicated... When my friend and I were traveling through Ganzhou, we rescued a group of people. According to them, their entire party had fled all the way from Taizhou, driven to ruin and left with nowhere else to turn by the Lianhai Gang, forcing them to abandon their homeland and head to the capital to appeal to the Dali Temple."
"They were hunted all the way, and half of their fifty-six companions died along the journey, leaving only twenty-six survivors. My friend and I escorted them all the way to the capital and filed a report at the Dali Temple. But the junior official who received us, after briefing his superior, informed us that the Lianhai Gang is a Jianghu sect, and that for matters of this sort, we should go directly to the Taizhou local authorities to file a report. They claimed that the officials would handle the case impartially, whether by holding a court session or issuing a bounty!"
"Yet, if the Taizhou authorities weren't hand in glove with the Lianhai Gang, those people would never have risked their lives crossing mountains and rivers just to make an appeal in the capital..."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangyi's expression turned chillingly stern. He asked, "Since you said you accepted a bounty, how did the Yujing prefectural office end up taking on the case?"
Qi Yun sighed. "Upon hearing the Dali Temple's ruling, nine of the victims were so heartbroken that they mutilated themselves in front of the Dengwen Drum, while the rest beat the drum in a furious uproar, desperate to bring their grievances to the ears of the Emperor! Immediately afterward, the guards of the Five Cities Patrol came to make arrests and threw the rest of us into prison!"
"Fortunately, Fang Zimeng, the Minister of Revenue and husband of Tianji Manor's He Xiaohui, happened to witness it. He mediated from behind the scenes and had the Censorate take up the matter. Xuanyuan Ming, a Flying Eagle Envoy of the Censorate, met with us and listened to the grievances of the Taizhou common people. However, he stated that since the matter involved an entire prefecture and was of grave importance, it could not be handled with too much fanfare. Moreover, as the Censorate's manpower was limited, he only dispatched a team to investigate the Lianhai Gang and the officials in Taizhou, while issuing a bounty for us to gather evidence of the Lianhai Gang's crimes. If the allegations proved true, we were to capture Jiang Dafei and assist the Censorate's Taizhou detachment. He promised to report the matter to His Majesty for handling, and assured us we would be rewarded afterward!"
Lu Lei chimed in, "I've heard my father mention this Lianhai Gang. They started out peddling hibiscus cakes, driving countless families to ruin, and on top of that, they illegally trade sea salt, abduct and abuse women, and extort merchant vessels. Their crimes are too numerous to record."
Li Xiangyi's expression turned cold, radiating murderous intent, while the rest of the group bristled with indignation upon hearing the story. Li Xi was especially furious. "Such a heinous Jianghu sect—why won the various martial arts sects do anything about it, and why doesn't the imperial court simply send troops to wipe them out?"
Jiang Yunzheng sighed and said, "The Lianhai Gang has existed for over a decade. I heard my grandfather talk about their actions, and I asked him this very question back then..." Seeing everyone turn to look at him, he pressed his lips together before continuing, "My grandfather said that while the prefect of Taizhou is appointed directly by Yujing and replaced every five years, the remaining vice-prefects, judges, and county magistrates are all filled by members of the prominent clans of Taizhou. The Lianhai Gang's influence in Taizhou is deeply entrenched; officials and bandits are in collusion, their interests intertwined, making their power immense."
"With the Lianhai Gang acting like this, most of their victims are defenseless common people. Since the gentry share common interests, when have those in power ever cared about the life or death of the common folk? As for the court's actions, and the way the Dali Temple and the Censorate handled this—I suspect it's because Taizhou commands a force of over ten thousand soldiers, and the court is afraid of triggering a military mutiny. They'd rather ignore the suffering of the people in a single region than risk a botched handling that would bring down disaster on officials from top to bottom."
"As for the Censorate having Jianghu cultivators take on this bounty, they must be thinking that if the Lianhai Gang falls at the hands of Jianghu people, the power structure in Taizhou will suffer a devastating blow. When the imperial court steps in afterward, it will, firstly, display the majesty of the court; secondly, bestow grace upon the people of Taizhou; and thirdly, avoid shaking the foundation of the state..."
At this, a deeper sense of righteous anger swept through the crowd...
Li Xiangyi's eyes were filled with cold severity as he looked at Qi Yun and then at Jiang Yunzheng. "Since the Lianhai Gang has committed countless atrocities for over a decade, why won't the upright and prominent sects of the Jianghu do anything?"
Jiang Yunzheng paused for a long time before continuing. "I asked my maternal grandfather back then: since the Lianhai Gang is a Jianghu faction whose evil deeds are no different from those of the Demonic Cult, why don't we righteous Jianghu sects join forces to wipe them out?"
At this point, remembering the look his grandfather had given him at the time—as if looking at a clueless child—a trace of sadness appeared on Jiang Yunzheng's face. With a hint of bewilderment, he continued, "Grandfather said the Lianhai Gang's influence is vast. Eliminating them would not only cause heavy losses to the sects, but also offend the Taizhou authorities. Who would be willing to take on such a thankless and bitter task? In the past, hot-blooded youngsters full of unbacked valor tried to do just that, only to fall in their youth, leaving not a single ripple behind!"
Here, the look of confusion on Jiang Yunzheng's face deepened. He said, "The seniors in the Jianghu all tell me that in this world, the weak are prey to the strong and only the fittest survive. To enter the Jianghu, one must learn to weigh pros and cons, and learn to bow to the circumstances..."
Seeing him like this, Li Xiangyi patted his shoulder. When Jiang Yunzheng looked up, Li Xiangyi looked at him earnestly and said, "Yunheng, what they speak of is not our Jianghu! To uphold the weak, eradicate evil, protect the people, and defend justice—that is our Jianghu! From the moment I descended the mountain, I resolved to hold fast to my Shaoshi and right every injustice in this world! Just because they cannot do it does not mean we cannot! This Jianghu should not be filled entirely with petty, calculating voices. If everyone hesitates, looks ahead and behind, and cares only for profit, what meaning would such a Jianghu have?"
With that, he turned to Qi Yun and declared firmly, "Brother Yun, count Li Xiangyi in for this trip against the Lianhai Gang!"
Feeling the steadfast strength of Li Xiangyi's hand on his shoulder, the confusion on Jiang Yunzheng's face instantly vanished. The gaze he cast at Li Xiangyi shone with brilliant light. Born into a branch family of the prominent Jiang clan of Yuzhou—where generations had farmed, studied, and entered officialdom through the imperial examinations—his mother was the only daughter of the master of the Jingyu Sword Sect, the largest sect in Yuzhou. His older brother inherited the mantle of the main Jiang family branch, and he too was expected to shoulder the heritage of the Jingyu Sword Sect. Ever since he was young, he had been taught how to read the situation and put the bigger picture first. Everything he had seen and heard constantly told him that the Jianghu was just like that...
In his heart, he had always felt uncomfortable with a Jianghu that spoke glibly of benevolence and morality while acting out of petty self-interest. But over the past month or so, since meeting Li Xiangyi and forming bonds with this group of brothers, he had finally learned that there was another way to live in the Jianghu—one that was so passionate, so bright, and so... uninhibitedly pure.
Jiang Yunzheng's eyes grew increasingly burning with fervor. He grabbed Li Xiangyi's hand, feeling spirited and high-spirited for the very first time. He said resolutely, "Count Jiang Yunzheng in on this trip as well!"
Li Xi's eyes were equally radiant. He stood up abruptly and placed his hand over Jiang Yunzheng's. "How could our Jianghu be complete without me, Li Xi! My Kunlun Sect has taught me since childhood to subdue violence, bring peace, and practice chivalry. Count me, Li Xi, in for this trip!"
Hand after hand piled on top of one another in rapid succession. Lu Lei let out a hearty laugh. "Old Two Lu here has been carving out his own path in the Jianghu since I was a kid; if anyone's missing, it certainly can't be Lu Lei! I just calculated it on my fingers—this trip is bound to be a resounding victory, and I'm going too!"
Qi Yun looked on with a trace of worry, advising, "The Lianhai Gang is powerful and this trip is dangerous. You all should think this over carefully!"
Qian Qixing laughed out loud, firmly placing his right hand over the pile. "Stepping forward boldly when encountering injustice on the road—that is our Jianghu! If I were afraid of danger and death, I wouldn't have learned martial arts or ventured into the Jianghu; I'd have just gone back home to do business! I have plenty of older brothers above me, so I'm not afraid of danger. Brothers, count me in on this!"
Zhao Wenhao and Erlin also stepped forward, placing their hands on top with resolute expressions. "When brothers are together, what is there to fear! Count me in!"
Sesshomaru watched this group of young men, feeling the surging, sky-high momentum of their gathering. The Demon Blade within him vibrated, its blade aura surging violently. Sesshomaru lowered his gaze slightly, gaining a sudden flash of insight.
The brave know no fear, their chivalrous spirit pierces the skies, they wield their swords to cut through a troubled world, living solely for the sake of justice...
With everyone stirred with emotion and enthusiastically voicing their agreement, Li Xiangyi said in a ringing voice, "Since the brothers have all made up their minds, Brother Yun, let's set out together. Every extra day we stay means another day of suffering for the common people. Let's all go back and pack our things now, and set off first thing tomorrow morning!"
Seeing this, Qi Yun hesitated no longer. He placed his hand heavily over the rest, his voice clear and resonant. "Our Jianghu—upholding the weak, eradicating evil, protecting the people, and defending justice—should indeed be just like this! I was supposed to meet my friend outside the city tomorrow anyway, so we can all set out together!"
Hearing this, the others quickly nodded and made to stand up. At that moment, however, a mocking voice rang out from nearby: "What grand righteousness and orthodox path? Are you a bunch of wet-behind-the-ears brats the only righteous ones in the entire martial arts world? Is it just that you lack martial skill and are afraid of losing face at the tournament, so you're finding an excuse to run away before the battle even begins?"
Li Xiangyi raised his eyes and saw a group of people standing nearby, looking at them with undisguised contempt. They wore the garments of the Nanshanshen Sect, and the one who had spoken was a bearded man at their head. The moment his voice fell, the disciples standing behind him burst into boisterous laughter!
Seeing Li Xiangyi's group look over, the man glanced at Li Xiangyi's face, then at Sesshomaru, who was calmly sipping tea nearby. Waving a hand dismissively, he jeered, "A crippled doll who looks like a woman—can even someone relying on a face like that come to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament nowadays? And what—" Before he could finish speaking, and before Li Xiangyi's sword even moved, a stray strand of hair brushed past his cheek as the foul-mouthed middle-aged man spat blood and flew back a full zhang...
Sesshomaru looked down at the man on the ground. The blade aura within him churned furiously, and a sudden surge of tyrannical rage flared in his heart. It had been a very long time since anyone had dared to speak to him, Sesshomaru, in such a manner...
With a calm and indifferent expression on his face, Sesshomaru raised his foot and, inch by inch, crushed the flesh and bones of the man's right hand. The middle-aged man let out a miserable scream from the ground. Finally snapping out of their shock, the disciples of his sect drew their sabers and rushed forward.
With a flash of movement, Li Xiangyi didn't even draw his Shaoshi from its scabbard. With a single strike, the weapons of twenty-seven disciples dropped from their hands, their wrists snapped backward as they collapsed onto the ground. Moans echoed everywhere.
It all happened in the blink of an eye. Before the rest of the group could even react, the fight had ended with lightning speed. The Nanshanshen Sect's team leader screamed and lost consciousness, while all twenty-seven disciples lay groaning on the ground with shattered right hands...
Seeing the faint red tint in Sesshomaru's eyes, Li Xiangyi stepped forward with a worried look and grabbed Brother Sha's hand. Sesshomaru paused. Feeling the abnormality within his body, his eyes narrowed, and the slight reddish hue receded from his gaze. He lifted his foot off the man's head and resumed his usual cold demeanor.
Set at ease, Li Xiangyi didn't even spare the group on the ground a glance, simply calling out to his high-spirited brothers to leave together......
The group followed Li Xiangyi back to his residence, the Abode of Ruyi. Sesshomaru retired to his own room, while the others gathered in Li Xiangyi's quarters.
As soon as the door closed, Lu Lei slapped his hand down, unable to hide his excitement. "Xiangyi, the way you and Brother Sha struck just now was so crisp and thoroughly satisfying! Those bastards from the Nanshanshen Sect usually walk around with their noses in the air, styling themselves as an orthodox sect, but all they ever do is bully the weak and fear the strong. I've wanted to beat the stuffing out of them for ages!"
Erlin also chimed in with a rare expression of excitement, agreeing, "Exactly, it was so satisfying! Normally, the Nanshanshen Sect doesn't get along with us from the Chunyu Sect, and while they didn't dare pick on the core disciples of our sect... before we met you guys, they gave us plenty of trouble!"
After the excitement died down, Qi Yun looked around at the others and, thinking of what the Nanshanshen Sect had just said, asked with a smile, "I'm participating in this Martial Arts Tournament, but you guys must all be taking part for the first time. With all the various Jianghu sects gathered here, it's the symbol of the younger generation and a prime opportunity to make a name for yourselves. Will you really not regret missing out on such a grand event?"
With an air of proud defiance, Li Xiangyi said, "Making a name for oneself is a lively affair, but righteousness in our hearts and the orthodox path in our chests are the fundamental basis of our existence. Why would there be any regret?"
Qian Qixing felt a surge of passion in his chest. Looking at Li Xiangyi and Qi Yun, he declared firmly, "I, Qian Qixing, have no regrets!"
Lu Lei also nodded resolutely, speaking up, "No one is stopping me from practicing chivalry! I, Lu Lei, have no regrets!"
Jiang Yunzheng snapped open his folding fan, cutting the very picture of an elegant scion of a noble family, yet the light in his eyes had never burned so bright and clear. "Acts of chivalry! I, Young Master Jiang, will never regret it!"
Li Xi looked down at his own palms. "I, Li Xi, only fear failing to live up to my master's teachings. Doing such a good deed, I will never regret it!"
Zhao Wenhao looked down at his clean, neat attire, then at the high-spirited faces of the brothers around him. Remembering that in all his seventeen years, only this past month had he truly lived like a human being—where for the very first time, he was treated as a brother because he was Zhao Wenhao, free from mockery and suppression—a brilliant smile slowly bloomed across his face. "This is about being a hero alongside my brothers, how could I possibly regret it!Lin Ziyu and Lin Zimei exchanged a glance and likewise stated firmly, "We'd only regret it if we didn't follow our brothers!""
Listening to the passionate voices of youth converging in the next room, Sesshomaru's fleeting comprehension of the finer qualities of human nature ultimately suppressed the bestial, tyrannical impulses born from the growth of the Demon Blade...