Chapter 330: Gaining Fame and Establishing a Legacy

The young man on the second floor of Chunfeng Yuan leaned against the railing, casually holding a jar of wine, watching the Yulin Army return.

He hadn't expected Chen Ji and the others to return after finally fighting their way out.

Neither did the Heji Bagun.

It was as if people no longer believed in the Jianghu, the legendary stories told by storytellers were just for entertainment, and should be forgotten after a drink.

The young man felt that Chen Ji and the others seemed different after leaving and returning to the alley.

He remarked to Zhou Kuang with interest, "The sword finally has sword intent, it has entered the hall! Zhou Kuang, what were your odds of success when your Xiaoyongwei of the Five Armies faced them before?"

Zhou Kuang thought for a moment and said, "Ten tenths..."

The young man chuckled, "And now?"

Zhou Kuang pondered again for a moment, "Five tenths!"

The young man laughed heartily, "How is it still five tenths? Isn't their formation powerful?"

Zhou Kuang calmly replied, "If disregard for life is allowed, my Xiaoyongwei has at least five tenths odds against anyone. Without such confidence, we wouldn't be worthy of the name Xiaoyong!"

The young man's gaze returned to the alley, focusing intently on Chen Ji among the Yulin Army. "Zhou Kuang, this boy is the essence of those thirty-eight men. Find a chance to invite him for a drink!"

Zhou Kuang reminded him, "He said he quit drinking!"

The young man rested his arm on the windowsill and smiled, "Only those with a mountain weighing on their hearts quit drinking. But this mountain can't always press down, there will always be a time when it can't be held back!"

He pointed downstairs, "Look, the moment he turned back outside the alley, he couldn't hold it back anymore!"

Zhou Kuang frowned, "Master, the Furuixiang forces are almost at the alley. Should we have them withdraw?"

The young man looked at the alley below, "No need. Someone is going to make a name for themselves here at the foot of the Imperial City today. Let Furuixiang be their stepping stone!"

In the narrow alley!

When the Yulin Army clashed with the Heji Bagun, Li Xuan felt a little dazed!

Time seemed to slow down. He looked around in the Yuanyang formation. He saw Duo Bao wielding his iron wolf-rake to clear the way, and Qi Zhenzhu poised for action!

He saw sweat dripping from Qi Zhenzhu's loose hair, and he saw Zhou Chong slapping his rattan shield with his Pu Dao, his mouth opening and closing as he roared at the Bafun, but he couldn't hear what the other party was roaring!

No one looked back!

New recruits were taught by their masters before going to the battlefield: how to charge, where to strike the enemy, how to survive if an arm was broken, and how to follow old veterans into battle!

But the Yulin Army had no one to teach them before. Only officials taught them how to march in ceremonies: who carried the Wufang flags, who carried the Riyue flags, who carried the Beidou flags, who held the Jieyue, who held the Huanghui, and how far each step should be when marching!

The Yulin Army's first time on the battlefield was with the old veterans from Guyuan. They could only learn by imitation!

So at this moment, the Yulin Army was like the rough and tough stones of Guyuan, carrying a sky full of sand and dust as they crashed into the Bafun, and the Bafun shattered upon impact!

Some Bafun resorted to old tricks, rushing out from the courtyards of the brothethels, trying to break through the Yuanyang formation!

But how could the Yulin Army, now in a bloody frenzy, hold back?

A Bafun rushed out of a courtyard, tightly gripping the tail of Li Cen's spear, "Quick, I've got his spear, you all!"

Before he finished speaking, Li Cen exerted himself, lifting the Bafun and the spear shaft together, then throwing them heavily to the ground, making the Bafun spit out a mouthful of blood!

Sweat on Li Cen's hair and arms shook off, looking like a fine rain under the light of the red lanterns!

He loudly declared, "Again."

Another Bafun rushed out of the courtyard beside the alley, carrying a table, and charged towards the Yuanyang formation at the rear. Li Xuan glanced at him, kicked the table, and the Bafun flew back with the table!

Qi Zhenzhu whispered, "It's a pity Wang Fang carried Chen Wenren away, otherwise we could have stomped on him again!"

Li Xuan angrily said, "What time is it, and you're still thinking about these things? Focus, form ranks."

The Yulin Army advanced step by step, pressing forward with their spear forest. Each Yulin Army soldier performed his duty within the formation, like a chariot of bronze gears meshing together, slowly crushing forward!

Within the military formation, spears were withdrawn and thrust, leaving the Heji Bafun with no power to retaliate!

Chen Ji reminded them from within the Yuanyang formation, "There might still be hidden Xinguans, don't be careless!"

He and Li Xuan observed coolly from within the formation, but the Heji Bafun retreated steadily, and no Xinguans appeared. When they finally forced the Heji Bafun completely out of Li Shaomao Hutong!

Duo Bao laughed heartily within the Yuanyang formation, "Didn't you want us to come back just now? Now we're back, why aren't you happy? Come on, come on."

The Heji Bafun stood anxiously outside Li Shaomao Hutong, halting their steps!

A Bafun urgently said, "Where is Master Qian? Why isn't Master Qian here to take charge?"

Someone whispered, "We and Furuixiang made a blood oath. Master Qian is being held hostage at Furuixiang!"

The previous Bafun grew anxious, "Then where is the leader? Where is the leader? Where are the Xinguans of our Heji's Eight Inner Halls? Why aren't any of them here? If they don't come, these Eight Great Hutongs will be lost."

But the Xinguans of Heji were nowhere to be seen, and the leader Wang Huan was also nowhere to be found!

Just then, dense footsteps were heard in the distance. Someone stood on tiptoe to look and saw the Furuixiang Bafun rushing into the alley, each holding a dagger!

Qian Ping and Zhu Guan were surrounded by the crowd. Qian Ping looked at the Heji Bafun lying all over the alley and closed his eyes with a hint of unbearable pity!

When he opened them again, he looked at Zhu Guan beside him and said angrily, "Zhu Guan, because of your selfish desires, you've caused my Heji to face the enemy alone. Do you still have a shred of Jianghu chivalry in your heart?"

Zhu Guan stroked his goatee, "Master Qian, does your Heji even deserve to talk about Jianghu chivalry with me? Have you ever talked about Jianghu chivalry all these years? Besides, didn't I arrive in time?"

Qian Ping was silent for a moment, then finally prioritized the bigger picture, "Now is not the time to talk about these things. Please, Furuixiang, take action immediately!"

Zhu Guan looked at the Bafun on the ground and gloated, "These people are too fierce. Why don't you just give them the Eight Great Hutongs!"

Qian Ping frowned, "Li Shaomao Hutong and Hanjia Tan Hutong belong to your Furuixiang!"

Zhu Guan chuckled, "I've always been a realist. When I can't provoke your Heji, I don't. These people now, I also can't provoke. Can't we just hide? Master Qian, I call you Master Qian out of respect, because I know you've been managing Heji's affairs all these years, and it hasn't been easy for you. Let's speak plainly, we're all respectable figures in the Outer City, but we all have superiors. We're just monthly-paid shopkeepers, why bother rushing to our deaths?"

Qian Ping remained silent!

Zhu Guan patted the dust off Qian Ping's shoulder and continued to smile, "All these years, my Furuixiang has deferred to your Heji, not fighting or competing with you, and we've lived perfectly well. Business isn't always that important. One more alley, one less alley, will the money still end up in our pockets?"

Qian Ping angrily said, "Our owner entrusted the business to us, how can we treat it as child's play?"

Zhu Guan's face darkened, and he poked Qian Ping's chest with his finger, "Stop pretending to be righteous with me. What kind of thing are you, Qian Ping? You're just a homeless dog taken in by Wang Huan, a lackey! You talk about righteousness with them, but do they talk about righteousness with you?"

Qian Ping swatted away Zhu Guan's hand, "Heji and Furuixiang have already sworn a blood oath. Stop talking nonsense here. If you don't act now, the Sanshan Hui won't tolerate you either!"

Zhu Guan sneered, "Don't worry, my Furuixiang will clean up this mess for your Heji right away. But this time, my Furuixiang wants more than just two alleys, I want four!"

Before his words finished, the red lanterns above their heads suddenly ignited. The flames started burning from the bottom, burning extremely slowly, like an inverted incense stick!

On the red lanterns, golden talismans slowly appeared!

Not just this one, but all the red lanterns hanging above Li Shaomao Hutong ignited, burning with thick black smoke that gathered in the night sky without dispersing, forming a Bagua shape in the sky!

The next moment, the smoke descended, enveloping the entire alley in a curtain of smoke!

Inside Li Shaomao Hutong, only the Yulin Army and Furuixiang forces remained. The inky black smoke isolated Heji outside!

Zhu Guan was startled and quickly waved his hand, "Quick, quick, retreat from the alley."

But the Furuixiang Bafun slammed into the thick smoke, only to be pushed back by an invisible force! Then five people rushed together towards the thick smoke, and were still bounced back!

"Is this some Daojing talisman formation?"

Zhu Guan angrily shouted, "Knock down those red lanterns for me!"

The Bafun threw daggers at the red lanterns, but the daggers were bounced away upon contact with the red lanterns!

Zhu Guan looked at the masked men charging towards them, then looked at Qian Ping, furious, "Your Heji set us up, you damn traitor! What Jianghu chivalry? It's all just business, you motherf**ker!"

As he spoke, he noticed that Qian Ping was staring blankly at the red lanterns, seemingly lost in thought!

Zhu Guan, instead of being angry, laughed, "So you don't know either. Hahahahaha, it seems your Heji's owner only cares about my Furuixiang's territory, not your dog's life. Men, Heji has broken faith, kill this Qian Ping for me first."

The Furuixiang Bafun exchanged glances, hesitant to step forward! Zhu Guan angrily said, "What are you afraid of? He's just a homeless dog."

A Bafun tentatively rushed forward. He saw Qian Ping still looking up at the lanterns and stabbed a dagger into his abdomen, but Qian Ping only looked down at him, not even frowning!

Another Bafun rushed forward, stabbing a dagger into Qian Ping's back! Seeing that Qian Ping had no intention of fighting back, a third Bafun surrounded him, stabbing a dagger into Qian Ping's right chest!

Just as the fourth Bafun was about to stab again, the door of Yihong Yuan beside the alley opened!

A man ghost-like rushed in front of Qian Ping and blocked him. He gripped the Bafun's wrist and looked up at Zhu Guan, "According to Jianghu rules, three stabs are considered repayment of a debt. This person is under the protection of Lord Qi. Does anyone have any objections?"

Zhu Guan looked at the wounds on Qian Ping's body, knowing he wouldn't live much longer!

He sneered, "Of course we must give Lord Qi face. Whoever wants this dead man can take him!"

The man took out a pill from his怀 and offered it to Qian Ping's mouth, but Qian Ping smiled with a pale face, "No need, it's a waste!"

Zhu Guan narrowed his eyes, "This is a Dao Court pill. You're actually using it to treat his injuries?"

The man ignored Zhu Guan and only looked at Qian Ping, saying coldly, "Swallow it. There will be a long time ahead. The life you owed Wang Huan has been repaid. Now this life is your own!"

Qian Ping silently closed his eyes, "Brother Ji, this Jianghu is meaningless. Let me go!"

The man named Ji angrily said, "Lord Qi is old and wants to wash his hands of the business. The burden of the Sanshan Hui still depends on you. So many disabled soldiers from the army still need someone to look after them."

Qian Ping opened his eyes and asked hesitantly, "Why me?"

The man named Ji forced the pill into Qian Ping's mouth, "Live and ask Lord Qi yourself."

Qian Ping swallowed the pill. The man put one of Qian Ping's arms over his shoulder and helped him walk back into Yihong Yuan, "Don't pull out the daggers yet. This pill can only sustain your life. Whether you live or not depends on your luck."

Zhu Guan sneered behind them, "The Sanshan Hui has fallen, taking in any homeless dog!"

The Sanshan Hui man stopped and turned to look at Zhu Guan, "We live by a single breath. What do you live by? This talisman formation won't disperse for a while. You'd better pray for good fortune!"

Zhu Guan was startled and turned to look. The spear forest and shield formation had already charged close!

He quickly waved his hand and said, "I have no grudges with you all. This matter between you brave men and Heji, our Furuixiang will not participate. Wait, Chongnan Fang can also be yours, and Chongbei Fang too."

The Yulin Army instantly shattered the Furuixiang Bafun. Zhu Guan's screams were swallowed by the spear forest!

The smoke lasted for a full half an hour!

Wang Huan, who had been hiding for a long time, now dragged his plump body and stood smiling outside the smoke, waiting for the black smoke to dissipate!

He hooked his thumbs into his belt, his eyes narrowed into slits from smiling, "Tomorrow, all the halls will prepare to take over Furuixiang's territories in Chongnan Fang and Chongbei Fang. Even Panjiayuan will be taken over. From now on, the business in the Ghost Market will be decided by my Heji."

Wang Huan walked closer to the smoke and looked carefully into the thick black smoke, wanting to see what was happening inside!

He saw that the thick smoke was bottomless black, and inside, black hands were struggling outwards, as if trying to break free from the smoke!

One hand almost grabbed Wang Huan's face, scaring him back a step!

A Bafun whispered, "Leader, where did this Xinguan come from? Aren't our Eight Inner Halls' Xinguans practitioners of Xingyi Quan?"

Wang Huan turned to glance at him, "This is the Great Xinguan sent by the owner. Don't ask what you shouldn't ask!"

The Bafun hesitated for a moment, "Master Qian is still inside, he..."

Wang Huan consoled him, "Master Qian is a fortunate man, he'll be fine!"

As his words fell, the black smoke gradually dissipated. Wang Huan smiled as he looked inside, then his expression changed, and he took a small step back!

In the deep Li Shaomao Hutong, the red lanterns had burned out!

The long alley was filled with wailing Bafun writhing on the ground, like a living hell. Zhu Guan leaned against the green brick wall, his life unknown!

Not far opposite Wang Huan, the Yulin Army soldiers had disheveled hair, their clothes soaked with sweat!

They were panting. Some were re-tying their masked grey cloth, others were removing hairpins to re-tie their hair!

Seeing the smoke dissipate, Qi Zhenzhu spat into his hand and re-gripped the long spear leaning on his shoulder. Zhou Chong re-raised his long shield, casually slapped the shield face with his Pu Dao, and Duo Bao, who had been resting leaning against the green brick wall with his iron wolf-rake, grumbled and straightened his body again!

Lin Yanchu, Li Guang, and other commoners who had originally followed Chen Wenren, also followed Li Xuan!

Chen Ji tied his mask, picked up his long spear from the ground with his toes, and shook it in his hand!

He stood at the front of the formation and asked without turning his head, "Are there any who are afraid?"

Li Xuan replied calmly behind him, "None!"

Chen Ji raised his long spear horizontally, pointing it at Wang Huan from afar, "Fenwu, Wansheng."

"Kill."