Chapter 5: Chapter 4: The Fierce Might of the Heavenly Wolf
Lin Jingqi did not change the name of the Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall after taking it over.
After all, the Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall already had a certain reputation in Lianshan City, and randomly changing the name would affect its business.
At this moment, about a hundred disciples were practicing Martial Arts in the center of the hall’s training grounds.
The beginners were practicing their stances, while some disciples who had been training for a long time had already begun cultivating the Great Silk Binding Hand.
Lin Jingqi held a teapot in his hand, walking among the many disciples and correcting their movements one by one.
He was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with strong, sharp features. His beard made him look rather mature.
Just then, Lin Jingqi suddenly frowned and handed the teapot to a disciple beside him.
"Is this how you practice the Great Silk Binding Hand?"
Lin Jingqi snorted coldly. His left hand coiled around a wooden training dummy like a great python, then suddenly tightened with crushing force. The dummy let out a loud CRACK and was snapped in two!
"This is the true Great Silk Binding Hand, the secret technique of our Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall! It is gentle yet firm, with its killing intent concealed within."
"And what is this that you’re all practicing? It’s soft and powerless, all form and no substance!"
"If you don’t train properly now, don’t you dare claim to be a disciple of my Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall when you’re out in the world! I, Lin Jingqi, cannot afford to lose that much face!"
Just then, the sound of clapping suddenly came from the entrance of the martial arts hall.
"Master Lin, you truly are a strict and responsible teacher. Impressive, very impressive."
Chen Yuan, with a Yanling Saber at his waist and a Wolf Pattern Cloak draped over his shoulders, stepped into the martial arts hall with a dozen tall, sturdy members of the Celestial Wolf Gang who were all holding long sabers.
Strictly speaking, these men were not official members of the Celestial Wolf Gang, but rather prospective members training at the Instructor Hall.
However, the Celestial Wolf Gang trained fighters who could kill and who dared to risk their lives—desperadoes of the Jianghu.
Although this group of prospective members had not yet been formally assigned to the various halls, their presence was still far more intimidating than that of the martial arts disciples present.
Seeing the newcomers, Lin Jingqi’s expression changed slightly.
He had never met Chen Yuan, but he could guess his identity.
One of the Three Heroes of the Celestial Wolf Gang. The one who had previously been the most low-key had, in the past few days, become the most high-profile.
’But what is Chen Yuan doing at the Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall?’ He wanted nothing to do with these gang members.
Strictly speaking, martial arts halls occupied a space between the Jianghu People and ordinary folk.
They only taught Martial Arts and did not participate in Jianghu conflicts. They only collected tuition fees and did not fight for territory.
As for these gang members, the various martial arts halls in Lianshan City all kept a respectful distance.
Lin Jingqi cupped his fists and said, "Might you be Master Chen Yuan, one of the Three Heroes of the Celestial Wolf Gang? May I ask what business brings Master Chen to my Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall?"
"A simple matter. I’ve come to your Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall mainly to demand an explanation."
Chen Yuan looked at Lin Jingqi with a cheerful smile. "A disciple from your Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall joined the Black Water Gang, killed my Celestial Wolf Gang brothers, and seized my Celestial Wolf Gang’s territory. Don’t you think you owe me an explanation for this, Master Lin?"
Lin Jingqi’s face changed drastically. He quickly said, "Master Chen, this is a misunderstanding! My Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall only teaches disciples martial arts. As for whether they become escorts, roam the Jianghu, or join some gang, none of that is something I can control!"
Chen Yuan looked at Lin Jingqi with a smirk. "That’s not quite right, is it, Master Lin? Why do the disciples you train join the Black Water Gang instead of my Celestial Wolf Gang?"
"Could it be because you’re always bad-mouthing my Celestial Wolf Gang within your hall? Or perhaps you yourself are colluding with the Black Water Gang, intentionally training new members for them?"
"Your Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall is within my Celestial Wolf Gang’s sphere of influence, yet you encourage your disciples to join the Black Water Gang. This is a classic case of biting the hand that feeds you. You clearly have no respect for my Celestial Wolf Gang."
Lin Jingqi was already sweating profusely with anxiety.
’How did this conversation suddenly turn into me colluding with the Black Water Gang?’
He didn’t want to provoke anyone from the Celestial Wolf Gang, and he kept an even greater distance from the Black Water Gang.
Just then, a young woman in her thirties walked out from inside and said angrily, "Lin Jingqi! What are you still explaining for? Can’t you see he’s just here to cause trouble?"
"The rule for all martial arts halls in Lianshan City is that we only teach Martial Arts; we don’t ask about our disciples’ futures."
"Once a disciple leaves the hall, their actions have nothing to do with us, and the hall is forbidden from interfering in disputes between disciples."
"He, Chen Yuan, hasn’t just been knocking around Lianshan City for a day. How could he not know these rules?"
Chen Yuan looked at the woman with great interest.
She had a full figure and a pretty face, quite attractive. This must be Zhang Qiuhua, the fiancée who was seduced by Lin Jingqi and helped him drug Duan Mubai.
’But looking at her now,’ he thought, ’she seems to have a very strong personality. Her temper is even fierier than Lin Jingqi’s. That’s a bit different from what I imagined.’
"You! Shut your mouth!"
Lin Jingqi glared at her fiercely.
Turning back, Lin Jingqi cupped his fists at Chen Yuan, his attitude now completely subservient.
"My wife is ignorant. I hope Master Chen won’t take offense. May I ask the name of the disciple who joined the Black Water Gang? I will immediately go and publicly expel him, and I will host a banquet to apologize to the Celestial Wolf Gang."
The disciples present all looked at Lin Jingqi with disbelief.
Their master, who was usually so imposing, was now acting so humbly and wretchedly before this young man.
Lin Jingqi wanted to be firm, but he knew that his small Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall was nothing compared to the Celestial Wolf Gang.
Any Hall Master from the Celestial Wolf Gang was a Martial Artist in the Meridian Passage Realm, commanding hundreds of elite gang members seasoned in Jianghu battles. Eradicating their Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall would be effortless.
The old master, Duan Zhenshan, was in the Meridian Passage Realm, and back then, the Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall had a decent amount of prestige.
But Lin Jingqi had been stuck for so many years, unable to cross the threshold into Meridian Passage. To this day, he was still at the Peak of Body Tempering Realm. How could he have the confidence to act tough against Chen Yuan, one of the Three Heroes of the Celestial Wolf Gang?
Chen Yuan said casually, "His name is Zhang San."
Lin Jingqi subconsciously replied, "I’ll go get the roster and look for that Zhang San right away."
But then, Lin Jingqi felt that something was not right.
The Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall enrolled hundreds of disciples every year. While he couldn’t possibly remember every disciple’s name, he was certain that there was absolutely no one named Zhang San.
It has always been said that literature is for the poor and martial arts are for the rich. The tuition alone at Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall was over a hundred taels of silver a year. Who would dare to learn Martial Arts at the hall without a wealthy family backing them?
Therefore, the disciples of the Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall came from well-off families at the very least. How could anyone have a common name like Zhang San?
"Master Chen, are you sure the man’s name is really Zhang San?"
"Not sure, because I just made the name up."
Lin Jingqi’s face instantly flushed crimson. "You..."
Zhang Qiuhua sneered, "Lin Jingqi, don’t you get it yet? He’s here to cause trouble for us today. It won’t matter even if you get on your knees and beg!"
This time, Lin Jingqi did not rebuke his wife. He just stared at Chen Yuan, his eyes bloodshot.
"Master Chen, my Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall has never provoked your Celestial Wolf Gang, and I have never even met you. Even if you’re going to kill me, at least let me know why, so I can die understanding!"
Chen Yuan toyed with the hilt of his Yanling Saber and said nonchalantly, "When you plotted to cripple Duan Mubai, you didn’t give him any advance warning, did you?"
Hearing the name Duan Mubai, Lin Jingqi’s expression changed instantly.
Zhang Qiuhua, however, suddenly pulled out two short daggers from behind her back and lunged at Chen Yuan.
At the same time, she shouted at Lin Jingqi, "Kill Chen Yuan! Take his head and go seek refuge with the Black Water Gang!"
"He’s here because of what happened to Duan Mubai! If we don’t kill him, we’re all going to die!"
A smile touched the corners of Chen Yuan’s lips.
’This woman, Zhang Qiuhua, is more decisive and clear-headed than Lin Jingqi.’
Once she knew he was here about Duan Mubai, she immediately understood that the situation between them was now kill or be killed.
Kneeling was useless, so the only option left was to fight for their lives.
And after fighting, seeking refuge with the Celestial Wolf Gang’s mortal enemy, the Black Water Gang, was indeed their only way out.
Unfortunately, while her mind was clear, her strength was only average.
In an instant, Chen Yuan’s Yanling Saber was unsheathed. The piercing ring of the blade echoed throughout the entire hall.
His strike, though second, landed first. The saber’s momentum was like a hungry wolf pouncing on its prey.
With a loud CLANG, Zhang Qiuhua’s twin daggers were sent flying, and the webbing between her thumbs and index fingers immediately gushed with blood.
Chen Yuan spun and kicked her in the chest, sending her flying and causing her to instantly spit up a mouthful of blood.
They were both in the Body Tempering Realm, but the difference in power between a Body Tempering cultivator who practiced Inner Power and a common Body Tempering Martial Artist who only trained their physical body was like heaven and earth.
A Martial Artist who only tempered their physical body might be strong, but it was a brute strength that could only be exerted through muscles and sinews.
But after cultivating Inner Power, one could mobilize the Qi and Blood Power within their Meridians, resulting in far greater explosive force.
Lin Jingqi no longer cowered in hesitation. He flipped his hands, and a pair of Fine Steel Locking Gloves were already on them.
These Fine Steel Locking Gloves were crafted from interconnected, rice-sized Vajra Lock Rings, making them incredibly intricate and delicate.
The Great Silk Binding Hand was a close-quarters Grappling Technique. When facing bladed weapons like sabers and swords, one could use these Vajra Locking Gloves to catch blades bare-handed.
However, manufacturing these gloves was an extremely difficult and intricate process, making them more expensive than their weight in silver. This pair was a relic left behind by Duan Zhenshan, now possessed by Lin Jingqi.
Lin Jingqi’s Body Technique was extremely fast. He pounced towards Chen Yuan like a cheetah.
The Yanling Saber thrust out diagonally, its presence overwhelming as several afterimages of the blade slashed down in succession.
Celestial Wolf Assault Shadow!
Lin Jingqi roared, his arms moving like a fluttering butterfly as he directly clashed with the saber’s blade, producing a series of metallic CLANGS.
Then, finding an opening, his hands moved like delicate silk threads, suddenly winding around the Yanling Saber. They coiled and twisted, the Vajra Locking Gloves locking down on the blade’s edge.
A flash of joy went through Lin Jingqi’s heart. Just as he was about to press his advantage and close the distance, a tremendous force suddenly erupted from the locked saber in his hands!
A shower of sparks burst from between the Yanling Saber and the Vajra Locking Gloves. The saber was forcefully wrenched free, and in the next moment, a dazzling blade of light appeared before Lin Jingqi’s eyes.
The light of the saber was brilliant, like the full moon.
Celestial Wolf Devouring the Moon!
In his haste, Lin Jingqi crossed his arms in front of him to block, but Chen Yuan’s strike directly shattered most of the Vajra Locking Gloves on his hands, instantly breaking the bones within.
The Celestial Wolf Saber Technique was purely offensive, without any defensive moves. It was treacherous and ruthless, an extreme Saber Technique focused solely on killing.
If Lin Jingqi had adopted a defensive stance to stall for time, the characteristics of his Great Silk Binding Hand might have allowed him to trade a few more blows.
But instead, he tried to meet Attack Against Attack, which only made him lose faster.
Looking at his own bloody, mangled hands, Lin Jingqi’s eyes filled with despair.
With both hands crippled, he could no longer perform the Great Silk Binding Hand. He was now in a desperate situation.
Seeing Chen Yuan approaching with his saber, Lin Jingqi begged pitifully, "Don’t kill me! Although I was the one who crippled Duan Mubai, I wasn’t the mastermind!"
Lin Jingqi suddenly pointed at the seriously injured Zhang Qiuhua on the ground and said through gritted teeth, "It was her! This woman bewitched me into attacking Duan Mubai!"
"Master Duan’s kindness to me was as great as a mountain. I never intended to compete with Duan Mubai for anything. It was all her! She said Duan Mubai couldn’t protect the Zhen Shan Martial Arts Hall and told me to seize it."
"She was also the one who took the initiative to drug Duan Mubai, pushing me to deliver the crippling blow! If you want revenge for Duan Mubai, you should kill her, not me!"
PS: Thank you to the reader Bu Guan Bu Gu Bu Li for the generous donation! Congratulations on becoming the book’s first Alliance Leader! (•̀⌄•́)
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