Yang Ge said in surprise, "Is it really that awesome?"
Yang Tiansheng pondered over the word "awesome" and nodded, "It’s even more awesome than you can imagine. My father once said that if he could break through to see the true nature and attain the esteemed rank of a Grandmaster, there would be no more than the number of people on two hands who could defeat him in this world!"
"Ten people?"
Yang Ge nodded in admiration, "That is indeed quite awesome!"
Yang Tiansheng enthusiastically wrapped his arm around him, "So, for such a grand occasion, how could we, the Ice and Fire Duo, be absent?"
Yang Ge scratched his head, "Do you really believe that Li Changjiang will go as far as to purge his own ranks? Even if we can’t be brothers, there’s no need to make it a life-or-death struggle, right? Wouldn’t it be better to leave some goodwill for future mutual support?"
Yang Tiansheng shook his head, "The jianghu’s makeshift troupes, there’s not so much amicability in parting as you think. Plus, there’s that old saying ’it’s easy to ascend the mountain, hard to descend’, right?"
"If Dong Ping truly still cherished any sentiment for Lianhuan Fort, he wouldn’t openly declare the establishment of his own sect."
"Now that he’s made the declaration, Lianhuan Fort must respond. If they can’t handle it, their days of prosperity are over."
"With the Jianghuai Waterway being such a lucrative territory, Lianhuan Fort has reaped the benefits for so many years; how could others not covet it?"
Yang Ge pondered for a moment, then replied, "What if there’s a possibility... Li Changjiang ran into some troubles during his retreat, and that’s why Dong Ping dared to openly establish his own sect?"
Yang Tiansheng replied, "Then what about the possibility... that Li Changjiang is at a critical point in his seclusion, and if Dong Ping doesn’t leave now, he’ll never be able to free himself later?"
Yang Ge said, "You mean, Dong Ping is intentionally forcing Li Changjiang out of seclusion to disrupt his breakthrough?"
Yang Tiansheng answered, "Who can say for sure? Perhaps that old rascal has already died in his seclusion chamber, and outsiders simply don’t know it yet... Anyway, this time we’ll either witness the collapse of Lianhuan Fort or the rise of the Jujing Gang, either of which will be a spectacular event rarely seen in the jianghu!"
Yang Ge remarked, "You really do have a deep love for enjoying the show as a bystander."
Yang Tiansheng replied, "Absolutely. One should always rush towards excitement and enjoy the spectacle. If every day is much of the same, then have you lived one lifetime in a day, or a day for a lifetime?"
Yang Ge looked at him and shook his head, "You’re too extreme. The grandeur of mountains and oceans has its magnificence, and the roadside wildflowers have their freshness. You need a heart keen to discover the various joys in life to truly live interesting days... It’s the ordinary that holds the true answer."
Yang Tiansheng, tired of the serious talk, slapped Yang Ge’s shoulder with great force, "A man should be straightforward. Will you agree or not?"
Yang Ge hesitantly replied, "Since we’ve come all this way, I might as well go with you to broaden my horizons."
Yang Tiansheng, delighted, slapped the table, "A gentleman’s word!"
Yang Ge replied, "A promise that cannot be taken back!"
Yang Tiansheng rolled up his sleeves, "It’s just the Changfeng Gang, right? They dare to bully Zhang Mazi, so I won’t agree!"
Yang Ge slammed the table, "Deal with them!"
...
The next day at noon.
The fleet from the Upper Right Bureau arrived at the Jiangdu docks, and the Yangzhou Magistrate personally led a group of officials from the magistrate’s court to welcome them.
Meanwhile, Yang Ge got reports from his subordinates that all of Changfeng Gang’s businesses within Jiangdu were shut down, and even the usually strutting and swaggering members of the gang were nowhere to be seen on the streets.
With no ruffians showing off and no poor families begging along the streets, Jiangdu appeared both neat and peaceful.
It very much fit the common perception of a foggy, affluent, and peaceful Jiangnan city...
As the impressive entourage of the Upper Right Bureau, accompanied by a host of both high-ranking and low-ranking officials of the Yangzhou magistrate’s court, made its way into the city in high spirits.
Yang Ge and Yang Tiansheng were sitting at a roadside tea stall directly opposite the main Changfeng Gang headquarters, drinking tea.
Both had dressed in common coarse clothes for the day, and their swords and knives were wrapped in grey cloth, making them look like those wandering martial artists who made their living with a few agricultural techniques.
Fang Ke, also disguised, rushed into the tea stall with a cloth bundle, and after glancing around, spotted the two and promptly whispered, "Boss, Qin the Shopkeeper and the others have entered the city and are heading towards the magistrate’s court."
Yang Ge nodded, "Has the message been delivered to his hands?"
Fang Ke replied, "It was delivered before the ship even docked!"
Yang Ge pointed at the firmly closed doors of the Changfeng Gang headquarters across the street, with its gold plaque reading "Harmony Brings Wealth," and asked, "How many of those eight Qi Seas are inside?"
Fang Ke answered, "Six!"
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Yang Ge tapped the table, thinking for a moment, then suddenly said, "Send the signal!"
Fang Ke was taken aback, "Huh?"
Yang Ge gave him a look and smiled, "What? Can’t wait to sit in my seat already?"
Fang Ke’s expression changed drastically, and he quickly bowed and apologized, "I wouldn’t dare!"
Yang Ge picked up his teacup and gently blew on the foam floating on top, speaking softly, "Send the signal!"
Fang Ke responded, "Yes!"
He hastily set the cloth bundle on the table, pulled a firework from his waist, and rushed out of the tea stall. He lit it and aimed it at the clear blue sky.
"Whoosh... Bang!"
The firework whistled up and burst into a red flower in broad daylight, which wasn’t too bright against the daytime sky.
Yang Ge set down his teacup and leisurely uncovered the cloth bundle on the table, shaking out two finely made black cloaks and threw one to Yang Tiansheng.
On the other side, Qin, who was riding a tall horse and showing a smiling face while dealing with the officials from the magistrate’s office, was likewise stunned by the skyrocketing red flower.
Mei Yanzhi, the Yangzhou Prefecture magistrate accompanying him, stroking his goatee, wondered, "Why would someone set off fireworks in broad daylight without any celebration..."