The two major espionage organizations of the imperial court and the largest intelligence organization of the martial arts community, like bulls stabbed in the rear, let out a bellow and charged, mobilizing full force to search the entire world!
Troves of people from the three major organizations wielding magnifying glasses, inch by inch, searched along the 800-li canal route from Jiangzhe to Luting County. Every martial artist, mule and horse caravan, and groups of more than twenty individuals passing by the canal at that time were subject to the scrutiny of the three organizations.
Many innocent martial artists were questioned by the people from Xiu Yi Wei in the morning, only to have the men from the Western Factory turn up at noon. With much persuasion, they managed to send away the Western Factory officers, but then the people from the Western Factory showed up again at night...
In Jianghuai, there was even an occasion where all three organizations simultaneously confronted a gang of bandits self-styled as the "Black Cloud Three Eagles." After exchanging glances, they tacitly teamed up to storm the bandits’ stronghold. The three gang leaders, upon hearing the news and the names of their challengers, were so frightened they wet themselves, which became a jest.
Any person in the world of martial arts who heard this joke could imagine the intense internal struggle of the three gang leaders upon hearing the names Xiu Yi Wei, Western Factory, and Xiu Yi Wei: "Why am I, of all people, targeted by these three organizations together? For heaven’s sake, have I robbed the imperial court? Even if I did rob the imperial court, Xiu Yi Wei should not be joining this mess!"
In short, Yang Ge was eying both leaders intently, both leaders were intently eying the three organizations, and the three organizations were intently eying all the forces and individuals in the world capable of such deeds.
This isn’t even considering the Ming Sect and White Lotus Sect, who were rallying their forces on their respective turfs.
For a while, the entire martial arts community was on edge, seeing threats in every shadow, and even the previously slow pace of life, described as "carriages slow, ten years to forge a sword, startling everyone with one strike," seemed to speed up significantly. Many unknown figures suddenly became famous, many long-established heroes fell from grace, many minor powers unexpectedly rose, and many long-thriving major powers suddenly crumbled.
This made many secluded or those martial artists who trained intensely in isolation feel, upon re-entering the martial world, as if they hadn’t been away for merely a few months, but rather for decades...
It was during this time that the world’s heroes finally witnessed the terrifying influence of Yang Ge, newly recognized as the supreme power.
Not stepping into the imperial court, yet he could make the whole court shake for his sake!
Not treading into the martial world, yet he could plunge the whole world into chaos...
Indeed, he had not established any faction.
But he himself had already become one of the great powers in the world!
...
"Pure suit, concealed kong blooms!"
Yang Ge slapped the one-dot tile on the table handsomely, laughing merrily, "Full hand, sixty coins from everyone!"
"What?"
"You must have cheated!"
"Boss is awesome!"
Xiao Baoqi and the others at the table, shocked by the one-dot tile in his hand, wished they could overturn his tiles to check if he was bluffing!
This lucky bloke can play a pure suit too?
Even Zhao Cha, who was keenly watching from a distance, couldn’t help but move behind Yang Ge, counting the tiles in his hand.
"Jealous, sheer jealousy!"
Yang Ge waved his hand proudly, "I have fully grasped the ultimate secret of Mahjong, watch how I wipe you all out next!"
"Ha! "
"Tsch!"
Xiao Baoqi and the rogue scoffed together.
The flea kept his head down, not daring to speak.
Tinily, a swordsman wearing a hat and carrying a long sword arrived at the inn’s door.
Walking into the Yuelai Inn with his sword on his back, having looked around the front hall, his gaze instantly fixed on Li Qing sitting to the right of the door and he smiled, "Master Li, you are indeed here!"
The indifferent patrons of the inn cast a glance toward the door... Since Li Qing came to Yuelai Inn, numerous swordsmen had come to challenge him, easily a hundred if not eighty, and they had become indifferent.
Perhaps this is what happens when you bully the kind-ones.
Plainly, Yang Ge, the supreme leader in the inn was seldom challenged; to be exact, none except Li Qing ever did.
Not even dissenting murmurs were heard by the patrons of the inn.
Rather it was Li Qing, the amiable salted fish, who kept himself busy like a professional practice partner.
If he hesitated a bit, various provocative comments such as "undeserved reputation" and "fishing for fame" would surge forth.
However, the swordsman who arrived today seemed different...
While playing Mahjong at the same table with Yang Ge, Xiao Baoqi turned to glance, dropping his tiles in shock, and yelled, "Damn, Yan Bufan!"
"Eight circles, won, pure suit pairs, forty coins!"
"You also won with eight circles? Then I’ve won too! Pure suit hitting on eight circles plus an extra kong, fifty coins!"
The rogue and the flea simultaneously pushed their hands, smiling mischievously at Xiao Baoqi.
Xiao Baoqi, looking baffled, examined all their hands, exclaimed, "No way, a pure suit from all three in one hand?"
Yang Ge, looking interestedly toward the door at the rugged swordsman slowly taking off his hat, asked, "Xiao, is this your senior brother?"
This fellow is an expelled disciple from Mount Hua… expelled for secretly mastering martial arts from another sect.
Xiao Baoqi curled his lips, "By the time of entry, he joined after me, but because his martial arts were superior, he is hailed as the senior brother."
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Upon hearing this, Zhao Cha, standing behind Yang Ge, instantly smelled a juicy story and casually inquired, "Is it because you resented him being the senior brother that you went and learned martial arts from other sects?"