Chapter 1: Li Musheng

Great Li, Wanzhou, Shun'an City.

The Yu Family Martial Arts Hall, renowned throughout the city, was decked out in festive decorations today with gongs and drums sounding incessantly. Guests from all directions arrived in an endless stream.

"Ah Sheng, there aren't enough tables in the east hall. Come with me to the backyard to move a few more."

Amidst the noisy crowd, a brawny man with bulging muscles called out hurriedly, then pulled the young man standing in the front courtyard toward the back.

The young man had sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes, with a handsome face. It was precisely because of his good looks that he had been assigned the easy job of greeting guests in the front courtyard.

"Brother Zhang, what’s the rush? Let those guests stand for a while; it won't kill them, will it?"

Li Musheng yawned, dragging his feet as he followed Zhang Dazhuang.

The man turned back to glare at him, retorting irritably

"Today is the big day for our old master to retire from the martial arts world. The people coming are all big shots with status in the pugilistic world. If you’re this lazy, watch out—you’ll get yourself into trouble and get a beating."

Hearing this, Li Musheng rolled his eyes. He actually wished he could find someone who could beat him, but he feared that would be very difficult to find.

At this moment, Zhang Dazhuang shook his head, slowed his pace, and spoke in a tone of earnest advice

"You kid, you’re just too arrogant and dismissive. You’re so handsome; if you were a bit more diligent in your martial arts training, maybe the old master would marry his second daughter off to you."

"Brother Zhang, spare me. The second daughter weighs four hundred pounds, and her palms are wider than my head. With my physique, I don't have the fortune to enjoy that."

Li Musheng chuckled, but then he changed the subject

"If that stingy old man Yu could give me the third daughter, I might reluctantly consider it."

"Forget it. The third daughter is like a celestial being, and her martial arts talent is terrifyingly high. She has even been accepted into the renowned Qingyun Sect of Wanzhou. Do you think she’d ever look at you?"

Zhang Dazhuang sneered and ruthlessly mocked Li Musheng a few more times.

Li Musheng didn't mind. After bantering with him for a while, they soon arrived at the warehouse in the backyard.

Zhang Dazhuang stacked five tables and hoisted them onto his shoulder, rushing toward the front courtyard. However, the moment his foot stepped into the courtyard, he heard a voice like a booming bell resound over the entire residence

"Yu Zhentian, twenty years have passed, and today I have come to claim your dog life!"

The voice exploded in their ears like a thunderclap, causing their eardrums to ache painfully. Hearing the voice before seeing the person, the previously noisy residence suddenly fell silent.

...

Inside the main hall, the white-haired Yu Zhentian sat in the seat of honor, the golden basin for his hand-washing ceremony having just been brought out.

"This person has incredibly strong internal energy!"

A middle-aged man in fine robes sitting to his right showed a look of surprise. He was burly with broad shoulders and a thick back, exuding an air of natural authority.

"I had a premonition that today would not be peaceful. Please forgive me, City Lord Hao."

Yu Zhentian stood up and cupped his hands toward Hao Shen, his expression turning grim.

At the same time, a group of disciples had already rushed anxiously to the door of the hall to protect him.

"Master, it’s bad! Someone has come to kill you!"

"What are you panicking about? A mere rat hiding his head and showing his tail—I don't even hold him in my eyes."

Yu Zhentian let out a cold snort, then walked out of the hall with a forceful stride

"City Lord Hao, wait a moment. Once I have dealt with this matter, I will return to drink three cups with you."

Hearing this, Hao Shen’s eyes flickered, but he stood up to follow, saying

"Brother Yu, wait. I will go with you. I want to see who dares to run wild in Shun'an City?"

The group arrived at the front courtyard with an imposing aura.

At this time, the guests in the courtyard were crowded together, all looking up at the roof, whispering to each other. The atmosphere felt heavy.

On the black tiles of the roof, which resembled a mountain ridge, stood a tall man in black robes with his face covered by a black cloth. The long saber in his hand flashed with a chilling, icy light.

Zhang Dazhuang and Li Musheng were squeezed behind the crowd.

Zhang Dazhuang gripped a staff in his hand, looking at the man in black above with a look of urgency, while Li Musheng stood to the side, arms folded, looking like he was just there to watch the show.

"He doesn't even dare to show his face; he’s clearly a villain who can't see the light of day," Zhang Dazhuang said indignantly.

Seeing Yu Zhentian and the others arrive, he wanted to rush up to help, but there were too many people gathered in the front courtyard, and he couldn't squeeze through.

Li Musheng reached out and pulled him back, laughing

"This person’s strength is no less than Old Man Yu’s. If you go up there, Brother Zhang, you won't be able to withstand a single strike from him before losing your life."

Zhang Dazhuang was slightly startled, immediately recalling the man's ability to make his voice heard before appearing, which surely meant he was a master with deep internal energy.

He paused his steps and stopped trying to push forward. After all, he wasn't a reckless fool; he knew his own limits.

"A thief like this—the old master will surely be able to take him down easily."

Zhang Dazhuang coughed twice and stayed by Li Musheng’s side, merely leaning on his staff and peering toward the center of the courtyard.

"Who are you? Why do you hide your true face? What grudge do you have against me?"

Yu Zhentian suppressed the anger in his heart and questioned the man in black directly.

"You old thing, you really are senile!"

The man let out a heavy, cold snort and said sinisterly

"Let me help you remember. Twenty years ago, at the Battle of Junliu Mountain, you slashed and injured my fifth brother's arm with your sword. Do you remember that?"

Hearing this, Yu Zhentian’s white eyebrows furrowed, as if he were recalling what the man had said.

Soon, he looked up sharply and said, "Which of the Seven Thieves of Zhahe are you?"

"What? The Seven Thieves of Zhahe!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the guests in the courtyard were all shocked.

The Seven Thieves of Zhahe were notorious, having committed countless evils and murders in Wanzhou over the past decade, consistently ranking in the top three on the government's wanted list.

More importantly, the Seven Thieves of Zhahe possessed extremely high martial arts skills, and many renowned experts in the pugilistic world had died at their hands.

The most recent major case they committed was three months ago, when they slaughtered the entire Zhao Family Armory in Shen City overnight, leaving not a single one of the hundred-plus people, young or old, alive.

Once this news spread, it made the entire Wanzhou martial arts world turn pale with fear.

One must know that the Zhao Family Armory was a century-old martial arts family, not lacking in experts, and was one of the top powers in Shen City.

But even so, they could not escape the poisonous hands of the Seven Thieves of Zhahe, which showed just how terrifying this group of villains was.

"That's right. You finally remembered."

Zha Laosan’s eyes were cold as he slowly scanned the guests below, who were now buzzing with noise, and suddenly said in a deep voice

"From now on, I will give you ten breaths of time. Anyone other than the Yu family can leave this place."

"After ten breaths, if anyone remains, I will kill them all!"

Zha Laosan’s voice, driven by deep internal energy, shook the jujube tree in front of the courtyard, causing its bark to split and branches to break, with leaves falling in a flurry. The crowd’s ears buzzed incessantly, and their heads felt dizzy.

Some ordinary people without martial arts skills were even more terrified, their livers and gallbladders trembling; the timid ones even wet their pants.

Once they realized what was happening, the crowd was too scared to think and fled in a panic.

(End of chapter)