Chapter Seven, the Red Eagle smiled.

Peng Wuwang, as if awakening from a dream, felt a sense of surprise and gratitude. He clasped his fists and said, "Well said, young lady, thank you for your assistance. Peng Wuwang will surely repay your kindness in this lifetime."

Peng Wuwang felt a surge of indignation in his heart and said angrily, "Miss, I have studied martial arts with my master for many years and have acquired advanced skills. I believe I am a person of value and cannot belittle myself recklessly."

The three assassins could not have anticipated her remarkable skill with the whip, which was as sharp as a sword. Before they could evade, the eagle's wings had already arrived, and with three distinct sounds of "pop, pop, pop," three heads flew into the air, showering the sky with a rain of blood, further highlighting the astonishing presence of the young woman in red. The remaining assassins were intimidated by her martial prowess; however, due to the strict discipline within their organization, none dared to retreat.

To the southwest of Chang'an City lies a dense and vast forest. The Peng brothers hurried along a narrow path trampled by chaotic footsteps, delving deeper into the woods. Along the way, they occasionally encountered the gruesome corpses of men in black; some had gaping holes in their chests, while others were left with only half a skull. It seems that Li Du is not to be underestimated; he either possesses a remarkably powerful hidden weapon or extraordinary martial arts skills.

Peng Wuju stepped forward and respectfully said, "Are you the newly appointed leader of the largest gang in the martial world, known as the Year Gang, referred to as the Little Red Eagle, Miss Hong Sixue?"

With the leader's anguished cry as he fell to the ground, the master of the whip finally made his appearance. He leaped out from the thicket, his figure agile and nimble, clad in a red cloak and wearing a red hooded cape, exuding the vigor of a red-clad warrior. A gust of wind swept by, lifting the cape, and the Peng brothers faced him directly, catching a glimpse of his true appearance. To their astonishment, the one wielding this unparalleled whip technique was a young lady in her twenties. As the wind blew again, lifting the cape, the Peng brothers once more faced him, witnessing his true visage. It turned out that the master of this extraordinary whip technique was indeed a young lady in her twenties. She had features as beautiful as a painting, her expression stern, with eyes that shot forth a cold light. Although her appearance was stunning, an air of aloofness made one feel as if they were being kept at a distance.

The leader suddenly let out a cold laugh and said, "You old man are not entirely foolish. It seems we have no choice but to capture you and interrogate you slowly." After saying this, he waved his hand, and fifteen assassins from the Dragon Subduing Hall, who were almost identical in height and build, lined up neatly and approached Peng Wuwang in a threatening manner.

Peng Wuwang let out a muffled groan of pain, retreating three steps. His muscles tensed as he forcefully pushed the assassin leader's long sword away, brandishing his own blade in a defensive posture, his square face contorted in agony.

"Ha ha, kid, I knew it, you are just a fledgling in the world, never killed anyone, right?" The leader laughed maliciously, "When it matters most, you shrink back, truly a foolish person with a woman's compassion. Prepare to die!"

The leader, recognizing the severity of the situation, hurriedly shouted: "This is the Flying Eagle Whip, everyone be cautious, quickly surround him."

Peng Wuwang only felt a cool sensation at the wound, with no further pain, and could not help but marvel at Li Du's medical skills. Peng Wuju, concerned, asked him a few questions to ascertain that his injuries were not serious, and immediately broke into a broad smile.

"Alright, it's settled!" Ouyang Xizhao said with great enthusiasm, "I know these two young gentlemen are not ordinary; I didn't expect one of them to be a prized student of Mr. Qi. I must make their acquaintance, hahaha!"

Peng Wuwang shouted sharply, drawing his long knife. With a single move, "Dragon Enters Three Rivers," the long knife swept up three streams of bright and icy light, striking out towards the surrounding Dragon Subduing Hall assassins. The leading assassin let out a sinister laugh: "Come and have a good time with *Tu* *Shu*!" With that, he thrust his long sword forward, aiming a strike at Peng Wuwang's left rib.

Hong Sixue was momentarily taken aback. As the saying goes, one can discern a person's character through their words and actions. Peng Wuwang possessed a pure and open heart, expressing himself candidly and eloquently. His speech was imbued with a sense of generosity and boldness. Although his tone was quite assertive, it did not evoke any feelings of aversion; rather, it made one feel that he was sincere and trustworthy, worthy of deep friendship. Hong Sixue nodded and solemnly cupped her fists towards Peng Wuwang, saying: "I apologize for my earlier indiscretion, and I hope you can forgive me, brother. Should any danger arise in the future, I will certainly find someone to inform you." Hong Sixue nodded and solemnly cupped her fists towards Peng Wuwang, saying: "I apologize for my earlier indiscretion, and I hope you can forgive me, brother. Should any danger arise in the future, I will certainly find someone to inform you."

Hong Sixue no longer paid him any attention, turned her head, and said to Li Du: "Mr. Li, I have an important matter to discuss with you this time."

Peng Wuju saw Zhan and felt delighted, breaking into a silly smile

The Peng brothers and Li Dumu stood by in astonishment, their bodies covered in the blood that had splattered from the assassin of the Qingfeng Hall, completely stunned by the thunderous methods of this young girl in red

After walking for more than ten miles, a vast expanse of grassland appeared in the center of the dense forest. The grassland was strewn with the dead and wounded. Li Du was rolling and crawling on the grass, holding a silver-gray metal tube in his hand. At the bottom of the tube was a delicate grip, and in front of the grip was a pitch-black box. All around him were black-clad assassins from the Cheetah Guild, rushing in one after another in a desperate charge. The metal tube in Li Du's hand emitted a piercing flash of fire, and the chest of the assassin charging at him immediately erupted with a massive spray of blood, falling to the ground without a sound. In just a short while, more than ten black-clad assassins had been shot dead by him.

The remaining assassins could no longer endure the brutality of the battlefield and let out a cry as they scattered in all directions. However, the young girl did not let them escape; she unleashed her lightness skill and pursued them one by one, eliminating them. Before long, the entire thicket was left with the gruesome bodies of the Qingfeng Hall assassins lying in disarray.

Peng Wuwang angrily said: "Fourth brother, how can we jest and insult such remarkable women? Although this young lady is of the female gender, her spirit is no less than that of a man. Not only should we refrain from speaking lightly of her, but even to entertain such thoughts in our hearts is a transgression"

Peng Wuwang gazed longingly at the direction in which she had departed. After a while, he let out a long sigh and said, "In the midst of the rivers and lakes, there exists such an extraordinary woman, truly captivating. No wonder that despite the frequent bloodshed in the world of martial arts, those with ambition are still willing to risk their lives and traverse the jianghu."

Cheng Zhijie feigned anger and said: "You, an old monster who lacks respect for your elders, have your own Zhongjian Sect filled with gold and silver, yet you come to my impoverished general's residence every day to swindle food and drink. This cannot continue! Unless you bring the banquet from the Victory Pavilion."

Everyone present was stunned; this dragon-like swordsmanship immediately intimidated all. It turned out that Peng Wuwang had used his signature move, the "Detached Mandarin Duck Knives," at a critical moment, successfully incapacitating the assassin leader's arms with a single strike

At this moment, the leader of the assassins coldly said: "Li Du, at this point, if you still wish to preserve your worthless life, you should quickly hand over the firearm design in your possession. Otherwise, even if you escape to the ends of the earth, you will not evade the pursuit of the Qingfeng Hall"

"Why is Mr. Li heading south?" Peng Wuwang asked curiously

Peng Wuju suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "Third Brother, we forgot that General Cheng's banquet is about to start."

Beside him, Peng Wuju remained in a daze, reminiscing about the beauty of the woman in red, Hong Sixue, and sighed, "The beauty of this woman is truly indescribable. Third Brother, wouldn't it be wonderful if you could marry her?"

"He has important matters to attend to," Hong Sixue said lightly, "it is not suitable to stay for long. I must take my leave as well. This brother, in the future, when facing life and death in the martial world, you must never show mercy, otherwise it will only lead to mistakes"

"Miss," Peng Wuwang took out a pair of mandarin duck knives from his bosom and said, "These mandarin duck knives were bestowed upon me by my esteemed master. Today, you saved my life, and I have no way to repay you. Please accept this knife. If you have any tasks for me in the future, please send someone to deliver this knife to me. As long as it does not go against the principles of chivalry, I will not hesitate to face any danger or hardship."

"Good job, Third Brother," Peng Wuju exclaimed as he rushed to Peng Wuwang's side. Peng Wuwang forced a smile, his body swaying precariously due to the severe injuries he had sustained

"Hahaha." Hong Sixue couldn't help but let out a delicate laugh. Originally, her expression was stern and awe-inspiring. At this moment, when she smiled, it was as if spring had returned to the earth, radiating unparalleled beauty. Beside her, Peng Wuju felt a sense of astonishment, completely captivated.

Ouyang Xizhao laughed heartily: "To have the renowned General Cheng as the host, I cannot accept such an honor. However, you must truly thank these two young brothers. If it were not for them, regardless of whether you are called Cheng Yaojin or Cheng Yaoyin, even if you were to bite into jade, agate, or pearls, you would not survive until tonight."

Peng Wuwang was immediately filled with surprise and hurriedly said, "General Cheng, have you met my master?"

Li tightly gripped the firearm in his hand and urgently called out, "Hey, little brother, quickly come over here, the masters from the Qingfeng Hall's Dragon Subduing Sect are arriving soon"

At a young age, Hong Sixue took over the position of the leader of the largest gang in the martial world, the Nian Gang. Those around her, including the gang members and friends of the Nian Gang, constantly reminded her of her status as a woman. Some expressed their admiration, while others offered their support and care, yet there were also cold words and ridicule, suggesting that a woman could not shoulder great responsibilities. This made her feel extremely displeased, wishing she could be born a man to act freely. Today, however, she encountered a young man who treated her entirely as a man, which brought her great joy.

"Hurry up!" Peng Wuwang urged anxiously

"Indeed, Third Brother, I am not so fortunate," Peng Wuwang said. "Since none of us wishes to marry her, your words merely treat her as a topic of conversation. She is our savior and a remarkable woman deserving of respect; is it not inappropriate to speak of her in such a manner?"

Ouyang Xizhao leaned over and said: "Hey, Brother Cheng, what about me? Am I included?"

Cheng Zhijie laughed heartily and said, "Haha, of course I have seen them. In today's world, there are only a few masters; which one do I not know? Alright, alright, I am quite busy today. After I deal with the rascals causing trouble in the capital tomorrow, let us gather for a banquet, and we can chat for three days and three nights."

"What kind of firearm is this? It's terrifying!" Upon seeing it, Peng Wuju immediately got scared and hid in a thicket.

Suddenly, a crimson beam of light shot through like a bolt of lightning, and in an instant, more than ten long swords were deflected by this red arc. The crowd gasped in unison, astonished by this seemingly divine move. At that moment, the keen-eyed Peng Wuwang discerned that the object deflecting the swords was a long whip, entirely red like flames, with the tip shaped like a cast-iron eagle. The eagle's wings were outstretched, poised to take flight, exuding an air of extraordinary grace.

Peng Wuwang encouragingly patted his shoulder and casually asked, "After a night of hard work, do you even know what time it is?"

Peng Wuwang took a deep breath, pressed several acupoints near the wounds, and barely managed to stop the bleeding

Li hurriedly came to Peng Wuwang's side, examined his injuries, and murmured: "Young man, your injuries are serious. If the bleeding does not stop, you may not last much longer"

Peng Wuju was taken aback and hurriedly said, "I do not have such fortune, and I do not wish to be unwaveringly devoted to any woman for a lifetime."

At this moment, the military officer with the surname Cheng approached and cupped his fist in salute to Ouyang Xizhao, saying, "I must say, old Ouyang, this time you really saved me; otherwise, I and these few young ones would have been done for. Let's arrange a time for tea and a chat."

Hong Sixue finally managed to suppress her smile and sighed, "Brother, your tone is reminiscent of a renowned hero who has roamed the martial world for many years. Do you not know that only those who are well-known in the martial world are qualified to utter the words you just spoke? You are still an unknown figure in this realm, so how can you speak so arrogantly? As we navigate the martial world, the most important thing is to have self-awareness; otherwise, we only become a source of ridicule."

Thank you very much for your guidance, Miss. I, Peng Wuwang, will certainly remember it in my heart.

Hong Sixue smiled and clasped her fists again, saying: "You are a very good person. I hope we have the chance to meet again in the future." After saying this, she turned around, took a few leaps, and disappeared without a trace

Only hearing Peng Wuju anxiously shout, "Third Brother, be careful." He saw the leader's long sword already thrusting towards him with the force of wind and rain, the chilling sword energy tightly locking onto him, leaving him feeling completely frozen.

At the very moment he opened his mouth to shout, the red long whip made a swift turn, and the iron-cast eagle head had already pierced into his chest. Although this leader had both hands severed, his agility and speed were among the best, yet he was struck by the whip before he could evade. This demonstrates that the skill of the whip wielder can truly be considered top-notch.

"Damn it. How many times have I said this? I am now Cheng Zhijie. Stop bringing up my old name; it feels so awkward. It's been so many years, and you still can't change that." Cheng Zhijie turned his head and fixed his gaze on the Peng brothers.

Hong Sixue glanced at the Peng brothers and said lightly, "This brother's injuries are quite serious; I kindly ask Mr. Li to attend to him first. My matters can wait until later."

He stared intently at Peng Wuwang and said, "Kid, I know you must be Qi Xiaoyun's disciple. Hehe, the only swordsmanship I have ever seen that can compare to yours is that of the old master Qi. Pah, it is your swordsmanship that can compare to the old master Qi's."

Peng Wuju increasingly felt alarmed as he looked at the situation, and quietly said to Peng Wuwang, "Third Brother, this Li Du is not someone to be trifled with. I think Qingfeng Hall is bound to face a setback this time. We should refrain from meddling in their affairs."

Peng Wuwang glanced at him, took a step forward, drew a single-edged sword from his waist, and held it across his chest, saying: "Mr. Li, please rest assured, Peng Wuwang is here and will ensure your safety."

Hong Sixue nodded and cupped her fists, saying, "Then, I take my leave"

The girl in the red dress tied a long whip around her waist, removed her cloak, and let her flowing hair cascade down like clouds, looking exceptionally graceful and charming. She cast a cold glance at the Peng brothers and Li Du, then with a flick of her toe, she lifted the paired daggers from Peng Wuwang's hands, glanced at them, and said: "This brother, the techniques of these daggers are quite impressive!"

Peng Wuwang angrily said: "Fourth brother, this is not right. Mr. Li encountered trouble because he took on our business. It is only reasonable that we should care. If something were to happen to Mr. Li, could you live with yourself?"

Peng Wuwang experienced the treacherous and unpredictable nature of the martial world for the first time in his life, leaving him speechless with anger

Peng Wuju unsheathed his twin blades and said loudly: "Mr. Li, please tend to Third Brother's wounds; I will hold them off for a while."

The girl in the red dress raised her eyebrows in surprise and said, "I didn't expect that at such a young age, you would possess some insight. I have only been famous in the martial world for a few months, yet you already know my background."

Hong Sixue raised her eyebrows in astonishment and asked, "What is it?"

Just as the leader's longsword was about to strike Peng Wuju, two streaks of azure-blue cold light flashed like lightning, severing the hands of the assassin leader simultaneously, and the longsword fell to the ground with a clang

Peng Wuwang, bold and unyielding, was utterly fearless. With a powerful voice resonating from his dantian, he shouted: "Those from Qingfeng Hall, do not be arrogant. Peng Wuwang from Qingzhou is here."

Peng Wuju said: "Third brother, the so-called love between men and women is a natural law, so why should we avoid it"

"Alas," Peng Wuju said with a face full of gloom, "Third Brother, I cannot argue with you this time either"

Li's expression grew serious as he said, "Your father, the Red Sky Hero, is my close friend. Your matters are my matters as well; please do not hesitate to instruct me."

Peng Wuju retracted his head, thinking to himself: "What if something happens to me?"

At this moment, Hong Sixue and Li Du had already walked to a distant, secluded corner, their expressions serious as they spoke in hushed tones, seemingly discussing matters of life and death. Peng Wuwang waited for a long time before he saw Li Du hurriedly heading south, while Hong Sixue approached the two of them.

The leader of the Dragon Subduing Society was remarkably strong; despite having his arms severed, he stood tall and shouted, "This person is already at the end of his strength. Everyone, attack together and chop these two meddlesome fellows into pieces, then capture Li Du!" The assassins surrounding the Dragon Subduing Society responded in unison, and dozens of brilliantly shining long swords descended upon the Peng brothers like a dozen white rainbows.

Suddenly, Peng Wuwang recalled that Li Duzheng was fleeing to the outskirts of the city, still in a perilous situation. He hurriedly arranged the time for tomorrow's banquet with Cheng Zhijie and Ouyang Xizhao, and then rushed towards the city outskirts. Although Peng Wujue felt somewhat fatigued, he was already in complete admiration of his third brother, naturally looking up to him with utmost respect.

Peng Wuwang hurriedly rushed to his side. In an instant, a dozen cold shouts rang out as the hat-wearing assassins of the Dragon Subduing Sect surrounded them from all directions. Peng Wujue, frightened, jumped out from the bushes and huddled next to his third brother, trembling. Li Du quickly raised the firearm in his hand and fired another round at the approaching black-clad figures, taking down the last few assassins of the Cheetah Sect. However, it seemed that there was no more gunpowder left. He had no choice but to put away the firearm and said to the Peng brothers, "Thank you, young brothers, for your assistance. Li Du will repay you in due time." Li Du quickly raised the firearm in his hand and fired another round at the approaching black-clad figures, taking down the last few assassins of the Cheetah Sect. However, it seemed that there was no more gunpowder left. He had no choice but to put away the firearm and said to the Peng brothers, "Thank you, young brothers, for your assistance. Li Du will repay you in due time."

"Alas, Fourth Brother," Peng Wuwang said unhappily, "are you willing to marry this red-clad maiden and remain devoted to her for life?"

Hong Sixue felt quite pleased to hear him praise her whip technique. Moreover, Peng Wuwang's words were filled with a heroic spirit, completely regarding himself as a man, which also brought her great comfort

The remaining assassins surrounded her, hoping to combine their strength to kill the girl in one fell swoop. However, this girl seemed to possess exceptional experience in the ways of the martial world. After swiftly killing the leader of the assassins, she did not pause for a moment; her long whip danced like a spirit snake, separating the more than ten assassins, preventing them from forming a group, forcing them to fight individually.

He suddenly patted the shoulders of the two, saying: "Good brothers, you are to my liking; I have decided to be friends with you. Excellent swordsmanship, excellent swordsmanship, damn it, although my martial arts skills are not very high. Hehe, my judgment is top-notch. Damn it, I have never seen such excellent swordsmanship before"

As the three assassins took advantage of her distraction to deal with others, three swords simultaneously lunged toward her left rib. The young girl reached into her waist with her left hand, grasping a short sword, and formed a sword gesture, the brilliance flashing as it blocked the three swords at the outer gate. With a press of her right thumb on the mechanism, the wings of the eagle on the red whip suddenly spread wide, the sharp edges glinting with a captivating light under the sun. With a flick of her right hand, the whip traced a graceful arc, arriving in an instant before her. Again, with a press of her right thumb on the mechanism, the wings of the eagle on the red whip suddenly spread wide, the sharp edges glinting with a captivating light under the sun. With a flick of her right hand, the whip traced a graceful arc, arriving in an instant before her.

A killer charged forward with a sword, only to have his blade ensnared by the long whip of a young girl. He struggled to regain control, but the girl did not engage him in a struggle; instead, she swiftly reached out, and the sword was thrust back, piercing the killer's throat. As the killer's body fell to the ground, the girl flicked her whip, causing the sword to fly out and miraculously embed itself in the chest of another killer.

However, Peng Wuwang, like a bewildered giant, was also taken aback and after a long pause finally said: "Miss, I do not understand what is so amusing about what I have said"

Peng Wuwang was taken aback; there truly existed such reckless individuals in the world, who completely disregarded the slashing long knife and charged forward with their sword. Peng Wuwang struck this person's chest with his blade, involuntarily retracting ninety percent of his strength, leaving only a wound over a foot long on his body. However, the assassin leader's long sword mercilessly pierced three inches beneath his rib, plunging straight in.

Li Du nodded repeatedly, beckoning Peng Wuwang to sit down. He then took out various ointments from his person, the vast majority of which Peng Wuwang had neither heard of nor seen before. Li Du skillfully cleaned Peng Wuwang's wounds, applied the ointment, and carefully bandaged them with white gauze.

"Wait a moment," Peng Wuwang said hastily

Peng Wuwang was taken aback by Hong Sixue's sudden politeness towards him, feeling immensely grateful and pleasantly surprised. He hurriedly said: "Miss, your whip technique is exceptional and unique; I have never seen anything like it. Although the martial world is fraught with dangers, it would truly be a great joy in my life to stand shoulder to shoulder with you in battle one day"

The girl in the red dress wielded her long whip with wild abandon, her movements as unstoppable as a bamboo being split. The dazzling techniques of her whip left the assailants exhausted and scrambling. Before long, three assassins were pierced through the chest by the flying eagle whip, and four or five others had their limbs severed by the eagle's wings, blood gushing profusely. After a brief skirmish, another assassin's head was severed by the girl's whip, a spray of blood erupting forth.

Peng Wuju finally summoned the courage to charge out from the bushes, twisting his twin blades in an attempt to deflect the long sword. However, the leader's swordsmanship was exceptionally profound; with a flick of his wrist, he evaded the twin blades and, with a horizontal sweep of his sword, aimed for Peng Wuju's throat. If this strike landed, Peng Wuju's fine head would be completely severed.

This is a placeholder text.

The Peng brothers were dumbfounded, unable to believe that standing before them was the renowned founding general of the Tang Dynasty, Cheng Yaojin

Li was furious: "I will never hand over the design drawings to you. Otherwise, how many more innocent lives would be lost in this world? Moreover, even if I were to surrender the design drawings, you would not spare me."