Chapter 7, Shanghai Dou Qian

Li Yating said: "Of course, your Bagua diagram that encompasses the heavens!"

Gao Yang said, "Of course, you can choose the location!"

Li Yating is a very arrogant person. When Gao Yang and others arranged a meeting, he initially thought they were here to seek help after committing a serious crime. To his surprise, they were actually trying to recruit him. If they truly are the legendary Eight Generals of the Qianmen, it would be quite an honor. After pretending to decline for a while, he would inevitably agree with pleasure. However, despite Gao Yang and his companions being quite capable, Li Yating still could not confirm that they were indeed the Penglai guests. This is why he mentioned the idea of a contest. Yet, Zhang Lei's final remarks somewhat irritated him.

Only then did the five individuals notice that these five steel needles had just been removed from the earring's hook. The earrings worn by Shi Yao were particularly unique, featuring a gold circle on each side, with eight silver-white steel needles hanging around them. At first glance, they bore the characteristics of ornaments worn by women from ethnic minorities, but if one had not seen it with their own eyes, no one would have imagined that these were actually concealed weapons.

Li Yating said: "Having the opportunity to enter the top eight in the martial world and offering incense at famous mountains is the honor of us forest runners. However, I have a group of brothers who rely on me for their livelihood, so I would like to challenge you all to a match, in accordance with the words of my subordinates!"

Li Yating picked up the teapot and cupped his hands, saying: "I kindly ask my friends to first attend to my brothers! And the books"

Li Yating paused for a moment and Zhang Lei, standing nearby, interjected: "I already knew you would say 'but.' Go ahead, what else do you want to say?"

Upon seeing this, Li Yating's subordinates in the room took two steps back and were about to draw their guns, but just as their hands reached into their pockets, they all exclaimed in surprise, grasping their hands that were about to draw their weapons.

Please! After serving the tea, Li Yating bowed slightly. Gao Yang and the others also stood up to return the greeting. Then everyone sat down and drank the tea.

The entire process occurred within a few seconds, during which Li Yating stood still, not moving at all. It was only when the "detector" rolled to his feet that Li Yating bent down to pick it up and examined it in his hand before saying, "Indeed, a clever tactic. What about my brothers?"

At 11:00 AM, the negotiations concluded, and everyone drove back to the hotel

Sunlight streamed in through the main entrance of the hall, illuminating several individuals. From the perspective of Gao Yang and others, it was clear that each of these individuals had a steel needle embedded in the back of their hands, reflecting the morning light.

A sea without waves does not allow for sailing, and a mountain without tigers does not permit hunting! In the rivers and lakes, the old masters most enjoy the competition of skills among their disciples. The ancestral master makes the evaluation!" Li Yating recited the classic lines of the tea ceremony "Two Dragons Emerge from the Water" while filling the teacup to seven-tenths full.

Before Gao Yang could speak, Zhang Lei said: "Mr. Li, my elder brother came to see you to see if you have the capital to invest in my Yanweizi. Whether you can participate in the Penglai incense offering will depend on further tests from you. Is that acceptable? My elder brother hasn't mentioned the questions he has for you! You came to invite us to a gambling match!"

Big brother! One of them lowered his head and walked in front of Li Yating, speaking in a soft voice

Even Hualiang and others were puzzled; this "Nang Tian Bagua" was merely a term for reporting goods. Could Gao Yang really present it for others to see? With doubts, everyone accompanied Gao Yang to the front door. Gao Yang, resting his hand on the doorknob, turned back and smiled, saying: "The art of a thousand doors lies not in form, but in substance." After saying this, he opened the front door. Outside the door, six men in black suits lay sprawled around Gao Yang and the others' car, their fates unknown.

Note 1: "Lao He" refers to an experienced person in the field.

Sitting back down beside the long table, Li Yating's expression remained gloomy for quite some time before he spoke: "I once heard a senior master say that the skills of the early 'Thousand Doors and Eight Generals' in the martial world are vastly different from ours. Our modest skills can only be referred to as the 'Lower Eight Generals.' The senior master also mentioned that the 'Thousand Situations' of the Lower Eight Generals is characterized by 'the one involved is confused while the observer is clear,' whereas the 'Thousand Situations' of the Upper Eight Generals can achieve 'the one involved is confused while the observer is also confused.'"

In the world of Jianghu, righteousness comes first. Li Yating's actions greatly pleased Gao Yang and others. At that moment, Shi Yao stood up and went outside. After a short while, the six individuals who had been lying beside the carriage came in together with Shi Yao.

Gao Yang, upon hearing this, replied without changing his expression: "Alright! Please go ahead, Li Dangjia!"

After drinking the tea, Li Yating said: "What is meant by self-defense in one’s profession and self-protection in one’s trade? In the world of Jianghu, no one admits defeat; everyone believes their own skills are boundless and looks down on others. However, one must earn a living through their craft. Imagine a butcher trying to do carpentry; he probably wouldn’t even know what those tools are called. Yet, when I was learning my trade in my early years, I heard my master say that the true masters of the Eight Generals can conquer the world with a thousand strategies. I do not know if this is true, but today I will propose a cross-industry wager!" He probably wouldn’t even know what those tools are called. Yet, when I was learning my trade in my early years, I heard my master say that the true masters of the Eight Generals can conquer the world with a thousand strategies. I do not know if this is true, but today I will propose a cross-industry wager!

Gao Yang took the map and after looking at it for a while said: "Call the tuna and tell him to come and observe the situation at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning"

Gao Yang laughed and said, "Please, go outside!"

Gao Yang knew that he would have further words, so he remained silent, merely smiling at him. Indeed, Li Yating paused briefly before continuing: "You know my subordinates must inspect your vehicles, so the setup in the car allowed me to win the first round, and subsequently, I established my authority through strength and skill. I lost the entire negotiation, but ... ... "

Gao Yang, upon hearing this, let out a hearty laugh, stood up to rearrange the tea cups that had been set in a long snake formation, and repositioned them into the shape of two dragons emerging from the water. He then sat down and said: "Please!"

After he heard Zhang Lei finish speaking, he let out a cold laugh: "Whether it's a general or a lower-ranking officer, it's all just a means of making a living, relying on schemes to earn money. Although the words on my badge and the goods in my possession are modest, over the years I have also gained a bit of a reputation in the underworld. Hmph, back in the day, the Al-Qaeda organization..."

When a round iron ball slipped from that large hand and fell to the ground, it bounced twice before rolling to Li Yating's feet. This egg-shaped iron ball was the detector that had been deformed by Hualiang.

Li Yating replied candidly: "If I cannot take on your offer, I will certainly refrain from mentioning having met you all in the future, and I will seal off all dealings related to the Thousand. I will no longer traverse the martial world under the name of the Thousand!"

Understood! Li Yating waved his hand to stop him from speaking. Seeing this, the man fell silent, and several others stood behind him with their hands clasped behind their backs

Gao Yang understood what he was about to ask and immediately pointed to the long table where they had just been talking, saying: "Rest assured, there is nothing serious. Have you checked the goods? If you are satisfied, let us go back and sit down to discuss it"

Li Yating said that Zhang Lei was about to interject, but just as he was about to speak, he suddenly felt a pain in his lower back. Turning around, he realized that Shi Yao had pinched him. Zhang Lei still did not understand what was happening when he heard Gao Yang continue, "Understood! Master Li also wants to confirm our identities, which is reasonable. However, if we win the bet, you must take on a round against me. If you accept this round, a golden chair will be reserved for you on Penglai Mountain. If..." Master Li also wants to confirm our identities, which is reasonable. However, if we win the bet, you must take on a round against me. If you accept this round, a golden chair will be reserved for you on Penglai Mountain. If..."

Gao Yang, upon hearing Li Yating mention wanting to see the goods, immediately smiled and said to the *picture* book: "I wonder what kind of goods Master Li wants to see!"

Li Yating nodded and then added, "No use of force is allowed; we can only rely on strategy!"

Li Yating is truly cunning; the bank he chose has a daily user traffic of over 10,000, and there is traffic congestion around it! After Zhang Lei returned to the hotel, he began to study the city map. Once he located the bank that Li Yating mentioned, he couldn't help but curse loudly.

As everyone walked back to the long table, Shi Yao approached the five individuals who had been struck by the steel needles. With a wave of her hand, she swept across the backs of their hands, and the steel needles were all collected. The five of them never imagined that this hidden weapon would be launched by such a young girl. It is lamentable that they, seasoned veterans of the martial world for several years, would be bested today by a little girl. What Shi Yao did next made the hearts of these five individuals sink even further; as she walked, she hung the five steel needles from her earrings.

Gao Yang smiled slightly and said, "I understand what you mean; you want us to withdraw a sum from the bank"

Li Yating raised his eyebrows and smiled, a hint of pride flashing across his face: "A thousand is an extremely skillful trade, while robbery is the least skillful of all. However, those who engage in highway robbery can hold guns to rob banks, yet it is incredibly difficult for a skilled person to deceive money out of a bank. I do not know..."