Chapter One: Night Rain in the Mountains and Forests

After the bald old man finished speaking, he indeed no longer evaded. Holding Shen Fengming's judge's pen, he confronted Song Zhanshan's long sword. Song Zhanshan, in turn, was fully alert and focused on the engagement.

Due to Tang Guangting's exceptional talent, he quickly mastered both martial arts and weaponry. His uncles and elders, out of consideration for his father's reputation and their affection for his abilities, not only generously imparted their own martial skills to him but also rewarded his performance more than they punished him. As a result, Tang Guangting became increasingly unaware of the limits of his own capabilities

From Xiong Yifei throwing his axe and injuring someone, to him being injured by his own axe, this sudden turn of events occurred in the blink of an eye. The bald old man pointed at the fallen Xiong Yifei and laughed heartily, saying: "I originally thought you had some powerful follow-up move hidden in that attack, but it turns out... ha... cough... cough... damn it, that punch was quite heavy..." Since Xiong Yifei had thrown away his weapon, the subsequent punch was naturally a desperate strike made with the resolve of burning one's boats. The bald old man, having taken that hit, was certainly not lightly injured; he coughed a few times, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

The flames on Lin Yanxiu's body continued to rage despite several attempts to extinguish them. Suddenly, he had a brilliant idea and ran outside to get drenched in the rain. Song Zhenshan, aware that some unknown individuals were about to arrive outside, saw Lin Yanxiu rushing out and feared for his safety, urgently calling out: "Young Master Lin, do not go outside!"

Tang Guangting felt a sense of relief upon hearing this, hurriedly saying, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" Yet in his heart, he thought, "If I don't slip away now, when will I?" A glance revealed that the young girl was covering her mouth and stifling a laugh. Suddenly, an unusual feeling flashed through his mind like a bolt of lightning, and he stared blankly, his feet seemingly nailed to the ground, unable to move for a moment. The yellow-faced villain, seeing that he had just returned from the brink of death, was surprised to find him distracted by a glance at the girl. He swung a hand towards Tang's face and shouted, "Kid! Are you looking to die? Hurry up and get lost; I'll let you know what things in this world are not to be looked at."

He was about to go and stop him. The bald old man noticed his slight movement and immediately understood his intentions. He thought to himself that this opportunity was rare and must not be missed. He then placed the judge's pen at his waist, concentrated his energy in his dantian, and slowly raised both hands to strike towards Song Zhenshan.

Lin Yanxiu was momentarily speechless. Lin Lanping quickly grabbed him and said, "Yes, brother, let us listen to Mr. Song and leave first!"

Seeing this, Tang Guangcheng thought to himself that it was fortunate that fate had brought this person into his hands, and it seemed that he had indeed made the right choice in securing this treasure. He then said: "Your Excellency, please rest assured. This young brother has merely fainted. As long as you safely return him, I am willing to personally untie this young brother and will come to apologize in the future"

Shen Fengming observed that both sides had exchanged nearly one hundred moves, and could not help but think: "This old man seems to be at least in his sixties, if not seventy, yet his agility surpasses that of a youth. How can he appear to be someone who has just suffered an injury and coughed up blood? It is true that he was struck by Xiong Yifei's punch, which everyone witnessed, and his injury and blood loss were also seen by all. As for me, Shen Fengming, being in the prime of my youth, I must at least exhaust him to the point of mutual injury; otherwise, how can I establish myself in the martial world in the future?" With this calculation settled in his heart, he shifted his focus, his intent becoming light and agile, resembling a piece from Wang Xizhi's "Seventeen Posts".

Until the vertical crossbow's right stroke, the continuous points of Shen Cang, Ling Xu, Shen Feng, Zhang Men, Qi Men, and other acupoints were executed in one breath, culminating in the final stroke of the character "Guan". The bald old man repeatedly exclaimed "Good", his body shifting like a ghost, always remaining a few inches away from the tip of the brush.

The wild boar, unable to swallow his anger, turned around and clasped his fists towards a man on horseback, saying: "If elder brother also believes that the wild boar is incompetent, then let the wild boar venture in alone. Regardless of success or failure, the wild boar will ensure that blood flows like a river. " The man on the horse replied: "Scarred Old Third did not mean that at all; wild boar, you must not misunderstand."

Upon witnessing this scene, the innkeeper felt a secret delight in his heart and thought to himself: "The main characters have arrived! Just by looking at these two individuals, I can tell that they are either the daughters of officials or at least the scions of wealthy families." It turns out that this innkeeper was none other than the son of Tang Guangcheng, known as "Yama of Death," the bandit leader who had taken refuge in the Sword Casting Mountain, engaging in robbery and plunder.

Upon hearing this, the fierce-looking man could no longer contain himself. He kicked over a stool, sprang to his feet, brandished his axe in the air a couple of times, and shouted, "Do you recognize these two axes in my hands!"

The bald old man did not even glance at him, pouring himself a drink while saying, "Why don't you show me a few moves? I want to see how much power is left in the 'Six Harmonies Breaking Door Axe' of Huang Laotou after it has reached your hands, Xiong Yifei." Upon hearing this, the dark-faced brute became furious, splitting his two axes apart and swiftly advancing towards the bald old man.

In that moment, he was completely focused, and his lifelong learning flowed forth like a mighty river, almost instinctively, with each move and technique emerging endlessly. The bald elder initially did not think much of it, but after a hundred moves had passed in the blink of an eye, Song Zhenshan's mastery of swordsmanship seemed inexhaustible. No matter how the elder shifted or changed, Song Zhenshan always had a corresponding technique ready to counter. The bald elder was secretly astonished, thinking to himself: "This young man's skill far exceeds my imagination; I fear even the two generations of leaders of the Long Sword Sect may not compare."

Tang Guangting suddenly came to his senses, instinctively grabbing his sleeve, kneeling down and crying out: "Hero, spare my life! Hero, spare my life!" He was already somewhat afraid, and with a little pretense, he truly shed tears, performing excellently. The black-faced villain beside him watched and laughed heartily, pushing him away and saying: "Why not hurry and instruct someone to prepare some good dishes to accompany the wine!"

Since Lin Yanxiu was pressed down, his feet were freed. In a panic, he executed a series of "Linked Mandarin Duck Legs," striking and kicking. Tang Guangting recognized the severity of the situation and quickly released his grip, also employing a set of "Taizu Long Fist" to counter. After exchanging several moves, Lin Yanxiu suddenly realized that this shop assistant had actually practiced martial arts as well, and could not help but ask loudly: "You little brat actually have some skills... who exactly are you?"

The thin, yellow-skinned man coldly said, "What? Are they all people from this inn?" Tang Guangting replied, "Yes, indeed, hero. I know these three individuals; they are not thieves." The thin, yellow-skinned man continued, "Since they are the innkeeper and the staff here, why are they not coming out to greet the guests, but instead hiding behind and peeking over here?" As he spoke, he kicked one of the individuals lying on the ground, who groaned in response. It seems he was sneaking around to spy, but was caught red-handed by the thin, yellow-skinned man. "Since they are the innkeeper and the staff here, why are they not coming out to greet the guests, but instead hiding behind and peeking over here?" As he spoke, he kicked one of the individuals lying on the ground, who groaned in response. It seems he was sneaking around to spy, but was caught red-handed by the thin, yellow-skinned man.

The man with the dark face snorted lightly and said, "Elder brother, your martial arts and knowledge are indeed remarkable, and I am quite impressed. However, you are rather too conservative, overly cautious, and not straightforward enough"

Tang Guangting knew that if the matter were to be exposed, relying on his own abilities, it would be difficult to escape even with wings. Taking advantage of the fact that the pale-faced man had not yet spoken, he hurriedly rushed out from behind and interjected, "Shopkeeper! What are you doing lying here? ... ... Oh? Old Wang? Xiao San? You are all here. Who is taking care of the kitchen and the horse feed?" He eagerly revealed the identities of the three individuals in one breath.

The bald old man said, "No one is allowed to leave without my consent!" In the midst of his busy schedule, he unexpectedly abandoned Song Zhanshan and struck Lin Yanxiu with a palm. The force of the palm swept through, causing Lin Yanxiu's tender face to sting painfully. In his fright, he could hardly consider the potential dangers posed by his opponent. He hurriedly bent down to evade. Seeing this, Song Zhanshan had already thrust his sword forward, blocking the subsequent attacks while saying, "Young Master Lin, if you had truly died alongside your father and brothers that day, it would have been one thing. But to let you die here today, what significance does that hold? The Lin family's deep-seated blood feud—who will seek vengeance? My brothers and I have protected you two to this point; what is the purpose of that? As long as the green mountains remain, will there not be opportunities to avenge and settle scores? This old man cannot defeat me within a thousand moves; you should take the chance to leave quickly!"

Tang Guangting was not disheartened; he turned his body to the side, spread his arms wide, and stood in front of them, shouting, "No, no, his skills are so good that crushing a shop assistant is as easy as stepping on an ant. I dare not go over to take it from him; you should give it to me instead." His desperate demeanor for money was markedly different from that of an ordinary shop assistant who feared for his life, which inevitably aroused Lin Yanxiu's suspicion. Lin Yanxiu decided to test him, so he shouted, "Get out of the way!" and then swung a punch towards Tang Guangting's face.

Seeing that the innkeeper could exchange dozens of moves with her brother's great grappling technique without showing any signs of defeat, Lin Lan was both astonished and furious. She gracefully swayed her slender waist and lightly extended her jade-like arm, swiftly drawing her brother Lin Yanxiu's sword from his waist with a "swish." The sword flashed as she directed it towards Tang Guangting, creating a situation where the siblings teamed up to face one against two. Tang Guangting cried out in panic, momentarily flustered.

In a state of confusion, he saw Mo Gao Tian's paw transforming into swirling clouds, continuously advancing towards him. Without a moment's hesitation, he countered with a move called "Parting the Clouds to Reveal the Sun." This move, "Parting the Clouds to Reveal the Sun," essentially involves using the sun to disperse the clouds, thrusting the sword straight out. Whether targeting the Dan Zhong point or the Lian Quan point, the key lies in using qi to control the sword, exerting all one's strength. It is a technique that breaks the illusory with the real, and subdues the false with the true, aimed at forcing the enemy to defend against this sword regardless of the tricks or feints they employ. Thus, this move, "Parting the Clouds to Reveal the Sun," truly lives up to its name.

This judge's brush not only takes the form of a brush but also embodies a set of coordinated martial arts, which naturally evolved from calligraphy. Generally speaking, the brush tip is not intentionally sharpened to harm the enemy; rather, it is designed with a blunt edge, primarily used to strike the body's acupoints. Shen Fengming is well-versed in both literature and martial arts, having explored regular, clerical, running, and cursive scripts. The Seventeen Letters is a collection of Wang Xizhi's correspondence, which was already used as a model for cursive script practice by students at the Hongwen Academy during the Tang Dynasty. When Shen Fengming first began learning cursive script, he copied this collection, thus his initial strokes were deeply influenced by the Seventeen Letters, in which he invested the most effort.

The bald old man, seeing that his little scheme had been uncovered, merely laughed heartily and said, "Your swordsmanship is excellent; this old man has no way to break it for the time being. I just wanted to take a bit more time to ponder it, but I didn't expect you to be so stingy!" Song Zhenshan, seeing him directly admit to this matter, found himself at a loss for words. Although he did not respond verbally, he increased the intensity of his actions.

Tang Guangting felt an involuntary sense of relief upon hearing that the two of them were siblings. As he watched them about to leave the inn, a sense of loss washed over him. Not knowing where his courage came from, he hurriedly emerged from behind the counter, taking three steps at a time to intercept them, extending his arm to block their way, and exclaimed: "You can't leave! You... you haven't paid for the food and drinks yet!"

Then the mistress busily said: "Gambling... yes, yes, we are... gambling in the stable, I this..." Before he could finish, Tang Guangting turned to another person and said: "Shopkeeper, why did you just pay the wages and then go find them to gamble again? Do you feel that you have given too much and are unwilling to part with it?"

After a group of people left, the hall immediately fell silent again. Tang Guangting brought a pot of charcoal fire to the front of the hall to warm everyone, then warmed a jug of wine and sliced several pounds of cooked beef and a few venison legs, carefully attending to the bald old man. Although the pale-faced man and others remained vigilant, they all sat down to reduce hostility. After three rounds of wine, the bald old man suddenly spoke, saying, "If this rain continues, it will be inconvenient to travel tomorrow." Everyone thought he was just talking to himself and paid no attention, but unexpectedly he continued, "Everyone should go to sleep early! Save some strength; I, an old man, cannot carry those who cannot walk." The implication was that he intended to travel with everyone.

Pulling Lin Yanxiu to turn and avoid Tang Guangting, intending to leave

The bald old man moved forward for about two zhang, suddenly coming to a halt. Holding up his paper umbrella, he looked around and said, "If it weren't for someone disturbing the peaceful dreams of others with ghostly wails in the middle of the night, it would be quite difficult to find this small place." The black-faced thug realized he was the one being referred to, but first, due to the old man's rare skill in sound transmission, and then having just displayed his peculiar and exquisite lightness skill, the black-faced thug managed to suppress his easily provoked temper. With his double axes crossed over his chest, he performed a bow and said, "Old sir, your martial arts are impressive and worthy of admiration. The wind and rain outside are fierce, and your paper umbrella is flimsy. Why not come inside www.hetushu.com and allow us brothers to offer you a cup of water wine?"

The pale-faced man furrowed his brow upon hearing this. He raised his right hand, and with a swift motion, drew the sword from his back, pointing it directly at the bald old man. The tip of the sword trembled incessantly, emitting a buzzing sound. Tang Guangting, who had been hiding beneath the counter for some time, saw that it was finally the pale-faced man's turn to act. Realizing that this was the climax of the performance, he couldn't help but inch forward.

Unexpectedly, just as he stepped out the door, a flash of white light appeared before him, and an axe came swinging down. Tang Guangting had no time to comprehend the situation when half of his felt hat was already sliced off, and dozens of strands of hair fell like flying snow, fluttering down to cover his front and back collar. By the time he realized that someone had launched a surprise attack, he saw that the black-faced villain had somehow appeared right in front of him, less than three feet away, with a pair of gleaming axes in his hands.

Although he was already aware of the direction of his opponent's moves, Shen Fengming was still unable to gain the upper hand

Tang Guangting, upon witnessing this situation, could not help but think: "Today is truly bizarre; everyone has agreed to come here for the martial arts conference, haven't they?" He turned to look at the young girl, only to see her gently wrapping her delicate hands around the young man's arm, her frail shoulders seemingly trembling in fear.

The dark-faced villain laughed heartily and said, "Brother, this young lad has no martial skills at all, so there’s nothing to worry about, right?" The pale-faced man replied, "It’s still better to be cautious. Third brother, could you please take a look around this inn?" The thin, yellow-skinned man responded, "Understood!" He drew his sword and walked out the door.

Tang Guangting fixed his gaze and saw an old man with a bald head, holding an oiled paper umbrella, gliding towards him with flowing sleeves, as if someone had suspended a rope from the sky, swinging him over.

Thus, this bald old man has been focusing his attention on the white-faced man since the very beginning of the challenge. As time dragged on, it became increasingly disadvantageous for him. He first unexpectedly injured Xiong Yifei; as for Shen Fengming, he naturally wanted to deal with him swiftly as well. Therefore, he deliberately appeared to be dismissive, but in reality, he was feigning weakness, using this tactic to catch his opponent off guard. As expected, under his interference, Shen Fengming was struck by an arrow and fell from his horse earlier than anticipated. He secretly thought to himself: "Luck! Luck!" Suddenly, his vision blurred, and a long sword was already thrusting towards him.

He picked up the brush, as if he were treating the bald old man as a piece of rice paper, and began to write vigorously: "On the seventeenth day, you will receive..." The strokes flowed like clouds and water. The old man countered with a few moves, and suddenly, as if he had realized something, he said: "What you are writing is cursive script; you are taking advantage of the fact that this old man cannot understand it!" Shen Fengming did not respond, raising his right hand to swiftly tap the Yunmen and Zhongfu acupoints, which marked the beginning of the character "East." The old man countered with a few moves, and suddenly, as if he had realized something, he said: "What you are writing is cursive script; you are taking advantage of the fact that this old man cannot understand it!" Shen Fengming did not respond, raising his right hand to swiftly tap the Yunmen and Zhongfu acupoints, which marked the beginning of the character "East."

The pale-faced man shook his head and said, "I fear this might just play into his hands." The bald old man, already growing impatient, called out, "Have you come to a decision or not? Are we going to talk until dawn?"

Lin Yanxiu nodded, no longer hesitating. He immediately sheathed his sword, picked up the oiled paper umbrella left by the bald old man with one hand, and took his sister's hand with the other as they walked outside. The rain outside showed no signs of letting up; once they escaped, it would not be easy to track them down. The bald old man was well aware of this, especially since Song Zhanshan had just posed a riddle, which likely indicated a prearranged meeting place in case they got separated. In this way, all the efforts of the night would be in vain. Although he felt anxious, Song Zhanshan's tenacity made it almost impossible for him to focus.

Song Zhanshan still clearly remembers that when his master spoke of this extraordinary person, there was a hint of fear in his eyes, as if he had been caught doing something wrong. He repeatedly cautioned to be extremely careful when encountering such a figure. And now, this legendary person stands vividly before him.

On this day, he felt that his skills had reached a certain level. Impatient in his youth, he insisted on going down the mountain with his father. The inn at the foot of the mountain was originally a forward outpost set up by the bandit stronghold, specifically used to gather intelligence on the authenticity of passing travelers.

Upon hearing the voice of Mo Gaotian, Tang Guangting's heart immediately sank. He opened his mouth, wanting to defend himself, but his throat felt constricted, making it difficult to even draw a breath, let alone speak. He managed to utter a few muffled sounds before breaking into a violent cough.

Tang Guangcheng was at a loss for words and did not know how to respond. Meanwhile, Song Zhanshan, who had been lying on the ground, had somehow gotten back on his feet and spoke up: "Senior Mo, Miss Lin is of loyal and virtuous descent. Do not be misled by the slanders of others and commit an act that would be a disgrace to all the heroes of the world!" Upon hearing this, Mo Gaotian was about to spit in disdain, but then thought to himself: "This Song Zhanshan took a blow from me and can still speak. If I do not leave now, I will surely be in trouble today." The truth was that when Mo Gaotian struck, he was already injured, and his subsequent attack lacked the full strength he usually possessed, which was only about thirty percent of his usual power. Thus, after being hit, Song Zhanshan was still able to regulate his internal energy. Although he was highly skilled in martial arts, he had a broad-minded approach to life; the victor wins, and the defeated loses, and he never clung to pride to the point of dragging things out. With both hands holding the already acupointed Tang Guangting and Lin Lanping, he relied on his superior lightness skill to move silently along the trees.

The bald old man’s profound understanding of the judge's calligraphy technique sent a chill straight down his spine. He couldn't help but wonder to himself: "My mentor clearly told me that cursive script emphasizes speed and fluidity; if it is slow, it becomes limping, and if it is stagnant, it becomes obstructive. How is it that his character '无' starts with three strokes that are so heavy and clumsy, yet still possesses such power?" Just then, the bald old man spoke: "The transformation of brush strokes is influenced by yin and yang, distance, and weight. My character '无' is written with a brush fully dipped in ink, which allows for a smooth application. Now, as the ink runs out, look closely at the character '为' below; can you see any differences?" Hearing his gentle and kind voice, Shen Fengming felt as if he were receiving his mentor's earnest teachings from years past, and for a moment, his heart raced, almost prompting him to respond aloud, causing his ears to turn red.

Both sides countered each other's moves, engaging in a rapid exchange, and in an instant, dozens of moves had already passed.

Song Zhanshan was taken aback, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind: "Could it be that I have recklessly consumed my internal energy, and now I am completely exhausted?" He was still in the prime of his youth, and the situation of being completely drained was something he had only heard mentioned by the elders of his sect; he could not discern it himself. At this moment, he was filled with uncertainty, and beads of sweat began to emerge one by one on his forehead

The bald old man glanced at him, noncommittal, and walked straight into the shop. He did not bother to close his umbrella, casually tossing it onto the ground, and found an empty seat to sit down. He shouted, "Waiter! Why haven't you noticed there are customers? Waiter! Waiter!" Tang Guangting glanced at the pale-faced man and saw that he still wore a frown, realizing that the control of the situation had shifted. He immediately did not dare to be negligent and hurriedly approached to greet him

After an unknown amount of time, the shop assistant finally stood up, scratched his head, and was just about to turn and walk back into the store when a flurry of hooves broke through the sound of the pouring rain. A glimmer of hope flashed across the shop assistant's face, and he involuntarily took a few steps toward the outside of the shop.

The bald old man meticulously followed the strokes of the brush, while Shen Fengming intended to take it easy. Unexpectedly, at the last stroke, the old man suddenly turned his fingertip and said, "However, no matter what, the Judge's Brush is ultimately a form of martial arts. If one becomes overly fixated on writing, then it is to forsake the essence for the trivial." Before he finished speaking, his finger had already landed on Shen Fengming's right wrist. Shen Fengming was taken aback, feeling a numbness in his arm, and then, with a flash of silver light, the tarnished silver Judge's Brush slipped from his grasp.

The pale-faced man suddenly spoke, saying: "Little second, you certainly know quite a lot; you seem more like the shopkeeper here." Tang Guangting was taken aback and quickly replied, "The shop is newly taken over by the shopkeeper; I have been here for a relatively long time, so naturally, I am more familiar with the situation than he is." The pale-faced man clearly did not believe him and shook his head dismissively.

Lin Yanxiu initially saw a figure suddenly appear and reached out to draw his sword. However, upon closer inspection, he realized it was just the innkeeper. Although Song Zhenshan was engaged in a fierce battle nearby, he was still attentive to his surroundings. He clearly heard the situation of the innkeeper emerging from under the counter to block the Lin siblings and, upon learning that the innkeeper was only there to collect a debt for meals, he let out a sigh of relief. Although Song Zhenshan was engaged in a fierce battle nearby, he was still attentive to his surroundings. He clearly heard the situation of the innkeeper emerging from under the counter to block the Lin siblings and, upon learning that the innkeeper was only there to collect a debt for meals, he let out a sigh of relief.

He gestured to both sides, and immediately several people rushed towards the roof. However, almost simultaneously, several cries of anguish were heard, and those who had just climbed up all fell down.

This black-faced villain is Xiong Yifei, the direct disciple of Huang Qingjiang, known for the "Six Harmonies Breaking the Door Axe". His technique is named "Cutting Off the Waist from Behind". With one axe attacking the opponent from the rear as the main attack, and the other axe feigning an attack from the front as a diversion, both hands strike simultaneously, each incorporating six variations in direction, resulting in a total of thirty-six changes. This technique prevents the enemy from being able to focus on both front and back, and it was a hallmark of Huang Qingjiang's reputation in the martial arts world. After mastering this technique, Xiong Yifei often turned the tide against many renowned masters even when at a disadvantage, making it truly his trump card. This time, he unleashed his ultimate move right from the start, an unprecedented action, which clearly indicates Xiong Yifei's apprehension towards the bald old man.

Suddenly, everything went dark, and the collar of Tang Guangting tightened unexpectedly, lifting him up like a small chick.

It was unprecedented for one’s own weapon to be seized by another since Shen Fengming stepped into the martial world. In the midst of shock, he remained remarkably composed. As he executed the left-hand technique "like a sealed closure" halfway, he quickly twisted his waist and stepped forward, changing his move. With his left arm fully extended, his fingertips surprisingly reconnected with his judge's pen. The old man shouted, "Good!" The pen handle was reversed and sent back, directly pointing at his chest, executing the unfinished stroke of the cursive character "wei" from earlier.

This Mogao has grown accustomed to arrogance and self-importance, never praising others. Although the phrase begins with the words "little friend," when he says "I admire you," what he truly thinks of is himself, his own sense of pride, which inevitably leads to another bout of hearty laughter

The innkeeper approached and said, "Why not take shelter in our humble establishment from the rain? It is a good ten miles ahead before you reach another settlement!" Noticing that the traveler had no rain gear and his clothes were drenched and in disarray, the innkeeper surmised that he must have been hurrying through the night and missed his lodging, hence his suggestion.

Mogao Tian was initially baffled, thinking for a moment that it was Song Zhanshan's father who had arrived. However, upon seeing the age, he quickly realized something was amiss. As the shop assistant, who had been resisting fiercely in his hands, suddenly ceased struggling, he then had an epiphany, laughed heartily, and said: "The young one is clever and intelligent, I am truly impressed!"

The horseman leading the group was none other than Tang Guangcheng, the father of Tang Guangting, the chieftain of the Zhuangzi at the Mount Zhu Jian and known as the "Yama King of Retribution." Upon hearing from Xiao Sanzai that a group of martial arts experts had descended from the mountain, nearly exposing their whereabouts, it was fortunate that Tang Guangting was astute, allowing him to ascend the mountain to deliver the warning. Tang Guangting is the only beloved son of Tang Guangcheng. Upon learning that his young son was in danger, without a moment's hesitation, he immediately mobilized the thirty-six caves of the stronghold, summoning a total of seventy-two leaders, and braved the heavy rain to surround the inn, which usually served as a front and a hidden stakeout.

Seeing the bald old man approach with great momentum and inner strength, he uttered a single word: "Good!" He extended his foot and kicked the entire table in front of him over. With a loud crash, the table could not withstand the force of the two axes and shattered into several pieces, scattering everywhere. The bald old man, witnessing such power, did not dare to be negligent; he channeled his energy into both hands, striking with each palm arriving before the last. Xiong Yifei slashed in thirty-six different directions, and he too unleashed thirty-six palm strikes in succession.

The pale-faced man retorted, "Is there any wine?" The waiter hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, yes! We have Fenjiu from Taiyuan and the finest Zhuyeqing!" The pale-faced man nodded slightly, then swiftly dismounted, and the waiter quickly reached out to take the reins.

Upon witnessing this scene, the onlookers could not help but exclaim softly. Mo Gaotian, seizing the opportunity, embraced both Lin Lanping and Tang Guangting with each arm and leaped onto the roof of the inn in a single motion. Tang Guangcheng, taken aback, quickly shouted, "Senior!" From his elevated position, Mo Gaotian laughed heartily, saying, "Today, there are many of you; I shall not suffer this loss. Please take good care of Young Master Lin, and I will bring your son to exchange another day. I shall take my leave!" With that, he turned and left. Having long been in the martial world, Tang Guangcheng sensed that something was amiss and hurriedly called out, "Senior, please do not be suspicious!"

The fat man said, "Brother, this fellow is quite tough! I can't handle the wild boar, so why don't we all go at him together!" As soon as he finished speaking, someone in the crowd immediately echoed, "Yes, let's all go together; even if we have to crowd him, we can squeeze him to death!" Another person remarked, "Is he really that tough? Wild Boar, every time the brother asks you to do something, you always procrastinate and don't put in any effort. If you want to slack off, just say so; I wouldn't mind stepping in for you!" Upon hearing this, Wild Boar became furious and retorted, "To hell with you, Scarface Three! If you want to take action, feel free. When you end up with a few holes poked in you, I'll help you change your nickname to 'Hole Three'!"

Nalin, with the blue bottle, only wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. Seeing the waiter persistently bothering her, she felt a surge of disgust and shouted, "You insolent waiter, let go of me!" Suddenly, she kicked up her leg from under her skirt and aimed a kick at Tang Guangting's waist.

When Tang Guangting first heard the sound of hooves, he already had a plan in mind. Upon hearing that the people outside had surrounded the inn, he secretly calculated the speed of the third young man, becoming even more certain that his father had led the heads of various camps down the mountain to look for him. It was only when Lin Lanping was pulled away by Song Zhanshan that he had the opportunity to catch his breath and contemplate how to make a safe escape. As he saw Song Zhanshan slowly retreating, and the bald old man was completely focused, a sudden idea struck him. He stealthily crept to the counter and, taking a deep breath, extinguished the last lamp in the inn.

Lin Yanxiu had no idea that the shopkeeper was so cunning. Seeing him remain silent, his anger flared even more, and he swung his fist, landing a punch directly on his face. Tang Guangting, distracted, was caught off guard and received a punch to the cheek with a loud "bang," causing it to swell immediately

Shen Fengming silently exclaimed, "Not good!" His right hand was paralyzed and unable to move, and his left arm was fully extended, leaving him no time to turn back. In a moment of urgency, he could only hold his breath tightly. Then, with a sound of "wave," he felt a surge of internal energy rush into his Dan Zhong point, causing his entire breath to churn within him like turbulent waves. His limbs and bones felt as if they had scattered, and in an instant, the world spun around him. Following that, a sweetness rose in his throat, and blood gushed from his mouth like a spring.

Song Zhenshan smiled faintly, extended his sleeve to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, and said lightly: "Even if you do not invite me, I still intend to go up and take a walk." He then added: "I have two companions in my room, I would appreciate your assistance!"

The bald old man chuckled and said, "Well said, well said." Shen Fengming raised his right hand, and the long sword in his hand shot out like a flying arrow, making a "whoosh" as it embedded itself into the door panel, burying itself to the hilt. The bald old man, upon seeing this, couldn't help but let out a soft "oh" of surprise and remarked, "That was quite impressive!" Shen Fengming cupped his hands in a bow and replied, "I have overstepped my bounds!" Unbeknownst to when, a pen made of high-quality steel had already been grasped in his hand, and with a whoosh, he leaped up.

Tang Guangcheng saw Mo Gaotian laughing heartily, his face betraying no joy or anger. With a wave of his hand, two men in black behind him brought forth a youth clad in an oilcloth raincoat, who was none other than Lin Yanxiu. However, he was bound tightly with ropes, his head bowed low, motionless, and his fate unknown

Only then did Song Zhanshan thrust his sword at an angle, appearing weak and feeble, yet the sword's brilliance had already emerged, truly employing great clumsiness to counter skillfulness, subtly concealing a lethal intent within a clever maneuver. He understood the gravity of the situation; his left wrist sank, containing his strength without releasing it, waiting for the enemy to make a move. His right hand wielded the judge's brush as if it were a sword, also moving in a diagonal manner. Song Zhanshan seemed to sense something unusual; he tilted the sword body slightly, gently resting it against the judge's brush, and then, taking advantage of the momentum, aimed to slice down.

Shen Fengming ceased to speak further, the silver light flickered, and the tip of the pen swiftly pointed again towards the bald old man. The bald old man, upon seeing this, did not evade; instead, he shouted, "Look clearly!" His right hand curled the thumb, ring finger, and little finger, while the index and middle fingers mimicked the motion of a pen tip, simultaneously pointing towards Shen Fengming's face.

Song Zhenshan noticed that his seemingly soft and slow palm technique was quite different from his earlier demeanor, and he did not dare to underestimate it. He secretly channeled ten percent of his strength and struck out with a palm. Unexpectedly, as the bald old man’s palms reached midway, they suddenly transformed from two to four, then from four to eight. By the time they were close, they had already manifested into sixteen palm shadows. Song Zhenshan was greatly alarmed and suddenly thought of someone. His mind moved quickly, and his hands moved even faster; he executed a reverse sword strike, performing the technique "Hundred Flowers Blooming." The bald old man, seeing his quick response, could not help but secretly admire him.

Startled, he kicked back with his leg, but found nothing there to strike. The person noticed his movement and forcefully pulled up his collar, tightening it around his neck even more

This fierce battle was different from the previous one. In Shen Fengming's hands, the judge's pen seemed to possess a life of its own, resembling a silver-white little snake, flickering and unpredictable. The bald old man no longer merely evaded; his palms either struck or seized, sometimes punching and at other times jabbing with his fingers.

Tang Guangting winced in pain, letting out a muffled groan, and tightly embraced Lin Yanxiu, using his strength to throw him down onto the ground. The ground was littered with wooden splinters, and the sharp fragments caused both of them to cry out in distress.

The shopkeeper reacted quickly, immediately understanding the situation, and hurriedly interjected, "Oh dear, I had good intentions, giving Xiao Sanzi a chance to recover his losses. After all, he has lost so much money to me over time. As the saying goes, one day he might be driven to desperation..." Tang Guangting, fearing that he would continue to ramble on and say something that could not be concluded, quickly interrupted him, saying, "Later, seeing that the two of them were gambling without any excitement, I went to the kitchen to pull Lao Wang in to join the game!" The shopkeeper had not yet responded when the remaining person among the three suddenly shouted, "It's all because of the shopkeeper's fault! I still have so many things to do in the kitchen, yet he insisted on pulling me in, saying it would just be one round, one round, which ended up delaying the guests from drinking and unjustly got me beaten up." Xiao San also said, "What are you complaining about? The shopkeeper called me to the hall to see if there was any business today, and as a result, I got a punch for no reason. Now that's what I call bad luck!" The shopkeeper interjected, "I thought it was getting late, and with the heavy rain, there probably wouldn't be any business coming in..." The three of them began to blame each other, and the pale-faced man couldn't help but frown as he listened.

Suddenly, there was a loud "bang," and sparks flew in the room. It turned out that Tang Guangting was no match for the combined efforts of the siblings, who seized the opportunity to kick over a basin of charcoal fire towards Lin Yanxiu. A piece of charcoal caught fire on Lin Yanxiu's body, and the flames spread rapidly. In a panic, he jumped around everywhere, abandoning Tang Guangting.

Tang Guangting shook his hand, thinking: "If I mesmerize them right from the start, it would be rather dull." He decided, "There are a few skilled individuals among this group; I will observe them before making any moves." The chef repeatedly agreed and then said, "Shall I call a few more brothers to prepare their weapons?" Although Tang Guangting was young and ambitious, it was his first time encountering such a situation. After a brief contemplation, he also expressed his agreement. The chef took his orders and left, while he himself hastily warmed a few pots of wine, carrying a tray to send out first. He then reiterated, "Shall I call a few more brothers to prepare their weapons?" Although Tang Guangting was young and ambitious, it was his first time encountering such a situation. After a brief contemplation, he also expressed his agreement. The chef took his orders and left, while he himself hastily warmed a few pots of wine, carrying a tray to send out first.

Xiong Yifei let out a muffled grunt and said, "What is it? I won't die!" He reached out, intending to pull out the axe embedded in his body, when the accompanying young man suddenly stopped him, saying, "Uncle Xiong, you mustn't pull it out..." In fact, Xiong Yifei was injured on both shoulders and had no strength at all; as soon as his fingertips touched the axe handle, his arm fell limp.

Therefore, Song Zhanshan, seeing that Mo Gaotian's moves were peculiar, did not hesitate to execute this technique. However, at the very moment he thrust with all his might, he suddenly realized that the space in front of him was completely empty, offering no resistance at all

Tang Guangting felt as if he had been struck by a black-faced villain, causing stars to dance before his eyes and the world to spin around him. All he could do was repeatedly say, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" Ignoring his companions who were ready to take action, he thought to himself, "Brothers, do not blame me. I will go up the mountain to ask my father to come down; I will definitely avenge this grievance for all of you!" With his mind made up, he stood up and walked inside.

Xiong Yifei, seeing the other party's disdain for him, found himself unable to do anything about it. In his urgency, beads of sweat the size of soybeans poured down his forehead like rain. Unable to contain himself, he let out a loud roar, and suddenly, two wooden axes flew out of his hands. The crowd, unaware that he had such a move, collectively exclaimed "Oh" in surprise.

The black-faced thug understood that his elder brother was steady in demeanor and tended to overthink matters, so he remarked: "There is no need to worry about this, even if there is something strange about this shop, with just these few people, I alone could easily tear the roof off!" By the time he reached the last few words, he was almost shouting. He intended to show off, and by the time he pronounced the last word "go," he had poured his internal energy into it, causing dust to fall from the beams above. Tang Guangting and the other three, having never learned advanced martial arts, found the sound unbearable, feeling nauseous and extremely uncomfortable, their faces changing dramatically. He intended to show off, and by the time he pronounced the last word "go," he had poured his internal energy into it, causing dust to fall from the beams above. Tang Guangting and the other three, having never learned advanced martial arts, found the sound unbearable, feeling nauseous and extremely uncomfortable, their faces changing dramatically. Tang Guangting thought to himself: "When he says he will tear the roof off, he is probably just being polite." He glanced back at the young girl, only to see her calm and composed, pouring tea for herself, which suggested she might also possess high skills. He suddenly felt lost and disoriented, unsure of where he was. Tang Guangting thought to himself: "When he says he will tear the roof off, he is probably just being polite." He glanced back at the young girl, only to see her calm and composed, pouring tea for herself, which suggested she might also possess high skills. He suddenly felt lost and disoriented, unsure of where he was.

Little did they know that Song Zhanshan's sword was like a specter, advancing three inches forward, maintaining a distance of three inches from the bald old man, with no distinction between the initial and subsequent movements. It was as if he had foreseen that the opponent would retreat. The bald old man had no time to exclaim in admiration; his body swayed, and in an instant, he sidestepped three inches to the side.

Tang Guangcheng was taken aback, kicked his feet, turned over, and leaped onto the roof. Just as he steadied himself, a sudden rush of wind swept past his ears. He had been mentally prepared for this, and with ten percent of his strength, he swiftly struck back with his palms. The collision of his palms produced a tremendous sound.

As Mo Gao stepped out of the inn, the voices around him seemed to awaken from a deep slumber, stirring with a newfound energy

As the young man walked at the back, just before leaving, he suddenly turned around and said: "That duck is stewing in the kang, it should be ready now, should I bring it out?" Tang Guangting waved his right hand and replied: "Go away! Don't bring your food here to make a fool of the gentlemen." The young man complied and went on his way. In fact, this exchange was their village's coded language. "The cooked duck" represented his intention to "fly away" and he was inquiring about Tang Guangting's meaning. Tang Guangting's response of "Go away!" naturally indicated that he wanted him to hurry back and fetch reinforcements.

It is said that Song Zhanshan had already stepped one foot out the door when he suddenly saw darkness before his eyes, and he dared not stop, pulling Lin Lanping with him as he intended to turn and leave. Just as he took a step, a mass of black shadow, accompanied by wind and thunder, descended upon him. Hearing such a sound, Song Zhanshan realized the gravity of the situation. He swiftly turned the sword's edge, and a beam of white light from the sword pierced through the mass of black shadow. He then heard a cry of "Ah!" as a plump black figure flashed past his eyes. Upon closer inspection, he saw a person wearing a bamboo hat, dressed in black, wielding a wolf-toothed club, with a look of panic in his eyes.

Upon hearing the Mountain Pig's words, several people immediately laughed. The Scarred Third, unwilling to be humiliated, angrily retorted: "Are you mocking my martial skills? Let me tell you, the scars on my face are a result of my fearless dedication to every mission, unlike certain individuals who are adept at retreating in the face of danger, seeking fortune while avoiding peril, and managing to escape unscathed!" The Mountain Pig, lacking the eloquence of the Scarred Third, became stammering with rage upon hearing himself described as cowardly. He said: "You... what did you say? If... if you have the guts, say it... say it again..."

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback, including the bald old man. Suddenly, that young master Lin drew his sword with a swift motion and said: "Mr. Song, I, Lin Yanxiu, as a descendant of the Lin family, am, after all, a child of a military family. I regret that I could not follow my father and elder brothers to fight to the death against the bandits back then. Living until now only to die, I have no face to meet my ancestors in the underworld. I will not leave. Lanping, you are a girl; this is not your concern. You should leave quickly!" Upon hearing this, the girl cried out: "No! I do not want to escape alone!" Lin Yanxiu ignored her and thrust his sword directly at the bald old man.

Tang Guangting was taken aback. Suddenly, a cold wind blew in, and he felt a chilling sensation on the top of his head. He thought that half of his head had been shaved off. In a moment of panic, he almost cried out "Mother".

Just after a few rumbles of thunder, the heavy rain hurriedly began to pour down

Do not be deceived by Lin Lanping's delicate figure and timid appearance. With a sword in hand, her every move is fierce and ruthless, and most of the dangers encountered by Tang Guangting are dealt with under her blade. Tang Guangting groaned in distress, secretly cursing, "Damn woman, how can she be so fierce?" Though he thought this in his mind, he had no time to voice it. In a panic, he hurriedly picked up a wooden table leg from the ground to use as a weapon for defense. Although Lin Lanping attacked fiercely, in her urgency, he was still able to hold his ground.

The young man softly comforted the young woman for a few moments. He then quietly asked the pale-faced man, "Mr. Song, your brow is deeply furrowed; have they caught up with us?" The pale-faced man surnamed Song pondered for a moment and replied, "Logically, given that we traveled through the night and with the heavy rain providing cover, they should not have been able to catch up so quickly. My concern lies with the expert who just used the 'Sound Transmission' technique; the identities of friend and foe are unclear." Indeed, as soon as he spoke, the voice that had just echoed in their ears now came from outside the door, saying, "Well said, well said."

The Sword-Casting Mountain at night appears particularly tranquil due to the rain. Along the path leading to Qingshi Town, there stands a nameless, dilapidated wooden inn, isolated and abruptly situated beside a large locust tree. A young lad, evidently the innkeeper's assistant, sits alone on the threshold, resting his head on his hands, staring blankly ahead, lost in thought or perhaps listening to the rain. In any case, the night grows deeper, and the rain continues to fall incessantly.

Then Xiong Yifei suddenly said from the side: "I didn't expect your skills to be so impressive, Second Brother. You've really kept it a secret from me. If I had known, I would have let you go first, and I wouldn't have had to stick my neck out." Shen Fengming stared at the old man with displeasure and said, "I don't have time to chat with you..." The pale-faced man interjected, "Third Brother, stop messing around!" The bald old man laughed and said, "Don't rush, don't rush, one at a time, everyone has a chance. If those lying on the ground are not convinced, they can still get up and line up again. Or do you all want to rush in at once?"

The bald elder, upon witnessing the situation, could not help but feel anxious, having never anticipated that although Song Zhanshan possessed excellent martial skills, his mindset was so conservative that it rendered him unable to devise any strategies or leverage his strengths. In his desperation, he had no choice but to push his internal energy to the limit, attacking with full force in every move. However, Song Zhanshan was determined to employ a delaying tactic, with nearly all his moves focused on defense, seeking merely to avoid defeat. Thus, they fought to a standstill. No matter how formidable the bald elder was, he found himself at an impasse for the time being. Nevertheless, Song Zhanshan remained resolute in his delaying strategy, with his moves almost entirely defensive, resulting in an evenly matched confrontation. The bald elder, despite his strength, was momentarily at a loss.

Song Zhanshan did not dare to be negligent in the slightest. With a flick of his wrist, the tip of the long sword in his hand began to tremble, emitting a buzzing sound. Then, he thrust the sword forward, and the sword tip, resembling a cold light, seemed to split into two in mid-air, and then into four, directly targeting the vital points around the bald old man. Even though this bald old man was well-versed in many things, he had never encountered such a marvelous sword technique. In astonishment, he could only evade the blade's edge, extending his right foot and forcefully retreating three feet.

Tang Guangting was almost out of breath when he suddenly heard a cold voice say: "You little waiter actually have some skills. I have roamed the rivers and lakes for decades, yet I did not expect to misjudge you!"

Three tall steeds, each carrying four men and one woman, galloped swiftly through the night rain. The leader, mounted on his horse, was the first to rein in at the entrance of this desolate little shop.

Tang Guangting, aware of the capabilities of the black-faced villain, took advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention and quickly ducked under the counter.

At that moment, Mo Gaotian's fingers effortlessly brushed past the tip of his sword and pointed towards the "Silk Bamboo Void" behind his brow. Song Zhanshan was unable to retract his sword in time and hurriedly used his left hand to block. At the same time, a girl's startled cry was heard, as Mo Gaotian took advantage of the distraction to abduct Lin Lanping.

Seeing this, the pale-faced man took a few copper coins and stuffed them into his hand, saying: "This is compensation for the hat."

As soon as the words were spoken, it seemed as if a voice suddenly penetrated everyone's ears, clearly stating: "Must one be as reckless as you to become the elder brother?" At the same time, a thin, yellow-skinned man swiftly drew his long sword, positioning himself behind the young man and woman. A dark-faced ruffian, wielding dual axes, rushed to the entrance and bellowed: "May I ask which hero or brave man is here? As the saying goes: 'A wise man does not speak in riddles.' Please reveal yourselves." The voice resonated like a thunderclap, echoing far into the rainy night. Everyone momentarily listened intently. The bellowing continued: "May I ask which hero or brave man is here? As the saying goes: 'A wise man does not speak in riddles.' Please reveal yourselves." The voice resonated like a thunderclap, echoing far into the rainy night. Everyone momentarily listened intently. However, after a while, apart from a few claps of thunder and the sound of the rain, there was no response at all.

Song Zhenshan called out several times, "Senior! Senior!" but only then realized that the other person had long since left. Tang Guangcheng appeared astonished by this outcome. Turning to look at Song Zhenshan, he saw him drenched in both rain and blood, in a rather disheveled state. However, with many doubts in his mind, he recognized that this person was crucial, so he said, "May I ask your esteemed name, sir? It is late, and the rain is heavy. Our camp is not far from here. If you are feeling well, you might consider resting on the mountain. If you are unwell, we also have horses available to assist you."

Since Tang Guangting made his move, Song Zhanshan has been constantly distracted by their battle situation. The bald old man noticed this and clung to him even more. However, Song Zhanshan was fully focused on defense, maintaining an exceptionally tight guard. Moreover, the bald old man had previously taken a punch from Xiong Yifei, and gradually, he felt a dull pain under his ribs. Each time he exerted himself a bit too much, it aggravated the injury, causing him to sweat from the forehead. The two remained in a stalemate, both feeling their stamina gradually depleting. The bald old man appeared relaxed on the surface, but he was already anxious inside, thinking: "No matter who that shopkeeper is, two fists can hardly contend with four hands. If he loses, these two kids will have no reason not to flee." Yet, despite his anxiety, he found himself at a loss for what to do.

Song Zhanshan observed the situation and realized that this group of uninvited guests had completely surrounded the inn. Lin Yanxiu had gone without a trace, and the silence only heightened his anxiety. He spoke up, saying, "I have long admired your noble character, Senior Mo..." Mo Gaotian's expression darkened, and with a wave of his hand, he interrupted him, saying, "Do not mention the past any further. I must take these two children away, and I will handle that group outside. Since you are aware of my background, do not become a hindrance!"

Song Zhanshan was well aware that this bald old man excelled at first observing his opponent's martial arts techniques before seizing the opportunity to launch an attack. To ensure victory, he had no choice but to resolve the matter swiftly. Thus, without hesitation, he kicked over the table beside him; then, with a crack, he shattered a stool. The inn was not large, and after several such moves, all the tables and chairs had been overturned and smashed, with table boards and chair legs scattered across the ground.

At that moment, Song Zhenshan thought: "The arrogant old man capturing this shop assistant at this time is equivalent to having already taken Young Master Lin, so he is now launching a fierce attack, only wanting to conclude this matter with me as soon as possible." With this thought, he exerted all his strength, but after two consecutive hours, he felt like a tightly drawn bowstring, nearly at the end of its strength. He sensed that with each sword strike, the weight of the sword increased, and eventually, each strike felt as if it weighed around a hundred pounds, becoming increasingly laborious.

The two riders and four individuals who arrived subsequently dismounted at this moment. The innkeeper greeted them one by one, and only then did he take a proper look at their appearances.

Upon hearing this, Tang Guangting realized that he had just been tested. He reached up to touch his head; although his hat was left with only half, a small patch of his scalp had been shaved bald. Instantly, all his fear transformed into anger, and he thought, "How infuriating! This fat man actually laughed at my lack of martial skills and even shaved a piece of my hair. If that axe had been off by half an inch, would I still be alive right now?" But he soon thought, "This fat man is incredibly formidable. The axe is both heavy and dull, yet he wields it as if it were a razor. Such skill..." As he recalled the effort he had put into martial arts over the past two years, he realized that in the eyes of a master, his skills were no different from those of someone who knew nothing about martial arts. His anger was thus dampened considerably. Ironically, today, in comparison to his opponent, his own martial arts were so inferior that he could hardly react. Otherwise, if the opponent had merely swung the axe, it would have been as easy as chopping vegetables.

The bald old man shook his head and said, "In warfare, deception is essential. If every competition were simply about strength and endurance, then what would be the point? We might as well compete in stone lifting or cliff jumping. Martial arts require wisdom, and combat relies on strategy. I praised your martial skills, but I did not expect your understanding to be so limited; it seems unlikely you will achieve great things in the future." After saying this, he displayed a look of regret on his face. Song Zhenshan interjected, "I humbly ask for your guidance, senior." The bald old man smiled slightly and replied, "That is agreeable."

Tang Guangting, seeing his strategy take effect, kicked over the last remaining pot of fire. The bright red embers scattered across the ground, and Lin Lanping, while attacking, was concerned about the burning objects underfoot, unable to rely on her usual pace, which significantly diminished her power. Moreover, with this, the entire inn was suddenly shrouded in darkness, leaving only a flickering oil lamp on the counter, swayed by the gusts from the bald old man and Song Zhanshan, creating an exceptionally eerie atmosphere

The bald old man spoke up, saying: "Waiter, you can attend to me directly; why do you need to consider the expressions of others? Is he the owner here?" Tang Guangting smiled and replied: "It's just that they arrived first, and their table's food and drinks haven't been prepared yet!" The old man laughed heartily and said: "What you said is just nonsense. With all of you crowding on the ground, how can anything be done properly?" Tang Guangting forced a smile and said: "Yes, yes!" He then turned around and called for everyone to get up. One by one, the crowd grumbled and stood up to leave.