Chapter 2, Disciples

Jiang Yu let out a furious roar, feeling the heavy aura of murderous intent locking onto him. He shouted loudly: "Big cat, little cat, and the white worm, you all hurry and leave, do not worry about me! In the world of Jianghu, how can one avoid being harmed? Today, I, Jiang Yu, accept my fate! You all leave quickly; no one can catch me in the mountains and forests!" After shouting these words, feeling the murderous intent intensify, Jiang Yu expanded his form, like a gust of fresh wind, a wisp of light smoke, brushing past the thatched grass and fleeing into the deep mountains. You all leave quickly; no one can catch me in the mountains and forests!" After shouting these words, feeling the murderous intent intensify, Jiang Yu expanded his form, like a gust of fresh wind, a wisp of light smoke, brushing past the thatched grass and fleeing into the deep mountains

Two large tigers, a white giant python, and a fiery red fire spirit snake simultaneously let out their roars. The two tigers pressed closely against Jiang Yu, emitting low, rumbling growls. The white python slowly coiled around Jiang Yu's body, forming a serpentine formation, its cold, merciless eyes scanning the surrounding mountains and forests with a chilling murderous intent. The fire spirit snake, the most malicious of them all, simply slithered up Jiang Yu's pant leg and burrowed into his body, its small form hidden in Jiang Yu's embrace. Its pair of fierce, glowing eyes darted around in all directions, and tiny venomous fangs began to ooze a deep red poison.

Wu Fan chuckled and sat down in front of Jiang Yu. He suddenly flicked his fingers, sending the Fire Spirit Snake, which had shot out from Jiang Yu's embrace and was about to bite him, flying several zhang away. With a smile, he said: "You must bow your head to pay respects when you take a master, right? Whether it's a hero of the rivers and lakes or a high-ranking official of the court, even the crown prince of the current dynasty, who doesn't bow their head when taking a master? Heaven, Earth, the Emperor, and the Master—this is the natural order, and you cannot avoid bowing your head!"

With a slight smile, Wu Fan said with a somewhat cunning chuckle: "Our sect has no rules; if there are any, the only rule is the laws of heaven and earth. Our sect originates from the primordial chaos, cultivating the natural way passed down from that era. Just like wild beasts, when thirsty, they drink; when hungry, they eat. If they feel the urge, what is wrong with finding a female beast to mate and reproduce? As long as one does not violate the laws of heaven and earth, and does not engage in actions that go against nature, for instance, do not abduct hundreds of women in search of a mate, and do not kill thousands of people for a meal, who will care about you?" Just like wild beasts, when thirsty, they drink; when hungry, they eat. If they feel the urge, what is wrong with finding a female beast to mate and reproduce? As long as one does not violate the laws of heaven and earth, and does not engage in actions that go against nature, for instance, do not abduct hundreds of women in search of a mate, and do not kill thousands of people for a meal, who will care about you?

The formation of the White Dragon Gang was in complete disarray, as over forty young men were surrounded by more than two hundred feral dogs. These dogs charged at them recklessly. In an instant, the sounds of wailing and howling echoed throughout half of Yangzhou City, and the whimpering and growling of the dogs terrified the nearby citizens, leaving them trembling with fear. Jiang Yu laughed arrogantly, saying: "Old Turtle, everyone has their own trump card. Just because my elder brother has gone to Chang'an, do you think you can easily deal with me, Jiang Yu? Fortunately, this is in Yangzhou City; if it were in the mountains, I would summon dozens of big bugs to gnaw at you!" Jiang Yu laughed arrogantly, saying: "Old Turtle, everyone has their own trump card. Just because my elder brother has gone to Chang'an, do you think you can easily deal with me, Jiang Yu? Fortunately, this is in Yangzhou City; if it were in the mountains, I would summon dozens of big bugs to gnaw at you!"

After blinking a few times, Jiang Yu hurriedly made his way towards a mountain forest outside the city, trying to escape before the officials from Yangzhou and the soldiers from the Grand Commander's Office arrived. In a state of panic, Jiang Yu reached Guanyin Mountain, evading several Tang soldiers patrolling outside the mountain. He passed by the ruins of the former迷楼 of Emperor Yang of Sui and ran deep into the forest. Fearing that someone might be pursuing him, Jiang Yu avoided the narrow paths and instead dashed through the dense thickets of thorns, astonishingly making not a single sound as he moved through the branches.

Hahaha! A long laugh echoed through the mountains and forests, as a vague figure wrapped in a strong wind rushed over at a speed ten times faster than that of Jiang Yu's earlier run from several miles away. The murderous intent vanished without a trace; wherever the strong wind passed, all the trees and flowers bowed their heads. Once the strong wind swept by, the forest and saplings returned to their original state without any damage. The powerful force and gentle nature harmoniously merged together, leaving Jiang Yu dumbfounded, astonished as if witnessing a celestial being.

Swinging his two legs while sitting on the wall, Jiang Yu pointed at the old Wen Sheng below and laughed, "Master, why are you hitting me?"

With a clap of his hands, the river fish said with a casual grin: "Ah, I say, Master, if you are so easily insulted, you might as well jump into the river early; after all, the river has no lid. 'If the son does not teach, it is the father's fault,' indeed, that saying holds true. Your second son went to spend the night at the home of Widow Huang in the south of the city, ruining her chastity and trampling on the ethical principles of the sages. Is this what you taught, Master? This matter has long spread throughout the literary circles of Yangzhou, yet you still pretend to be confused?"

Wu Fan looked at Jiang Yu sincerely, spreading his long arms in resignation and said: "Our sect has very few members. Aside from my master's master, your ancestor has traveled across the Eastern Ocean to enjoy life, and I fear that the bones of the other few uncles and brothers could drum. Our sect's cultivation methods are unique; individuals like you, who can communicate with the entire natural world, are fundamentally unable to practice our sect's techniques. I encountered your elder brother Li Linfu in Chang'an, and he spoke of your situation, describing you as a pure piece of gold and jade. If we let you go, wouldn't that delay your future cultivation?"

The eyes of the tower on the city gate also gleamed with a greenish light, much like that pack of frenzied wild dogs. He was nearly drooling, murmuring to himself: "What a fine material, it's simply a piece of uncut jade. Heaven has opened its eyes; I have finally encountered such an exceptional disciple. At just eleven years old, he can command beasts? No wonder he was able to snatch that spirit mushroom from the jaws of the fire spirit snake. What a good find! Did he take it by force, or did he deceive it?"

Jiang Yu paused for a moment, embodying the fearless spirit of a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, and pointed at Wufan, saying: "Why should I bow to you? A man’s knees are worth their weight in gold; this head is not something to be bowed to indiscriminately"

The little snake was enjoying the purest form of vitality to nourish itself, while the river fish grew increasingly fearful, its heart nearly shrinking into a lump. A wind blew from behind, carrying an even stronger aura of killing intent, like chilling gusts that raised goosebumps all over its body. It had already merged with this small patch of forest, yet it could clearly sense that the person pursuing it had seemingly blended into the entirety of Guanyin Mountain—this person appeared to have an intimate understanding of its every move, as if observing the patterns on the palm, able to grasp all its breaths from several miles away, with that killing intent firmly locked onto it. It had already merged with this small patch of forest, yet it could clearly sense that the person pursuing it had seemingly blended into the entirety of Guanyin Mountain—this person appeared to have an intimate understanding of its every move, as if observing the patterns on the palm, able to grasp all its breaths from several miles away, with that killing intent firmly locked onto it.

Ah! The Master let out a mournful cry, fell back, and lay on the ground weeping loudly, saying: "How could this be? How could this be? If the child is not taught, it is the father's fault. Oh, Heaven, what have I done wrong again?"

The Jiang Yu, who was sound asleep, suddenly felt his muscles tense up, awakening from that deep slumber. An unprecedented sense of danger surged through him, causing his heart to race violently, and blood flowed rapidly throughout his body, granting his limbs greater strength and quicker reflexes. It felt as if countless small knives were stabbing into him, and Jiang Yu even experienced a wave of intense pain. "Damn it, this is the killing intent that only those death warriors who fought against the Turks on the battlefield possess, the same feeling I sensed when my cheap old man and the others went to greet the great general of the court last time. Who the hell sent such a master to deal with me? I am merely the second-in-command of the Clean Street Tiger in Yangzhou, not even the Clean Street Tiger of the Tang Dynasty. Who would send such death warriors to confront me? Is it really necessary?"

The Master angrily said: "If you do not respect education, do not honor the sages, do not possess knowledge or skills, and do not understand the principles of propriety, who should be punished if not you? The saying goes, 'If a child is not taught, it is the father's fault.' You are a student of the Master; if you go out and cause trouble again, will you not expose the countless scholars of Yangzhou to shame? You would insult the Master's reputation and status in the literary world! How can it be that even a small child like you cannot be properly admonished?"

"Damn it!" Jiang Yu, with a grim expression, suddenly kicked the old soft-shelled turtle in the abdomen, cursing, "If I had known it would come to this, my brother should have taken the brothers along to break your limbs before leaving. Look at this, everything has turned upside down! If you don't kill the snake, it will surely harm you!"

Jiang Yu suddenly felt a chill run through his body. He looked around in confusion and saw over forty people struggling and fighting among a pack of wild dogs. More than a dozen youths had already been bitten and were lying on the ground, fighting for their lives. Jiang Yu suddenly jolted, whispering, "This is bad; this situation has escalated significantly. So many people are injured, and my aunt is the other party's second wife, making it difficult to negotiate. Won't that cheap old man beat me half to death? My elder brother is not in Yangzhou, so I fear no one will help me smooth things over. This disaster is not small. We must leave quickly, quickly, and hide in the mountains for a few days before discussing anything further."

Worriedly watching the dimly struggling Fire Spirit Snake crawl back, Jiang Yu hurriedly stuffed it into his sleeve and, raising his upper body, shouted angrily: "What if I don't bow? Those old bookworms, I, Master Yu, have never bowed to them. Just because you can run a little faster than me, do you expect me to bow to you? Where is the logic in that?" Jiang Yu actually knew in his heart that this big man could run at such a terrifying speed, something he had never heard of before. Perhaps he was a character of the legendary sort, like the sword heroes 'Kong Kong Er' and 'Jing Jing Er'. He felt a glimmer of hope at the thought of being able to take such a formidable figure as his master. However, as the second-in-command of the Yangzhou Clean Street Tiger, how could he easily bend his golden knee?

A few roars of tigers echoed, as a male and a female tiger, each weighing around seven to eight hundred pounds, cautiously emerged from the tall grass, casting a careful glance at Jiang Yu. Suddenly, they pounced towards him. The two tigers, resembling large cats, rubbed against Jiang Yu for quite some time, their rough, barbed tongues licking him repeatedly, almost producing a cat's "meow" sound. Jiang Yu laughed heartily, lying back and saying, "Big cat, little cat, I want to be your neighbor for a while. How unfortunate I am, even drinking cold water gets stuck in my teeth. I just wanted to call a few dogs to cover my escape, but how did over two hundred come out? Woe is me, this time, I am going to suffer!"

With a roll of his eyes and a lift of his nose, Jiang Yu angrily exclaimed: "How could I wrong him? How could I wrong him? Your second son, whom you regard as a treasure, in my eyes, is nothing but a foolish fool filled with wild grass. He spent the night at Widow Huang's house, and I had my men steal his undergarments and throw them in the street. The next morning, he could only run home wearing the widow's pants. This matter, which brother in all the neighborhoods of Yangzhou does not know? Only you, old scholar, can be deceived by your two precious sons working together. Your eldest son, who loves to indulge in lewd play with young boys, who does not know this?"

"Hmph, let's see what else you have to show off, young man. Today has truly surprised me greatly!" A glimmer of mischievous light flashed in the eyes of the bearded Wufan, and a sudden aura of killing intent erupted from him. Having originally blended into the surrounding mountains and forests, he now appeared like a splash of bright red vermilion on a delicate ink wash landscape painting, strikingly eye-catching and utterly out of place with the surrounding scenery.

Old Turtle, clutching his abdomen, struggled to stand up. He swung his arm and slapped his brothers beside him, shouting, "Fools, a bunch of useless people! With so many of you, how could you let him escape? You all know how formidable this kid is, like a ghost in the fields, striking from the shadows. Why aren't you chasing him down?" Clutching his stomach and staggering, he led his brothers in pursuit of Jiang Yu for half a street. Suddenly, Old Turtle pointed at Jiang Yu and shouted, "Little Dried Fish, let me tell you honestly, Li Linfu has left, and your group of military brothers is unreliable; they have long since defected to others. Today, you will obediently let me beat you up, and we will set aside the past and never mention it again. You know how formidable this kid is, like a ghost in the fields, striking from the shadows. Why aren't you chasing him down?" Clutching his stomach and staggering, he led his brothers in pursuit of Jiang Yu for half a street. Suddenly, Old Turtle pointed at Jiang Yu and shouted, "Little Dried Fish, let me tell you honestly, Li Linfu has left, and your group of military brothers is unreliable; they have long since defected to others. Today, you will obediently let me beat you up, and we will set aside the past and never mention it again. Just follow me honestly!"

Jiang Yu chuckled lightly, and with a swift leap, he jumped down from the wall, landing gracefully on the back street of the Governor's residence. As he walked briskly forward, he murmured with a laugh, "Old Master, you have done nothing wrong, but who asked you to punish me by making me copy that Three Character Classic a hundred times? Ha, if I do not repay this grudge, I, Jiang Yu, am unworthy of being a true man, and my name alongside my elder brother will fade from the streets of Yangzhou. Hehe, if it were not for your punishment of copying, why would I bother to inquire about the disgraceful deeds of your two sons, who are not even worth comparing to dogs?" Hehe, if I do not repay this grudge, I, Jiang Yu, am unworthy of being a true man, and my name alongside my elder brother will fade from the streets of Yangzhou. Hehe, if it were not for your punishment of copying, why would I bother to inquire about the disgraceful deeds of your two sons, who are not even worth comparing to dogs?

This fellow was initially imposing, exuding an air of risking his life for a fight, but soon revealed his weakness. The old tortoise laughed heartily, filled with pride, as he swaggered in front of Jiang Yu with over thirty subordinates, loudly proclaiming: "Jiang Yu, although you are young, you are considered one of the top heroes in our Yangzhou neighborhood. While you may be slightly inferior to me, Jia Yu, you are still quite capable! This ambush formation is indeed worthy of your status. So, what do you say? If you declare today in front of all the heroes in Yangzhou that you will follow me from now on, then this matter will be settled!"

In a moment of arrogance, Jiang Yu suddenly found himself confronted by a group of over ten youths wielding clubs on the street ahead. He quickly turned around, only to see that seven or eight burly men had somehow appeared behind him. Jiang Yu furrowed his brow and shouted at the man in the middle of the group behind him, "Old Turtle, you have some nerve. How dare you provoke me today? Have you not learned your lesson from the last beating? Let me be clear, this is the backyard of the Grand Commander's residence. If I call for help, hundreds of my brothers will rush out and beat you scoundrels to death."

Jiang Yu's expression changed suddenly, and he shook his head left and right. Here was a narrow street barely ten feet wide, blocked by people in front and behind, making it truly a desperate situation where escape was impossible. The burly man, however, stepped forward with a smug look, flexing his wrist and sternly shouted: "Your elder brother Li Linfu has gone to Chang'an to seek an official position. He won't be back for at least three to five years. Even if he does return, he won't have a say in the affairs of this Yangzhou neighborhood. Jiang Yu, I will tell you frankly today, from now on, all the stalls in this Chang'an neighborhood will be under the protection of our White Dragon Gang. As for your group of soldiers from the governor's office, they are like an old cat smelling salted fish; they shouldn't even think about it!"

The two tigers and a python exchanged glances, simultaneously letting out a roar before turning their heads and fleeing in disarray. The roar that had just echoed, prompting the river fish to escape, was merely a gesture of their camaraderie in the martial world. Now that the river fish had fled, the murderous aura had also dissipated. If they did not hurry to leave, were they planning to remain in place and wait for that terrifying expert to skin and dismember them? Three branches, each weighing no more than half a tael, could send their bodies, weighing hundreds to nearly a thousand pounds, flying over ten zhang. What a terrifying power that is.

The hazy figure circled around Jiang Yu several times, making Jiang Yu's eyes nearly tremble. Suddenly, Wu Fan appeared before Jiang Yu, laughing heartily, "Haha! With such talent and beauty, heaven does not forsake me, Wu Fan! Jiang Yu, kneel and bow. Little child, do not learn that streetwise tone from your useless elder brother Li Linfu; it is still up to me, Wu Fan, to properly teach you!" Wu Fan truly loved Jiang Yu to the core. They had been running for over fifty miles, at a speed that ordinary people would find hard to maintain. A mere eleven-year-old child could perform like this in the mountains, and with his long limbs that were proportionate and even more perfect than his own physique, Wu Fan was indeed enamored to the bone.

A man, tall and strong, over nine feet in height, squatted on the city tower at the south gate of Yangzhou, a large bow taller than himself strapped to his back. With a broad smile on his face, he tore at a roasted chicken, stuffing pieces of meat into his mouth, utterly satisfied as he watched Jiang Yu, who appeared as anxious as a fish that had slipped through the net, rushing towards him. "What a fine specimen, what excellent material. With a unique bone structure and soft muscles, he runs without making a sound, yet his talent surpasses even my own from back in the day by a slight margin. My esteemed teacher must be watching from above; the Wangyue Sect has successors to carry on its legacy." "Bah!" A chicken claw was forcefully spat out by Wufan, who muttered indistinctly, "What a lack of justice! Why is it that our Wangyue Sect has so few disciples, while other sects have thousands more than us?"

Running silently, effortlessly able to leap nearly three meters high, standing almost a head taller than his peers, delivering a punch with the strength of an adult, wild and unruly, unbound by any laws or etiquette, resembling a beast of the forest—this is Jiang Yu, the second brother of Li Linfu, the second son accepted by the military officer Li from the Grand Governor's Office of Yangzhou. Immune to snakes and insects, unharmed by tigers and leopards, naturally transparent throughout—this is the innate talent that allows Jiang Yu to roam freely in the mountains and forests outside Yangzhou.

The Yangzhou Grand Governor's Office, the highest military authority of the Tang Dynasty in the Yangzhou region

Jiang Yu fixed his gaze on Wu Fan, who extended his right hand. His fingers, smooth as finely polished leather, flicked with a snap, releasing an invisible force that with a sharp sound tore through hundreds of grass stems along its path, sending grass debris flying. It struck a large poplar tree, thick enough for three to five people to embrace, located several dozen meters away. A muffled thud echoed as a hole the size of a small bowl pierced through the thickest part of the tree, creating a tunnel from front to back. A spray of shattered wood chips erupted from the other side of the hole, shooting straight towards the cliff behind, forcefully creating a deep pit over a meter wide in the rock face.

Jiang Yu's expression changed dramatically as he shouted, "You son of a dog, Hu Deqian! You, a mere Yuru Xiaowei, dare to undermine our Yangzhou Jingjie Tiger from the eighth rank? Your father is not even as high-ranking as my cheap old dad! Old Jia Yu, you have guts; what resources did you use to provoke Hu Deqian? A gentleman takes revenge; ten years is not too late. Just wait, I, Jiang Yu, will not let this go!"

He was a boy with a handsome appearance, yet carrying a hint of mischief and a rogue demeanor. His slender frame was taller than other boys of the same age, with long arms and legs resembling a large frog. Perched on the wall, he mockingly squinted towards the study, saying: "Clearly, you are all just a bunch of rough fellows wielding swords and spears, yet here you are studying the Confucian classics, truly believing you can pass the imperial examination? I, Lord Yu, will not accompany you; I am off to the mountains to forage for wild food! Ah, is there a foolish woman passing by today, bathing in the mountain stream?"

Old Softshell Turtle had been sitting for half a day when he suddenly pointed at the river fish and shouted angrily: "You little fish, do you think I don't dare to really kill you? Come on, brothers, give him a good lesson, break his two legs first!" He touched his still slightly sore thigh bone, a fierce light flashed across his face, and he picked up a whistle stick, ready to step forward.

The heads of two large tigers rested beside the river fish, their heads slowly moving as if listening to the fish speak. The river fish chattered on for quite a while, finally lazily closing its eyes and murmuring softly: "Spring is not a time for studying, and summer's heat is perfect for sleeping. At this juncture between spring and summer, what else is there to do but sleep?" In a short while, soft snoring emerged from the river fish's mouth, and it fell asleep just like that, unaware that in the nearby mountains and forests, there were already people gnashing their teeth in anger, cursing it as a heartless little rascal.

After pondering for a while, Jiang Yu looked at Wu Fan and said: "Although I, Jiang Yu, am still young, I do have some thoughts. My elder brother often says he wants to achieve great success! He is a member of the Li family, so he cannot help but aspire to hold high official positions and titles. As for me, Jiang Yu, I have no interest in being an official; I simply admire my elder brother, who has taken good care of me since childhood. I cannot let his reputation suffer. In the two years, the two of us have built a significant reputation as the 'Tiger of Clean Streets in Yangzhou.' In the future, if we change 'Yangzhou' to 'Central Plains,' it would be just passable."

Jiang Yu pointed to the sky and swore: "If I bury and hide the 'person' in the books, I am raised by your grandmother!"

The brothers of the White Dragon Gang had yet to awaken from the complex calculations of what their relationship with this 'grandma raised' truly entailed. Suddenly, a few onlookers by the roadside exclaimed, "Dogs, so many dogs, run!" This shout roused all the heroes of the White Dragon Gang. They looked around, and sure enough, over two hundred dogs, some robust and well-fed, others gaunt and bony, all with glowing green eyes and drooling mouths, silently surged out from the surrounding alleys. The silent assault of these dogs perfectly illustrated the truth of the saying, 'A dog that bites does not bark.'

A faint smile appeared on his face as Wu Fan said: "Kong Kong and Jing Jing, although they are legendary figures, I, Wu Fan, have met them a few times, though they do not recognize me. Whether you wish to become the 'Tiger of the Central Plains' or follow Li Linfu to attain high official status, you must possess skills. Currently, you are not well-versed in poetry, have not studied literature, and let alone the studies of classics, calculations, propriety, and law. It would be better to follow me, Wu Fan, and roam the world for a few years, acquiring skills, enjoying the vastness of the sea and sky, and living happily. Wouldn't that be good?"

Wu Fan almost spat out a mouthful of blood. He looked helplessly at the spirited Jiang Yu for a long time, and finally managed to give a thumbs up: "You little brat, you have guts! If you want to be the 'Clean Street Tiger of the Central Plains', making everyone retreat wherever you go, then you must possess the ability to make the whole world retreat! Just watch my move, have you seen it before?"

Cursing under his breath, Jiang Yu resembled a stray dog, moving slightly faster than the several burly men and a dozen youths behind him as he dashed through the street, evading two groups of thugs that suddenly charged out from the roadside to intercept him. Like a gust of wind, Jiang Yu did not engage with these individuals at all. As he passed a steamed bun shop, he suddenly rushed in and snatched a rolling pin, using it as a weapon while emitting sharp whistles, and charged towards the southern gate of Yangzhou.

How could it be? It is actually a fire spirit snake that has existed for a thousand years. This little rascal has such audacity to snatch something from the mouth of a fire spirit snake that is on the verge of becoming a monster, and he actually succeeded! On a mountain several miles away, Wu Fan squatted there, gnawing on a roast chicken while mumbling indistinctly: "To have such a malicious and sinister fire spirit snake show him such favor, could this child possibly possess the legendary kind of talent? It can't be, right? That bloodline has been severed for how many years?"

As soon as Jiang Yu entered the forest, he seemed like a fish that had just plunged into water. Originally faster than the average person, his speed increased by fifty percent in the complex terrain filled with trees. His slender figure flickered in and out of sight among the woods, moving as silently as a fish swimming in water, without breaking a single branch, like a fleeting shadow that passed by in an instant, ultimately appearing in a clearing of tall grass deep within the forest. Proudly, Jiang Yu turned back to glance at the dense woods and let out a long, triumphant howl to the sky.

With a fierce glare at the old turtle Jia Yu, Jiang Yu let out a few strange whistles towards the sky, his arrogance rising once again: "A gentleman may be killed but not humiliated; a man of action must have principles. One should not be subdued by power nor corrupted by wealth. How can a gentleman accept food that is offered with disdain? I, Jiang Yu, the second of the Yangzhou Clean Street Tigers, would never submit to you, this old turtle! A true man faces death without fear; how can you threaten me with death? I, Jiang Yu, the second of the Yangzhou Clean Street Tigers, would never submit to you, this old turtle! A true man faces death without fear; how can you threaten me with death? Come on, today I will have a good fight with you!" With a swing of the rolling pin in his hand, Jiang Yu struck a pose as if he were a general guarding a pass, unyielding against a thousand foes.

Raising his neck high, Jiang Yu said loudly: "What use is it to the country or the family to seek out phrases and sentences from the old bookworm professors? Their own sons are out there kicking down widows' doors, digging up the graves of the deceased, and some are even gathering together to violate young girls from other families. What filthy and despicable things do I not know? These old fellows are even worthy to be my teachers? Why should I bow to them?" Their own sons are out there kicking down widows' doors, digging up the graves of the deceased, and some are even gathering together to violate young girls from other families. What filthy and despicable things do I not know? These old fellows are even worthy to be my teachers? Why should I bow to them?

After blinking for a while, Jiang Yu pointed at Wu Fan and said, "Let’s not be so familiar just yet. I, Jiang Yu, am someone who has seen the world. The martial arts schools in Yangzhou have many unpleasant rules. Let me ask, what is the name of our sect? Is it renowned? Are there any strict regulations? I, Jiang Yu, intend to eat meat and drink wine, and in the future, I also want to ensure the Jiang family continues with descendants. These strict regulations are something I cannot abide by."

Jiang Yu calmly let out a few cold laughs, then suddenly shouted loudly: "Brothers, charge for this general! Make it so that their mothers won't recognize them!"

A strange expression appeared on his face, and Wu Fan chuckled a few times, nodding repeatedly as he said: "Loud, of course it's loud. Our sect is called 'Wangyue Sect', and it is a well-known and prestigious sect. All the sects of comparable standing in the world, upon hearing our name, will respect us seven parts and feel annoyed three parts; how could it not be loud? I can swear in the name of our sect's founder that our sect's name is indeed extremely loud." The name of our sect's founder was ambiguously swept aside by that unscrupulous Wu Fan.

The burly man with a dark face scowled, pointing at Jiang Yu and shouting angrily: "Little fish, don't be so arrogant in front of me. If I don't beat you to a pulp today, it would be an insult to me for the leg you broke. The rear courtyard of the Grand Commander's residence? It's still far from here. Go ahead, shout for help, let's see who can come to your rescue"

Holding Jiang Yu's hand, Wu Fan was extremely happy as he hurried away with him. Along the way, Jiang Yu sang loudly, completely unconcerned about his cheap godfather in Yangzhou and his own aunt, following this unscrupulous man he had just met without a care in the world.

The young Jiang Yu was here boasting and showing off, when an elderly man dressed in a dark blue scholar's robe, with a long beard, emerged from the study holding a wooden ruler. This elder pointed the ruler at Jiang Yu, who was sitting on a two-zhang high wall, and shouted: "Jiang Yu, you little rascal, skipping school again! Do you still regard Confucius with any respect? Today, I must give you a hundred strokes with this ruler. You do not study, do not understand the teachings of the sages, and are ignorant of education; you are truly a model of ignorance and incompetence. Do you want to end up like your elder brother Li Linfu, who can only write his own name for his entire life? Come down quickly, let me, your teacher, give you a hundred strokes with the ruler, or I will certainly tell Lieutenant Li about today’s incident, and your backside will be in serious trouble!"

If one could acquire extraordinary skills, then in the future, with one's elder brother Li Linfu serving as an official in the court, relying on those skills, it would likely be an easy task to dominate Chang'an. With brothers united, their strength could break gold; with the elder brother's cunning and one's own resourcefulness, the title of 'Tiger of the Central Plains' would not be far off

Now, such talent has been brought to perfection by Jiang Yu, whose body seems to subtly change its colors in accordance with the surrounding environment, rendering him devoid of a distinct form, with only a faint shadow flickering amidst the mountains and forests. He is utterly lifeless, devoid of any deathly aura, as if all his essence has merged with the woods. Jiang Yu can further perceive that his body has begun to float and become ethereal, with the vitality emanating from the surrounding trees and mountains flowing in and out of him, granting him greater strength, enabling him to continue running with sufficient power.

From time to time, three or five lazy youths would rush out from the street side, shouting and clamoring to overturn the river fish. However, the river fish was extremely swift, reminiscent of the saying "passing through a sea of flowers without touching a single petal," as it brushed past the bodies of those youths like a gust of wind. While running, it still had the leisure to swing the rolling pin in its hand, delivering a solid blow to the foreheads of those youths. In an instant, seven or eight youths, with large lumps on their foreheads, clutched their heads and cried out in agony, rolling into a heap on the busiest street in Yangzhou, creating quite a spectacle.

The longbow behind Wu Fan suddenly resonated with a sound.

The river fish ran wildly, its lung cavity wide open, then slowly closing. Fresh air circulated throughout its body, and the blood flowed within, providing it with immense strength, allowing it to accelerate, accelerate, and accelerate again as it dashed forward. The flowers and grasses, the trees along the way, seemed to emanate a natural power imbued with boundless vitality, which was absorbed by the river fish into its body, merging with its muscles, enabling its body to accelerate once more. One step equaled a yard, and in the blink of an eye, the river fish could cover five steps. If the river fish, now in full sprint, were to be seen by the wandering heroes of the Tang Dynasty, they would surely exclaim that they had seen a ghost.

Nodding heavily, Wu Fan slapped the small tree beside him and laughed, saying: "Indeed, if one cannot even manage their own household, how can they expect to govern the world? These old scholars, their knowledge is actually of little practical use. But tell me, what kind of person do you wish to have as your master? And what do you aspire to achieve?"

After pondering for quite a while, Jiang Yu looked at Wu Fan with a sly expression and asked him: "Why do you want to take me as your disciple? You startled me so much!"

The heavy pressure nearly drove Jiang Yu to madness. He gasped for breath and continued to sprint forward for several miles, his muscles feeling as if they were burning with heat. After all, he was just an eleven-year-old child. No matter how talented he was, and despite being nourished by the vitality of the mountains and forests, how long could he possibly sustain such running? Ultimately, Jiang Yu lunged forward and fell into a dense thicket of thorns. He shouted angrily, "Who the hell are you? Why does a powerful figure like you, a dragon crossing the river, seek revenge on a mere local insect like me? That Hu Deqian is not worthy of your attention, is he?"

The old turtle had long lost the time to speak, as a dozen dogs, seemingly exhibiting signs of rabies, surrounded him, drooling from their mouths. The dogs were flailing their mouths and paws wildly, and immediately, several deep wounds appeared on the old turtle's body, with a full two taels of fresh meat bitten off from his rear. While wildly swinging the whistle stick in his hand, the old turtle shouted in exasperation: "Jiang Yu, you and Li Linfu are just two mad dogs! When people fight, they call each other brothers; how could you bring a pack of wild dogs into this?"

Ha ha ha! Wu Fan burst into loud laughter, and after a long while, he nodded and said: "Very well, let me ask you, why don't you bow to those old bookworms in your governor's office study?"

The master was taken aback, trembling as he pointed his ruler at Jiang Yu and shouted angrily: "You little rascal, how dare you speak such nonsense? My two sons have always had a good reputation; how could they commit such disgraceful acts? You, you, you are recklessly slandering others, and for such a transgression, even though Li the military officer favors you, you will not be spared!"

Transformed into a gust of wind, transformed into a wisp of smoke, when the river fish darted, it did not stir a single sound of the wind, did not bend a single blade of grass, did not knock down a single leaf, and did not break a single branch. This is his talent; it is the talent that awakened suddenly when, at the age of six, he lost his parents and was sent thousands of miles to seek refuge at the only aunt's home; it is the talent further stimulated when, at the age of eight, he was targeted by a rabid dog, and was on the verge of being bitten to death; it is also the talent that fully erupted when, at the age of nine, he followed the likes of Li Linfu and other young rascals, rampaging through the streets of Yangzhou, engaging in brawls, using clubs, setting traps, and employing bags.

"Hehe," laughed a few times, Wufan looked at Jiang Yu, who was running towards the city gate, and nodded with a smile: "Jiang Yu? Hey, let's see how you get out of this. The entrance to the city is blocked by more than ten people. How many people has your brother Li Linfu offended? It's a wonder that Li Linfu, with such a fortunate fate, hasn't been killed on the street yet"

"Boast away, boast away!" Jiang Yu cursed inwardly, "What nonsense is this about the Great Dao of the Primordial Chaos? What is the Primordial Chaos? The period when heaven and earth were first opened is called the Primordial Chaos! 'Heaven and earth are dark and yellow, the universe is in primordial chaos,' this phrase is still clear in Jiang Yu's mind. Which sect could have survived from that era of Primordial Chaos? At that time, there probably wasn't even a single person in the world!" "However, it is understandable. For a sect that is nearly extinguished, to recruit disciples and to save face, such things, my elder brother and I have also done before. What is so remarkable about that? Which sect could have survived from that era of Primordial Chaos? At that time, there probably wasn't even a single person in the world!" "However, it is understandable. For a sect that is nearly extinguished, to recruit disciples and to save face, such things, my elder brother and I have also done before. What is so remarkable about that? As long as his martial arts are formidable, it doesn't matter how much he boasts; it is all trivial matters."

It is precisely the time when the spring sunlight is bright and the spring breeze is gentle, and the kites in the sky emit crisp and lingering whistles. The sounds of silk and bamboo instruments and drums drift in from the homes of wealthy merchants, even drowning out the sounds of soldiers and officers clashing on horseback in the front courtyard of the governor's residence. In the study of the east wing of the governor's residence, dozens of military youths are engrossed in their books, nodding their heads as they recite. Yet, a slender figure quietly slips out through the back door of the study like a cloud cat, silently traversing the vast expanse of the governor's residence's backyard, which spans several dozen acres, and with a gentle leap, has already reached the top of the backyard wall.

With a painful cry, the slender leg of the river fish, weighing over a hundred pounds, struck with incredible force. Although it appeared weak, the speed was astonishing. The burly old soft-shelled turtle had no time to dodge and was hit squarely in the abdomen, immediately doubling over as if stabbed by a knife, gasping for breath on the ground. The several strong men behind the old turtle gasped in unison, rushing to check on his injuries, while the river fish had already sprinted away through the sudden opening. As he ran, the river fish turned back and shouted, "Old turtle, you have guts! Today you dare to block Fish Lord! Just wait, I will gather dozens of brothers right away to settle this score with you!"

The long reeds suddenly parted on both sides, revealing a lazily slithering giant python, as thick as a water bucket and over ten zhang long, emerging from the depths of the reeds. Its divine eyes swept over Jiang Yu, and it flicked its tongue a few times, lazily coiling itself around the two large tigers. After a while, the giant python surprisingly fell asleep, prompting the two tigers to cast it a disdainful glance. After some more time, a flash of red appeared, as a small snake, barely a foot long and entirely bright red as if aflame, rushed out from somewhere. In a fit of rage, it circled around Jiang Yu a few times, and after a moment, the giant python surprisingly fell asleep again, provoking another disdainful glance from the two tigers. After a while, a flash of red appeared again, as the small snake, barely a foot long and entirely bright red as if aflame, rushed out from somewhere. In a fit of rage, it circled around Jiang Yu a few times, opened its mouth wide as if to bite Jiang Yu's rear, but then seemed unable to bring itself to do so, hissing a few times before finally coiling up dejectedly beside him.

O revered ancestor, today I have gained this excellent disciple. I hope that the Moonlight Sect will continue to flourish! I also beseech the ancestor in heaven to show mercy and grant this child a smooth journey ahead

So, what is this sect called? Is its name impressive? Jiang Yu looked at Wu Fan and asked him this most crucial question. In the world of martial arts, what one needs is a resounding name. For instance, when Li Linfu was in Yangzhou, the 'Clean Street Tiger' brothers showcased the authority of the Yangzhou Governor's Office, causing all evils to retreat. Groups like the White Dragon Gang would flee at the mere mention of it. If one's own sect had a striking signboard that could overshadow the current number one Zen temple, which is also vaguely the number one civilian martial force, 'Shaolin Temple', wouldn't that be delightful? In the world of martial arts, what one needs is a resounding name. For instance, when Li Linfu was in Yangzhou, the 'Clean Street Tiger' brothers showcased the authority of the Yangzhou Governor's Office, causing all evils to retreat. Groups like the White Dragon Gang would flee at the mere mention of it. If one's own sect had a striking signboard that could overshadow the current number one Zen temple, which is also vaguely the number one civilian martial force, 'Shaolin Temple', wouldn't that be delightful?

The brothers of the White Dragon Gang and the subordinates of Old Turtle simultaneously looked around in panic. Several men shouted angrily, "Jiang Yu, you bastard, have you set up an ambush again?"

The power of a single finger has reached such a level. Jiang Yu stared blankly at the large holes in the tree and on the cliff, then turned to gaze vacantly at Wufan's hand, which showed no remarkable features. Suddenly, he murmured to himself: "Is it empty? Is it precise? Is it the Red Thread Woman? Even the iron-arm bow guarding the Yangzhou Governor's Office does not possess such might. Have you, have you lost your magical abilities?"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, three branches no thicker than a little finger flew in from somewhere, knocking away two large tigers and sending a giant python tumbling over ten zhang, rolling into the thatch with a chaotic cry. The two beasts and the python swayed their massive bodies, trying to rise from the grass, but after suffering a heavy blow to their heads, they saw nothing but a flurry of golden stars before their eyes, unable to get up. The three creatures looked in the direction of Jiang Yu, emitting urgent roars that faintly urged Jiang Yu to escape quickly. The two beasts and the python swayed their massive bodies, trying to rise from the grass, but after suffering a heavy blow to their heads, they saw nothing but a flurry of golden stars before their eyes, unable to get up. The three creatures looked in the direction of Jiang Yu, emitting urgent roars that faintly urged Jiang Yu to escape quickly.

Jiang Yu stared blankly at Wu Fan, his heart trembling—this is a person of the caliber of Kong Kong Er and Jing Jing Er. Although he did not know this man who called himself Wu Fan, it was likely that Wu Fan was still slightly weaker than them. Nevertheless, he was undoubtedly a legendary figure! If such a master were to be let go for nothing, wouldn’t that be foolish? Moreover, today, with the two hundred wild dogs battling the heroes of the White Dragon Gang, it was certain that his father would be using a pair of iron tongs to have a showdown with his backside. Rather than go home to face punishment, it would be better to follow this formidable master to learn skills. If such a master were to be let go for nothing, wouldn’t that be foolish? Moreover, today, with the two hundred wild dogs battling the heroes of the White Dragon Gang, it was certain that his father would be using a pair of iron tongs to have a showdown with his backside. Rather than go home to face punishment, it would be better to follow this formidable master to learn skills.

Upon hearing Wufan's extraordinary oath, Jiang Yu felt a sense of tranquility in his heart. During the Tang Dynasty, the people's character was pure, and the spirit of chivalry was at its peak. Even the ruffians on the streets, once they spoke, their words were as unyielding as a blade that could not be retracted. At that moment, Jiang Yu leaped up and respectfully performed the nine bows of reverence towards Wufan, calling out "Master". The Fire Spirit Snake, dazed and confused, poked its head out from Jiang Yu's sleeve, baring its fangs and hissing menacingly at Wufan, yet it did not dare to attack him again.

As he looked at the more than ten soldiers guarding the city gate of Yangzhou, who had long since disappeared, they were replaced by a dozen burly men with fierce faces, wielding clubs. Jiang Yu, in a fit of rage, shouted to the sky: "Hu Deqian, you son of a turtle, is it just because my elder brother beat you up twice and took your military pay for half a year? You are ruining me today! How could you even transfer the city gate guards?" Gritting his teeth, Jiang Yu, a mere eleven-year-old boy holding a rolling pin, shouted loudly as he stood firm just a few steps away from the south city gate. He turned to the old turtle, who was staggering towards him while clutching his abdomen, and yelled: "Brother Turtle, today I, Jiang Yu, will burn my boats and fight you to the death! You actually set up this ambush with ten formations, is it really necessary?"

He did not notice that the fire spirit snake in his arms had greedily opened its wide mouth, wildly sucking in the faint layer of azure energy that gradually enveloped his body. A wisp of pale azure mist flowed into the body of the little snake, and the fiery red body shimmered with a burst of light, as if the snake itself was igniting.

The river fish can mingle freely with these ferocious beasts, but that does not imply that it possesses great abilities. With a mere flick of their tails, two tigers can crush ten river fish into pieces; as for this white python, it can swallow more than twenty river fish in one meal. The three beasts, having lived for a long time, have developed a certain awareness. Upon discovering that the person throwing the three branches carries the kind of aura they fear the most, they are unable to confront it, let alone hesitate to urge the river fish to flee for its life

With great relief in his heart, he hurriedly helped Jiang Yu up and laughed aloud, "Good, good, good! Today, having such an excellent disciple, even the ancestors in heaven would be pleased. Jiang Yu, you need not return home; just follow your master. Well, now it is the beginning of the Kaiyuan era. I will spend ten years of my time to ensure that you become a prominent figure among the younger generation!"

Wu Fanxin looked at Jiang Yu with a sense of comfort, secretly laughing to himself: "O Master, I assure you today that every word I speak is true. The Wangyue Sect is indeed well-known. Its reputation is so prominent that when the disciples of the other four sects see me, the heir of Wangyue, they react as if they have seen a ghost and come together to attack. This cannot be blamed on me for speaking falsely. The reputation of Wangyue is undeniably loud."