Chapter 8: It is futile to be a hero

Little did they know that such a light push would cost the lives of two individuals

He asked himself if he could give everything he had to Shen Lian, all for the sake of continuity, yet Shen Lian still refused to yield and accept his arrangements, which was strikingly similar to his mother

Then, joyfully reporting to the higher authorities, it was stated that everyone was united in their efforts to chase the certain notorious bandit out of the country, and that he had already reached the jurisdiction of a certain governor or county magistrate

As the army advanced, the gold and silver truly flowed out like a rushing stream.

The world of rivers and lakes is vast and all-encompassing

Individuals with such abilities are certainly not ordinary people; they possess unique methods of handling affairs and have established their own circle, referred to as the Jianghu

He started from scratch, naturally facing numerous hardships and challenges, and it was inevitable that his hands would be stained with blood. The retribution he faces today makes Old Master Shen have no choice but to believe in the principle of cause and effect

It is said that the man in the blue robe has a great reputation in the martial world, and has committed several major crimes in other provinces, but in the end, they all came to nothing. It was only after the man in the blue robe left that the authorities pretended to send constables and officials to conduct a sweep.

Young Master Shen Lian stated that he is a monk and fears that witnessing this scene would be too distressing, thus jeopardizing his ability to pray for the master. However, it was Steward Wu who responded, as he did not dare to conceal anything regarding this matter.

Shen Qingshan recalled the tragic deaths of his two nephews and felt a deep resentment, as this was truly an undeserved calamity

With a slight sense of conscience, one might at most engage in acts of robbing the rich to help the poor, while also enriching one's own pockets, gaining fame, and treating oneself generously

Or he may already know, but has more important matters to attend to, which is why he has not left

Manager Wu slightly bowed and fell silent.

Today, the old master utilized numerous connections and resources to invite one thousand garrison soldiers from Qingzhou, pretending to conduct a bandit suppression operation, but in reality, it was all for that man in the green robe

Another type of person in the martial world is like the blue-robed guest, seeking a life of grandeur and passionate vengeance

The Qingzhu Gang can be considered part of the underworld, but it is more of a force in the criminal realm, controlling the laborers in the Qingzhou area.

After the old man fell silent for a moment and his breathing calmed, Manager Wu cautiously said: "There is one more thing, Young Master Shen Lian has gone out, and Second Master has sent a few people to secretly protect him, so he should be safe."

The expenses incurred in terms of personal connections and finances have caused Mr. Wu considerable distress

In the course of history, it has been rare for one to live to the age of seventy; even if one is a remarkable hero for a lifetime, there are still only a few years left to return to the earth

The two young masters of the Shen family did not die from a sudden illness; rather, they were secretly injured in their meridians by someone using extremely powerful internal martial arts techniques, which led to their death from coughing up blood that very night

Regardless of whether it is within the martial world or outside of it, many enemies have been made

Although the Qingzhu Gang operates within the martial world, its pursuit is merely for wealth and power, and it does not have much conflict with the Shen family

... ...

It is indeed lamentable that the two young masters of the Shen family are blessed with fortune yet burdened with a frail destiny

In the end, when faced with Shen Lian, this untamed little wild horse who refuses to be disciplined, he honestly admits that he has lost the patience of his youth

The source of the matter was quickly traced back to that day in broad daylight, when two young masters of the Shen family had a dispute with a wealthy guest from out of town, who was dressed in a blue robe, over a private room in a restaurant

Forget it, let him be today

In the jurisdiction of Qingzhou Prefecture, the Shen family has nothing that they do not wish to know, and there is nothing that cannot be known

Although it is only 1,000 troops, they must be assembled and dispatched in a short period of time

If it is said that the Shen family represents the white face of Qingzhou Prefecture, then the Qingzhu Gang represents the black face, with both sides taking what they need, and they have always coexisted peacefully

At the same time, it seems that the man in the blue robe is also not very familiar with the local area. He does not know that the two people he casually killed that day were the young master of the Shen family; otherwise, he would not have lingered in Qingzhou Prefecture.

This matter cannot be concealed from the Qingzhu Gang. Fortunately, it seems that the Qingzhu Gang has some important affairs in the hands of the Qingpao guest. Upon seeing that the Shen residence is willing to take action, they quickly reached an agreement.

Even if traces of claws are left by chance, in the blink of an eye, one is already unaware of the east and west

The ongoing entanglement with the members of the Qingzhu Gang serves as clear evidence

Even though there are some risks, relying on one's own abilities, coupled with the fact that no lives are harmed, those who have been robbed of their wealth rarely fight to the bitter end.

According to the coroner, the assailant's technique was somewhat lacking; it is said that when this method is executed with greater proficiency, it only requires a single strike, and the effects will not manifest until ten days or half a month later. By that time, even divine intervention would be futile, and the perpetrator would have long vanished without a trace, making it truly undetectable.

Masters of the martial world are said to be mysterious, capable of taking on a hundred opponents single-handedly. Those who can calmly extricate themselves from the midst of a thousand troops and ten thousand horses are indeed rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns

Another type, namely the green-robed guest, possesses great skills and has a rather irritable temperament, which gives rise to a notion of being unrestrained by the world. In moments of agitation, they may resort to killing as a means to vent their anger

The elderly have experienced too many storms and understand that without a strong character, it is difficult to achieve great things. The more talented a person is, the harder it is for them to be swayed by others

This forensic expert is highly experienced and has indeed discerned the truth.

The outsiders only know that the two young masters of the Shen family passed away suddenly due to illness a few days ago

The world of rivers and lakes is small, making it difficult to seek out.

Sorrow and joy drift away, the old man casts aside his cane; although the morning breeze blows against him, he stands tall like a green pine, refusing to succumb to the ravages of time

The white-haired person sends off the black-haired person, and thus must use a wooden staff or similar object to strike the coffin of the younger generation, symbolizing the unfilial conduct of the younger ones who depart first

Such individuals as the Qingpao guest, relying on their astonishing skills, act recklessly and with impunity. They possess formidable abilities to protect their own lives, and as long as they do not kill officials or rebel, they can generally remain safe and sound. Even if they were to kill two young masters of the Shen family, they could still escape unscathed

The old man himself is not stubborn in this way; his two sons are overly submissive to him, which instead makes him look down on them. However, Shen Lian's stubbornness both impresses and infuriates him

Although this may be somewhat exaggerated, it nonetheless indicates how powerful and wealthy the Shen family is in Qingzhou Prefecture, to the extent that even the government must show them some respect

Even so, the old man has no regrets. A true man should eat from the Five Tripods while alive and be cooked in the Five Tripods after death; what harm is there in that

When the Shen family investigated these matters and eliminated the doubts, they found this person to be the most suspicious. After inquiring about some information from the local Qingzhu Gang, they confirmed that the true culprit was indeed this individual

Fortunately, the other party seems to have entangled with the Qingzhu Gang of Qingzhou Prefecture this time, which provided the Shen family with an opportunity for revenge

There has always been a saying in Qingzhou Prefecture:

I have grown old, what blessings do I still seek? Even if I were to descend into the depths of hell, it would not be in vain for this life. I understand his thoughts, yet there remains a layer of separation. The old man cannot help but sigh

Why didn't Shen Lian come to see me off

The coffin was carried out of the Shen residence, and the old man did not need to follow. As the sun rose, the sky was filled with countless red clouds, illuminating every wrinkle and every spot on his face with clarity.

According to the coroner, individuals with such abilities can be considered masters of the martial arts world, capable of scaling walls and traversing rooftops. While they are far from being divine beings or immortals, they are still rare and not easily encountered.

The two nephews encountered the latter type of person

However, Old Master Shen did not believe these claims and secretly sought out the most experienced coroner in Qingzhou Prefecture to investigate the causes of death of his two grandsons

As long as one is not a divine being or an immortal, but rather a mortal with a physical body, one cannot escape the mundane affairs of the world. The influence of the Shen family is not such that they would be utterly powerless against such individuals

Old Master Shen's cane struck the two coffins before him, the deep sound echoing in the hall

Over the years, Mr. Shen has lost two loved ones in their prime, which is truly an indescribable sorrow in life. Although he appears stern and rarely smiles, concealing his emotions, the sadness in his heart is as profound as drinking water, its chill known only to himself

Ultimately, it is the reputation of the young master of the Shen family that precedes him, and that person had no choice but to yield his position, yet before leaving, he pushed the two young masters aside