Chapter One: The Emergence of the Martial God (Nine)

Li Yueqian's face immediately took on a layer of frost as he asked, "Was it you who sold Tian Feng, Wang Shicheng, and Chen Naotou to Wang Baobao back then?" Liu Hanyan, Li Yingchang, and others were all taken aback upon hearing this. In the 22nd year of the Yuan Zhizheng era, after Wang Shicheng and Tian Feng assassinated the Grand Marshal of the Yuan Dynasty, Chahan Tiemuer, they fled to Yidu. Chahan Tiemuer's adopted son, Kuo Guo Tiemuer (Wang Baobao), took over his adoptive father's military power and continued to lead troops to besiege Yidu. In the 22nd year of the Yuan Zhizheng era, after Wang Shicheng and Tian Feng assassinated the Grand Marshal of the Yuan Dynasty, Chahan Tiemuer, they fled to Yidu. Chahan Tiemuer's adopted son, Kuo Guo Tiemuer (Wang Baobao), took over his adoptive father's military power and continued to lead troops to besiege Yidu. The commander of the "White Lotus Sect" Red Army, Chen Naotou, fought valiantly but ultimately succumbed to overwhelming odds, leading to the fall of Yidu that year. Wang Shicheng and Tian Feng were killed by Kuo Guo Tiemuer, while Chen Naotou was sent to the capital for execution, and this case shocked the world at that time.

However, Liu Hanyan said: "In the past few days, I have had important matters to attend to and have been unable to visit Chief Chen in person. I hope Chief Chen will forgive me. However, as far as I know, our fortress has no grievances with your gang, nor any business dealings, and there is no friendship to speak of. I wonder why Chief Chen is in such a hurry to find this young lady?" Chief Chen's expression was quite displeased, and he replied: "How can you say there are no business dealings? The Suzhou area is all under the territory of my 'Tianlong Gang.' You 'Haotian Fortress' have opened quite a few businesses and banks in Suzhou. Yet, over the years, you have never paid a single penny to our 'Tianlong Gang.'"

Liu Hanyan smiled and said: "Chief Chen, let us speak frankly. Our 'Haotian Fortress' conducts legitimate business in Suzhou. We neither commit murder nor arson, nor do we engage in robbery or theft, and we have not caused any incidents that would alarm the authorities and implicate your faction. Yet, your faction seeks to profit from us, which seems rather unreasonable." Chief Chen replied: "Every place has its own rules. Originally, all merchants in Suzhou were required to pay dues to our faction on a monthly basis. However, ever since your fortress's various treasure houses arrived, they have refused to pay. Your faction seeks to profit from us, which seems rather unreasonable." Chief Chen continued: "Every place has its own rules. Originally, all merchants in Suzhou were required to pay dues to our faction on a monthly basis. However, ever since your fortress's various treasure houses arrived, they have refused to pay. Other merchants, seeing this situation, are also unwilling to pay. How can our 'Tianlong Gang' maintain its standing in the martial world in the future?"

Chief Chen sneered, "What a sharp tongue you have. Unfortunately, your 'Haotian Fortress' is no longer the 'Haotian Fortress' of twenty years ago. In my opinion, 'Haotian Fortress' should have been removed from the five great families of the martial world long ago. Today, I, Chen, have only one question for you: will your 'Haotian Fortress' comply or not?"

In later evaluations, people believed that these three individuals achieved extraordinary merits. Had Wang Shicheng and Tian Feng not assassinated Chahan Tiemuer, the situation would have been different. If Chahan Tiemuer were still alive, the subsequent discontent among generals such as Li Siqi, Zhang Sidao, Kong Xing, and Tuo Liebo regarding the orders of Kuo Kuo Tiemuer would not have arisen, leading to continuous internal strife within the Yuan army. If Chen Naotou had not held Yidu and resisted Chahan and Kuo Kuo's forces for a year, the Yuan army would have already marched south, and it would have been uncertain who would ultimately rule this land, or even whether the Yuan people could be expelled from the Central Plains. Upon hearing tonight that these three great heroes who resisted the Yuan were actually betrayed and killed, and that the traitor was still before them, how could Liu Hanyan, Li Yingchang, and others not feel both shocked and enraged?

At this moment, Liu Hanyan noticed that Li Yueqian's previous resentment towards Wu Tianyuan had vanished, replaced instead by boundless admiration. Liu Hanyan gently said, "It seems you are quite afraid of your elder brother; does he often hit you?" Li Yueqian replied, "When my father was alive, he couldn't manage me, so he often let my elder brother beat me. Since my father's passing, my elder brother has actually stopped hitting me. There was only one time when I accidentally injured a young man who couldn't fight down the mountain, nearly to death. After my elder brother treated that person, he came back and hung me from a tree, giving me a severe beating. At that time, I hated my elder brother to death; every lash he gave me made me curse him. He didn't say a word, just relentlessly struck me with the whip. Each lash pierced me to the bone. Later, in my anger, I said, "You are not my real brother; what right do you have to hit me?" I didn't expect that my words would hurt my elder brother's feelings. I saw his face turn pale, his lips purple, and his eyes glaring at me. I was terrified, not knowing how he would deal with me. To my surprise, he actually let me down from the tree and went down the mountain without saying a word.

When I saw him leave at that time, I did not stop him and went back to my room to find some medicine to dress my wound before going to sleep. Immediately after, my elder brother did not return for two whole days, and I had eaten all the food available at home, which began to make me a little anxious. That night, I suddenly heard some noise coming from the main room, so I quietly walked over to take a look. It was my elder brother sitting in front of my father's spirit tablet, crying incessantly. This was the second time I had seen him shed tears. I thought he must be drunk because he was holding a large wine gourd in one hand while drinking and talking to my father's spirit tablet. He kept saying things like how sorry he was for my father and that he had not raised me well. At that moment, I did not know what was happening to me; tears streamed down uncontrollably, and my heart felt heavy with sorrow. I rushed to my elder brother's side, hugged him tightly, and cried out, "I was wrong, I am sorry, elder brother! You are my dear brother, and from now on, I will listen to you in everything, and I will never cause trouble again!" My elder brother held my head without saying anything, and we both just embraced and wept bitterly.

Li Yueqian saw that the leader among the visitors was an elderly man around fifty years old, with piercing eyes that radiated a cold light, indicating a considerable level of internal strength. Behind him were two others of similar age; one had a prominent "temple" and a long scar across his face. The other had large, knotted hands with bulging veins, a skilled practitioner of external martial arts. As Li Yueqian observed these three men, he suddenly seemed to recall something, focusing intently on the scarred face, but after a moment of thought, he could not remember.

Li Yueqian's eyes brightened at these words, and he pointed at Hong Lei, asking, "Aren't you a subordinate of Chen Naotou from before? Have you ever stayed in Yidu?" Upon hearing this, Hong Lei was taken aback, his whole body trembling, and he immediately denied, "No, I haven't!" Seeing this scene, Liu Hanyan knew that her objective had been achieved, and she said, "Brother Li, don't listen to him; he is lying!" Meanwhile, the person beside Hong Lei, Bu Jie, also said, "Both of us are former subordinates of General Chen; what is there to be afraid of admitting?"

Li Yingchang shouted: "Presumptuous! Chen Jinghong! Who do you think you are? How dare you be so disrespectful to the young lady?" Chen Jinghong replied: "She is your young lady, Li, not mine, Chen. If I am being presumptuous, what can you do about it?" Li Yingchang was furious and said to Liu Hanyan: "Young lady, please allow me to teach this arrogant and ignorant rodent a lesson!"

Chen Jinghong's mind raced with various thoughts as he contemplated a way to escape. He asked Liu Hanyan, "What have you done to my brothers?" Liu Hanyan had long known that the "Tianlong Gang" sought her for no good reason, so she had already stationed many skilled individuals here to respond. She smiled and said, "They haven't been harmed. Your subordinates have merely been acupointed by them; they will be fine by tomorrow morning." As she spoke, she gestured to the group of people around them. Then, she pointed to Li Yueqian and said to the crowd, "This is Young Master Li Yueqian; shouldn't everyone greet him?" The crowd hurriedly responded in unison, "We greet Young Master Li!"

At this point, Li Yueqian's eyes turned red, and his voice was shaky. Liu Hanyan and Li Yingchang also had moist eyes. They understood that Wu Tianyuan was born into a chaotic world; despite his exceptional martial skills, he was still just a young child. He had to take on the roles of both father and mother to raise the oblivious Li Yueqian, and the hardships he faced were indeed unknown to outsiders.

How could Chen Jinghong know the thoughts in Liu Hanyan's heart? Without further consideration, he pointed to one person and said: "This is our guild's 'Tianwei Hall' leader, Bu Jie." Then he pointed to the scar-faced man behind him and added: "This one is our guild's 'Diling Hall' leader, Hong Lei."

Liu Hanyan gently waved her hand and said, "Master Li, please wait!" She then turned to Chen Jinghong and smiled, saying, "I presume that today, Chief Chen has come to eliminate our 'Haotian Fortress' from the martial world?" Chen Jinghong replied, "I wouldn't dare! As long as your fortress's business pays the normal fees to our gang monthly, we will continue to coexist peacefully. Otherwise, do not blame my 'Tianlong Gang' for disregarding the principles of the martial world! As long as your fortress's business pays the normal fees to our gang monthly, we will continue to coexist peacefully. Otherwise, do not blame my 'Tianlong Gang' for disregarding the principles of the martial world! Brothers! Come out!" It turned out that Chen Jinghong had already stationed many men around the inn, waiting for the negotiations to break down. At his command, they would emerge from the shadows and capture Liu Hanyan, Li Yingchang, and Li Yue.

On the rooftop, three dark figures rushed southward towards Liu Hanyan and the others, stopping just outside ten feet. Liu Hanyan cupped her hands towards the leader of the three and said, "I did not expect Chief Chen to visit late at night. What guidance do you have for me?" The leader sneered and replied, "The young lady of 'Haotian Fortress' has quite the air about her. We, the 'Tianlong Gang', have invited you to our humble abode multiple times, yet Miss Liu has repeatedly declined to grant us this small favor. There is no other way; since we cannot fulfill the duties of a host, we can only shamelessly come to pay a visit to Miss Liu."

Silently, there was not a single sound. Chen Jinghong felt a sense of foreboding in his heart, his expression filled with uncertainty. He called out, "Brothers, come out quickly!" Liu Hanyan, seeing that he repeatedly called for the brothers of the 'Tianlong Gang' without any response, as if he was about to call out again, smiled and said, "Chief Chen, you might as well save your breath! The people you are calling for probably won't be coming tonight." Chen Jinghong's fear intensified, and he asked, "Why? Could it be that you..."

Li Yueqian appeared completely oblivious, not returning the greeting, but instead fixated on the scar-faced man, as if he were straining to think of something yet unable to do so. Liu Hanyan, having the intention of inviting Li Yueqian to join "Haotian Fortress," naturally wished for him to establish his authority among the heroes of "Haotian Fortress" and throughout the entire martial world. Observing this scene, she couldn't help but slightly furrow her brows, but in the blink of an eye, her eyes brightened as she said: "Chief Chen, please forgive this young lady for her lack of insight. I am unfamiliar with these two behind you; may I ask which heroes they are?"

Liu Hanyan was greatly shocked upon hearing this. However, a wave of ecstasy surged within her heart, as she realized that her bet was indeed the right one. Just as she was about to say something further, she noticed Li Yueqian's expression change, and he said, "Someone is coming! There are three in total." Liu Hanyan and Li Yingchang quickly focused their attention to listen carefully to the sounds outside. Sure enough, after a short while, faint footsteps could be heard on the roof. Liu Hanyan knew who was coming, grabbed the long sword from her bedside, opened the long window, and leaped onto the roof with Li Yingchang. Just as she was about to say something again, she saw Li Yueqian's expression change once more, and he repeated, "Someone is coming! There are three in total." Liu Hanyan and Li Yingchang quickly focused their attention to listen carefully to the sounds outside. Sure enough, after a short while, faint footsteps could be heard on the roof. Liu Hanyan knew who was coming, grabbed the long sword from her bedside, opened the long window, and leaped onto the roof with Li Yingchang. Seeing that the two had climbed onto the roof, Li Yueqian followed suit.

Liu Hanyan said: "This young lady has traversed the rivers and lakes for a few days; what rules has she not encountered? Yet, she has never seen rules like those of your esteemed gang. In all matters under heaven, nothing surpasses the principle of 'reason.' Your 'Tianlong Gang' operates gambling houses, brothels, and taverns in Suzhou. My 'Haotian Fortress' conducts its affairs according to the rules of the rivers and lakes, never engaging in such businesses or competing with your gang. However, today, Chief Chen has disregarded the rules of the rivers and lakes and the ethics of the martial world, making such unreasonable demands of this young lady. This is surely untenable both in sentiment and reason"

Liu Hanyan asked: "So you haven't caused any trouble since then?" Li Yueqian replied: "Sometimes I still get into minor troubles. However, I no longer take action against those who cannot defend themselves. Moreover, I have become wiser; when I do get into trouble, instead of waiting for my elder brother to punish me, I go directly to my father's spirit tablet and say: 'The foolish one knows his mistake. Father, please let my elder brother punish the foolish one. As long as my elder brother sees this situation, he will likely soften his heart and won't hit me; he will just give me a few words of admonition and let the matter rest.'"

Liu Han said: "Hearing you say that, both you and Brother Wu have quite high martial arts skills. But can you tell me just how high Brother Wu's skills are?" Li Yueqian replied: "Some years ago, my elder brother once told me: 'Fool, with your current martial arts skills, there are already very few people in the Central Plains martial arts world who can defeat you. In my opinion, your skills will reach great heights within a year or two, allowing you to compete with heroes from all over the world. However, can you tell me just how high Brother Wu's skills are?" Li Yueqian continued: "Some years ago, my elder brother once told me: 'Fool, with your current martial arts skills, there are already very few people in the Central Plains martial arts world who can defeat you. In my opinion, your skills will reach great heights within a year or two, allowing you to compete with heroes from all over the world. In another ten years, you will naturally look down upon all others. I was very pleased to hear this at the time and proposed to spar with him. My elder brother refused, as I knew he was afraid of hurting my confidence. After repeated requests, he finally agreed. At first, I attacked him three times, and he let me strike three times in return. It was only when I launched my fourth attack that he finally made his move." I requested repeatedly, and he finally agreed. At first, I attacked him three times, and he let me strike three times in return. It was only when I launched my fourth attack that he finally made his move.

Liu Hanyan snorted through her nose and said, "Is there even a need to ask?" She turned to Li Yingchang and said, "Manager Li, it's time!" Li Yingchang immediately let out a long whistle, and in a moment, over ten figures appeared on the rooftops surrounding the inn, all converging towards this location. Chen Jinghong saw that among the crowd closing in, there was not a single incompetent person, realizing that today was going to be a serious matter. He then recalled that Liu Hanyan was known in the martial world as the "Female Zhuge," indeed possessing extraordinary abilities, as she had accurately predicted that he, Chen Jinghong, would come here tonight. What was even more impressive was that this young girl had managed to gather so many people in such a short time right under the nose of his "Tianlong Gang," while the "Tianlong Gang," being the local tyrant of Suzhou, remained completely unaware. It seemed that "Haotian Fortress" was not as incompetent as the rumors in the martial world suggested; their strength was still formidable and should not be underestimated.

Li Yingchang exclaimed, "What? Just one move?" How could Li Yueqian, with such high martial arts skills, be defeated in just one move by Wu Tianyuan? Li Yingchang could hardly believe his ears. Was he mistaken? Or was Li Yueqian boasting? However, looking at Li Yueqian's expression, it didn't seem like he was bragging. Suddenly, Li Yingchang thought, "How on earth did Wu Tianyuan cultivate his martial arts? It sounds almost like a monster." At this thought, he couldn't help but chuckle.

Li Yingchang asked, "How many moves have you exchanged in total?" In his imagination, Li Yueqian's martial arts were so advanced that it should not be a problem for him to exchange a hundred moves under Wu Tianyuan's hands. Li Yueqian sighed and said, "I originally thought that my martial arts had greatly improved over the past two years, and I only hoped to exchange five or six moves with him. However, I did not expect that as soon as he made his move, he had me subdued."