Chapter 5: The Initial Struggle in the Capital

He patted his belly and said evasively, "Today we are in a hurry to travel and have not had lunch. It would be better for us to fill our stomachs first before discussing further"

Mao Shiba said in a low voice: "These are two eunuchs, we should not provoke them"

In order to evade the officials, the two individuals did not take the main road; naturally, they headed towards wherever was remote.

Mao Shiba is a tough man; although his face is contorted in pain, he does not utter a sound. Wei Xiaobao, on the other hand, cannot hold back, crying out in a most colorful manner.

The wind rustled as he let out a sigh of relief, finally establishing a connection with Wei Xiaobao; from now on, he just needed to follow him.

Mao Shiba forced a smile and did not respond. The day he mentioned wanting to challenge Ao Bai to a duel was merely a boast made in a moment of excitement. Although he was reckless, he had been in the martial world for over twenty years; how could he not know that Ao Bai was a high-ranking official? How could someone like him possibly engage in a duel? His martial skills were merely of a second or third-rate level. Wei Xiaobao was not a person of the martial world and could still find a way to muddle through. However, he could not discern the depth of Feng Xiaoxiao's martial arts, which were certainly not those of an ordinary person; this could lead to a significant loss of face. His martial skills were merely of a second or third-rate level. Wei Xiaobao was not a person of the martial world and could still find a way to muddle through. However, he could not discern the depth of Feng Xiaoxiao's martial arts, which were certainly not those of an ordinary person; this could lead to a significant loss of face.

The wind howled as he asked, "Brother Mao, have you come to the capital to challenge Ao Bai to a duel?"

Mao Shiba felt a burning sensation all over his body, as if he were being scorched by fire. He was greatly alarmed and realized that he had most likely encountered a master.

The wind howled, how could one report their name, instead, he loudly questioned: "Why did you silently attack my brother?"

At this moment, the old eunuch suddenly turned to the side, took a step forward, and with one hand each, captured both individuals. He did not intend to engage in a hard fight with Feng Xiaoxiao; the reason he rushed over just now was to capture Mao Shiba and Wei Xiaobao.

The old eunuch was filled with trepidation, for just moments ago he was only two steps away from the two individuals, while Feng Xiaoxiao was a full ten steps away. His speed was indeed astonishing.

The old eunuch, helpless, could only cross his hands and raise them. With a loud "bang," he was struck as if he were being driven into the ground, his body hunched down, and his feet sank into the floor.

Then, at the great Hankou, a spray of fresh blood erupted, and both hands immediately loosened.

The old eunuch dissolved some medicine in wine and drank it. After a moment, he suddenly began to convulse and tremble uncontrollably. The young eunuch wanted him to take another dose of medicine, but was stopped by the old eunuch.

Wei Xiaobao was very pleased and also cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, saying: "Brother Feng is indeed a remarkable person." After glancing at Mao Shiba, he added, "Brother Mao is also a remarkable person."

The wind rustled behind, which I found quite amusing, as I contemplated how to befriend the two individuals.

Mao Shiba grabbed Wei Xiaobao and called out to Feng Xiaoxiao, "Hurry up!" and then hurried towards the hotel entrance.

It was too fast; the old eunuch was greatly alarmed and barely raised his hand to block. With a loud "bang," he was knocked back several steps, stumbling a few times before managing to steady himself.

Mao Shiba's anger slightly subsided as he said: "I have always despised Wu Sangui more than anyone else in my life. It is a pity that this villain is far away in Yunnan, making it impossible to seek retribution against him. Today, I have dealt with one of his petty traitors, and it truly brings me great satisfaction"

In the gentle breeze, I am truly in admiration of a hero like you. I did not have the opportunity to speak earlier, and thus felt embarrassed to initiate a conversation. I have been following you, hoping to find a chance to make a friend. " He glanced at Wei Xiaobao and smiled, saying, "Just now, I heard this young brother recount the legends of the Mu Wangfu, and I found it quite interesting, which is why I laughed out loud and disturbed you, I hope you will not take offense.

As the wind howled, just two arms' length away from the old eunuch, she turned her body to the side and suddenly threw two punches, one aimed at the waist and the other horizontally at the neck

With just a glance, Feng Xiaoxiao could tell that although these individuals were strong and robust, their movements were sluggish. Even if it were before the Qing Dynasty, he could easily defeat them, let alone now. Thus, he no longer paid them any attention and continued to observe the old eunuch, contemplating his weaknesses

Three people arrived at a small hotel in the West City, ordered food and drinks, and began to eat and drink.

The wind rustled as he smiled at him, then glanced at Wei Xiaobao, and said to the old eunuch: "You hit my brother, so I will hit you"

The old eunuch, realizing that his speed was too fast and that he could not hold back any longer, suddenly tensed his entire body and charged forward rapidly. His left hand slowly traced a circle while his right hand drew an arc, striking downwards in a manner that seemed like a slash but was not quite a slash.

Wei Xiaobao had also been bullied like this before, and he felt somewhat displeased. With a quick thought, he turned to ask Mao Shiba. After realizing that these seven individuals were no match for him, he began to provoke them by slapping the table. His verbal skills were quite impressive, and before he had even said a few words, they had already started fighting with Mao Shiba

Upon hearing Wei Xiaobao's lengthy account of the "Legend of the Duke of Mu" in the form of a chess game, he deliberately burst into hearty laughter

Feng Xiaoxiao smiled and took out a small porcelain bottle, handing it over while saying: "This is high-quality Bai Yao, suitable for both internal and external use"

My name is Mao Shiba, and this is my brother Wei Xiaobao, known as the Little White Dragon

Mao Shiba advised Wei Xiaobao to be cautious in both speech and action, as the capital is filled with numerous officials and spies, and one must not reveal any flaws

Mao Shiba's feet struck in a series of kicks, making two distinct sounds as they landed on his chest

Feng Xiaoxiao moved his arm slightly and said, "So you hit someone?"

Feng Xiaoxiao, dressed in a blue cloth Daoist robe, exuded an extraordinary demeanor, yet did not appear to be a Daoist priest. He carried a sword on his back, which did not suggest he was a person from the government. Therefore, Mao Shiba spoke quite politely.

That night, the three of them took shelter at a farmhouse. After about ten days of recuperation, Mao Shiba's various injuries had significantly improved, and only then did they continue on their journey

Seven people were divided into two tables, shouting loudly: "Quick, bring the wine, beef, and fatty chicken, the sooner the better"

The wind howled as he donned the attire of a Taoist priest, feeling that he should also behave like one. He then laughed and said: "When the dust of the world meets the immortal, amidst the ethereal clouds, the great road leads to the heavens, each taking a different path. If you can walk this road, can I not walk it as well?"

The wind howled, and without further ado, he said directly: "State your conditions, but do not go too far." At the same time, he remained cautious, as this old eunuch was too cunning; he must not fall into his trap again.

The wind howled as it let out a cold laugh and said, "Did those who were wrestling just now not injure anyone?"

The old eunuch exerted all his strength to block twice, feeling a sharp pain in his arm, realizing he could no longer withstand the blows. He turned his body and charged, intending to evade behind Feng Xiaoxiao.

Feng Xiaoxiao saw that Mao Shiba was injured, and immediately got up, lifted his foot, exerted force beneath him, and suddenly kicked off, charging straight towards the old eunuch

The old eunuch suddenly stood up and darted to the door, blocking Mao Shiba's way.

The wind howled as he paused and turned, circumventing the front, stepping forward with his right foot, and delivering a diagonal punch to the face.

The old eunuch coughed twice and said: "In this capital city, under the feet of the emperor, to injure someone and then think to simply walk away, what reasoning is there for that?"

The wind rustled as I looked up, my heart shuddering. I thought to myself, this old man has a restrained light in his eyes, and he walks without raising a dust particle. His internal martial arts cultivation is profound, and he is indeed a first-rate master skilled in internal family boxing. However, he coughs incessantly, indicating a deficiency of yang energy within him, and he is attempting to practice a method that harmonizes yin and yang, trying to generate yang from within yin, which has consequently harmed his meridians. Indeed, the capital is a place where hidden talents abound; I have only just arrived and have already encountered such a person.

However, Wei Xiaobao was unaware of all this and continued to shout in pain from the side

Your Excellency possesses remarkable martial arts skills, which truly commands admiration. It seems that the technique you are employing resembles the Broken Jade Fist of Mount Hua!" The old eunuch said slowly, feeling no urgency as he had hostages in hand, hoping to prolong the situation until the officials and soldiers arrived, thus securing his chances of victory.

The wind rustled, and I hesitated inwardly: "This old eunuch is a master of internal martial arts, and he keeps coughing. Could it be that he is Hai Dafu?"

The wind rustled as he nodded slightly, feeling that his martial arts skills were lacking, yet still possessing some discernment.

Both individuals simultaneously spat blood and hurriedly retreated four to five steps, temporarily unable to engage in combat.

The wind howled ominously, and with a sudden impulse, I launched a punch forward, hoping to provoke him into a defensive move.

It was already afternoon by the time we arrived in the capital city after a day

Seizing the opportunity, he lifted Mao Shiba, intending to throw him onto the stone steps

Mao Shiba said in a low voice: "This is wrestling. They grab hold of a person and must throw them far away to prevent the opponent from landing nearby and launching an immediate counterattack"

Three holes were left on the ground, one made by the force of the last punch from Feng Xiaoxiao, created when his right foot stepped down, while the other two were forcibly hammered in by the old eunuch during his defense. It is important to note that this is a bluestone floor, not made of wood

Mao Shiba struck left and kicked right, instantly taking down two opponents. The remaining five rushed at him, cursing loudly. His movements were agile as he employed grappling techniques, using elbow strikes and palm pushes, and in a moment, he took down another four.

At that moment, the bartender suddenly began to shout wildly, and was thrown out of the door by the bare-chested man.

The old eunuch slowly said: "They have harmed someone, and their master will handle it; it is not for outsiders to intervene."

At this moment, Mao Shiba finally caught his breath, helped up Wei Xiaobao beside him, and asked, "Are you alright?" He then turned his head and called out, "Brother Feng, be careful, this old man is quite formidable."

Throughout the journey, Wei Xiaobao spoke humorously, occasionally making jokes and teasing Mao Shiba in a roundabout way

The wind howled as he turned his body, his right fist descending from above with a swift "whoosh," striking backward with astonishing speed

The wind howled as the fist was merely an arm's length away from the old eunuch, the force of the punch made him want to close his eyes, yet in the end, he came to a halt

The old eunuch let out a bitter laugh, knowing that things could not end amicably. He secretly gathered his internal energy and said, "Naturally, I have my own master as well"

Wei Xiaobao said: "What flaws do I have? You should be careful not to expose your own flaws. Don't you want to challenge Ao Bai to a duel? Just go and find him yourself."

As soon as the words were spoken, the body shot forward like an arrow released from a bow

With a crack, the big man broke several ribs and fell to the ground

Feng Xiaoxiao performed a bow and praised, "Brother Wei is exceptionally clever and is truly a remarkable person"

Mao Shiba quickly turned around, crossed the knife in front of his chest, and asked: "Who are you, sir, and what do you want to follow us for?"

The wind was blowing awkwardly, and he was so focused on his eloquence that he forgot to pay attention to his surroundings. He hurriedly clasped his hands and complimented, "Just now in the hotel, the brave man had already sustained injuries, yet he was still filled with righteous indignation, vehemently denouncing the traitors, which is truly admirable."

Suddenly, two individuals entered from outside the hotel, one old and one young. The elder appeared to be around sixty years old, with a waxy complexion, hunched back, and persistent cough. The younger one was only about twelve or thirteen, with downcast eyes and a submissive demeanor. Both were dressed in peculiar attire

Mao Shiba reached out and gently pushed the right arm of the old eunuch, intending to move him aside. However, as soon as his palm made contact with the eunuch's shoulder, he felt a tremendous shock throughout his body, causing him to involuntarily stumble several steps to the side. His right waist collided with the table, which immediately collapsed, and as a result, Wei Xiaobao also fell out, exclaiming: "Oh dear, my mother, it hurts so much."

The old eunuch was taken aback, quickly sidestepping to avoid the blow. At the same time, he spread his hands in front of his chest and exerted force to push forward vigorously

The old eunuch took a breath, coughed once, and said: "Your skills are truly remarkable. May I ask your esteemed name?"

Mao Shiba executed a move called "Returning Wind Caressing Willows" with both palms, striking diagonally.

Mao Shiba was left dumbfounded; he had no idea how formidable Feng Xiaoxiao was. He opened his mouth wide, unable to utter a word.

The old eunuch grabbed the two individuals and quickly retreated, shouting, "Stop!" At the same time, he secretly unleashed his internal energy towards them.

Mao Shiba was extremely angry. The place he was in now was merely beside a small broken ditch. It was an exaggeration to even say it resembled a road, let alone a grand one. This person was still reciting poetry; wasn't that mocking him? He tightened his grip on the long knife in his hand, pulled Wei Xiaobao behind him, and shouted, "Why must you pretend to be confused? Where is there a grand road here?"

The old eunuch's ears twitched, and he looked over, but suddenly he was seized by a violent cough

The store was silent, and everyone wore a look of astonishment

The sound of footsteps echoed at the entrance of the shop as seven burly men walked in. They were all bare-chested, with braids piled on top of their heads, their bodies greasy and glistening, each one muscular and well-defined

Mao Shiba expressed his gratitude, took the medicine, unwrapped the cloth binding the wound, applied some of the medicine to the injury, and immediately the bleeding stopped. Furthermore, the pain subsided instantly, replaced by a refreshing sensation, prompting him to remark, "Good medicine"