Chapter 101: The Battle of Tigers and Wolves (Part Six)

Time does not pass any faster because of slaughter. Night had fallen upon the dark world, where the only sounds were the rushing of mountain streams and waterfalls, and the eerie, unpleasant wailing of trees on the cliffs as they were buffeted by the sea breeze.

A ball of fire suddenly emerged from the darkness, followed by a second, then a third. Under the glow of twenty torches, the men of the Water Dragon Gang stood guard, vaguely surrounding a figure—the Wolf Young Master.

The Wolf Young Master was dressed in fine brocade and furs, with a high-quality fire-fox pelt draped over his shoulders. He touched the ground with his fingers; the dew had already turned to frost.

"The weather in the Yue region is truly exceptionally cold this year," the Wolf Young Master sighed, his words carrying an ambiguous weight.

Two figures approached rapidly from not far away: the One-Eyed Wolf, one of the Four Tigers and Eight Wolves, and the personal bodyguard of the gang leader.

"Young Master, something has indeed happened," the One-Eyed Wolf said, his face grim.

The two led the way. As they approached the water curtain, the torches were extinguished one by one, only to be relit as they moved forward. Before them, the walls were smeared with dark red blood.

"Young Master, over here."

The Wolf Young Master followed the direction indicated. After walking less than thirty paces, he saw a corpse dressed in the short attire of a martial artist. The man's eyes were bulging, his thick wrists had been dismantled, and half of his leg was twisted and mangled. His eyes were torn at the corners and his mouth hung wide open—a truly ferocious and horrifying sight.

"This is Zhu Pao of the Stamping Leg style, a pugilist from the Shaanxi region."

"He was struck by the sixth move of the Cross-Leg style, but his opening was found, and his leg was snapped clean off. The technique used was the Thunderclap Hand from the Burning Body Martial Arts School, combined with the crushing force of the Great Tablet-Shattering Palm. Since Yue Wuhuo is not here, it can only be Luo Dunzi."

They had not gone far before they encountered another corpse. This one’s face was ashen, his crotch a mess of blood, and his neck and face covered in finger-thick bloody gashes.

"Monkey-style climbing and whip-kicks. It seems that wild monkey did it. Heh, Lin Xianshi is bold indeed to keep such a monster by his side."

Turning a corner, they stepped into half a foot of water. Four corpses floated on the surface. The flowing water had washed their blood clean, leaving their skin slightly bloated, yet the blade wounds on their bodies remained starkly visible.

Each of the four wounds was different. Some were so thin they were almost invisible—sharp and dangerous. Others looked as if they had been plowed through, with dense, fine lacerations surrounding the main wound. Another looked as if it had been struck by a point-blank musket shot; the surface showed a puncture, but the organs inside had been blown to pieces.

Judging by the positions and causes of death of these four bodies, they had been dispatched one by one, each step a strike, each strike a life, all in the blink of an eye. The killer’s blade technique, footwork, and movement had reached a state of perfect coordination.

These four pugilists had been slaughtered with such ease.

"Blade technique... when did he master such formidable blade skills?" Even the Wolf Young Master, with his volatile and inscrutable nature, could not help but exclaim.

The falcon takes flight; his speed is truly too fast to follow.

The first time they met, the opponent was merely a servant who had kidnapped Young Master Huang, his martial arts showing only faint traces of the Imitative Boxing style.

The second time, in the life-and-death arena, his pugilism had formally reached the Great Achievement stage. Even Diao Fengsheng, who practiced dark arts, had his throat slit by him. The depth of his fist-intent revealed a determination to transcend all things.

The fist-intent contained within one's martial arts usually represents the limit of what a pugilist can achieve.

This third encounter—though they had not met face-to-face—was already a clash. From what he could see, in every engagement, he seemed to be one step behind.

Seeing the Wolf Young Master’s displeasure, no one dared to speak. After a long silence, the One-Eyed Wolf bowed and said, "Young Master, there are twenty-six bodies in total, far fewer than the number we laid in ambush."

"That is to be expected. Those vultures who hunt for bounties—which of them doesn't dream of the fisherman profiting while the snipe and clam fight? Slipping away when things look grim is only natural." The Wolf Young Master paused, then added, "The winter is exceptionally cold this year. I hear some sea ports are already icing over; with food and clothing in short supply, they cannot stay at Guanchao for long. It seems their goal is set: they are not taking the official road; they are taking our path."

The One-Eyed Wolf hesitated. "Young Master, this matter was agreed upon by all parties. It makes no sense for the Water Dragon Gang to bear the entire burden. Moreover, the Wolf Soldiers are, after all, things that cannot see the light of day. If, by any chance—"

The Wolf Young Master waved his hand and sneered, "Whether to push East or West, whether to take the official road or head overseas to claim an island—the gang has argued over this countless times. Even if the Leader suppresses it, there are still those who refuse to submit. But in my view, this is not a choice. This is not a chaotic era; there is no destiny for rebellion. Whether we live in luxury and establish a true foundation for the Water Dragon Gang, or act like beaten dogs, living as savages and pathetic pirates on some island—have we not seen enough of that?"

"But some fellows just won't give up. So we must be quick; we must succeed as soon as possible. According to my intelligence, that Kou Li and Young Master Huang spent a month on a deserted island. Once Young Master Huang offers them protection, the label of 'rebel' can no longer be pinned on them. Official troops and cannons have already been deployed; who will take responsibility for that? We must root them out to prevent future trouble and seal everyone's mouths..."

The One-Eyed Wolf listened quietly. Among the Eight Wolves, he had always been called the 'Wise Wolf,' and he understood the Wolf Young Master’s painstaking motives. Yet, for some reason, he felt a rare sense of unease. A great change was imminent, and the various coastal forces were bound to undergo a massive reshuffling. A ferocious tide was approaching, and no one knew who would ultimately stand at the pinnacle.

Could the Water Dragon Gang have such fortune?

"Release the Wolf Soldiers. Find them as quickly as possible, and then... kill them," the Wolf Young Master said without hesitation. He turned and walked away, his figure gradually disappearing into the darkness. Moments later, a chorus of howling wolves echoed through the night.

...

In the official relay station of Xia City, the old eunuch respectfully presented a stack of lists. These included the personnel of every martial arts school in Lingnan, gang factions, official rosters, and even the distribution of pirate forces along the coast.

The records were so meticulous that any official who saw them would likely have their scalp crawl and break out in a cold sweat, for they even included records of every single bribe received.

Young Master Huang’s beautiful face was filled with utter seriousness and focus. The strength, grudges, and affiliations of these factions, the price required to recruit them, the extent of the threats and inducements needed, and the selection of Central Plains pugilists to handle the envoys from the Wa nation...

After an unknown amount of time, the old eunuch rasped, "Young Master, the hour is late."

Young Master Huang finally looked up. Sure enough, the moon hung in the treetops, and the cold wind whistled. It was indeed deep into the night.

"The news for the Sword Slave has been sent. If you aren't dead, what will you do next?" Looking at the moonlight, Young Master Huang wore a rare trace of sorrow.

"Young Master, the forces from the capital are already mobilizing under the command of the Ninth Master. Once the people arrive, we can act immediately. There is no need for you to concern yourself with the life or death of that local pugilist."

"What I do is none of your business," Young Master Huang suddenly turned, his voice icy. "I am not concerned about him. After serving as a lackey for so many years, you still lack even this bit of insight. You deserve to be unable to survive in the palace."

"This servant deserves death! It is this old slave's fault! This servant deserves death, this servant deserves death!" The old eunuch, terrified, knelt immediately and began slapping his own face until it echoed with sharp cracks.

"Enough, enough. If you have the energy for that, you might as well practice your boxing. If you were a great pugilist, would I need to have such a headache?"

"Please forgive me, Young Master, but I am a eunuch. I am naturally deficient; how could I ever master the Four Refinements and enter the realm of a Great Pugilist?" A hint of grievance mingled in the old eunuch's tone.

"Who says it can't be done? Among your kind, didn't the 'Six-Pass True Man' emerge? With the 'hidden horse' and 'closed yang,' possessing the six passes—'a True Man does not reveal his true form; if he reveals it, he is not a True Man.' To call him a True Man is fitting enough. Why can't you become a True Man?" Young Master Huang said impatiently.

"Yes, yes, the master is right." Although the old eunuch was loyal, he couldn't help but inwardly grumble. The trade of the eunuch had existed for so many years, and only that one person had ever achieved such heights. But that person was the most trusted man of the Imperial Ancestors, the immensely powerful Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. How could he compare?

Dark clouds rolled across the sky. This night, many people could not sleep—on the sea, in the government offices, and at the headquarters of every gang. The curtain was about to rise.