Chapter Fifty-Six: Greetings

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"From the moment you enter the Canton Brotherhood, all brothers are as close as family. Your parents are my parents, your siblings are my siblings, your wife is my sister-in-law, your children are my nephews. If I ever break this oath, may thunder strike me down."

"Respect!"

"From the moment you enter the Canton Brotherhood, regardless of martial lineage or school, you must not use your skills to bully others. Show respect to elders, teach the young, and when roaming the martial world, act with chivalry and righteousness."

"Respect!"

"From the moment you enter the Canton Brotherhood, whether inside or outside the provincial city, we must stand together against foreign enemies. If anyone dares to humiliate a Canton Brotherhood martial artist, brothers must not merely watch from the sidelines—those who do will be expelled and their martial arts abolished."

"From the moment you enter the Canton Brotherhood, if you hear that authorities are seeking someone, notify him at once so he may escape early. If you feign ignorance, you shall die by a thousand blades."

"Respect!"

"From the moment you enter the Canton Brotherhood..."

There were thirty-six oaths in the Brotherhood. With each oath spoken, Kou Li offered a stick of incense; when thirty-six sticks were gathered, it was called the convergence of thirty-six heavenly stars, a sign that brotherhood had arrived at the door.

The three old masters seated in the main hall recited the final oath. Each picked up a red-headed wooden staff and struck their head, left shoulder, and right shoulder three times apiece, signifying that from then on, Kou Li was recognized as a member of the Canton Brotherhood—the Ninth of Canton.

The Canton Brotherhood was the ninth such organization established among all the regional brotherhoods.

Not until Kou Li finished the initiation and departed did the white-haired elder croak, "Old Feng, has Master Lin Xian finally changed his mind?"

"Ah, it's not easy. He’s just an apprentice at the martial hall, not a disciple. He’s guarded against us," Old Feng replied with self-mockery.

"Water Dragon Gang, Old Zhou, do you have any say in this? After all, the Dragonhead Lü is your old brother."

"Old Zhong, this is a tricky matter. The Water Dragon Gang lost a key member, so no one can speak lightly. I see their Burned Body Martial Hall doesn't usually offer incense, only now do they clutch at the Buddha's feet. It's truly unprincipled," another elder said with dissatisfaction.

"So what do you propose?"

"If the council elders won’t intervene, let’s have a few masters show support. After all, the Water Dragon Gang is not a force to be trifled with."

"But that won’t settle things properly," Old Feng frowned.

"Hah, settle? When Lin Xian becomes the grand master of the Canton Brotherhood, I’ll settle things for him right here with these old bones!"

Old Feng gave a gentle sigh. Though he was once renowned as the Iron-Armed Mandarin Duck across half the province, these two elders had their own formidable reputations. One had served as the military instructor to Marshal Hong, leading a dozen soldiers into enemy lines at the Battle of Pinghai Lake to rescue the marshal, bearing countless scars, earning him the title Iron-Guts Zhong Quan in the army.

The other was Bai Tianjiao, head of the Bai Family Fist, which ranked just below the three major martial halls of Canton. The Bai family had grown rich from maritime trade in recent years, and naturally was unwilling to offend the Water Dragon Gang.

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Each council elder harbored their own intentions, and the others even more so.

"Let’s leave it at that for now. A newcomer to the Canton Brotherhood, with a few masters vouching for him, is explanation enough," Old Feng sighed softly.

...

Elsewhere, Luo Yanzong was admonishing, "Old Eight, how could you be so reckless? The Water Dragon Gang’s challenge will never be a fair match, and that Diao Fengsheng is not easily dealt with. You have seen his martial arts—that was only a disciple under him. If he himself instructs, do you really think you stand much of a chance?"

Kou Li was silent for a moment, then said, "Senior Brother, I understand everything you say. But I have reasons I cannot avoid this fight."

He proceeded to explain how the rival’s challenge had awakened his spirit, ignited the dragon’s momentum, and allowed him to break the cycle of murderous intent. Only by surpassing the accumulated ferocity of the tiger could he truly push the Tiger Fist to its ultimate realm.

"You need not risk your life for a mere possibility!" Luo Yanzong protested. To gamble one’s life for a slim chance at perfecting his martial art—he was at a loss for words.

"To grasp even a sliver of possibility is better than leaving fate to chance. Who knows if, by practicing another school, I could reach the ultimate realm?"

When there is no path, one must choose to give up. But as long as there is an opening, Kou Li would forge ahead to carve out a way!

"You..." Luo Yanzong could only sigh. His junior’s heart was pure as a child, yet his resolve was as unyielding as steel—perhaps that was the essence of it.

It reminded him of Mo Yi... and himself.

At Burned Body Martial Hall, only with a heart as steadfast as iron could one attain the realm where fire seems to burn the body.

"Senior Brother, why is it that my Tiger Fist can manifest the momentum of Dragon Fist?" Kou Li finally had a moment to ask.

Luo Yanzong thought for a while and replied, "The ancient Eight Forms Fist—dragon, tiger, horse, bear, leopard, snake, crane. Bear trains the flesh, leopard the strength, tiger the bones, snake the breath, crane the essence, horse the sinews, dragon the spirit."

"But I recall hearing that among the eight forms, the dragon form never had a true method. Only when the previous seven were mastered could one comprehend the dragon form. So I suspect the essence of the dragon is hidden in the first seven. Moreover, dragon and tiger are closest in temperament—perhaps you have unwittingly grasped the transformation between dragon and tiger."

Kou Li pondered, and indeed, it was so. His heart stirred—if he mastered all eight forms, he could deduce the true Dragon Fist. And if he comprehended the will of the dragon, perhaps he could reverse-engineer the training methods for the other forms.

Having finished their business with the Brotherhood, the two made their way back to the martial hall.

"By the way, junior, what grudge do you have with Guo Feng? He seems rather hostile toward you," Luo Yanzong suddenly asked.

Kou Li was taken aback. Upon reflection, Guo Feng’s demeanor was indeed off. On the surface, it was just a handshake, but having just fought, Kou Li would have suffered had it not been for the Child’s Pillar locking his spirit, and his sinews and bones being exceptionally strong. Though it seemed fair, he would have been at a disadvantage.

Fortunately, that handshake was evenly matched, neither side gaining the upper hand.

"Guo Feng—I truly have never heard of him."

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Luo Yanzong eyed him suspiciously. Old Eight’s knack for trouble was notorious, but it did not seem like he was lying. Finally, he said, "Dexiang’s dragon and lion dances are famous throughout East Canton, and Dexiang’s three sets of fist techniques were developed over a century of performing—flexible and varied, steps move in all directions, fists strike from every angle. If you face him again, remember to stand firm, break his attack at a single point to unravel his entire strategy."

"If I’m not mistaken, Guo Feng has mastered all three forms, and when combined, he can unleash the true, perfected force. You should be wary."

Both had practiced their martial arts to the point where walking and running were as easy as breathing; their speed rivaled that of horses. In just half a day, they arrived outside Canton city. As they prepared to continue, a shout came from the gate, "Master Luo, slow down!"

"Are you Old Zhao?" Luo Yanzong looked at the elderly man dressed as a steward, uncertain.

"Yes, I am Old Zhao. The master sent me to find you. I went to the martial hall first—they said you had left for the provinces and would return by nightfall at the earliest. So I waited on this path, and finally found you."

"What’s happened? How is Brother Hu?"

"You’ll see when you come with me," Old Zhao said with a troubled look.

Luo Yanzong hesitated, then turned, "Old Eight, you head back first. I’ll go see my old friend."

"Alright."

The Brother Hu Luo Yanzong spoke of was a fellow martial brother. Just days ago, he visited him, warning that several elders of the Brotherhood were targeting Burned Body Martial Hall, urging him to be careful. How could trouble arise so soon?

But the more he thought, the more he sensed something was wrong. If trouble had truly struck, he would have heard in the Brotherhood. Besides, why would the family’s old servant openly come to find him?

"Old Zhao, tell me honestly—what’s really going on?"

"It’s not my fault, they forced me! The master is in their hands," Old Zhao suddenly panicked, darting out of the alley. At that moment, four figures appeared at the entrance, two in front, two behind.

"Master Luo, the mistress asks you to wait here a while. She greatly admires your martial prowess and does not wish to be your enemy."

Luo Yanzong’s eyes flashed coldly. "So your target is Old Eight!"

Kou Li followed the narrow path toward the tide-viewing pavilion. Though he didn’t know what was happening, he felt a growing sense of foreboding.

"Hehehe, young brother, don’t run. There’s no path ahead, no gate to hell. Come quietly with us," a sinister voice echoed as a short figure blocked his way.

"The young lady asked me to send her regards."

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