The rain gradually weakened. Lanterns and torches were lit under the eaves on both sides of the road. Knights draped in straw raincoats and greenwood swordsmen with swords and sabers hurried through the streets. The hooves of their horses trampled on the puddles and mud, splashing water everywhere.
Anping County was dilapidated and barren, but it was by no means small. Recently, the greenwood swordsmen who came and went had made the atmosphere of the county quite lively. The lively, chaotic, and tense atmosphere mixed together to form a unique ecosystem.
Among these greenwood people, some were flamboyant, and some were silent. In the noisy atmosphere at the inn, some swordsmen talked loudly, while others crouched in the dark corners, hugging their swords and sabers, guarding against the people around them with deep and cold eyes. The hammering sounds in the blacksmith's shop were tinkling, and the business of the swords and sabers was booming. The big, muscular blacksmiths waved the iron hammers in their hands while looking at the situation on both sides of the road with hostile eyes. Only when customers came knocking would he wipe his sweat with a towel and show a smile.
The only two brothels in Anping County were also bustling with noise and excitement. The vulgar scoldings of the Jianghu swordsmen, the teasing and screams of the girls rang out in the old buildings, mixed with the unique panting and roaring of men and women. Some people fought over a woman's affections and were thrown down from the second floor. When they stood up on the street, they were stopped by the thugs of the brothel. They wanted to cause trouble, but were eventually beaten to the ground and left resentfully.
In the casino not far away, the atmosphere was the noisiest, but only the eyes of the thugs standing at the entrance of the casino and the old steward smoking a pipe showed that this was not a good place. Occasionally, there were noises, and the gamblers who had lost all their money were chased out through the back door. This was a relatively peaceful result.
Ning Yi and his party entered the dilapidated county gate. The momentum of more than twenty riders was not to be underestimated, and the passersby on the side of the road all had to take a look. On the road, a group of knife-wielding men trotted over and stared at Ning Yi and his party. After making eye contact with Zhu Biao, Qi Xinyong, and the others for a while, they no longer looked at them. Zhu Hu approached Ning Yi and said, "They are from the Fire Fist Gang."
Then, he pointed at the lanterns hanging under the eaves of the buildings on both sides of the road. "The one with the words' Fire Fist 'means it's under the protection of the Fire Fist Gang. The black iron word means it's under the protection of the Iron Plaque Tower. It was usually these two who did business here. Those who dared to open their doors without hanging a lantern were ruthless characters with some reputation in the Anping region. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to do it for long and would die there sooner or later. There are a few spies in Anping, they are the ones who spread the news. After settling down, I can go find them … "
The group stopped at the entrance of a "Dragon Tiger Inn" in the county. Before they dismounted, a manservant hurried over to receive them. The door was lit and it was noisy. It seemed that there were many people inside. When Ning Yi and the others entered through the door, the people in the inn all looked at them, either overtly or covertly. Zhu Biao, Qi Xinyong and the others stared back coldly. These people gathered in the inn were from all walks of life. Most of them were armed with swords and sabers. Their clothes were all different and dirty. Ning Yi glanced around and wiped his lips. "It's become the new Dragon Gate Inn …"
The manservant who led them in was talking about the lack of rooms. A man with a knife scar on his face and a cracked lip looked like he was drunk. He wanted to leave the inn's entrance and bumped into Zhu Biao. His body swayed as he muttered something and bumped into Qi Xinyong again. He took a step back, his eyes red as he looked like he was about to pull out his knife. Zhu Biao casually slapped the two-inch steel knife back. Qi Xinyong reached out and grabbed his clothes. With a swing of one hand, the man flew out with a whoosh and fell into the muddy water and rain. The rushing water splashed towards the other side of the road.
The cooperation between the two was extremely smooth. When they looked at the people in the inn again, they returned to their noisy state. On the other side, Zhu Hu also slapped a small ingot of silver on the innkeeper's cabinet. "Boss, we'll take all the rooms." He used the local dialect. The innkeeper who was about to take the silver took it and nodded. "Okay, okay …" Then he quickly asked the waiter to lead them in.
Ning Yi and the others had a total of twenty-three people. There were only six rooms in the inn, which was enough for four people. The two rooms upstairs were connected. Ning Yi and the others picked one. When the waiter was about to leave after entering the room, he was pulled back by Zhu Hu and pressed onto a stool in the room. Zhu Biao closed the door behind him and slapped a small ingot of silver on the table in front of the waiter. "No hurry, I have something to ask you."
The waiter nodded furiously. He did not seem too panicked. It was probably not the first time something like this happened to him doing business here.
The information he got from the waiter was similar to the information he got from before. That fiend surnamed Lu had killed his way from Zhuxi all the way to Anping. How could the people here withstand the power of a Grandmaster? However, because there were many people who were connected, the number of people from the Underground Forest who had gathered here was frightening. There were those who wanted to join in the fun, those who wanted to observe, and those who wanted to make a name for themselves overnight. Right now, they were about to form a large alliance. The widow and disciples of 'Quick Sword' Lin Qi had even offered a reward for the capture of that woman to avenge their master. After all, according to the rules of the Underground Forest here, the way Lin Qi had been killed in Zhuxi County, even the government could not intervene in this matter.
The waiter probably thought that Ning Yi and the others were martial artists who wanted to make a name for themselves or get a reward. After taking the silver ingot, he went on to talk about what he knew. However, it sounded like the waiter admired that woman. After all, someone who could kill half of the Underground Forest in Shandong to such a state was really admirable.
"… In the past few days, that woman has killed many people. If you really want to join in the fun, you must be careful. I heard that this woman is a Grandmaster in the martial arts world. If she is alone, even experts like Chen Jinxia, Master Chen, and Lu Wenhu, Master Lu might not be able to get away with it. I heard that they coincidentally found that woman a few days ago, and even said that they beat her up and injured her. However, whether or not that's the case, it's not something we can know … "
"Master Chen?" Zhu Hu asked with a frown.
The waiter was a little embarrassed. "I heard that … the heroes wanted to form some kind of alliance, and some people … called Master Chen the Master, so I … followed suit."
"Pfft." At the side, Zhu Biao shook his head with a disdainful expression. Ning Yi sat in the corner of the room, twirling the bracelet in his hand. At this time, he smiled slightly and did not speak, allowing Zhu Hu to continue asking.
After all, the waiter was not a martial arts expert. When the crowd asked him which powerful people he had, he gave a long list. Other than Swallow Cloud and the others, there were also the disciples of "Quick Sword" Lin Qi, and a few leaders of the caravans. In his eyes, they were all powerful people. These trivial pieces of information might have a certain value, but time was precious. After the waiter finished speaking and sent him out, Zhu Hu prepared to find the people here to ask. The waiter turned around and added, "The rain is lighter tonight.
"The rain is lighter tonight. I guess the heroes in the county will go out to hunt again tonight. I heard them say that even if they can't beat that woman, they will tire her to death … Actually, I don't think she will stay here forever. Maybe she has already left in the heavy rain." "That's right. Oh, I see that you are all heroes. Why don't you go to the Golden Jade House in the city to have a look? I heard that Alliance Leader Chen, Master Lu, and the others met a group of heroes in the Golden Jade House. If you want to discuss the capture, it should also be there. "
After the waiter said this and left, Zhu Hu also left the inn with a few people. Ning Yi sat by the window and looked outside for a while. He then closed the window and discussed with Zhu Biao and Qi Xinhan what to do next.
They had come so quickly mainly to check on Lu Hongti's situation. In fact, as soon as he saw Lu Hongti, Ning Yi's first consideration was to take her away with him. After that, whether it was Anping or Zhuxi, he could just send an army to sweep through. Wu Ruiying owed him a big favor now, so this kind of thing was not a problem at all. Therefore, the next day or two was actually the key.
For Ning Yi, this so-called Greenwood Gathering was just a small matter after the Liangshan incident.
"… Two aspects. The government in Zhuxi and Anping should not have much influence, but it is still a yamen after all. After they arrive and ask about it, we should be able to inform the county government." Ning Yi sat there, fingers tapping on the side of his empty leg, "Don't tell them that we have come, but you can tell them that Liangshan is finished, and I will come to Anping soon. After informing the government, let the government coordinate … "
"… Help the government, find Yao Wuliu of Tie Pai Tower and the Fire Fist Gang, or some of the leaders around. They make a living here, so they want order, so they will help. Don't kill people randomly. I don't care about this. They can be my friends, or they can be my enemies. If they are willing to help, they can continue to eat. If they continue to act recklessly, they will target people who should not be targeted. In two days, I will destroy Zhuxi and Anping. They can hide in the mountains and be bandits for the rest of their lives. As long as I come, I will destroy them once a month! As long as I can hold them for two days, they will be fine … "
"… As for Quick Sword Lin Qi's widow and disciple, I can give them a way out by persuading them with money. Liangshan has been destroyed, so there should not be many people who dare to go against the imperial court. As long as I am not dead, I can make Sun Li and the others desperate … "
He was thinking about the next plan here, thinking that the whole situation would not be so serious. Pull a group, divide a group, and beat a group. The effect would be better than dealing with Liangshan. As he was talking, there was some movement outside. He opened the window to take a look, but because the rain was getting lighter, it gradually stopped. The people who were searching for her were carrying lanterns and torches and were ready to go out of the city. The atmosphere in the inn was also very lively.
Of course, the night was not like the day. Relatively speaking, it was more suitable for the woman to kill and escape. At this time, most of the people who were ready to go out were Lin Qi's disciples, the Fire Fist Gang, and some teams from the Iron Plaque Tower. They made sure that they were not alone or separated before going out, so that the woman could not sleep peacefully. Ning Yi clenched his teeth and frowned, but for a moment, he could not think of a solution.
Not long after, Zhu Hu came back with the bag of information. After asking about the situation and making sure that the officials at least had a say in front of Yao Wuliu and the others, they were ready to carry out the next step of the operation. On the other side, Zhu Hu had just sent the bag of information out. When Ning Yi turned around and was about to take a brush, ink, and paper, he suddenly heard a shout from outside, followed by the sound of weapons clashing.
Ning Yi looked back. The fire outside suddenly flickered, and Qi Xinyong and Qi Xinyi's Soul-seeking Spears stabbed out in the light and darkness. The railings on the other side of the vision were smashed and flew in the hall of the inn. Someone was thrown down the stairs.
After that, there was a sudden burst of chaos …
*****
At the same time, in the Golden Jade Tower, several leaders of the Shandong Underworld were gathered, giving out orders for tonight's search. They were drinking tea and chatting.
Although everyone's interests seemed to be the same, for these people sitting in the hall, there were still conflicts, such as scheming and cynicism.
The tall man sitting on the left side of the hall was Chen Jinxia. The Beiba Gang under his command had not been expanding, but it was powerful enough. At this time, his reputation was well-known. This time, it seemed that he wanted to take advantage of the destruction of Liangshan. Lu Wenhu, a slightly younger man in his thirties and dressed like a monk, had similar thoughts. During this period of time, the two of them could be considered to have formed an alliance.
After Chen Jinxia and Lu Wenhu came down from the hall, the first to arrive was the manager of the Iron Plaque Tower, 'Mister Five Willows', Yao Wuliu. Although he was a member of the pugilistic world, he was dressed in black and white robes, looking like a cultivator of the Dao. Only those who had fought with him would know that the fists under his wide sleeves were not easy to bear. On the opposite side of Yao Wuliu was the leader of the Fire Fist Gang, Han Li. In truth, these two were the hosts of the gathering in Anping, but Yao Wuliu and the others needed order. In this matter, they did not want to stand out too much. Therefore, the gathering was not held in the Iron Plaque Tower, but in the Golden Jade Tower, with Chen Jinxia and Lu Wenhu as the conveners.
Below these two was Monk Swallow Cloud, dressed in dark red monk robes. In truth, to be able to roam the pugilistic world alone and reach such fame and position, Swallow Cloud's martial arts skills were probably a notch higher than Chen Jinxia and Lu Wenhu's. His monk robes were wide and fluttering, but in truth, there were iron plates wrapped around it, and the cloth on the outside was mixed with gold and silver threads, making it difficult for water and fire to penetrate. His nickname was' Solitary Traveler for 10,000 Miles'. Bystanders thought that he would travel light, but in truth, many experts of the pugilistic world had died to his iron kasaya. At this moment, the monk was drinking tea, his body full of arrogance and hostility. He did not pay much attention to Chen Jinxia and Lu Wenhu.
The main issue was whether or not the girl surnamed Lu was injured. In the chaotic battle that day, Swallow Cloud had come over and used his iron kasaya to block a sword from the opponent, and then ruthlessly smashed the girl's back. Some people suspected that the girl had taken advantage of the situation to escape. After all, in the previous battle, she was strong enough to withstand Lu Zhishen's heavy punches. Chen Jinxia and the others wanted everyone to be careful, but it was hard to say whether or not they wanted to suppress Swallow Cloud's momentum. Swallow Cloud was naturally unhappy about this, and everyone mocked and ridiculed him. But in the end, because they still needed to cooperate, the discussion did not fall apart for the time being.
Apart from these people, there were also a few leaders of the horse bandits, some of the more famous heroes of the Lulin Forest, Lin Qi's widow, and others in the hall. They were already used to the daily unharmonious atmosphere. People who practiced martial arts could not always be amiable.
As they talked about the girl, they could not help but talk about the situation in Liangshan. Swallow Cloud was full of heroic spirit. He wanted to kill Ning Liheng after killing Lu Hongti. He was a person who loved fame. That person had killed sixty thousand people in Liangshan. If he went and killed him, wouldn't the fame of sixty thousand people belong to him?
It was not that Chen Jinxia and Lu Wenhu did not have such a plan, but at least they did not say it out loud. At most, they criticized the Inner Demon for being ruthless and scheming, destroying the loyalty of the people of Liangshan and affecting the Lulin Forest too much.
"If we knew he had such a master, I'm afraid the people of Liangshan wouldn't have attacked his home …"
"Hey, are you afraid? So what if that girl is skilled in martial arts? She's alone after all. It's inconvenient for her to walk outside. She'll be in pain and tired. If I can seize the opportunity to capture her … Hey, it'll be fun … "
As they spoke, there was a sudden disturbance in the night. Everyone was skilled in martial arts, so they listened carefully. Someone from the Iron Plaque Tower came in and reported that someone was causing trouble at the Longhu Tavern. The Longhu Tavern was under the protection of the Iron Plaque Tower. At this time, someone had already rushed over. When people of the Lulin Forest gathered, conflicts of all sizes were inevitable. But Yao Wuliu was a little displeased that the commotion was so big. After a short while, another gatekeeper of the Iron Memorial Archway rushed in, panting heavily as he reported the situation.
"… It's Instructor Lin Chong. He's fighting with someone in the tower. We've already called Sun Haohan and the others over. The people inside said … said …"
"What?"
"It's …" The disciple's face was bitter. "It's that Inner Demon … He's in the city …"
They were still chasing after the other's master today. Although they weren't afraid, they were strictly following the rules of the Lulin Forest, so it was difficult for the government to intervene. But these days, the nickname "Inner Demon" had gradually spread. He was vicious and ruthless. He had beaten down Liangshan, which was at its peak, in just three days, and then killed more than fifty thousand people of Liangshan in a single battle. It hadn't even been a month, and he was still chasing people of Liangshan all over the mountain like stray dogs. Although he was also a man of the Jianghu, he seemed more like an indescribable big shot who represented the power of the imperial court.
In the past, people would scoff at this Inner Demon as if they were talking about Cai Jing and Gao Qiu. But now, he suddenly appeared in front of them, which made everyone's heart skip a beat. Chen Jinxia and Lu Wenhu looked at each other and slowly stood up. Swallowing Cloud patted his kasaya and stood up with a "haha". But he hesitated for a moment, so his "haha" didn't sound so cool.
Yao Wuliu asked, "That Inner Demon … Are you sure?"
"I did hear that hero Lin shout 'Ning Liheng' …"
"How many people did he bring in?"
"I think only twenty or so …"
Everyone looked at each other in the hall, their expressions indescribable. Twenty or so people. Being so high-profile was tantamount to sending them to their deaths. But when they thought of the other party's record of destroying Liangshan and how he had come running over so fearlessly, they felt a little fearful. Could it be that he could really use some kind of heaven-defying method to get rid of all of them?
Swallowing Cloud smiled again and took the lead. "Alright, I'll meet him and see just what kind of thing he is …"
Just as he was about to leave, a hand suddenly grabbed him from the side. "Master, please wait." The one who spoke was Yao Wuliu. He was still several steps away when he spoke, but now, he was already closing in on him. Monk Swallow Cloud frowned. With a flick of his sleeve, a loud bang rang out as his fist collided with Yao Wuliu's fist in midair. With a flick of his sleeve, Monk Swallow Cloud's figure had already left the hall, charging into the darkness.
"Let's go and take a look as well." Han Li of the Fire Fist Sect quickly chased after him, followed by Yao Wuliu, Chen Jinxia, and the others. All of them had some doubts in their hearts. They could not guess how this sudden turn of events would develop. What kind of heaven-defying methods did the inner demon have to kill its way here?
In truth, what they did not know was that Ning Yi was currently feeling the same way as them. He felt somewhat helpless and awkward about encountering such an accident not long after entering the city. All of a sudden, his footing was completely disrupted.
At the same time, in a corner of the county, Lu Hongti's figure was quietly walking under the eaves of a remote house. Her head was lowered as she moved silently but hurriedly …
*****
In a way, he followed the trend and registered for a (Weibo) public platform. His ID was: xiangjiao1130.
In other words, it was "Banana 1130". Those who had this number hoped that they could follow it. It did not seem that they could only find it by searching through the public account. For the time being, it had not passed the final verification. Once it was approved, they could send a voice message or something. If they had any thoughts or ideas, they could also share them on the platform. Hehe, I hope that everyone will support and promote it. Thank you.
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