After finishing the dumplings.
"What? She's Xie Laosan's granddaughter?"
Learning Xie Ruomei's identity, Big Head Liu's eyes nearly popped out of his skull in utter astonishment. Once Lian Youming briefly recounted Xie Laosan's situation, he was even more staggered.
"Turns out there really is a martial jianghu in this world after all! And hey, Kid Lian, stop calling me 'Big Head, Big Head.' I've got a name now. Address me by my formal title: Liu the Invincible."
Lian Youming covered his face, nursing a slight headache. "Uncle Liu, aren't you going back to Kaoshan Hamlet?"
Liu the Invincible shook his head. "You have no idea. I feel like a withered tree blooming in spring—completely transformed! It'd be too much trouble to explain back home, so I told the village chief I was heading out to seek my fortune in the world."
Lian Youming gave him a long, searching look. He believed the old rascal had stumbled onto a miraculous encounter, but as for how much of his tale was true, how much he had concealed, how much he had shared, and what exactly he had ingested—only Heaven and Earth knew.
Still, what truly piqued his curiosity was neither the wild fleeceflower root nor any internal alchemy gong, but rather the corpses lying in that underground cavern.
"March north to purge demons."
As if guided by some unseen hand, those four words resurfaced in Lian Youming's mind. He had a persistent feeling that something extraordinary lay hidden there—something that, once unearthed, would inevitably shake heaven and earth.
*Looks like I'll have to make a trip back to the Northeast sooner or later to find out the truth.*
Lian Youming could not be bothered to dwell on it for now. Regardless of what the old fellow had gone through, as long as he was still the same person inside, that was enough; everyone had their own karmic destiny.
Seeing that the youth pressed no further, Big Head Liu let out a visible sigh of relief.
Amused by the sight, Lian Youming said softly, "Fine, Liu the Invincible it is. And one more thing: you and this girl might end up being sect disciples under the same lineage."
Big Head Liu blinked in surprise. Instantly turning ingratiating, he handed all the processed fleeceflower root over to Xie Ruomei beside him.
With the farce concluded, Lian Youming did not inquire further about the exact kung fu Liu had practiced. He lacked for nothing at present; all that remained was to await the brutal battle a few days away.
In an unfamiliar place like Cangzhou, the sudden arrival of an old acquaintance at least brought a touch of warmth and bustle.
At dusk, Lian Youming returned to the Baji Sect.
Breaking the street was entirely different from paying a door-to-door visit to cross hands. A door-to-door challenge required only three notaries and the signing of a life-and-death covenant.
Street-breaking, however, required widely inviting peers across the martial circles to bear witness. Grievance by grievance, sect by sect, scores were settled. To exchange a couple of blows to see who stood higher and lower before trading courteous bows was a matter of worldly etiquette; but if lives were at stake, then one fought with one's very existence on the line.
Inside the hall of the Baji Sect, alongside Wu Jiu and Xu Tian, sat quite a few people: burly, thickset middle-aged men as well as white-haired elders with youthful complexions.
Clad in a grayish-blue winter coat, Xu Tian possessed an air that set him apart. His face taut, his brows and hair frosted gray, he spoke at an unhurried pace. "You've returned just in time. Allow me to introduce you."
When Wu Jiu saw Lian Youming bring a stranger back, he paid little mind at first. But catching sight of the white hair at Liu the Invincible's temples showing signs of turning back to lustrous black, his eyes went wide with eager fascination. He immediately assumed this unimposing old fellow was a hidden grandmaster.
"Brother, how should I address you?"
Big Head Liu had a lively temperament and was naturally inquisitive. He had been looking around outside when he saw Wu Jiu approach with overwhelming enthusiasm. Remembering that this was supposed to be some martial arts sect, he struck a posture, cupped his fists in a salute, and declared, "Liu the Invincible!"
Had he not said it, nothing would have happened. But the moment those words left his mouth, Wu Jiu's eyes widened sharply, his spirits soaring. His hands slipped out from his sleeves.
*Invincible?*
*Then he had to be an extraordinary fighter!*
Such a title was not something ordinary experts dared claim. Looking back over more than two centuries across the jianghu, while there had indeed been those peerless under heaven, those who truly dared take these two characters as their name or sobriquet were as rare as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns.
For instance, the Taiji Grandmaster Yang Luchan had been hailed by his martial peers as "Yang the Invincible," having swept through the capital undefeated.
And now, out came a Liu the Invincible.
*Could this man be a supreme master of the Taiji School, here to back the kid up? A rare encounter indeed—I can't let this pass!*
With that thought, Wu Jiu secretly gathered his internal power. He was never one to sit still. While he had not reached the point of martial obsession, he loved nothing more than sparring and observing the styles of various schools to refine his own craft.
While Lian Youming spoke with Xu Tian, Wu Jiu could not wait any longer; slinging an arm around Big Head Liu's shoulders, he hustled him toward the martial training grounds.
Seeing that this master named Invincible moved and carried himself like an ordinary civilian in every gesture, Wu Jiu grew even more uncontrollably excited. *Good grief, could he have reached the realm of returning to simplicity, where the Great Dao becomes pure essence? Even while walking, he leaks no external force whatsoever—his movements fluid and elusive, impossible to grasp! Truly formidable!*
Big Head Liu was still somewhat dazed. He felt as though he had been dragged over by the scruff of his neck, and there was something distinctly odd about this fellow in the worker's uniform.
That look in his eyes was weird.
He couldn't be into men, could he?
Just as Liu's skin began to crawl, Wu Jiu walked over to stand opposite him and offered a solemn fist-and-palm salute. "Wu Jiu pays his respects. I ask for your guidance!"
Big Head Liu looked completely bewildered, not quite grasping what the words meant. But seeing the other man salute him, he hurriedly imitated the gesture, cupping his fists. "You're too kind, not at all, not at all!"
Wu Jiu was in no state to pay close attention to what the man said. Seeing his opponent return the salute, he clenched his fists tightly at his sides. "Watch out!"
Big Head Liu was even more baffled. "Watch out for what?"
"Look out for my strikes!"
Inside the hall, Xie Ruomei had seen Wu Jiu warmly sling an arm around Big Head Liu and lead him away. She had wanted to catch Lian Youming's attention, but being unable to speak and surrounded by outsiders, she could only sit quietly.
Xu Tian made the introductions in a gentle tone: "This is the young sect master of the Yanzi Sect, Li Wu."
Lian Youming's eyes lit up. "Swallow Li San?"
Li Wu was in his early forties, with an honest, unassuming demeanor. He was the slimmest among the group, dressed in a Zhongshan suit. Hearing this, he laughed heartily. "Little brother, don't let the storytellers fool you. 'Swallow Li San' is merely a title. Every generation's successor in our Yanzi Sect takes the name Swallow Li San, but each of us has our own true name."
Xu Tian turned toward the white-haired elder with the youthful complexion. "This is a senior elder of the Sanhuang Sect, surnamed Yu—"
The elder waved a hand and chuckled cheerfully. "No need to mention names. Since this young lad wishes to resolve the Xie family's vendetta, an old bag of bones like me will gladly do a favor and grant you some prestige. What happened back then wasn't Xie Tianhong's fault alone. To vent anger upon his descendants today is truly unjustified."
Lian Youming rose and cupped his fists in a salute. "Many thanks!"
Xu Tian looked toward another burly, broad-shouldered man. "This is a senior master of the Mantis Sect who practices Seven Star Mantis Fist. He is of the same generation as Wu Jiu and was also present when you challenged the Eagle Claw Sect. His surname is Yang."
Lian Youming stood once more and offered a fist-and-palm salute. "My thanks, Master Yang!"
The burly man smiled in reply. "You're too courteous, little brother."
Xu Tian continued, "Familiarize yourself with these three first. Along with the Baji Sect, the four of us will essentially just exchange formal greetings with you. The remaining five are the Yanqing Sect, Dasheng Sect, Huaquan Sect, Pigua Sect, and Eagle Claw Sect."
Lian Youming asked in surprise, "The Eagle Claw Sect?"
Xu Tian glanced at him. "Do you think they would let you pass without a fight? Every extra person burns another measure of your stamina. Though Tan Fei is dead, Cangzhou does not lack Eagle Claw Fist experts. Don't get careless; someone is bound to step forward. Furthermore, this street-breaking was initiated in the name of the Baji Sect. If you embarrass yourself, you'll be disgracing our Baji Sect's name. Fortunately, the age gap between the defender and the challenger cannot be too wide."
Lian Youming nodded, his expression solemn. "Rest assured, I won't disappoint you."
The old man sighed impassively. "I'm not doing this for your sake. I'm doing it for Ruomei. Since I intend to take her as my direct disciple, she belongs to the Baji Sect. Even if it kills you, you'd better hold your ground."
Lian Youming laughed. "Understood, I—"
*Bang!*
A dull, explosive boom suddenly came from outside.
Right after, two half-grown boys rushed in, panic written across their faces. "Grand-uncle, quickly, come look at the training grounds! Martial Uncle Wu has caused trouble again!"
The mildness on Xu Tian's face vanished instantly. He got up and strode out.
Lian Youming followed close behind. Only then did he realize someone was missing. "Hey, where did Big Head Liu go?"
Xie Ruomei gestured hurriedly, but Lian Youming could make no sense of her signs. By the time the crowd followed the commotion to the training grounds, they found a wooden training post snapped cleanly in half, splinters littering the ground. Wu Jiu wore a bizarre expression, slowly drawing back his right elbow as if unable to comprehend what had just happened.
On the ground, Big Head Liu clung desperately to the remaining stump of the post, legs knocking together uncontrollably. Ashen-faced, his eyes glazed with terror, he trembled like a sieve.
Wu Jiu scratched his head. "This makes no sense. The hair at your temples is clearly turning from white to black. Without profound mastery of internal kung fu, such a sign never appears."
"Wahhh!"
Hearing the newcomers arrive, Big Head Liu looked up to see Lian Youming walking over. He threw his arms around one of the boy's legs and wailed at the top of his lungs.
During that strike just now, he felt as though he had caught a glimpse of his deceased parents.
It had scared the living daylights out of him.
Xu Tian's face darkened at the spectacle. He glared at Wu Jiu, then looked at Lian Youming.
With a wry smile, Lian Youming had no choice but to recount Liu the Invincible's background. Naturally, he made no mention of the underground cavern. The fewer people who knew of it, the better; otherwise, they would have to constantly guard against covetous eyes. He did not fear Xu Tian or his circle, but if word leaked, it would surely bring disaster rather than fortune. Besides, if it were to be told, the man himself should be the one to tell it.
"Wu Jiu."
Hearing his master speak, Wu Jiu instantly understood the old man's intent. Offering no objection, he muttered under his breath, "He's a bit up there in age, but his vital essence has been nourished, and he practiced an alchemy gong on his own. That counts as a bit of talent. Besides, our Baji Sect isn't that particular about taking disciples—"
"What? You want to take me as an apprentice?"
Big Head Liu, who had been bawling moments ago, shot to his feet.
He had seen it clearly: with a single strike, a man-tall wooden post had shattered to splinters. If Wu Jiu hadn't realized something was amiss and shifted his aim, Liu would have breathed his last right then and there.
"Master above, please accept your disciple's bow!"
While the others were still discussing the matter, they turned to see Big Head Liu bowing eagerly.
Wu Jiu grumbled, "Taking apprentices is the biggest hassle of all. Fine, in a few days when my master formally accepts Ruomei as a true disciple, I'll take you in at the same time. You haven't done anything wicked, have you? I heard you were running some qigong thing—no scamming people, no blabbering about martial circles' affairs to ordinary folks, and absolutely no ostentatious showing off in the future."
Big Head Liu, who had nearly wet himself moments earlier, was now overjoyed. "Never in a million years!"
His wish had finally come true.
With the street-breaking imminent, every sect and school looked forward to it with bated breath.
This was a tradition handed down from the Republican era, unseen for decades. One person fighting nine bouts consecutively was practically a death sentence. Unless someone had committed an unforgivable offense and genuinely repented, they would never choose such a path. It was staking one's life on a sliver of Heaven's will.
Where did Heaven's will lie?
If any of the nine aggrieved parties genuinely wished to settle the vendetta, they naturally would not send out a merciless killer; they would simply go through the motions, exchange courtesy, and grant both sides a way out of the dispute. It satisfied honor and resolved grievances alike.
That was the original intent behind the custom: to grant the transgressor a chance to turn back, and to give the aggrieved an opportunity to lay down their hatred.
As for who won and who lost, that was left to Heaven's will.
Thus, so long as the challenger survived the ordeal, no matter how deep the past grudges were, they were wiped clean from that day forward. Those in the martial circles were strictly forbidden from defaming, humiliating, ostracizing, or bullying them ever again; they could live with dignity, free from cold contempt.
After returning to the Baji Sect, Lian Youming remained in the back courtyard under Xu Tian's arrangements, not even seeing Xie Ruomei. Daily, amid the plum grove that filled half the courtyard, he honed his techniques, purged stray thoughts, regulated his internal breath, and prepared with all his might.
The five days until the battle passed in the blink of an eye.
Things were not as they had been back then. During the Republican era, the street-breaking took place on Yihe Street, lined with countless sects and martial arts halls. But time had changed everything; most martial arts halls were gone, and the martial arts street was no more. Moreover, with Xie Ruomei chosen as Xu Tian's direct disciple, the Baji Sect naturally served as host, extending broad invitations to the martial community.
"Cursed luck. Why does it have to snow every time something big happens?"
Standing by the entrance and watching the swirling snow, Wu Jiu muttered curses under his breath.
A day remained before the battle, but the venue had to be set up today. There was no need to build a raised ring; arranging chairs and clearing an open space was enough, so long as their martial peers were properly accommodated.
Thus, the Baji Sect disciples were bustling about frantically.
Big Head Liu trailed behind Wu Jiu. "Master, since those people tomorrow are coming to give Kid Lian trouble, should I go round up a few old men and women?"
Wu Jiu got a headache just listening to him. The formal apprenticeship hadn't even happened, yet the man was already calling him 'Master' left and right. "This is a clash between martial sects, not a brawl between neighbors! What good would a bunch of frail old arms and legs do?"
Big Head Liu explained, "The ailments those folks have got—some of them I've never even heard of. Bump into them and they drop; brush past them and they collapse. If anyone acts out of line, one word from me and I guarantee they'll all hit the dirt and extort the clothes right off their backs!"
Wu Jiu slapped his forehead with a groaning sigh. "Fine, then. When that happens, right after we're kicked out of the sect, we can find a bridge opening and hang ourselves together. If we've thrown away our shame, what's the point of keeping our lives, eh?"
While things were fraught with gloom out front, back in the courtyard's plum grove...
Xu Tian looked at the youth standing in the garden. After weighing his thoughts again and again, he suddenly spoke: "It is not too late to back out now. At most, I will take the field myself. That was what I had intended all along."
Lian Youming's face bore none of its former ferocity now, radiating bright warmth instead. When facing good people, he treated them with gentleness. "Why say this so suddenly? Afraid I'll die under someone else's fists?"
With his hands behind his back, Xu Tian sighed. "Perhaps when a person grows old, he begins to worry over gains and losses. You're a good boy, and you have parents and family at home. Staking your life on a sliver of Heaven's will just for a promise... it hardly seems worth it."
At the end, the old man added, "This battle won't be like facing the Eagle Claw Sect. Before, you were unknown, your methods hidden; scoring a victory in a single move might have had an element of luck. But after your fight with Tan Fei, your cards have been shown. Your adversaries will have prepared thoroughly. Fighting five consecutive bouts is bound to be grueling."
Xu Tian also wished to resolve the vendetta for the Xie family, but his status was complicated. The Baji Sect had its own grudges with the Xie family. If he stepped forward personally, what would the sect disciples think? With so many constraints binding his hands, he had hesitated time and again.
Lian Youming's unexpected appearance had initially brought joy to Xu Tian's heart, yet looking back on it now, he could not help feeling a twinge of guilt.
Lian Youming chuckled. "What Heaven wills is none of my concern. I merely do all that a man can do, seeking only a clear conscience."
Xu Tian fell silent.
Lian Youming gazed at the dancing snowflakes. "Snowing again, is it?"
He paused briefly, then suddenly grinned wide. "Perhaps I am that Heaven's will."
With those words, the youth stepped deep into the veil of falling snow. His fists and feet burst into motion, his figure weaving through the blizzard without a trace of fear.
He awaited only the fight of his life!
Chapter 86