On the first day of the twelfth lunar month in 1981, heavy snow blanketed the land.
Early that morning, against the distant crackle of firecrackers echoing across Cangzhou City, a voice suddenly bellowed from the front courtyard of the Baji Sect martial arts academy, calling out names at the top of its lungs: "Ao Fei of the Huaquan Sect arrives as invited!"
A crowd of Baji Sect disciples who had been busy sweeping and clearing the courtyard all raised their heads at the shout.
That was none other than the sect master of the Huaquan Sect. But before anyone could process it, another cry rang out:
"Li Shan of the Yanqing Sect arrives as invited!"
"Wei Boyuan of Great Sage Fist arrives as invited!"
"Wei Bozhao of the Pigua Sect arrives as invited!"
"Bai Long of the Eagle Claw Sect arrives as invited!"
Four announcements came in rapid succession. The martial artists who had already arrived by invitation exchanged bewildered glances. Every visitor was either a sect master or a deputy sect master—with the sole exception of that man from the Eagle Claw Sect, a name none of them had ever heard.
The ones calling out the names were two teenage disciples of the Baji Sect. Clad in brand-new robes, they had hollered five names back-to-back without so much as blushing or losing their breath, revealing a remarkably solid foundation.
"Bai Long? The Cangzhou martial circles have never heard of such a figure."
None of the other guests carried themselves with the imposing swagger of these five groups. The others had arrived cordially, cupping their fists and taking their seats without a shred of arrogance. Only these five contingents, each trailing a pack of disciples, strutted in with heads held high, squinting condescendingly at the crowd.
Wu Jiu was sitting alongside his junior brother and sister, receiving guests. Seeing these figures arrive in unison, he knew that a brutal, bloody battle awaited Lian Youming today, and his expression darkened.
Yet as he scrutinized the visitor surnamed Bai, unable to discern the man's background, a female martial artist beside him spoke in a grave, low voice: "Senior Brother, this man Bai isn't from around here. Ten to one, he's a ruthless enforcer brought in by those people. He's here to take the kid's life."
They often said fists had their ranks, and martial prowess its order.
Yet when all was said and done, it came down to contests of pride, battles for fame and fortune, and struggles over things unseen.
The sect masters were naturally there to hold down the fort. Against a wet-behind-the-ears novice like Lian Youming, those heads of established schools had their pride and would never easily step into the ring themselves. But the fighters they put forward would undoubtedly be hard cases, completely unlike the Eagle Claw Sect's previous slipshod blunders.
And the spectacle unfolding today might look like an attempt to discipline Lian Youming, but it was actually aimed at the Baji Sect and Li Da—using this matter as an excuse to make a move.
Lian Youming naturally knew it as well.
Though he stayed in the rear courtyard, even without listening, he could figure it out.
Scoundrels like those in the Eagle Claw Sect likely controlled plenty of sordid business in the martial world. What he had stumbled across was merely the tip of the iceberg. Moreover, among the internal styles, Taiji, Xingyi, and Bagua had long led the way, while the Baji Sect had surged from behind to catch up. How could those people stand by and watch that happen?
Just like Tan Fei, they were all birds of a feather.
This was also why Xu Tian had hesitated for so long. Pull one hair, and the whole body moved.
As for the sects that had chosen to stand with the Baji Sect and support him, they likely possessed a conscience, weighing the lesser grudge against the greater evil.
Furthermore, factions like the Eagle Claw Sect had secretly expanded their underworld influence with boundless ambition. Li Da had surely long intended to clean house and root out these scum of the martial circles. Lian Youming's emergence merely suited the circumstances, which was why he had been pushed into the spotlight.
"Every last one of them deserves to die!"
Lian Youming quietly gazed at the plum branches filling the garden. A few winter plum blossoms had already unfurled on the boughs, reigning supreme over the bleak landscape, blooming vivid and bright amidst the snow.
He did not feel used by the Baji Sect. On the contrary, he was deeply grateful to Li Da and Xu Tian. They had given him an excellent push.
Without them pushing him forward, an unknown nobody like him would hardly have received a second glance from most martial figures in Cangzhou, let alone had them abide by the rules.
"Gong Wu'er of Baguamen arrives as invited!"
Suddenly, another announcement rang out from the entrance.
The startled crowd instantly turned to look, eager to catch a glimpse of the most extraordinary young woman among the rising generation.
She was truly exceptional.
Back when ordinary girls were young, knowing only how to play house, Gong Wu'er had already followed a Taoist nun into the mountains to cultivate.
It was said that the first word she had ever learned to recognize was "Dao." The first stroke she had drawn was a circle. Her understanding of fist principles and palm techniques had all been derived from the Taoist canon. When others trained in martial arts, they practiced first and studied later—building their foundations through sweat and learning combat forms afterward. Gong Wu'er, however, had studied first and practiced later, marvelously grasping heavenly principles before ever executing a technique.
Yet rumors were merely rumors. Most people only smiled when they heard them, assuming the Gong family had deliberately circulated the stories to build prestige.
Nevertheless, that she sought to carve out an entirely new path, different from Xue Hen's, to break through into the Foreknowledge realm was undeniably a feat of immense resolve.
Times were different now from the turbulent eras of the past. The four directions were pacified, the realm was at peace, and secular rules were firmly established. If a martial artist sought to test their fists against the world by slaughtering all in their path, it meant running contrary to the order of the day, destined to be crushed by the greater tide.
Xue Hen was a man moving against the tide.
Yet the stagnation of the martial path ahead was an ironclad reality.
Those who came after could not all follow Xue Hen's footsteps.
Gong Wu'er's endeavor was not solely for herself; it was also an attempt to open a new path for others.
One had to realize that even figures as formidable as Li Da had enlisted in the military to avoid having to test their fists through senseless slaughter while still seeking to break through into Foreknowledge, hoping to stimulate their spirits through battlefield gunfire and bloodshed. Faced with such determination and resolve, even seasoned veterans of the martial world held a measure of respect for Gong Wu'er, addressing her as Miss Gong rather than treating her as a mere junior.
Gong Wu'er walked in at an unhurried pace, wearing a black wool coat with a fur collar. Her waist was slender as a willow branch, her cheeks fair, and her brow and eyes clean and clear. Her neck was delicate and graceful as a swan's, and her lovely eyes were as pure as an endless sky, calm and profound. Seen from afar, she resembled a solitary winter plum blossoming aloof and untainted by the mundane world.
She first nodded slightly to Wu Jiu and his companions, then gave a nod to the other martial artists gathered around.
Beside her stood a short, serene woman with her hair wound in a Taoist topknot, walking half a step behind. Dressed in gray robes and trousers, the fleshy palms hanging at her sides were broad as ox tongues.
She was clearly a Taoist nun, and a lethal expert versed in Baguazhang.
Standing beside Wu Jiu, Big Head Liu stared blankly at the woman entering through the gate. He recognized her! Back when Lian Youming had come down from the forest farm, wasn't she the one who had sent several pieces of aged medicine?
"Master, who's that?"
Wu Jiu twitched his mouth. "In terms of seniority, she's something else."
After racking his brain for quite some time, Wu Jiu still didn't know how to describe it. After all, she was Li Da's sister, the successor of the Gong family, and perhaps the future leader of Baguamen.
"She's your grand-master-uncle's blood sister."
At the thought of Li Da, Wu Jiu's spirits lifted. "That grand-master-uncle of yours is incredible. He took third place in the grand armed forces competition, an absolute pillar of our Baji Sect."
Big Head Liu had already taken off his hat and now understood what was happening. Not only had hair begun sprouting atop his bald crown, but his beard was also growing wildly; in just a few days, his face had become stubbled.
"Third? Who were the other two?"
Wu Jiu's smile stiffened slightly. "One is the young sect master of the Xingyi Sect, another extraordinary fellow who practices Xinyiquan. The other is rather special, belonging to a branch of Baguamen. Their identity is somewhat mysterious; even I don't know much. I heard your grandmaster mention they might be surnamed Chen."
While master and disciple were still whispering, Gong Wu'er had already walked over and taken a seat among them.
"Big Brother Wu!"
"Second Miss."
Wu Jiu initially replied with a hearty grin, but suddenly felt a chill run down the back of his neck. Turning his head, he saw Xu Tian squinting at him from a distance. His smile vanished instantly, and he hastily cupped his fists in a proper salute.
Standing to the side, Big Head Liu assumed an insignificant nobody like himself wouldn't be remembered. To his surprise, Gong Wu'er glanced at him and spoke softly, "Are you that village doctor?"
Seeing that he was recognized, Big Head Liu was overjoyed. "Yes, it's me! My name is Liu the Invincible. Greetings to—"
"Mmph—"
Hearing the old rascal about to loudly proclaim that moniker again, Wu Jiu's expression shifted drastically. He lunged forward to clap a hand over Liu's mouth, but he was half a beat too late.
The moment the words "Liu the Invincible" left his lips, heads turned across the courtyard in astonishment.
Who dared call themselves invincible?
Then, catching sight of Big Head Liu's hair, everyone's expressions subtly shifted again. The upper half of his hair was white, yet the roots were completely black. Could this extraordinary martial manifestation mean he was some hidden grandmaster?
Wu Jiu's weathered face flushed crimson. He wasn't afraid; he was just terrified of dying of embarrassment.
Just then, an icy voice cut through the clamor of the crowd.
"The hour is nearly here, so where is the main act? If you people just want to gossip, why don't you invite a few families and shut the doors to chat at your leisure? Even if you talk about thieves and whores, nobody will stop you."
The moment those words rang out, the open sparring ground fell dead silent.
The speaker was the man representing the Eagle Claw Sect, Bai Long.
He had his feet propped up on the back of the chair in front of him, arms cradling his head, lounging so lazily he was practically lying down. Contempt dripped from his gaze. No matter how one looked at him, he had clearly come with ill intent.
Yet before the echo of his voice could fade, another sound rose.
At the entrance of the rear courtyard, a figure strolled out through the wind and snow, hands tucked inside his sleeves.
The newcomer chuckled as he walked, his voice carrying effortlessly. "Heh. I've seen plenty of folks fighting for train tickets and fighting for seats, but fighting to get to the afterlife first? That's a new one for me."
Lian Youming knew how to respect someone, and he knew how to care for someone, but when trouble found him, he would never cower, much less bow his head to anyone in a contest of fists.
Paying no heed to the sour looks directed at him, Lian Youming glanced at Gong Wu'er.
He remained grateful to her for offering him guidance in the past.
She might be a bit eccentric, but that didn't stop her from being a good person.
Gong Wu'er looked at Lian Youming. Though her face remained composed, a flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes.
Unlike before, the martial aura this youth had forged was truly unexpected.
After exchanging subtle nods, Lian Youming turned his gaze toward the group of hostile onlookers. "Don't worry. I don't have many virtues, but I do love lending a helping hand. Especially to those rushing toward reincarnation—I never mind sending you on your way myself."
Bai Long was also a young man, with a long face, narrow brows, and a pair of knife-sharp eyes set in his pale, sinister complexion.
"Heh, times really have changed. Any stray dog that jumps out of the ditch dares to make such grand claims. It only shows that some people must be completely blind to pin their hopes on you."
Lian Youming stood tall and straight, half a head taller than his opponent. Lowering his eyelids, he looked down coldly. "So you're the one stepping up on behalf of the Eagle Claw Sect?"
Bai Long sneered, "And what if I am?"
A smirk curled the corners of Lian Youming's mouth, baring a flash of stark white teeth. Words drenched in killing intent squeezed through the gaps like cold iron crashing to the ground:
"You bunch of mongrels. Every single one of you acts all high and mighty, but the names in your household registers must be just about extinct by now. Today, this young master will show some mercy and wipe the rest of you out for good!"
The moment his voice fell, the wind and snow thickened. Using Lian Youming and Bai Long as the dividing line, figure after figure rose to their feet. Glaring coldly at one another, they formed opposing battle lines as brutal killing intent swept across the grounds.
Chapter 87