nyslfriends Chapter 40: Suzhou Brocade Lion
Chapter 40: Suzhou Brocade Lion
"Speaking of those days in Huaibei, how arrogant was that bastard Zhou Biao, nicknamed 'A Gust of Wind'? He robbed three shipments from the Salt Gang, and even the Iron Palm Water-Drifting Master Qiu Daren fell into his hands!"
A man with a face full of pockmarks, spitting as he spoke, his voice so loud it could shake dust off the roof beams:
"And the result? Heh, he was caught by me, his brother, while he was alone outside the city! Thirty moves, just thirty moves! I used a pair of iron judge's pens to shatter seven of his acupoints, capturing him alive! I took him to the Salt Gang headquarters, and it was quite a spectacle!"
He spoke while gesturing, pointing with his fingers, his movements powerful and energetic.
"Brother Li is mighty!"
A young man with a pale complexion and scholarly appearance immediately chimed in, giving a thumbs-up:
"Who in Huaibei doesn't know the name of the 'Wind-Chasing Deadly Pen'? I've long admired it!"
"Oh, Brother Zhang, you flatter me!"
The pockmarked man waved his hand, his face beaming with smug satisfaction. His eyes darted casually over Hua Baifeng and the others, as if to see if they were captivated by his imposing presence.
"My dear brother, you're no less impressive! You're the last disciple of Master Qingfeng of Baiyun Temple, and you've truly mastered the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique! Last year in Jinan, you single-handedly defeated three dragons from the Yellow River—that's what you call a young hero!"
At another table, a burly man with a purplish-red face took over the conversation, his voice booming:
"Everyone around here has a few special skills. Who would dare come here without some ability? This Brother Wang's Five Tigers Severing Door Saber technique is genuine, hard-earned skill! And that Brother Sun, I heard you recently became a disciple of Master Hu, the 'Iron Finger of Vajra'? Impressive, truly impressive!"
They talked louder and louder, and the more they talked, the more lively it became.
It was as if each glorious achievement and illustrious lineage had to be shouted out at the top of one's lungs so that everyone in the shop could hear it clearly.
In particular, it was important to make sure that the newly arrived, stunningly beautiful women understood.
However, Thousand-Armed Rakshasa's brows furrowed slightly.
Her gaze seemed to casually sweep over the noisy tables of "young talents".
Those people's gazes, seemingly unintentionally, always lingered on her beautiful and charming face and on Hua Baifeng's lively and vibrant body.
She sneered.
"know?"
Xue Bufeng took a sip of tea, his voice so soft it was almost a whisper, yet it was transmitted clearly to Luo Sha's ears using his internal energy, making it almost inaudible to others.
The Thousand-Handed Rakshasa responded with a telepathic transmission of internal energy, his voice tinged with disdain:
"I wouldn't say I know them, I just know they're nothing but a bunch of noisy insects who can brag like crazy."
Her gaze swept over a young man standing next to the pale-faced scholar, surrounded by a crowd. He was dressed in a lake-blue brocade robe and wore a jade crown to bind his hair.
The man was about twenty years old, with fair skin and decent features, but his eyes were unfocused and always carried a deliberately arrogant air. He had a sword at his waist, a precious sword with jewels inlaid in its scabbard.
"See that kid in the blue robe, dressed like a peacock with its tail feathers spread?"
Rakshasa's telepathic transmission was icy cold:
"Lin Anshan, the youngest son of the Lin family of Suzhou Jinshizi, nicknamed Little Jinshizi, is a notorious spendthrift in Jiangnan who is all show and no substance."
Hua Baifeng's ears twitched; she had clearly heard the telepathic message.
She blinked her big eyes and looked curiously at Lin Anshan, then asked telepathically, "He looks very impressive. How's his martial arts?"
"How is it?"
Rakshasa almost burst out laughing:
"If he can withstand one of your moves, I will change my name. His reputation comes from the fact that he single-handedly killed Jiang Kui, the bandit leader who ran rampant in Taihu Lake, seven years ago."
"Wow!"
Hua Baifeng feigned surprise, saying, "Since this 'River-Turning Dragon' can roam freely in Taihu Lake, he doesn't seem to be incompetent. He was able to kill him; isn't that quite impressive?"
"Logically, that's how it should be."
Rakshasa's tone grew even colder:
"However, few in the martial arts world know that before he killed Jiang Kui, the 'River-Turning Dragon,' he had already been severely injured by two elders of the Lin family, along with seventeen well-known 'heroes' who were on good terms with him. They crippled him, pulled out his teeth, clipped his claws, and threw him in front of him like a dead dog."
"He only needed to walk over and, with a gentle thrust of his jewel-encrusted sword—the fame of 'Young hero Lin Anshan slaying a major bandit on his eighteenth birthday' spread throughout Jiangnan the very next day."
She paused, then said:
"Aren't there plenty of these kinds of 'celebrities' in the martial arts world? They rely on family connections, money, or networks to create a reputation and buy fame. As long as they don't actually fight to the death, they retreat to their own little corner after becoming famous. When they have nothing to do, they hold a few 'hero banquets,' listen to a chorus of flattery, and find a few lackeys to spar with. Naturally, their 'fame' spreads far and wide, and their 'martial arts skills are unfathomable.' Many great heroes and elders have spent their entire lives 'dominating their region' in this way."
Hua Baifeng's eyes darted around, and she transmitted her voice, "Then how did he get out of here? And why did he come all the way to Shouyang? Judging from the way he talks to those people, they seem to follow his lead quite blindly."
"It does have some meaning."
Xue Bufeng then slightly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Lin Anshan, who was chatting and laughing with others:
"Why would such a wealthy young master, who values his life and reputation so much, leave the gentle, affluent Jiangnan region and come to this small northern town if he had no compelling reason to come?"
As if to confirm their guess, the noise from the other table rose another notch.
"Brother Lin!"
Li Erge, with his pockmarked face, held up a wine bowl and spoke in a loud voice:
"You come from a prestigious family and have once slain a notorious bandit. Unlike us shameless, uninvited brutes, you must have received an invitation from Young Master Qin to come all this way?"
His question immediately drew everyone's attention, and even the people at the next few tables stopped their chatter and looked over.
Lin Anshan seemed to enjoy being the center of attention.
He demurely straightened his already perfectly pressed collar, cleared his throat, and then spoke in a clear voice:
"Indeed, Brother Qin Chong personally delivered the invitation to me. His words were earnest, and it concerns the justice of the martial world. Although my Lin family is located in the remote Jiangnan region, how can we sit idly by?"
Qin Zhong.
He was the late-life only son of Qin Xiaoyi, the legendary hero known in the martial arts world as the Iron-Hearted One. Nicknamed Jade-Faced Divine Fist, he mastered the Great Vajra Fist, one of the Seventy-Two Arts of Shaolin Temple, which had been untouched for many years at a young age, demonstrating his extraordinary talent.
Few in the martial arts world are unaware of this young master from a prestigious martial arts family who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and is the center of attention.
I heard that he is the only lay disciple under Master Xinhu, the abbot of Shaolin Temple. With his already distinguished family background and the support of Shaolin Temple, his background is undoubtedly impressive.
"Exactly!"
Lin Anshan slightly raised his chin:
"As the saying goes, 'Like father, like son.' Brother Qin Chong is a chivalrous and righteous man who makes friends with heroes from all over the world. This time, he has received definite news—"
He paused deliberately, glanced around, and only when he saw that everyone was holding their breath and listening did he lower his voice with satisfaction. But even this "lowered" voice was still audible throughout the entire shop.
"The Plum Blossom Bandit, who has wreaked havoc on the martial arts world and is utterly wicked, is very likely to target Shouyang next!"
Plum Blossom Thief?
Upon hearing this, it was hard for Thousand-Handed Rakshasa not to be drawn to him, and he glanced in his direction.
Everyone chimed in:
"Is that really the case?! I had long suspected that the recent commotion in the martial arts world around Shouyang must be for something significant."
"I only know that Young Master Qin is here to meet heroes from all over the world, so I've come to join in the fun. I haven't heard any specific details, but since the invitation clearly states that the Plum Blossom Thief is indeed coming?"
"That Plum Blossom Thief has committed many major crimes in the martial arts world recently, and many masters have fallen. However, Young Master Qin is a high-ranking disciple of Shaolin Temple, so he probably won't take him seriously."
"..."
Exclamations of surprise followed one after another, and a buzz of discussion immediately filled the store.