Chapter 63

As Ling Tui Si spoke these words, the Longsha Gang members stirred, like beasts injected with chicken blood, their eyes glowing green, staring fixedly at Feng Yi.

For Ling Tui Si seemed to be pleading with Feng Yi to let bygones be bygones, yet the news "the world's number one martial art" is so vital—who among those who wander the jianghu for a living could miss it? After all, who in the jianghu wouldn't want the eight-character appraisal "peerless under heaven, none can match"?

And to have the overlord of the two lakes, the Longsha Gang chief and Jingzhou prefect, lower himself like this—who wouldn't want that? Feng Yi gazed at the crowd, most of whose faces he knew well, glaring at him, and sighed softly: "Many of you grew up with me, fought side by side, enjoyed music in the pleasure quarters, gambled and drank together—brothers. However I stand with the Ling surname, I still do not wish to cross swords with you, yet I never imagined I could not avoid it!"

Feng Yi long understood why, despite possessing the Divine Illumination Scripture and having slain so many, people still kept coming forward, using every means to deal with him.

It's not that he isn't ruthless enough or hasn't killed enough; rather, his current standing actually comes from the system's indoctrination, though everyone else attributes it entirely to the Divine Illumination Scripture.

Especially since many of the Longsha Gang members were old acquaintances of his former self, comparing the past self to who he is now—such a tremendous change in just half a month—its allure is unprecedented!

More tempting than any martial arts secret ever known!

As for Feng Yi, each time he clashed with Ling Tui Si, he tried his best to avoid the old acquaintances of the Longsha Gang.

Because his mind holds all the memories of the original body; normally it's nothing, but upon seeing a familiar face, scenes of fighting side by side, clashing with other gangs, or playing arm-in-arm in the pleasure quarters inevitably surface.

Feng Yi understands this; it's just the aftereffects of transmigration.

Who would only give you the memories you want? They just shoved everything in.

Of course he had also heard the saying, "Upon landing, the first sword cuts the beloved." But doing so brings the infamy of forgetting old ties, a stigma that follows one for life.

Feng Yi could also not care about reputation, but Ling Tui Si's aim in doing this is, even if it's an egg against a stone,

he must also smear the egg yolk all over the stone, so flies keep coming.

In short: "If I can't kill you, I'll at least disgust you to death!"

Ling Tui Si, however, remained humble, sighing: "If you can think that way, that's good.

"I, as an official, truly harbor the desire to turn weapons into jade and silk, after all, though you carry many treasures, even the great masters of the Blood Blade Sect have fallen at your hand. For personal gain, to make things difficult for you—I don't know how many of our brothers would end up corpses on the spot; how could the chief bear it?"

His acting skills are superb; though his heart and words differ, he wears a completely sincere expression.

Feng Yi's eyes flashed with killing intent as he coldly laughed: "What a fine Longsha Gang chief, you appear to be lifting me up while secretly stirring the gang's greed; if I say I disagree, I'll inevitably clash to the death with these old brothers. Heh, first you're ungrateful, then inhumane—you're making it so I can't win or lose in peace; your heart deserves death, and yet you're still putting on a show here for whom?"

Suddenly a hearty laugh rang out from Ling Tui Si's left hand: "Chief, he's the number one martial artist in the world—even the Blood Blade Sect has fallen into his hands—how could he possibly regard our Longsha Gang as anything?"

This man has rat-like eyes and an eagle nose, about fifty years old, wearing a brown robe; he is the Longsha Gang's second chief, "Eight-Faced Might" Cheng Shiqiang.

Ling Tui Si, who also serves as the Jingzhou prefect, entrusts the Longsha Gang's affairs to him as his right-hand man.

Ling Tui Si, however, hesitated: "But is this really alright?"

Cheng Shiqiang laughed: "Chief, peace be upon you; though Feng Yi's martial arts are strong, our Longsha Gang's blades also eat men. Moreover, Feng Yi just fought the Blood Blade evil-doers and already sustained injuries; when he faced the treasure elephant just now, our subordinates saw clearly that he wasted many moves before subduing it.

He lacks the ferocity he showed when facing the Blood Blade Sect's siege at the Wan family; evidently his courage is gone.

Furthermore, Feng Yi plundered treasure and slaughtered people, disregarding the martial world's justice; today, using any means against him is not excessive.

"Chief, please step back and leave this to your subordinates!"

Ling Tui Si rarely shows himself; the Longsha Gang always follows his orders, and upon hearing his words, the clamor of swords, spears, sticks, and rods has already been unceasing.

Feng Yi coldly laughed: "Surname Cheng, it's people like you, self-important fools, that cause all these disputes! You think I'm fishing, and I'm only after the treasure elephant? Heh..."

Cheng Shiqiang started: "What do you mean by that?"

Feng Yi coldly said: "Without you reporting the details to Chief Ling, he wouldn't have shown up here; a mere treasure elephant—is it worth my effort to act? All along I've been trying to catch the biggest fish in Jingzhou!"

Everyone stared at each other, bewildered—really or not?

Feng Yi's acting was naturally for Ling Tui Si; after all, if one can accomplish something good in one go, he doesn't want to waste extra time.

He had caused a scene with the Blood Blade Ancestor on the street, and seeing Ling Tui Si not appear, he knew this guy had chickened out.

If he didn't fabricate the appearance of his own injury, how could Ling Tui Si dare to risk his person?

Including just now when dealing with the treasure elephant, he deliberately used many moves, also to show those lurking in the dark.

Ling Tui Si gave a wry smile: "Feng Yi, if I said I still wanted to kill you at the Wan family, I truly don't have that thought now. I only wish to resolve our enmity, to let well water not trespass on river water."

Feng Yi laughed: "Before, I wouldn't have believed it; now I do."

Ling Tui Si curiously asked: "Oh? Why is that?" Feng Yi replied: "Even if you're as crafty as a ghost, you can't fathom my depths. You fear you can't kill me and might end up killed by me instead!

But if I don't die, you'll fear that one day you'll lose your shoes and never get to wear them again, so as long as there's a chance you won't give up; yet now that the treasure elephant lies dead here, you feel I'm truly trying to hook you—better safe than sorry, so best not to fight!"

Ling Tui Si stared at him for a long while, then burst into loud laughter: "Truly, only Feng Yi understands me! For the sake of the linked Cheng treasure, I've lost my daughter, and now you've got me anxious and uneasy.

Though I am the prefect and the gang chief, having come to this point, I find life utterly devoid of joy."

His laughter was filled with desolation and helplessness.

Feng Yi said lightly: "A person with lofty ambitions cannot succeed without luck; if luck isn't with you, no matter how hard you strive, it's in vain."

Ling Tui Si sighed softly: "That's not bad; then Feng Yi, if you just say one word, from now on you won't make things difficult for me and our brothers—you go your Yang Pass road, we'll keep well water from invading river water, and I swear on my Ling ancestors' generations—how about that?"

Feng Yi shook his head: "You fear me, yet I fear you no less; someone like you, even swearing on ancestors, I wouldn't believe! Between us, it's still better that one of us dies."

Cheng Shiqiang urged: "Chief, Feng Yi is just a stone in a latrine—smelly and hard; your earnest advice will only earn you ingratitude, so what's the point of saying more to him?"

"Yes, chief!"

This crowd pointed their weapons at Feng Yi, waiting only for the order.

Feng Yi also slowly drew his sword; as soon as the blade left the sheath, its cold light was piercing.

Yet Ling Tui Si merely clapped his hands twice—"pa-pa"—and the Longsha Gang members instantly sheathed their weapons, each silent.

Ling Tui Si then looked at Feng Yi: "You may not believe me, but considering all these brothers share deep ties with you, couldn't you show some leniency?

Aren't the Blood Blade Sect members enough for you to gain fame and prestige—must you also spill the blood of these brothers across Jingzhou?

Feng Yi looked around, smiling: "Surname Ling, you deliberately stirred the Longsha Gang's greed; each of them regards me as a stepping stone to advancement, so I naturally must resist—all this is within your grasp.

Otherwise, if I win, you'll try to saddle me with the name 'forgetting old ties,' making my future in the jianghu difficult! Your myriad schemes and calculations—how could they escape me? Heh, I merely feel that I am where I am today thanks to your support; you plotted once for me—if I don't reciprocate, wouldn't that be utterly unreasonable?

As Feng Yi spoke, with his left hand he tucked his shirt's hem tightly into his clothing, then planted his long sword into the ground, took a gourd from his waist, and began to gulp down wine with a glug-glug sound.

Although he drank while facing heaven, with no command, the crowd dared not rush forward rashly, all turning their gazes to Ling Tui Si.

Ling Tui Si, seeing that any thought of his cannot be hidden from Feng Yi, wore a grim expression: "Since it's this way, I find it hard to press on.

Today's situation is either your death or my demise!"

His voice was hoarse and low, like a dagger or short spear thrust into everyone's eardrums.

Everybody raised their weapons and slowly approached Feng Yi.

Ling Tui Si, however, retreated.

He was able to establish the Longsha Gang; not only was his martial skill superior, but he was also resourceful, clever, and efficient.

He first stirred up the crowd's greed, then portrayed himself as pitiful, yet put on an appearance of magnanimity and concern for the gang members, so that these subordinates would feel grateful again; any move Feng Yi made would arouse their hostility.

Cheng Shiqiang shouted loudly: "Brothers, kill Feng Yi, reward a thousand taels!"

The Longsha Gang mostly obeyed his commands; hearing this, the crowd shouted and surged forward.

Feng Yi's expression unchanged, he flung the gourd away and sang loudly: "If you want to kill me, then don't blame me for forgetting old ties!" He projected these words with his inner force, his voice extremely gloomy, filled with immense grief and indignation, heard throughout the city.

The Longsha Gang members were in an uproar; at this critical point, Feng Yi still refused to admit defeat, after all, no matter how high one's martial skill, two fists can't fight four hands; this was pure disrespect, truly unreasonable, they all seethed with anger, and all kinds of weapons came at him.

Feng Yi turned and retreated, then with momentum executed a sweeping leg kick, like autumn wind sweeping leaves; a fierce gust lifted the bricks and tiles he had just stacked, his long sword trembled, blossoms of sword light appeared, the bricks and tiles shattered inch by inch, Feng Yi pushed with his left palm, palm wind like a surging tempest rolled up the brick and tile fragments, accompanied by a wailing sound, shooting rapidly toward the crowd.

These people, without thinking, brandished their weapons, only hearing the clangs and booms rise loudly.

These brick and tile fragments, bolstered by Feng Yi's profound internal energy, were more terrifying than steel blades or crossbow bolts; moreover, the narrow alley prevented the weapons from being swung freely.

In an instant, the five or six at the front fell with a thud, brain matter and blood trickling down, resembling a scene of carnage.

Yet the Longsha Gang members were not afraid; instead, each stared with eyes about to burst, surging toward Feng Yi like frenzied tigers.

(End of chapter)