Chapter 152: Iron Blood Sect

Iron Blood Sect, this renowned martial arts faction, enjoys immense prestige on the soil of Hengzhou. With hundreds of disciples, each possessing extraordinary martial prowess and imposing presence, the sect commands awe throughout the city. In the streets and alleys of Hengzhou, from ruffians to wealthy merchants, everyone fears them and voluntarily pays protection fees to seek Iron Blood Sect's protection.

Iron Blood Sect's wealth is staggering. Beyond vast fertile fields and exquisite manors, they own numerous brothels and taverns within the bustling city. These enterprises not only generate a torrent of wealth for the sect but also serve as a crucial manifestation of Iron Blood Sect's influence in Hengzhou.

In Hengzhou, a saying circulates: "During the day, the Hengzhou Inspector rules with absolute authority; but at night, Lu Tong, the Sect Master of Iron Blood Sect, is the master here." This fully demonstrates Iron Blood Sect's prominent status in Hengzhou and the profound prestige of Sect Master Lu Tong.

Of course, Lu Tong, the underground ruler of Hengzhou, knew clearly that underground matters could never be brought to the light; if the Inspector wanted him dead, he would not survive a single night, and his own trusted aides would personally chop off his head to present it to the Inspector as a merit.

He knew well that he was merely a dog raised by the Inspector, ready to bite on command; a stray dog without a master could be beaten to death by a beggar.

Thus, when the Revolutionary Army arrived, dragged his master to the trial platform, and executed him, his heart was filled with terror; if others could beat his master to death, what hope did a dog like him have?

After his master was beaten to death, this stray dog frantically crawled before the man who had killed his master, wagging his tail and begging for pity, attempting to make that man let him serve as his dog.

But the Revolutionary Army had no intention of accepting him as a dog; during this period, they not only confiscated their fields and manors to distribute among the poor but also executed several of his sect's disciples, even forcibly shutting down the brothels and arresting all the madams and enforcers inside.

Without these, would they have to engage in the arduous trade of escorting goods?

Lu Tong's heart was filled with unwillingness; these fertile lands, manors, and the sect's thunderous reputation throughout the martial world were all earned through his half-life of painstaking effort and struggle. To protect all this, he had to endure humiliation and even willingly serve as a so-called "urinal" for those high-ranking officials and nobles above him.

When they needed him, he had to step forward to solve various thorny problems for them; but when they no longer needed him, he was like a discarded, worn-out object, casually thrown under the bed, forced to endure their disgust and mockery, as if even his very presence was nauseating.

Now the Revolutionary Army wanted to take all this away; he could not accept it.

"Sect Master, Sect Master, it's bad! Many soldiers have arrived near the sect, about a thousand of them, each holding weapons capable of shattering iron armor from four hundred meters away, and they brought twelve cannons. These soldiers immediately surrounded our sect tightly."

The disciple who came to report, usually calm and composed, rushed in with a face full of panic and confusion. His steps were hurried and chaotic, as if pulled by an invisible force that prevented him from maintaining his usual composure. At the moment he crossed the threshold, he unexpectedly stumbled, lost his balance, and lurched forward.

Hearing the disciple's words, Lu Tong couldn't help but feel a bitter smile rise in his heart. He pondered silently: Is it really necessary to make such a huge fuss against a small-scale force like Iron Blood Sect, deploying over a thousand soldiers armed with firearms and equipped with twelve cannons?

Over a thousand soldiers, each wielding powerful firearms, supplemented by twelve deafening cannons, such a formation could sweep through thousands of troops in wars between nations, unstoppable. Yet now, they were using it against a martial arts faction, and one that had no experts and was insignificant.

Was it necessary to play like this?

Lu Tong, anxious and desperate, hurriedly led his disciples to the scene. At a glance, the sight before them made them shudder with fear. Outside the gate, over a thousand soldiers stood in orderly formation as if facing a great enemy, each holding a firearm with the barrels uniformly aimed at their sect. The formation suggested that at the slightest sign of movement, they would attack without hesitation.

What terrified Lu Tong even more was the twelve cannons placed in the distance, their barrels aimed directly at the sect's main gate. These cannons stood there like giant beasts, their bodies emitting a chilling aura, as if ready to unleash deafening roars at any moment, leveling the entire sect to the ground.

Lu Tong swallowed hard and shouted loudly toward the outside: "Which official is outside? Why bring troops to our Iron Blood Sect? Our Iron Blood Sect merely teaches martial arts to disciples; we are all law-abiding common people. Your Revolutionary Army claims to be the army of the common people; why aim weapons at common people?"

Ku Li Chi, the regiment commander in charge of the siege, laughed in anger; he never expected anyone to be so shameless, lying with eyes open, face unblushing and breath unshaken.

"Lu Tong, how dare you claim to be a law-abiding common person? Don't tarnish those two words. You know yourself what you have done these years; as the Inspector's black glove, how many dirty deeds have you done for him? Murder, robbery, and schemes to kill for profit—have you done fewer of these? You are the head of a gang, but in reality, a leader of a criminal underworld force."

"How many brothels under your protection have forced good people into prostitution? How many common people have sold their children due to the usury loans under your command? Even many debtors were beaten to death by you, and their children were then sold by you. Just recently, during our army's campaign against bandits, we discovered disciples of your Iron Blood Sect. Do you still dare to deny it?"

Hearing Ku Li Chi's words, Lu Tong smiled apologetically: "This military officer, we did do these things before, but that was under Jin rule; as martial artists, we had no choice but to survive. I dare say that ninety-nine percent of factions in the martial world do the same; does the People's Government intend to wipe out all ninety-nine percent of these martial factions?"

"Why not?" Ku Li Chi countered.

"Destroying my Iron Blood Sect is simple, but I must tell you, my Iron Blood Sect has been entrenched in Hengzhou for—"

Before Lu Tong could finish speaking, Ku Li Chi decisively raised his arm, and the order was immediately issued. In an instant, twelve 107 rocket launchers, like awakened giant beasts, roared and spewed forth scorching flames.

With the simultaneous launch of the rockets, the entire Iron Blood Sect collapsed instantly amidst deafening roars, turning into a sea of ruins and raging fire. Flames shot skyward, thick smoke rolled, and the firelight reflected upon the terrified, frozen faces of the onlookers.

Witnessing the shattered ruins and raging fire behind him, Lu Tong stood frozen, as if tightly bound by an invisible force. That was not only the fruit of his half-life's struggle but also the dwelling place of his beloved family and relatives. Just moments ago, all of that had turned to ashes under the enemy's artillery fire; his relatives, his home, his everything, vanished into the rolling thick smoke along with the violent explosions.

Lu Tong's heart was filled with endless sorrow and rage; he widened his eyes, staring at the burning ruins, as if trying to find even a trace of what was once familiar. However, apart from the sky full of firelight and the pervasive smoke, he could see nothing.

A strong hatred surged in his heart, hatred toward the Revolutionary Army and the People's Government; without them, he would still be the underground ruler of this province, a sect master with boundless glory.