Chapter 392: Sudden Conflict

Rare Treasure Pavilion!

"Milk Tiger" Tang Huichao, the shopkeeper, cupped his hands, "Have there been any good items lately?"

He had recently developed the good habit of browsing pawnshops, with the goal of picking up bargains! Too many martial artists had flooded into Fucheng, and among them were many masters in dire straits who had to pawn their belongings to survive.

Rare Treasure Pavilion was the local leading enterprise, with the most resounding reputation and relatively fair prices.

Therefore, the pawn business had been doing very well lately.

Tang Hui was also lucky; during one of his visits to Rare Treasure Pavilion, he had purchased a handy blood-Qi divine weapon at a low price.

Although it was second-hand, the original owner had nurtured and practiced with it for thirty years, and because this weapon suited his fist style, he felt like he had found a treasure after getting his hands on it.

Ever since then, Tang Hui would often come to browse the pawnshop at Rare Treasure Pavilion.

The shopkeeper recognized him, turned around, and took out an object with blood-Qi so dense it had congealed into black lacquer on the surface.

Tiger Tendon Pipa!

This was a Foundation Establishment tool for Tiger Fist weapons; although its practical combat value was not high, every fist-martial sect branched from Dayin Mountain used it as an introductory instrument to hone fist techniques and lay the foundation for weapon arts.

"I'll take it; write the ticket and take the money."

Tang Hui did not hesitate, nor did he ask the price, taking the Tiger Tendon Pipa directly.

As it turned out, there was an unspoken agreement within Dayin Mountain.

With mountains high and waters far, the world vast and sky wide, how could Disciples of the mountain not have times when they were short on resources? Fortunately, Dayin Mountain Disciples were spread across the world; seeking help in times of crisis and breaking down money or seeking assistance was a natural principle.

One only needed to pledge a token with distinct sect characteristics to a shop to exchange it for money to resolve difficulties.

Afterward, when other fellow disciples saw it, they were duty-bound to pay a heavy price to redeem it.

On one hand, this move was to ensure the gold content of Dayin Mountain tokens; if someone redeemed them, it meant the shop was profitable, and similar pledges would be allowed in the future, forming the concept of hard currency.

On the other hand, the token was the face of the sect and could not remain in the shop for long, lest it damage the sect's dignity.

Through pledging and pawning, Dayin Mountain Disciples exchanged what they had and helped each other, and a rule had already been formed.

Tang Hui saw at a glance that the fellow disciple who pawned the Tiger Tendon Pipa must have encountered a difficult situation.

He emptied the gold notes he carried and even added the ring on his thumb to exchange for the redemption of the Tiger Tendon Pipa.

He originally wanted to look more, but since all his money was spent, he had to turn back and head home.

"That martial artist is so young, why is he a new face?"

"Let me broaden your horizons; he is from Gongliang City, the youngest martial artist, Zhou You."

When Tang Hui heard this, the hair on the back of his neck stood up like an angry tiger, and the corners of his eyes became bloodshot.

Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall, one of the branches of Dayin Mountain, whose master Bo Xiaolin was nicknamed "Angry Tiger," had a disciple under his tutelage, Tang Hui, at the 9th stage of blood-Qi. Since he had encountered the scum rumored to have abandoned his sect, he had no choice but to strike.

"Stop!"

Zhou You was alone, truly intending to browse Rare Treasure Pavilion to experience the feeling of revisiting an old place.

Suddenly, someone jumped out in front of him, holding the Tiger Tendon Pipa, glaring at him with rage.

"Zhou You from Gongliang City?"

"It is me, that's right."

Tang Hui laughed in anger, "It really is you. Coming to Fucheng, you don't even find a gate to kneel and beg for forgiveness, but instead swagger through the streets. You are truly as the rumors say: violent, arrogant, and beneath contempt."

A traitor who abandoned his sect could actually break through to become a martial artist; for the martial arts halls in Fucheng with Dayin Mountain backgrounds, this was undoubtedly a huge provocation.

Therefore, Tang Hui had long since learned from his mentor that other fellow disciples had all agreed to cut off Zhou You's path to opening a martial arts hall and beat him into a stray dog, a rat crossing the street.

He had always heard that Zhou You progressed rapidly and was very indignant; seeing him today, he couldn't help but want to challenge him.

How could a martial artist who broke through via wild methods compare to his orthodox Dayin Mountain fist techniques?

Fucheng was adjacent to major sects; those who opened martial arts halls here were more authentic and closer to the orthodoxy. "Compressing blood-Qi, dripping blood into beads, watch my White Tiger Seven Kills, hitting people like rolling an embroidered ball."

Tang Hui had already unfolded the fist path of the Angry Tiger sect, his eyes had become blood-red, and the Copper Tiger baleful aura around his body churned like clouds.

His arms swelled like tiger claws, and blood droplets like small beads seeped from his pores.

A blood droplet burst, creating a fist-sized crater on the ground. Good fellow, this was a secret technique; he had actually mastered the means of compressing blood-Qi for explosive lethality while still in the late stage of blood-Qi.

A fishy wind rose on the flat ground! Tang Hui stepped forward aggressively, his figure flickering left and right, yet it was faster and harder to defend against than a straight-line attack.

Previously, he thought he was being arrogant, challenging a martial artist while in the late stage of blood-Qi, but now it seemed this guy had impressive strength; if he encountered those martial artists who were starving or suffering from serious illness, he might really be able to win.

"Who gave you the confidence?"

Zhou You spat out these words and suddenly flipped and leaped, skimming to the top of the opponent's head.

Caught off guard, the hair all over Tang Hui's body bristled, his blood-Qi turned rapidly, and he was just about to exert force upward to change his move and attack.

Just as Zhou You was about to deliver a killing blow, a crisp voice suddenly emerged from the wall nearby, "If you dirty the ground, wash it yourself."

Looking back, the voice came from Rare Treasure Pavilion, and the person who spoke had already shrunk back inside.

Zhou You nodded, kicked Tang Hui in the lower back, and with the force of a bamboo being split, kicked away his blood-Qi, strength, and consciousness.

Thump! Tang Hui fell to the ground with his limbs powerless, only his eyes able to move, having lost control of his body.

"Be more observant in the future; don't fail to treat a martial artist as a senior!"

Zhou You flicked the Tiger Tendon Pipa up with his toe, stroked it twice, and plucked the strings with his fingertips; sharp wind exploded upon hitting the ground, and the fine, sharp remnants scratched Tang Hui's face until it was covered in blood.

"Haha!"

Zhou You dropped the Tiger Tendon Pipa and strode away.

Half an hour later, the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall gathered all the martial arts halls of the Tiger Fist lineage in the city.

"Too arrogant! We haven't even found him yet, and he has already injured our people!"

"Violent Tiger" Feng Bugui's hair stood up in anger, "I will come forward to resolve this; I will surely exterminate everyone related to Zhou You."

His nickname, Violent Tiger, was earned for his cruel methods and for doing things without leaving any leeway.

"Not appropriate; they live in the inner area of the Outer City, where fighting is not allowed."

A martial artist nicknamed Wise Tiger asked, "What about Tang Hui?"

"There are no internal injuries, but his Qi and blood were scattered by a single kick, leaving his whole body powerless; he can only rely on himself to practice and gather his strength again."

Bo Xiaolin had a second half to his sentence that he did not say: there was a ninety percent chance he was crippled.

The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Some time ago, Dayin Mountain drew elite Disciples from various places to replenish their losses, and every martial arts school contributed people.

Now, during this time of transition, Tang Hui's aptitude was considered the best among the mediocre, a seed player for becoming a Martial Master, yet his future was ruined because of a conflict.

"Everyone, this Zhou You cannot be left alone; let us exert our strength together to make him lose his fortune and see his family destroyed."

The martial arts school masters present had no objections; settling new and old grudges all at once was satisfying.

Suddenly, someone raised a question, "With such skills, Zhou You is surely not an unknown person in Gongliang City; does he have any nickname?"

"I don't know."

"I haven't heard of one; perhaps it hasn't spread widely yet!"

From beginning to end, not a single person mentioned the three words Winged Tiger, as if it had never appeared.

(End of this chapter)