Chapter 169: The Young Master, Foster Father, and Foster Son

The Demon-Extermination Assembly at Shen Family Manor was in full swing, but unexpectedly, a major incident occurred on the very first day.

The "Invincible Mad Blade" Hao Ren, who had recently risen to prominence in the Edo, defeated five of the "Wulin Six Gentlemen," leaving Li Gang and Lianchengbi severely wounded.

And what the Invincible Mad Blade sought was none other than the position of Alliance Leader for the Demon-Extermination Assembly.

When this news spread, it was unknown how many people were stirred by it.

The Wulin Six Gentlemen had been famous in the Edo for many years; regardless of their character or martial arts, they had long been put to the test, yet no one expected them to be defeated so easily, and so miserably.

Although the "Invincible Mad Blade" Hao Ren had already been quite famous before this, it was only now that he could be considered to be at the height of his power, his name resounding throughout the Edo.

Perhaps in a few more days, he would be able to stand on equal footing with "Heaven's Elder" Yu Liancheng, becoming one of the two most prominent figures in the Wulin.

……

Moonlight spilled down.

Shen Family Manor by the side of Daming Lake was brightly lit, and under the illumination of the moonlight, it added a touch of quiet elegance.

"Damn that Hao Ren... cough, cough..."

In a guest room of the Shen Family, Li Gang's complexion was slightly pale; having just cursed twice, he could not help but cough a few more times, his injuries yet to be fully healed.

"I have plotted for the position of Alliance Leader for a long time; I absolutely cannot let someone else snatch it away. I must find an opportunity to get rid of that guy, or ruin his reputation... just like Xiao Shiyilang..."

A cold, sinister look appeared on Li Gang's face as he wondered what he was calculating in his heart, when suddenly his brow furrowed: "However, during the Demon-Extermination Assembly, the Two Elders of Cangshan and the Cloud-Plucking Hand, among several others, clearly had not been won over by me, yet they spoke for me and nominated me as Alliance Leader. What is the meaning of this? Could it be that they truly believe I should be the Alliance Leader?"

"Stop being so conceited; it was all arranged by this young master."

Just at this moment, a person in green robes walked in from outside the door.

The person looked very frail, their figure not tall, and their lifeless face was completely devoid of expression. But as their gaze flickered, it was very agile; the face was clearly wearing an extremely exquisitely crafted human-skin mask.

"Who are you!!" Li Gang was suddenly startled.

Although he was injured, his martial arts foundation remained, yet he had not sensed this person's approach in the slightest.

Furthermore, this was Shen Family Manor, and there were Shen Family guards patrolling outside.

That this person could slip in so easily without alerting others clearly meant their martial arts were not ordinary.

"I... you can call me Young Master Xiao."

The person in green robes seemed to smile; although Young Master Xiao's face was eerie and terrifying, those agile eyes filled their entire being with a strange charm, making one involuntarily want to look at them more.

Her voice was even gentler: "I have come to seek cooperation with you. I can help you sit in the position you desire, but you must also listen to me. Whatever I tell you to do, you must do."

"Fine, no matter what you want me to do, you must first let me see what skills you have!"

A greedy light suddenly flashed in Li Gang's eyes; his figure moved, his fingers curled into claws, and he lunged toward Young Master Xiao.

Although this person was injured, his movement techniques and martial arts were truly not weak; ordinary experts would likely have been struck by his claw.

But this Young Master Xiao simply was not.

Their movement technique was not necessarily faster than Li Gang's, but it was elegant and composed, as if strolling through flowers; despite Li Gang's palm force being driven to its limit, he did not even touch the corner of their clothes.

It was just that for some reason, Li Gang was originally a dignified gentleman, and his moves were also dignified, but when attacking this Young Master Xiao, his moves were somewhat lewd, and his palm force seemed to be subtly restrained, as if afraid of truly killing the other party.

His eyes were bloodshot, and every time he was about to make contact with Young Master Xiao, his nostrils seemed to flare slightly.

"You child, you really aren't very well-behaved."

Young Master Xiao suddenly extended two slender fingers and tapped lightly on Li Gang, and he immediately flew out: "But you do have some skills. If it weren't for my master telling me in advance how to deal with you, I might really not have been your match."

Li Gang only felt that the finger had precisely tapped the turning point of his internal energy; the energy backlashed, nearly causing him to faint, and he hissed: "Who... who exactly are you?"

"You are not only a bad child, but a stupid one; haven't I already told you that I am Young Master Xiao?" Young Master Xiao smiled lightly, their voice also quite crisp: "Five of the Wulin Six Gentlemen participated in the Demon-Extermination Assembly; do you know why I specifically chose you?"

"I... I don't know." The internal energy within Li Gang was still churning incessantly; he was struggling to regulate his breath and was prepared to launch a thunderous strike at any moment to pounce on this Young Master Xiao.

"Hee hee, because you are truly too bad, and have too many weaknesses, making you very easy to control." Young Master Xiao giggled.

"What weaknesses do I have!?" Li Gang's gaze suddenly turned sharp.

Young Master Xiao laughed: "For example, you claim to be a 'True Gentleman Unmoved by Beauty,' but in reality, you are a notorious flower-plucking thief; there is no telling how many young women have been ruined at your hands."

"You're spouting nonsense!" Li Gang shouted sternly, but for some reason, his voice seemed to carry a hint of panic.

"For example, you have never actually fought Yu Liancheng; you just wanted to use that to bolster your own reputation."

"For example, for this Demon-Extermination Assembly, you have already secretly colluded with many Wulin luminaries, all to seize the position of Alliance Leader."

Young Master Xiao was giggling; although wearing a terrifying mask, there was an indescribable charm to them.

But in Li Gang's eyes, this Young Master Xiao was a demon, knowing almost all of his secrets.

"You are truly very bad, and have many weaknesses, and I just happen to like bad men like you." Young Master Xiao giggled and beckoned to Li Gang: "Come over here."

Although Li Gang was regulating his breath, he had to bow his head while under the eaves of another.

He gritted his teeth and walked over step by step, like a beast voluntarily entering a hunter's cage.

Young Master Xiao smiled lightly: "You are a flower-plucking thief, so you know girls very well; that is why you have already seen that I am a woman."

Li Gang nodded.

Young Master Xiao suddenly wiped their face, revealing a stunningly beautiful face.

She was indeed a very beautiful woman, with a small mouth, a small nose, and a small body; only her eyes were very bright, very large, and very enchanting.

"Do you think I'm pretty?"

Young Master Xiao said with a giggle.

Li Gang could only nod.

He had seen many beauties, but none were more attractive or seductive than the woman before him.

Young Master Xiao smiled coquettishly again and said: "Then do you want to touch me?"

Li Gang was stunned.

Young Master Xiao smiled coquettishly again: "Weren't you acting all impatient earlier? Why do you have no guts now?"

"I..." Li Gang stared wide-eyed and swallowed his saliva.

Young Master Xiao's smile was like a flower: "So you are a coward after all; I misjudged you. A person like you is truly not worthy of cooperating with the Heaven Sect."

He hardened his heart, finally unable to restrain himself, and reached out toward Young Master Xiao.

Slap!

Before his hand could even touch Young Master Xiao, a solid slap landed on his own face first.

Young Master Xiao's seductive smile had also vanished, replaced by an icy coldness, and she snapped, "What kind of thing are you, to dare touch me?"

Li Gang was stunned, completely stunned.

Slap, slap, slap...

Following that, Young Master Xiao dealt Li Gang several more slaps, back and forth, and said coldly, "Remember your status. From now on, you are just a dog of the Heaven Sect, a puppet."

"I'll slaughter you, you bitch."

Even a dog will be provoked when pushed, let alone Li Gang, who had always been a respected member of the "Six Gentlemen"—when had he ever been insulted like this?

His eyes turned red, and he lunged fiercely at Young Master Xiao.

"Li... Qing... Feng!"

Young Master Xiao sat there without moving, spitting out these three words from her mouth.

These three words seemed to possess a strange, magical power, instantly causing Li Gang to freeze in place, though his eyes held a look of disbelief.

"If not for the later appearance of Xiao Shiyilang, Li Qingfeng would still be the most efficient, cleanest, and most famous lone bandit of the last hundred years in the Edo."

Young Master Xiao sneered, "If others knew that you, Li Gang, were the biological son of the bandit Li Qingfeng, I wonder if you could still maintain your status as one of the 'Six Gentlemen'."

So it was that Li Gang's father was Li Qingfeng, that lone bandit whose reputation was second only to Xiao Shiyilang.

Regarding the previous points, one could perhaps argue their way out of it—for instance, a gentleman's pursuit of love, or a display of righteous spirit...

But this matter of lineage was of vital importance; one must know that the "Wulin Six Gentlemen" was not only related to martial arts and reputation, but also inseparable from status and position.

This point was Li Gang's greatest leverage.

If only Young Master Xiao knew this secret, it might be fine; there was a possibility of killing her to silence her.

But looking at the current situation, it was clear she belonged to an organization called the Heaven Sect, and she also had a master. Once she was killed, the Heaven Sect would make all his secrets public.

"You... what exactly do you want to do?" Li Gang said through gritted teeth.

Young Master Xiao smiled, "We currently only want to use the hands of the entire Wulin to eliminate one person."

"Who?"

"Yu Liancheng," Young Master Xiao said. "Actually, your father was also invited out of retirement by us; we wanted him to help steal Yu Liancheng's head, but unfortunately..."

"Unfortunately, my head is not so easy to steal."

Just then, a clear, bright voice came from outside, and a man walked in with his hands behind his back: "I intended to take this mad dog's head while out for a stroll, but I didn't expect such an unexpected harvest."

As this clear voice rang out, Yu Liancheng had already stepped into the room.

"It's you!"

Li Gang naturally recognized the "Invincible Mad Blade." He suddenly recalled what Yu Liancheng had said upon entering, his face changed wildly, and he couldn't help but retreat two steps: "It's you! It's you!"

Yu Liancheng said, "Indeed, it is me."

Young Master Xiao's expression also changed; reacting faster, her petite figure flashed toward the window like lightning.

Bang!

Just as she was about to escape, a shadow suddenly appeared before her. The opponent seemed not to have moved at all, yet Young Master Xiao was forced to stumble back involuntarily.

Young Master Xiao had fallen back to where she stood before. It was unclear what method the opponent had used, but she couldn't muster any strength in her entire body and could only sit limply on the ground.

Her eyes darted around, but Yu Liancheng remained standing at the doorway, standing with his hands behind his back, wearing a smile, as if he hadn't moved at all.

Yu Liancheng was looking at Li Gang, shaking his head and sighing, "No wonder we were born to be at odds; it turns out I killed your father. I am truly very sorry."

Li Gang's expression had turned gloomy to the extreme. He said coldly, "You actually dare to come to Shen Family Manor? You actually dare to reveal your identity?"

In reality, the performance of the "Invincible Mad Blade" did indeed make some people suspect he was Yu Liancheng.

Both rose like comets, both possessed unfathomable martial arts, and both Feng Siniang and Lady Hao were beautiful women of great charm, though Feng Siniang's appearance was far more beautiful than Lady Hao's.

But the two were also far too different.

One used a blade, arrogant to the extreme. The other used a sword, cold and proud like an immortal. In terms of physique, they were also very different; this was not something ordinary disguise techniques could achieve.

Of course, more importantly, the two had appeared in two different places at the same time.

Surely this person couldn't possess the art of splitting oneself.

Besides, if Yu Liancheng had come to participate in the Demon-Elimination Assembly, his courage would be far too great.

Therefore, although there were such speculations, no one dared to take them seriously.

Yet, they never expected that Yu Liancheng was truly the "Invincible Mad Blade."

Yu Liancheng smiled, "Everyone calls it a Demon-Elimination Assembly, but if I, this Demon, am not here, how can it be considered a Demon-Elimination Assembly?"

Li Gang said coldly again, "Do you believe that if I just shout once, all the experts of Shen Family Manor will rush over and ensure you die without a burial place?"

"I don't believe it," Yu Liancheng smiled. "Not to mention that the guest room you are staying in is remote, just the fact that this capable Young Master Xiao used some methods earlier to ensure there is no one around, even if you screamed until your throat broke, it would be useless."

Li Gang's expression sank again.

But he felt a sense of despair in his heart.

Yu Liancheng's martial arts were already more than a notch above his, not to mention that he was already injured. If the opponent wanted to kill him, he feared it wouldn't take much effort.

Yu Liancheng suddenly sighed, "Enemies should be reconciled rather than knotted; I killed your father, so I owe you an apology."

Li Gang frowned; he did not believe this person was a kind soul who would let him off the hook after his true identity was revealed.

"I have always valued fairness. I took your father away, so I will return a father to you."

Yu Liancheng held his head high and chest out, smiling, "How about this? I will be your foster father, and you will be my foster son. In this way, we will be even."

The veins on Li Gang's forehead throbbed wildly, and his body was trembling. His chest heaved violently, as if he were angry to the extreme, and his voice held irrepressible rage: "You say you want to be my foster father!"

"Indeed, if you become my foster son, our grudges will be wiped clean," Yu Liancheng nodded.

"Fine, I will acknowledge you as my foster father," Li Gang said through gritted teeth.

Yu Liancheng's tone was full of sighs: "Heaven plays tricks on men; I am at most twenty years old, yet I already have a foster son at least forty. The world is truly fickle."

"This child kowtows to Foster Father." Li Gang's tone had become respectful, as if he truly regarded Yu Liancheng as his foster father, yet the moment he bowed, three streaks of black light shot out from behind his back.

And in the instant the black light shot out, Li Gang flipped his palm, striking directly toward Yu Liancheng's chest.

This palm strike had pushed ruthlessness, viciousness, and sharpness to the extreme, and Li Gang's entire cultivation had condensed upon his palm; it was the peak strike of his life.

Bang!

Li Gang was sent flying horizontally.

In reality, even he himself did not know how he had been sent flying.

Yu Liancheng looked at the crossbow bolt grasped in his hand and sighed: "Tight Back Lowered Head Flower Mounted Crossbow, a toy only children play with; you are such a grown man, have you no shame?"

"You... you..." Li Gang's face turned deathly pale; before he could finish his sentence, he aggravated his injuries and spat out another mouthful of fresh blood.

"Don't be afraid. Although you are a bit mischievous as a child, I naturally wouldn't strike you over such a small matter." Yu Liancheng's tone was warm, as if he were truly an elder speaking to his own junior.

Li Gang's face brightened with joy, but then he saw Yu Liancheng shake his head and sigh: "But your business as a flower-plucking thief is absolutely wrong. Even if you are my child, I can only destroy my own kin for the sake of righteousness; who told me to be a man of such great integrity and overflowing righteousness?"

Li Gang could not help but widen his eyes, and just as he was about to flee, a finger tapped against his forehead: "But rest assured, I will certainly teach you to properly taste the flavor of death; after all, everyone can only taste this flavor once."

A faint, stinging pain suddenly spread out, and in an instant, it had affected Li Gang's entire body, making him feel as if he were being pricked by needles all over.

He felt fear to the extreme and pain to the extreme, yet his consciousness was becoming increasingly distant.

He had indeed tasted the flavor of death.

It was just that this flavor was truly not pleasant at all.