Chapter 95: Dao Foundation

*Bang! *

The sound of things being smashed came from the Chief's office, followed by the sound of shattering glass.

"This motherfucker is a lunatic!"

Gu Zhenhui said in a rage.

The secretary on the side was trembling and dared not speak.

He had followed Gu Zhenhui for so many years, and this was the first time he had seen him so angry.

All along, the other party had maintained the image of having everything under control. Even if he suffered losses in the struggle with the Tiger Blade Gang, he remained confident and did not get anxious or angry over temporary gains and losses.

Only this time, Gu Zhenhui lost his composure in a rare display.

"Sir, please calm down."

The secretary poured tea into a new cup and handed it to Gu Zhenhui.

"How is it over there now?"

Gu Zhenhui calmed his mood and asked.

"Just received news that many people are gathered at the market entrance. The crowd is furious and has forcibly blocked the road, not letting the Duchayuan take the heads away."

The secretary said cautiously.

Gu Zhenhui rubbed his forehead: "Tell Wu Yihua to calm this matter down as soon as possible. Don't be hard; use gentle means. Don't incite public resentment."

"Also, notify the people of all academies that there will be an emergency meeting in half an hour. I want to search the whole city for the Green-Faced Ghost!"

"Yes."

The secretary nodded and turned to leave.

Gu Zhenhui let out a heavy breath, his anger still hard to quell.

The chess game he had carefully planned was actually broken by a reckless man using such an extremely crude method. How could he not be angry?

The authority of the Sifa Academy was extremely important; it was a place he and the Tiger Blade Gang were trying their best to fight for. Now that two officials of his faction had suddenly died, it was a heavy blow to his influence in the Sifa Academy. Fortunately, more people from the Tiger Blade Gang died, which made him feel a little better.

But after all, he was the Chief of Xingcheng. Under his governance, such a thing happened, seven second-rank subordinate officials died, and so much dirt was exposed. This might even affect his official career!

"Green, Faced, Ghost!"

Gu Zhenhui read the name word by word, his gaze sinister.

He thought he could manipulate the other party at will on the chessboard, but now he realized that this was not a chess piece, but a blade.

A blade that could make people bleed!

"Green-Faced Ghost."

At the same time, in the prison of the Duchayuan, someone was also reading this name.

Although it was a prison, it was fully equipped with various furnishings, with maids to serve and doctors on duty at all times. It didn't look like a jail at all.

This was naturally where Zhang Mingze stayed.

This Private Secretary was still lying on the bed recovering from his injuries, with a maid massaging his legs. A subordinate of the Tiger Blade Gang stood on the side and reported to him what happened at the market entrance this morning.

Losing an underground opium den would reduce the Tiger Blade Gang's monthly income, but that was just a small matter.

The officials who died were what truly made Zhang Mingze's heart ache.

With fewer judges, if there were cases involving the Tiger Blade Gang in the future, there would be no one to help bend the law for personal gain.

With one less warden, if someone from the Tiger Blade Gang was caught and put in jail in the future, it would be very difficult to swap them out again.

Overnight, the Tiger Blade Gang's influence in the Sifa Academy had suffered a severe blow!

And this was not the most critical point. The most critical point was that the Tiger Blade Gang's prestige had been affected, which would cause other officials standing on the Tiger Blade Gang's side to start wavering.

Once they lost their help in official circles, the Tiger Blade Gang would be equivalent to a tiger without claws and teeth, and it would have no way to fight the Chief!

So the death of a few officials made Zhang Mingze feel more heartache than the death of a few Martial Masters.

The only benefit was that he had originally prepared a series of means to deal with Gu Zhenhui's killer move, but now these means were no longer needed. After such a commotion, the fake Green-Faced Ghost arranged by Gu Zhenhui could easily be proven false, and he would soon be able to get out.

"This Green-Faced Ghost must die!"

Zhang Mingze's gaze was sinister.

The Tiger Blade Gang and Gu Zhenhui had fought for so many years. Although both sides wished they could tear each other to pieces, they had always tried their best to control the scale and had not taken the simplest and crudest way to kill all of each other's people.

Because if you can kill, the other side can also kill. Once that happens, the situation will be completely out of control, and it may even attract people from higher up to intervene. In the end, no one will be able to eat the cake of Xingcheng. This is what neither side wants to see.

So now that the Green-Faced Ghost has struck, killing seven subordinate officials overnight, everyone understands that this person absolutely does not belong to any side. This is an extremely sharp blade, and it cannot be controlled!

"What is the Chief's reaction over there?"

Zhang Mingze asked.

Subordinate: "Summoning people from all academies for an emergency meeting."

"Hmm, it seems he is preparing for a city-wide search."

Zhang Mingze fell into deep thought.

The last joint operation of the three academies was only a very elementary search, and many places would not be searched.

But now it was different. Seven subordinate officials died at once. Gu Zhenhui would definitely demand a city-wide search, and the most thorough kind!

The Tiger Blade Gang also wanted the Green-Faced Ghost to die. The goals of both sides were rarely consistent, so this search would be the first time the black and white circles of Xingcheng joined forces with all their might.

"I have seen many interesting people in my life, but this is the first time I have seen a lunatic like the Green-Faced Ghost."

Zhang Mingze sighed.

Just then, footsteps came, and Duchayuan Chief Wu Yihua appeared outside the cell.

"You guys go down first."

Zhang Mingze ordered.

Soon, only he and Wu Yihua were left in the cell.

"Lying in bed, please forgive me, Lord Wu."

Zhang Mingze said.

Wu Yihua went up and sat on the edge of the bed, shaking his head:

"Private Secretary Zhang, you don't have to be polite. You should already know about the market entrance matter, right?"

"I heard."

"What do you think?"

"What is Lord Wu trying to ask?"

Wu Yihua stared at him: "Now it can be determined that this Green-Faced Ghost absolutely does not belong to either side. For such a person, where does Private Secretary Zhang think he comes from? Could he really be a wandering knight who suddenly popped up?"

Zhang Mingze's eyes changed: "Does Lord Wu have any guesses?"

Wu Yihua narrowed his eyes: "Since he doesn't belong to our side, nor to the Chief's side, I think there is one place most likely to secretly cultivate a Martial Master, and he has the motive to strike at both sides at the same time."

"Oh?"

Zhang Mingze was startled, "Is Lord Wu saying, the Qingyuan Boxing Village?"

Wu Yihua nodded: "This Green-Faced Ghost offended both sides at the same time. What good does it do him? Even those wandering knights who act chivalrously don't act this crazy, so I think this person might have been sent by the Qingyuan Boxing Village to disrupt the situation."

Zhang Mingze fell into deep thought.

The Green-Faced Ghost first appeared in the Qingyuan Boxing Village, and later struck at him in the Boxing Village, breaking the rules of the Boxing Village, but the Qingyuan Boxing Village had no reaction at all...

"Does Lord Wu think this Green-Faced Ghost is hiding in the Boxing Village?"

Zhang Mingze asked.

If the Green-Faced Ghost was really from the Qingyuan Boxing Village, then naturally he could only be hiding in the Boxing Village.

This place had not been searched when the three academies conducted their joint search before.

Wu Yihua's eyes contained killing intent:

"This is a good opportunity. It is rare for both sides to join forces once. Regardless of whether this Green-Faced Ghost is from the Qingyuan Boxing Village, we can take the opportunity to eradicate this force and divide this piece of fat meat!"

"But the Great Dragon Head of the Qingyuan Boxing Village is a Dao Foundation realm powerhouse."

Zhang Mingze frowned.

If one uses official promotion to metaphorize martial arts, breaking through from the Body-Breaking realm to the Qi-Transformation realm, changing from a martial artist to a Martial Master, is equivalent to being promoted from a first-rank clerk to a second-rank subordinate official. Having leaped over the first Longmen, one already has one's own foundation and is no longer an insignificant figure.

Next, breaking through from the Qi-Transformation realm to the Dao Foundation realm is equivalent to being promoted from a second-rank subordinate official to a third-rank official of the imperial court, having leaped over the second Longmen!

The simple four words 'Official of the Imperial Court' are an honorific that the vast majority of officials will never get in their lifetime.

Every 'Official of the Imperial Court's' name is registered in the Cabinet Center, appointed after review by the empire's highest power institution, and possesses an official plaque and gold seal issued by the imperial court.

This time, the Green-Faced Ghost killed seven subordinate officials overnight, which was enough to shake the entire Xingcheng.

But if he killed an Official of the Imperial Court, it would not just alarm the Xingcheng government; Datong Prefecture would send people down to inquire!

This was the weight of an Official of the Imperial Court.

By analogy, a martial arts powerhouse at the Dao Foundation realm also has the same pivotal weight.

Even in this era where martial arts are prevalent and power is respected, the status of a Dao Foundation realm powerhouse is even higher than that of the vast majority of Officials of the Imperial Court!

In the entire Xingcheng black and white circles, and the Jianghu green forest, there are only two Dao Foundation realm powerhouses on the surface:

One is the Head of the Zhige Academy, and the other is the Great Dragon Head of the Qingyuan Boxing Village.

This is why she, a mere woman, could single-handedly control such a large 'Cornucopia,' making all parties wary and forced to follow the rules she set.

Experts are just that capable of covering!

"As long as Head Yan is willing to strike, plus the joint efforts of the Duchayuan, Zhige Academy, and Sifa Academy, a mere Qingyuan Boxing Village should be a piece of cake, right?"

Wu Yihua asked.

Zhang Mingze smiled upon hearing this. He finally understood that the other party came to find him this time not only to make suggestions but also to probe.

Why was the Tiger Blade Gang able to leap from a small gang to the number one gang in Xingcheng in just over ten years, making friends with a group of dignitaries, planting people everywhere, and even being able to contend with the Chief, while still having the upper hand?

Besides the capable means of Yu Hu and Zhang Mingze, it was also because the Tiger Blade Gang had connected with the Weapon-Stopping Academy and obtained the support of that Head Yan!

Many people, including Wu Yihua, initially thought that the Tiger Blade Gang was just a vicious dog kept outside by that Head Yan to earn some money and handle some inconvenient things.

But later, the Tiger Blade Gang's power grew stronger and stronger, while Head Yan had been in seclusion in the Zhige Academy for years, not even managing the affairs of the Zhige Academy, which really didn't look like he was secretly manipulating the Tiger Blade Gang.

Later, when Wu Yihua got on the Tiger Blade Gang's boat, he felt more and more that the Tiger Blade Gang was clearly being led by Yu Hu alone, and it didn't look like it was being manipulated at all.

But Yu Hu, a Martial Master who practices strength, is at most at the peak of the Qi-Transformation realm. Why should he have a say in front of Head Yan?

So Wu Yihua was very curious about the relationship between the Tiger Blade Gang and that Head of the Zhige Academy, and whether Yu Hu could command that Head.

"Lord Wu is still thinking about this matter too simply."

Zhang Mingze said.

"Oh? I would like to hear the details."

Wu Yihua's gaze changed.

Zhang Mingze looked at him:

"If there was only one Dao Foundation realm powerhouse, I and Gang Leader Yu would have long since found a way to deal with the Qingyuan Boxing Village. After all, who wouldn't covet such a large piece of fat meat?"

Wu Yihua was startled upon hearing this: "You mean, the Qingyuan Boxing Village has more than one Dao Foundation realm powerhouse?!"

Zhang Mingze nodded: "This matter is quite secretive, so please don't spread it, Lord Wu."

Wu Yihua said sternly: "Please speak, Private Secretary."

"We found out that the Great Dragon Head of the Qingyuan Boxing Village also has a senior brother, who is also a Dao Foundation realm powerhouse!"

Zhang Mingze said slowly.

"She has a senior brother? Who is this person? Where is he?"

Wu Yihua was a little excited.

After all, an extra Dao Foundation realm powerhouse would affect the entire pattern of Xingcheng!

"This person's name is Hao Yi, and he is a special lecturer at the Xingcheng Martial Arts Hall."

Zhang Mingze did not sell out, directly giving the answer.

"Hao Yi?"

Wu Yihua's brows furrowed into a 'chuan' shape.

He knew this name. When Li Lei took people to sweep a Tiger Blade Gang venue, he scolded Li Lei severely, but Huang Weiguang stood up to support Li Lei.

He felt it was very strange at the time and investigated it specially, finding out that Li Lei's son, who was attacked, had a special teacher at the Martial Arts Hall named Hao Yi.

He suspected at the time that Huang Weiguang's standing up for Li Lei was likely related to Hao Yi.

Now it seems his guess at the time was correct.

"No wonder Huang Weiguang had that reaction at the time. It seems he knew Hao Yi's identity long ago. What an old fox!"

Wu Yihua said.

Then he looked at Zhang Mingze suspiciously: "But how could a Dao Foundation realm powerhouse run to the Martial Arts Hall to be a lecturer? He could completely go to a university to be a lecturer."

Zhang Mingze shook his head:

"This Hao Yi's background is very mysterious. He only came to Xingcheng seven years ago. His experience before this is almost a blank slate, and it can't be checked at all. The Tiger Blade Gang has also been investigating for these years, and only recently found some clues and learned some fragmented information."

"This..."

Many guesses suddenly emerged in Wu Yihua's mind, his face changing.

"Fortunately, judging from his actions over the years, as long as we don't take the initiative to provoke him, he won't have the mind to specifically deal with anyone."

Zhang Mingze said.

Wu Yihua frowned: "Why do you say that? Didn't his junior sister create the Qingyuan Boxing Village, and possibly even a Green-Faced Ghost?"

Zhang Mingze smiled: "A few years ago, he took in a student at the Martial Arts Hall. At that time, we didn't know his true strength, so we didn't let his student off, eventually forcing his student to fall into the evil path and collude with the Anshen Sect."

Wu Yihua was startled: "And then?"

"Later, Hao Yi personally caught his student and sent him to the Duchayuan to be executed."

"He didn't retaliate against the Tiger Blade Gang?"

"No, because we didn't do anything out of line to his student on the surface."

"This person is..."

Wu Yihua didn't know how to evaluate it for a while.

"A gentleman can be deceived by his own principles. Back then, his student walked onto the evil path himself, so he didn't retaliate against anyone. But if we forcibly strike at his junior sister without evidence, I'm afraid he won't sit idly by."

Zhang Mingze said.

"It seems this matter needs to be discussed in the long run."

Wu Yihua sighed.

"Indeed."

Zhang Mingze nodded.

Martial Arts Hall.

Li Fei walked into the practice room as usual.

The killing last night, he not only killed people from the Tiger Blade Gang but also people from the Chief's faction.

Besides the fact that these people deserved to die, he also had his own plans.

Smashing the chessboard was not the goal; Li Fei wanted to re-enter the game as a 'chess player'!

But wanting to become a 'chess player' was far from enough on his own.

So Li Fei wanted to completely stir up the situation first, and then seek variables for himself:

"Private Secretary Zhang, Chief Gu, I hope you don't let me down..."

Li Fei looked out the window, his gaze deep.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 96 =====