Chapter 1: Li Musheng
Great Li, Wan Province, Shun'an City.
The renowned Yu Family Martial Arts School in the city was decorated with colorful lanterns today, with drums and gongs resounding loudly as guests from all directions arrived in an endless stream.
"Asheng, there aren't enough tables in the east hall. Come with me to the back courtyard to move a few more."
Amidst the noisy voices, a burly man with bulging muscles hurriedly called out, pulling the young man standing in the front courtyard to head toward the back.
The young man had sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and handsome features. It was precisely because of his good looks that he had been assigned the easy task of greeting guests in the front courtyard.
"Brother Zhang, what's the rush? Let those guests stand for a while, it won't kill them, right?"
Li Musheng yawned and dawdled along behind Zhang Dazhuang.
The other man turned back and glared at him, saying irritably, "Today is the big day when our old hall master washes his hands in the golden basin. All the guests are important figures in the martial world. If you're this lazy, boy, be careful you don't cause trouble and get beaten up."
Hearing this, Li Musheng rolled his eyes. These days, he actually wanted to find someone who could beat him up, but it would probably be very difficult to find such a person.
At this moment, Zhang Dazhuang shook his head, slowed his pace, and became earnest, "You're just too ambitious with low ability. You're so handsome, if you were a bit more diligent in practicing martial arts, the old hall master might marry the second young miss to you." "Brother Zhang, spare me. The second young miss weighs four hundred pounds, and her palm is wider than my head. With my build, I don't have the fortune to enjoy that."
Li Musheng chuckled, but then his tone changed as he continued, "However, if that old miser Yu would give me the third young miss, I could reluctantly consider it."
"Give it up. The third young miss is like a heavenly fairy, with frighteningly high martial arts talent. She's even been accepted into the renowned Qingyun Sect of Wan Province. Do you think she'd take a liking to you?"
Zhang Dazhuang snorted with laughter and mercilessly mocked Li Musheng a few more times.
Li Musheng didn't mind and bantered with him for a while. Soon they arrived at the storage room in the back courtyard.
Zhang Dazhuang stacked five tables together, hoisted them onto his shoulder, and strode energetically toward the front courtyard. However, just as his foot stepped into the courtyard, a voice like a great bell rang out over the entire estate:
"Yu Zhentian, twenty years have passed without a meeting. Today I've come to take your dog life!"
The voice exploded like thunder beside everyone's ears, causing excruciating pain in their eardrums. Before seeing the person, they heard his voice first, and the previously noisy estate suddenly fell silent.
...
In the great hall, the gray-haired Yu Zhentian sat in the seat of honor, with the golden basin for the hand-washing ceremony just brought up.
"This person's internal energy is so powerful!"
A middle-aged man in fine clothes sitting below him showed a look of surprise. He had a burly build with broad shoulders and a thick back, emanating an aura of natural authority without anger.
"I had a premonition early on that today's events wouldn't be peaceful. I've made City Lord Hao laugh at us."
Yu Zhentian stood up and cupped his hands toward Hao Shen, then his expression became gloomy.
At the same time, a group of disciples had already rushed anxiously to the hall entrance to protect his safety.
"Master, this is terrible! Someone has come to attack!"
"What's there to panic about? A mere skulking rat, I haven't taken him seriously yet."
Yu Zhentian snorted coldly, then strode toward the hall exit with each step creating wind, "City Lord Hao, please wait a moment. After I deal with this matter, we'll drink three cups together."
Hearing this, Hao Shen's eyes flickered slightly, but he stood up and followed, saying, "Brother Yu, wait. I'll go with you. I want to see what kind of person dares to cause trouble in this Shun'an City."
The group proceeded imposingly to the front courtyard.
At this time, the guests in the courtyard were crowded together, all looking up at the roof above, whispering in low voices. The atmosphere seemed somewhat heavy.
On the black tiles of the roof that resembled a mountain ridge, a tall black-robed man with his face covered by a black cloth stood upright, the long blade in his hand glinting with a chilling cold light.
Zhang Dazhuang and Li Musheng were squeezed behind the crowd.
Zhang Dazhuang gripped a staff in his hand, looking up at the black-robed man above with anxiety on his face, while Li Musheng beside him leisurely crossed his arms, looking like he was watching the excitement.
"He doesn't even dare show his face, clearly a vicious criminal and evil thief." Zhang Dazhuang spoke indignantly.
Seeing Yu Zhentian and the others arrive, he wanted to rush forward to help, but the front courtyard was too crowded with people, and he simply couldn't squeeze through.
Li Musheng reached out and pulled him back, smiling, "This person's strength is no less than old man Yu's. Brother Zhang, if you go up there, you won't be of any use. You couldn't withstand a single blade from him and would lose your life."
Zhang Dazhuang was slightly stunned, immediately recalling that the man's ability to make his voice heard before showing himself must mean he was a master with profound internal energy.
His steps halted. He didn't continue squeezing forward, after all, he wasn't a brainless reckless person and knew his own capabilities.
"Such a villain, the old hall master will definitely capture him easily."
Zhang Dazhuang coughed lightly and promptly stayed beside Li Musheng, just leaning on his staff and looking toward the middle of the courtyard.
"Who are you? Why don't you show your true face? What grudge do you have with me?"
Yu Zhentian suppressed the anger in his heart and directly questioned the black-robed man.
"You old thing are truly senile!"
The man snorted heavily, saying sinisterly, "Let me help you remember. Twenty years ago, in the battle at Junliu Mountain, you once severed my fifth brother's arm with a sword. Do you remember now?"
Hearing this, Yu Zhentian's gray eyebrows furrowed, as if recalling what the other person said.
Soon, he suddenly raised his head and said, "You're one of the Seven Villains of Zha River?"
"What? The Seven Villains of Zha River!"
At these words, the guests in the courtyard were all shocked.
The Seven Villains of Zha River had a notorious reputation. Over the past ten years in Wan Province, they had committed countless evil deeds and killed innumerable people, consistently ranking in the top three on the government's wanted list.
More importantly, these Seven Villains of Zha River had extremely high martial arts skills. Many renowned masters in the martial world had died miserably at the hands of these seven people.
Their most recent major crime was three months ago when they slaughtered the entire Zhao Family Weapons Shop in Shen City overnight, with over a hundred people, old and young, none surviving.
When this incident spread, it caused the entire Wan Province martial world to turn pale at the mention of it.
One must know that the Zhao Family Weapons Shop was a century-old martial arts family with no shortage of martial arts masters among the clan, and was one of the top powers in Shen City.
But even so, they still couldn't escape the poisonous hands of the Seven Villains of Zha River, showing just how terrifying this group of villains' strength was.
"That's right, you finally remember."
Third Villain's eyes were cold and sharp as he slowly swept his gaze over the guests below who were now buzzing with discussion. Suddenly, he said in a deep voice, "Starting now, I'll give you ten breaths of time. Anyone except the Yu Family can leave this place."
"After ten breaths, anyone who remains, I will kill them all without exception!"
Third Villain's voice was driven by deep internal power, shaking the jujube tree in front of the courtyard until its bark split and branches broke with falling leaves. Everyone's ears rang continuously and their heads felt dazed.
Some ordinary people without martial arts were even more terrified, their courage shattered. The timid ones even wet their pants directly.
After coming to their senses, the crowd was so frightened they didn't dare think twice and fled in panic.
