Night.
The cloth shop's guards were all gathered together.
The masters of the martial arts halls and the shopkeepers sat on either side, while at the head of the room, two large chairs—one higher than the other—were placed in the center.
"Master Shenn, please!"
"No, no." Shenn Hu waved his hands repeatedly.
"I am just a simple Martial Artist. Young Master Zhu is the head of the cloth business; he should be the one to take the main seat."
After some polite refusals, Zhu Ju took the seat in the center.
Dozens of people had already gathered in the hall, with more still arriving one after another. Many of them frequently cast curious glances toward Zhu Ju.
As the owner of the Wancai Cloth Shop and the head of the entire business, very few had ever seen his true face.
Mysterious.
That was the one thing everyone agreed on about him.
But more than Zhu Ju, their gazes were fixed on the two chests in the center of the room, both filled with silver taels.
Silver ingots, each worth ten taels, were stacked together, totaling no less than three thousand taels of silver. They glowed with a tempting light that made hearts race and throats run dry.
"The situation has been investigated."
Yann Jingfu stepped forward, cupped his fists, and spoke.
"The arsonists are from Flower Street. Some people can't stand to see us succeed, so they deliberately set fires to cause trouble."
"Which workshop?"
"Baixiu Workshop!"
"Younger Brother Zhu." Shenn Hu leaned in and whispered.
"The man in charge of Baixiu Workshop now is named Zhang Cang. You should have heard of him."
Zhang Cang!
A flicker of light crossed Zhu Ju's eyes.
He had indeed heard the name. Zhang Cang was one of the men who had ordered Shen Ying, the master of Liuhe Martial Arts Hall, to assassinate him.
The other was Wuh Shou of the Wuh Family.
This wasn't hard to find out. After Shen Ying's death, many from the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall were still around, and a number of them had seen Zhang Cang and Wuh Shou.
However, their backgrounds were formidable, and his own resources had been insufficient at the time, so he hadn't mentioned revenge.
"Perfect."
Zhu Ju nodded slowly.
"We can settle this all at once."
He looked down at the nearly one hundred guards standing by.
Most of the cloth shop's guards came from the various martial arts halls. Since the martial arts halls were also shareholders in the cloth business, their interests were tied together, so there was no need to worry about a large-scale betrayal.
THUMP!
"Bring him over!"
Someone shouted angrily as they dragged a man into the center of the hall.
"Young Master Zhu."
A guard in fitted attire clasped his fist.
"This man was trying to sneak out and pass a message to Flower Street. Our men followed and captured him."
"Brother Zi!"
"It's him?"
The man who was dragged in had shifty, rodent-like eyes. Many people recognized him and immediately called out his name, turning to look at the martial arts hall to which Brother Zi belonged.
"You bastard!" The color drained from Master Liu's face, the head of Liuyun Martial Arts Hall. In a flash, he rushed forward and slapped the man across the face.
"You traitorous filth! How could I have taught a beast like you!"
"Pah!" Brother Zi's lip was bleeding from the slap, but his face was still full of disdain.
"You have no idea who's backing the Seven Workshops of Flower Street. You're overestimating yourselves! Courting death!"
"Master Liu!"
"For the sake of the many years I've trained under you, I advise you to see reality for what it is. Don't follow this bunch down a path to ruin."
"You..." Master Liu was so furious he trembled.
"Bastard! Bastard!"
"Enough." Zhu Ju frowned and said in a low voice.
"Have Master Liu sit down. There's no need to get angry over someone like this."
He reached out, picked up a silver ingot, and tossed it in his hand. His gaze swept across the hall as he began to speak slowly.
"Obstructing someone's path to wealth is like murdering their parents. What we have today was not easily won, and no one will be allowed to destroy it. That includes the Seven Workshops of Flower Street!"
"Tonight, we enter Flower Street. If any of you are unwilling, you may remain here to guard the cloth shop. I will not hold it against you."
"But if you dare to ruin my plans..."
SHING!
The silver ingot in his hand abruptly vanished, only to reappear embedded in the center of Brother Zi's forehead.
CRACK!
Only then did the sound of a skull fracturing ring out. Brother Zi's eyes shot wide open as he fell backward, landing flat on his back.
He couldn't be more dead!
Everyone's breath hitched, and the expressions on many faces changed.
Body Tempering!
Others might not have seen anything special in the act, but the martial arts hall masters present would not miss it.
The rumors were true. Young Master Zhu really was a Body Tempering Martial Artist.
Shenn Hu mentally calculated whether he could have accomplished the same feat.
He could!
But not so easily.
However, more than the strength Zhu Ju displayed, what truly shocked him was Zhu Ju's age and the potential it represented.
A Body Tempering Martial Artist under the age of twenty was almost certain to reach the Gui Cang realm in the future.
'To have such strength at such a young age... Talent is one thing, but his background can't be simple either. It's a good thing I never tried to compete with him for the title of head of the cloth business. The consequences would have been endless. I might have died without even knowing how.'
Shenn Hu couldn't help but feel secretly relieved.
"Everyone who takes part tonight gets ten taels of silver. Conquer Baixiu Workshop, and you'll be rewarded with another ten. If you are injured, there will be separate compensation." Zhu Ju's eyes swept over the crowd, taking in all their changing expressions and flickering gazes, before he smiled nonchalantly.
"You don't need to worry. The Seven Workshops of Flower Street have deep roots. It would naturally be impossible for us to uproot them alone."
"In fact..."
He sat up straight and continued.
"Tonight, we are merely providing support. The real force making a move is someone else."
...
「Baihua Workshop」
Its name was just one character off from Baixiu Workshop's.
As one of the Seven Workshops of Flower Street, Baihua Workshop was not a single building, but a complex consisting of one main building and twelve smaller ones.
Each of the smaller buildings had its own 'Courtesan'. Once a month, they would compete for the title of the main building's 'Courtesan'. This event was a huge draw for customers, making Baihua Workshop the most prosperous of the Seven Workshops of Flower Street.
Night.
The moon was hidden and the stars were few.
Yet Baihua Workshop remained as bright as day.
CRASH!
With a loud crash, a disguised Jiangg Ping violently flipped a table over, drew his long saber, and roared.
"Government Office business! Everyone get on your knees, now!"
RUSTLE... RUSTLE...
The government officials hidden in the crowd all rose to their feet, tearing off their disguises to reveal the Arresting Uniforms underneath.
"My lord!"
"What is the meaning of this?"
The madam quickly sidled over, pulling a silver ingot from her clothes.
"Was it this wench's poor service? Please, come upstairs. Miss Li'er is upstairs, waiting to receive you."
"Get lost!" Jiangg Ping kicked the madam to the ground and bellowed.
"By order of Lord Fang, we are shutting down Flower Street tonight! All of you, stay on your knees and don't look for trouble."
"Go!"
The government officials who came today were clearly different from the usual ones. They were all unfamiliar faces, sweeping through the floors with cold expressions.
"On your knees!"
"Drop what you're holding! Over there!"
CLATTER...
In an instant, the entire Baihua Workshop descended into chaos. Men and women were herded into separate corners, forced to squat.
"Ouch!"
Someone's legs gave out, and he tumbled down from the second floor, crying out in pain.
"Get up!" A government official frowned, grabbing the man's collar to pull him to his feet.
"Watch out!"
PFFT!
A cold glint flashed. The official staggered back, clutching his throat in terror as blood seeped through his fingers.
His throat had been sliced open by a sharp blade; there was no chance of survival.
"Er Hu!"
"Kill him!"
"..."
The other government officials, their faces contorted with fury, roared and charged forward.
"Hmph!"
The killer sneered and flicked his Soft Sword.
"You dare cause trouble here? Not even the Government Office is exempt. Everyone, attack! Don't let a single one escape."
"Yes!"
SHING... CLANG...
The guards of Baihua Workshop and the disciples of the Red Blood Sect rushed out from all directions, clashing with the government officials with clubs, sabers, and swords.
「At the same time.」
BOOM!
A firework soared into the air and exploded.
*
*
*
「The Docks.」
The Caoo Gang's headquarters.
"Gang Leader."
A gang member cupped his fist.
"There's movement over on Flower Street."
"Mm." The barefoot Xiang Zhongyuan stretched his limbs and rose from his tiger-skin-draped chair.
"We must give face to Lord Fang, and we certainly cannot afford to disrespect the Flower Fist Grandmaster."
His eyes swept across the gang members who had gathered under the cover of night, and he barked.
"Take any of the workshops on Flower Street. As long as you don't hurt anyone, you can take any gold, silver, or jewelry you find inside."
"Move out!"
"Move out!"
There was no need to rouse their fighting spirit. Everyone knew the Seven Workshops of Flower Street were overflowing with gold and silver. Desire already burned in their hearts.
At the command, an untold number of people charged toward Flower Street.
Chaos.
It was already impossible to contain.
...
「The Zhao Family Estate.」
"Father!"
Zhao Xiuran's face was flushed with anxiety as he paced back and forth in the room.
"We've invested countless taels of silver in Flower Street! Are we just going to stand by and watch this happen?"
"Intervene?" Master Zhao looked up.
"How would we intervene?"
"Your second uncle sent word from the Capital City. This Fang has the support of the Third Prince. No one can stop him from establishing a foothold in Yue City. If it's discovered that we're connected to the Red Blood Sect, even your second uncle will be stripped of his official post."
"Heh..."
He let out a soft chuckle and lowered his voice.
"This is a good thing. Some people are overestimating their strength, foolishly trying to smash a rock with an egg. This is precisely the Zhao Family's opportunity to take another step forward."
"Not only will we not intervene tonight, but we should also lend Lord Fang a hand. Let him see clearly who is opposing him."
...
"It's starting."
Watching the firework bloom in the sky, Zhu Ju gave a light wave of his hand.
"Move out!"
At the command, a hundred fully-armed Martial Arts Hall disciples rushed out from the cloth shop, heading straight for Flower Street.
"Quite a commotion."
Nearing Flower Street, Shenn Hu leaped onto a rooftop and gazed into the distance.
"Lord Fang has been in office for less than a year, yet he's managed to gather so many forces. It seems there's a real hope of sweeping through Flower Street tonight."
"Indeed," Zhu Ju nodded, then sighed.
"All I want is to be a wealthy man living a peaceful life. It's a simple request, but some people just won't allow it."
"Huh!"
"Crossbow Wagons!"
He had once been attacked in the street by someone using a Crossbow Wagon. The power of these Powerful Crossbows, meant for city defense, was astonishing. Not even a Body Tempering Martial Artist would dare to face them head-on.
And now...
There wasn't just one Crossbow Wagon.
At least six Crossbow Wagons had appeared on high ground, firing down on the Caoo Gang disciples who were rushing toward Flower Street.
SWOOSH!
THWACK!
Crossbow Arrows as thick as a child's arm pierced through human bodies and slammed into the ground. For a moment, the rain of arrows was so dense it halted the assault.
"Damn!"
Shenn Hu couldn't help but exclaim.
"There are only two roads in. They're blockading them with Crossbow Wagons—this is a siege! But privately selling Crossbow Wagons is a crime punishable by the execution of nine generations of one's family. I wonder who will take the fall for this?"
"Grandmaster Fu is making her move!"
Grandmaster Gui Cang, Flower Fist Fu Huanlian.
A fiery red figure shot out of the darkness, moving at an incredible speed, heading straight for the Crossbow Wagons.
"Fire!"
TWANG!
Several Crossbow Arrows crisscrossed in mid-air, attempting to shoot down the approaching figure.
Fu Huanlian flipped through the air, dodging several arrows. She seemed unable to evade one of them in time and had to raise her hand to block it.
CLANG...
The sound of metal on metal rang out, accompanied by a shower of sparks. Fu Huanlian's figure had already crashed into the tall building where the Crossbow Wagons were positioned.
The next instant.
BOOM!
The wooden building exploded.
HISS...
Shenn Hu sucked in a sharp breath.
"So strong!"
"Grandmaster Fu must be one of the more powerful experts among those in the Gui Cang realm. Otherwise, this wouldn't be possible."
"Let's move." Zhu Ju retracted his gaze, looked toward Baixiu Workshop, and shot forward in a flash.
He had already spotted Zhang Cang.