In Longqing Prefecture, the death of General Zhong Hongwu, a retired and revered military leader, paved the way for the sudden rise of a previously unknown faction—the Yulong Gang.
The Yulong Gang swiftly seized control of most of the waterway trade in Longqing Prefecture. Through shrewd and illicit border dealings, they reportedly gained influence even among the upper echelons of officials in the provinces of Linzhou and Youzhou.
The newly released ranking of the Ten Great Sects in the martial world brought a breath of fresh air, replacing the old stagnation with vibrant energy. Huishan Ziyi emerged as the greatest victor. Not only did she elevate her own Daxueping Queyuelou to the top three, surpassing the declining Longhu Mountain and the rising Wudang Sect, but she also placed them alongside the Wu Clan Sword Tombs and Landuo Mountain, standing proudly over the martial world. She further elevated the status of the Kuai Xue Manor at the Spring Spirit Lake, while the Dragon Palace from the Southern Frontier—whose leader was humorously dubbed the “maidservant” of the esteemed Master Nalan—rose in prominence. In the northern regions, the newly emerged Blade Estate gained recognition. From the bamboo forests of Xishu, the Chun Tie Caotang, led by the renowned beauty “Xie Xie” from the Rouge List, also rose in status. At the bottom of the ranking was the Beiliang Linzhou Yulong Gang, the most unexpected newcomer. Without a top-tier expert at the First Grade to serve as a stabilizing force, nor any profound historical foundation to boast of, the gang had merely engaged in several skirmishes involving hundreds of fighters, eventually absorbing rival factions from other provinces. As a result, the once constant sneers and sarcastic remarks ceased, and the young female leader’s reputation steadily grew. Yet for reasons unknown, she rarely appeared in public, leaving the affairs of the gang largely in the hands of influential outsiders who seemed to have taken over.
In the past, the martial world was dominated by men, with female heroes and fairies serving merely as decorative embellishments, unable to stir any real waves. The current martial landscape, however, was vastly different. Among the Ten Great Sects, there were already four prominent female leaders: the Alliance Leader Xuan Yuan Qingfeng, the new Dragon Palace Mistress Lin Hongyuan, “Xie Xie” from Xishu, and the Yulong Gang’s own Liu Niron. These women nearly equaled their male counterparts in influence. Yet among these four formidable women, Liu Niron was undoubtedly the least conspicuous. She lacked the beauty of “Xie Xie,” the martial prowess of Xuan Yuan Qingfeng, and even within her own gang, she seemed to have retreated behind the scenes, appearing almost like a puppet ruler.
Many locals in Linzhou couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her. After all, it was always the establishment that oppressed its guests, not the other way around.
At the Nanxiangzi Restaurant, a renowned establishment in Longqing Prefecture, a woman of commanding presence ascended the stairs alone. She ordered several signature seasonal dishes and sat by the window, sipping wine. The innkeeper, an elder well acquainted with Liu Niron’s late father, the retired gang leader, felt a pang of sorrow upon seeing the young woman who had grown up before his eyes. Though he sympathized with her plight, he knew her temperament well and dared not show his concern openly. Instead, he retrieved a bottle of aged wine from storage, personally uncorked it, and shared a bowl of fiery liquor with her, reminiscing about tales of her late father’s youthful exploits.
As the old innkeeper noticed a group of arrogant newcomers ascending the stairs, he sighed and silently rose to leave. Every family had its own troubles, and the Yulong Gang was no exception—certainly not something an old wine seller could meddle in.
Liu Niron lifted her gaze. The newcomers were three of the gang’s recent guest elders. The first was a burly middle-aged swordsman, once a notorious swordsman from Youzhou, wielding a famous blade called “Dao Yi.” The second was an elderly master from Hezhou, a renowned internal martial artist nearing the Second Grade, known as “Dan Qing Shou.” The third was a young and refined nobleman, the most formidable of the three, skilled in the art of hidden weapons, making him a rising star in the Jiangnan martial circles.
The Yulong Gang now claimed to have Four Guardians and Eighteen Guest Elders. These three were among the inner circle of the Second Guardian, Jiang Cixi, a fearsome figure from the Southern Frontier who had once slain a revered Daoist priest at the Zhi Xuan level while still at the Second Grade. Even Jiang Cixi himself, who should have been hunted down by the martial world, was untouchable. So too was Xu Dachang, the swordsman with “Dao Yi,” a man none of the old Yulong Gang members, aside from Liu’s late father, could hope to rival. With such a truly motley crew, only a nearly invincible woman like Huishan Ziyi could hope to maintain control over the gang’s power-hungry factions.
Xu Kunshan, known as “Dan Qing Shou,” was a seasoned veteran of the martial world. Though he privately looked down on the young woman, he still addressed her respectfully as “Leader Liu.”
Xu Dachang gripped the hilt of “Dao Yi,” smirking as he carelessly poured himself a cup of wine. The Yulong Gang had grown in numbers and strength, even possessing light crossbows with the authorities turning a blind eye. Many of these individuals were under the command of the First Guardian, Fang Gaoqi, who kept himself aloof from the gang’s internal power struggles. Rumors suggested Fang had ties to the Beiliang Army, making him untouchable. However, the other three Guardians, including Jiang Cixi, were seasoned martial experts with clear backgrounds. Though they often clashed, they also supported each other, quickly sidelining the nominal leader. The young woman, already struggling to command respect, was no match for their deep-rooted martial cunning. She gradually lost her voice in the gang’s affairs and was even reduced to being a wager between two young guest elders.
The refined young man took his seat and gazed at the woman across the table, smiling. “Niron, I will be facing Song Chunqiao in a duel at the Yaohua Pond at the fifth watch. Would you cheer for me?”
Liu Niron’s eyes remained cold, showing little emotion.
Xu Dachang despised her icy demeanor. Like many outsiders who had recently joined the gang, he had initially heard whispers that the young prince had once visited the gang and had some connection with Liu Niron. Thus, they had been cautious at first, hoping the gang might serve as a stepping stone to gain favor with the new Prince of Beiliang. However, as time passed and no signs of the prince’s involvement emerged, their respect waned. Even if there had been a connection, it was likely no more than a fleeting encounter. After all, Liu Niron was not particularly striking in appearance, and if she had truly been a favored companion of the prince, why had the gang’s leadership nearly changed hands without any intervention from the Beiliang court?
Xu Dachang slammed “Dao Yi” onto the table and raised a cup of wine toward Liu Niron with a sinister grin. “Leader, will you drink this in respect or in punishment?”
The refined young man shot Xu Dachang a disapproving glance. “Brother Xu, you mustn’t be so disrespectful to the leader.”
Xu Dachang set the cup down, his smile laced with mockery. “I don’t care about titles like ‘leader.’ Only if she were my sister-in-law would I take her seriously.”
Liu Niron finally spoke, her voice calm. “Qi Gumei, I’ve heard that the outcome of your duel with Song Chunqiao will determine my fate?”
The young nobleman, exuding the grace of a Jiangnan scholar, feigned innocence. “Niron, are you angry?”
She glanced at him, a cold smile forming. “Why not delay it a few days? If it’s a duel, the more prestigious the audience, the more exciting it will be. I’ll try to invite the Governor of Linzhou.”
Qi Gumei chuckled. “Governor Xu is busy managing the province’s affairs. I doubt you’ll be able to summon him, Niron.”
Xu Dachang stretched his legs out, smirking. “Leader Liu, don’t try to act important. We’ve already figured out your gang’s weak foundations. Don’t dream of involving a high-ranking official. It’s embarrassing enough as it is. Besides, with your mediocre skills, you’d be better off marrying Qi Gumei and settling down. If the gang were handed over to him, with Jiang Cixi keeping the riffraff in check, the Yulong Gang would finally be on the right path. Why would you choose that short, dark-skinned Song Chunqiao instead of the charming Qi Gumei? That Song is as black as charcoal…”
He burst into laughter, his eyes gleaming with lewd thoughts. “Song is as dark as soot, but you, Leader, have fair skin. If you two were to meet in bed…”
Before he could finish, Liu Niron was about to strike him down, but Xu Kunshan, who had been watching coldly, tapped the table lightly with his finger, sending her wine glass leaping a foot into the air. Then, guided by an invisible force, the glass hovered motionless mid-air.
Such a display was far beyond Liu Niron’s capabilities.
Qi Gumei, who had been observing her closely, suddenly furrowed his brow. He noticed a flicker of unfamiliar brilliance in her eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
As Xu Dachang turned his head, three figures entered the second floor from the staircase. The one in the center was even more striking than Qi Gumei, flanked by two peculiar youths. One carried a long blade lazily slung over his shoulder, while the other, with a sword strapped to his back, resembled a spiky hedgehog. Such a scene was rare in Linzhou, where martial culture was more straightforward and less theatrical. Here, fights often broke out without warning, unlike the elaborate pre-fight speeches common in the Central Plains.
Xu Dachang hesitated. Linzhou was filled with sons of military families, many of whom were now fallen aristocrats. Though they were like dragons stranded in shallow waters, they were not to be trifled with lightly. He glanced at Xu Kunshan, who nodded confidently, having assessed the newcomers as lacking in martial prowess. Emboldened, Xu twisted his chair around and barked, “Get lost. I’ve already reserved the second floor.”
The young man, even more refined than Qi Gumei, addressed Liu Niron directly. “Is the Yulong Gang really so mighty?”
Xu Dachang’s temper flared. He stood, gripping “Dao Yi” tightly.
The blade-carrying youth grinned. “Master, let me handle this! And don’t you dare steal my fun, Wangsheng!”
Wangsheng grunted coldly. Xu Kunshan’s expression changed, and he exchanged a meaningful glance with Qi Gumei.
Qi Gumei rose calmly. “Leader, I must attend my duel at Yaohua Pond. I’ll take my leave now.”
Liu Niron remained expressionless.
Confused but obedient, Xu Dachang followed Qi Gumei and Xu Kunshan down the stairs. As they descended, they overheard the blade-carrying youth grumbling at the sword-wielding one.
“Wangtou, sword qi is for killing, not for show!”
“You scared the sparrows away again! I lost three practice stakes! Even rotten ones are still stakes! You owe me!”
“Master, you have to judge who’s right!”
Xu Fengnian ignored Lü Yunchang and watched the three descend through the window. Qi Gumei glanced up and offered a polite smile, which Xu Fengnian ignored. He sat at Liu Niron’s table and poured himself a cup of wine from Wangsheng’s clean goblet.
“You didn’t even call for Xu Beizhi’s help, let alone speak to Fang Gaoqi from the Fushui House. You shouldn’t have let it come to this,” he said softly.
Liu Niron said nothing.
Suddenly, she smiled. She recalled a scene from years ago in Yancheng Pass, where this very man had squatted by a well, haggling with a water vendor over prices.
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