Chapter 001
Chapter 1: Li Mu Sheng
In the Great Li Empire, within Wan Province, stood the bustling city of Shun’an.
Today, the famous Yu Family Martial Hall was festively decorated, lanterns glowing brightly inside and out, drums and gongs echoing cheerfully. Guests from near and far streamed in endlessly.
“Ah Sheng, there aren’t enough tables in the east hall. Come with me to fetch a few more from the backyard.”
Amid the noisy crowd, a muscular man hurriedly called out to a young man who stood lazily in the front courtyard, pulling him along as he spoke.
The youth had eyes bright as stars and sharp brows, handsome enough to earn himself the leisurely task of greeting guests in the front yard.
“Brother Zhang, what’s the rush? Those guests can stand a bit longer—it won’t kill them.”
Li Mu Sheng gave a lazy yawn, trailing slowly behind Zhang Da Zhuang.
Zhang Da Zhuang glared back at him impatiently and scolded:
“Today is the Old Hall Master’s grand retirement from the martial world! Everyone here is a respected figure. You shouldn’t be so careless. Keep this up and you’ll end up getting beaten.”
Li Mu Sheng rolled his eyes at the comment. [If only someone could actually beat me now… though I doubt anyone could.]
Zhang Da Zhuang slowed his steps, shaking his head, his tone softening with sincere concern.
“Your trouble is that your eyes are always set too high while your hands stay idle. You’re handsome enough—if you’d put more effort into martial arts, the Old Hall Master might even have considered marrying the Second Young Lady to you.”
“Brother Zhang, spare me, please! The Second Young Lady weighs four hundred pounds, her palm wider than my head! A thin body like mine couldn’t bear such a blessing.”
Li Mu Sheng chuckled before adding with a mischievous grin:
“Though, if that miserly old Yu was generous enough to offer me the Third Young Lady, I might just think about it.”
“Hah, dream on! Third Young Lady is like a heavenly fairy. Her martial talent is so remarkable that even the famed Azure Cloud Sect in Wan Province eagerly accepted her. Why would she ever look your way?”
Zhang Da Zhuang laughed mockingly, mercilessly teasing Li Mu Sheng again.
Li Mu Sheng didn’t mind, continuing to joke and chat as they quickly reached the backyard storeroom.
Zhang Da Zhuang stacked five tables effortlessly upon his shoulder and hurried back toward the front yard. Just as he stepped into the courtyard, a thunderous voice boomed across the manor, echoing clearly in everyone’s ears:
“Yu Zhen Tian! Twenty years have passed, but today I’ve come to claim your wretched life!”
The voice struck like lightning, rattling their eardrums painfully. The lively manor instantly fell silent.
…
Inside the grand hall, the white-haired Yu Zhen Tian had just lifted the golden basin meant to symbolize washing his hands clean of the martial world.
“Such powerful inner strength!”
A dignified middle-aged man seated beside Yu Zhen Tian remarked in surprise. Broad-shouldered and imposing, his very presence radiated authority.
“I had a feeling trouble would arise today. City Lord Hao, forgive this disruption.”
Yu Zhen Tian rose, respectfully bowing toward Hao Shen before his expression darkened.
At that moment, a group of anxious disciples rushed to guard the hall entrance.
“Master, terrible news! Someone has stormed the manor!”
“What’s the panic? A sneaky rat like this is beneath my concern,” Yu Zhen Tian coldly snorted, striding confidently toward the door. He then called back:
“City Lord Hao, please wait a moment. Once I’ve handled this intruder, we can return and share a few drinks.”
Hao Shen, intrigued, stood up as well.
“Brother Yu, I’ll come along. I’d like to see who dares cause trouble in my Shun’an City.”
With that, they walked aggressively toward the front yard.
By now, guests had gathered nervously, all eyes fixed upon the rooftop, whispering anxiously among themselves.
High upon the roof’s black tiles stood a tall man dressed entirely in black, his face masked, and in his hand was a long blade gleaming coldly.
Li Mu Sheng and Zhang Da Zhuang squeezed through the crowd at the back.
Holding a staff tightly, Zhang Da Zhuang stared anxiously at the figure atop the roof. Beside him, Li Mu Sheng stood casually, arms folded, amused by the unfolding drama.
“A villain who won’t even show his face! Clearly nothing more than a wicked coward,” Zhang Da Zhuang angrily muttered.
Seeing Yu Zhen Tian’s group approaching, Zhang Da Zhuang prepared to rush forward, eager to help. Yet the tightly packed crowd left him no way forward.
Li Mu Sheng tugged at his arm, calmly saying with a grin:
“This fellow’s strength isn’t weaker than that old man Yu’s. Brother Zhang, if you charge ahead, you won’t survive a single strike.”
Zhang Da Zhuang paused, recalling the powerful voice he’d heard moments ago. He immediately reconsidered, realizing his own limitations. Stopping in place, he sighed and muttered quietly:
“Old Hall Master will surely handle such scoundrels easily.”
He stayed put beside Li Mu Sheng, staff still tightly gripped, carefully watching events unfold.
“Who exactly is Your Excellency? Why hide behind a mask? What grievance lies between us?”
Yu Zhen Tian forcefully suppressed his anger, directly confronting the masked intruder.
“You senile old fool!”
The masked man sneered, voice dripping with venom:
“Let me remind you clearly—twenty years ago, at Junliu Mountain, you slashed my Fifth Brother’s arm with your sword! Have you forgotten?”
Yu Zhen Tian’s brows knit deeply, memories flickering back. Suddenly, realization struck him, and he sharply exclaimed:
“You’re one of the Seven Bandits of Zha River!”
“What? The Seven Bandits of Zha River!”
At this, shock rippled through the crowd of guests.
These seven bandits had terrorized Wan Province for a decade, committing countless murders, consistently ranking among the top three wanted criminals by the authorities.
Even renowned martial experts had fallen under their hands, enhancing their fearsome reputation.
Their latest atrocity had occurred just three months ago—the massacre of the entire Zhao Family Armory in Shen City, killing over one hundred innocent lives overnight.
The Zhao family had been a powerful martial lineage for generations, yet even they couldn’t escape the deadly grasp of these bandits.
“Yes, you finally remember.”
The masked man, Zha Old Three, coldly scanned the panicked crowd, then declared harshly:
“I’ll give you exactly ten breaths of time. Anyone not belonging to the Yu family must leave now.”
“After ten breaths, whoever remains shall perish alongside them!”
Zha Old Three’s voice thundered with inner power, rattling the branches of the courtyard’s jujube tree, scattering leaves everywhere. People’s ears rang painfully, heads spinning.
The ordinary folk among them trembled in terror, some even shamefully losing control of themselves.
Realizing the danger, everyone fled in panic, no longer daring to stay for another moment.
(End of Chapter)