Chapter 55: Could This Be Eight Years Old?
Hongxiufang, Jinyulou.

There are only three places in Longyuan City that do not enforce curfew, namely East Market, West Market and Hongxiufang. In this place where fragrance fills the streets and lights dance like fish and dragons, each large brothel has its own characteristics, for example, Miaoyin Pavilion focuses on musicians.

The most respected thing about Jinyulou is its privacy.

Distinguished guests can only enter by recommending each other. The entrance is in a very hidden place. The whole building is covered in a strict formation. Each aisle and each room are separated, and guests basically will not see each other.

Therefore, it has become the first choice for some people whose identities are inconvenient or who want to discuss some confidential matters.

The leader of the Longya Gang, Hong Yinsheng, and the leader of the Xiong Hall, Liu Hanyi, appeared on the top floor of the Jinyu Building, in a luxuriously decorated private room.

There are painted screens, golden and jade carved beams, and the tables are filled with expensive and mellow wine.

When the two entered the room, they saw that there were already two other people sitting at the table, also a man and a woman.

The man was a middle-aged man wearing a golden brown satin robe. He was slightly fat, had a mustache and a shrewd smile.

The woman had her hair tied up in a high bun, and wore a gold and jade hairpin. She had almond eyes, red lips, and a fair complexion. Under the light, she looked indescribably charming.

"Boss Hong! Master Liu, I've heard of your great name for a long time, and today I finally get to meet you." Seeing Hong Yinsheng coming in, the man immediately stood up to greet him, and the woman also stood up.

Hong Yinsheng nodded and said, "You're welcome."

"Mr. Zhang, I haven't seen you for a long time. You look a little haggard." Liu Hanyi greeted him with a smile, and then looked around and said, "Madam is becoming more and more radiant."

"Haha." The man called Mr. Zhang smiled and sighed, "Old man and young wife, I'm old and my cultivation is low, I can't compare to you masters, alas..."

"What are you talking about, sir?" Mrs. Zhang pushed him coquettishly.

"It doesn't matter. We are not outsiders." Liu Hanyi said mischievously, "If Mr. Zhang is really unable to do it, there are many strong men in our gang who may be able to help."

"That's too presumptuous." Mr. Zhang raised his eyebrows, "Even if I agree, my wife won't agree."

"What I meant was to teach you some methods to strengthen your strength. Oh, what are you thinking about!" Liu Hanyi glared.

There was laughter and joy at the moment, and the atmosphere at the table became a little more lively.

Liu Hanyi added: "The gang leader may not know that Mr. Zhang and our Hall Master Bai were once classmates and friends."

"Oh?" Hong Yinsheng raised his eyes, "There is also this connection?"

"I only learned about this when I talked to Master Liu last time." Mr. Zhang said, "When we were in Dongya Academy, Bai Zishan and I were the most outstanding and we competed with each other for a while. At that time, the teachers said that I was the second best and he was the third best. I said it was because my knowledge and writing skills were better than his, but he insisted that it was because he was more handsome than me."

"Such a shameless attitude is indeed something that Hall Master Bai would do well." Liu Hanyi said with a smile.

"Neither of you took part in the imperial examination?" Hong Yinsheng asked directly.

Because they all knew that the person in front of them was a businessman. If he could really make it to the imperial examination, no one would do business there.

"Hey." Mr. Zhang smiled bitterly, "Our fates are similar."

"My family committed a crime, and my property was confiscated and I was exiled. Later, I was rescued... and worked for the Sixth Young Master." He said quietly, "The Sixth Young Master needed me to be a businessman, so I became a businessman and went to Yuezhou to run a business for more than ten years. I heard that Bai Zishan was caught cheating in the imperial examination and was kicked out. When I heard about it, I was puzzled. With his knowledge, how could he be like this?"

"He was framed." Hong Yinsheng said calmly, "As for the person who framed him, I have already dealt with him."

"Who would have thought that, after all these twists and turns, we have become people working for the Sixth Young Master." Mr. Zhang laughed twice, paused, and then said, "The Ministry of Industry has been in trouble recently, and the Young Master is not very happy. Fortunately, the land in South City has been almost laid out. His intention is that you give me all the land, and I will take care of it from now on."

"Yes." Hong Yinsheng nodded and said, "We naturally have no objection to the Sixth Young Master's order."

"It's just..." He waited for a moment before continuing in a deep voice, "The Dragon Fang Gang paid a lot to acquire the properties in the south of the city. If we hand them all over now, our gang will suffer too much loss and may not be able to support so many brothers."

"I understand what Gang Leader Hong means, and I also know your concerns." Zhang Xingkai immediately replied: "Before coming here to see you today, I have tried my best to ask for your help from the Sixth Young Master. But the situation in the court is very bad now. In order to get people to save the Ministry of Works, the Sixth Young Master has also paid a lot. At least for now, he may not be able to help you too much. Everyone, hold on. Once the Tower of Babel is completed, all difficulties will be solved."

"Haven't we earned enough for the Ministry of Industry over the years?" Hong Yinsheng's expression was unreadable. "Do they still need someone to save them now?"

"There's nothing we can do about it..." Zhang Xingkai leaned forward and said, "Boss Hong, you and I both know this. If the Ministry of Industry collapses, it will be useless for the Dragon Tooth Gang to control it. As long as the Ministry of Industry is there, the Dragon Tooth Gang can have as many people as they want."

Snapped.

Hong Yinsheng didn't say anything, but the wine glass in his hand had disappeared. Grains of powder fell from his tightly clenched palm.

……

Xinghua Mountain and Yunzhi Temple.

Liang Yue sat upright on the cushion in front of Wang Rulin, listening to his teachings. The Taoist Master Shouyi opposite him was calm and smiling, looking like a hermit.

After Liang Yue sat down, he said, "I'm here to teach you some real skills today."

Ha ha.

You also know that wine, sex, money, anger, and socializing are not proper.

Liang Yue complained in his heart, but replied, "Thank you, Master."

"I have countless unique sword skills. The first thing you need to learn is the mental method." Wang Rulin said slowly, "Ordinary warriors don't pay much attention to the cultivation of mental methods when they are at a low level, but our lineage is different. I have a mental method of my own creation, called "Sword Heart and Dao"."

"Sword, heart and Tao?" Liang Yue listened carefully.

Wang Rulin said, "Back then I practiced the Xuanmen Taoism, but one day I lost my self-esteem, my Tao heart collapsed, and my realm fell. That's why I gave up Taoism and turned to martial arts. But my martial arts practice is different from others. Because I practiced Taoism before, I integrated the Taoist mentality into it and created this method of sword heart and Taoism. I shaped my sword heart and integrated the Taoism rhythm. I have been wandering in the martial arts world for twenty years without encountering an opponent."

"Don't think that my name is not on the Tongtian Ranking. That's because I haven't focused on improving my realm. If a fight really breaks out, among so many people on the Tongtian Ranking, there should be no more than ten who can defeat me."

"Then how do we practice the sword-heart-in-harmony-with-the-Tao?" Liang Yue asked with his heart pounding with excitement.

Wang Rulin replied: "First you have the sword heart, then you can combine with the Tao. As for how to temper the sword heart... Bai Yuan!"

"exist!"

A Taoist boy flashed out in front of the main hall. He was wearing a dark blue Taoist robe, with a small bun, thick eyebrows, big eyes, red lips and white teeth. He carried a dark blue stone sword on his back and spoke in a childish and crisp voice.

Before, when Wang Rulin said that there was something wrong with the Taoist boy in the temple, I thought he was bragging, but it turns out there really was a Taoist boy.

"Follow me." Wang Rulin led the two to the courtyard and asked them to stand a few feet apart. "Bai Yuan is a little Taoist boy I adopted. He is eight years old this year and has been learning swordsmanship from me for three years. He can be considered a registered disciple. Although you came late, as a direct disciple, he can also call you senior brother. Xiao Yue, take out the nameless sword and fight him."

"Ah?" Liang Yue was stunned. "Hit him?"

He looked across at the little Taoist boy who looked clever and cute, as delicate as a piece of jade.

"Why, you don't dare?" Wang Rulin said, "The so-called sword heart is a firm heart that dares to draw the sword no matter who it is. What is the difference between not daring to draw the sword against the weak and not daring to draw the sword against the strong?"

what?
Liang Yue was stunned again.

Is there such an angle?

Not daring to draw the sword against the weak and not daring to draw the sword against the strong... can these two be the same?
Why does it feel like there is a hint of rationality in the absurdity?

He looked at the little Taoist boy opposite him and nodded slightly, "Then... Junior Brother Bai Yuan, I am sorry."

As he spoke, he summoned the Anonymous Sword and held the sword in his hand.

"Draw your sword!" Wang Rulin shouted.

Liang Yue no longer hesitated. He raised his sword, swung it upwards, and wanted to chop it lightly, but he was a little afraid of hurting the opponent.

Unexpectedly, the little Taoist boy who was still chuckling on the opposite side suddenly made a move as fast as lightning. He had already pulled out the blue-black stone sword from his back and quickly blocked Liang Yue's sword.

clang.

He squinted his eyes a little when he smiled, and whispered: "Brother, you don't have to let me."

Liang Yue looked at his speed and it seemed that he really had some skills. Although he was only eight years old, he had practiced sword with Wang Rulin for three years, so he might not be weaker than himself.

He immediately withdrew his hand and then stabbed out with the sword even faster.

Bang!
His consciousness seemed to end at the moment he drew his sword. The sword fell into the air and he felt a pain in his abdomen. He felt his body thrown into the air and then fell heavily to the ground.

"Ah..." Liang Yue retched heavily before he came to his senses. He looked up at the Taoist boy opposite him in surprise before realizing what had just happened.

His sword was blocked, and then he was stabbed by the opponent's sword. Fortunately, the opponent was using a stone sword, so the sword did not pierce his heart, but only sent him flying.

Bai Yuan had put his sword back on his back, stood with his hands behind his back, and said politely with an innocent smile, "Brother Liang, thank you for letting me."

He didn't see clearly what sword moves the opponent used, but this speed, strength and reaction ability...

Could this be eight years old?
　Good morning.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)