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Just as Lu Yao and his two companions were jubilantly celebrating their significant progress in martial arts, at an estate by the inner harbor dock of Yunzhou, the aged Master Pang was waiting for an audience.
This estate covered more than 10,000 square ters, a third larger than a soccer field. With flying eaves and walking beasts on the ridges, and copper bells hanging under the eaves, it could be considered a palace.
Every 10 steps, there stood a tall and burly gang mber dressed in black, who remained motionless for long periods, exuding an air of fierce discipline.
Master Pang stroked the dragon head on his cane, thinking to himself, "By using the inner harbor dock to sell opium across the country, Hailong Gang has truly co into its own!"
Before long, "Snake Master," with his narrow eyes and a face full of malice, arrived.
As ordinary martial artists would greet each other, the two exchanged a hand salute and took their seats. Then Snake Master said,
"Master Pang, sorry to keep you waiting. I won't waste your ti. The gang can offer you the price for Sun Haoran, but can you hold on? That Commandery Princess is bound to return."
Master Pang was the picture of confidence, assuredly replying, "Let the Snake Master be inford, my eldest disciple has been promoted to head of the new army. After his rise to power, he still rembers his master and will naturally take care of ."
Snake Master nodded, his face easing up considerably, "So that's the reason Master Pang is considering taking over the business."
Master Pang gently stroked his beard, "I am quite confident, or else I wouldn't have co here."
But Snake Master changed the subject, saying, "We can hand over the business to you... But as per the rules, you need to present a token of submission. What if you deal with the three Liao Family Fist, how about that?"
Master Pang's hand paused on his beard, rapidly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
Snake Master unhurriedly upped the ante, "Baron William needs the blood of a virgin warrior. Liao Family's eldest daughter is still a virgin; if you capture her alive, you will certainly please him, and then it won't just be the opium business anymore."
Master Pang's face showed a look of astonishnt as he stood up abruptly, "Baron William! Are these words true?"
"Everybody in the gang knows about this; go ahead and ask around. If it weren't for the warrant out on my back making it difficult to enter the city, I'd have already taken the matter into my own hands."
A thick greed appeared on Master Pang's aged face. In his agitated state, the sound of thunder rumbled inside him.
Gradually, his white hair turned black, and he transford from an old man into a middle-aged man!
Snake Master's narrow eyes widened with surprise, exclaiming, "Hey, the legendary Tortoise Crane Essence Locking Skill! Master Pang, you've been holding back a trick!"
He slapped his thigh, declaring, "How about I get in on this deal? Let's plan together and try to capture the Liao Family's eldest daughter alive!"
~~~~~~~~
In the courtyard of the martial arts hall, Liao Qe was feeding moves to Lu Yao.
Lu Yao pressed the attack, his punches and kicks well-coordinated and substantial, putting on an impressive display.
Liao Qe exclaid in surprise, "You've trained well!"
Lu Yao chuckled without a word; real combat was the best teacher. After a killing spree on Blue Star, he had gained more experience than from repetitive practice alone.
Suddenly, the sound of instrunts and noisy fanfare approached. Upon opening the door, they saw a festive procession promoting a street advertisent.
They held up billboards, shouting promotional slogans, advertising for businesses.
But the content of their shouts was indeed questionable, "'Shunfa Tobacco Shop' grand opening in three days! All tobacco products at a 10% discount!"
"Tobacco Shop" is a business specifically dealing in wholesale opium, indicating a plan for large-scale sales.
Even more outrageous was what followed; the group turned around and began shouting in front of the martial arts hall, directly across the street.
The residence opposite the martial arts hall, previously a private ho, had unknowingly been bought and was currently having the signboard of "Shunfa Tobacco Shop" hung up.
The onlookers along the road whispered among themselves:
"Who's so bold to open a tobacco shop right across from the Liao Family Fist? Do they have a death wish?"
"Keep it down, we should stay out of the martial artists' business!"
The enmity between the Liao Family and opium was no secret to the people of Yunzhou, and to open a tobacco shop right in front of the martial arts hall was a blatant challenge.
```
The sisters were so angry they were seeing red!
And it wasn't over yet. Wang Yuan, the Military Preparedness Administrative Commissioner who had previously tried to trick Liao Ya into leaving the city, unexpectedly appeared at this mont, accompanied by a team from the Patrol Bureau. He unabashedly exclaid:
"Director Liao, I am here on behalf of the Patrol Bureau to remind you—'Shunfa Tobacco Shop' is a legitimate business that has paid its taxes. Don't make things difficult for them; besides, the sll from storing tobacco is not pleasant, so try not to mind it."
Liao Ya indifferently asked, "Who owns it?"
Wang Yuan hid behind the patrolling officers beside him and yelled, "It's owned by Master Pang! If you're not convinced, here's a life-and-death challenge!"
After saying that, he had soone pass her a life-and-death contract.
The terms on it were strange—Liao Ya, if she lost, would have to be a slave for twenty years! Naturally, if Master Pang lost, he would have to give up his estate for nothing.
Wang Yuan didn't wait for Liao Ya to reply and hurriedly ran away.
~~~~~~~
Clutching the life-and-death contract, Liao Ya said furiously, "Does this Pang character have a death wish? Although that old man is also at the Marrow-Cleansing Realm, he's so frail, how can he compete against !"
Lu Yao said, "I've heard he has trained five powerful disciples. Could it be that one of them will fight on his behalf?"
Today was quite bustling. As they were speculating, Duan Pei from Thunderclap Martial Arts Hall arrived.
They had t him a few tis before and their relationship was fairly good.
He ca in a hurry and, seeing the life-and-death contract in Liao Ya's hands, he said hastily:
"Master Liao, you must not accept this challenge. Outsiders are fooled by old Pang's facade, but I know his foundation—he has cultivated a unique essence-locking technique. He conceals his vitality normally, but can explode with power equivalent to the Blood-Exchange Realm's initial stage during critical monts!"
The sisters' father was at the Blood-Exchange Realm, so they naturally knew just how big the gap between Blood-Exchange and Marrow-Cleansing was—it was like an 18-year-old robust young man beating up an 8-year-old child.
Liao Ya clasped her fist and replied, "Thank you, Hall Master Duan, for your information... But I must stand up for this."
"You can't fall for this short-term loss, Master Liao! If it really cos down to it, just moving is an option," Duan Pei advised repeatedly:
"Old Pang started off running a brothel; his cunningness surpasses even Sun Haoran. There's no telling how many tricks he has up his sleeve. You might as well step back for now and seek revenge when your cultivation has improved."
At that mont, Lu Yao suddenly chid in, "Right, Sister, what Hall Master Duan said makes sense. You're still young, there's no need to rush."
After he spoke, he winked subtly.
With her head bowed, Liao Ya said in a low, muffled voice, "Fine then. I'll endure it."
Duan Pei replied with relief, "That's very wise. If you need a place to go, you're welco to stay at Thunderclap Martial Arts Hall temporarily. I take my leave!"
~~~~~~~
After seeing off the well-aning hall master, Liao Ya asked in confusion, "Junior brother, what's your plan?"
Lu Yao, excitedly taking out the Barrett, said, "That old sly turtle dares to play dirty. Sister, you just watch this ti! Let blow him away!"
Liao Ya had never seen the power of the Barrett, and she frowned slightly, "Marrow-Cleansing Realm martial artists are agile and robust, they can withstand bullets without needing to cultivate hard techniques. Are you sure you can do it?"
"Absolutely no problem! Plus, if I do it, we can turn this into an unsolved case, and no one will be able to trace it back to us."
Confident, Lu Yao escorted the sisters in an old-fashioned carriage, ostentatiously heading in the opposite direction of Pang's Martial Arts School, deliberately letting many people see them along the way.
The three arrived at a small hill, assembled the Barrett, and through a 12x sniper scope targeted Pang's Martial Arts School, 2 kiloters away.
With a clear, high vantage point, the two won, using military binoculars confiscated from a field team, also watched Pang's Martial Arts School, curious about how Lu Yao would handle things.
Lu Yao's approach was simple—placing Master Pang in the crosshairs, he pulled the trigger.
With a muffled bang, the silenced barrel released a powerful jet of high-pressure gas, and a .50 caliber bullet shot forth.
Master Pang in the scope, instantaneously lost an arm!
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