Chapter 8 – Facing Imminent Catastrophe

As Luo Changshou and the others left with anger in their heart, with a worried frown Ying Yu said, “Now that we have a fallout with Luo Changshou, the next step should be … ay!”

Kou Zhong gave him a kick under the table. Ying Yu immediately roused his spirit. Striving to assume an air of heroism, he continued, “Should be how are we going to gain the initiative by striking first?”

Tuli glibly said, “Tuan Jiang Pai, Chao Shui Bang, Hui Yi Bang, Yang Xing Hui, the two gangs, one society and one sect join together to become one faction. I wonder which side do the other two, Jing Shan Pai and Zhen Yang Bang, stand on?”

Lu Wuxia lithely moved her tender body to Ying Yu’s side. “They are terrified of the power of Yang Xing Hui’s growing expansion and of Ji Yinong’s martial art; they are angry at him, but do not dare to speak out. This time after Die went out, we wanted to ask them to support justice, but they all avoided it,” she spoke irately.

Kou Zhong said, “Although Da Longtou Yang Zhen is not here, but don’t they have anybody else in charge of Nanyang Bang? He can’t possibly watch Ji Yinong going on the rampage and do nothing?”

Ying Yu sighed and said, “The most famous martial art masters of Nanyang Bang are Meng Degong and Fan Naitang; but they went to Guanjun with Da Longtou. Da Longtou originally relied on Jia Shi to act on his behalf to be in charge, but Jia Shi was wounded, so now we are in a big mess. Ay! Oh!”

After secretly kicking him again, Kou Zhong asked, “You have so many gangs and sects governing Nanyang; how do you manage the city defense and financial matters?”

Lu Wuxia replied, “Finance is under Da Longtou’s control; for other works, each gang or sect takes turn in assuming the responsibility. For example, this month’s defense is the responsibility of Nanyang Bang, hence the reason Da Longtou did not feel at ease leaving for Guanjun.”

Tuli said to Kou Zhong, “We should go straight to Yang Xing Hui and get rid of Ji Yinong; this matter will be completely resolved.”

His countenance changed, Ying Yu said, “Absolutely not! Two gangs, one society, one sect altogether have more than twenty-thousand people. Moreover, massacring each other like this, definitely both sides will suffer. In the end, the one taking advantage will be Zhu Can, that old thief.”

Kou Zhong laughed and said, “Ying Xiongdi, don’t worry, Khan is just joking. Since this matter cannot be resolved with force, we must outsmart them and not giving them any advantage. Let’s divide the works; first, we must be in touch with Nanyang Bang, and then get a good grasp of the situation of the entire city, especially any activity of the hostile gang and sect to see if they are moving an army and sending a general. If my guess is correct, that fellow ‘Yunyu Shuang Xiu’ Pi Shouxuan is going to pay a visit really soon!”

Like flurries of snowflakes, intelligence was flying constantly into Tian Kui Pai dojo in the southern part of the city. As soon as Luo Changshou and the others left, they went straight to Yang Xing Hui to see Ji Yinong, so they knew that the enemy faction has begun mobilizing their troops, with their main force concentrated in Yang Xing Hui’s headquarters in the northern part of the city.

Jing Shan Pai and Zhen Yang Bang, who were temporarily taking a neutral stance, were also consolidating their troops in order to protect themselves. Needless to say, Nanyang Bang was in full alert to guard against the coalition force under Ji Yinong’s leadership’s sudden and violent attack.

The situation of the whole city was as tense as a taut bow, a situation where difficulty could happen any moment.

According to Kou Zhong’s estimate, Ji Yinong was, in fact, facing the same problem, that is, he also wanted to avoid having their strength suffering big injury, so much so that Zhu Can would have the opportunity to exploit this weakness. Otherwise, he might have already led his troops to attack Tian Kui Pai dojo.

Other than sending out spies all over the city, Tian Kui Pai also recalled their nearly two thousand disciples to guard their dojo, making a waiting-for-dawn-with-head-resting-on-the-spear [idiom: fully prepared and biding one’s time before the battle] oath to protect their school.

Inside the room where Lu Zhong was recuperating, Xu Ziling took off his palms from Lu Zhong’s back and stepped outside. Lu Wuxia stood up and came over to meet him and asked anxiously, “How’s Die’s condition?”

Xu Ziling smiled and replied, “Miss Lu, please don’t worry; his condition is actually better than we thought. Your esteemed father is already able to circulate his qi and regulate his breathing without any help. One more sichen or so, he should be completely recovered.”

Everybody heaved a sigh of relief; Lu Wuxia even shed tears of joy. She wanted to come inside, but Ying Yu gently reminded her not to disturb Lu Zhong circulating his energy.

Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling and Tuli withdrew to the rear courtyard. They sat down in the pavilion to discuss their plan.

Kou Zhong said, “Looks like Li Yuanji’s party has not entered the city; at least they have not contacted Huo Qiu yet. As for Yun Shuai, this Persian fellow comes and goes like the wind; nobody can keep an eye on him. Whether he is already in the city or not, only God knows.”

And then he told Xu Ziling what had just happened, as well as the tensed the-wind-and-the-rain-is-about-to-come situation in Nanyang.

Xu Ziling pondered a moment, and then asked, “What time is it now?”

Tuli calmly replied, “Very early, only the first watch of the night [7-9pm].”

In all his life, he has always been in the middle of the troops facing vicious battles; he grew up in the middle of struggles and internal strife, hence this kind of situation was nothing new to him, practically he did not think it as a big deal.

Xu Ziling said, “As long as the other side has not figured out our real identity, they are definitely going to lead their troops to attack tonight.”

Kou Zhong said, “We have different view: within the enemy ranks, there must be some who are unwilling to let this current situation to evolve into both-sides-suffer situation. Their eyes are on Lu Zhong only. According to Ying Yu, in three days, they are going to hold the second Longtou [boss] election. Inflicting heavy injury to Lu Zhong is just a killing-the-chicken-to-warn-the-monkey method to force Jing Shan Pai and Zhen Yang Bang to abandon the ‘Lying-down Moon Saber’ Yang Zhen and to elect Ji Yinong. In which case, even if Lu Zhong is still standing on Yang Zhen’s side, it will still be two against six, so that Ji Yinong will rise to Da Longtou position in a perfectly legitimate way, which far surpasses the stupid way of washing the city with blood.”

“So that’s how it is,” Xu Ziling obtained sudden understanding, “No wonder Lu Zhong was injured, but did not die. However, his, the Senior’s foundation was extremely profound, which is also the reason he became the thorn in Ji Yinong’s side. If he is able to walk on the street like lively dragon and animated tiger tomorrow, Ji Yinong’s prestige will suffer a serious blow.”

Kou Zhong said, “If the currently neutral two sects are supporting Yang Zhen, plus the Tian Kui Pai, it will be an even four-against-four situation. According to the previous agreement, Yang Zhen will then be able to hold his current position for another year, until they are holding the third election. In Nanyang, whoever control the taxation and public finance will have the greatest power. Other than Ji Yinong, who is harboring evil intentions, the rest of the people will eventually succumb.”

Greatly interested, Tuli said, “We should exercise our muscles and bones tonight. It Nanyang became our territory, Li Yuanji and his men could forget about leaving this place alive.”

Kou Zhong said, “About that, if we say it’s difficult, it is not difficult, but if we say it’s easy, it is not easy either. Ling Shao, do you have any good suggestion?”

Xu Ziling said, “If we can be ourselves, naturally it will be the perfect solution where we can kill two birds with one stone. But currently Nanyang is like a ball of fire. One thing goes wrong, the entire city will be burned into