Chapter 45
Trouble 1 Wave
Duan Xuan was wondering who would come to see him, but before he even got close to the door, a strong smell of blood seeped into his nostrils through the crack in the door.
A disciple was guarding the gate, refusing to let the bloodstained figure in.
"Please wait a little longer. This is a martial arts school, and we cannot take in a homeless person."
Senior Brother Duan will be here soon, but I'm telling you beforehand, if he doesn't recognize you...
"I'll definitely break your leg... Senior Brother Duan!" Duan Xuan walked over, and only then did the disciple open the door.
The next moment, a familiar face came into Duan Xuan's view.
His eyes widened suddenly, and he caught the person who was about to fall: "Brother Zhao, it's you? What happened? Come in quickly!"
"Senior Brother Duan, he..."
Duan Xuan waved his hand: "Close the door quickly."
The disciple reacted quickly, glancing at the street several times through the crack in the door before slamming the door shut and bolting it shut.
Duan Xuan pulled Zhao Rui to a place where he could catch his breath, and then brought him a basin, a towel, and bandage medicine.
"Brother Liu, quickly go to the kitchen and get me two steamed buns."
"Okay, I understand!"
In just a few minutes, Duan Xuan bandaged Zhao Rui's wounds, wiped away the bloodstains on his body, and asked with utmost seriousness, "Brother Zhao, what happened?"
"Aren't you an official in the inner city? How come you have a knife wound?"
Zhao Rui, panting heavily, gulped down several mouthfuls of water and stuffed the steamed bun whole into his mouth.
If Duan Xuan hadn't pinched his mouth and spat out most of it, Zhao Rui would most likely have choked to death.
"Eat slowly, there's still plenty!"
After a moment, Zhao Rui finally regained some of his energy: "Chunmei... the Wang family is about to change."
"The Wang family has fallen from power? What does the Wang family's fall have to do with Chunmei? Where is she now?"
Duan Xuan remembered very clearly that Liu Chunmei worked as a maid in the Wang family.
The last time Liu Chunmei came, she brought the two of them some pastries that the young lady had given them as a reward. Duan Xuan couldn't bear to eat them and took them back to his mother.
In short, Zhou Fang said that the pastries were truly a delicacy, melting in the mouth, completely different from the coarse food that ordinary people ate.
We hadn't even been apart for a month, and this had already happened.
"This is a long story, it goes back more than two months..."
Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Zhao Rui explained the cause and effect of the events that had occurred.
It turns out that the Wang family had many small courtyards, each representing a different gatekeeper. To obtain different properties and power from the Wang family, one had to fight against each other.
Open and covert struggles are a cruel reality that every member of a large family must experience.
However, under normal circumstances, families are not allowed to use force to directly eliminate each other.
In this way, framing and using others to commit murder became the primary methods. The young lady Liu Chunmei served was the child of the fourth wife.
The discord between the fourth, third, and seventh wives has a long history. Half a year ago, in order to compete for the Wang family's business involving martial arts and blood-activating pills, the fourth wife meticulously plotted against the other two wives.
Finally, two months ago, both sides were driven to a dead end and gave up the struggle.
However, it was precisely for this reason that the third and seventh wives were angered. Both sides had been waiting for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to the fourth wife, until the martial arts examination began, which allowed them to seize the opportunity.
Because each wife has children, after reaching the level of Ming Jin or An Jin at a young age, they have to participate in competitions to win favor.
If one passes the imperial examination, the head of the Wang family will pay even more attention to them.
During this period, each child was naturally protected secretly by experts from various factions, and the martial artists of the four branches were all mobilized.
With the Wang family's steward and master absent from the mansion these days, the third and seventh branches of the family began to plot murder.
Liu Chunmei had a very good relationship with her young mistress, and under the arrangement of the madam, she left the Wang family overnight.
They originally planned to go to the Wang family in another county to avoid trouble, but unexpectedly, the Sanqi family had already arranged for people to block all the major traffic routes, so they couldn't escape even if they wanted to.
Left with no other option, Liu Chunmei turned to Zhao Rui. However, Zhao Rui and his wife's uncle were not powerful figures.
Although Zhao Rui has been working very hard these past few months and has been noticed by his superiors several times, resulting in slight promotions, he has not been able to achieve his goals.
However, the official rank was still too low. It involved disputes among powerful families. At best, the official would sweep them out of the house; at worst, the Wang family would imprison them in the deepest prison.
However, because the two were childhood friends, Zhao Rui still helped one or two people evade investigation in his personal capacity.
Zhao Rui had hoped to use his connections to help Liu Chunmei and her companion leave the city. However, this incident has now led to him being secretly hunted down.
On a whim, he ran to the Broken Mountain Martial Arts School.
Duan Xuan held Zhao Rui's hand tightly: "Brother Zhao, take good care of yourself. Leave Chunmei to me, I will definitely bring her back to you safely."
He then stood up and said, "Junior Brother Liu, I'll leave my elder brother in your care for the time being. Thank you for your trouble!"
Given Duan Xuan's personality, he would stay as far away as possible from the power struggles within large families.
But Zhao Rui and Liu Chunmei, or even Zhang Chen lying in bed, were all as close to him as family.
He didn't know how many people were on the other side, or how strong they were. But he knew very well that his fists had to do something.
Liu Tie patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, Senior Brother. I'll take care of Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Brother Zhang, and your brother as well. Just give me a few pointers when they come back!"
Duan Xuan didn't linger and quietly left through the back door of the Poshan Martial Arts School.
He first circled the Poshan Martial Arts School and, sure enough, discovered the person secretly watching him.
The secret agents of the third and seventh branches of the Wang family kept a close watch on the door of the Poshan Martial Arts School, while Duan Xuan observed his every move closely.
This squatting position lasted for an hour.
Duan Xuan finally got his chance.
Another henchman from the Wang family arrived, and the two sat down at the tea stall to exchange information.
"What happened? Have you found the Fourth Miss? She's just a little girl, where could she have run off to if she didn't leave the city?"
"I don't know. Others are going to catch him, so don't worry. I almost killed the person who helped him escape, but unfortunately he managed to get into the Broken Mountain Martial Arts School."
"What? They escaped into a martial arts gym? What are we waiting for then?"
"I don't believe he'll hide in the martial arts school his whole life. You keep a close watch on this place, and I'll pass the message on to the master."
Currently, the main force of Poshan Martial Arts School has all gone to participate in the martial arts examination, leaving behind only some second-rate disciples and errand boys.
"If you don't hand it over, we'll storm in and capture that person. Afterwards, our master will cover for us."
"Okay. Hey? Where are you going?"
"Didn't you see? The kid I caught up with ran out the front door, quick, after him!"
It turned out that just as the two had exchanged places, the person who had been staring intently at the entrance of the Poshan Martial Arts School...
They saw a person, severely injured and with blood soaking through their clothes, running quickly in another direction. As the two gave chase, the person had already turned into an old alleyway leading to the residential area.
Both were Ming Jin martial artists, and they chased each other at an extremely fast speed, entering the alley one after the other.
"Huh? I clearly saw him run in, where did he go?"
"I saw that guy covered in blood just now. He must have gone further in. Quick, chase after him! If you catch him, the master will reward you handsomely!"
The servants kept by large families included honored guests and confidants and servants.
Clearly, the two were servants secretly kept by the third and seventh wives of the Wang family, and they were extremely loyal.
However, the two walked to the end of the alley without seeing anyone else.
I was just about to peek over the wall to see if Zhao Rui had climbed over and escaped to the other side.
A fierce, iron-like claw appeared ahead of time, and with a single, swift strike, it shattered the eyes of the thug who was trying to find someone by climbing the wall.
"Ah! I can't see anymore, he's hiding on this side of the wall!"
Another undercover agent was taken aback for a moment, and was about to jump onto the wall on his side.
But after he jumped up, he was dumbfounded.
Because there was someone below him staring intently at him.
Moreover, the person he was looking at had a cylinder strapped to their arm, precisely aimed at his forehead.
He was about to move.
Whoosh! The whistle arrow shot out sharply, instantly piercing the forehead of the man with both visible and hidden strength.
Duan Xuan took the money from the two spies and also took a waist tag with the words "Wang Family" written on it.
They dragged the two bodies into a deserted alley nearly a kilometer away from the Poshan Martial Arts School before stopping and leaving.
……
A disciple was guarding the gate, refusing to let the bloodstained figure in.
"Please wait a little longer. This is a martial arts school, and we cannot take in a homeless person."
Senior Brother Duan will be here soon, but I'm telling you beforehand, if he doesn't recognize you...
"I'll definitely break your leg... Senior Brother Duan!" Duan Xuan walked over, and only then did the disciple open the door.
The next moment, a familiar face came into Duan Xuan's view.
His eyes widened suddenly, and he caught the person who was about to fall: "Brother Zhao, it's you? What happened? Come in quickly!"
"Senior Brother Duan, he..."
Duan Xuan waved his hand: "Close the door quickly."
The disciple reacted quickly, glancing at the street several times through the crack in the door before slamming the door shut and bolting it shut.
Duan Xuan pulled Zhao Rui to a place where he could catch his breath, and then brought him a basin, a towel, and bandage medicine.
"Brother Liu, quickly go to the kitchen and get me two steamed buns."
"Okay, I understand!"
In just a few minutes, Duan Xuan bandaged Zhao Rui's wounds, wiped away the bloodstains on his body, and asked with utmost seriousness, "Brother Zhao, what happened?"
"Aren't you an official in the inner city? How come you have a knife wound?"
Zhao Rui, panting heavily, gulped down several mouthfuls of water and stuffed the steamed bun whole into his mouth.
If Duan Xuan hadn't pinched his mouth and spat out most of it, Zhao Rui would most likely have choked to death.
"Eat slowly, there's still plenty!"
After a moment, Zhao Rui finally regained some of his energy: "Chunmei... the Wang family is about to change."
"The Wang family has fallen from power? What does the Wang family's fall have to do with Chunmei? Where is she now?"
Duan Xuan remembered very clearly that Liu Chunmei worked as a maid in the Wang family.
The last time Liu Chunmei came, she brought the two of them some pastries that the young lady had given them as a reward. Duan Xuan couldn't bear to eat them and took them back to his mother.
In short, Zhou Fang said that the pastries were truly a delicacy, melting in the mouth, completely different from the coarse food that ordinary people ate.
We hadn't even been apart for a month, and this had already happened.
"This is a long story, it goes back more than two months..."
Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Zhao Rui explained the cause and effect of the events that had occurred.
It turns out that the Wang family had many small courtyards, each representing a different gatekeeper. To obtain different properties and power from the Wang family, one had to fight against each other.
Open and covert struggles are a cruel reality that every member of a large family must experience.
However, under normal circumstances, families are not allowed to use force to directly eliminate each other.
In this way, framing and using others to commit murder became the primary methods. The young lady Liu Chunmei served was the child of the fourth wife.
The discord between the fourth, third, and seventh wives has a long history. Half a year ago, in order to compete for the Wang family's business involving martial arts and blood-activating pills, the fourth wife meticulously plotted against the other two wives.
Finally, two months ago, both sides were driven to a dead end and gave up the struggle.
However, it was precisely for this reason that the third and seventh wives were angered. Both sides had been waiting for an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to the fourth wife, until the martial arts examination began, which allowed them to seize the opportunity.
Because each wife has children, after reaching the level of Ming Jin or An Jin at a young age, they have to participate in competitions to win favor.
If one passes the imperial examination, the head of the Wang family will pay even more attention to them.
During this period, each child was naturally protected secretly by experts from various factions, and the martial artists of the four branches were all mobilized.
With the Wang family's steward and master absent from the mansion these days, the third and seventh branches of the family began to plot murder.
Liu Chunmei had a very good relationship with her young mistress, and under the arrangement of the madam, she left the Wang family overnight.
They originally planned to go to the Wang family in another county to avoid trouble, but unexpectedly, the Sanqi family had already arranged for people to block all the major traffic routes, so they couldn't escape even if they wanted to.
Left with no other option, Liu Chunmei turned to Zhao Rui. However, Zhao Rui and his wife's uncle were not powerful figures.
Although Zhao Rui has been working very hard these past few months and has been noticed by his superiors several times, resulting in slight promotions, he has not been able to achieve his goals.
However, the official rank was still too low. It involved disputes among powerful families. At best, the official would sweep them out of the house; at worst, the Wang family would imprison them in the deepest prison.
However, because the two were childhood friends, Zhao Rui still helped one or two people evade investigation in his personal capacity.
Zhao Rui had hoped to use his connections to help Liu Chunmei and her companion leave the city. However, this incident has now led to him being secretly hunted down.
On a whim, he ran to the Broken Mountain Martial Arts School.
Duan Xuan held Zhao Rui's hand tightly: "Brother Zhao, take good care of yourself. Leave Chunmei to me, I will definitely bring her back to you safely."
He then stood up and said, "Junior Brother Liu, I'll leave my elder brother in your care for the time being. Thank you for your trouble!"
Given Duan Xuan's personality, he would stay as far away as possible from the power struggles within large families.
But Zhao Rui and Liu Chunmei, or even Zhang Chen lying in bed, were all as close to him as family.
He didn't know how many people were on the other side, or how strong they were. But he knew very well that his fists had to do something.
Liu Tie patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, Senior Brother. I'll take care of Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Brother Zhang, and your brother as well. Just give me a few pointers when they come back!"
Duan Xuan didn't linger and quietly left through the back door of the Poshan Martial Arts School.
He first circled the Poshan Martial Arts School and, sure enough, discovered the person secretly watching him.
The secret agents of the third and seventh branches of the Wang family kept a close watch on the door of the Poshan Martial Arts School, while Duan Xuan observed his every move closely.
This squatting position lasted for an hour.
Duan Xuan finally got his chance.
Another henchman from the Wang family arrived, and the two sat down at the tea stall to exchange information.
"What happened? Have you found the Fourth Miss? She's just a little girl, where could she have run off to if she didn't leave the city?"
"I don't know. Others are going to catch him, so don't worry. I almost killed the person who helped him escape, but unfortunately he managed to get into the Broken Mountain Martial Arts School."
"What? They escaped into a martial arts gym? What are we waiting for then?"
"I don't believe he'll hide in the martial arts school his whole life. You keep a close watch on this place, and I'll pass the message on to the master."
Currently, the main force of Poshan Martial Arts School has all gone to participate in the martial arts examination, leaving behind only some second-rate disciples and errand boys.
"If you don't hand it over, we'll storm in and capture that person. Afterwards, our master will cover for us."
"Okay. Hey? Where are you going?"
"Didn't you see? The kid I caught up with ran out the front door, quick, after him!"
It turned out that just as the two had exchanged places, the person who had been staring intently at the entrance of the Poshan Martial Arts School...
They saw a person, severely injured and with blood soaking through their clothes, running quickly in another direction. As the two gave chase, the person had already turned into an old alleyway leading to the residential area.
Both were Ming Jin martial artists, and they chased each other at an extremely fast speed, entering the alley one after the other.
"Huh? I clearly saw him run in, where did he go?"
"I saw that guy covered in blood just now. He must have gone further in. Quick, chase after him! If you catch him, the master will reward you handsomely!"
The servants kept by large families included honored guests and confidants and servants.
Clearly, the two were servants secretly kept by the third and seventh wives of the Wang family, and they were extremely loyal.
However, the two walked to the end of the alley without seeing anyone else.
I was just about to peek over the wall to see if Zhao Rui had climbed over and escaped to the other side.
A fierce, iron-like claw appeared ahead of time, and with a single, swift strike, it shattered the eyes of the thug who was trying to find someone by climbing the wall.
"Ah! I can't see anymore, he's hiding on this side of the wall!"
Another undercover agent was taken aback for a moment, and was about to jump onto the wall on his side.
But after he jumped up, he was dumbfounded.
Because there was someone below him staring intently at him.
Moreover, the person he was looking at had a cylinder strapped to their arm, precisely aimed at his forehead.
He was about to move.
Whoosh! The whistle arrow shot out sharply, instantly piercing the forehead of the man with both visible and hidden strength.
Duan Xuan took the money from the two spies and also took a waist tag with the words "Wang Family" written on it.
They dragged the two bodies into a deserted alley nearly a kilometer away from the Poshan Martial Arts School before stopping and leaving.
……