Before the words were finished, a group of martial artists dressed in different clothes but with the same imposing presence strode over from a distance. Their figures were as steady as mountains, and their steps carried an undeniable power and determination.
Leading the group was an elderly man with a flowing mustache and sharp, eagle-like eyes. He held an old-fashioned cane, weathered by time, and when he lightly touched the ground, it stirred up clearly visible, almost tangible ripples.
"Such a major event has occurred in Linhai City, how could we, the Ninth Elder of the Hongmen, be left out? Wu Tian's crimes are heinous, inciting public outrage in the martial arts world. How can we, as martial artists, stand idly by?"
The old man's voice was booming, each word powerful and clear, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
This man's name is Hong Jiu, known as Master Jiu. He is the king of the underworld in Linhai City, and his name is renowned throughout the region.
A hint of doubt flashed across Ma Rulong's brows, but he quickly masked it with a smile: "Master Hong, when did you become interested in these kinds of things?"
Although Hong Jiu was quite famous in Linhai City, the four major families looked down on him.
In their eyes, Hong Jiu was just a hoodlum, a crooked and evil person.
Hong Jiu, with a righteous air, said, "Although I am only a force in the underworld, I am devoted to the light of martial arts and have an unshirkable duty to uphold justice in Chinese martial arts."
After saying that, his gaze was like a knife, pointing directly at Wu Tian, chilling him to the bone: "Moreover, there are still a few blood debts between me and Wu Tian that need to be settled."
Before she could finish speaking, Jin Lingyun's clear, cold voice rang out, carrying an undeniable authority: "Hong Jiu, have you already forgotten my warning? Wu Tian is my fellow disciple. To be an enemy of him is to be an enemy of the Jin family."
Hong Jiu narrowed his eyes, glancing at Jin Lingyun, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "If it were just the Jin family fighting alone, I might be somewhat wary, but given the current situation, what can the Jin family do to me?"
He knew that once the Dragon-Capturing Hall intervened, even the Jin family of Rongzhou would find it difficult to resist.
Although he was the king of the underworld and had a very high reputation in the martial arts world, he was not recognized by the righteous people.
Today, by entering this game, I am taking advantage of the opportunity presented by the reshuffling of power in Linhai City to become one of the four major families in the area.
With his strength, no family could stop him; all he had to do was submit to the Dragon Capture Hall.
Jin Lingyun frowned, knowing full well that the situation forced her to act. The Jin family could not directly protect Wu Tian, and their previous words were merely to intimidate Hong Jiu.
Now that Hong Jiu had laid bare the truth, she could only sigh helplessly and respond coldly.
Then, she cast a firm look at Wu Tian: "Junior brother, don't be afraid. No matter what happens, your senior sister will stand with you."
Wu Tian nodded slightly, his smile revealing confidence and composure: "I appreciate Senior Sister's kindness. I can handle these worthless bastards all by myself."
As soon as these words were spoken, a storm arose around them, and it seemed that even the air was filled with an indomitable and proud spirit.
Wu Tian's voice, though soft, resonated like the striking of an ancient bell, echoing in the hearts of every martial artist and stirring up ripples.
He strode forward with a graceful posture, his eyes gleaming with an unprecedented brilliance—a testament to his unwavering inner conviction and an infinite yearning for the unknown journey ahead.
His gaze swept leisurely over the surrounding heroes, a faint yet firm smile appearing on his lips. "It seems everyone is here. That's good, saves me the trouble of settling scores with each of you one by one."
Zhu Zheng's expression turned cold, his voice frosty: "Wu Tian, Heaven has a benevolent heart. Considering your youth and impetuousness, I, the hall master, will give you a chance. As long as you kneel down and apologize, I can plead with the Kingdom of Wales on your behalf..."
"Haha!" Wu Tian laughed heartily, cutting off the other party's clichés. "You've been kneeling for too long and can't stand up anymore, yet you want me to be like you? What benefits has the United States given you that make you willingly serve as a lackey? What's the difference between such behavior and that of a traitor or a running dog?"
"How dare you!" Zhu Zheng roared, his voice shaking the surrounding area, and the air seemed to tremble.
He had intended to use this opportunity to intimidate others, but unexpectedly, Wu Tian turned the tables on him, causing him to lose face completely.
He took a deep breath, trying to regain his dignity: "I am the White Tiger Hall Master of the Dragon-Capturing Hall, how can I be the villain you speak of? I do this for the peace of the world, to save the people of China from the ravages of war. If your mistake causes a continuous war, have you ever thought about the devastation that would cause?"
Wu Tian's lips curled up slightly, revealing a hint of barely perceptible mockery. He said seriously, "A good punch now will save you from a hundred more. Even if you die, don't lose the unyielding spirit of the Chinese people. On the other hand, your obsequious attitude, isn't that that of a lackey?"
"Shut up!" Zhu Zheng roared in fury. "If you utter another word of disrespect, I will take your life!"
Seeing this, Wu Tian laughed even more heartily: "Oh, Zhu Tang has taken the initiative to get angry. If you want to make a move, just bring it on. Why bother with these high-sounding reasons? Wouldn't that just be inviting humiliation?"
He knew very well that the charges Zhu Zheng had leveled against him were nothing more than fabricated accusations; he could always find a pretext.
They just wanted to use the moral high ground to get rid of him.
Wu Tian's words were like the sharpest stars in the night sky, piercing the silence and leaving behind deep and obscure traces that struck the softest part of people's hearts.
Zhu Zheng's expression changed drastically, turning ashen with disbelief. He had never expected Wu Tian's words to be so sharp, like a poisoned arrow that caught him off guard.
He plotted how to get rid of Wu Tian as soon as possible, and tried to use morality as a shield to remain invincible. However, he never expected that this carefully arranged game would end up being an embarrassing failure.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails almost dug into his palms, but the intense anger and shame prevented him from retaliating. He could only glare at Wu Tian through gritted teeth.
"Very well, I, the master of this hall, will personally finish you off today!"
Zhu Zheng's words were squeezed out with difficulty from between his teeth, each word carrying the weight of an impending storm.
At this extremely tense moment, Ma Rulong timely interjected with a fawning laugh, "Master Zhu is magnanimous, why bother with such a petty person? If action is necessary, the Ma family is willing to lead the charge."
Before he could finish speaking, the Zhou family patriarch, not to be outdone, chimed in, "The Zhou family has an inescapable responsibility in this matter and is willing to share the burden and help Hall Master Zhu."
Ma Rulong chuckled, interrupting the Zhou family's eagerness: "Patriarch Zhou, there's no need to fight with us over such a trivial matter."
Just as the two were arguing, Hong Jiu intervened at the right time, resolving the deadlock with a calm smile: "Please calm down, patriarchs. It is more appropriate to entrust such an important task to me."
Upon hearing this, the two men's eyes sharpened, and they questioned in unison, "How is it your place to interfere in this matter?"
Hong Jiu's expression hardened, and he turned to look at Wu Tian, his face filled with righteous indignation: "This man harmed my four adopted sons, and this enmity is irreconcilable! I, Hong Jiu, am taking action not only to avenge my sons, but also to rid the martial world of this scourge. What do you two think?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zheng's eyes flashed with approval, and he said in a deep voice, "Good! Let Master Hong Jiu kill Wu Tian, firstly to avenge my son, and secondly to uphold justice."
Hong Jiu was overjoyed and immediately bowed, his tone firm: "Thank you for your trust, Hall Master Zhu. Hong Jiu will do his best to live up to your expectations."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
