Li Xian observed in secret and saw Zheng Xuezhang so fierce that he defeated Pang Long in just a few moves.
Instead, he felt secretly delighted and pondered:
"With Zheng Xuezhang causing such a ruckus, the conflict is magnified, making someone like me unimportant."
"I’m afraid he’s just like Xiang Zhuang dancing with swords, but his aim is to assassinate Peigong."
Li Xian analyzed the situation. If it were for revenge, why make such a big fuss, and why act under the cover of night?
Revenge is false; annexation is real.
"Who dares to be so brazen here?"
The maid Qiuyue came forward, glanced at Pang Long, and seeing his extreme embarrassment, she moved half a step aside, faced Zheng Xuezhang, and shouted, "Who are you to visit this way, seeking death?"
"Are you the Madam?" Zheng Xuezhang remained unfazed.
"Peevishly speaking," Qiuyue cursed angrily, "What nonsense. How could I be Madam? If you don’t want your dog eyes, then pluck them out!"
"How bold! I don’t care who you are, take this palm!"
Without another word, Zheng Xuezhang struck with his palm. Qiuyue hesitated, backing off several steps. As the maid of Madam who controlled access to the "Leisure Martial Pavilion," her martial arts mastery was very shallow.
Seeing the palm’s fierce momentum, she did not know how to evade, her face turned pale as the palm wind approached before the palm itself.
Just as the palm was about to crush Qiuyue’s head.
Suddenly, a flash of sword light, a bloody palm fell to the ground. Everyone looked closely, seeing the fierce Zheng Xuezhang already missing a palm.
Madam Wen Caitang, in white attire, emerged from the inner courtyard, though she was tens of yards away, it was unclear how she managed it.
She coldly said, "Who disturbs my peaceful sleep?"
Zheng Xuezhang’s hair stood on end, he rolled back several yards. The crowd parted a path, and the owner of the villa walked slowly.
"Such a fast sword!"
"When did this..."
Zheng Xuezhang sweated coldly, feeling extremely doubtful.
At this point, the pain from his severed hand gradually came rushing back. He suppressed the pain forcefully, clenched his left hand, with nails digging into the flesh, using another kind of pain to distract himself.
"Is this the real Madam?" Zheng Xuezhang forced a smile.
"Who are you?" Wen Caitang’s beautiful eyes skimmed over the chaos but her expression remained unchanged.
"Report to Madam." Pang Long struggled to stand, supporting his broken hand, and said, "This person is Zheng Xuezhang from the Black Water Gang, afraid he intends to swallow us up."
Upon hearing this, Wen Caitang glanced over, Zheng Xuezhang’s blood vessels bulged, he felt his whole body trembling, instinctively sensing fear.
He immediately drew a knife with his left hand, but the Madam flicked a leaf, sending it swiftly to sever two fingers cleanly.
Zheng Xuezhang was extremely terrified, knowing undoubtedly he had hit an iron plate today, and tried to escape using lightweight skill.
Yet he saw the Madam wave her sleeve, immense pressure enveloped.
Zheng Xuezhang’s Qi operation slowed, unable to use lightweight skill, he was stunned.
Wen Caitang spun her palm, pushing lightly through the air, a wave of palm wind surged out.
The wind was silent but wherever it passed, the snow on the ground melted into mist, extending all the way until it struck Zheng Xuezhang.
In an instant, Zheng Xuezhang was swept away, vomiting blood several times midair, his skin blistered as if scalded.
Utterly miserable.
Zheng Xuezhang had seven sons. The seventh son studied while the first six studied martial arts. Seeing his father in great danger, the fourth son who practiced whip technique immediately swung at the air.
He entangled Zheng Xuezhang, pulled him to his side, and saw him unconscious, his breath weak. Shouting, "Retreat, drum the retreat, form the formation!"
Another swiftly drummed, the sound thunderous, while Black Water Gang members formed formations, although it was night, they were neatly aligned. They fled along the road in a messy retreat.
"Madam, I will go and slaughter them!"
Pang Long knelt on one knee.
"No need." Madam Wen said, "They’ve set up formation, you cannot deal with them."
Black Water Gang specialized in water warfare, slightly weaker on land. Yet with large numbers, once forming ranks, they’re quite troublesome.
Even extraordinary martial artists faced with such formations would find it tricky.
"Madam..." Pang Long knelt on one knee, his right hand having fractured, immobilizing him, could only make courtesy with his left, and said:
"Pang Long... Pang Long... dared to ask, why not kill this villain, leaving... leaving future trouble?"
Madam Wen gently said, "Get up." With a flick of her sleeve, Pang Long was lifted by an invisible force. She replied, "The little Black Water Gang, how could it be considered future trouble? I left his life deliberately. Jianghu factions constantly swallow each other, never-ending struggles."
"He dies today; another will take over tomorrow. Being neighboring factions, arguing will only disturb my peace."
"I spared him, showing him my power so he dares not come again."
"With today’s losses, we will seek him for settlement later."
Pang Long felt a sudden chill, unsure of its origin, only feeling subtly uneasy.
"Madam’s thoughts, indeed beyond my understanding." Pang Long bitterly smiled.
"Pang Long, account for the dead and injured, and you handle the compensation issues."
"Moreover, investigate why this person visited."
Madam Wen left these words and drifted away.
...
Li Xian, who witnessed everything clandestinely, had his own calculations.
Madam is by no means a benevolent person, but quite advantageous.
Clear rewards and punishments are a type of advantage.
Calculating benefit is also a kind of advantage.
Disregarding human life is even more a kind of advantage.
"Madam is a selfish and advantage-seeking person." Li Xian feels he’s glimpsed a corner of Madam’s nature.
"Being beaten up, her face naturally suffers damage."
"But..."
"The Black Water Gang is not like Li Haitang, even unclear about Madam’s identity."
"In Madam’s view, they could well be clowns performing, not harming her reputation."
"Madam’s face is simply not involved here."
"If reputation loss was counted, Zheng Xuezhang’s lives would not be enough for compensation."
Li Xian sighed, lamenting not seeing Zheng Xuezhang perish here, sincerely regrettable.
...
No rest tonight, many in the Nursing Home return to their rooms to rest. When everyone sees Li Xian, there’s an unusual look in their eyes.
Amid unrest.
They vaguely heard the name "Li Xian."
Perhaps it concerns Li Xian.
The next day.
Because Pang Long was injured, the Nursing Home’s morning training was led by Hua Hanying. Everyone ran around the village, exercising body and blood.
[Skill Level +1]
[Skill Level +1]
Li Xian trained as usual, his Body Lake surged, after an hour when feeling tired, he wiped sweat and went seeking Pang Long.
Pang Long’s large courtyard was empty, he was absent, presumably went to the Black Water Gang for compensation.
"This matter arose due to me."
"Though Zheng Xuezhang was repelled, this matter is probably not over yet."
Li Xian’s keen intuition sensed a hint of unusual atmosphere.
Thus another day passed.
Pang Long proactively sought out Li Xian, looking serious.
Li Xian said, "Commander Pang, what’s the matter, speak directly."
"Come, let’s drink, and talk while drinking." Pang Long murmured, pulling Li Xian back to the courtyard, brought out several jars of good wine.
He patted a jar and said, "I haven’t had a drink in a long time."
"Wine, this thing, disperses Qi-blood. Sometimes it’s very good, other times very bad. We are like clay embryos, as Qi-blood disperses, look, doesn’t the lost become more?"
Li Xian smiled, "Makes sense, wine disperses Qi-blood, but also expresses character. Though clay embryo, yet has a flesh heart, want to drink, then drink, that’s the joy."
"Well said!" Pang Long poured with his left hand, the two clinked a cup and drank in one go.
Pang Long grimaced, not having drunk for a long time, couldn’t stand the strength of the wine. After a moment, he said, "The matter with Zheng Xuezhang, Madam already knows."