As Chen Ku and his two companions stepped outside Medicine King Hall, they heard Kou Ming explaining the number of participants and important points for the upcoming small meeting.
"You’re telling me to be careful? Does that mean we’re going to fight?" Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel⦿fire.net
Upon hearing Kou Ming’s words, Chen Ku stood his ground and said, "Then, Senior Brother, Senior Sister, please wait a moment. I’ll go back and get my weapons."
In fact, his weapons were inside the Storage Bag in his waist pouch, but it was best not to reveal such an item if it wasn’t necessary. After all, the origins of this Storage Bag were sensitive. It was something his brother Chen Xin had brought from Yuan Country. Heaven knows if the patterns and style of this Storage Bag would draw the attention of some observant people, who might recognize where it came from, leading to unnecessary trouble.
"I actually forgot to remind Junior Brother Chen. Go ahead then, we’ll wait for you here," Kou Ming said with a warm smile.
He indeed had forgotten.
He practiced two Ultimate Skills. One was the ’Five Elements Qi Needle’ from Medicine King Hall, and the other was his family’s ’Iron Palm’. Of these Ultimate Skills, only the One Qi Divine Needle required a weapon to be wielded, while the Iron Palm relied purely on his physical palms. He had trained it to the Perfection Realm and could already withstand a sharp weapon with his bare hands. Furthermore, the Five Elements Qi Needle was secretive and compact and could usually be hidden inside a sleeve. As for the ’Medicine King’s Pursuit Fist’ practiced by Huo Xiaoxia, it also did not require any weapons. Only Chen Ku’s Furious Ape Mighty Staff and Black Tiger Butcher Knife needed specialized weapons.
Chen Ku turned around and went back into Medicine King Hall, but instead of retrieving weapons, he brought back some healing poultices, poison, and Rejuvenation Pills.
Eventually, he arrived at his Master Yang Luochen’s courtyard.
"Master, are you there?" Chen Ku called out.
Yang Shaoqi came out and said, "It seems Master went to the Shopkeeper’s place with Master Shang and a few other senior masters to discuss matters concerning this meeting of yours. Before he left, he told me that if you came by, I should pass on a message to you."
Chen Ku asked earnestly, "What message did Master leave for me?"
Yang Shaoqi mimicked Elder Yang’s tone, puffing out his cheeks and glaring as he said, "Tell your Junior Brother to act boldly! If anyone dares to cause trouble, take them down! It doesn’t matter if someone gets killed; just don’t disgrace my name!"
Chen Ku grew thoughtful upon hearing these words.
Yang Shaoqi asked, "By the way, what did you want to see Master about? Shall I relay a message to him later?"
Since Yang Shaoqi didn’t have his own courtyard outside Medicine King Hall, he lived with his Master.
Chen Ku coughed and asked, "It’s nothing much... just, if Master’s Water-Fire Dragon Head Staff isn’t in use today, could I borrow it for a bit?"
"What! You want to use the Water-Fire Dragon Head Staff!!" Yang Shaoqi exclaimed in shock. "Aren’t you afraid of being crushed by it?"
After saying this, he seemed to remember something and hurriedly added, "I know that you, Second Brother, have been able to lift the Dragon Head Staff for a long time now, but to actually wield it? That’s completely out of the question!"
After all, lifting a 12,000-jin staff and wielding a 12,000-jin staff are not the same thing.
"Never mind that, Senior Brother," Chen Ku said. "If I couldn’t wield it, I wouldn’t ask. Just tell me where Master’s staff is. I’ll get it myself, and you can inform him later."
Initially, Chen Ku hadn’t planned on borrowing the Dragon Head Staff. He had assumed he was just attending a small meeting—a simple gathering. However, Kou Ming’s words, coupled with what Chen Ku already knew of his character, gave him a growing suspicion that this ’small meeting’ was anything but trivial.
Kou Ming and Huo Xiaoxia saw Chen Ku emerge, carrying a long, staff-like weapon wrapped in yellow cloth on his back.
Huo Xiaoxia didn’t think much of it. Kou Ming also didn’t pay much attention at first, but when he glanced at it absently, a strange feeling struck him.
This staff’s size... it seems a chi longer than Junior Brother Chen’s Refined Iron Dragon Stick. It looks like... no, it couldn’t be!
Yet, after the initial shock, his blood began to boil with excitement. He suddenly felt an overwhelming confidence about today’s small meeting.
Although there had been only two light snowfalls this winter, the cold was more intense than in previous years.
Now it was noon. The sun hung high overhead.
Yet, the banks of the Dragon River were covered in solid ice, appearing to be about a foot thick. Beneath the ice layer, RUSHING, the waters of the Dragon River surged eastward, their passage creating a thunderous, rumbling sound.
When Kou Ming led Chen Ku and Huo Xiaoxia to the riverside, Chen Ku noticed seven people already waiting by the bank of the Dragon River ahead.
"Junior Brother Chen, Senior Brother Kou, Senior Sister Huo," from a distance, they saw Jiang Shaoyou laughing heartily as he hurried over to greet them, calling out, "You’ve finally arrived."
Chen Ku cupped his fist and said, "Senior Brother Jiang, how long have you been here?"
On the way, Kou Ming had informed him that eight factions would be participating in this meeting, including Tongwen House, so Jiang Shaoyou’s presence wasn’t surprising.
"Not too long. But of course, after hearing Senior Brother Kou’s message yesterday, I didn’t dare delay. Come, Junior Brother Chen, let me introduce you to my father."
As Jiang Shaoyou spoke, a smiling middle-aged man stepped forward from behind him. He wore a jade hairpin in his salt-and-pepper hair and was dressed in a scholar’s robe. Looking like a middle-aged Scholar, he exuded a learned air. He first greeted Kou Ming with a bow, "Young Shopkeeper Kou, you look even more distinguished than four years ago."
"Hall Master Jiang, you remain as distinguished as ever," Kou Ming replied, his smile as warm as a spring breeze.
Jiang Mohua then turned and bowed to Chen Ku and Huo Xiaoxia. "Junior Shopkeeper Chen, Young Shopkeeper Huo, Jiang pays his respects."