I'll write a manual called the Sunflower Manual, and the entire martial arts world will turn in

After watching Li Shengnan leave, Xie An practiced the Tiger-Taming Form of Bajiquan alone in the martial arts arena of the central courtyard.

According to Zhan Ping, once the Tiger-Taming Stance is mastered, one can begin attempting the Three Gates Bone Training.

Xie An has only just begun practicing, so he is not in a hurry and is practicing step by step.

As dusk approached, the panel showed signs of activity.

【八极拳（撑锤：100/100）、（降龙：100/100）、（伏虎式：1/100）】

This is merely the manifestation progress of the cheat code; it has no other effects.

Although progress was slow, I've gotten the hang of it.

"Xie An, you've broken through to the Copper Tendon Realm?"

Lin Chong walked over at this moment.

Xie An didn't hide anything, "I just broke through."

Lin Chong gave a thumbs up: "Although I'm a little slower than Wu Wei and Ma Tie, I'm already doing very well. I still have a long way to go."

"Training your tendons isn't difficult. Don't rush it. Just keep working hard, and you'll break through sooner or later."

Lin Chong muttered, "You don't find it difficult now that you've broken through, but I think it's still quite difficult. I was about to give up, but my dad's attitude is much better now that he saw I've successfully trained my skin. He hopes I can go back and help manage the brothel business. But seeing that you've already succeeded, I'll try my best again."

Xie An: "..."

After chatting for a few minutes, Lin Chong went to the courtyard to practice the Dragon Subduing Style. A short while later, Zhang Long came over and congratulated Xie An. He patted Xie An on the shoulder, saying, "I only started practicing my tendon-strengthening exercises a few days earlier than you. If you work harder, you might catch up with me."

Perhaps those three words could be removed... This thought crossed Xie An's mind.

Soon, news of Xie An's successful tendon training spread.

Wu Wei cast an unfriendly glance, which was also tinged with malice.

If Xie An hadn't beaten him so badly he vomited blood, he wouldn't have been snubbed by Mai Qiuyan. Although Mai Qiuyan still provided the necessary resources, she was nowhere near as enthusiastic as before. This cast a shadow over Wu Wei's originally bright future…

As for Ma Tie, he didn't say anything.

Wei Dian, on the other hand, stared at Xie An from afar with an unfriendly look in his eyes.

Xie An ignored him and went to the backyard to fetch Xie Yu after dusk.

Upon learning that Xie An had broken through to the Copper Tendon Realm, Xie Yu was overjoyed. He went to the butcher shop and bought two catties of meat, as well as an old hen to take back to Xie An to make soup.

With the help of Zhan Ping, a wealthy man, who solved Xie An's biggest expense in breaking through the pass, Xie An is now quite well-off. He has saved sixty taels of silver.

The brother and sister walked side by side in the red-light district under the moonlight.

"Brother Zhao Hu has been away on a delivery mission for over a month, and there's still no news. I heard that Uncle Zhao and Aunt Huilan went to Zhenwei Escort Agency to inquire, and the agency said... none of the escort team members have returned yet. Uncle Zhao and Aunt Huilan must be extremely worried."

Xie An pondered for a moment: "After the River God Festival tomorrow, I'll go and ask Liu Jiang."

"Um."

As Xie An approached the Ink Fragrance Bookstore, he abruptly stopped in his tracks.

A large group of Dragon King Gang members appeared ahead, going door-to-door to inform residents about collecting next month's incense money. Some were even trying to collect interest.

Normally, only five or six members of the gang are responsible for collecting incense money. Today, however, a large group of more than a dozen people have appeared. The leader is a short, stout man dressed in a wealthy man's robe, with a small abacus hanging from his waist. Although this fat man smiles like Maitreya Buddha, the shop assistants around him are all terrified of him, calling him "Third Master" or "Master Chen."

Three-man head?

Master Chen?

Could this fat man be Chen, the third leader of the Dragon King Gang?

After three groups of gang members who collected incense money died in succession, the third leader of the Dragon King Gang personally intervened.

The drastic changes made Xie An uneasy.

I'm thinking I should ask Senior Sister Li about Chen's abilities later.

Xie Yu clearly noticed the change as well, and tugged at Xie An's sleeve, "Brother. The Dragon King Gang's entourage is quite grand..."

"Don't be afraid, we didn't do anything. We'll just go back."

Upon arriving at the bookstore, Xie An took out his key and prepared to open the door.

A smiling voice came from behind, "So it's the young master of the Xie family. I heard you've been practicing martial arts at Yong Sheng Martial Arts School recently, and you're also holding a position at the River Police Station. You're quite promising for your age in the red-light district."

Xie An turned around and saw Chen, the abacus-wielding man, approaching with a harmless smile.

Xie An, acting as if nothing was wrong, smiled ingratiatingly: "Greetings, Master Chen. What are your orders, Master Chen?"

"It's not really an order," Chen the Abacus said with a smile. "It's just that everyone in town is trying to make a living. My Dragon King Gang has lost more than a dozen members. Their bodies are nowhere to be found, so I'm just going door to door to ask around."

Xie An said, "Tongshan, who came to collect incense money before, was kind-hearted and waived my incense money. If Master Chen feels that Tongshan's actions are inappropriate, I can make up the difference."

Chen, the abacus master, quickly stopped, saying, "That's not necessary. I don't need these few coins. Besides, you've become a formal disciple of Yong Sheng Martial Arts School, so I still have to give you face. If you discover the whereabouts of the copper mountain, young master, just send someone to Huichunlou to inform them."

"That's natural."

After seeing Chen off, Xie An entered the courtyard, closed the door, and his eyes gradually darkened.

He keenly sensed that Chen was also beginning to doubt him.

Without him.

In the past two months, everyone in the red-light district has been having a worse time, except for me, who has been doing better and better.

This alone would arouse suspicion.

Although Suanpan Chen had no evidence, Xie An felt that Suanpan Chen was far more terrifying than Tongshan. Being targeted by such a vicious wolf was never a pleasant experience.

This scheme can't be kept by Chen.

I'll find someone to check out his capabilities first.

……

The next morning.

Xie An arrived at the river and lake post early to report.

Having been on temporary assignment at the River and Lake Management Office for so long, this was the first time Xie An had ever witnessed such a grand occasion.

All the river soldiers and their assigned auxiliary soldiers arrived and assembled in the courtyard of the front hall.

Even Zhou Fu, the patrol inspector, personally took charge of arranging patrol duties.

"Today is the annual River God Festival in Wuqiao Town. Our Wuqiao Town is located by the Grand Canal and the Huai River, so we live off the land and water. The Huai River supports our town of 30,000 people. We're all blessed by the Dragon King. The Dragon King Gang also occupied this place by worshipping the Dragon King. This River God Festival cannot afford to go wrong in the slightest..."

"Today's River God Festival will be held at the wharf in Yingyuan Village. Everyone must ensure order within a three-mile radius of the wharf..."

All the river soldiers and auxiliary soldiers were deployed around Yingyuan Village to maintain order.

When Xie An arrived at Yingyuan Village wharf with Li Shengnan and Liu Wei, it was already early morning. The entire wharf was already bustling with activity. The fishermen had been driven outside, and hundreds of members of the Dragon King Gang had gathered at the wharf.

A sacrificial altar was erected near the Huai River at the wharf, with a ten-meter-tall statue of the Dragon King standing on it. An altar table and offerings were also set up. A ceremonial procession of shamans performed around the area, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

The Dragon King Gang was powerful, sending over a hundred members to maintain order, so the River and Lake Management Bureau had absolutely nothing to do with it. They were merely running errands and making a statement.

Moreover, Xie An and other outsiders were not allowed to approach the altar; they could only watch from a distance at the dock.

Liu Wei sat by the roadside, munching on sunflower seeds. He casually tossed a handful to Xie An, "Want some?"

Bored, Xie An joined the group of people eating sunflower seeds. "Senior Sister Li, it looks like there's nothing for us to do. How about we eat some sunflower seeds to pass the time?"

Li Shengnan sat down, munching on sunflower seeds, her eyes constantly scanning both sides of the dock. "Although it's none of our business, today's a big day, so it's best not to cause any trouble. Oh, and the Dragon King Gang's leader will be here soon too."

Xie An was taken aback. "Didn't the leader get cursed during his fight with the Money Gang and haven't recovered? They even said their second-in-command hired a shaman from the Yin Sect to exorcise the evil spirits..."

Li Shengnan said, "It's because Dabatou is possessed by an evil spirit that he's come here to kneel and beg the Dragon King for protection. Maybe the Dragon King will grant his wish and the possession will be cured."

Liu Wei added, "It's strange, really. Liu Yueshan, the leader of the Dragon King Gang, is a master of the Dark Force, just one step away from the Transformation Force. When he first came to settle in Wuqiao Town, he single-handedly challenged several martial arts schools, beating the owners to the ground. Even the head镖师 (chief镖师) of Zhenwei Escort Agency, the leader of the Canal Gang, and Pang Hu, the head constable of the local government, were all defeated. How could such a powerful person have fallen victim to the Golden Money Gang's evil magic?"

This was the first time Xie An had heard of the Dragon King Gang leader's glorious deeds, and he couldn't help but feel a bit curious: "Even our Master Chen was defeated by Liu Yueshan?"

Because Xie An's secret weapon was finding talented individuals to serve as his servants, he paid great attention to powerful figures in the martial arts world.

Li Shengnan shook her head: "No, that's not true. Although Liu Yueshan defeated all the masters in Wuqiao Town, he was only somewhat afraid of Master Chen from Cangzhou. He challenged him in private, and apart from the master's wife and senior brother Wei Xiang, no one knew the outcome. But since then, the Dragon King Gang has shown great respect for Yongsheng Martial Arts School and dared not provoke them easily."

Xie An understood.

Liu Yueshan most likely lost to Chen Lutang, but probably by a small margin, otherwise he wouldn't have dared to act so arrogantly in Wuqiao Town.

Liu Wei then added, "In the beginning, the Dragon King Gang wasn't called that; it was called Yue Shan Men. Later, for some reason, it changed its name to the Dragon King Gang. They also enthusiastically presided over the annual River God Festival."

Xie An's heart sank.

Could it be that there really is a Dragon King in the Huai River?

Otherwise, why would Liu Yueshan change the gang's name halfway through?

You must understand that people in the martial arts world value their reputation above all else—their personal reputation and the reputation of their gang. They would never change their name unless there was an extremely high benefit involved.

Just then, Li Shengnan exclaimed, "Look! The Dragon King Gang's eight-bearer sedan chair is here. Inside sits Liu Yueshan, the gang leader!"