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

Yingyuan Village Wharf.

It was already late afternoon, around 3 PM.

The lively Dragon King banquet has come to an end.

Hundreds of villagers were drowned in the river.

The rest were members of the Dragon King Gang, as well as the Canal Gang, Zhenwei Escort Agency, and the local government.

Liu Jiang, Mai Qiuyan, and Pang Tong helped to sink the body into the river, then stood on the riverbank with their brows furrowed.

The three of them were only teenagers and inexperienced in the ways of the world.

Seeing such a tragic scene for the first time today, I couldn't help but feel shocked and frightened.

Mai Qiuyan, in particular, was burdened with worries. "Before, I only knew that the Dragon King Gang was powerful, and our Canal Gang followed the Dragon King Gang to beg for food. I thought I had found a great backer. But I never expected the Dragon King Gang to act so decisively and ruthlessly. It's really frightening."

Liu Jiang and Pang Tong, being men, didn't think that much about it.

Liu Jiang said, "I think the Dragon King Gang's move is quite appropriate. In chaotic times, such swift and decisive measures are necessary to deter villains. Liu Yueshan is a ruthless and ambitious man. He will surely succeed in the future. Our Zhenwei Escort Agency relies on the Dragon King Gang for our livelihood; we've chosen the right path."

Pang Tong said, "Junior Brother Liu Jiang is right. Chaotic times produce heroes. Kind-hearted people don't amount to much. Junior Sister Mai, don't overthink it. Although the remnants of the Money Gang came to cause trouble today, the fact that such a powerful gang was wiped out by the Dragon King Gang... doesn't that just prove the Dragon King Gang's strength?"

With their comforting words, Mai Qiuyan finally calmed down and said, "Mm."

Liu Jiang suddenly said, "Hey. I saw Xie An and Li Shengnan patrolling the roadside some distance away earlier. I didn't see them at the Dragon King's Banquet, nor did I see their bodies. Could it be... they escaped?"

Mai Qiuyan looked around. "It's good that they ran away. At least they won't be drowned. After all, we're from the same sect."

Pang Tong suddenly said, "Junior sister, you've misunderstood. If they really escape, it will be our opportunity to gain merit."

Mai Qiuyan was momentarily stunned: "An opportunity?"

Pang Tong said, "If we tell the Dragon King Gang about this, we'll definitely get a reward. Didn't Xie An beat Wu Wei, whom my junior sister was sponsoring, so badly that he vomited blood? This is a good opportunity to get rid of Xie An and vent our anger."

Mai Qiuyan hesitated, "Wouldn't this... be inappropriate? What if the owner finds out..."

Liu Jiang said, "If you don't tell and I don't tell, who will know it was us who said it? This is a chance for the three of us to make a name for ourselves in the Dragon King Gang. We absolutely cannot miss it."

Pang Tong said, "Liu Jiang is right, this matter is settled then."

……

Xie An, Li Shengnan, and Liu Wei waited for a while in the side hall.

Wei Xiang rushed back.

Li Shengnan leaned closer: "Senior Brother, what did Second Senior Brother say?"

Wei Xiang smiled and said, "Shen Lie agreed to mediate. His father is the county magistrate of Baiyun County, so the Dragon King Gang won't dare to act recklessly."

Upon hearing this, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief.

Wei Xiang asked, "You came directly back from Yingyuan Village, haven't you gone to the River and Lake Management Office yet?"

Li Shengnan replied, "Yes."

"I'll take you to the River and Lake Management Office to explain the situation to Zhou Fu. If we can get Zhou Fu to mediate, things will be much easier."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

"We're all fellow disciples, there's no need for this."

The three followed Wei Xiang to the riverbank and explained the situation to Zhou Fu and his son Zhou Wu.

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

Zhou Fu slammed his fist on the table in anger. "No wonder more than ten auxiliary soldiers and four river soldiers died today. It turns out they were all drowned by the Dragon King Gang. It's a wonder the Dragon King Gang even claimed it was a water monster. If not..."

His gaze swept over Li Shengnan, Xie An, and Liu Wei, then he called out a name: "If it weren't for Xie An's quick thinking, I would still be in the dark. This Dragon King Gang is becoming increasingly rampant..."

After venting his anger, Zhou Fucai said, "Brother Wei, rest assured. Xie An and Li Shengnan are auxiliary soldiers under my command in the Hebo Garrison, so they are our own people. You set a time, and I will step in to mediate."

"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Lord Zhou." Wei Xiang stood up to say goodbye and left with Xie An and the other two.

It was already dusk when I walked out of the gate of the river and lake management office.

Xie An's panic subsided considerably.

Liu Wei hurried to Wei Xiang, knelt down and kowtowed: "Thank you for your protection, Senior Brother Wei Xiang. If you do not mind, I, Liu Wei, am willing to join Yong Sheng Martial Arts School. I am a martial artist at the Copper Tendon Realm, and I am seventeen years old this year."

Wei Xiang glanced at Liu Wei, "Let's talk about your matter after this storm has passed."

Liu Wei was very disappointed, but he still forced himself to thank him.

Just then, a handkerchief with a stone tied to it was thrown. It hit Xie An right at his feet and rolled twice.

Wei Xiang, Li Shengnan, and Liu Wei all noticed something was wrong and became alert.

Xie An bent down to pick up the handkerchief, untied the red ribbon, and found several words written in blood inside: "Pang Tong and Liu Jiang reported to the Dragon King's Gang that you and Li Shengnan escaped the Dragon King's Banquet. The Dragon King's Gang's second and third leaders are looking for you. Be careful!"

"Junior brother, what is this?"

Xie An unfolded the handkerchief to show the others.

Li Shengnan's face immediately turned cold. "Just as Junior Brother Xie An predicted. These two traitors. They'd even betray their own fellow disciples just to curry favor with the Dragon King Gang."

Wei Xiang returned the handkerchief to Xie An. "Keep this handkerchief for now. Since they sent the message secretly, it must be out of good intentions. Now that the Dragon King Gang's second and third leaders have joined the fight, let's hurry back to the martial arts school."

Xie An stuffed the handkerchief into his pocket, thinking to himself: This messenger is most likely Mai Qiuyan.

The three walked several hundred meters into the darkness, and as they passed a forest path, they were startled to see more than a dozen men with broadswords at their waists. Leading them was Liu Qing, the Swift Swordsman, with a long sword on his back, and Chen, the Abacus Chen, with a golden abacus at his waist.

"Xie An, Li Shengnan, Liu Wei... you three ran so fast! I've been looking for you for ages," Suanpan Chen said with a smile.

Clang!

Liu Qing drew his sword, which shone like autumn water and emitted a chilling gleam in the night.

"Everyone has drowned in the river, so there is absolutely no reason for you to live."

A chilling murderous aura permeated both sides of the road, and the air seemed to freeze.

"Hahaha."

Wei Xiang suddenly stepped forward. "You two are quite the show-offs. Killing villagers to silence them is one thing, but how dare you kill disciples of my Yong Sheng Martial Arts School?"

Clang.

Without anyone noticing, Wei Xiang found himself holding an iron chain.

Liu Qing's pupils contracted: "Iron Chain Across the River, you are Wei Xiang, Chen Lutang's eldest disciple."

Wei Xiang was not afraid at all. "I have long heard that the Second Master's Swift Sword is very skilled. Today is a good day to test my skills."

Liu Qing took a step closer to Chen, the abacus-wielding man, and said, "Two against one, you have no chance of winning."

"Then how about adding me?"

A cold voice came from behind again; it was Shen Lie, holding a long sword, who rode up on horseback.

Liu Qing frowned as he looked at the red longsword in Shen Lie's hand: "Shen Lie, the Fiery Sword! Does your martial arts school intend to fight with my Dragon King Gang over these two disciples?"

Shen Lie said in a sinister tone, "Let's fight then, do you think I'm afraid of you!"

Liu Qing fell silent, discussed the matter with Chen Lutang for a while, and said, "Very well. Since Chen Lutang's two personally trained disciples are both present, I can give you some face. Today, in front of everyone, the two of you will vouch for us. As long as Xie An, Liu Wei, and Li Shengnan keep quiet about what happened at the wharf, I will pretend that this never happened."

Wei Xiang hesitated, but after some deliberation, he was about to agree.

Just in time—

Da da da.

A heavy footstep echoed from the darkness in the distance, each step causing the ground to tremble. Although the person did not speak, everyone present felt immense pressure and turned to look.

A man dressed in a dark green robe walked slowly towards them.

"Why should I, the Yong Sheng Martial Arts School, need to explain my actions to others? Two low-level thugs from the Dragon King Gang dare to threaten our disciples? Who gave you the audacity?"

The visitor was none other than Chen Lutang.