Shooting the Eagle: Starting from Iron Palm Peak

It took Lin Qi three days to return from Peach Blossom Spring to Iron Palm Peak.

He went with two people, but returned alone. The mountain path was still the same mountain path, the official road was still the same official road, but riding on horseback, he felt something was missing from his chest. It wasn't an emptiness, but a heavy feeling, as if someone had entrusted him with something.

Ci'en stayed in the bamboo forest to chant scriptures and meditate, while he practiced his skills on the road.

Every evening before finding lodging, he would find an open space and practice the first five forms of Iron Palm Kung Fu, then demonstrate a few moves of the newly learned last eight forms. The moves of the last eight forms differed from the first five; the first five forms focused on subtle variations, while the last eight were characterized by their powerful and robust style. With each strike, the palm wind whistled, whipping up fallen leaves that shattered into dust in the air.

Of the thirteen ultimate moves, he only dared to practice the first five—"Putting Heart to Heart," "Bone-Splitting and Tendon-Severing," "Soul-Chasing and Death-Taking," "Stone-Splitting and Stone-Shattering," and "Heart-Shattering and Intestine-Breaking." The last eight moves were too ruthless; he feared he wouldn't be able to control them properly and injure himself. As for the last move, "Yin and Yang Return to One," he didn't even touch it. Ci'en was right; that move was beyond his current ability to master.

On the afternoon of the third day, Iron Palm Peak came into view.

The mountain gate was still the same, the three characters "Iron Palm Gang" on the blue stone archway gleaming white in the sunlight. The two disciples guarding the gate were unfamiliar faces. When they saw Lin Qi, they were stunned for a moment, and then quickly bowed.

"Senior Brother Lin."

Lin Qi nodded, dismounted, handed the reins to them, and strode up the mountain.

He went to see Zhou Mingyuan first.

Zhou Mingyuan was doing accounts in the main hall of the Criminal Law Department when he saw Lin Qi come in. He put down his brush and looked Lin Qi up and down.

"You're back? Where's the gang leader?"

"The gang leader is away cultivating and won't be back for a while." Lin Qi took out Ci En's handwritten letter from his pocket and handed it over. "This is the gang leader's letter."

Zhou Mingyuan took the letter, opened it, and read it. His expression changed from calm to solemn, then from solemn to complex. After reading it, he placed the letter on the table and remained silent for a long time.

"Did the gang leader pass the position to you?"

"Yes."

Zhou Mingyuan looked at Lin Qi with scrutiny, hesitation, and a complex mix of emotions. Just a few months ago, this young man was a third-generation disciple who had been dragged out and executed; now, he held the gang leader's personal letter and the Iron Palm Token, ready to take over as the Iron Palm Gang leader.

"I recognize the gang leader's handwriting, and the seal is genuine." Zhou Mingyuan returned the letter to Lin Qi. "What do you plan to do about this?"

"First, we'll have the three chief judges review it, then we'll summon the gang leaders and announce it publicly," Lin Qi said. "Although the gang leader isn't here, the Iron Palm Order and the handwritten letter are still here, so it's perfectly legitimate."

Zhou Mingyuan nodded and didn't say anything more.

Lin Qi went to see Qian Sihai and Mei Ruolan again. After reading the letter, Qian Sihai's smile was even wider than usual, and he kept saying "Congratulations, congratulations." Mei Ruolan just nodded and said, "I know."

The three officials' attitudes were roughly as he had expected. Zhou Mingyuan was a conservative; as long as it was legitimate, he wouldn't object. Qian Sihai was a smiling tiger; he wouldn't offend whoever became the gang leader. Mei Ruolan was a pragmatist; as long as the gang's affairs could run smoothly, she didn't care who sat in that chair.

The real trouble lies with Han Duanyue.

Lin Qi didn't rush to find Han Duanyue. He returned to the side courtyard, put his things down, and sat down to think through everything he needed to do after returning to the gang.

Han Duanyue had been operating within the Iron Palm Clan for over a decade, commanding a group of trusted disciples and controlling the daily affairs of the Iron Palm Hall. Although nominally the deputy leader of the Iron Palm Hall, he was effectively the sole henchman of everyone in the hall. While Qiu Qianren was around, he dared not act recklessly; now that Qiu Qianren was gone, how would he react?

Lin Qi didn't know. But he knew that Han Duanyue would never willingly accept someone who was a third-generation disciple just a few months ago riding on his head.

The next day, Zhou Mingyuan summoned all the gang leaders to a meeting in the council hall.

The main hall was still the same, with its bluestone floor and bright torchlight. Lin Qi stood in the center of the hall, looking at the people seated on both sides—the leaders or representatives of the Iron Palm Hall, the Criminal Law Department, the Foreign Affairs Department, the Internal Affairs Department, the Five Altars, and the core disciples of the gang. Months ago, he knelt here awaiting death; today, he stood here, announcing his succession as the gang leader.

Zhou Mingyuan spoke first, reading Qiu Qianren's handwritten letter aloud. The letter was simple—Qiu Qianren, due to the needs of his cultivation, was unable to continue serving as the gang leader, and therefore passed the position to his personal disciple Lin Qi. The Iron Palm Token served as proof, and all members of the gang must obey Lin Qi's orders and must not disobey.

After reading the letter, Zhou Mingyuan passed it down for everyone to see.

The hall was quiet for a moment, then whispers broke out.

Lin Qi glanced at everyone's reactions. Zhou Mingyuan remained calm, Qian Sihai smiled, and Mei Ruolan was expressionless. Among the representatives of the five altars, Zhao Tieshan nodded slightly to him, while the other altar masters were either expressionless or remained silent with their heads down.

Han Duanyue sat in the Iron Palm Hall's seat, his face ashen.

He stared at Lin Qi for a long time, then suddenly spoke: "The leader's handwritten letter is genuine. But where is the leader now? Why isn't he passing on the leadership in person?"

Lin Qi looked at him, neither humble nor arrogant: "The leader is away cultivating and cannot receive guests. The letter and the Iron Palm Token are here. If you don't believe me, you can verify them yourself."

Han Duanyue snorted coldly: "It's not that I don't believe it. I just think that such a big matter as the succession of the gang leader should be explained clearly in public. Now that the gang leader is not here, it's too frivolous for you to claim to be the gang leader with just a letter and a token."

The whispers in the hall grew louder.

Zhou Mingyuan frowned, about to speak, when Lin Qi raised his hand to stop him.

"Does Vice Hall Master Han think this is child's play?" Lin Qi looked at him. "Then tell me, what should we do?"

Han Duanyue was taken aback when Lin Qi threw the question back at him. He paused for a moment, then said, "Let's talk about it when the gang leader comes back."

"I don't know when the gang leader will return," Lin Qi said. "The gang leader wrote very clearly in his letter that from this day forward, I am the gang leader. Is Vice Hall Master Han disregarding the gang leader's letter, or his order?"

Han Duanyue's expression changed. Lin Qi's words were tricky—not acknowledging the letter meant not acknowledging Qiu Qianren, and not acknowledging the order meant not acknowledging the Iron Palm Clan's rules. No matter how he answered, he was in the wrong.

"I acknowledge the leader's letter and orders," Han Duanyue said through gritted teeth, "but I reserve my opinion."

"Okay." Lin Qi didn't press the matter. "Does anyone else have any objections?"

The hall fell silent. No one spoke again.

Lin Qi knew this didn't mean they were all submissive. Han Duan Yue had only temporarily backed down, and his men wouldn't change their stance because of a single letter. But what he needed wasn't their loyalty, but simply a legitimate right to command. With that right, he could legitimately issue orders, legitimately reorganize the gang, and legitimately sit in that chair.

"Since there are no objections, then it's settled," Lin Qi said. "All affairs within the gang will continue as before. The three divisions will each perform their duties, and the five altars will each guard their respective territories. From this day forward, I am the leader of the Iron Palm Gang."

He brandished his Iron Palm Token, and everyone in the hall clasped their fists in unison.

"Greetings, Chief."

The voices were uneven; some were loud, some were perfunctory, and some were filled with resentment. But regardless, they all shouted.

Lin Qi accepted the token and glanced at everyone.

"Let's call it a day."

The crowd gradually left the main hall. Han Duanyue was the last to leave, and as he reached the door, he turned back to look at Lin Qi. That look contained coldness, resentment, and something else that was hard to describe.

Lynch did not look away, but stared straight at him until he turned and left.

The main hall was empty.

Zhou Mingyuan was still standing to the side, looking at Lin Qi. After a moment of silence, he said, "Han Duanyue will not let this go."

"I know," Lin Qi said, "but he won't make a move for now. I just took over as gang leader. If he were to act now, it would be an open rebellion, and not many people in the gang would follow him. He's waiting, waiting for me to make a mistake, waiting for me to show a weakness."

"What are you planning to do?"

"I won't give him a chance," Lin Qi said. "I won't interfere too much in the gang's affairs for now. The Three Divisions will continue to manage things as they should. As for Han Duanyue, I won't provoke him, nor am I afraid of him. As long as I don't make any mistakes, he can't do anything to me."

Zhou Mingyuan nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

Lin Qi stood alone in the main hall, looking at the empty chairs and the bluestone floor. The torchlight flickered on his face, casting a long shadow.

He touched the Iron Palm Token and the handwritten booklet in his arms, silently thinking about what Ci'en had said when they parted.

He will no longer concern himself with the Iron Palm Clan's affairs. If anyone in the clan is dissatisfied, they will have to resolve it themselves.

Lin Qi took a deep breath and was about to walk out when he suddenly heard footsteps outside the hall, followed by a familiar voice.

"Oh my, Chief Lin, congratulations!"

Qiu Qianzhang walked in with a smile.

He wore a brocade robe, a white jade pendant hung at his waist, and held a folding fan in his hand, looking every bit like a wealthy old man. His face was all smiles, but his eyes were narrowed to slits, revealing nothing within.

Lin Qi's heart skipped a beat. Qiu Qianzhang was Qiu Qianren's elder brother, nominally the leader of the Iron Palm Hall in the gang, but in reality, he was just a figurehead. When Qiu Qianren was around, he didn't care about anything, spending his days eating, drinking, and having fun, and nobody took him seriously. But Lin Qi knew that this man was not simple. He had been able to stay in the Iron Palm Gang for so many years not because of his martial arts skills, but because of his brain—or rather, his cunning.

"Master Qiu." Lin Qi clasped his hands in greeting.

"What hall master or not," Qiu Qianzhang waved his hand, his smile becoming even more amiable, "You are the leader now. As for me, I'm just an idle person."

Lin Qi remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

Qiu Qianzhang waved his fan, paced around the hall for a couple of steps, then suddenly stopped and sighed.

"My brother, he just left like that, without even saying goodbye. The Iron Palm Gang is such a huge operation, handing it over to a young man like you, I don't know what he was thinking." He turned to look at Lin Qi, his gaze carrying a deeper meaning. "But since it's the gang leader's decision, of course I support it. It's just…"

"Just what?"

"It's just that some people might not be convinced." Qiu Qianzhang closed his fan. "You need to keep a close eye on Han Duanyue. He's been operating within the gang for over a decade and has quite a few men under his command. But he's just a martial artist; he can't cause any real trouble."

Lin Qi listened and felt that Qiu Qianzhang's words had a hidden meaning.

"What does Master Qiu mean?"

"What I mean is," Qiu Qianzhang smiled, "that if the Iron Palm Clan wants to establish itself in the martial arts world, martial arts alone are not enough. They need a powerful backer, money, and connections. Han Duanyue's methods are too outdated."

He walked up to Lin Qi and lowered his voice: "Chief Lin, have you thought about the future of the Iron Palm Clan?"

Lin Qi's heart skipped a beat. He vaguely guessed what Qiu Qianzhang wanted to say.

"What insightful opinion does Master Qiu have?"

"I wouldn't presume to offer such insightful opinion." Qiu Qianzhang fanned himself twice with his fan. "I just think that we could actually talk to the Jin Kingdom. Wanyan Honglie is a generous and respectful man. If the Iron Palm Clan could cooperate with him, money and connections wouldn't be a problem."

Lin Qi's heart sank. He should have realized this sooner—Qiu Qianzhang was the most steadfast supporter of the gold standard in the gang. After Qiu Qianren's attitude towards the gold standard changed, he didn't dare to say it openly. Now that Qiu Qianren was gone, he began to test the waters.

"Master Qiu," Lin Qi said calmly, looking at him, "the gang leader instructed before he left that the Iron Palm Gang would not get involved in the affairs of the Jin Kingdom."

"The gang leader is the gang leader, and you are you." Qiu Qianzhang smiled. "The gang leader has become a monk and no longer cares about affairs. You are the gang leader now, and you decide how things go."

Lin Qi remained silent. He knew Qiu Qianzhang was testing his attitude. If he hesitated, Qiu Qianzhang would take further steps; if he refused outright, Qiu Qianzhang would go find someone else.

"I appreciate Master Qiu's kindness," Lin Qi said, "but I have my own plans regarding the Iron Palm Clan. I'm not considering the Jin Kingdom for the time being."

Qiu Qianzhang's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes turned cold for a moment.

"Alright, alright, if I don't want to consider it, then I won't." He closed his fan, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said, "Chief Lin is young and promising, with a bright future. I, as an idle person, will not say any more."

He turned and walked out, but stopped abruptly at the door and glanced back at Lin Qi.

"Oh, right, Chief Lin, there's something I forgot to tell you." His voice was very soft, as if he were talking about something trivial. "Recently, the Jin Kingdom sent people here, saying they want to discuss some business. I've already arranged for them to stay at the foot of the mountain, and we're just waiting for your return to make a decision."

Lin Qi's heart skipped a beat. Qiu Qianzhang was making contact with the Jin people behind his back.

Where are they?

"At the inn at the foot of the mountain." Qiu Qianzhang smiled. "No rush, you should focus on your work first. We can meet again when you have time."

After he finished speaking, he walked away with a smile.

Lin Qi stood in the empty hall, watching Qiu Qianzhang disappear into the sunlight outside the door, and a chill ran through him.

Han Duanyue was an open enemy, at least he knew how the other party would make his moves. Qiu Qianzhang was different—this man was always smiling, always saying "I'm doing this for your own good," but you could never guess what he was thinking.

He was Qiu Qianren's elder brother, and that identity itself was a protective shield. Lin Qi couldn't touch him, nor dared to. To do so would be disrespectful to his elders, a betrayal of past friendships, and would alienate everyone in the gang.

But he can manipulate others. He can secretly collude with the Jin people, spread rumors within the gang, and win over those who are dissatisfied with Lynch.

Lin Qi took a deep breath and walked out of the main hall.

The sunlight outside was bright, shining on the bluestone steps, making them appear dazzlingly white. He squinted and walked towards the side courtyard.

From today onwards, he is the leader of the Iron Palm Gang.

But the real trouble has only just begun.