Bodhisattva, please help me in my spiritual practice!

Just as Ao Peng was comprehending the deity he had nurtured, a noisy sound of breaking down the gate came from outside the courtyard, startling the beautiful Hong Niang, who hid in Ao Peng's arms like a little quail.

Ao Peng stroked the matchmaker's arm and smiled, "Do you remember what you said when you came with me?"

The matchmaker nodded timidly, "I remember."

Ao Peng patted Hong Niang's arm and handed her the short knife he carried. "Just remember that. On this journey to the King of Hell, your life is in my hands. Don't let anyone else take it from you."

"Um."

The matchmaker put on a red bellyband, hid the dagger in front of her lower abdomen, and wore a padded jacket. Combined with her already plump figure, no one could tell anything was amiss for a moment.

After the matchmaker finished getting ready, Ao Peng also got dressed.

He led the matchmaker outside. By then, the courtyard was already packed with eight or nine people, all of them thugs from the Huaxing Society.

Chen Xiaodao had bruises on his face, his mouth was gagged, his hands were tied, and he was being restrained. He struggled and tried to say something, probably trying to inform Ao Peng, but he was caught.

The leader said, "Brother Ao, you've committed a crime. Fifth Master has opened the incense hall and wants to enforce the family rules. Come with us."

Several thugs secretly surrounded Ao Peng, afraid that he might slip through, but seeing that Ao Peng was not afraid at all and led his lover out, they were confused.

Ao Peng sneered, "When did our Huaxing Society become so diligent? How much incense and tribute did that guy surnamed Hong give to Fifth Master?"

This is a no-man's-land in Tianjin. Right now, the Beiyang government is embroiled in factional infighting and has no time to deal with the killings here.

Reporting this to the authorities is less effective than letting the local gangs handle it.

The saying "a local official is more powerful than a distant one" perfectly illustrates this point.

Ao Peng happened to be a member of the Huaxing Society. Logically speaking, after killing someone, the Huaxing Society's first thought should be how to protect their own members.

In just half a day, they've already arrested people and opened an incense hall.

The man surnamed Hong paid at least a thousand silver dollars to save Ao Peng's life.

The thug pretended to be confused, saying, "Brother Ao, you got into trouble yourself, so you can't blame anyone else."

Ao Peng chuckled, "Then give your brother some face, I'll go with you, and you don't need to hold me hostage."

The thugs exchanged glances, somewhat uncertain, fearing that Ao Peng might run away halfway.

The leader of the henchmen was named Yi Yuan, who was now the number one henchman of Huaxing Society. His Tongbei Fist had already reached the threshold of Dark Force, but it was precisely because he had already entered the martial arts world that he was unsure of Ao Peng's current strength.

He examined the wounds of the two dead men; both had been killed with a single blow, their bones broken, requiring at least Ming Jin strength.

Although there is a difference between internal strength and external strength, fists and feet are unpredictable. If you get hit or bumped, you will need to rest for several months, and you may even develop illnesses.

"Alright, as you say, brother."

Ao Peng walked in the middle, surrounded by a group of thugs. As soon as they stepped out the door, Ao Peng spotted Xu San lurking suspiciously by the wall.

Xu San also deserves credit for how quickly the Huaxing Society found him!

We'll settle this score later!

The Huaxing Society's headquarters was located in the most conspicuous place in Misty Alley. It was a large courtyard with four gates, which would have been considered excessive in the past. However, now that the emperor had been driven out of the Forbidden City, no one cared about it anymore.

At this moment, the courtyard was bustling with people, with at least several dozen people present.

An incense table was set up in the main hall, enshrining a colorful red-faced statue of Guan Yu. On either side of the table were long tables with instruments of torture on them.

Fifth Master of Huaxing Society sat in front of the main hall on a large carved rosewood chair. Although he was over forty years old, he was still tall and strong.

He held three iron balls in his hand, each too large for an adult to hold in one hand, yet they moved about in his hand with perfect ease.

To be able to open a temple in Tianjin today, one must naturally have martial arts skills. Although Fifth Master was a jack in his early years, he learned the basics of Eagle Claw Kung Fu and was already a master of internal strength more than ten years ago.

Leading Ao Peng into the main hall, Yi Yuan, who was in charge, breathed a sigh of relief, looking somewhat tired.

Despite Ao Peng's lack of resistance along the way, the group surrounding him didn't seem to be escorting him, but rather as if they were being suppressed by Ao Peng's aura while he was patrolling the streets.

The concept of "qi" is extremely mysterious; even ordinary people can sense it, and experts can sense it even more clearly.

Yi Yuan actually had a bad feeling, so after bringing Ao Peng into the hall, he shrank to one side and didn't say a word.

"It's him! It's him! Give me back my son's life!"

In the guest seat, a middle-aged man dressed in silk satin had red eyes; he was none other than the aggrieved party, Hong Shigui.

He clenched his fists, and if someone hadn't been there to stop him, he would have rushed to Ao Peng immediately.

"Silence! There are rules for this hall!"

The elder in charge of law enforcement gave a low shout, then stood up and said to Fifth Master, "Fifth Master, the offender Ao Peng has been brought here. Please give your orders."

Fifth Master glanced at Ao Peng, seeing that he was a promising young man, but thinking of the three thousand silver dollars that Hong Shigui had given him in the courtyard, he waved his hand and said, "Since he has committed a crime, let's deal with him according to the gang rules."

The elder in charge of law enforcement acknowledged the order, then turned to Ao Peng and proclaimed, "Today, a rebellious disciple has violated our gang's rules and blasphemed our patriarch! Open—the—Hall of—Law—Enforcement—!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he knelt down before the incense table and kowtowed three times. Dozens of people in the hall, whether standing or sitting, all lowered their heads by half a head and paid their respects to the statue of Guan Yu.

After paying homage to Guan Yu, the elder in charge of law enforcement took out a piece of yellow paper and read it aloud to Ao Peng: "There is a rebellious disciple named Ao Peng, who was recommended by his master in the year of Gengshen and became a disciple of Master Guo Wu. Now he has committed a crime in the street, violating our gang rules. He is to be punished with three cuts and six holes, and expelled from the gang. Ao Peng, do you accept the punishment?"

This punishment of three cuts and six holes is not a way to spare Ao Peng's life.

Putting aside the fact that the three cuts and six holes were a brush with death, leaving him severely injured and expelled from the sect, Hong Shigui, standing beside him, was probably itching to devour Ao Peng.

So this is to let Hong Shigui take revenge himself, that's why it's worth three thousand silver dollars!

The thugs present thought the verdict would be enough to frighten Ao Peng into kneeling and begging for mercy, but to their surprise, Ao Peng chuckled.

The elder in charge of law enforcement shouted sternly, "With Guan Yu before us, how dare you be so insolent! What are you laughing at!"

Ao Peng pointed at Guan Gong and replied, "You bunch of hooligans are worshipping Guan Gong like he's an opera singer, that's why I'm laughing."

"This is outrageous! Outrageous! Guards, enforce the law!"

Immediately, a group of thugs stepped forward, picked up the grooved knife, and stabbed Ao Peng in the body.

Ao Peng didn't dodge, and the knife pierced him solidly.

And then another stab!

One more cut!

When the third stab was made, everyone noticed something amiss.

Even the toughest man would have to grit his teeth and groan at this moment, but Ao Peng, who had been stabbed three times, seemed completely unaffected, even though none of the stabs were to his abdomen.

"He...he's not bleeding!"

The thug who stabbed Ao Peng also realized something was wrong. He shakily lowered his hand. He was standing close by, so he didn't feel anything when he stabbed Ao Peng the first two times. But when he stabbed him the third time, it hit his arm. He should have bled, but Ao Peng didn't bleed at all!

Ao Peng pulled a knife from his arm and stabbed it directly into the other man's temple. Blood gushed out like arrows from the blood groove, splashing onto Guan Yu's body and making his red face even redder!

This is exactly the effect the thugs originally wanted.

Ao Peng grinned, revealing gleaming white teeth. "Since this is an opera, and you can't sing this Guan Gong role, let me teach you!"

A bone-chilling cold emanated from him, like a huge dark cloud, instantly extinguishing the warmth of the midday autumn sun.

If a black zombie can walk in broad daylight and kill people in front of gods without fear, it is no longer a monster, but a demon!