Chapter 756: Chapter 45 Stirring Trouble in Living Fish Valley (Part 3) Chapter 756: Chapter 45 Stirring Trouble in Living Fish Valley (Part 3) Apart from the Xiang Army, several groups of Warrior heroes were also drawn to the scene in front of Living Fish Valley.

The man thrown out of Living Fish Valley scrambled up from the ground and, seeing many eyes converging on him, his eyes darted around in a panic, yet he stubbornly proclaimed, “I’ve been a helmsman at Lantau Island, how can this be false? I see Monk Shi acting generously with his mouth but he’s actually wary of our Red Flag brothers’ chivalrous reputation, afraid we will snatch away his command of the Xiang Army, so he dares not call on the Red Flag brothers…”

He didn’t finish his sentence before a muffled sound whizzed past his cheek, startling the man into a momentary daze. Soon after, he felt an intense burning on his right ear and, touching it, found his hand covered in blood. Only then did he come back to his senses, clutching the bloody hole where his ear had been and wailing in agony.

There was a thick-backed golden blade stuck in the ground, embedded two feet deep, with a segment of a blood-stained braid on it. It turned out that just a moment ago, it was the Golden Blade Female General who had thrown the knife, severing the man’s ear along with part of his braid.

“If the Red Flag brothers under Tianbao’s command are as pathetic as you, they truly dishonor the passionate blood my grandfather and Commander Shi have shed.”

Hong Liangyu hid in the shadows, her eyes slightly narrowed, still as a clay sculpture, as if she heard nothing at all.

The Golden Blade Female General ordered those around her, “Beat this man with sticks and throw him out. If he dares to pester us again, kill him and feed him to the dogs.”

The troops on both sides, looking fierce and menacing, roared in response. They took the rifles from their backs and mounted them on their chests, shoving the impostor Red Flag sailor away.

“Yingying, go retrieve my golden blade, clean it for me and then return it,” she ordered.

Hong Liangyu suddenly opened her eyes, only to see a female soldier emerge from the ranks, who pulled the golden blade from the ground and jogged back to the guard. Hong Liangyu couldn’t see the female soldier’s face from where she was hidden and could only watch as she returned to Living Fish Valley, leaving behind a crowd murmuring to each other, discussing the origins of the Golden Blade Female General, the granddaughter of an old Red Flag Gang leader who had retired to his hometown in Wuzhou decades ago to enjoy his remaining years.

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Tents were erected all over Living Fish Valley, and bonfires were lit everywhere. To the north of the military camps stood a Dharma Platform that was three zhang high, built with peach wood, pebbles, sticky rice juice, and hemp cloth. Banners of the Xiang Army hung from the east and west sides of the platform. Hundreds of people of all kinds stood below, some in groups of two or three, others alone, with no group larger than about a dozen people, all pointing and gesturing at the Dharma Platform.,,
A shadow moved under a square roper, a foot in size, enveloping the Dharma Platform like a dark ominous cloud; the figure within it was indiscernible.

Suddenly, the roper collapsed, revealing a hunched man in a black robe, who staggered back several steps before steadying himself. He looked down at his hands, which were covered in bloody blisters…
On the Dharma Platform, a large monk with black hair and beard, wide eyes and mouth, round face and large ears, held in his hands a string of elm beads, cracked and ordinary, but with a striking red Jade Buddha threaded amongst them that glowed in the night.

The monk extended the string of beads forward, startling the hunched man into retreating and shaking his head, “This Buddha treasure is indeed sharp. Alas, I, Face-changing King, am too unworthy to possess it. I take my leave.”

“Wait a moment.”

From the crowd stood an elderly man dressed in coarse pants and wrapped in a turban, looking spirited and vigorous, “I have long heard of the Face-changing King’s reputation. The Han Liu lineage from Bashu and the Red Flag are kindred spirits, both heroes striving to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming. Why don’t you join forces with the Xiang Army? Topple the Qing court, revive our Han people’s empire, and achieve a great undertaking?”

The Face-changing King clasped his hands in a salute, “Red Flag Shark Biao, an old predecessor from decades ago, I have long admired.”

After a moment’s consideration, he said, “Given Brother Bai’s invitation, I shouldn’t decline. Yet, as an outsider, it’s like groping in the dark, unfamiliar with the terrain. We from Han Liu, if we are to make a move, should return to our homeland. I regret that I must decline Brother Bai’s kind offer.”

Shark Biao returned the salute, “Since that’s the case, I won’t insist.”

“Hmph, coveting others’ treasures and status, you didn’t fear the long journey to Living Fish Valley, but now that you see there’s no advantage to be gained, you pretend to grope in the dark, unfamiliar with the place. Han Liu the Demon Thief, known throughout Yunnan and Guizhou of old, has his name come down to this–a petty man who seeks gain and shuns harm?”

Face-changing King became enraged at the words, cursing loudly, “Who the hell is talking nonsense! If you have the guts, stop hiding like a coward and come out to die!”

“I want to see who will die,” a voice said.

As his words fell, a gaunt figure stepped out from the crowd, heading straight for the Face-changing King.

Taiping Wen Shu: Void Blade!

Face-changing King let out a piercing scream, as he opened the mystical roper to counter the attack. The roper managed to hold the air blade at first, but to his dismay, the assailant drew a revolver from his waist with his left hand and fired two shots. One bullet struck the center of the roper, and the other hit Face-changing King’s wrist. In pain, Face-changing King stumbled to the ground, and the roper fell beside him.

Not one to show mercy, the man’s hands gathered countless scriptures, and he rushed to Face-changing King, preparing to deliver a fatal blow to his head.

Taiping Wen Shu: Wang Lingji!

Face-changing King closed his eyes, awaiting death when suddenly, he felt someone lift him up and float backward several yards, dodging the deadly strike.

Face-changing King was not alone; Han Liu’s lineage had brought seven or eight people this time. Seeing Face-changing King wounded spurred a collective rage, and they were about to attack the gaunt man together. However, the opponent also had backup–four individuals, all wielding Europa’s new-style firearms, creating an impasse.

Monk Shi let go of Face-changing King and addressed the newcomer, “Impressive skills, excellent firearms, ruthlessly executed. May I know which brother from which clan you are?”

The gaunt man holstered his revolver, his eyes flashing as he replied, “The Demon Thief of Taiping, Ruan Zhanhui.”

Ruan Zhanhui!

The crowd gasped in surprise. This man was the favored disciple of the former Demon Thief Zhang He. He made a name for himself at the grand meeting of the Tianbo Division, where he defeated his rivals and even took part in the great battle against the Red Hair in Guangzhou, South Seas–a man without peer in his time.

Since then, the Demon Thieves had scattered like monkeys when the tree falls, and Ruan Zhanhui’s whereabouts were unknown. Now that he reappeared, his Taiping skills had improved, and he had somehow acquired Europa’s repeating firearms. His strength had risen to a new level.

“Monk Shi, I was about to ask you! This meeting at Living Fish Valley has gone on for three days. Everyone here who tried to get your treasured Jade Buddha burned their hands. They’ve used all kinds of magic and treasures, but all have ended up with nothing but ash and dust. Did you genuinely invite us here in good faith, or are you just playing games with us?”

Monk Shi shook his head, “This Jade Buddha came from the Ice-Sealed Ancient Buddha. I acquired it by a stroke of luck. While it is extremely hot, the heat vanishes only when near me–it must be fate. All my skills come from this Jade Buddha. This meeting I’ve convened at Living Fish Valley is precisely to find someone who is destined for this treasure. I’m willing to nominate him as the leader of the Xiang Army. As long as their actions are against the rich and powerful and for saving the people, the whole Xiang Army will heed his command.”

“And if no one is fated for the Buddha? Do we just return the way we came? What do you guys think?”

“Exactly!”

“Well said!”

The crowd echoed in agreement.

Ruan Zhanhui seized the moment to strike while the iron was hot, “Fellow brothers, since you’ve all come through mountains and rivers to Living Fish Valley, you naturally admire General Shi for resisting the officials and opening the granaries to save the people. If anyone is here just for the treasures and spells, out of greed and for their own safety, I’ll be the first to disapprove! However, if we share the same ideals as General Shi and the Xiang Army, surely you wouldn’t let us make this trip in vain just because we’re not destined, right?”

Monk Shi was momentarily speechless, silently gazing at the string of Jade Buddha beads in his hand, thinking, “There are still many secrets within this Buddha’s treasure that I don’t understand. Given time, I would’ve unraveled them all. Unfortunately, with the bullet lead poisoning spreading inside me, I don’t have many days left. Sir Peng is getting old, and Jin Zhan is but a woman. If I can’t find a suitable successor today, not only will the Buddha treasure be neglected, but the future of the Xiang Army will also be bleak.”

“If no one is fated for the Buddha’s treasure.”

Monk Shi clenched his teeth, “If someone can defeat me today, I will gladly hand over both the leadership of the Xiang Army and the Buddha’s treasure.”

“Good!”

Ruan Zhanhui had been waiting for just this moment. Now, he took his stance and gestured to Monk Shi.

“General Shi, please!”