Chapter 758: Chapter 47: Raid Chapter 758: Chapter 47: Raid This scolding shattered the heavens and left Ruan Zhanhui stunned as well.

A burly man with fiery eyes pushed through the crowd, storming straight toward him, seething with rage.

Ruan Zhanhui’s heart was fraught with doubts. Intent on gauging the newcomer’s stance, he clasped his hands in a greeting and said, “May I ask which family’s friend this is? I am Ruan Zhanhui of the Taiping Sect, at your service.”

Hong Liangyu recognized the voice. Instead of leaping onto the Dharma Platform to chastise the man, he sized up Ruan Zhanhui for a moment, his gaze quickly settling on the buffalo leather gun holster at Ruan’s waist, his brows knitting then relaxing.

With a sidelong glance, he spotted two other men about ten paces to his right, dressed just like Ruan Zhanhui, both wearing Western pistols at their waists and a stack of talisman paper tucked behind their backs, glaring furiously at him. Without a word, he knew they came from the same origins as Ruan Zhanhui on the platform.

Having sized up the three men’s capabilities and backgrounds, Hong Liangyu had a plan in mind. As he paced around the Dharma Platform, he sneered, “I was wondering who was spouting such grandiose nonsense, turns out it’s the disciples and grand-disciples of the Demon Thief! Back then, Zhang He betrayed our trust, agreeing to the alliance of five sects to defend Guangzhou, yet he went to sneak attack Lantau Island. He ended up trapped by Fiery Cauldron Madam’s magic and was defeated by our Dragon Head himself. Only by surrendering the Taiping Document was his pathetic life spared. You shameless scoundrel dare to parade as an elder protector of Guangzhou, making a laughingstock out of all the heroes in the world with your impudence.”

Upon hearing this, Ruan Zhanhui was both shocked and enraged, with a growing sense of dread. The old story of Zhang He’s sneak attack on Lantau Island was widely known among the pirates of the South Seas, but the details of Fiery Cauldron Madam’s magic and Zhang He handing over the Taiping Document to save his own life meant that the speaker was likely one of the strongmen from Lantau Island.

Knowing that dwelling on this topic was disadvantageous, he initially didn’t want to respond, but among Ruan Zhanhui’s companions – both Demon Thieves – one was a young newbie who had joined the Taiping Sect not long ago. Headstrong due to his youth, the young man did not understand the old events of the five sects uniting to defend Guangzhou. He had often heard his fellow sect members boasting to each other, naturally believing that the fathers and brothers of the Taiping Sect were heroes who defended Guangzhou. As for the scandal of the Demon Thief switching sides, it was a deeply taboo subject within the Taiping Sect, so naturally, he had no knowledge of it. Hearing Hong Liangyu’s mocking words now, the young man couldn’t stand being provoked and couldn’t help retorting, “I wonder which cesspit you crawled out of, you pest. What kind of lackey are you, spewing such nonsense here?”

Hong Liangyu suddenly turned his head, “I am your grandfather.”

Before the words were even finished, Hong Liangyu’s figure flashed like lightning, rushing before the two men, who did not expect the attacker’s movements to be so swift. Hong Liangyu, lightning-fast, struck first, aiming not for the younger man who was slightly farther away but for the shorter, fat middle-aged man who had been silent from the beginning. With just one blow, the man’s eyes rolled back as he lost consciousness. Hong Liangyu then grabbed the collar with one hand and the crotch with the other, executing a ground tumble throw that sent the short, fat middle-aged man flying at the young man, and used the distraction to rush forward and topple the young man to the ground, the three of them rolling together in a fight.

Ruan Zhanhui drew his gun swiftly, but as he tried to take aim, the barrel of the gun wavered several times, unable to pinpoint Hong Liangyu amidst the tangle of bodies. In that moment of hesitation, Hong Liangyu suddenly rose to his feet, and somehow, he had seized the young man’s pistol, aiming it at Ruan Zhanhui on the platform.

Ruan Zhanhui was startled and, unable to take aim, fired at the same time as Hong Liangyu. A muffled grunt was heard as the bullet hit Ruan Zhanhui’s wrist, causing him to drop his gun in pain. As for the younger man, who had started the fray, his neck was pinned by Hong Liangyu, his face turning red from the pressure, unable to move.

Having lost his gun, Ruan Zhanhui instinctively reached for the talisman paper at his back, but the sound of gunfire by his ear made him roll on the spot, looking for cover. However, the Dharma Platform was empty, with nothing to shield him.

Hong Liangyu fired the pistol repeatedly, not caring about accuracy, forcing Ruan Zhanhui to roll on the ground like a gourd. In a single leap, Hong Liangyu was on the Dharma Platform and pounced on Ruan Zhanhui. He clutched his throat with his left hand, his teeth gritted as he said, “I’ll teach you to spout nonsense!”

As he spoke, he slapped Ruan Zhanhui’s face back and forth with his right hand, delivering seven or eight blows that made Ruan’s teeth rattle, causing an uproar among the onlookers.

“Quick with the hands, quicker with the mind.”

Monk Shi, who had witnessed everything, muttered to himself.

The young Demon Thief on the platform, who had been disarmed earlier, caught his breath and saw Ruan Zhanhui’s misfortune, his eyes burning red with rage. He took the pistol from his unconscious companion and aimed at Hong Liangyu on the platform, pulling the trigger.

“Watch out.”

Someone shouted, and Hong Liangyu immediately dodged, but the bullet still hit him, splattering a burst of blood.

The young Demon Thief was about to fire again when, out of nowhere, a golden blade appeared at his throat. The oppressive edge of the knife already bore a faint trace of blood.

“Stop it now!”

Shark Biao stood up and yelled.

Hong Liangyu, who had supposedly been shot, suddenly sat upright, laughed heartily, covering his wounded shoulder. He felt relieved all over; the pent-up anger of many days had somewhat subsided. However, as he looked around, his heart sank with slight regret. His original intention was to find the culprit who had humiliated the Tianbao Dragon Head and give him a beating regardless of the consequences. As for the ins and outs of the Xiang Army’s power struggle, he only had a rough understanding and didn’t care much about it. But even a fool could see that he had become embroiled in the matter. And Hong Liangyu was far from foolish; even on Lantau Island, he was known for his astuteness.

“Young man, who on earth are you, daring to disrupt the Xiang Army’s grand meeting? Could it be that you’re a spy from the government forces?”

Shark Biao interrogated.

Seeing the increasingly unfriendly glances from all sorts of people, Hong Liangyu calmed his fiery temper, folding his hands with the left hand behind, fingers closed, and the right hand in front, sticking out his thumb: “Brothers, I spend more time in the mountains than in the study, I might know the value of the rivers and lakes but not the etiquette. If my words or steps are improper, and I make a mistake or cross a line, I ask you all to hold your noble sleeves high, and pardon my blunder. Sun and Moon Flag, Dragon and Phoenix Flag, Floral Flag, please give a good word for me.”

The crowd looked at each other in confusion, but Shark Biao took a step forward and shouted at Hong Liangyu: “Cut the crap, if you have a treasure, present it, if not, face the test!”

Hong Liangyu flicked his head with force, throwing his braid over his right shoulder and then held it up with both hands in a horse stance: “United in protecting the Han, we shall thrive through benevolence.”

The old man said again, “Bring out your talisman paper, Public Treasure Bundle.”

Hong Liangyu shook his head: “On Lantau Island, I’ve raised the Red Flag. Burned the Treasure Bundle, tore up the decree.”

The old man glared and asked, “No firing pin, no token. May I ask, which leader from Lantau Island do you rely upon, and which rank of sailor have you served as?”

Hong Liangyu answered, “I am under the patronage of Cha Daozi, Chief Zha, having served at the front of his six warships, taking charge of a Red Sail Great Zhen before.”

The old man shook his head and said, “No decree, no Treasure Bundle; you claim to have led a Red Sail Great Zhen, sounds like you’re blowing your own horn too hard!”

Hong Liangyu no longer argued, leaped down from the Dharma Platform, walked up to the Golden Blade Female General, and bowed: “Miss, may I borrow the dagger from your waist?”

The female general was somewhat surprised and looked up at Hong Liangyu, scoffing, “Whose missy am I? You’re big and burly, speaking in such an acidic manner, truly clueless.”

Despite her words, she still tossed her waist dagger to Hong Liangyu.

Hong Liangyu caught the dagger: “Thanks, girl.”