Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

Chapter 58 Seventh Grade Old Man Ye's Club

The three sisters are not only members of the Red Lantern Society, but also successors of the Cheng School of Bagua.

Cheng Tinghua was a high-ranking decision-maker in the Boxer Rebellion's Big Sword Society, second only to the Fifth Prince Zibin, the "Big Sword King." He personally led the charge whenever fighting enemies, displaying sharp swordsmanship and swift movements.

But he died too young, at the age of fifty-two, killed by foreign guns.

His passing was sudden, and the Cheng School of Bagua was not passed down systematically. Cheng Tinghua had many disciples, most of whom were loyal and righteous. Many of his fellow disciples gathered together to share their knowledge and skills.

Based on the freehand palm techniques passed down by Master Cheng, each style was supplemented and improved, forming the eight major palm techniques of Cheng-style Baguazhang.

The three sisters were directly taught by Li Guangpu, the second disciple of Cheng Tinghua.

Li Qingsu is Li Guangpu's biological daughter, while the other two were adopted from a young age. The three are close in age and grew up together.

Naturally, it also inherited the Cheng School's strong sense of justice and hatred of evil.

They did all sorts of righteous deeds, like murder and arson, and robbing the rich to help the poor.

Back then, the Wumen (武门) represented the unity of all martial arts sects in China, fighting against the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance and the Qing Dynasty, which had been scattered and killed.

Though their forms may be scattered, their people remain united.

The Boxers and Red Lanterns went underground and operated in secret.

Martial arts associations, as well as martial arts schools and sects in various regions, are outwardly known strongholds, with the stated purpose of strengthening the body and practicing martial arts for survival, but in secret, they are all engaged in business that could lead to death.

Of course, there are also divisions among various martial arts schools and sects. After all, martial arts practitioners can only do assassinations and murders, and it is impossible to completely expel foreigners, foreign guns, and foreign cannons.

Therefore, many factions also sought refuge with local warlords and regimes.

This is normal; the Boxers did not rely solely on military men.

The most representative example is the Gong family, which claims to be the authentic Bagua school. They were able to dominate the martial arts world in Northeast China, thanks to Gong Baotian, who served as the chief instructor in the Northeast Army and the marshal's personal bodyguard.

Golden Pavilion.

It was established by various factions and forces, ostensibly as a restaurant, but secretly used for making contacts, assassinations, intelligence gathering, and exchanging information.

The three sisters came to Jinlou in Tianjin two years ago to take charge of the overall situation, but the situation in Tianjin was complicated, with the five foreign concessions restraining each other, and they did not accomplish anything significant.

Unexpectedly, Ye Ningzhen, after lying low for two years, made a stunning move and killed Itagaki Ichiro.

When asked how to help Chen Zhan, Ye Ningzhen didn't hesitate: "I'll send him to the Northeast in a few days, and I'll go too. You two can keep a low profile in Tianjin."

Ruan Zhi said, "Wow, big sister, are you really going to get the Gong family's token?"

Ye Ningzhen was taken aback. "What brand? What nonsense are you talking about?"

Li Qingsu took out a note from his pocket and said, "The news came when you left: Gong Baotian was seriously injured and died of illness."

Ye Ningzhen opened it and saw that there weren't many words, so she quickly finished reading it.

His brows furrowed into a deep frown, and his peach-blossom eyes twitched, showing both surprise and excitement.

"So, eldest sister, are you going to take him on? Right now, the Gong family only has Gong Ruomei in charge, and she's engaged. Her martial arts aren't as good as yours, so she's nothing!"

"you shut up!"

Ye Ningzhen and Li Qingsu spoke in unison, rubbing their foreheads in a somewhat helpless manner.

"Ma San has defected to Japan?" Ye Ningzhen looked at the note in her hand, which read: Ma San has become the president of the Sino-Japanese Friendship and Peace Association.

"It should be correct. The news comes from Fengtian; someone witnessed it firsthand."

Ye Ningzhen nodded and pondered for a moment.

The news of Ma San's betrayal of his sect had spread a month ago, and it was considered big news in the martial arts world. After all, Gong Baotian was a senior master and the most senior member of the Bagua lineage.

He was of the same generation as Cheng Tinghua, had the opportunity to meet the patriarch Dong Haichuan, and was taught by Yin Fu on behalf of his master. He claimed to be the authentic master of Bagua.

He held an extraordinary position in the martial arts world; even Sun Lutang was a generation younger than him.

However, he didn't have many direct disciples. His lineage was stingy with its true teachings, with only two true disciples in each generation: Ma San, his adopted son whom he had raised since childhood, and his biological daughter, Gong Ruomei. Ma San's betrayal of the sect and injury to his master was a major event, but it was also an internal matter of the Gong family.

It's not uncommon in the martial arts world for disciples to go their own way and even fight with their masters.

Xue Dian, a prized disciple of Li the Single-Blade Master in his later years, had a falling out with his master when he was young, leaving without saying goodbye and remaining away from his master for ten years.

It wasn't until Li Cunyi passed away in 1921 that Xue Dian returned to his master's school for the funeral.

But Ma San was different. He fought with Gong Baotian and even caused Gong Baotian to die from serious injuries, which was quite outrageous.

Now that they have sided with the Japanese, it is no longer a private matter for the Miyako family.

Every sect and martial arts school has an unwritten but tacitly accepted rule: martial arts disputes are internal matters, but when it comes to national righteousness, one should never surrender.

To side with Japan is to betray one's country and the entire martial arts community.

Anyone can punish him.

“Then it’s even more worthwhile to make the trip; it’s a win-win situation,” Ye Ningzhen said with a smile.

"Didn't you want to go to the Gong family to remove the plaque before, eldest sister?" Li Qingsu asked curiously.

"In your hearts, am I someone who takes advantage of others in distress?"

"Hehe, no, no, I wouldn't dare." The two women laughed.

"I heard that a few years ago, an old man in the Baishan area accidentally obtained a seventh-grade leaf club, which was then acquired by Gong Baotian by chance. I wonder if it is still around."

Ye Ningzhen then revealed her original purpose.

The two women opposite exchanged a glance, then looked at Ye Ningzhen and laughed, "Seventh-grade Ye Bangchui, whether he's here or not, he's not going to give it to you. Big sister, are you going to go deep into the tiger's den for that kid?"

The two of them could easily understand what Ye Ningzhen meant. Ginseng is also called "club" and is graded according to its leaves. Grades one and two are not up to standard, grades three and four have been processed for several years, and grades five and six are old ginseng that have been processed for decades and are rarely seen.

Seven-grade old ginseng, a wild ginseng that is over a hundred years old, is extremely rare. A single rootlet can sustain a life, and it is a divine tonic.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a panacea.

Chen Zhan's injury requires this level of potent tonic.

Moreover, their lineage includes a powerful medicine made primarily of century-old ginseng, supplemented with various aged herbs. It not only prolongs life and nourishes the body but also replenishes qi and blood, strengthens bones and muscles!
The main point is this last one, which is specifically for Chen Zhan's major tendon injury!
Ye Ningzhen didn't care about her two younger sisters' teasing. She was always carefree. Even if she had a relationship with Chen Zhan, so what?

"That's right, he saved my life, and I'm returning the favor. Is there a problem?"

The two women shook their heads like rattles.

When Ye Ningzhen became serious, neither of them dared to look at each other.

She added, "Besides, if the Gong family had truly been a tiger's den before, our lineage would have likely come out badly. But things are different now. The old master has passed away, leaving only a handful of people. If I bring up what happened back then, even the seventh-rank Ye Laochui will have to hand over the reins, whether he likes it or not!"

The two girls had no doubt about Ye Ningzhen's words. From childhood to adulthood, there was nothing she couldn't do.

Moreover, she was not an impulsive or reckless person; otherwise, she wouldn't have been entrusted with such an important task in her early twenties, handling all matters in Tianjin.

The three sisters talked until late at night. Just as they were about to go to bed, the burly gatekeeper rushed over. Before he could say anything, they heard a banging on the door.

"Dang Dang Dang!"

"Open the door! We need to check the wanted criminal!"

"Dang Dang Dang!"

Ye Ningzhen and her two companions flew over the backyard, where the main gate of the Golden Pavilion had already been pushed open, and more than a dozen foreign police officers and Japanese soldiers rushed in.

The foreigner in the lead waved, and the police and Japanese soldiers split into two groups and went upstairs to check each room.

Ruan Zhi tried to step forward, but Ye Ningzhen stopped her.

(End of this chapter)