Half-human, half-ghost, the number one divine fist

In the eastern suburbs of Songjiang City, a sprawling estate lies quietly under the cool early spring sunshine.

Deep within the manor, on an open-air platform facing the swimming pool, sits a heavy mahogany tea table.

The table was laden with a dazzling array of items.

Old ginseng, bird's nest, deer antler slices, imported supplements, and a pot of ginseng tea that is steaming hot and has a rich medicinal aroma.

Two people sat facing each other on either side of the tea table.

At the head of the table was an elderly man, about seventy years old, yet he had a youthful face and white hair.

He had a ruddy complexion, long, snow-white eyebrows, and a sharp, intelligent look in his eyes, as steady as a mountain yet with a clear mind.

He was dressed in a simple dark blue Hangzhou silk robe, slowly twirling a string of sandalwood prayer beads in his hand, exuding an aura of a master and the majesty of someone who had long held a high position.

To outsiders, this old man would be a truly important figure; he is Gu Yunzhou, the vice president of the Tongxin Society.

At the lower end, Lu Gang sat upright. He was about forty-five or forty-six years old, with a resolute face as if carved by a knife and axe, a bronze complexion, and an imposing and composed aura between his brows.

He stood ramrod straight, even in a relaxed sitting posture, he resembled a taut javelin, though his face was pale and his shirt was slightly open at the chest, revealing thick bandages underneath.

"Gang'er, this time you have injured your lungs and internal organs, and your qi and blood are severely deficient. You must take these tonics on time and take good care of yourself."

Gu Yunzhou stopped fiddling with his prayer beads, pointed to the tonics scattered on the table, and said in a gentle but undeniably concerned voice, "Let's put those hotels along the riverside aside for now. Getting better is the most important thing."

Looking at the mountain of precious medicinal herbs, Lu Gang gave a wry smile to his resolute face: "Old Gu, we really don't need this much. My constitution is quite strong, and I'm recovering very quickly."

"Just use it when I tell you to!"

Gu Yunzhou's old face hardened. "Why are you being so polite with me? If your health suffers any complications, or if something goes wrong again, how can I face... your father?"

When the word "father" was mentioned, Lu Gang's expression visibly darkened.

Gu Yunzhou sighed softly, stood up and walked to the edge of the platform, his back to Lu Gang, his voice filled with reminiscence.

"Your father and I are sworn brothers, we've sworn brotherhood and exchanged oaths. Back then, I was just a dockworker, and he brought me into the martial arts world, taught me kung fu, and introduced me to the Tongxin Society. This position as the vice president of the society... should have been his."

He paused, his tone becoming serious: "It was I who was ungrateful back then, insisting on dragging your father to Tianbai Mountain to hunt that giant python. It was he who risked his life to let me escape alive."

He turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning, and fixed on Lu Gang again: "The most important thing in my life is 'gratitude.' So, you better take good care of yourself! If anything happens to you, I won't have the face to face Brother Lu in the afterlife! This time, the Four Seas Sect used such despicable means to affect you, and this debt will not be left unpaid! Once that old bastard Du Zhenyun has sorted things out, we'll demand repayment from the Four Seas Sect!"

Lu Gang sensed the connection and killing intent in Gu Yunzhou's words.

A mixture of warmth and hatred welled up within him. He put down his teacup and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, Elder Gu, this revenge will be taken. It was just that this time was indeed dangerous. If I hadn't survived and met that young brother..."

He shook his head: "At that time, Mo Lao and I were severely injured by the aftershocks of the punch, lying in the ruins barely breathing, and everyone around us was too busy taking care of themselves. But then, that young man appeared. He was also seriously injured, but he gritted his teeth and dragged us to safety one by one, stopping the bleeding and bandaging us... Although his movements were clumsy, he was extremely serious. If it weren't for the little time he bought us, we would already be corpses by the time the experts sent by the Four Seas Sect to silence us arrived."

Gu Yunzhou sat back down, his eyes narrowing slightly: "Have you verified this person's identity?"

"Found it."

Lu Gang nodded. "His name is Lin Fusheng. He's from Renshe Anrentang and works as a low-level foreman at Jinrong Gambling House. He just broke through to the Stone Skin stage. I sent people to his residence to look for him, but they didn't find him. Liu Heishou, who escaped from Huairentang, said that he could have left on his own, but he noticed that Sihaimen was acting strangely and was worried about a bigger conspiracy. So he dragged his injured body back to report the news, which is how he accidentally saved us."

His tone was tinged with regret: "Hu Tiannan of Huai Ren Tang seems to have always wanted to get rid of this kid. This time, he risked his life to bring back Liu Heishou and saved a group of people, including myself and Old Mo. It should have been a great achievement. It's a pity..."

Gu Yunzhou hummed in agreement, his prayer beads slowly turning, a hint of appreciation and regret flashing in the depths of his eyes.

"It's truly a pity. At such a young age, with such courage and loyalty, he was a promising talent. Who else is in his family? Even though he's gone, this kindness should still remain with his family. Let those below take good care of them."

"He is your savior, which means he is also my benefactor, Gu Yunzhou."

The butler, Xiao Ji, who was standing to the side, felt a jolt in his heart.

Gu Yunzhou's words carried a lot of weight!

"My benefactor, Gu Yunzhou."

These six words are practically equivalent to a get-out-of-jail-free card and a ladder to promotion in Songjiang Beach, especially within the Tongxin Society!

You can do whatever you want in half of Songjiang!

If that lowly stone foreman named Lin Fusheng hadn't died...

Butler Xiao Ji suddenly remembered something and immediately said, "Old Master Lu, regarding Lin Fusheng, I have already instructed that sentries be placed near his house to keep watch day and night. In case... he really does return, we will know immediately."

"In addition, I specifically told Elder Mo and the other Copper Bone brothers that this matter must not be made public and must be carried out in secret."

"What if Lin Fusheng were still alive? If word got out and the Four Seas Sect found out that Lin Fusheng had saved so many lives, they would be the first to take him away and then threaten our Tongxin Society to exchange him for a life. In that case, our Tongxin Society, which prioritizes 'righteousness,' would probably pay a huge price."

Although Lin Fusheng is definitely dead.

However, since he, as the steward, was able to keep this matter in mind, take many actions, and think of everything in detail, Gu Yunzhou and Lu Gang would see it and remember it.

Upon hearing this, Lu Gang nodded, quite pleased with Xiao Ji's thoughtfulness. He then added, "Besides me and Elder Mo, he also saved more than twenty experts at the Bronze Bone Realm. These people are grateful for his life-saving grace and are probably secretly searching for his whereabouts. I've also reminded them to investigate discreetly. If Lin Fusheng is truly still alive, the news will only reach those of us. Lin Fusheng is safe."

Gu Yunzhou nodded slightly, gazing at the hazy sky outside the manor, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"Yes, keep an eye on them."

"I want to see him alive or dead."

"Ugh."

At this moment, Lu Gang suddenly sighed.

"However, his chances of surviving are ultimately slim."

"I pieced together the scattered information. His situation at that time was fraught with danger at every turn. First, he was assigned to the almost certain death mission of 'covering the rear,' facing pursuit from two Iron-Tendons and a group of Stone Skins. After fleeing so far with Liu Hei Shou, you can imagine how much his energy was depleted. Then he was besieged and ambushed by his own people. Finally, he was struck by a palm strike from one of the Iron-Tendons from Jin Yulou! Later, he saved so many of us. Even though he was lucky to survive at that time, he was later trapped in that place where monsters ravaged and buildings collapsed. As a mere Stone Skin, it was too difficult for him to survive."

Gu Yunzhou paused slightly in his prayer beads, then looked up at Lu Gang:

"I noticed something in what you said. Didn't you ask him his name or which class he was from? Why is it all an afterthought?"

Lu Gang shook his head with a wry smile: "We asked, Old Mo and the other brothers who were awake asked. But that young man... he didn't want to talk at all. At the time, he was busy bandaging us, his movements were hurried and fast, and every time we asked, he would either lower his head and remain silent, or change the subject and tell us to 'speak less and save our energy.' I could feel... he simply wanted to save people, he didn't think about leaving his name, and he didn't think about getting anything in return. These days, such 'foolish' people are too rare."

Gu Yunzhou listened quietly for a long time before slowly exhaling a breath of stale air, and the prayer beads in his hand began to spin again.

His eyes revealed a complex mix of emotions:感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion), 赏赏 (shǎngshǎng, admiration), and a hint of melancholy.

"Where righteousness lies, I will go even if it means facing a million men; success need not be mine... Good, good indeed."

Gu Yunzhou's voice was not loud, but it carried a heavy weight: "In this world, people's hearts have changed, and profit is the only thing that matters. Within gangs, it's all about scheming and infighting. This kind of pure and sincere 'loyalty,' this kind of 'doing good deeds without seeking recognition,' is the most precious thing."

"Brother Lu was such a figure back then. I never imagined we'd see such a promising talent in his son's generation. It's a pity, such talent is often wasted..."

Before the words were finished—

"Brother Ji, Master Lu, Old Gu!!!"

A hurried voice came from the front courtyard of the manor, interrupting Gu Yunzhou's conversation.

A figure was seen running wildly toward the terrace.

It was the gray-clad man who had been keeping watch in Niwa Lane and then drove back!

His face was a mixture of sweat, panting, and ecstasy!

The housekeeper, Xiao Ji, felt her heart pound and almost stopped breathing!

This person was someone I arranged to be at Lin Fusheng's house.

Why did he rush in like that at this moment?

Could it be...?

Xiao Ji reacted quickly, immediately rushing forward and asking urgently in a low voice, "What's the panic! Is there news from Niwa Lane?"

The man in gray abruptly stopped a few steps away, his chest heaving violently. He looked at Xiao Ji, then at Lu Gang and Gu Yunzhou, who had already stood up and were staring at him with lightning-fast eyes, and hissed:

"Found him! He's alive!"

He took a breath and continued, "Lin Fusheng! I saw him come out of his house with my own eyes! Although he looked terrible, as if he hadn't recovered from a serious injury, it was definitely him! I compared it with the portrait, there's no mistake! He... he headed towards Jinrong Gambling House! I didn't dare delay, I immediately drove back to report!"