The Smiling, Proud Wanderer: From the Moment He Picked Up Qu Feiyan

At Shenshi (3-5 PM), the sun was beginning to set in the west.

Deep in a secluded alley in western Hengyang, a courtyard that is usually closed is now bustling with activity.

The gambling dens in Hengyang City had all inexplicably closed down more than a month ago, and those bastards even forbade others to open them. As a result, now only a few private gambling games are operating secretly, and the bets are on tomorrow's highly anticipated "Sword Pact".

The courtyard was a chaotic mess of smoke and grime. All sorts of shady characters, local hooligans, and busybodies who had come after hearing the commotion crowded the small courtyard to the point of being impenetrable. The stench of sweat, alcohol, and cheap tobacco mingled together, creating a suffocating, foul atmosphere.

In the center of the courtyard, on a huge, makeshift wooden board, the odds for the day were written in crude calligraphy:

"Within a single sword strike, Tian Boguang wins, with odds of 1.1 to 1.

"Within one sword strike, Shen An wins, odds 5 to 1."

"A dead end (no sword strike, or external interference), payout is twofold."

The starkly different odds starkly reflect the general opinion of the people regarding this sword strike. The vast majority believe that Shen An is nothing more than an ignorant and arrogant young man, and that only gamblers who have lost everything want to make a fortune by betting on him are blinded by greed.

"Place your bets! Place your bets! Once you've placed your bets, there's no going back!" A burly man with bare chest shouted in a hoarse voice. The wooden box in front of him was already piled high with silver and copper coins.

Behind a curtain, Yan Shiqi sat in a grand chair, his feet on a stool, two gleaming iron balls twirling in his hands. His fleshy face trembled slightly with smugness. He squinted, enjoying the noisy, money-filled atmosphere.

Ever since Shen An cut off his source of income, he had been seething with anger for far too long. Now, he was going to use this method to thoroughly humiliate that young senior brother. He was not only going to start a gambling operation, but he was also going to personally act as the bookmaker, letting everyone in Hengyang see who they truly trusted.

"Damn it, that pretty boy surnamed Shen really thinks he's something?" Yan Shiqi spat at his trusted aide beside him. "His 'one-sword agreement'? I'll see if he can even deliver a single sword strike! Then let's see how his Hundred Refinement Workshop will stay in business!"

The confidant quickly flattered, "Boss is right! That kid's all show and no substance. Once he's utterly defeated tomorrow, won't our business in Huguang still depend on an old hand like you, Boss?"

"Hmph, you've got a way with words, kid." Yan Shiqi sneered. "Once he's fallen, Alliance Leader Zuo will naturally realize that those in charge of our affairs are never just some greenhorn, but those of us who know the rules and have connections!"

Just as they were getting into the conversation, a subordinate squeezed in from outside, looking flustered. He leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Boss, something bad has happened... no, someone's here! Uncle-Master Lu Lianrong from the Hengshan Sect has arrived in Hengyang!"

"Lu Lianrong?" Yan Shiqi's hand, which was holding the Iron Gallbladder, suddenly stopped, and his eyes, as big as copper bells, widened instantly.

He's too low-level to have any real contact with the real world of martial arts.

In his view, the Five Sacred Mountains Sword Sects were all towering behemoths, and the Hengshan Sect and the Songshan Sect were no different to him. The reason Shen An was able to open businesses here was because the gambling dens in Xiangtan paid Lu Lianrong of the Hengshan Sect a hefty commission every month—that was paying protection money, a way of currying favor.

Shen An took it upon himself to stop the pumping, which was a huge deal! Lu Lianrong hadn't come earlier or later, but he had to come at this critical moment, most likely to confront him!

Yan Shiqi's mind raced, and a surge of joy welled up inside him.

Hey, I have an idea!

He abruptly stood up, slammed the iron flask in his hand onto the table, and ordered his trusted aide, "You watch over things here! I'm going to see a distinguished person to give our Senior Brother Shen another push!"

After a stick of incense has burned, a courtyard in the south of the city appears unremarkable on the outside but is elegant and unique inside.

Yan Shiqi had already suppressed his bandit-like demeanor and put on a respectful yet aggrieved expression, bowing deeply to the middle-aged man in the brocade robe with a refined face who sat at the head of the table.

"Uncle-Master Lu, you've finally arrived! If you hadn't come, the Songshan Sect's foundation in Hunan would have been ruined by that ignorant brat!"

Lu Lianrong held his teacup, his bright yellow eyes fixed on the tea. He slowly skimmed off the foam without even lifting his eyelids, and said indifferently, "Oh? What do you mean?"

Upon seeing this, Yan Shiqi immediately launched into a tirade, embellishing the story of how Shen An had taken it upon himself to shut down all the gray-market businesses. He deliberately emphasized the "leakage" involved.

"Uncle-Master, you have no idea!" Yan Shiqi pounded his chest and stamped his feet, his face full of indignation. "That guy surnamed Shen, relying on being the personal disciple of Alliance Leader Zuo, doesn't take us old folks who make a living on the edge of a knife seriously at all! With just one word, he cut off all our livelihood! The brothers are almost starving! What's worse, after the gambling den closed down, he even stopped the monthly tribute he was supposed to give you!"

He carefully observed Lu Lianrong's expression and continued to fan the flames: "Uncle-Master, we make a living on your Hengshan Sect's territory, paying monthly tributes—that's the natural order of things. But Shen An, he doesn't respect you, which means he doesn't respect the entire Hengshan Sect! That kid, I think he's lost his mind!"

Lu Lianrong continued to sip his tea slowly, a sense of disappointment creeping into his heart. It seemed that Yan Shiqi knew nothing at all.

That fool has no idea what that money truly meant! It wasn't protection money; it was the price the Songshan Sect was paying to buy him off and support him! It was Lu Lianrong's pledge of allegiance to Zuo Lengchan!

Lu Lianrong was neither high nor low within the Hengshan Sect. He had neither the title of sect leader nor the extraordinary strength of Senior Brother Mo, nor the numerous disciples and wide circle of friends of Liu Zhengfeng's lineage. Just like the Hengshan Sect in this martial arts world.

Mo Da and Liu Zhengfeng couldn't understand the ways of the martial world, but in Lu Lianrong's mind, it was as clear as a mirror.

It appears to be a scene of blazing fire and adorned with beautiful flowers, but in reality, it's a place where swallows nest on a curtain and fish swim in a boiling cauldron.

Demonic sects, Shaolin and Wudang, the Five Mountains Sword Sects...

The world of martial arts is fraught with countless dangers. If the Hengshan Sect were to enter such a place, it would likely be annihilated instantly.

Looking at his fellow students who were engrossed in music, Lu Lianrong felt even more exhausted.

In the vast Hengshan Mountain, he was the only one who could see the raging storm behind it all, and his already yellowish eyes grew even more yellow.

Alas, I have to carry the weight of over a hundred disciples from the three branches of Hengshan on my shoulders!

In Lu Lianrong's view, Hengshan now has only one way out: to align itself with Zuo Lengchan, the leader of the alliance, who is a man of great talent and ambition and destined to become the future master of the martial arts world, and strive to gain merit by following the dragon.

Therefore, he secretly aligned himself with the powerful Songshan Sect, exchanging pleasantries with Zuo Lengchan and willingly acting as an inside agent. That sum of money was the link between them, a reflection of his worth, and proof of his forbearance and indirect approach to achieving his goal!

Now that Shen An has suddenly stopped paying this money, in his view there is only one possibility—the Songshan Party is no longer satisfied with his line of work and is preparing to abandon him! This is his truest and most fearful purpose for this trip.

However, he naturally didn't need to explain this misunderstanding to a fool like Yan Shiqi.

He was to serve the Left Alliance Leader, and he needed to speak with a certain Taibao. This time, he just wanted to ask Shen An, this young disciple, about the specifics of the situation.

Yan Shiqi? Irrelevant.

"Yes, I am aware of this matter." Lu Lianrong put down his teacup, his tone still calm. "You should go back now and not make a fuss. I will find out the truth about this matter myself."

"Yes, yes!" Yan Shiqi was overjoyed, thinking he had succeeded in his complaint, and hurriedly bowed and scraped as he withdrew.

Watching his departing figure, a hint of disdain flashed in Lu Lianrong's eyes. He straightened his robes and, without a moment's delay, headed straight towards the Hundred Refinements Workshop.