Shooting the Eagle: Starting from Iron Palm Peak

Within a month of taking over as gang leader, Lin Qi had thoroughly figured out the entire Iron Palm Gang.

The Iron Palm Clan's structure was more complex than he had imagined. Below the clan leader were one hall, three departments, and five altars. The nominal head of the Iron Palm Hall was Qiu Qianzhang, but real power was held by the deputy head, Han Duanyue. Han Duanyue had cultivated his influence within the clan for over a decade, commanding a group of trusted disciples; everyone in the Iron Palm Hall was his man. Orders issued by Lin Qi were often compromised by the time they reached the Iron Palm Hall, sometimes even disappearing without a trace.

The attitudes of the three departments were also subtle. Zhou Mingyuan of the Criminal Law Department was a conservative; as long as things didn't get chaotic within the group, he wouldn't take sides. Qian Sihai of the Foreign Affairs Department was adept at navigating social situations and wouldn't offend anyone. Mei Ruolan of the Internal Affairs Department only managed internal affairs and didn't get involved in power struggles. Among the five altars, only Zhao Tieshan of the Jinghu Altar clearly supported Lin Qi; the other altar leaders were all observing.

Qiu Qianzhang, on the other hand, remained quiet. He spent his days drinking tea and fanning himself in the courtyard, smiling like a leisurely man. He was always polite to Lin Qi, addressing him as "Chief." But Lin Qi knew this man was no ordinary person. He was Qiu Qianren's elder brother, having been in the gang for decades, his network of connections even deeper than Han Duanyue's. He had maintained secret contact with the Jin Kingdom, but he did so discreetly, leaving no evidence against him.

Lin Qi sat at the table in the side courtyard, going over the situation in the gang's mind again and again.

He is now the gang leader, but the actual power he can mobilize is limited. Zhao Tieshan's Jinghu Altar is a supporter of the Iron Pole Gang, but it only has a few hundred people and is stationed northeast of Iron Palm Peak, some distance from the main altar. The men of the Three Divisions nominally obey him, but in reality, they each have their own agendas. The Iron Palm Hall is completely under Han Duanyue's control; he can't even get a single person involved.

In terms of martial arts, he had already withstood seventy or eighty moves from Han Duanyue, making him a figure of some importance within the gang, but far from enough. Han Duanyue had only mastered the Iron Sand Palm technique, a level above him; if Qiu Qianzhang or other hidden masters within the gang were to attack, he might not be able to handle it. Of the thirteen ultimate moves of the Iron Palm technique, he had only mastered the seventh move, "Bone Shattering and Body Crushing," and the remaining six moves were barely memorized, far from being proficient. As for the final move, "Yin Yang Returns to One," he hadn't even dared to touch it.

More importantly, he needs stronger martial arts skills to participate in the major events in the original story. Guo Jing, Huang Rong, Ouyang Ke, Wanyan Honglie... these people are about to stir up waves in the Central Plains, and if he just stays on Iron Palm Peak to practice, he won't even get a taste of the spoils by the time the plot is over.

Lynch made a decision: to go down the mountain.

It wasn't escapism, but a proactive move. He wanted to venture into the martial world, participate in key events from the original story, and seek opportunities to improve his skills. The snake blood gave him a high starting point, but true strength is forged in real combat. No matter how well he mastered the thirteen ultimate moves of the Iron Palm Technique, without practical testing, they would remain mere theoretical knowledge. Moreover, only by leaving Iron Palm Peak could he truly understand this martial world and those who would change the course of history.

The next day, Lin Qi summoned the heads of the three departments and the heads of the five altars to a meeting in the council hall.

The main hall was still the same, with its bluestone floor and bright torchlight. Lin Qi sat in the leader's chair, flanked by members of the Iron Palm Hall, the Criminal Law Department, the Foreign Affairs Department, and the Internal Affairs Department. The leaders or representatives of the five altars sat behind him. Han Duanyue sat in the position of the deputy leader of the Iron Palm Hall, his face gloomy, his thoughts unreadable. Qiu Qianzhang waved his fan, smiling, like an outsider.

"I need to go down the mountain for a while," Lin Qi said bluntly.

A moment of silence fell over the hall, followed by hushed whispers. Zhou Mingyuan spoke first: "Chief, you've only recently taken office, and there are countless affairs to manage within the gang. Coming down the mountain at this time..."

"The affairs of the gang can be handled by the Three Divisions," Lin Qi interrupted him. "I came down the mountain not for sightseeing, but for the future of the Iron Palm Gang."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall.

"The Iron Palm Clan has had a bad reputation over the years. I've heard these accusations of colluding with the Jin and oppressing the people so many times I'm sick of them. When I took over as leader, I said that the Iron Palm Clan would not cooperate with the Jin. Today I'll reiterate—from this day forward, no one in the Iron Palm Clan is allowed to have any dealings with the Jin in any form. Anyone who violates this rule will be dealt with according to the clan's regulations."

His tone was not harsh, but every word he spoke was firm and resolute. The hall fell silent; no one spoke.

Qian Sihai was the first to speak up: "The gang leader is right. The Iron Palm Gang is a Han Chinese gang. It wouldn't look good if word got out that they're cooperating with the Jurchens."

Mei Ruolan nodded: "The Department of Internal Affairs will comply."

Zhou Mingyuan nodded: "The Department of Criminal Law will keep an eye on it."

Han Duanyue didn't speak, but his expression was rather unpleasant. Qiu Qianzhang waved his fan, smiling, but it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Lin Qi didn't press them for their stance. He knew that Han Duanyue and Qiu Qianzhang wouldn't actually obey the order, but at least he had made his position clear. From now on, he would have a legitimate reason to take action against anyone who colluded with the Jin Dynasty.

"When I'm not around, the affairs of the gang will be jointly managed by the three departments. For important matters, send someone to deliver a message to me; for minor matters, you can make your own decisions." Lin Qi looked at Zhao Tieshan, "Sect Leader Zhao, the Jinghu Altar is closest to the main altar, so please take good care of the gang's safety."

Zhao Tieshan clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Rest assured, Chief."

"Let's call it a day."

The crowd gradually left the main hall. As Han Duanyue reached the door, he glanced back at Lin Qi, his lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing. Qiu Qianzhang walked away, smiling and fanning himself, his steps light and quick, as if in a good mood.

Lin Qi stood alone in the main hall, looking at the empty chairs and the bluestone floor. The torchlight flickered on his face, casting a long shadow. He touched the Iron Palm Token in his pocket, silently thinking about Ci En's parting words.

He will no longer concern himself with the Iron Palm Clan's affairs. If anyone in the clan is dissatisfied, they will have to resolve it themselves.

Lin Qi took a deep breath and walked out of the main hall. The sunlight outside was bright, shining on the bluestone steps, making them appear dazzlingly white. He squinted and walked towards the side courtyard.

Back in the side courtyard, Lin Qi began packing his things.

He had a few changes of clothes, a bottle of ointment, some loose silver, the short knife, a copy of the "Complete True Dao Song" given to him by Wang Chuyi, and the booklet recording the thirteen ultimate moves of the Iron Palm Kung Fu. He kept the Iron Palm Token close to his body and also copied Ci'en's handwritten letter to carry with him, locking the original in a cabinet in the side courtyard.

He walked to the table, picked up a pen, wrote a letter, and left it for Zhou Mingyuan. The letter contained only a few sentences: "The affairs of the gang are jointly managed by the three departments; if Han Duanyue makes any unusual moves, keep him calm and wait for my return; keep a close eye on Qiu Qianzhang."

He folded the letter, placed it on the table, and weighed it down with a teacup.

It was getting late, but Lin Qi wasn't in a hurry to leave. He sat on the bed, circulated the internal energy of the Iron Bone Technique once, and practiced the first five postures of the Iron Palm Skill before lying down to rest. The moonlight outside the window was bright, shining on the open ground of the side courtyard, like a layer of frost. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep, thinking about what would happen after he went down the mountain.

Guo Jing should have already left Mongolia. According to the original story, he would meet Huang Rong in Zhangjiakou. Lin Qi didn't know if he could arrive before that point, but he had to try. He needed to establish contact with Guo Jing beforehand, not to use him, but to gain a favorable position in the upcoming major events.

Wanyan Honglie was searching for the "Military Manual of Yue Fei," Ouyang Ke was committing atrocities everywhere, and the Jin Dynasty's masters were frequently active in the Jiangnan region. Lin Qi knew all of this. He needed to find a suitable way to integrate himself into these events, without disrupting the main storyline of the original work, while still allowing himself to grow.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lin Qi got up.

He led his horse down the mountain via a small path behind it, without disturbing anyone. The morning mist was heavy, and dewdrops clung to the pine needles along the path; the air was crisp and damp. As he rode, he glanced back at Iron Palm Peak—the grey peak loomed in and out of the morning mist, like a sleeping giant.

He pulled on the reins and urged his horse to head north.

The sound of horses' hooves echoed on the bluestone path, and the morning breeze carried the scent of earth and grass. Lin Qi took a deep breath, feeling the stale air in his chest being expelled little by little.

He didn't know what he would encounter along the way, but he knew that from this moment on, he had truly stepped into this world of martial arts.

Iron Palm Peak receded further and further behind, gradually disappearing into the morning mist. Lin Qi did not turn back. He touched the Iron Palm Token and the handwritten booklet in his arms, his heart heavy yet resolute.

He was no longer a third-generation disciple in that secluded courtyard. He was the new leader of the Iron Palm Clan.

What he needs to do is not only to hold onto his position, but also to make the Iron Palm Gang stand more firmly in this martial arts world.