Shooting the Eagle: Starting from Iron Palm Peak

Han Duanyue is dead.

The day after the news spread throughout the Iron Palm Gang, a row of wreaths appeared at the entrance of the side courtyard, sent by various branches. Lin Qi did not have anyone move the wreaths away, nor did he look at them much. He simply had Zhao Tieshan register them, noting who sent them and what they contained.

Of Han Duanyue's seven trusted disciples from the Iron Palm Hall, three left. The three who left didn't say goodbye to anyone, packed their belongings, and went down the mountain under cover of night, never to return.

The remaining four stayed, saying they wanted to continue serving the gang. Zhao Tieshan asked Lin Qi what to do with them, and Lin Qi said, "Let them stay in their original positions and continue doing what they were doing. Just keep an eye on them."

Zhao Tieshan was somewhat puzzled, but he didn't ask any further questions and did as instructed.

Zhou Mingyuan delivered a list of recommended deputy hall masters of the Iron Palm Hall, which included three names, all of whom were senior disciples with considerable experience in the sect.

Lin Qi looked at the list, handed it back to him, and said, "Leave the position of deputy leader of the Iron Palm Hall vacant for now. I will take charge personally."

Zhou Mingyuan glanced at Lin Qi, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded, taking the list back.

He understood Lin Qi's meaning—the Iron Palm Hall was Han Duanyue's territory, which he had cultivated for over a decade. Now that Han Duanyue had just died, giving the position of deputy hall master to anyone would make people think that person was Lin Qi's confidant, which would only incite discontent among others. Leaving it vacant was the best option.

Qian Sihai visited the side courtyard more often than before.

He always brought account books with him, saying he wanted the gang leader to review them, but Lin Qi had never looked at those account books before. Lin Qi flipped through them and pointed out several suspicious points. Qian Sihai broke out in a sweat and repeatedly said that it was his oversight and that he would go back and recalculate.

The account book that arrived the next day was much clearer, with every single entry and exit clearly recorded.

Lin Qi knew that Qian Sihai was making a statement. Before, he stood between Han Duanyue and Lin Qi, offending neither of them; now that Han Duanyue was dead, he had to choose a side.

Mei Ruolan didn't come to the side courtyard, but the firewood and daily necessities there suddenly doubled. Mu Nianci asked the disciple who brought the things what was going on, and the disciple said that it was Mei Sizhu's order, saying that since there was one more person here, the expenses needed to be increased.

Mu Nianci told Lin Qi about it, and Lin Qi smiled but didn't say anything.

Mei Ruolan is a person who doesn't compete or fight, only cares about internal affairs, and listens to whoever is the leader of the gang. She is the one who needs the least worry.

In just over a month, Lin Qi thoroughly investigated the Iron Palm Clan from top to bottom.

The Iron Palm Hall members were re-registered, and their positions, duties, and relationships with Han Duanyue were all thoroughly investigated.

Five people were transferred from their original positions by him. They were all Han Duanyue's trusted confidants. He couldn't just fire them directly, so he transferred them to less important positions and gradually sidelined them.

He promoted two people who were old disciples of Han Duan Yue who had not been successful under him. They were skilled in martial arts and honest.

The members of the Iron Palm Hall were in turmoil for a while, but seeing that Lin Qi handled things fairly, without indiscriminate killing or punishment, they gradually calmed down.

At the Foreign Affairs Department, Qian Sihai voluntarily handed over a list, saying that he was dealing with people Han Duanyue had planted before, and asked the leader to make a decision. Lin Qi looked at the list, circled three names, and told Qian Sihai to bring them back, leaving the rest unchanged.

Qian Sihai did as instructed.

Lin Qi knew that the list Qian Sihai handed over was definitely not complete, but he didn't intend to pursue it. Too much clarity leaves no room for error; as long as these people didn't cross the line, he could turn a blind eye.

Everything was normal in the Internal Affairs Department. Mei Ruolan managed the gang's supplies in an orderly manner, and Lin Qi could not find any fault with her, so he did not interfere.

Of the five altars, Zhao Tieshan of the Jinghu altar was one of his men, while the leaders of the other four altars were mostly neutral, and they would listen to whoever became the leader.

Lin Qi didn't rush to win them over; he simply instructed Zhao Tieshan to spend more time with them. Every few days, Zhao Tieshan would go to drink with the leaders of those guilds, chatting about this and that, maintaining a facade of harmony.

Lin Qi didn't want them to make a statement now, but rather to let them know that the Iron Palm Gang's sky hadn't fallen and life was going on as usual.

More than a month later, the Iron Palm Clan remained as calm as a stagnant pool. Han Duanyue's death did not stir up any waves, just like a stone thrown into a deep pool that sank to the bottom without even a ripple on the surface.

Lin Qi handled gang affairs daily, reviewing documents and occasionally convening meetings with the heads of the three departments, all with remarkable competence. Gradually, everyone in the gang became accustomed to the young gang leader's way of doing things, and no one brought up his age anymore.

Mu Nianci settled down on the mountain, practicing her martial arts every morning, helping Lin Qi organize documents during the day, and planting flowers in the courtyard in the evening.

She didn't interact much with the gang members; when they met, she would only nod, her tone indifferent. Some people gossiped about her, saying she was cold and unapproachable, while others spoke up for her, saying she was a young lady, not a member of the martial arts world, so why should she try to get close to these roughnecks?

Despite the gossip, no one dared to give her a hard time to her face. Lin Qi's attitude that day made it clear—anyone who disrespected her was disrespecting him.

One evening, Lin Qi was practicing his martial arts in the courtyard, while Mu Nianci sat under the eaves mending clothes.

Lin Qi slammed his palms against the courtyard wall, the handprints on the blue bricks growing deeper and deeper, the edges of his palms becoming sharper and sharper. He practiced for half an hour, then stopped, took the towel Mu Nianci handed him, and wiped his hands.

Zhao Tieshan arrived in a hurry, his face looking rather grim.

"Chief, Master Qiu went down the mountain this afternoon." Zhao Tieshan lowered his voice. "He took someone with him, not one of his old servants, but a stranger, around forty years old, wearing a gray robe, without any weapons, and looking like a scholar. The two of them hired a carriage and headed east."

Lin Qi frowned slightly: "Have you found out who that gray-robed man is?"

Zhao Tieshan shook his head: "We couldn't keep up. My men followed for a while, but lost them at the fork in the road. The carriage was moving in a hurry, deliberately taking a detour; it was clearly trying to avoid being followed." He paused, "Chief, should we send more men to continue the search?"

Lin Qi thought for a moment and said, "No need. You can go back now. I understand what I'm doing."

After Zhao Tieshan left, Lin Qi sat on the stone steps and thought about the whole thing from beginning to end.

Qiu Qianzhang descended the mountain, accompanied by a middle-aged man he didn't recognize, and hired a carriage to head east. To the east lay the direction of Taihu Lake, where Guiyun Manor was located. Lu Chengfeng was Huang Yaoshi's disciple and enjoyed considerable fame in the martial arts world.

What was Qiu Qianzhang doing there?

Lin Qi knew perfectly well what was going on. In the original story, Qiu Qianzhang had impersonated Qiu Qianren at Guiyun Manor, swindling and cheating people, only to be exposed by Huang Rong on the spot. Now that his master had become a monk and the Iron Palm Clan had a new leader, Qiu Qianzhang probably felt that no one could control him anymore, and his audacity had grown again.

He probably went down the mountain this time to find Lu Chengfeng to discuss some kind of "cooperation". He has a good plan - impersonating the leader of the Iron Palm Clan, using his master's name, not only to freeload, but also to try to win over Lu Chengfeng to serve the Jin Kingdom.

Everything he does will eventually be attributed to the Iron Palm Gang.

Mu Nianci walked over, sat down next to him, and asked softly, "Brother Lin, what are you thinking about?"

Lin Qi recounted Qiu Qianzhang's story.

Mu Nianci listened quietly, and finally asked, "Will he cause trouble for the Iron Palm Clan?"

Lin Qi nodded: "Yes. He's impersonating the leader of the Iron Palm Clan. People don't know he's fake; they only know he looks exactly like my master. Everything he says and does outside is recorded in the Iron Palm Clan's records."

Mu Nianci lowered her head, her fingers lightly tracing circles on her knee. After thinking for a moment, she said, "So what do you plan to do? Go and bring him back?"

Lin Qi shook his head: "He hasn't caused any major trouble yet. Even if I arrest him, he won't admit it. Besides, he is my master's brother after all. If I arrest him in front of outsiders, people will only say that I don't care about family ties. The Iron Palm Clan has thousands of eyes watching. I can't let people gossip."

"So we're just going to ignore it?"

"We should intervene, but not now." Lin Qi's gaze fell on the mountain path in the distance, where twilight was swallowing the last rays of light. "He's gone to Guiyun Manor now, where there are many people and eyes, and he'll be exposed sooner or later. We should wait until he makes a big fuss, until he ruins his reputation, then we can take action. That way, it will be perfectly justified, and no one will be able to find fault with us."

Mu Nianci listened quietly without asking any more questions. The two sat side by side on the stone steps, watching the sunset gradually fade away.

Lin Qi was still thinking about something else.

Qiu Qianzhang went to Guiyun Manor, where Guo Jing and Huang Rong were also. There they would encounter Qiu Qianzhang, Huang Yaoshi, and Mei Chaofeng. He knew all about what happened at Guiyun Manor in the original story, but he didn't intend to interfere.

Having already obtained the Nine Yin Manual, going there now would only increase the uncertainty. Huang Yaoshi is a man who won't listen to reason, and if he's angered, his current martial arts skills aren't enough to protect him.

Mu Nianci suddenly spoke, her voice very soft: "Brother Lin, don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll be with you."

Lin Qi turned and glanced at her. The afterglow of the setting sun fell on her face; her features were gentle, and her gaze was calm and resolute. He nodded without saying anything.

Night deepened, and a mountain breeze blew down from Iron Palm Peak, carrying the fresh scent of pine needles. Wildflowers in the courtyard swayed gently in the wind, and the bouquet in the earthenware pot had been replaced several times; now it was white gardenias, with a delicate and pleasant fragrance.

Mu Nianci went inside and lit a lamp. The light shone through the window, making the courtyard feel warm and cozy.

Lin Qi stood up, walked to the courtyard wall, and practiced his palm strikes for a while longer.

He didn't know how much trouble Qiu Qianzhang would cause at Guiyun Manor, nor how long the Iron Palm Clan's peace could last. But one thing he was certain of—no matter how things changed outside, the Iron Palm Clan could not fall apart again.

This is the legacy left to him by his master, and the foundation upon which he stands in this world.

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