Jianghu Qimen Lu

Xiang Quan sneered, "Are you still spouting nonsense?" Gui Jian, having lost so many teeth, spoke with a lisp, yet still managed to ask, "Young lady, your fists are so fast! It seems to be the Southern Fist style, renowned throughout Jiangnan. May I ask who you are, Xiang Quan, the head of the Southern Fist School?" Xiang Quan replied solemnly, "It's a wonder you even know about Southern Fist! I am Xiang Quan!" Gui Jian hurriedly bowed deeply, saying, "I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness, disturbing Headmaster Xiang! My apologies, my apologies! I'm so sorry!" It turned out that the Southern Fist School had been famous in the Jiangnan region for many years, its prestige deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people, and revered as a god by those in the martial arts world. Who would dare to be disrespectful?

Xiang Quan, somewhat impatient, said, "Enough with the nonsense, quickly take out the antidote to save him!" Gui Jian chuckled twice, "Antidote, is it? Alright! For the sake of Master Xiang, I'll spare that Qing Dynasty lackey Sun's life for now!" He took out a small porcelain bottle from the brocade pouch at his waist, poured out two small red pills, and handed them to Xiang Quan with both hands, respectfully saying, "Let him take these, and the poison will dissipate soon, and he'll wake up!" Xiang Quan carefully examined his expression, but his eyes were bright and unwavering. Only then did he realize that he was sincerely offering the medicine and had no intention of cheating. He couldn't help but ask, "You seven heroes of the Shi family are renowned figures in the martial arts world, why did you decide to fight the government troops today?" "Aren't you afraid of implicating your family later?" Gui Jian sighed and said, "The court is corrupt now, and the people are suffering. The poor are indeed pitiful, but the rich are also struggling to make ends meet due to endless exorbitant taxes! A few days ago, the magistrate of Yangzhou forcibly seized my ancestral grave, the Shi Gong Ancestral Hall, which infuriated all seven of us brothers. Unexpectedly, this morning, my seventh brother, Shi Qian, was killed by these soldiers without cause. So, in our anger and shame, we decided to fight them to the death! If they won't let us live, we'll fight them to the death!" Xiang Quan was speechless for a moment. Thinking of his own situation, he realized that he would be like a piece of duckweed on the water, drifting aimlessly, with no stable future. Weren't they just like him? A feeling of shared suffering welled up within him...

After a long silence, Xiangquan sighed earnestly, "We made the same mistake, because we were too impulsive! Once we become fugitives, not only will our families be implicated, but our future will be extremely difficult!" Guijian was greatly surprised, "Master Xiang, what happened to you? Has something happened to your family as well?" Xiangquan knew that they lived in seclusion in the countryside and rarely inquired about matters of the martial world, so it was no wonder they didn't know about his situation. He didn't hide anything and briefly explained. Guijian's blood boiled, and his eyes widened in anger, "Qianlong is truly domineering, cruel, and insatiable. No wonder Master Xiang wants to rebel! Master Xiang, from now on, we Shi brothers will serve under you! We will share life and death, wealth and poverty are up to fate, we accept it!" He immediately knelt down and bowed! Xiangquan quickly helped him up. With a sincere expression, Ghost Arrow asked, "So, Master Xiang has agreed to our request?" Xiang Quan sighed and said helplessly, "I am now a criminal, how can I implicate you any further? Once I revive Lightning, I will beg him to let you go, and you can live a peaceful life in the countryside from now on!" Seeing how much she cared for his brothers' future, Ghost Arrow was deeply moved. He quickly climbed to a high place, raised his arms, and shouted, "Big Brother, Second Brother! Quickly lead the brothers to stop fighting! This is Master Xiang, the leader of the Southern Fist School, the leader of the Jiangnan martial arts world! Big Brother, Second Brother, quickly lead the brothers to pay their respects!" His roar was like a thunderclap from a clear sky. Everyone on the battlefield felt their eardrums vibrate and buzz, and they immediately stopped fighting.

Feng Leisan, Xuehen, and two other brothers approached. They had long heard of Xiangquan's reputation, but had never had the chance to meet her. Today, seeing her, though a woman, they were impressed by her heroic bearing and extraordinary beauty. They couldn't help but admire her, thinking, "No wonder she's the leader of the Southern martial arts world! Truly extraordinary, with the air of a great general!" Introduced by Guijian, they quickly stepped forward to greet her. A sense of camaraderie arose. Knowing their future was uncertain, Feng Leisan and the others wanted a powerful backer. As the saying goes, it's good to have a big tree to shelter under, and they unanimously agreed with Guijian's idea. At his instruction, they all knelt before Xiangquan, begging her to accept them into the Southern Fist Sect!

Facing the kneeling crowd, Xiangquan felt no excitement, only deep concern. She earnestly said, "Brothers, you are all heroes, with families and households. You shouldn't make this decision so hastily! Following me means a life on the run, perhaps separated from your families, never to see them again! Perhaps you'll be hunted by the authorities, your families destroyed, your wives and children torn apart! This is a harsh reality, not child's play! We are all adults now, and we must always consider our families, for we must shoulder the burden of supporting them! I have thought this through carefully. Taking you in now will not only fail to help you, but will actually harm you." "Men! Let me clear my name before we speak! Today's brawl between the seven Shi brothers and the government troops was entirely a misunderstanding! Let's not discuss who was right or wrong, who benefited or suffered losses; let's just conclude for now that it was a misunderstanding! After we revive Lord Bai Shandian, I'll tell him to pretend this never happened and let him move on! You can all return to your Shi family village and continue living your lives as before! Isn't that better? There's no need to get involved in the intrigues of officialdom; that would harm you and your families!" Upon hearing this, the Shi brothers were deeply moved. Overwhelmed with emotion, their noses tingled, and they collapsed to the ground, weeping bitterly! Xiang Quan had struck a chord with them! To be honest, they all regretted their actions at that moment! Even their eldest brother, Feng Leisan, was filled with remorse for his impulsive decision that had led him down a path of no return! Hearing Xiangquan's words now was like seeing a guiding light in the long night, leading him out of darkness and back into the light! Wasn't Xiangquan his savior? Could he be the merciful and compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva incarnate?!

Feng Leisan raised her square face, blurred with tears: "Master Xiang, on behalf of the brothers, thank you! You are truly a living bodhisattva who saves us from suffering! With your words, the Shi brothers will obey your every command from now on, even if it means going through fire and water!" Xiang Quan waved her hand and said, "Alright, everyone get up! I'll go feed Shan Dian the antidote." Everyone stood up and followed her, surrounding Bai Shan Dian like stars around the moon. Xiang Quan took out the two pills, picked up Bai Shan Dian, and was about to force-feed them to him. Just then, Feng Leisan called out, "Third Uncle, hurry and go to the ancestral hall to get a bowl of warm water! Can't you see Master Xiang feeding him medicine? Go quickly!" Shi Yanshi, hiding behind the crowd, was startled, gave him a disgusted look, and turned away silently.

Xiang Quan glanced at the departing Shi Yanshi and publicly reprimanded Feng Leisan, saying, "As the eldest of the Seven Heroes of the Shi Clan, I must criticize you! Your third uncle is old and frail; couldn't you send a young man to fetch water?!" Feng Leisan hurriedly bowed and said, "Yes! I know I was wrong." He then ordered the fourth brother—a bald monk carrying a crescent-shaped shovel staff—to chase after his third uncle. This bald monk wasn't actually a monk; his wife had run off with someone else years ago, and he had severed all ties with the world, vowing never to marry again. In a fit of anger, he shaved his head to show his resolve and diligently practiced the Shaolin Shovel Staff Mad Demon Staff Technique, eventually becoming the head of the Zhenwei Martial Arts School in Yangzhou. Due to his eccentric and reclusive personality, and his ruthless methods, he was known in the martial arts world as "Thief Fierce!"

After he brought over a bowl of water, Xiang Quan took it and fed Bai Shandian the medicine. A short while later, with a loud "whoosh," Bai Shandian suddenly spat out three mouthfuls of foul blood. Gradually, the blackness on his face faded, and he stirred, slowly opening his eyes. Hong Yueliang, both surprised and delighted, rushed to his side, weeping with joy, "Shandian, you're awake! You scared me to death!" Unexpectedly, Hong Quan rushed forward, grabbed her collar, and forcefully lifted her into the air, throwing her aside. He roared in a rough voice, "Who do you think you are? Get out of my way!" In front of so many people, Hong Yueliang was mortified. Seeing Huang Miwu about to rush up and teach Hong Quan a lesson, he quickly whispered, "Forget it!" Huang Miwu stopped, glaring at Hong Quan, but then burst into a tirade: "You one-eyed dragon, meddling like a dog trying to catch a mouse! Who does she think she is to you, a lowly servant? Why are you interfering?" Unable to bear it any longer, Huang Miwu leaped in front of her, her left fist flashing out like lightning. Hong Quan hurriedly stretched out his arm to block, but missed completely, the fist immediately retracting—a feint! Her right palm, however, struck out like a storm—with several crisp slaps, Hong Quan was slapped three times across the face!