Chapter 124: The Alliance Attacks

Three days later, just as Liu Huagang emerged from his depression, he asked Chen Erpao for permission to attack Heng Hall. Unless he wiped them out completely, it seemed he would never be able to vent his anger, as though only such an assault could release the emotions he had kept bottled up inside.

Chen Erpao granted his request. At the same time, he ordered Yellow Hair to hasten his investigation into the identity of the other traitor. Yet that traitor seemed to have vanished, or perhaps had simply lost the courage to act again. For a long time, not the slightest trace of him appeared.

Ten days later, the decisive battle between the Righteous Gate and Heng Hall was raging like wildfire. Meanwhile, Lingnan was flooded by a host of unexpected visitors, throwing the region into turmoil and making its waters murky with dragons and snakes. Most of them had been dispatched by mainland forces to establish a presence there. Even such mainland sects as the Iron Sword Sect, which had suffered heavy losses the last time, had sent considerable numbers, including many formidable experts.

They had apparently investigated the relationship between their target, Wang Xuemei, and Chen Erpao. If they wanted to seize the treasure, Chen Erpao was unquestionably an obstacle, while the Righteous Gate he had founded was an even greater barrier.

Apart from the men required to deal with Heng Hall, Chen Erpao recalled nearly all his forces to the Lingnan region. This time, their opponents were not an underworld organization like Heng Hall, but mainland martial sects. Though their numbers were far smaller than Heng Hall’s, their individual combat strength was on an entirely different level. The street thugs outside could not compare with them in the slightest.

The alliance formed by the Iron Sword Sect, the Tongbei Boxing Sect, and several other schools had sent nearly all its men to Hong Kong the previous time, only for almost every one of them to fall to the Righteous Gate. This had filled them with fury and made them the laughingstock of many other sects.

Although the various sects had sent fewer people this time, those who came were the very best of the younger generation, and each group was accompanied by senior experts. They were determined not only to obtain the Pirate King’s treasure, but also to avenge their former disgrace.

There was no wall in the world through which wind could not pass. As Wang Xuemei’s man, Chen Erpao made the Righteous Gate an enormous obstacle to the mainland alliances seeking the treasure.

The alliance led by the Iron Sword Sect quickly joined forces with several other alliances, intending to remove the Righteous Gate from their path first. Their purpose was obvious: they wanted to use this opportunity to borrow someone else’s hand to take revenge.

Apart from the Four Great Ancient Martial Families and the Alliance of Rising Families, which had made no public declaration of hostility toward the Righteous Gate, every other mainland alliance had turned its attention toward it.

By now, Chen Erpao’s arrangements for protecting Wang Xuemei included the Black and White Fiends and the Ten Iron Guards. He had also drawn a number of elite fighters from the Blood Hall and the Guard Hall. If anything happened, he could reach her within a short time from anywhere in the Lingnan region.

That day, golden sunlight poured down beneath a clear sky. Apart from Yellow Hair, everyone at the Righteous Gate headquarters had gone out.

The headquarters’ security was second only to Wang Xuemei’s personal protection. In Lingnan, and even throughout Tuen Mun, no one dared cause trouble there. It was not merely the several dozen guards who provided its security. The ten members of the Scarlet Guard, personally trained for months by Liu Huagang and Wang Xing, were enough by themselves to hold off most enemies.

Suddenly, a group of uninvited guests shattered the peace of the headquarters. Before the ten ordinary members guarding the entrance could understand what was happening, four young men stormed in and sent them flying.

“Who are you? You’ve got some nerve! Do you know what kind of place this is? You’re practically asking for—”

A vicious-looking man quickly scrambled to his feet and began delivering the usual threat. But before he could finish, a leg flashed before his eyes, and he was sent flying backward. The others stared at one another in shock.

The commotion in the main hall immediately attracted the attention of the others. Before long, more and more men poured out, surrounding the four newcomers. The ten members of the Scarlet Guard rushed out right afterward. They were the principal force defending the headquarters, and their strength was second only to that of the Ten Iron Guards.

“I am Chen Shu, representing the mainland alliance led by Overlord Martial Hall.”

“I am Zhao Wuji, representing the mainland alliance led by the Hengshan Sect.”

“I am Sun Dong, representing the mainland alliance led by the Great Earth Gate.”

The last young man gave a cold laugh, an ominous gleam flashing in his eyes.

“My name is Li Chen. I represent the mainland alliance led by the Iron Sword Sect and the Tongbei Boxing Sect. Surely you remember us. You were truly ruthless back then, slaughtering nearly everyone we sent here.”

All four were the foremost talents of their respective alliances. The oldest was only twenty-seven or twenty-eight, while the youngest was just over twenty. Each wore an arrogant expression, as though the dozens of men surrounding them were beneath their notice.

Yellow Hair was also alarmed by the disturbance and strode over. As the head of the Righteous Gate’s Intelligence Hall, he was no longer the street thug he had once been. His status was entirely different now, and he carried the faintly imposing air of a man in power.

At first, he had assumed Heng Hall had come to raid the headquarters. But when he arrived and saw only four young men, he could not help being surprised. How could these four dare barge directly into the Righteous Gate’s headquarters? And how could they remain utterly fearless while surrounded by dozens of people, as though they had no concern about entering but never getting out?

Yellow Hair said calmly, “Not bad. The foremost young experts of the four great alliances truly are extraordinary. But you barged in here and injured our men. Do you take the Righteous Gate for an organization with no one in it?”

“Hmph.” Li Chen’s expression darkened. “What? After killing dozens of members of our Iron Sword Alliance, we are not even allowed to come here and collect a little interest?”

Zhao Wuji seemed to possess considerable authority among the four. His tall, powerful frame, shoulder-length black hair, and deep-set eyes gave him an extraordinary presence. The Hengshan Sect to which he belonged had been passed down through the ages in China and had flourished without decline. It had once been honored as one of China’s Five Ancient Sects, standing alongside Mount Hua, Kongtong, Emei, and Shaolin.

“Our purpose in coming is simply to notify you that, three days from now, you are to hand Wang Xuemei over to us and stop interfering in our affairs with her. If you do that, the mainland forces will leave the Righteous Gate in peace. If you refuse, do not blame us for joining forces and wiping the Righteous Gate from the face of the earth.”

“Wait.” Li Chen’s expression changed, and he hurriedly interrupted him. “Wasn’t it agreed that we would first destroy the Righteous Gate and then seize that woman? The people of our Iron Sword Alliance cannot have died for nothing.”

Sun Dong glanced at him indifferently. “That is a matter for your Iron Sword Alliance. Our objective is merely the woman and what lies behind her. Dragging the people of our several alliances into your vendetta is not worth the price.”

“You—” Li Chen clenched his teeth in hatred, but there was nothing he could do at that moment. He could only report the matter to his superiors as quickly as possible.

Yellow Hair could not help frowning. The four alliances represented more than a dozen forces. Although they were in Hong Kong, on his own turf, they would still be difficult to deal with. Yet the blood and pride of a street fighter—especially one of his standing—would not allow him to show weakness.

“That sounds impressive, but do you take the Righteous Gate for a weakling you can squeeze whenever you please? We now have several hundred elite members and three thousand affiliated followers. You will not be allowed to run wild in Hong Kong.”

“Then you’re asking to die.”

Li Chen had been holding back his fury for far too long. At last, he could restrain himself no longer. His body blurred like lightning as he rushed forward, making straight for Yellow Hair.