Although Tie Wuqing intervened,Meng Changhe was still unwilling to let Suxin off the hook.The grudge of avenging his son's death was an unbearable burden,especially considering Meng Changhe's age—he wouldn't be able to have another son.
"Tie Lord,you accused me of bullying the weak with the strong just now,right?Fine,I won't make a move.I'll let my disciple challenge Suxin in a life-and-death duel.Will he accept?"Meng Changhe turned to look at Suxin.
Suxin didn't hesitate and nodded,"Alright,I accept this life-and-death challenge."
Meng Changhe coldly declared,"Three days from now,I'll set up a platform in Changde Alley.It won't end until one of us is dead!"
Having said that,Meng Changhe left with his followers.The initially blood-soaked tragic incident ended inconclusively,but other factions gained some insights.At least,they now knew not to provoke Tie Wuqing,the Chief Constable of East Twelve District.
Before leaving,Shafeiying wanted to say something,but with Tie Wuqing present,he could only glare at Suxin with resentment and walk away.
Suxin gestured a thankful gesture to Tie Wuqing,"Thank you for your help today,Lord Tie."
Tie Wuqing's faint smile reappeared as he waved his hand,"You've helped me many times;it's time for me to return the favor.By the way,if you really want to thank me,forge me two more iron gallbladders.I don't want the one stained with that idiot's blood."
"Even if it's gold,it's fine,"Suxin joked.
"No,it has to be iron.If it's gold,I might hesitate to use it for hitting people,"Tie Wuqing replied with a chuckle.
After a playful exchange,Tie Wuqing looked towards Shafeiying,who had already left,and remarked,"You've really put your boss in a tough spot this time.Shafeiying is probably eating his heart out now."
Suxin remained composed,"It's their own choice.It has nothing to do with me.If they had chosen to support me instead of tossing me out to appease the anger of Three Heroes Association,they would have gained a lot of support.I didn't inform them about seeking your help intentionally."
Tie Wuqing pointed at Suxin,"You're quite cunning.I can see through it.You probably anticipated Shafeiying and others would make this choice,so you didn't tell them."
Suxin smiled without denying it.
"Why did you agree to Meng Changhe's life-and-death challenge in the end?With me here,Meng Changhe can't harm you,"Tie Wuqing inquired.
Suxin shook his head,"Lord Tie,you can help me this time,but you can't help me a second time.If I don't give Three Heroes Association an explanation this time,they'll likely employ more covert methods in the future.If I win this life-and-death duel,at least they won't dare to openly cross the line.Besides,one can't always rely on others to stand up for oneself.Some things need to be faced personally."
"I sometimes wonder how you grew up.Clearly,you're a young man,but your depth of understanding resembles that of a middle-aged person who has seen through the world,"Tie Wuqing remarked.
Suxin chuckled,"Growing up in the slums,without a bit of cunning,I would have been killed long ago.Besides,I have a younger sister to support.I don't want to die so early."
"But agreeing to Meng Changhe's request was somewhat reckless.Meng Changhe's disciples are not simple,"Tie Wuqing cautioned.
Suxin replied,"You don't know who Meng Changhe's master is?"
Suxin shook his head,and when he looked towards Huang Bingcheng,he also shook his head.Regarding the information about Three Heroes Association,Huang Bingcheng had only heard about it from others.There were no detailed records.
"He is not from a major sect?His lineage has some roots,though.His master,Zhou Dingfang,was from Southern Hunan but became a secular disciple of Shaolin Temple.After Shaolin disbanded all secular disciples,his master returned to Southern Hunan and established a courier agency.Meng Changhe is one of his most favored disciples,learning the Great Toppling Stone Hand,one of the seventy-two skills of Shaolin,"Tie Wuqing explained.
A secular disciple of Shaolin?Suxin was dumbfounded.Last time,he received a bottle of Little Elixir of Life,crafted by Shaolin Temple,from Lao Lang.Now,he encountered the successor of a secular disciple of Shaolin.Seeing Suxin's reaction,Tie Wuqing thought he was shocked and said,"Don't worry;there's also some good news.The first one is that secular disciples of Shaolin don't inherit the complete set of skills.Even if Meng Changhe inherited the seventy-two skills,they are incomplete and much less powerful than the original ones."
Moreover,Zhou Dingfang only trained Meng Changhe for a few years before passing away.Meng Changhe only obtained the incomplete version of the Great Toppling Stone Hand,one of the seventy-two ultimate skills.What he could impart to his disciple was limited to this technique and some basic martial arts from Shaolin Temple.
However,don't underestimate Meng Changhe because of this.In the upcoming life-and-death duel,Meng Changhe will undoubtedly send his senior disciple,Li Zhonghe,to fight.Li Zhonghe has been in the late stages of the Heavenly Realm for several years,with at least ninety acupoints opened.You've just recently broken through to the mid-stages of the Heavenly Realm,and there's a significant gap in combat experience.
"Thanks for providing me with this information,Lord Tie,"Suxin sincerely expressed his gratitude.
As the saying goes,knowing oneself and knowing the enemy results in a hundred victories.In martial arts battles,understanding the opponent's techniques and skills is crucial.
"No need to thank me.I saved you,and if you die in three days on the arena,it would be a loss of face for me,wouldn't it?"Tie Wuqing waved his hand and left.
"Boss,what should we do now?"Huang Bingcheng asked.
"What else can we do?I'm preparing to go into seclusion.I've just broken through to the mid-stages of the Heavenly Realm,and I need to familiarize myself with the power of this stage,"Suxin replied.
With each breakthrough,a martial artist's strength experiences explosive growth,making the body temporarily uncomfortable.Suxin,despite defeating Dong Chengwu earlier,still needed time to fully adapt to his newfound strength.
Besides,he believed that Meng Changhe's disciples would not be as weak as Dong Chengwu,who came from a smaller sect.After all,Meng Changhe was considered a disciple of Shaolin Temple,even if he was a secular disciple.
"By the way,instruct the person taking care of my sister not to let her know that I've come out of seclusion.Just tell her I've been in seclusion all along,"Suxin instructed.
Previously,while in seclusion at the entrance of the hall,Suxin had someone take care of Xiner's daily life.Even though he was out of seclusion now,he didn't want Xiner to hear the news and worry.
Huang Bingcheng nodded in understanding.Suxin also instructed Li Huai,who was in charge of the gang,to strengthen the management of Yongle Lane.With more than half of his subordinates gone,without proper management,the stability of Yongle Lane might fall into chaos again.
At this moment,Meng Changhe returned to Changde Alley's entrance with a gloomy face.After dispersing the gang members,Ning Luojun hesitated for a moment and said,"Big brother,I suggest you talk to Li Zhonghe.Even if he wins against Suxin in the life-and-death duel,don't take his life."
"What did you say!"Meng Changhe glared at Ning Luojun angrily."Suxin killed my only son,and you want me to spare him?Moreover,if I don't take Suxin's life,what's the point of this life-and-death duel?"
Ning Luojun shouted,"I'm not asking you to spare Suxin.I just don't want Three Heroes Association to completely offend Tie Wuqing!If he insists on protecting Suxin,and in case Li Zhonghe kills Suxin in the duel,do you think Tie Wuqing will forgive Three Heroes Association?"
Meng Changhe was momentarily speechless.The overwhelming strength of Tie Wuqing was still fresh in his memory.Even though Three Heroes Association had tens of thousands of members,he couldn't believe that Tie Wuqing would dare to take action against them.
"Big brother!Don't be naive.Tie Wuqing is different from other constables!Think about his surname—Tie.He comes from the Six Bureaus,likely belonging to the Tie family!I,Ning Luojun,have seen the world.Back then,I attended a banquet with my father at a prominent family in Southern Hunan.That family was powerful,with over thirty innate martial artists.However,during the banquet,three constables from the Six Bureaus exterminated the entire family!These three constables were from the Tie family,the founders of the Six Bureaus.At its peak,half of the constables in the Six Bureaus bore the surname Tie!"
"There are many people with the surname Tie in the world.Moreover,whether Tie Wuqing is from the Six Bureaus is just speculation from before.When you investigated him back then,the results only raised suspicions;there's no evidence to prove that Tie Wuqing comes from the Six Bureaus.Enough said.The revenge for my son's death is irreconcilable.Suxin must die!"Meng Changhe left with this statement,leaving Ning Luojun and Duan Xiao with gloomy expressions.
