When the Zhang family’s carriage passed through Xuanwu Gate, the guards of the Five City Military and Horse Division, skipping the usual inspection, stood even more rigidly than usual.

After dropping Pao Ge and Er Dao off at the inn entrance, the six carriages, which had traveled separately, did not head to the Imperial Guard Commander’s Residence. Instead, they eventually converged in Chengen Temple Hutong, next to the foundry.

Inside the carriage, Xiaoman curiously asked, “Second Sister, where are we?”

Zhang Xia sat silently in the carriage, masked, muttering scriptures and offering no reply. Once they arrived, she disembarked and motioned for everyone to follow.

This was a secluded area in the southwest corner of the inner city, with Chengen Temple to the north and Stone Lamp Nunnery to the south. The few houses nestled between them made the place exceptionally quiet.

Zhang Xia approached a house and knocked on the door with a distinct rhythm—three quick knocks followed by two slow ones. Someone inside opened the large door.

The Imperial Guards filed in, only to find over ten men awake in the courtyard, guarding a lit brazier over which two lamb legs were roasting.

Upon seeing Zhang Xia enter, masked, they immediately stood, cupped their hands, and bowed silently.

Chen Ji recognized these men.

They had been part of the group when they left Luocheng earlier. Zhang Zhuo had once mentioned that they were all loyal death-sworn guards of the Zhang family.

Zhang Xia entered the main hall, found a large sheet of Xuan paper, and spread it on the desk. She picked up a brush, and while silently chanting scriptures, she casually drew a map of “Zhengxi Fang,” marking names like Baishun Hutong, Hanjia Tan Hutong, and Yanzhi Hutong.

She was multitasking.

Chen Ji waited quietly to the side. Seeing that Chen Ji was in no hurry, the Imperial Guards also patiently held their ground.

Once the map was complete, Zhang Xia finally spoke, pointing to Li Samao Hutong on the map and stating, “The Heji gang has stationed eighty-four men here, sixty-three in Hanjia Tan Hutong, twenty-one in Shitong Hutong, and forty-two in Wang Guangfu Xiejie…”

The Imperial Guards all looked at Zhang Xia, seemingly surprised that she had quietly observed so many details while ostensibly just joining in the commotion.

Li Xuan, still masked, said in a deep voice, “Are they defending against us? All their men are gathered around Li Samao Hutong.”

Chen Ji calmly replied, “Heji lost the wrestling match, but they don’t intend to surrender Li Samao Hutong. They aren’t defending against us; they’re defending against Furui Xiang.”

Li Xuan nodded, “No wonder there are so many of them.”

Chen Ji pondered, “When we go again tomorrow, we cannot attack from Li Samao Hutong. Since Heji isn’t playing by the rules, we won’t stick to the wrestling custom either. First, we’ll wear them down, then overwhelm them, creating a local advantage.”

However, Li Xuan suddenly interjected, “Training our troops is enough; there’s no need to make Heji our enemy or to utterly defeat them. We don’t know who Heji’s backers are, and if this escalates to the point where they intervene, it might be difficult to resolve.”

Zhang Xia cast a glance at Li Xuan. She knew very well that while Chen Ji spoke of troop training, his true objective went far beyond that. To gain control of the finances of the Eight Great Hutongs, they would inevitably have to bring Heji down and crush them completely.

She pondered for a moment and then said, “We must defeat Heji. Otherwise, how will you know how an enemy reacts when pushed to the brink? Right now, everyone is holding back and isn’t willing to unleash full force, but a true battlefield isn’t like that. We must fight until we’re seeing red; only then will the final step of troop training be complete. Otherwise, it’s just child’s play… As for how to conclude it, we’ll figure that out when the time comes.”

Chen Ji nodded in agreement, echoing, “This formation is new to us. We must put ourselves in a dangerous situation to truly test its effectiveness.”

Li Xuan appeared thoughtful. “That makes sense,” he said.

Duo Bao and the others seemed slightly agitated. “Ever since returning from Guyuan, clocking in for shifts every day, we’ve had no energy,” Duo Bao said. “Now that we finally have something to do, let’s take on this troublesome Heji gang.”

Li Cen also chimed in, “After we’re done with Heji, we’ll take on Furui Xiang!”

Li Xuan shot them a glance. “Is it honorable for us to fight against mere street thugs?” he rebuked. “What are you shouting about?”

After speaking, he turned his attention back to the map. “Tomorrow, there might be even more thugs in Li Samao Hutong,” he mused. “Where should we launch our attack?”

Chen Ji and Zhang Xia simultaneously pointed to a spot on the side of the map, stating confidently, “Here.”

With the strategy discussed, Zhang Xia began assigning roles.

Pointing to Qi Zhenzhuo, she said, “Your thirty-odd men will divide into three teams. The three leading spearmen are the linchpins of the formation; they must be decisive in combat. You won’t do; someone else needs to take your place.”

Qi Zhenzhuo seemed about to speak but stopped. He wanted to refuse, but he knew she was right.

Zhang Xia then turned to the three archers. “You won’t be able to use your bows and crossbows today, so you three haven’t been able to contribute much, have you?”

The three Imperial Guards nodded. “We can only use spears to support,” one of them confirmed, “but we don’t get many opportunities.”

Zhang Xia thought for a moment. “For now, use ox-tendon slingshots to fire iron pellets,” she instructed. “Your task isn’t to kill, but to harass. If a comrade falls into danger, you must provide support from a distance.”

She then addressed the shield-bearers armed with tridents. “Your role is to protect the four spearmen in the center as they engage the enemy. Don’t be too eager to kill yourselves, or you’ll disrupt the formation.”

Duo Bao raised his hand. “Instructor, I have something to say,” he began. “The bamboo is too soft. The branches brushing against faces at best only serve as a distraction. As soon as an enemy gets determined, they’ll just charge right through the bamboo. I tried several times to parry their axes, but the bamboo was too soft to block anything; it just got shredded after a few hacks.”

Chen Ji explained, “The bamboo was originally meant to be soaked in tung oil, with iron spearheads attached to the tips and poisons like arsenic applied to the branches, to make them truly intimidating. Additionally, I had requested bamboo sixteen feet long, but bamboo that long isn’t available in the north, which significantly reduced their deterrent effect.”

Zhang Xia suddenly interjected, “Switch to iron.”

Duo Bao’s eyes lit up.

Zhang Xia looked at Chen Ji. “If these were ordinary soldiers, they naturally wouldn’t be able to wield sixteen-foot-long iron weapons; they’d have to use bamboo.”

She pointed to Duo Bao and the others. “But they are different,” she continued. “They are ‘Xing Guan’ practitioners.”

Chen Ji lowered his head in thought. “How heavy would a sixteen-foot-long, slender iron weapon be?”

Zhang Xia stated with certainty, “Ninety jin. If made hollow, it would be thirty-two jin, but there’s no time to make hollow ones now.”

“Ninety jin? Only those at the Xiantian realm can wield something like that with ease,” Chen Ji exclaimed, raising his voice. “Who among you can handle it?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Duo Bao, Li Cen, Qi Zhenzhuo, and others raised their hands. Chen Ji quickly counted, “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven…” Even among the Imperial Guards, only a handful could easily wield such iron bamboo poles.

But if they truly used iron bamboo poles, the Heji thugs would be in for a world of pain.

Chen Ji asked curiously, “What are the specific abilities of your ‘Xing Guan’ paths? Can you explain?”

Duo Bao and the others exchanged glances, then began to explain. “Instructor,” he said, “our families bought our ‘Xing Guan’ cultivation methods from the Panjiayuan Ghost Market for hundreds of taels of silver. There are too many people cultivating the same paths, so before reaching the Seeking Dao realm, they primarily serve only to strengthen the body. Our ability to enter the Xiantian realm was also achieved by our families spending vast amounts of money.”

Li Cen gave a wry smile. “Having too many people cultivate the same path also has a downside,” he admitted. “Two years ago, when I visited the Lantern Festival, I encountered several ‘Xing Guan’ with the same path during the festival. I had heart palpitations several times that night and almost thought I was going to die…”

Zhang Xia then spoke. “It’s getting late. Everyone, please go back and rest,” she instructed. “You won’t need to carry your weapons tomorrow; I’ll ensure everything is properly prepared for you.”

At Hai Shi (9 PM to 11 PM) on the second day, the six carriages once again stopped in front of the Imperial Guard Commander’s Residence.

The Imperial Guards expertly boarded the carriages, covered themselves with gray cloth, and quietly sat inside, resting with their eyes closed. The six carriages then separated on Chang’an Avenue, exiting the inner city through Chongwen Gate, Zhengyang Gate, and Xuanwu Gate. They eventually stopped in a small hutong off Zhengyang Avenue.

When the carriages halted, a family in the hutong opened their door. Zhang Xia, still muttering scriptures, gestured for the Imperial Guards to enter the courtyard.

She lifted the cellar lid. Chen Ji looked down to see it filled with prepared spears, rattan shields, iron wolf-brushes, tridents, and ox-tendon slingshots.

The Imperial Guards carried the weapons to the ground, each man grabbing his chosen armament. They then turned and exited the courtyard, heading toward the Eight Great Hutongs of Zhengxi Fang.

In Li Samao Hutong, Master Qian was practicing his stance, standing suspended without a moment’s pause. Gradually, a faint green mist began to emanate from the top of his head, coiling without dissipating, like clouds clinging to a mountainside.

But just as this white mist began to solidify, a thug rushed over, cupping his hands in greeting. “Master Qian,” he said.

The mist around him wavered. Master Qian, still with his eyes closed, asked, “Still no sign of them?”

The thug replied shamefully, “We’ve searched almost the entire outer city, but we can’t find that group of people at all.”

Master Qian calmly stated, “In the entire outer city, only the Three Mountains Association or the Grand Canal Gang would be capable of hiding such a group… Unless, of course, they’ve gone into the inner city.”

The thug whispered, “The Dragon Head was furious today, cursing the brothers mercilessly. He said if this group continues to cause trouble, Heji will be utterly humiliated.”

Master Qian slowly asked, “Where is the Dragon Head?”

The thug looked uncomfortable and remained silent.

Master Qian opened his eyes and gazed coldly at him.

The thug quickly explained, “The Dragon Head went to Funing Nunnery in Chongnan Ward. He’s recently been quite taken with that nun from Funing Nunnery…”

Master Qian growled, “Is that something you should be saying?”

The thug recoiled slightly. “You asked me, sir… What do we do now? We can’t find those people anywhere.”

Master Qian slowly closed his eyes again. “No matter,” he said. “They will come again. As long as they return to Li Samao Hutong today, we’ll make sure they don’t leave.”

Just then, however, a thug frantically rushed through the narrow alley. “Master Qian, bad news!” he cried. “That group has gone to Zhujia Hutong, and our brothers there have been beaten!”

Master Qian immediately shot to his feet. “This is bad,” he muttered.

The thug asked, “Master Qian, what should we do?”

Master Qian immediately shouted, “Everyone out! To Zhujia Hutong! Remember what I told you yesterday: first, cut down the bamboo poles in their hands!”

The next moment, swarms of thugs poured out of the brothels in Li Samao Hutong. These thugs had been hiding, waiting for the masked group to come to them, but the opponents had feinted and attacked elsewhere instead.

At that moment, in Zhujia Hutong, three teams in a ‘Mandarin Duck Formation,’ like three long spears, thrust deep into the heart of the Eight Great Hutongs, leaving twenty-one fallen thugs in their wake.

A guest on the second floor pushed open a window and looked down. Chen Ji, masked, coldly stared back up at the window, startling the guest, who quickly closed it, leaving only a small crack to peer through.

The Imperial Guards quickly marched through Zhujia Hutong. As they reached a crossroads, Chen Ji suddenly shouted, “Stop!”

The Imperial Guards, spears in hand, halted instantly, transitioning from motion to stillness in a single moment.

Those secretly watching from Zhujia Hutong were puzzled. What was this group doing, stopping at the crossroads?

The next moment, over twenty Heji thugs rushed in from the south and west sides of the crossroads. They had heard the commotion and come to provide backup, but they were caught completely off guard, walking directly into the Imperial Guards’ ambush.

Li Xuan roared, “Kill!”

The three ‘Mandarin Duck Formation’ teams instantly split, one heading south, two heading west, and charged forward.

The thugs had switched to plain sabers today, hoping to immediately cut down the bamboo poles. However, the moment they struck, their sabers sparked against the targets, emitting a harsh, grating clang of metal on metal.

A thug cried out in alarm, “It’s not bamboo! It’s iron!”

“How did they switch to iron?!”

Qi Zhenzhuo was seen swinging his “iron bamboo pole” towards a thug’s face. The cold, “branch-like” protrusions swept across the man’s face, instantly mangling his flesh and forcing him to retreat in panic.

Zhou Chong seized the opportunity to step forward, thrusting his spear butt into the thug’s abdomen. The thug screamed and collapsed.

In just a single encounter today, the Imperial Guards routed the thugs guarding both alleys, leaving Heji completely defenseless. Some thugs, hidden in the shadows, hurled throwing knives, but these were easily deflected by the rattan shields within the formation.

The archers at the rear of the formation pulled back their slingshots and retaliated. Unfortunately, their aim was poor; they could only scare people but failed to hit anyone.

The thugs fled deeper into the alley. The Imperial Guards were about to give chase when they heard Chen Ji shout, “Their reinforcements are coming! Retreat!”

The Imperial Guards swiftly re-formed and retreated, leaving Zhujia Hutong cleanly, with only a ground full of wailing thugs in their wake. It was only after the Imperial Guards had completely vanished that Master Qian arrived with a large contingent of his men.

He surveyed the scene of widespread wailing across the three alleys, then took a deep breath before asking, “Where are they? Didn’t I tell you to cut down the bamboo first? Why isn’t there a single bamboo splinter on the ground?”

A thug on the ground struggled to say, “They switched to iron weapons today, and they’re four feet longer than yesterday’s! We couldn’t parry them at all!”

“Master Qian,” another added, “that wretched military formation is utterly bizarre; we have absolutely no way to deal with those people!”

Master Qian was stunned. “They switched to iron weapons? Hollow or solid?”

The thug replied, “The sound of impact was dull—they were solid!”

Master Qian then asked, “How many of them were wielding those iron weapons?”

“Six!”

Master Qian quickly considered. How many jin would an iron weapon over ten feet long weigh? At least several tens of jin—only a ‘Xing Guan’ at the Xiantian realm could wield it.

That masked group consisted of only thirty-eight people in total, yet it already included one Great ‘Xing Guan’ at the Seeking Dao realm and six more at the Xiantian realm… Where did such a group of ‘Xing Guan’ practitioners suddenly appear from?

“The Three Mountains Association? The Grand Canal Gang? The Imperial Legion? The Lanterns?”

Master Qian stood at the dark, deep crossroads, gazing into the shadows at the end of the alley. “Heji is in deep trouble,” he murmured to himself.

As he pondered, he suddenly heard someone shouting in the distance, “Master Qian, it’s bad! That group has gone back to Li Samao Hutong!”

Master Qian immediately set off, but by the time he led his men to Li Samao Hutong, they found only a mess, the group having already vanished without a trace.

Faced with such a group of ‘Xing Guan’ practitioners who appeared and disappeared at will, along with an unheard-of battle formation, Master Qian suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness.

He lowered his head and thought for a moment, then whispered to the thug beside him, “Go and invite Furui Xiang’s Dragon Head here. Tell him that Heji is willing to concede Li Samao Hutong and Hanjia Tan Hutong to Furui Xiang. With an external enemy upon us, personal grievances must be set aside for now. I will invite an ‘intermediary’ to witness our blood oath before the Ancestor’s statue, so we can unite against our common foe.”

The thug was startled. “Master Qian,” he asked, “they’re only about thirty people. Is all this really necessary?”

Master Qian said solemnly, “This group is keeping their true abilities hidden. We might not have even seen their full strength yet. Just go as I instructed. If we don’t prepare now, it will be too late to fight back once they’ve worn us down!”

The thug turned to leave, but after taking only half a step, Master Qian pulled him back and whispered, “Tell Zhu Guan that he was the one who personally sold that Pao Ge. If he stands by and watches, he’ll be the next one to suffer.”

Once that man had departed, Master Qian designated another thug. “You go to Chongnan Ward and find the Dragon Head,” he instructed. “Explain to him clearly that Heji must summon all the ‘Xing Guan’ from the Inner Eight Halls this time… The River Dragon has arrived.”

A gust of wind swept through the alley. Master Qian stood silently beneath a swaying red lantern, watching his thugs depart to deliver the messages.

When the wind died down, he lifted his robes and walked deeper into the alley.

A thug curiously asked, “Master Qian, where are you going?”

“The Three Mountains Association.”