Raising Orphans, Not Assassins

The next day. Chen Ye and the little blind boy got up early, had breakfast, and went to Tieque Villa in the suburbs of Jiangning County like most warriors in the city. "Those with waves and clouds on the chest, that's the people of the Haijing Gang. The gang leader Qiong Longshan is a first-class master, and his pair of Jingtao Palms are invincible along the coast!" "Let's not mess with them." "A red robe with copper coins embroidered on the chest? That's Master Huoyun of Wanjin Hall, an early second-class master, and his father is the Fire Dragon King, one of the twelve hall masters. "Let's stay away from them." The little blind boy listened to Chen Ye's description and kept talking about the identities of the people around him. Chen Ye looked at the five people not far away and said, "Holding iron fans, flying claws, and crescent-shaped shovels, wearing yellow-brown brocade clothes, and with mountain embroidery on the back, which sect are they from?" "Look, are there five people?" "Yes." The little blind boy lowered his voice and said, "Those are the Five Sons of Kongtong, masters of the younger generation of Kongtong Sect. Their martial arts are mysterious and complicated. Their weapon techniques and fist and palm techniques are interconnected. A single weapon can be used like several different weapons. They are very powerful and are all in the late third rank.” "Although these five are not strong individually, they like to fight in groups. It's better to be careful. Let's avoid them." Along the way, through the little blind boy, Chen Ye got to know many sects and organizations. The journey was not long. Near noon, Chen Ye and the little blind boy arrived at Tieque Villa. Tieque Villa is very large. It covers an area of ​​more than 100 acres. The courtyard walls are paved with turquoise tiles, which reflect emerald light under the sunlight. The ground is paved with stone slabs that look like they were carved from white jade, and various trees are planted in the garden. In front of the gate of Tieque Villa, an old man in an indigo gown, with gray hair and vigorous spirit stood in front of the gate. Many martial artists stood around him. These warriors, holding weapons in their hands, stood in groups of three or four near the manor, their eyes cold and alert. When Chen Ye and the little blind boy came to the gate, there was still half an hour before the official start of the selection of disciples. At noon, people could enter the garden. Chen Ye and the little blind boy stood not far from the gate, identifying the warriors by names. Master Huoyun of Wanjin Hall, the Five Sons of Kongtong, the Young Master of the Haijing Gang, the five generations of disciples of Kunlun Sect, the disciples of the Beggar Gang... among them were also scattered people from all over the world. "Brother Tian, why don't I see anyone from the Five Peaks Sword Sect and the Three Daoist Sects?" Chen Ye looked around and didn't see any disciples from the big sects. The little blind boy scratched his ear with his nails, grinning as he said, "Even if the Five Peaks Sword Sect doesn’t have anything important going on, they won’t come down the mountain." "Besides, Qing Xuzi beat up all the sect leaders of the Five Peaks Sword Sect back in the day. If their disciples came down to join the selection, their sect leaders and elders would probably beat them to death." "As for the three Daoist sects, they definitely won’t come." "Qing Xuzi has already chosen his successor." Chen Ye's heart stirred, and he asked curiously, "Chosen a successor?" "Since the successor has been chosen, why go through all this trouble with such a grand selection?" The little blind boy suddenly fell silent and laughed, "I don’t know about that." "Anyway, it has nothing to do with me. I’m just here to find someone." "Find someone? What do they look like? If I see them, I’ll tell you." Chen Ye knew the little blind boy knew quite a lot, but when it came to certain matters, the boy was tight-lipped and nothing could be pried out of him. "I don’t know what they look like, but the person I’m looking for is the same one Zhang Zhiling is looking for." The little blind boy flicked the earwax he had scraped out with his nails and said. Chen Ye understood. "Are you looking for the successor selected by Zhang Zhiling?" "Yes." As the two of them talked, time passed by. The housekeeper of Tieque Villa looked at the sun and knew that the time had come. He coughed lightly, and the low voice was like thunder. The warriors who were originally a little noisy all heard their ears ring at the same time, and they couldn't help but look at the housekeeper. The little blind boy grinned, covered his ears and said, "This man has deep internal strength, at least a second-grade master." Chen Ye looked at the old man, who had an indifferent expression. Although his hair was gray, he looked like he was only in his sixties. "Everyone!" "I guess you are all here to participate in my master's selection of disciples!" "Let’s not say too much nonsense." "The first rule set by my master is: Those above the second-grade realm are qualified to inherit his mansion!" The old man's voice was loud, and when he spoke, it was as if thunder rumbled in everyone's ears. After the housekeeper finished speaking, all the warriors present changed their faces. "Above the second-grade realm? What a joke!" "There are only a few second-grade realms in each sect!" "You are kidding me!" "Damn it, I rushed eight hundred miles, for three days, and you tell me that I am not qualified?" The warriors around were discussing angrily. Most of these people were in the third or fourth-grade realm. In the entire martial arts world, the second-grade realm is considered the backbone and inheritor of the sect. After hearing this request, Chen Ye was also a little surprised. "Isn't Qing Xuzi's request too grand?" After chatting with the little blind boy, Chen Ye knew a lot about the martial arts world. "As long as it is above the second grade, are you trying to poach the inheritors of other sects?" The little blind boy smiled and said, "It's intentional. I said it was already decided." The old housekeeper standing in front of the villa suddenly changed his face. Some of the warriors around were cursing Qing Xuzi's ancestors. "Swoosh!" Several sounds of breaking through the air were heard. "Ah!" "Ah!" And it was accompanied by several screams. Five or six warriors around had a golden dart on their throats. They covered their throats with disbelief. "Hehe..." The warriors made a few vague sounds and fell to the ground. The ground suddenly had a few more bloody streaks. This sudden move startled all the warriors present. The old housekeeper snorted coldly, and the sound was like thunder, deafening. "Whoever insults the master again will see the end at that instant, although I am old, I still have some strength in my hands and feet." As soon as these words came out, all the warriors around shut their mouths. "It's him! Golden Thunder Dart - Hong Jinlei!" Someone exclaimed in a low voice, recognizing the identity of the old housekeeper. Everyone was startled, and looked at the old housekeeper with a little more fear. Chen Ye whispered in the little blind boy's ear: "Who is he?" "Hong Jinlei, a hidden weapon master who has been in the martial arts world for 20 years, second-grade realm, deep internal strength, because his voice is like thunder and he is good at using gold darts, so he is nicknamed Golden Thunder Dart." "He used to be the third in command of the Taihang Mountain bandits. He met Zhang Zhiling during a robbery and then disappeared." "Everyone thought he was dead, but he was actually Zhang Zhiling's housekeeper." The surrounding warriors all shut up when they learned that the old housekeeper in front of them was Jin Leibiao who had been in the Taihang Mountain 20 years ago. A second-grade master is far from being something that these low-level warriors can provoke. "It turns out to be Senior Hong. My master once had a friendship with Senior Hong in Taihang Mountain." The fifth-generation disciple of Kunlun School stepped forward, performed the junior's salute, and said with a bow. Hong Jinlei glanced at the man, recognized the Kunlun School's clothes, and nodded with a much more relaxed expression. Seeing Hong Jinlei's expression of ease, the Kunlun School disciple smiled: "Disciple Liu Kaiyun, the Red Sand Palm has been perfected." Hong Jinlei exhaled and spoke, his voice like thunder: "Come up and try it!" Liu Kaiyun heard the words, displayed his body skills, his feet were light, and his figure flashed in front of Hong Jinlei. He clasped his fists and bowed, saying: "Senior Hong, please!" Hong Jinlei nodded. Liu Kaiyun retracted his fists, moved his body skills, and approached Hong Jinlei within three feet. He changed his fists into palms, and a dark red luster flashed on his palms. That was the power of the Red Sand Palm. Hong Jinlei glanced at Liu Kaiyun lightly, and struck out with his right palm without any fancy elements. The two palms collided. "Bang!" There was a loud sound. Liu Kaiyun was knocked back several steps by Hong Jinlei, and his face changed from yellow to red, and then from red to yellow, and returned to normal. Hong Jinlei said calmly: "Yes, you have achieved the Great Mastery of Red Sand Palm, you are qualified." "Stand behind me." Kunlun Sect's Liu Kaiyun showed a happy expression and walked behind Hong Jinlei. Seeing that one person passed easily, the surrounding warriors all became agitated.

TL Notes: Tieque Villa: The previous translator called it Iron Sparrow Villa but I want to use the Pinyin. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om