Volume 1 Chapter 16: Into the Lost City
Lin Jianlan followed Qin Tianxiong through many twists and turns and had lost the way they came. After running for a while, the two of them caught up with Lin Hongfeng and his group in front of them. However, Lin Jianlan was already out of breath and secretly felt lucky that he could finally walk slowly.
Lin Jianlan only had time to take a closer look at the surrounding scenery at this time. The winding paths led to secluded places, and the flowers were lush and shadowy. It looked very leisurely and elegant. However, since he passed through the floating bridge just now, he realized that the headquarters of the Kuang Yi Gang was actually full of hidden traps and murderous intentions. He might trigger some mechanism if he picked a flower, so he followed Qin Tianxiong closely.
Slowly the path opened up again, and a magnificent house appeared in front of him, with eaves on all four corners, bells ringing in the wind, and the door in the middle wide open. The plaque on the top of the door read "Kuang Yi Tang" in three large characters. Lin Jianlan thought: This must be the place where Uncle Qing and his gang discuss important matters. Since the house was surrounded by tall trees and in the shadows, someone had already lit all the candles in the lobby. Lin Jianlan was confused at this time, not knowing what he should do. He just followed Qin Tianxiong into the house and saw that there was no decoration in the entire lobby, only a couplet hung high on the wall opposite the door:
"Ten feet of soft red dust, happy revenge; four words shake the green forest, support justice."
The writing style was as sharp as a sword. Right below the couplet was a red-painted sandalwood chair, the armrests of which had long since faded. It seemed as if Uncle Qing was sitting on the chair, frowning and thinking, his strong fingers constantly rubbing the armrests. Lin Jianlan's heart suddenly became hot, and tears welled up in his eyes. But he saw a pair of white jade-like hands holding the chair, slowly stroking it for a circle, and it turned out to be Lin Hongfeng sitting on the position of the leader.
The leaders of the headquarters could not help but look at each other, but no one said anything. The scene was very awkward. It turned out that before the trip to the Northeast, although Lin Hongfeng led everyone, the chair was always hanging when discussing gang affairs. This time, the idea of letting the Kuangyi Gang be inherited by Yin Yin burned more and more in her heart, so she sat on the seat without waiting for everyone to speak, thinking: "Who of you dares to take me down?"
Although everyone felt something was wrong, they really had nothing to say. Lin Hongfeng slowly glanced at everyone, then stood up and said, "Doctor Cheng, you should still sit here. You watched me and the previous gang leader grow up, so you are considered a veteran in the gang. No one will move your position." Then he walked forward and pulled Doctor Cheng to a slanted chair on the left side. Lin Jianlan noticed that the position of the chair was very subtle, between the top and the bottom positions, which was also considered "under one person, above everyone else". He thought that since Grandpa Cheng watched Uncle Qing and his sister grow up, this position could only be occupied by Grandpa Cheng.
Since Doctor Cheng had taken his seat, everyone else had to sit down as well. Only Lin Jianlan was still standing at the door, not knowing where to go. Doctor Cheng waved at him and said, "Young master, come here. These are all your seniors, important people in the gang. Even if you are the gang leader's adopted son, there is no seat for you here where important gang matters are discussed. Just stand next to me." Lin Jianlan nodded, but he didn't care too much about whether he had a seat or not. He glanced to the right and saw Yin Yin also leaning against Lin Hongfeng, still with a cold and arrogant look.
Seeing that everyone was silent, Lin Hongfeng cleared her throat and said, "Everyone saw my trip to the Northeast. Hall Master Fang and the two protectors were in the courtyard at the time and saw it very clearly. Although I still haven't received the token of the Kuang Yi Gang, relying on the friendship between my late husband and you all, you are still willing to help me lead the entire gang and protect the reputation of my Kuang Yi Gang. I would like to thank you all in advance." After saying this, he bowed.
Everyone was stunned, then they all bowed in return, saying, "Madam Cao, you don't have to be polite. This is our duty." Lin Hongfeng sighed and said, "I am not a heartless person. Seeing my brother's current situation is really painful, so I didn't have the heart to take his life in the end. If my brother can prove his innocence one day, Yin Yin and I are still willing to hand over the Kuang Yi Gang. Alas, I just hope you can understand that we are orphans and widows. My brother refused to say anything, and refused to hand over the Kuang Yi Order to me. Yin Yin and I... are not in the right place... It's really difficult." After saying this, tears were already rolling down his cheeks, and everyone stood up and expressed their opinions, "Madam Cao, why do you have to be like this? What's the big deal about not having the Kuang Yi Order?" "To be honest, I haven't seen that thing until now."
Lin Jianlan's mind was not on this farce. He just glanced at Yin Yin from time to time. Seeing that there was no sadness on her face, he remembered that day when she was crying alone at the stern of the boat. He asked himself, "Will you be happy if Uncle Qing dies?" But he felt that he should not ask such a question. His thoughts were wild and his mind was wandering. After a while, he felt that someone touched him gently. When he came to his senses, he saw that everyone had serious faces and was staring at him in silence. He turned around and looked at Doctor Cheng who had touched him just now, wondering what had happened.
After a while, Doctor Cheng said slowly, "Hong Feng, you don't have to vent your anger on others. This idea was originally proposed by me. I have watched you and Long Qing grow up. We never thought that two good siblings would end up in such a mess. However, Long Qing was stabbed by you outside the pass that day, and his two thumbs were cut off. I am afraid that he will never be able to make any further progress in martial arts in the future. For a martial artist, this is more serious than taking his life. Can't you just stop?"
Fang Zheng continued, "Besides, Doctor Cheng has told us that if you don't give up can only last for seven years. We... are really... worried about you. If something happens to you, what will Yin Yin do? We... will be even more sorry to Master Cao."
Qin Tianxiong said, "Madam, I am a straightforward person. Forgive me for being disrespectful. When I was outside the Great Wall, I listened to the words of the gang leader and felt that they made a lot of sense. The incident three years ago probably had nothing to do with the gang leader. All the brothers in the gang also heard clearly that Lin Jianlan is the gang leader's adopted son. To put it more clearly, he is the gang leader's designated successor! It's a pity that Yin Yin is a girl..."
Doctor Cheng waved his hand and continued, "Brother Qin, don't go so far. Hongfeng, the brothers just want you to allow us to teach Lin Jianlan martial arts. As for the future, we haven't thought so far. Besides... the young master said that the gang leader once said that he would teach him martial arts. The gang leader has never easily accepted disciples in his life. He accepted the young master as a disciple and adopted him as his son. Naturally, he cannot disappoint Long Qing."
Lin Hongfeng suddenly raised his eyes and stared at Lin Jianlan and said, "He is lying. He has been with Brother Qing for three years, but he still doesn't know any martial arts. If Brother Qing wanted to do this, why didn't he teach him any moves in the past three years?"
Lin Jianlan had never thought about being an heir or a young master. In his young heart, he thought that Lin Longqing must have the same idea as him. He just wanted to spend a happy life with his grandmother, Uncle Qing and the other two. Three years ago, he was so excited when he heard that Uncle Qing wanted to teach him to read and martial arts. Although he had not taught him a single move in the past three years, he always believed that one day Uncle Qing would keep his promise to teach him. Just as he and Lin Longqing buried the Kuang Yi Order together, it was a secret between the two of them. Telling Lin Hongfeng that he knew where it was was just a temporary measure. Even if the palm really slapped him that day, he would never say a word. At his young age, he already knew that keeping his word was more important than anything else. But at this moment, he heard Lin Hongfeng saying that he was lying in front of everyone. His little face suddenly turned red, and he rushed to Lin Hongfeng and shouted, "I didn't lie! Uncle Qing promised to teach me. He said that when I grow up, he would teach me to shoot pheasants and roe deer with stones!"
Lin Hongfeng laughed softly after hearing this and said, "Everyone heard it, right? This is the martial arts that Brother Qing promised to teach him!"
Everyone shook their heads and sighed in their hearts: "They are still children, talking nonsense about pheasants and roe deer, and teaching martial arts to disciples. Really!"
Lin Jianlan didn't know what he said wrongly that made everyone refuse to believe him, but he heard Doctor Cheng speaking slowly behind him: "Young Master is in the headquarters of the Kuangyi Gang. Even if he is in the martial arts world, there are many people in the gang. Who can protect him if something happens? Hongfeng, if he gets hurt in your hands, how can you live up to your words that day? If the news spreads to the martial arts world, everyone will think that you took the opportunity to harm a child who doesn't know any martial arts. How can you explain it? No matter what, Long Qing was kind to you, his sister, in the past. Considering the friendship back then, you shouldn't make it too difficult for him. He was innocently implicated. Teaching him martial arts is just to hope that he can protect himself in this dangerous martial arts world."
Seeing Doctor Cheng begging for mercy, Lin Hongfeng's expression eased a little and he said, "In that case, I will no longer care about his martial arts training. To be honest, it is unnecessary for me to do so. No matter what your purpose is, you all know Yin Yin's talent. Regardless of this child's talent, it is too late for him to practice martial arts now." After that, he took Yin Yin away.
Everyone slowly dispersed, leaving only Doctor Cheng and Lin Jianlan in the hall. Doctor Cheng shook his head and said, "Young Master, your Uncle Qing's room has been empty all the time, so you can live with him for now. Remember that there are many traps in the main hall, so don't run around if you have nothing to do. Come with me." After saying that, he walked out, but felt his clothes being pulled. Looking back at Lin Jianlan, who was trying to hold back, two lines of tears still flowed out, and he sobbed, "Grandpa Cheng, I didn't lie to you. Uncle Qing really promised me." Doctor Cheng gently wiped the tears from Lin Jianlan's cheeks and said, "Grandpa knows that Lan'er didn't lie, but crying is useless. Young Master, you have to fight for your reputation and let others recognize you with your own abilities. Crying and begging will only make them look down on you even more."
Lin Jianlan nodded, and felt a little embarrassed for crying. Instead, he thought to himself, "I was so useless just now. Uncle Tie also said along the way that he hadn't learned anything from Uncle Qing in three years. It's normal for Uncle Qing's sister and the uncles in the main hall to think so. Why should I make myself miserable?" After thinking about it, he smiled and said, "Grandpa Cheng, let's go." The two walked out of Kuang Yi Hall, and Lin Jianlan couldn't help feeling guilty. "Today, I caused Grandpa Cheng and the others to have a disagreement with Uncle Qing's sister. I don't know how to show them that I don't want to be a young master. Alas, I'm afraid I will disappoint Grandpa Cheng and Uncle Qin again."
Lin Jianlan followed Doctor Cheng around a few corners and came to where Lin Longqing usually lived. It was a waterside pavilion, half of which was built on the water. Doctor Cheng pushed the door gently, and it opened silently. A gust of dust rushed towards him. Lin Jianlan couldn't help but sneeze a few times. Doctor Cheng said, "This is where the gang leader usually rests and practices. Since his wife passed away, the gang leader has lived here alone." Lin Jianlan thought to himself, "I heard Uncle Qing's sister say that Uncle Qing seemed to treat his wife very coldly. It seems that the relationship between the couple was not good. But after her death, Uncle Qing never remarried, which is also puzzling."
The two walked into the house and looked around. Doctor Cheng sighed, feeling that things had changed. Lin Jianlan looked around carefully. The outer room was a study room with pens, inkstones, and paper on the desk. There was a small bookshelf next to it. There was a very simple incense burner next to the bed in the inner room. There was a cushion on the floor by the window. It seemed that this was where Lin Longqing practiced internal skills. Lin Jianlan thought to himself, "When Uncle Qing was practicing at my house, I needed to watch over him at the door in case anything unexpected happened that would affect his practice. Why are the precautions so lax here?" As he was thinking, he saw Doctor Cheng walk to the window, push it open, and whistle softly. He heard a "splash" outside. Lin Jianlan hurried over to look outside, only to see a man emerging from the water. He was dressed in black. He clasped his fists towards Doctor Cheng and said, "Doctor Cheng, what do you want to do?" Doctor Cheng pointed at Lin Jianlan and said, "Chief Xiao, this is the man who saved the gang leader's life when he was in trouble in the north. He is now your adopted son. From now on, you must protect the young master's safety." The man nodded, said "Yes, sir," and immediately sank into the water.
Doctor Cheng closed the window again and said to Lin Jianlan, "I will take you to the gang's martial arts field tomorrow and discuss with Protector Qin and the others how to teach you. Don't run around by yourself. There are many traps here and it's very dangerous. If anything happens, someone will come to take you there." He paused and said, "If what I expected is true, Madam Cao will definitely ask Cao Zhong and Cao Quan to serve you. It's called service, but it's actually surveillance. We have just returned from the north and there are a lot of affairs in the gang. We can't take care of you like we did on the road. You must be extra careful." After saying that, he walked out of the house.
Lin Jianlan walked to the door, and saw that just as Doctor Cheng said, Cao Zhong and Cao Quan were sitting not far from the door, seemingly talking about something. He walked over slowly, and heard Cao Zhong sigh to Cao Quan in a condescending manner: "After my analysis, even though that kid is new here, Doctor Cheng and the others are all on his side. So people like us can't afford to offend anyone!"
