In Shun'an City, Wanzhou Prefecture, of the Great Li Dynasty.
Today, the renowned Yu family martial arts school in the city was decorated with lanterns and flags, and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air. Guests from all directions were pouring in.
"Ah Sheng, there aren't enough tables in the east hall. Come with me to the backyard to get a few more."
Amidst the noisy crowd, a muscular man hurriedly called out and pulled a young man standing in the front yard towards the back.
The young man had sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a handsome face. Because of his good looks, he was assigned the easy task of greeting guests in the front yard.
"Zhang Ge, what's the rush? Let those guests stand for a while; it won't kill them." Li Musheng yawned and reluctantly followed Zhang Dazhuang.
The other man turned around and glared at him, saying impatiently, "Today is the day our old master washes his hands in the golden basin. All the guests are important figures in the martial arts world. If you're so lazy, you might get into trouble and get beaten up."
Hearing this, Li Musheng rolled his eyes. He would like to find someone who could beat him, but that would be difficult.
At this moment, Zhang Dazhuang shook his head, slowed down his pace, and spoke earnestly: "You're too arrogant and lazy. With your good looks, if you were more diligent in your martial arts practice, the old master might even marry the second young lady to you."
"Zhang Ge, please spare me. The second young lady weighs four hundred pounds, and her hands are wider than my head. With my build, I couldn't handle her." Li Musheng chuckled, but then his tone changed, and he said: "If that stingy old man Yu would give me the third young lady, I might consider it."
"Forget it. The third young lady is as beautiful as a fairy, with incredible martial arts talent, and she's even joined the renowned Qingyun Sect in Wanzhou. She wouldn't look at you." Zhang Dazhuang scoffed and insulted Li Musheng some more.
Li Musheng didn't mind and joked around with him for a while. Soon, they arrived at the storeroom in the backyard.
Zhang Dazhuang stacked five tables and carried them on his shoulder, rushing towards the front yard. However, as soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he heard a voice like a giant bell ringing through the air:
"Yu Zhentian, I haven't seen you in twenty years. Today, I've come to take your life!"
The voice was like thunder, causing everyone's eardrums to ache. Before anyone saw the person, they heard the voice, and the noisy courtyard suddenly fell silent.
In the main hall, the white-haired Yu Zhentian sat in the main seat, and the golden basin for washing hands had just been brought in.
"This person has strong internal energy!" A middle-aged man in fine clothes sitting next to him looked surprised. He had a robust build, broad shoulders, and a commanding presence.
"I had a feeling that today would not be peaceful. I apologize for any inconvenience, Mayor Hao." Yu Zhentian stood up and bowed to Hao Shen, then his expression turned grim.
Meanwhile, a group of disciples had already rushed anxiously to the entrance of the hall to protect him.
"Master, something terrible has happened! Someone has come to kill us!"
"What's the panic? Such a mere rat hiding its head and showing its tail is nothing in my eyes." Yu Zhentian snorted coldly and then walked swiftly towards the exit of the hall. "City Lord Hao, please wait a moment. I will deal with this matter and then return to enjoy a few drinks with you."
Hearing this, Hao Shen's eyes flickered, but he stood up and followed, saying: "Brother Yu, wait a moment. I will go with you. I want to see who dares to cause trouble in Shunan City."
The group marched angrily to the front courtyard.
At this moment, the guests in the courtyard were huddled together, all looking up at the high roof, whispering softly, the atmosphere somewhat tense. On the roof, which was like a mountain ridge with black tiles, a tall, black-clothed man stood upright, his long knife gleaming with a cold light.
Zhang Dazhuang and Li Musheng were squeezed at the back of the crowd.
Zhang Dazhuang held a staff in his hand, looking at the black-clothed man above with an anxious expression, while Li Musheng casually crossed his arms, looking like he was watching a show.
"He doesn't even dare to show his face; he must be a vicious criminal who can't stand the light of day." Zhang Dazhuang said angrily.
Seeing Yu Zhentian and the others arrive, he wanted to rush forward to help, but there were too many people gathered in the front courtyard, and he couldn't squeeze through at all.
Li Musheng pulled him back and said with a smile: "This person's strength is not inferior to Old Man Yu. Zhang, you won't be able to withstand even one of his blows and will lose your life."
Zhang Dazhuang was slightly stunned and immediately remembered the man's ability to be heard before being seen, which meant he was a master of internal strength.
He paused, no longer trying to squeeze forward, as he knew his own limitations and was not a reckless person.
"Such a villain, the old gallery master will surely capture him easily." Zhang Dazhuang coughed lightly and stayed by Li Musheng's side, leaning on his staff and looking towards the center of the courtyard.
"Who are you? Why don't you show your true face? What grudge do you have against me?" Yu Zhentian suppressed his anger and confronted the black-clothed man directly.
"You old fool really are senile!" The man snorted heavily and said coldly: "Let me refresh your memory. Twenty years ago, at the Battle of Junliu Mountain, you cut off my fifth brother's arm with one sword strike. Do you remember?"
Hearing this, Yu Zhentian's white eyebrows furrowed, as if recalling what the man had said.
Soon, he suddenly looked up and said, "Which one of the Zhahe Seven Thieves are you?"
"What? The Zhahe Seven Thieves!"
Upon hearing this, the guests in the courtyard were all startled.
The notorious Zhahe Seven Thieves have a fearsome reputation. Over the past decade, they have committed countless atrocities in Wanzhou, including numerous murders, and have consistently ranked among the top three on the official wanted list.
More importantly, the Zhahe Seven Thieves possess exceptional martial arts skills. Many renowned masters in the martial arts world have met their tragic ends at the hands of these seven individuals.
Their most recent heinous crime occurred three months ago when, in a single night, they massacred the entire Zhao family of the Shen City Armory, leaving no survivors among the more than one hundred family members, young and old.
News of this event sent shockwaves through the entire Wanzhou martial arts community.
It should be noted that the Zhao family of the Armory is a century-old martial arts family with no shortage of skilled fighters. They are one of the most powerful forces in Shen City.
Despite this, they could not escape the ruthless hands of the Zhahe Seven Thieves, demonstrating the terrifying strength of these villains.
"Indeed, you finally remember." Scum Three's gaze was cold as he slowly surveyed the crowd of guests below, who were now buzzing with conversation. Suddenly, he said in a deep voice, "Starting now, you have ten breaths to leave this place, except for those from the Yu family."
"After ten breaths, anyone who remains will be killed!"
Scum Three's voice, driven by profound internal energy, shook the courtyard's date tree, causing its bark to split and its branches to break, with leaves rustling down. The crowd's ears rang incessantly, and their minds were clouded.
Those without martial arts skills were terrified, their hearts pounding and their bodies trembling. Some even wet their pants in fear.
Once they regained their senses, the crowd fled in panic without daring to think further.