CHAPTER 416: MAKE A NAME AND ESTABLISH A FORTUNE

The youth upstairs in Chunfeng Courtyard stands by the railing, casually holding a jar of wine, watching the Yulin Army leave and return.

He didn’t expect Chen Ji and his men, after managing to fight their way out, would come back to fight again.

The ruffians from Heji also didn’t expect it.

Just as people don’t want to believe there’s still a Jianghu in this world, the legendary stories from storytellers should be forgotten after drinking.

The youth only felt that Chen Ji and his group seemed different once they returned from the alley.

With interest, he said to Zhou Kuang: "The sword finally has Sword Intent, it’s reached another level. Zhou Kuang, what were the chances of your Brave Guards from the Five Armies Camp defeating them before?"

Zhou Kuang thought for a moment and said, "Ten out of ten."

The youth smiled again: "And now?"

Zhou Kuang thought for a while: "Five out of ten."

The youth laughed heartily: "Still five out of ten, is their formation not impressive?"

Zhou Kuang calmly replied: "If we don’t consider life and death, my Brave Guards have at least a fifty percent chance against anyone; without such confidence, we wouldn’t be worthy of being called Brave Guards."

The youth’s gaze returned to the alley, tightly fixing on Chen Ji among the Yulin Army: "Zhou Kuang, this kid is the spirit and energy of those thirty-eight men. Make time to invite him for a drink."

Zhou Kuang reminded: "He said he’s quit drinking."

The youth supported his arm on the windowsill and said with a smile: "Only someone with a mountain weighing on their heart would quit drinking, but this mountain can’t always press down, right? There will come a time when it can’t be held down."

He pointed downstairs: "Look, at the moment he looked back outside the alley, he couldn’t hold it down."

Zhou Kuang frowned: "Master, Furui Xiang’s forces are almost at the alley, should we tell them to withdraw?"

The youth looked at the alley below: "No need, today someone wants to make a name for themselves here at the Imperial Palace. Let Furui Xiang serve as their stepping stone."

...

...

In the narrow alley.

When the Yulin Army and Heji ruffians collided, Li Xuan felt a bit bewildered.

Time seemed to slow down, as he looked around within the Mandarin Duck Formation, he saw Duobao wielding the Iron Wolf Brush, clearing the way, while Qi Zhenzhuo was waiting for the moment to strike.

He saw sweat splattering from Qi Zhenzhuo’s scattered hair, he saw Zhou Chong striking his Vine Shield with a Broadsword, angrily shouting at the ruffians with his mouth opening and closing, yet he couldn’t hear what Zhou Chong was shouting.

No one looked back.

Every new recruit has a teacher before going to the battlefield, teaching them how to charge, where to strike the enemy, how to survive with a broken arm, how to follow the old soldiers to charge.

But the Yulin Army never had anyone teach them before; only officials taught them how to perform ceremonies: who holds the Five Directions Flag, who holds the Sun and Moon Flag, who holds the Big Dipper Flag, who carries the Battle-axe tally of Authority, who carries the Yellow Banner, how far to step during the procession.

The Yulin Army’s first time on the battlefield was with the old Guyuan soldiers; they could only learn by following their example.

So at this moment, the Yulin Army was like the rough and tough stone of Guyuan, sweeping with sandstorms, crashing into the ruffians, breaking them upon impact.

Some ruffians tried an old trick, rushing out from the courtyard of a brothel to break the Mandarin Duck Formation.

But now, with the Yulin Army’s battle frenzy, they held back nothing.

A ruffian rushed out from the courtyard, tightly holding the end of Li Cen’s spear: "Quick, I’ve grabbed his spear, you guys..."

Before he finished, Li Cen lifted him with the spear and the ruffian, smashing them onto the ground, making the ruffian spit blood.

Sweat fell from Li Cen’s hair and arms, under the light of red lanterns, like a drizzle falling.

He loudy proclaimed: "Come again!"

Another ruffian carrying a table charged out from the courtyard beside the alley, towards the end of the Mandarin Duck Formation, Li Xuan gave him a sidelong glance, kicked the table, sending the ruffian flying back with the table.

Qi Zhenzhuo said quietly: "It’s a pity Wang Fang carried away Chen Wenren, otherwise we could have stomped him again..."

Li Xuan angrily shouted: "Is this the time to think about that? Focus! Form up!"

The Yulin Army raised their spears, pressing forward step by step, each soldier performing their duty within the formation, like a war chariot of bronze gears, slowly rolling over.

Within the formation, they retracted spears, thrust spears, leaving the Heji ruffians without the ability to counterattack.

Chen Ji reminded within the formation: "There might still be hidden court official, don’t be careless."

He and Li Xuan observed coldly within the formation, yet the Heji ruffians retreated step by step, never seeing the appearance of an official.

When they completely forced Heji ruffians out of Li Shamao Alley.

Duobao laughed heartily in the Mandarin Duck Formation: "Didn’t you ask us to come back? Now we’ve come back, why are you unhappy again? Come on, come on!"

Heji ruffians anxiously stood outside Li Shamao Alley, hesitating to advance.

A ruffian urgently asked: "Where’s Master Qian? Why isn’t Master Qian here to take charge?"

Someone whispered: "We’ve sworn blood allegiance with Furui Xiang, Master Qian is being held at Furui Xiang as a hostage."

The previous ruffian became anxious: "Then where’s Dragon Head? Where’s Dragon Head: Wang Huan? Where’s the court official from Heji Inner Eight Halls, why isn’t there any trace of them? If they don’t come, these Eight Great Hutongs will be lost!"

But the court official from Heji was never seen, nor was Dragon Head Wang Huan.

At this moment, dense footsteps sounded from afar, someone stood on tiptoe to look, seeing Furui Xiang’s ruffians rushing into the alley, everyone holding daggers.

...

...

Qian Ping and Zhu Guan were surrounded amid the crowd, Qian Ping looked at the Heji ruffians lying on the ground in the alley, closed his eyes in reluctance.

When he opened them again, he looked at Zhu Guan beside him, angrily said: "Zhu Guan, for your own selfish desires, you made us Heji face the enemy alone, is there any Jianghu righteousness left in your heart?"