Chapter Six: Fierce Battle Against the Four Tigers

Everyone turned toward the sound, and saw a burly man with a sallow face rise from the corner by the wall. He wore a hero’s cap atop his head, a Five Tigers blue tunic, riding trousers with a horsehair waistband, and sturdy war boots. Around his waist was a silken sash, neither too tight nor too loose. He stood a full twelve feet tall, his shoulders broad as a bow, his face shining like the ancient moon and gilded with a faint golden hue. His brows were sharp as swords, his eyes bright as pearls and stars, his nose straight, his mouth square and angular, and three strands of beard drifted across his chest.

The only hint of defeat was the waxen pallor of his face, which made him look sickly and frail. Even if there were a thousand layers of murderous aura on his head or a hundred steps of imposing presence before him, not a single trace of it showed.

Beside him stood a yellowish horse, equally thin and gaunt. Its mane was so long it nearly covered its eyes. Truly, a skinny horse with long hair shows no plumpness, just as bedraggled parrots are less than chickens.

“Hey! Isn’t that the stranger who’s been selling that horse?” someone who recognized him immediately called out.

“He’s a lunatic. He claims his sick horse is for sale only under three conditions,” another mule and horse broker snickered.

“A lunatic? He doesn’t look it. What are those three conditions? Tell us.”

“He won’t sell it for pulling carts, nor for grinding mills, nor for hauling mud or bricks. Hell, that’s not a horse, it’s practically a lord among horses to be worshipped at home! Who’d buy such a sickly beast? If he’s not mad, who is?” The broker shrugged, and the crowd burst into laughter. It was, indeed, impossible for anyone to buy such a pathetic animal.

As everyone laughed, the Four Tigers of East City had already stepped forward. Dragging Yun Hao’s golden-furred tiger, they walked up to Blue-Eyed Tiger and threw Yun Hao to the ground. Placing a foot firmly on his back, he gave a cold snort, “I’ve stopped. What do you want?” As he spoke, he pressed harder with his foot. Yun Hao felt his ribs nearly snap, his tongue involuntarily lolling out. Still, he gritted his teeth, steeling himself not to cry out.

Madam Zhao, seeing this, tried to help, but that kick had been so fierce she stumbled twice and couldn’t get up.

“In broad daylight, you dare harass a respectable woman and bully a child! You four grown men have no shame. As an officer of the law, I must intervene,” the sallow-faced man stepped forward and shouted loudly.

He was an officer? Blue-Eyed Tiger raised his brows and sized up the man. He did look a bit like an officer, but his outfit was shabby, with frayed cuffs—a picture of destitution.

The third brother, Smiling Tiger, let out a cold laugh, “Ha! You might fool country folk, but you’re not scaring us. In this city, nine out of ten officers know us. Tell us, where do you serve?”

“I am a constable of Jinan Prefecture—”

“Hahaha!” Before the sallow-faced man could finish, he was cut off by a burst of laughter.

Smiling Tiger nearly split his sides laughing, clutching his belly, “This is just too funny! A constable from Jinan coming to meddle in Luzhou. Sir, unless this place has become part of Jinan, we’ll let you off today for being an officer. Get lost, and if you meddle again, don’t expect any courtesy.”

The Four Tigers of East City were regulars in the mule and horse market, collecting protection fees and well acquainted with the local authorities. Today, seeing Qin Qiong was an officer, they gave him a break.

“What if I insist on interfering?” Qin Qiong stepped forward again.

“Don’t push your luck! Because you’re an officer, we’re letting you go. Get out! Otherwise, though I recognize you, my fists don’t,” Blue-Eyed Tiger threatened viciously.

He might be an officer, but he was from Jinan. Showing respect was a favor, not an obligation. If a local officer came, they’d only try to smooth things over. Seeing this man’s sickly appearance, they resolved to go easy on him in a fight. Otherwise, if he died from a single punch, there might be trouble.

Blue-Eyed Tiger spoke, while behind his back he discreetly signaled. The other three, all seasoned street fighters, immediately understood.

Apart from Golden-Furred Tiger, who kept his foot on Yun Hao to prevent escape, the other three formed a triangle around the sallow-faced man, their eyes hostile.

The sallow-faced man seemed not to notice, calmly rolling up his sleeves. Blue-Eyed Tiger inwardly scoffed, thinking this constable must be useless even in Jinan. His brothers closed in, and he didn’t even try to dodge or defend himself. The title of constable was likely self-assigned. If they caught him alive and handed him over to Officer Zhang at the yamen, he might be charged with impersonating an officer and get some reward.

As Blue-Eyed Tiger calculated his move, the sallow-faced man suddenly acted. He moved as swiftly as a striking viper, and in the blink of an eye was before Smiling Tiger. Before Smiling Tiger could react, a fist the size of a bowl loomed large before his eyes.

With a loud crash, Smiling Tiger’s head rang and his vision went black; he toppled backward. Blue-Eyed Tiger and Downhill Tiger saw blood spurt from Smiling Tiger’s nose and teeth fly from his mouth.

Those eating melons, chicken legs, crabs, or ice cream—every spectator in high definition—clearly heard the sound of bones cracking. Instantly, the crowd of over two hundred fell silent. What force was behind that punch, to shatter a man’s facial bones? Smiling Tiger, proud of his fair face and notorious for harassing women, would now forever bear a ghastly visage.

“Bold!” Blue-Eyed Tiger roared, charging in, but the sallow-faced man twisted aside like a snake. Without hesitation, his big foot kicked Downhill Tiger square in the chest. The kick was so swift, and Downhill Tiger, being behind Blue-Eyed Tiger and unprepared, was sent flying, crashing heavily into a bull’s back, making the two-hundred-pound beast stagger backward.

The crowd gasped again. Such power in that kick! Fortunately, it struck the chest; at worst, a few ribs broken. Had it landed on the abdomen, it might have killed the man.

Of the four brothers, Blue-Eyed Tiger was the most skilled at hard-style martial arts. Not impervious to blades, but ordinary punches felt like tickles. The sallow-faced man had noticed this, so he avoided him, taking down his two helpers first.

Blue-Eyed Tiger stretched out his arms, suddenly extending them over a foot. With a move called “Carrying the River Across,” he pressed down on the sallow-faced man’s shoulders. The man’s body shuddered, feeling as if caught in iron pincers. He struggled, but couldn’t break free, his shoulders burning as if branded by hot coals.

“Ha!” The sallow-faced man exhaled, raining iron fists onto Blue-Eyed Tiger’s exposed chest and abdomen. One punch followed another, blindingly fast and thunderous, driving Blue-Eyed Tiger back step by step, until he finally collapsed like a pile of mud.

It was Blue-Eyed Tiger’s own fault; had he faced his usual opponents, his “Carrying the River Across” would have dislocated their shoulders, leaving them unable to retaliate. He never expected the sallow-faced man to take the move head-on without the slightest issue. Now, his chest and abdomen were wide open, making counterattack impossible.

Having felled three men in succession, the sallow-faced man turned, standing like a god of war, and pointed at Golden-Furred Tiger.

Golden-Furred Tiger was terrified. Seeing the sallow-faced man point at him, he thought, “Sorry, brothers, I’d rather you die than me. I’m out of here!” Before the man could speak, he’d already bolted.

The crowd erupted in laughter. The reputation of the Four Tigers of East City was ruined; even if they continued to collect protection fees, few would pay them now.

The sallow-faced man didn’t pursue Golden-Furred Tiger. He walked to Yun Hao, lifted him up, and asked, “Are you alright?”

“Thank you, benefactor! I must kneel and repay you someday—please leave your name!” Yun Hao was stunned; this was no ordinary man, he was like Wong Fei-hung himself. Especially that kick—just like Bruce Lee kicking Jackie Chan in the movies. Madam Zhao managed to struggle upright, staggered a few steps, and then knelt heavily before the sallow-faced man, bowing her head to the ground.

“It’s nothing. This was no big matter. You’d best leave quickly. If that yellow-haired fellow returns, he might vent his anger on you.” With that, he turned, untied the reins from a post, and led his thin horse away.

Watching the man’s retreating figure, Yun Hao’s mind suddenly sparked. Sallow-faced man, leading a thin horse. Constable from Jinan Prefecture… Could it be that I’ve met him?