Chapter 22: The Yang Family's Bandit

  "Old man, let's just talk, don't hit me! The little thing in my belly is still under your eyes, to be honest, this is a secret recipe given by the master, asking me to refine opium and sell it to foreigners. This matter is important, shouldn't I keep it confidential as a son?"

  The old man made a fool of himself and Yang Meng also started talking nonsense.

  "As a father, I should be respected in secret! Slap in the face? You slap my face and I have to bear it, but if I slap your face, you'd better not dare to fight back or you'll end up breaking an old man's legs!"

  Yang Shi-qin only realized today that arguing with his son is also an extremely happy thing. Thinking of being kicked in the leg by this kid, when this kid is not at home, Yang Shi-qin feels that it's worth it to see Lao San (his nickname for his son) grow up!

  "Break a leg? Didn't you not meet Master at that time? Or go out and compare now? I will definitely hold back."

  Seeing the old man having so much fun, Yang Meng decided to play along and pretended to be a clown, making funny faces and pouncing on his father.

  "Hah! You little monkey, just you wait and see if I don't catch you!"

  An old man and a young boy were in the main hall, laughing and playing together. Yang Shi-qin's fists and feet were light and gentle, while Yang Meng held back his strength everywhere. The two of them coordinated perfectly.

  "Go and find Uncle Ding to settle this matter!"

  After fooling around for a while, Yang Shi Qin kicked out with one foot and lightly tapped Yang Meng's buttocks. Yang Meng also took advantage of the momentum to escape and flee from the main hall, turning his head back to say "Got it!"

  Looking at his son's vigorous steps, Yang Shiqin's thin face was also moistened with old tears. He thought about how his youngest son had suffered in the Yang family for 16 years! Hadn't he worked hard and risked his life just to make things a little better? Whether his son was enlightened by a master or possessed by ghosts, as long as he could live a happy life, Yang Shiqin felt it was all worth it!

  Yang Meng, who had made a scene, also felt a pang in his heart. Yang Shiqin was really speechless towards his son. He had taken over his son's body, so he might as well be his son! Others had already gone to such lengths, what did he have that he couldn't let go of?

  Found Ding Baojun, Yang Meng told him about the matter, and Ding Baojun also agreed, but the horse team that transported opium was very secretive in their actions, and it would take some time to find them.

  Everything has settled down, and Yang Meng's heart feels a bit lighter. Without worries, people tend to have wild thoughts, and this time he thought of Tang Mei Yi. That beauty hasn't been seen for several days, and his heart really misses her.

  Before he even reached Tang Meiyin's courtyard, Yang Meng had already heard the soft singing. It was said that ethnic minorities were good at singing, and Tang Meiyin was no exception. The gentle voice floated in the courtyard, but it was filled with sadness.

  Although he couldn't understand the lyrics, Yang Meng could feel the loneliness and sadness in the singer's voice. He gently pushed open the courtyard door, and two beauties, one big and one small, were sitting in the courtyard. The beautiful Tang Mei was leaning against the back of the chair, lightly singing with a throaty voice, and tears fell onto the dusty ground, expressing unspoken loneliness and beauty.

  "Mei's sister, can Third Master avenge you? If he avenges you, will you really become his concubine?"

  Ma Qinglian also had a big heart, and actually talked to Tang Mei about her troubles, mentioning revenge, Tang You's face became even more despondent.

  "What can he do if I don't believe him? Can I take revenge? Kunming Yang Foye, who had funded the Lisu people, if it wasn't for Yang Foye back then, I might have starved to death on the migration road. Yiliang Zhou Shiqing was also a powerful and wealthy local tyrant, not easy to kill, how did you and your brother end up in Yiliang?"

  Ma Qinglian is a strange and eccentric person. Tang Mei, in order to avenge herself, left home at the age of ten or so. It can also be seen that Ma's siblings are not from a poor background, and there must be some secret hidden inside.

  "Our family's vendetta has been avenged, but our home is gone... Waaahhh..."

  Thinking of wandering around, starving and hungry days, Ma Qinglian burst into tears.

  "We've lost our home, but the Yang family's martial arts school is still our home, and I'll take care of you!"

  The Qing dynasty didn't leave a good impression on Yang Meng, the weak and poor people of Yiliang, the big landlord Zhou Shiqing who sold people, the opium-planted land of Yunnan, all these things are in front of us, how can the Qing dynasty be any better?

  "Third Master!"

  The two women stood up together and called out "Third Master" in unison. Tang Mei's voice was low and husky, while Ma Qinglian's was clear and crisp, blending together to mesmerize those who heard it.

  "Tang girl, I've been training for a while now and I'm planning to go out and try my skills soon. Want to come with me?"

  Winning this beauty's heart requires more than just a promise; it needs gentle nourishment like spring rain.

  "Can I go too?"

  Ma Qinglian's small face with tear stains appeared in Yang Meng's eyes, this lovely little pear flower was also very tempting.

  "What can you do? Tang Niang is skilled in martial arts, are you? I'm going to kill people, corpses everywhere, do you want to see that? Behave yourself and stay at home with your husband reading books and recognizing characters, and become my female accountant in the future."

  Yang Meng patted Ma Qinglian's head and sent her back to recognize the characters. Compared with Xiao Luoli, Yang Meng still favored Tang Meiyin, this seductress.

  "I'm going! As long as you kill Zhou Shi Qing, I'll keep my word."

  "Come with me! Zhou Shi Qing won't be able to jump around for a few more days, and when the time is right, I can let you take revenge into your own hands."

  Yang Meng knew he couldn't be impatient, and without delay, he turned around and brought Tang Mei to the courtyard where the knife hands were training. The knife hands who had just finished running began their first round of fist and foot exercises under Wei Tuozi's urging. In order to make it easier to find their positions, the vital points of the straw men had been marked with white powder.

  The scene was chaotic, but Yang Meng was carefully watching the doorway. These knife-wielding men were all quite skilled, with a clear target to strike and a fierce momentum. They just lacked training; if they were trained well, they would be a formidable force.

  After a thorough fight, without giving the knife hands time to breathe, Wei Tuo urged them on, continuing to practice their knives, adding slashing and stabbing as Yang Meng specially requested. Although these knife hands were tired, the iron knives in their hands didn't have many sloppy movements, it seemed that this knife technique was still their strong point.

  "Third Master, these are the people you've prepared, aren't there fewer than expected?"

  Yiliang Zhou Shi Qing also knew that he had committed many atrocities, and at least a hundred strong men were raised in his household. With just these thirty or fifty people, it's likely that they won't be able to take down the Zhou family estate.

  "Are many people useful? The ones who can really kill, one person can take down three to five others. Those who can't kill, haven't killed before, their hands are useless, no matter how many there are, they're just a mob. They might be able to fight, but when it comes to real killing, they don't have the guts. You've also learned some moves, if you're not good enough, come practice with me and see how many moves it takes for me to kill you."

  Tang Mei naturally didn't believe in evil, rolled up her sleeves and was about to compete with Yang Meng. At this point, those knife-wielding men stopped practicing, and their eyes all focused on the two of them.

  "Weizi, bring a wooden stick over and let Tang Niang hold it to practice with me for a bit. You all watch closely too, once you learn this move, it's something that can save your life."

  A beauty is meant to be conquered, this vixen is so stubborn, just knock her down a peg and let her see what it means to be with a man.

  Tang Mei was truly unhappy, she was a woman, but three or five strong men were no match for her. Yang Meng wanted to practice with her empty-handed, making her feel that the third master of the Yang family looked down on her.

  "Come on!"

  Yang Meng shouted loudly, and Tang Mei didn't show any courtesy either. She raised her wooden stick and swung it at Yang Meng's head.

  Although the speed was fast, the flaw was also big. Yang Meng spun around and used the "Tie Shan Kao" from the Eight Extremities Fist to push Tang Mei out. Before she could react, a punch with a whistling sound arrived at her throat.

  She was defeated with one move, and Tang Mei naturally didn't accept it. She got up again and made a horizontal slash. Yang Meng took a step back and swung his hand to knock the wooden stick out of her hands. Tang Mei had also learned from her previous experience and directly used a kick to sweep his leg.

  This blow is fierce! The surrounding knife-wielding men shrank their necks, this big-handed and big-footed woman, her moves are too vicious.

  Yang Meng countered with ease, his palm closing in to block her plump thigh, and an elbow strike landed on her chest and abdomen.

  "So soft!"

  Yang Meng let out a soft cry, causing Tang Mei's pretty face to blush. Just as she was about to swing the stick back and hit him on the head, Yang Meng blocked it and lifted his knee to press against Tang Mei's lower body.

  "Remember, opponents are not divided into men and women. Either don't make a move, or if you do, aim to kill your opponent. Your previous kick was good, it's an excellent technique, but the knife in your hand doesn't match with your fists and feet, this is your biggest weakness."

  Before Tang Mei could get angry, Yang Meng took the lead in scolding, taking advantage of the situation must be reasonable and legitimate, otherwise where would his own face go?

  "Then teach me!"

  Tang Mei covered up her embarrassment, Yang Meng was right, she was far inferior to him. She thought her skills were good enough, but she didn't expect to be defeated by Yang Meng in just one move.

  "What about you? Are you willing to learn with me?"

  In Yang Meng's inquiry, one by one, the knife-wielding men also nodded continuously.

  "You're not nodding insects, speak up! Are you willing?"

  "Agreed!"

  More than 50 people's voices, Yang Meng nodded and said:

  "Let's have a real fight, let the butcher prepare some rawhide knives. You two grab each other and pretend to kill, the loser runs an extra lap. We're sworn brothers, just make some threatening moves like poking eyes or kicking legs, don't actually start fighting. Whoever wants to play for real will have their skin flayed by Third Master!"

  Among the laughter and applause, these knife-wielding men also acknowledged this Yang family's Third Master.

  With the leather knife, the training became even more brutal. Although this leather knife wouldn't break bones, wherever it struck would leave a bruise. A group of knife practitioners practiced against each other in the courtyard every day, and after returning they still had to apply medicinal liquor to each other's wounds. Their days were extremely arduous.

  Tang Mei followed Yang Meng to practice, and was also beaten mercilessly. In the training field, she could still grit her teeth and persevere, but when she returned to her room, she would also clench her teeth in anger.

  Yang Meng was training with the knife hands, and also using the knife hands to train himself. From the initial one against ten, to now one against three, Yang Meng's body was also covered with bruises. Whoever dared to hold back on him, he would take ruthless measures against them, forcing these knife hands to put out their full strength in the sparring match.

  "Mei's sister, how can Third Master be so heartless? Look at all these bruises, you're a woman!"

  Qinglian, who was applying medicine to Tang Meiyu, couldn't bear it anymore. This body is covered in scars, how cruel must Yang Sanlang's heart be!

  "Silly girl, what do you know? This is a real man. If he doesn't teach me properly, I'll look down on him! The stricter he is with me now, the better he's treating me。 If he doesn't train me well now, I'll be killed by my opponents later!"

  Looking at Qinglian with a seemingly understanding yet confused expression, Tang Meiyin's face flushed with a red glow.