Chapter 26: The Old Man of the Green Snake Gang

  Geng Yuan pushed the door and found it was bolted from the inside.

  "What's going on? How can there be such a large courtyard and such high gate, but no one is even guarding the door?" Gongyuan felt puzzled.

  Geng Yuan cautiously looked around and saw that the streets were sparse with people. He chose a relatively shorter wall, tapped his feet on the ground, and with a "dragonfly tail" move, he steadily floated onto the top of the wall. On the wall, he scanned the vast courtyard, found an open area, then jumped from the wall into the yard.

  The yard is very large, as if no one has lived here for a long time, or the population is small and there are not many activities. Many places have been idle for a long time, and some house doors have rusty locks, which must not have been opened for many years. However, the yard is very clean, and on the main axis, it seems to have been swept.

  Geng Yuan walked along the central axis of the courtyard towards the back. Suddenly, Geng Yuan vaguely felt a strong gust of wind rushing towards him. As a martial artist, he was always able to observe six directions and listen to eight sides, so he could guess that there was a hidden projectile shooting towards his face.

  Geng Yuan concentrated his mind and stabilized his breath, having already sensed the speed and direction of the hidden projectile. Geng Yuan executed a "Rhinoceros Gazes at the Moon" move, stretching out his right hand to catch the projectile, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be just a stone.

  "Geng Yuan bowed in the direction of the incoming hidden weapon: 'I am Geng Yuan from Biyuan Temple, I have entered your esteemed place without permission and caused disturbance, please forgive me.'"

  "This place doesn't welcome strangers, leave quickly!" A hoarse voice of an old man came from who-knows-where.

  "Haha, I'm the kind of person who likes to dig deep and explore mysteries. This courtyard looks mysterious, there must be some secrets hidden inside. Moreover, you're also mysterious, my curiosity is piqued. Hmm, I'd like to see why this stranger isn't welcome here." Geng Yuan had martial arts skills, so he wasn't afraid of anything.

  "What a big tone, look at the stick!" The hoarse voice was mixed with disdain.

  A gust of wind swept towards Geng Yuan, containing a thousand pounds of force. Geng Yuan retreated several steps, and with a "whoosh", he pulled out his trusty weapon from his bosom - the Gongzi fan.

  The eight great generals of the Biyuan Temple each have a different weapon. Master Huichong matches them with weapons according to their preferences. Yuan Ren likes to play with ropes, so Master Huichong lets him practice iron chains; Yuan Yi likes to throw things, so Master Huichong lets him practice short hammers; Yuan Li likes knives, so Master Huichong has a "three-edged backless knife" made for him to practice; Yuan Zhi likes sticks, so Master Huichong customizes a "pointed three-section stick" for him; Yuan Xin likes swords, so Master Huichong makes a "plum blossom sword" for him; Yuan Zhen likes spears, so Master Huichong lets him practice "double spears". Geng Yuan likes Tang Bohu and often imitates the image of a young master, so Master Huichong lets him practice the "young master fan". As for Xin Yuan, because he loves all kinds of weapons, he is proficient in all eighteen types of martial arts. Moreover, Xin Yuan has extremely high intelligence and deeply wins Master Huichong's favor, so he is given the temple's treasure - the manual of the "Floating Infinity Fist"

  Geng Yuan had just revealed the public son fan, and the old man's Shaolin stick wrapped in strong winds came crashing towards Geng Yuan. Geng Yuan did not dare to underestimate the enemy, and he made a move with all his might, exchanging blows with the old man, turning danger into opportunity, and fighting together.

  The old man looked like he was already in his fifties or sixties. He had a loud and clear voice, thick eyebrows and big eyes, with a ruddy complexion and full of energy. However, his speaking voice was hoarse, as if it wasn't coming from his mouth, because when he spoke, you couldn't see him open his mouth.

  Now that he had seen the old man's true face, Geng Yuan felt even more curious.

  The old man was using the Shaolin staff method, with refined techniques and deep internal power. His speed of attack was extremely fast, leaving Geng Yuan no chance to use his ultimate move "Phantom Shadow" because he could only win by hiding behind the old man's back and striking from there.

  Gengyuan and the old man fought for more than 50 rounds without a winner. Gengyuan used a move called "Sea Bottom Moon Catch" to try to slip behind the old man from his side, but because he was slightly slow, the old man caught him by the back of his shirt with one hand. The old man exerted some force and suddenly there was a ripping sound, Gengyuan's short shirt was torn apart, revealing his entire back.

  "Ah!" The old man was startled, for he had seen the green snake pattern on Geng Yuan's back.

  The old man gestured with his hand and shouted, "Stop fighting!" Then he knelt in front of Geng Yuan and knocked three loud heads on the ground.

  The old man's actions left Monk Gongyuan bewildered. He quickly stretched out his hand and helped the old man up.

  "Old man, what's going on here?" Geng Yuan needed to ask clearly.

  "The Green Snake emerges from its lair, Wulin unites as one!" The old man raised his fists and shouted in a hoarse voice.

  "Green snake comes out of cave, Wulin unites as one? What does it mean?" Geng Yuan looked at the old man in confusion.

  The old man pulled Geng Yuan to sit on the stone steps of a pavilion. The old man grasped Geng Yuan's hand, tears streaming down his face, saying: "Green snake out of the cave, Wulin returns to one, this is our Green Snake Gang motto, it is what must be said when meeting the leader. At that time, the gang rules clearly stipulated that whoever had a green snake pattern on their back was the leader of our Green Snake Gang. Young man, you must be the descendant of our Green Snake Gang, you have our gang's pattern on your body, you should be our leader! I've waited so many years, I finally found the leader, I finally waited for the day when our Green Snake Gang can rise again. Leader, I am Cheng Kun, the guardian of the Eight Sounds Division of the Green Snake Gang, please accept my respects." The old man was about to kneel down again.

  "Wait, Elder Cheng, how could I be the leader of the Green Snake Gang? How did the green snake pattern on my back come about? Why was a green snake tattooed on my back, and what does this green snake pattern mean? Please tell me, sir." Geng Yuan blocked Cheng Kun's path and asked a series of questions. This time, Geng Yuan had come down from the mountain to clarify his own life story and understand the truth about the green snake pattern on his back, so he hastily asked a series of questions.

  "Master, you are indeed our master." Seeing the master, Cheng Kun was excited and changed his title to "you", it can be seen that this Cheng Kun is so loyal to the Green Snake Gang. "Master, you may not know that our Green Snake Gang has such a tradition. The previous master selects a successor, then holds a protector meeting, tattoos the green snake pattern on the back of the successor, and prepares to take over as the master at any time. The green snake pattern on your body should be the one tattooed by your predecessor at the protector meeting, you are the chosen successor of your predecessor."

  "Cheng Lao, you're the guardian of the Eight Tones Division. You should have attended that grand meeting where I got my tattoo, right?" Geng Yuan seemed to be searching for a breakthrough in uncovering his origins.

  "That time the Guardian Assembly for your tattoo, I really didn't attend. Eighteen years ago, I was secretly sent to Gansu by Master Duan to deliver a message to the leader of the Wild Wolf Gang. A year later, when I returned to report back, the main hall of Sanjue Village had become a ruin, and the Qing She Gang had suffered a devastating blow. Everyone in the Qing She Gang was either killed or burned to death. I couldn't find anyone from the Qing She Gang, so I changed my name and went into hiding, returning to the branch in Bayin Town, locking myself indoors every day, living a reclusive life." said Cheng Kun with a sigh.