The Lion King was punched so hard that he flew up into the air, and he didn’t stop until he crashed from the middle of the small courtyard into the wall.
This surprised Jiang Fei greatly.
He had initially thought that this fierce woman’s figure was just a bit overbearing in presence, looking even more ferocious than the Lion King, but he didn’t think it was actually like that. Who would have known that this tigress the Lion King spoke of would actually possess such great strength?
The clash between the two of them was just like a collision between a lion and a tiger.
One was the overlord of the grasslands, the other was the king of beasts in the mountains.
Their attacks each carried the characteristics of lions and tigers. One was wild, overbearing, charging headlong without any regard for consequences. The other carried a surge of courage, charging straight forward in a fierce pounce.
Of course, Jiang Fei could also see that although the Lion King seemed to be at a disadvantage in the exchange just now, getting punched flying, that didn’t really mean much. The Lion King hadn’t gone all out; in fact, he had deliberately given in a little to this ‘tigress’, letting her land a punch so she could feel better.
But even so, this fully demonstrated that this ‘tigress’ was no ordinary martial artist; her strength was extraordinary. Her cultivation level was probably at least on par with the Lion King’s. She had already crossed into the Dan Jin level, possessing very deep cultivation.
Jiang Fei had seen a woman who had reached the Dan Jin level for the first time, and he had even heard of it for the first time.
Among the martial arts experts he had personally met in recent days, including what he had heard from Daoist Qingxu of Wudang and his cheap master, there were quite a few experts in the Chinese martial arts world, and there were experts at the Dan Jin level too. But he had never heard of any woman reaching that level.
Jiang Fei was secretly alarmed. He also thought back to how the Lion King seemed to have a meaningful nickname for this woman, calling her ‘Tigress’, saying they had been friends for decades. Could it be that the founder of the Seven Kills Group was called ‘Lion King’, and this woman was really ‘Tiger King’?
It was a clash of lion and tiger!
And this Tigress had brewed so much wine, so fragrant and rich, her brewing skills were no worse than his own, a grandmaster with perfect brewing mastery. It seemed she had brewed it specially for one person?
That person was called the ‘Wine and Meat Daoist’ by the Lion King?
Wine and Meat Daoist – a Daoist. So it probably wasn’t the Drunk Monk from the Western Regions. It was most likely another expert that Jiang Fei didn’t know about.
And someone treated like this by the Lion King and the ‘Tigress’ probably had at least the Dan Jin level of cultivation.
Thinking of this, Jiang Fei couldn’t help but mutter to himself, he really shouldn’t underestimate this vast martial arts world. Experts kept emerging one after another, and there were countless reclusive masters. No one knew exactly how many Dan Jin experts there were.
In fact, Jiang Fei wasn’t even sure now if his own cheap master, Xuanji Zi, was the number one expert in China. In the entire Chinese martial arts world, besides him, were there any other super experts who had reached the Internal Gang level?
These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. After the black-clad woman punched the Lion King flying, she looked like she was going to continue attacking, until the Lion King quickly raised his hands in surrender and said, “Alright, alright! I won’t say any more!”
Only then did the black-clad woman stop.
She slowly turned around. Earlier, when she had rushed out from the inner courtyard like a tigress, she was moving so fast and her hair was long, so Jiang Fei had seen her movements but not her face or features. Now he could see her clearly.
She was definitely no spring chicken. After all, she was a great expert at the Dan Jin level, and unlike Jiang Fei who had cheated his way there, most people had been training for decades and were at least over forty years old.
She was definitely over 1.75 meters tall, a height not often seen among Chinese women. As for her looks, at her age, words like ‘beautiful’ weren’t really suitable. She wasn’t the gentle, intellectual type of homemaker either. Like her height, she had a very typical Northeast Chinese woman’s flavor.
She wasn’t attacking anymore, but that overbearing aura was still faintly visible. No wonder the Lion King called her a tigress. And she looked like a Northeastern tigress at that.
“So you’re Jiang Fei? You’re so young. In the past, we often argued about who could be called the number one among the younger generation, but we never reached a conclusion. No one could decisively outdo the others; everyone could only be called one of the most outstanding juniors. Now that you’ve appeared, the word ‘one of’ can finally be removed. You are the undisputed number one among the younger generation.” The fierce, proud woman walked over to Jiang Fei and said.
Having already defeated the Japanese sword master, Yanagi Munenori, and reaching their level, with depth of strength that was unfathomable, even better than their older generation – compared to the younger generation, who else could be number one?
“You flatter me, senior.” Jiang Fei cupped his hands and said with a modest smile. “May I ask how I should address you, senior?”
The Lion King could call this woman ‘Tigress’, but he couldn’t very well do the same, could he? Although his strength had reached their level, and Jiang Fei was confident he was even a bit stronger, age was still an important factor in determining seniority. These people were all at least a full dozen years older than him. Calling them ‘senior’ wasn’t an exaggeration.
“Just call her Tiger King,” said the Lion King, walking over with a slightly teasing tone after being punched flying.
“Tiger King?” Jiang Fei thought, so that really was the name.
No wonder the Lion King called her a tigress. It was a perfect fit.
Seeing the Lion King say this, the black-clad woman, the Tigress, didn’t get upset. After all, having a title and name used for over a decade, representing countless glorious deeds and honors, even if some people thought it was a bit ridiculous, she didn’t mind.
“My name is Pan Yi,” the black-clad woman said. Although she didn’t mind being called a tigress and didn’t consider the term derogatory, she still told him her name.
Ordinary people weren’t worthy of knowing her name. Jiang Fei was different; his strength had been recognized by her, and he had indeed reached her level. So it was perfectly reasonable for her to tell him her name.
“Senior Pan Yi,” Jiang Fei addressed her.
“That sounds so awkward to me. I think Tiger King sounds better. She is one of the ‘Four Kings of China’ – Tiger King. And I am Lion King.” The Lion King laughed heartily, nonchalantly revealing a little secret.
Four Kings of China?
Lion King, Tiger King – that was two of the four kings. What were the other two called? To be known as the ‘Four Kings of China’, they must all be considered absolute top experts, right?
Jiang Fei thought to himself.
“The Four Kings of China?” Jiang Fei didn’t ask out loud, but when the black-clad woman, the Tigress, heard the Lion King’s words, her eyes became unfocused. She was lost in thought for a long while before she said with a bit of melancholy, “A title I haven’t heard in a long time. How many people in the martial arts world now even know about us? We’ve probably forgotten that title ourselves, right? We promised to meet every year back then, but it’s been a full seven years since we last gathered. Every year, only you, this lion, don’t forget to come to my place for a drink.”
At this moment, the fierce, cold aura of the black-clad woman, Pan Yi, seemed to soften, becoming much less fierce and sharp, instead growing despondent.
Hearing Pan Yi’s words, the Lion King beside her seemed infected by the mood. His eyes grew a bit unfocused, and he said ruefully, “That old fellow, Silver Wolf, vanished without a trace. We’ve tried every possible way over the years but haven’t found a single clue about him. I don’t even know if he’s dead or alive.”
“And as for Blue Dragon… that guy lives on Lushan Mountain. It’s hard for others to find him, but isn’t it easy for us to find him? You can brew so much wine for him every year, but you can’t bring yourself to take a step out to find him. What’s up with that attitude of yours? And what is Blue Dragon thinking, anyway? He decides to live like an ancient hermit in a simple hut, then calls himself ‘Wild Grass Daoist’? Pretending to be a Wine and Meat Monk!”
“I told you, I don’t brew this wine specially for him!” The black-clad tigress immediately raised an eyebrow again, looking ready to fight.
“Fine, fine, fine.” The Lion King shook his head helplessly, his long hair swaying in the wind. He shifted his eyes, changed his tone, and said with an unreadable meaning, “But, I have some important news about Blue Dragon. Do you want to hear it?”
Pan Yi’s brow furrowed immediately, and she stared at the Lion King with sharp, fierce eyes, saying coldly, “If you have something to say, say it! Spit it out!”
Every force has its equal.
The founder of the Seven Kills Group, who was overwhelmingly domineering in the outside world, famous internationally, someone even Yanagi Munenori feared and respected, was helpless when it came to this woman. He had no better solution, only able to mutter to himself about what a strange pair they were.
Both at this age, not ordinary people, yet they could still have emotional spats lasting nearly ten years, acting like two children. It was really something.
He knew it was impossible to make the black-clad tigress admit she wanted to hear it.
Besides, if he angered this tigress, it might just start another big fight.
So the Lion King stopped beating around the bush and spoke directly: “Seven years ago, when we parted, the three of us had roughly the same level of cultivation. Even if there were minor differences in strength, it wasn’t by much, and no one could completely overpower the others. After seven years, both of us have made great progress in our cultivation and strength, but the difference between us is about the same as it was seven years ago – no change. However, this guy Blue Dragon, playing the fool, pretending to be a Wine and Meat Monk living in a thatched hut on Lushan for so many years, has actually progressed much more than both of us. His strength has completely pulled away from us.”
Hearing this, Pan Yi didn’t show any displeasure. Instead, a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes, and she asked in surprise, “He broke through Dan Jin? He’s reached the Xiantian realm?”
The Lion King just smiled and nodded, not continuing.
But Jiang Fei, listening nearby, was both shocked and nervous.
That ‘Festival Daoist’ from Lushan…
Oh, no.
It was ‘Wild Grass Daoist’. The great expert at the Dan Jin level that his cheap master Xuanji Zi had mentioned actually had this hidden identity – he was one of the former ‘Four Kings of China’!
This plot twist was too sudden.
And it looked like this Blue Dragon, this Dragon King, might have some unspoken connection with this black-clad tigress, Pan Yi? Having a lovers’ quarrel for nearly ten years, unwilling to see each other?
“Alright, don’t get so happy just because you heard he reached the Xiantian realm. This guy is even more useless than you. Even if he did reach the Xiantian realm, he spends all day doing nothing, holed up at Lushan Mountain, not getting involved in worldly affairs. Our promise, ‘The Four Dragons of China guard China’ – now I’m the only one left trying to keep it!” The Lion King said resentfully.
Tiger King Pan Yi sighed, a hint of guilt in her heart.
Over the years, the four of them had indeed drifted apart, and once they drifted, they couldn’t come back together.
The Lion King grabbed a jar of strong wine, chugged it down ‘gulu gulu’ again. When it was almost empty, he threw his head back and let out a long roar. The sound waves spread out in all directions. Although it wasn’t as powerful as Yang Guo’s roar infused with internal power in Jin Yong’s novel The Return of the Condor Heroes, it would still be unbearable for an ordinary person’s ears if they were too close.
Luckily, this was an absolute suburb, with few people around. Otherwise, hearing this roar would have scared many half to death, and they would have called the police saying a lion had escaped.
The Lion King was still the same bold and unrestrained Lion King. After drinking and roaring, he casually tossed the wine jar aside. He quickly shifted his gaze to Jiang Fei and laughed loudly, “One’s fate is unknown, one’s in seclusion. Even if it’s still just the two of us showing up for the meeting this year, at least we have a new face! Tigress, you probably don’t know, but Jiang Fei here has been a member of my Seven Kills Group for a while now. My Seven Kills Group finally has a worthy successor! Haha…”
He then gave Jiang Fei’s shoulder another hearty pat and laughed, “After I retire, the Seven Kills Group will be counting on you to lead it!”
Jiang Fei immediately explained, “Senior Lion King, I actually wasn’t even qualified to join the Seven Kills Group. I only managed to get in by being thick-skinned. How could I possibly be qualified to lead it? Senior, you should find another worthy person.”
He joined the Seven Kills Group just so it would be easier to act cool in the future. If he ran into trouble, he could just flash the token and make countless scoundrels scatter.
This token was even more effective than the name ‘Ye Liangchen’!
But Jiang Fei had no intention of becoming the leader of the Seven Kills Group or anything like that. The most he could accept was to regularly supply the group with some ‘Sad and Breeze’ incense.
If that happened, then this token wouldn’t be a piece of cake; it would be a shackle.
Jiang Fei had finally seen a chance to climb out of the pit of being the President of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, and he definitely didn’t want to fall into the pit of becoming the leader of the Seven Kills Group.
“Lion, don’t force the young man. He’s not going to fall into your trap,” Tiger King said, shaking her head. “But, Jiang Fei, since he took the initiative to kill Miyamoto Ichi and then accepted Yanagi Munenori’s duel challenge, he has the right spirit. Whether he joins the Seven Kills Group or not, that’s enough…”
