Chapter Thirty-Two: Watching the Play

Who is the most terrifying person in the Money Gang?

Some say it is Shangguan Jinhong, the Vice Leader of the Money Gang. He oversees every affair, great or small, and possesses such ruthless skill that he can manipulate the desires and needs of all, striking fear into their hearts.

Others say it is Jing Wuming, for he is chillingly indifferent—cold not only to others but to himself. In his eyes, there is only the rule; all who break it must die.

Some point to the Old Man Tianji, who sees through the ways of the world and often pierces the thoughts of others with a single glance. "If a man knows he is a fool, it means he has begun to grow wise," is a saying that came from his lips.

Some claim it is Boss Gou, who knows the secrets of every soul, understanding them even better than they understand themselves. No one likes their secrets to be known.

Still others say it is the Great Joyful Female Bodhisattva of the Fried Chicken Hall, for everyone who has seen her finds her terrifying. And indeed, she is. With a body like a mountain of flesh and a voice like rolling thunder, she hardly seems human at all.

But Shangguan Jinhong, Jing Wuming, Old Man Tianji, Boss Gou, and the Great Joyful Female Bodhisattva—they alone know that the most terrifying person in the Money Gang is the Elder of Transmitted Arts.

He appears to be a young man, but no one knows his name. Even Li Xunhuan does not know it.

He is nameless, appearing silently within the Money Gang, seemingly devoid of any presence. Only those to whom he has transmitted his arts truly understand how profound his martial prowess is.

How could a man of such immense power be a mere ghost in the Money Gang? Is it possible?

Shangguan Jinhong was the first to notice the Elder’s peculiarity. He discovered that with the Elder present, Li Xunhuan was one person; without him, he was another entirely. Was Li Xunhuan being threatened by him?

The next to notice was the Great Joyful Female Bodhisattva. She had seen many men, but never one like the Elder. The Elder treated those in her Fried Chicken Hall with equality, forbidding them from keeping male concubines and regarding them as men. In the Money Gang, women were used as men, and men as beasts. Yet, to be treated as a man—or even as a human—was a degree of respect they had never known.

Then there was Old Man Tianji. Though he had arrived last, his life experience quickly revealed the Elder’s extraordinariness. He was too strong! So strong that everyone in the Money Gang ignored his existence. This was, without a doubt, a terrifying martial art.

Old Man Tianji then pondered a question: Was the Money Gang truly Li Xunhuan’s, or did it belong to this man? Harboring this doubt, he seized an opportunity to meet with Shangguan Jinhong in private.

One night, under the moon, they sat across from each other. The first and second ranked on the Weapons Registry. They did not choose to meet at night by preference; they were simply too busy during the day.

Old Man Tianji said, "If a man is too clever and knows too much, he might slowly turn into a madman."

Shangguan Jinhong replied, "Oh? Are you going mad?"

"Though I know much, I forget quickly, so I shall not be a madman," said Old Man Tianji.

Shangguan Jinhong laughed. "Then what are you asking?"

"Is the Money Gang truly yours?"

Shangguan Jinhong’s expression remained unchanged. "Naturally, it belongs to Leader Li. Like you, I am merely a Vice Leader."

"I have heard you are dissatisfied with Leader Li," said Old Man Tianji.

"Nonsense."

Old Man Tianji nodded. "Indeed. No one would be dissatisfied with a puppet."

Shangguan Jinhong looked at him. "Speak plainly if you have something to say."

"Do you know him?"

"I know him," Shangguan Jinhong replied.

"What kind of man is he?"

"I do not know."

"What does 'do not know' mean?" asked Old Man Tianji.

Shangguan Jinhong said, "A man in the pugilistic world always has a pursuit. He has none." Wealth, power, fame, desire—he saw none of it.

Old Man Tianji fell silent. He had seen none of it either. There were people in the world he could not see through, but they were few. "If he lives, he must have a purpose," he said. If one lives without a purpose, one is no different from a walking corpse. The Elder did not look like a walking corpse.

Shangguan Jinhong suddenly said, "Li Xunhuan has married."

"I know."

"He married both a man and a woman."

Old Man Tianji said calmly, "Fitting for the leader of the Money Gang." Shangguan Jinhong could not tell if the remark was laced with sarcasm or sincere praise. Is this the power of the one ranked first on the Weapons Registry? Truly terrifying.

Shangguan Jinhong continued, "Baixiaosheng once spoke of why he created the Weapons Registry."

"Nothing more than to stir up the winds and waves and show off a little," Old Man Tianji said, having seen through most of the world's truths. "He likely felt his own talents were unrecognized."

A single ranking was enough to make the martial arts world tear itself apart; how many had died for a hollow name?

"The world does not change because of one man," Old Man Tianji sighed.

"What if that man is him?" asked Shangguan Jinhong.

Old Man Tianji replied, "A man hiding behind the scenes—it does not look like he is manipulating the winds and clouds of the world; it looks more like..."

"Watching a play," Shangguan Jinhong completed the thought.

In "his" eyes, they were merely characters on a stage. They were but players, their joys and sorrows silently observed by him from the shadows.

"He is so young; how could such a person exist in the world?" Shangguan Jinhong muttered to himself.

Old Man Tianji countered, "Just because he looks young, does it mean he is?" If the ancient Old Man Tianji could become the "Old Man" he was now, why couldn't the youthful-looking Elder be an ancient monster?

"On this matter, we must ask Li Xunhuan," said Shangguan Jinhong. "The real Li Xunhuan."

They knew in their hearts who the false Li Xunhuan was. What would they do? Nothing was said, but both were clear. One held chivalry in his heart, the other ambition. Their goals differed, but their intent was the same. No one likes being manipulated, performing in a play they cannot control. Freedom is the deepest longing of every heart in the pugilistic world.

They were looking for Li Xunhuan, and Li Xunhuan was looking for Shi Fei.

Anyone whose life has been manipulated and altered would harbor resentment. Yet Li Xunhuan felt no such thing; he was a man of open and free spirit. Though manipulated, he had broken through his own limits and done what he had dared not do before. In the end, he had lost little. He was the leader of the Money Gang, bearing the infamy of being "equally fond of men and women."

But he did not care. What he cared about was whether Shi Fei, no longer controlling him, might control others. Might he control the Money Gang and turn the world upside down?

No one knew what Shi Fei was thinking. No one knew how terrifying he truly was. Therefore, Li Xunhuan felt it was his responsibility to understand Shi Fei—or to stop him.