Chen Ping's Sword-Chapter 51: Taking the Initiative, Striking the Unprepared

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Taking the Initiative, Striking the Unprepared

Chen Ping reached out and gently rubbed Hua Lian’er’s head, speaking softly, "The crisis you mentioned, what does it refer to?"

"It’s Zhuang Hongyi... This person often meets secretly with my brother, which I saw secretly. At that time, I didn’t know her identity, but yesterday I heard the Cyan Hall Incense Hall disciple describe the appearance of the Chizi Hall Branch Incense Master, and I remembered.

That woman likes to wear red, with two very formidable red silks. Right, she also has some powerful experts under her command, dressed in black and masked, moving swiftly."

At this point, Hua Lian’er patted her chest with lingering fear.

It seemed she recalled how thrilling it was that day and felt fortunate for escaping quickly.

"Doesn’t your family intervene?"

Chen Ping was puzzled.

From Hua Lian’er’s few words, he understood that her family probably had a considerable influence...

Her brother alone could command so many people.

Then, what about her parents? Did they just watch with open eyes?

"Father, he doesn’t care about me, just running around all day."

Hua Lian’er pouted.

Alright, she was feeling aggrieved again.

Chen Ping felt he couldn’t continue to ask, it was clear that Hua Lian’er wanted to speak but didn’t quite dare to, her gaze subconsciously sweeping to the sides, afraid that the walls had ears.

This was like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow.

No wonder every day before dawn, she reflexively colored her face with ink sticks and crayons.

She felt very insecure.

Only in the deep of night would she quietly wash her face and bask in the moonlight.

She would also bring that incredibly beautiful face close to him and smile with closed lips, testing whether he could see or not.

Chen Ping also noticed that Hua Lian’er did not mention her mother.

Perhaps it was not an oversight.

But for some other reason.

...

"It’s not safe here, as soon as it gets dark, we’ll leave immediately."

Chen Ping glanced at the house that Hua Lian’er and a few others had painstakingly decorated, and sighed in his heart.

The lanterns, the Peach Talisman at the door, and the paper-cut floral windows inside the house, all their efforts this time would be in vain.

"Do we really have to leave? Perhaps Tan Sihai has no other intentions and really came to recruit us."

The two brothers of the Little Table looked conflicted, yet dared not doubt Chen Ping’s decision too much.

They just weakly asked a question.

These days, always living precariously, what they wanted most was to settle down and not worry about making a living.

In the past, before any changes in the family, the two brothers had heard of Tan Sihai’s good reputation.

Deep down, they trusted that bold man known as Sihai (Four Seas).

Especially previously, when they heard that he was willing to invite Seventh Brother to be a Vice Squad Leader.

In the Yuanfeng Pier area, wouldn’t that mean being able to walk proudly?

The past crises and wandering lifestyles would be far away from them.

Although the past was unbearable, the future seemed quite promising.

But this beautiful hope had just sprouted in their hearts when it was cruelly strangled.

For a moment, it was suffocating.

"Seventh Brother says it’s unsafe, then it’s unsafe, we just follow, why say so much?"

Zuo Duanshou looked expressionlessly, casting a glance at the Little Table, with a hint of displeasure in his eyes.

These days passed.

The young companions, from starving every day to not knowing what tomorrow would bring.

Life started getting better by the day.

Being able to eat well, dress warmly.

And also occasionally take supplements to cultivate Martial Arts.

From the heavy exploitation of the Seven-Colored Hall, they fought for a way of survival.

The decisions made by Seventh Brother never had any mistakes, often planning ahead, staying ahead at every step.

Even Chang Sansi, who was called Old Fox, couldn’t outsmart Seventh Brother, to the point where he had to fight shirtless and was slaughtered without any dignity on the long street.

Such martial arts, such a mind.

Could his decisions be wrong?

Zuo Duanshou thought, these two brothers had no courage at all, had they lost their nerve along with their balls?

It’s just re-entering the storm and rain.

Originally had nothing, couldn’t talk about losing.

Chen Ping nodded, unable to reveal Hua Lian’er’s "secrets," just said in a deep voice, "I got news that Tan Sihai is acquainted with Zhuang Hongyi from the Seven-Colored Hall, and their relationship is quite deep..."

"How is that possible?"

This time, even Zuo Duanshou’s face was shocked.

The Little Table and Little Stool were sweating from their foreheads.

If this Tan Sihai was secretly in harmony with the Seven-Colored Hall, then the open fighting and robbing of territories must be an act.

Meant to deceive certain people.

And then plot something.

The reason behind it couldn’t be thought too deeply, as it would make one’s skin crawl.

The two major gangs of the South and North City joining forces.

Once they launched simultaneously, this Xingqing Prefecture City might face big trouble.

In this way.

Tan Sihai clearly knew he had just confronted the Seven-Colored Hall and even killed the Vice Incense Master of the Cyan Hall Incense Hall, which made them enemies who wanted to kill him quickly.

Yet he came with gifts and promises of recruitment, which was obviously unreasonable.

The only explanation is that he wanted to stabilize their group.

Recruitment is false, praise is false, the eagerness for talent is a huge joke.

Beneath the bold and generous surface lay sinister intentions.

Hua Lian’er looked at the Little Table brothers with their miserable looks, feeling a bit sorry: "The only fortunate thing amidst misfortune, Seventh Brother is famous after the Yulan Street fight...

At this moment, even the most confident and martial arts proficient expert wouldn’t dare to claim easily taking us down.

So, there’s still time to adapt."

She pointed to the inside of the house and lowered her voice: "When we rented this courtyard, I considered today’s situation, especially choosing a place with a retreat route, come and see..."

As she spoke, she led the group to the master bedroom.

She bent down, crawled under the bed, felt around, and pulled out a plank, revealing a pitch-black hole, big enough for one person to enter with ease.

"There’s a tunnel?"

Chen Ping’s face lit up.

Secretly giving Hua Lian’er a thumbs up.

The little girl seemed to have delved into the art of escape to the core.

It’s easy to imagine how she had been living in fear every day and night.

Afraid of being discovered for her identity, hunted down.

But in the daytime, she mostly seemed cheerful, carefree, Chen Ping would never have imagined she had so much on her mind.

"Have you tested it? Where’s the exit?"

"The tunnel is only wide enough for one person, you have to duck your head through, about 150 zhang long, exit is southwest."

Hua Lian’er smiled proudly.

"Brocade Street, Fireworks Alley."

They barely turned their thoughts in their mind before blurting it out.

Looping back near the Qii Family.

They still remembered, they had stayed there last night.

The young master of the Qii Family, even if the family was fallen, would still go to Chunfeng Tower to drink.

That place, strictly speaking, doesn’t belong to the civilian area, most residents have some wealth.

More interestingly, the exit is there, just a short walk away is the busiest and most complex area of Xingqing, the "Flower Market." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

This flower is not that flower, it’s a place of brothels and courtesans.

Today is the Lantern Festival, without even asking, one could tell, it’s surely packed with people, a steady stream.

Especially at night, with lanterns lit across the street, people of all kinds roaming and guessing riddles.

A poem bears witness.

"The Flower Market is as bright as day, a night of dragon and fish dance..."

The tunnel leads directly there, escaping wouldn’t be difficult.

"Leaving in such a hasty manner would be too cowardly. There are a thousand days for a thief, but no one’s on guard day and night... Without teaching the Seven-Colored Hall and others a harsh lesson, this wouldn’t end."

Chen Ping sneered coldly, "Zuo Duanshou, if you see those people again, could you still recognize any of them?"

"Even if they turn to ashes, I wouldn’t forget."

Zuo Duanshou gritted his teeth, his face looked ferocious.

He followed them that day, watching his little sister drift away, never to be found, how could he not remember?

"Alright, prepare to pack up, once the whole city lights up, we leave immediately."

Chen Ping had not forgotten; he learned from the information he gathered that on this Lantern Festival day, the Seven-Colored Hall was planning to do something big.

He really wanted to see, just how big is this matter?

It’s impolite not to reciprocate.

Absolutely can’t let them lead by the nose.

Take the initiative, strike while unprepared, align with the principles of warfare.