Fu Zi let out a long sigh, feeling disappointed would be an understatement, after all, every young girl idolizes heroes, and she truly hoped that Ye Feng was that legendary hero, wishing for his powerful return to rescue the Fu Family from dire straits.


    But now it seemed...


    "I may have been too selfish," she thought, "after all, Third Brother has left Jiangdu for ten years and doesn’t have much affection for the Fu Family. It’s unreasonable to ask so much of him. Perhaps I should be more generous and agree to Young Master Jiang’s demands."


    Fu Zi’s mind was filled with chaotic thoughts.


    Fu Shen said, "Let’s not wait any longer, the martial arts sparring should be about to start, let’s go in. No matter what, today Second Brother has already prepared for the worst. If it reallyes down to it, we’ll just leave Jiangdu."


    Fu Zi gave a bitter smile and said, "After what happenedst night, Young Master Jiang had five fingers twisted off. Do you think the Jiang Family will let us leave easily today?"


    Fu Shen sighed, "What does it matter? We can’t be spineless cowards without integrity, like that old bastard Fu Zuoxing, can we?"


    Fu Zi shook her head without saying more, then the two of them entered.


    The venue was divided into three parts, with the Lei Family’s people in the middle, the Long Family’s on the left, and the people from the Fu Family were isted in a corner on the right.


    As for the Jiang Family, they were basically at both ends of the arena, evidently the directors of this martial arts contest.


    As soon as Fu Wenhua saw Fu Shen and hispanion walk in, he immediately stepped forward quickly and asked, "How did it go, did that foster son, Ye Feng, show up?"


    Fu Shen and Fu Zi didn’t speak, their faces filled with a sense of dejection.


    Fu Wenhua nced outside the door and saw no oneing. He immediately burst into a torrent of curses, "That damn brat, he caused a ruckusst night, after promising everything would be sorted, and now he’s nowhere to be seen. He’s leaving us Fu Family to clean up his mess?"


    Fu Qing also stepped forward and said, "Brother, you’re still too naive. I, your sister, never had any expectations for that crippled foster son. If he had been a son-inw to those prestigious families in the capital, perhaps our Fu Family could have had some hope."


    At this point, Fu Qing shrugged slightly, her face full of disdain as she mocked, "But look at him, he’s just the son-inw of the Hong Family, and a cripple with a broken leg at that. You’re expecting him to help? That’s less likely than a sow climbing a tree!"


    Fu Zuoxing also snorted angrily, "That damn brat, if he doesn’te today to bear the brunt of the Jiang Family’s rage, what are we supposed to do!"


    Having said this, Fu Zuoxing suddenly red at Fu Shen and said through gritted teeth, "The troublest night was caused by you two. Today, you sisters have to take responsibility. In the uing fight with the Lei Family, you must lose to them!"


    "Furthermore, Fu Zi, listen to me well. You understand what Young Master Jiang wants. Tonight, you’ll go to the hotel booked by Young Master Jiang and serve him well. Perhaps that might appease Young Master Jiang’s anger, otherwise our Fu Family is finished!"


    Fu Shen bit back a retort, "To deliberately lose to the Lei Family is one thing, but to expect my sister to attend to that waste Jiang Tianlong, that’s impossible!"


    Fu Zuoxing coldly retorted, "I’m not discussing this with you. Let me tell you, the Jiang Family has brought quite a number of people today, and have nowpletely taken control of the entire martial arts hall. Do you really think that if we don’tply with them today, we’ll live to walk out of here?"


    Fu Wenhua’s face suddenly paled, and in a panic, she said, "Dad, you’re not serious, are you?"


    Fu Qing was also scared and said, "Dad, we had nothing to do with what happenedst night. It was all Ye Feng, that waste. He’s the one who injured Young Master Jiang, surely the Jiang Family won’t kill us, will they?"


    "They might not kill us, but the Fu Family is certainly doomed. However, it’s different for Fu Shen and Fu Zi."


    Fu Zuoxing gave Fu Zi a stern look, "Think carefully about what I said. Whether you choose your life or your body depends on your performance today."


    After saying this, Fu Zuoxing waved his hand dismissively and walked to the front, carrying the attitude that even if the Fu Family was finished today, they would bring down two others to cushion their fall.


    At this moment, Jiang Tianlong, with his right hand wrapped in a white bandage, walked over apanied by two elder experts.


    "How unexpected, that cripple surnamed Ye didn’te today? He’s got some nerve, daring to miss this event and openly disregarding my Jiang Family!"


    Jiang Tianlong suddenly flew into a rage, turned his head to Fu Zi and said, "Pretty girl, rest assured, I’m always magnanimous. I can promise you right now that if you ept my demands tonight and obedientlye to my room, I might spare the Fu Family."


    As he spoke, Jiang Tianlong smirked, his mouth curling up in distasteful enjoyment as he chuckled, "Even though my right hand’s five fingers are broken, I still have my left hand’s fingers to satisfy you tonight."


    "You despicable bastard!" Fu Zi was so angry that her face turned purplish, her tall figure trembling with rage.


    Jiang Tianlongughed loudly just then, a tall young man from the Lei Family stepped forward and said with a slight bow, "Young Master Jiang, almost everyone has arrived, and the appointed hour for the contest hase. Should we not start?"


    Jiang Tianlong snorted, "What are we waiting for then!"


    "Yes, let’s begin!" The young man from the Lei Family said and then turned and gestured slightly to the stage.


    The host of today’s martial contest was an elder from the Lei Family, though not Lei Zaiyan. Considering his arm was already broken, he wasn’t suitable to make an appearance.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, as per the tradition of the Three Great Ancient Families, we are here today to hold a martial artspetition to spar and exchange skills. This year’s biggest industry division in Jiangdu concerns thend in the East New District and the construction of the port!"


    "In ordance with the agreement, this year’s victor will have priority!"


    In fact, the martial artspetition is notplicated: each of the three families sends representatives to spar andpete in matches. The matches are determined by drawing lots topete in three rounds, which in turn decides the division of the industry for the year.


    Of course, although that is the case on the surface, the actual operation is much moreplex because there can be many insider dealings in the contest. For example,st year the Lei Family could hire experts, or they could use authority to force other families to purposefully lose.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The bnce of power used to be equal among the three great families, with basically fairpetition among them. But afterst year, that bnce had been broken.


    Now among the three families, the Lei Family unofficially takes the lead. The Lei Family’s overall strength might not surpass the Long Family’s, but with the Jiang Family backing them, even the Long Family would not dare to overly defy the wishes of the Jiang Family.


    "Now, let the representatives from the three familiese up on stage and draw lots to determine the order of thepetition!" the host announced.


    Throughout this period, the Jiang Family’s elder and master expert, a Half-Step Master, just sat next to the stage in a Taishi Chair with his eyes closed, conserving energy, not even ncing at the people in the venue.


    It appeared he had no intention of entering the fray, but of course, that was only because it wasn’t yet his time to make a move.


    Jiang Tianlong slowly walked over and came beside the elder, bending over and whispering, "Third Grandfather, the kid who injured mest night hasn’t shown up today."


    "Hasn’t shown up, has he fled?" The elder didn’t open his eyes but simply spoke indifferently. Yet even so, his entire being exuded an air of authority.


    "He must have fled. Should we send people to capture him? That kid has broken five of my fingers, and this debt must be paid with his blood!" Jiang Tianlong said.


    The elder pondered for a moment before replying, "Rest assured, he won’t be able to escape. Go and contact Yan Xu now, have him find people. And the operatives in the Southern River Region Jiangnan Province will also make a move. Let’s see how that greenhorn can escape from the palm of our Jiang Family!"


    Immediately, Jiang Tianlong nodded and said, "Yes, Third Grandfather, I’ll get in touch right away!"


    On the other hand, Fu Shen, upon hearing the host’s call, stepped forward to ascend the stage.


    Fu Zi hastily shouted, "Second Brother, this year’spetition is totally under the Jiang Family’s control. There’s no need for us to make a futile struggle. Just admit defeat when it’s your turn."


    Yet Fu Shen shook his head firmly, grinding his teeth, "No, Zi’er, I’ve made up my mind. I will not intentionally lose. On the contrary, I’ll strike back—even if I die today, I will beat a member of the Lei Family half to death to avenge our foster father!"


    "No, Second Brother, you mustn’t do this. You’ll die..."


    Before Fu Zi could finish, Fu Shen had already stepped onto the stage. Then, Long Shaowu from the Long Family had also made his way up.


    What surprised everyone, though, was that the person from the Lei Family who stepped up was not a young family member but an old man from the Jiang Family.


    "This... An expert from the Jiang Family is directly representing the Lei Family in thepetition? How shameless can the Lei Family get, not even caring about saving face anymore?"


    Voices of discussion immediately spread from the Long Family’s side.


    "The Lei Family has been shameless for some time now. They had this expert from the Jiang Family step inst year, or else Fu Zuoming from the Fu Family would not have been beaten to death!"


    "Right, now that you mention it, I remember. The one who beat Fu Zuoming of the Fu Family to death on the stagest year was this expert from the Jiang Family, wasn’t it?"


    "Exactly that man. It looks like this year, the Jiang Family still has no intention of letting the Fu Family off the hook. Plus, with what happenedst night with Jiang Tianlong’s fingers being broken, I’m afraid Fu Shen will follow in his foster father’s footsteps today!"


    "Oh, speaking ofst night, what about that foster son from the Fu Family named Ye Feng? He was quite arrogant yesterday, so why haven’t we seen him today? Could it be that he didn’te?"


    "Haven’t seen him, he probably got scared witless, or maybe he has already fled by now. I thought this Ye fellow was something special, but it turns out he’s just a cowardcking the guts!"


    Fu Zi’splexion had already drastically changed, and she yelled at Fu Shen, "Second Brother, don’t be impulsive. Just admit defeat when it’s your turn, you absolutely mustn’t act rashly!"


    Fu Shen had his back to her and did not reply, his eyes fixedly staring at the blue-robed elder from the Lei Family, with towering rage flooding in his eyes.


    "The three representatives, pleasee over to draw lots!" the hostmanded.


    The order of the drawing was quickly determined, which didn’t really surprise many, because the Lei Family was in control of the lots that were drawn.


    The first match would be between the Fu Family and the Lei Family, which meant Fu Shen against the blue-robed expert from the Jiang Family.


    "This Fu Shen, he’s quite a man. It seems he’s likely to meet his end here today…"