Shanxi Yiyouxing Troop.
Many of the young people surrounding it did not know, but some older individuals still had some recollections.
This was created by the veteran boxer from Shanxi, Zhang Peng, whose fists were famous throughout the province, earning him the nickname Fist Zhang.
Fist Zhang, known for his chivalry and generosity, had no children of his own and had adopted a group of disciples. Halfway through his life, he had established a bodyguard business in Ze Prefecture. After a lifetime of dedication, the business became one of the most reputable and distinguished in the field.
It was exactly because of this that fourteen years ago, he outstripped other bodyguard businesses and was chosen by the Fang Family to escort their valuables—an opportunity he thought would bring greater fame. However, as fortune and disaster are interlinked, it was this very escort mission that cost Yiyouxing Troop a dozen of its best disciples.
Old Master Fang Shouyi was also fatally wounded and did not survive.
The news caused a great stir across Shanxi.
More than a dozen escorts had fallen to a group of bandits, turning Yiyouxing Troop into a laughingstock.
Overwhelmed by anger, urgency, and grief, Fist Zhang died of a hemorrhage, and since then, Yiyouxing Troop had withered away, disappearing from public view.
Unexpectedly, after fourteen years, it resurfaced and reopened.
Was this still the Yiyouxing Troop of Fist Zhang?
As everyone's gaze fell on the man who had just finished hanging the signboard, someone exclaimed with surprise.
"Isn't that Old Lei?"
Although quite inconspicuous, having been a driver for De Sheng Chang for over a decade, everyone was quite familiar with him.
If Old Lei was hanging a signboard here, did that mean that De Sheng Chang was opening a bodyguard business?
That would indeed be a rare occurrence, though not entirely surprising.
While other wealthy merchants operated various industries, De Sheng Chang had always solely managed their money business.
Now, with the downfall of its enemies and the Young Master's recovery, was it possible that they were looking to vigorously expand and delve into new industries?
"Is this run by De Sheng Chang?" voices queried, one after another.
Lei Zhonglian looked at the crowd and shook his head while he moved the ladder.
"No, this is Yiyouxing Troop," he said. "It's the reopening of my master, Boxer Zhang's Yiyouxing Troop."
It truly was Yiyouxing Troop!
Those in the know were both surprised and astonished.
And he said his master was Fist Zhang?
"Old Lei, weren't you just a driver? What do you have to do with Fist Zhang?" someone asked, puzzled.
Lei Zhonglian, gripping the ladder with one hand, turned to look at the man.
"I was originally the driver for Yiyouxing Troop and studied under Master Zhang. Fourteen years ago, I took on the mission to escort the Fang Family members, a mission I never completed until recently when I safely returned the Young Master and Old Lady Fang from Runan," he explained. "Now, I can rebuild Yiyouxing Troop and fulfill the promise of the escort."
The crowd around him was dumbfounded.
It sounded like another twisted and incredible story.
"The escort? I remember now! Initially, when Old Master Fang was attacked, three people were dragged out, and one of them was a surviving escort."
"Yes, that's right, there was one, and that escort even went around claiming that it wasn't bandits robbing them but government soldiers."
"So, it was you."
All eyes were once again focused on Lei Zhonglian.
This was another story from the past, and he was also a person from the past.
"Wait, you said you escorted the Young Master and Old Lady Fang back from Runan." someone recalled loudly, "Then, the storyteller who spoke of Miss Jun caring for the diseased and disabled and enduring hardships to return to Runan... was that you?"
Lei Zhonglian gave him a glance and said nothing. He hoisted the ladder onto his shoulder and raised his other hand to steady it, the sleeve sliding down to reveal his stiff, gnarled right hand.
Those standing close exclaimed softly upon seeing it.
This hand is obviously disabled.
Indeed, he is the famed "Old Cripple."
But since his hand is disabled like this, he surely can't wield swords or guns anymore, can he? How can he run a bodyguard business? Is the Fang Family giving him money to act as the boss and then hire some escorts?
"Not at all." Lei Zhonglian put the ladder inside the door and turned his head to answer, "I don't hire escorts. I recruit some apprentices, teach them martial arts, and then lead them on escort missions."
He's teaching apprentices? Taking them on escort missions?
The people at the scene were even more astonished.
Strange things happen every year, but this year especially so.
A man with one disabled hand can teach apprentices and take them on escort missions?
Lei Zhonglian had already entered, and the discussions outside were in a jumble.
"Since he is the Old Cripple brought by Miss Jun, then he must have also personally experienced ambushes, fallen into traps, and staggered through battlefields."
"What does that experience matter? Can he really still enter the battlefield personally with his condition?"
"I think De Sheng Chang is just rewarding him with money to pass the time and retire comfortably."
While they were discussing this, there was a sudden rush of hoofbeats on the street.
"Make way, make way," accompanied by shouts.
The crowd looked up to see four or five soldiers escorting a general who was galloping towards them, their presence imposing and formidable.
The soldiers and generals coming to Yangcheng had either broken into the county government or supervised executions, which made the locals very fearful and quick to dodge out of the way.
The group of military men stopped in front of Shanxi Yiyouxing Troop, dismounted in unison with a clattering of weapons and armor that was quite frightening.
The soldiers spread out and stood in front of the door, their faces solemn. The lead general did not barge in but adjusted his clothes.
"Master Lei," he called out.
Lei Zhonglian came out upon hearing him, his brow furrowed at the sight of the soldiers.
"General Tian," he said, "what brings you here again?"
The man addressed as General Tian smiled.
"Our lord said we must 'pay three visits to the thatched cottage,'" he said, "So I have come to invite you again."
Even 'paying three visits to the thatched cottage' for a cripple?
The onlooking crowd was incredulous, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Lei Zhonglian showed no hint of being flattered, but rather seemed a bit annoyed.
"General Tian, I've said before, I'm flattered by your lord's favor, but I truly cannot join the Huaiqing Road military," he sighed, extending his right hand, "My hand is disabled."
General Tian obviously could not contain his eagerness, stepping forward, his eyes fervent.
"Master Lei, don't be modest. In the White Crane Ridge Valley, we witnessed your fighting skills firsthand," he claimed, "We've also investigated, and it turns out you are the Dual-Spear Lotus! When it comes to wielding double guns, you say you're second, and no one dares claim first."
The crowd around gasped in disbelief, staring at Lei Zhonglian.
The reputation of Dual-Spear Lotus was almost as well-known as that of Fist Zhang. Many had heard of him, but no one had linked Dual-Spear Lotus to Old Lei from De Sheng Chang, the inconspicuous driver.
Lei Zhonglian sighed softly.
"My lord, I can no longer use double guns. My hand was already injured and disabled protecting Old Master Fang from bandits fourteen years ago, unable to hold a spear again. In the battle of White Crane Ridge Valley, it was Old Lady Fang who used acupuncture needles to pierce through my veins and allowed me one last battle, after which my hand was completely disabled," he explained, "So the me you saw in the battle of White Crane Ridge Valley will never appear again; it no longer exists."
The noise in front of the door suddenly quieted, everyone staring at Lei Zhonglian.
A disabled hand, restored by Old Lady Fang's acupuncture, a remarkable final battle.
Why does it seem to end up relating to Old Lady Fang again?
The myriad pieces of information left the crowd somewhat confused.
"Is this also a shill paid by the Fang Family?" someone muttered, "Is this just setting up too many shills, making the plot overly convoluted?"