Urban Martial Saint

”Wrong!” Tianfu waved his hand and said, ”Within the Hong Alliance, there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers; powerful figures abound. Although the Huangfu Household is one of the Seven Rudders, in fact, above the Seven Rudders, there are the Left and Right Envoys of the Hong Alliance. Like Helian Tiehua now, he is the Left Envoy of the Hong Alliance!”

”Ah?” Ye Qing was shocked again and quickly asked, ”Isn’t the Helian family’s Helian Tiehua one of the Hong Alliance’s Seven Rudders?”

”No, the Helian family has been the Left Envoy of the Hong Alliance from beginning to end,” Tianfu said. ”The Seven Rudders of the Hong Alliance do not include the Helian family, but that does not mean the Helian family’s strength is inferior to our Huangfu Household. On the contrary, the Helian family’s strength has always been very strong. Especially in this generation of Helian Tiehua, he has pushed the Helian family to a pinnacle position!”

Ye Qing was dumbfounded; according to Tianfu, how strong must the Hong Alliance be? However, if the Hong Alliance is so strong, why did the Huangfu Household withdraw from the Hong Alliance? Moreover, what is the connection between the Hong Alliance, the Twelve Green Halls, and the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates?

Tianfu continued, ”Do you know how the Hong Alliance and Qing Tang appeared?”

”I don’t know!” Ye Qing shook his head; he was still pondering this question.

”Then, do you know what is needed to open the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates?” Tianfu asked.

”I’ve heard that to open the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates, you need seven keys,” Ye Qing said. ”The Seven-Star Ancient Sword, Cold Moon Blade, and Overlord Spear are among the seven keys.”

”That’s right!” Tianfu nodded and said, ”But having the keys alone is not enough.”

”Why?” Ye Qing was astonished; he had always thought that having the keys would allow entry into the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates. But unexpectedly, here with Tianfu, he heard a different explanation. Or perhaps his understanding of the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates was too limited, and it appeared that Tianfu was the one who truly knew this matter.

Tianfu said softly, ”Because no one knows the location where the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates are opened. Therefore, having the keys, you also need maps to enter the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates!”

”Maps?” Ye Qing was taken aback and asked, ”What maps?”

”This is the key I’m going to tell you...” Tianfu said. ”The Seven Rudders of the Hong Alliance control the seven keys to open the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates. The Twelve Green Halls control the three maps of the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates, which are respectively the Heaven Map and Human Map!”

”Heaven Map, Earth Map, Human Map?” Ye Qing repeated these three phrases, feeling even more bewildered inside.

According to Tianfu’s explanation, wouldn’t the Twelve Green Halls be comparable to the Seven Rudders of the Hong Alliance? But given the enormous power of the Seven Rudders, what kind of strength does the Twelve Green Halls possess to be able to stand against the Seven Rudders?

”From the day the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates came into existence, the seven keys and three maps followed along. In ancient times, people were autonomous, fighting amongst each other; these seven keys and three maps were always drifting, never having a true master. Until three hundred years ago, when the Qing Dynasty was established, changes began to occur,” Tianfu paused and said. ”The Hong Alliance appeared at this time, initially composed of passionate Han people supporting the remnants of the Ming Dynasty, who united to try to drive away Qing troops and restore the prestige of the Hongwu era. Thus the organization dubbed itself the Hong Alliance. However, later on, the remnants of the Ming Dynasty were utterly annihilated by the Qing troops during chaotic battles, so the idea of supporting the remnants to restore the Ming Dynasty disappeared. Yet the Hong Alliance has persisted, becoming a very powerful underground organization. Despite the Qing troops’ yearly exterminations, they never managed to eradicate the Hong Alliance, and it has survived to this day.”

”And the Twelve Green Halls appeared somewhat earlier than the Hong Alliance. The predecessor of the Twelve Green Halls was actually a band of salt traders who formed the Salt Gang to consolidate territory. Later, they further united to form the Twelve Green Halls. When Qing troops entered the borders, the Twelve Green Halls also suffered extermination by the Qing troops, and to survive, they had to unite with the Hong Alliance to support each other and evade Qing troops’ pursuit,” Tianfu explained. ”So, three hundred years ago, the Seven Rudders of the Hong Alliance and the Twelve Green Halls were actually like brothers, both were the strongest underground forces in Huaxia, jointly controlling the seven keys and three maps of the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates. For fairness, both parties decided to separate the seven keys and three maps. The Hong Alliance entrusted with the seven keys, and the Twelve Green Halls overseeing the three maps.”

Ye Qing suddenly understood—the difference between the Seven Rudders of the Hong Alliance and the Twelve Green Halls began from here. But why is it that now he only hears about the Hong Alliance without any mention of the Twelve Green Halls?

”However, even though they were like brothers, there are times when relations strain. The relationship between the Hong Alliance and Qing Tang is just like this, having gone through the mutual resistance against Qing soldiers in the past, the relationship between the Hong Alliance and Qing Tang was very harmonious, almost as close as siblings. But later, when the Banner people adopted appeasement policies, no longer rounding up Hong Alliance and Qing Tang members, the relationship between the Hong Alliance and Qing Tang was no longer as harmonious as before,” Tianfu sighed and said. ”After all, it’s related to the opening of the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates, and each time only one gate opens, only one person can enter. However, everyone knows that those who enter will inevitably become the Supreme ruler of the world. Therefore, whether it’s people from the Hong Alliance or Qing Tang, they all want their own members to enter the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates. Due to such matters, disputes gradually started between them, eventually escalating into open conflict. The Hong Alliance wanted to seize the three maps from Qing Tang, while Qing Tang wanted to seize the seven keys from the Hong Alliance, leading to constant conflict between them.”

”In the end, which faction’s member entered the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates?” Ye Qing couldn’t help but ask.

Tianfu shook his head and gave a bitter laugh, ”As the saying goes, when the clams fight, the fisherman benefits. Despite the Hong Alliance and Qing Tang controlling the key to opening the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates, in these three hundred years, the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates opened three times, but each time, it wasn’t a member of the Hong Alliance or Qing Tang who entered, but instead some unknown people entered the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates. Like the incident with Divine Doctor An Shiping—at that time, when the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates was opened, everyone in the world was scrambling to get in, yet he managed to enter the Earth Gate ahead of everyone by chance.”

Ye Qing slowly nodded; it seems Old Wang Ba was right. Having the keys and maps does not guarantee entry into the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates; one also needs many opportunities.

”Originally, the Hong Alliance and Qing Tang restrained each other, neither being able to harm the other. Yet a major change occurred a hundred years ago,” Tianfu continued. ”A hundred years ago, during the Eight-Nation Alliance’s invasion of China, external troubles and internal distress led to war. Both the Hong Alliance and Qing Tang had no choice but to participate in this war. However, when the internal war broke out, both chose different camps. Ultimately, the Hong Alliance was able to stay in Huaxia, while the Twelve Green Halls were forced to leave Huaxia and enter Tai Island!”

”Ah?” Ye Qing couldn’t help but shout in surprise. He was definitely familiar with this part of history. He just hadn’t expected that the Hong Alliance and Qing Tang would be involved in the nation-building war, which truly was an enormous shock.

”Then the Twelve Green Halls...” Ye Qing asked in a low voice, ”Do they no longer exist?”

”No!” Tianfu shook his head. ”Not only do they exist, but their strength is still very formidable. The King Yan Ning Qianshu you know is actually a member of the Twelve Green Halls.”

”What!?” Ye Qing was astonished once again. He had always wondered how Ning Qianshu could possess such skills to stir up chaos single-handedly. Now it seems that Ning Qianshu’s background is quite strong indeed. The Twelve Green Halls are Ning Qianshu’s greatest backing!

”Within the Twelve Green Halls, there are numerous experts, not to be underestimated!” Tianfu said sternly. ”Actually, Ning Qianshu wasn’t originally a member of the Twelve Green Halls. But twenty years ago, Ning Qianshu reached some sort of agreement with the Twelve Green Halls. With his power, he nearly wiped out four of the Seven Rudders of the Hong Alliance, including our Huangfu Household and the Chen Family, as well as two other major families, all nearly uprooted by him. Thus, he became a guest of honor within the Twelve Green Halls. However, surely he is not the strongest among the Twelve Green Halls!”

”So are you saying there are experts within the Twelve Green Halls comparable to the Five Unmatches?” Ye Qing furrowed his brow and asked gravely, ”Yet why aren’t they included in the evaluation of the Five Unmatches of the world?”

”The evaluation of the Five Unmatches is only for the Five Unmatches of Huaxia, not including Tai Island,” Tianfu explained gravely. ”From what I know, there are at least three experts on Tai Island comparable to the Five Unmatches. Furthermore, there is even one nearly half-demon character among them. Only Prince Nalan has fought him; the prince hasn’t spoken about this person’s strength. But it is predicted that the prince likely suffered a setback at his hands, which is why it’s never mentioned!”

”Ah?” Ye Qing was shocked again. Prince Nalan’s strength is top-ranked among the Five Unmatches of the world, yet he suffered a significant loss against that person from Tai Island. This demonstrates that person’s strength is indeed extraordinary. Nowadays, the strength of the Seven Rudders of the Hong Alliance is not what it once was. If the Twelve Green Halls were to attack, would the Seven Rudders of the Hong Alliance not be done for?

Seeming to perceive Ye Qing’s concern, Tianfu said, ”But you need not worry; the Twelve Green Halls dare not blatantly enter Huaxia. After all, the big shots in the Capital are watching them too. Additionally, the Seven Rudders of the Hong Alliance are not as simple as you think. The Helian family clan is just the Left Envoy; the Right Envoy hasn’t appeared, but that doesn’t mean the Right Envoy is gone.”

Ye Qing’s heart skipped a beat—both the powerful Seven Rudders of the Hong Alliance and the formidable Twelve Green Halls were no laughing matter. If they were to battle each other again, wouldn’t the world be thrown into chaos? No wonder before, when both Southern Fist King Shen Tianjun and Old Wang Ba mentioned that the Southern Six Provinces were about to plunge into turmoil, they could very well have been referring to this situation!