"Confronting the Azure Hawk Gang: Huang Xiaolong's Determined Stand Against Troublemakers"

Outside, the noise and commotion grew louder as people continued to scold and make a ruckus. Li Cheng felt the need to intervene and said to Huang Xiaolong and Fei Hou, "Xiaolong, Senior Fei Hou, please have a seat. I will handle this." Huang Xiaolong shook his head and replied, "We will go out together. Since trouble has come to Li Family's silk shop, I cannot sit here and ignore it."

Upon hearing Huang Xiaolong's decision to accompany him, Li Cheng felt relieved. The seven of them, including Huang Xiaolong, left the hall and headed towards the front shop. When they arrived, they witnessed several individuals dressed in azure clothing throwing things around in the shop while hurling insults.

"These silk products are nothing but garbage picked from the heap! They stink! How dare they use this foul-smelling fabric to make clothes for us? These people must have a death wish!"

"Hit them! Hit them hard!"

Despite the shop's young man attempting to intervene, he was outnumbered and overwhelmed. Six or seven individuals lay on the ground, clearly injured from the assault.

Li Cheng's expression changed as he grew anxious and angry. He shouted, "Stop! Stop right now!"

However, the individuals in azure clothing seemed unfazed by Li Cheng's anger. They continued their assault on the shop, forcefully throwing objects around. Just as Li Cheng was about to take action, one of them lunged towards him with open arms and an extended claw. The person's qi energy was formidable, indicating they were at the Rank 7 Late Stage.

Li Cheng's complexion changed in alarm, preparing to raise his hand to defend himself. However, before he could react, a figure swiftly intervened, using their palm to knock the assailant away. The assailant let out a pitiful cry and crashed to the ground, curling up in apparent pain, unable to continue their attack.

The one who intervened was a Rank 9 guard from the Marshal Mansion. The sudden turn of events caused the other troublemakers to pause and look in their direction.

The leader of the azure-clothed group, a middle-aged robust man, frowned upon seeing his subordinate lying on the ground in agony. He then shifted his gaze towards Huang Xiaolong and the others and asked in a stern tone, "Who are you? This is a matter concerning our Azure Hawk Gang. It would be best if you don't meddle!"

Li Cheng's expression turned even more alarmed upon hearing the name "Azure Hawk Gang." Huang Xiaolong, on the other hand, was puzzled. Before he could inquire further, a Rank 10 guard from the Marshal Mansion stepped forward and explained, "Young Master, the Azure Hawk Gang is one of the three major factions in Royal City. Their Gang Master, Jiang Wei, is a Rank 10 expert and has close ties with many aristocrats in the city."

So, the Azure Hawk Gang was one of the influential factions in Royal City. Huang Xiaolong nodded, realizing that these factions were similar to criminal syndicates on Earth. However, given the Azure Hawk Gang's status as one of the city's major factions, their power was not to be underestimated.

Huang Xiaolong glanced at Li Cheng, realizing that Li Family's silk shop must have had a conflict with the Azure Hawk Gang. It seemed someone had manipulated the situation.

"Yes, our Azure Hawk Gang is one of the three major factions in Royal City!" The middle-aged robust man proudly proclaimed, then cast a severe gaze at Huang Xiaolong. "In this Royal City, few dare to harm our people!"

Huang Xiaolong remained indifferent and asked, "Tell me, who incited you to cause trouble?"

The middle-aged robust man's face darkened upon hearing the question. He sneered, "Boy, which family's disciple are you? Your actions might bring disaster upon your family!"

He wasn't exaggerating. Offending the Azure Hawk Gang in Royal City often led to dire consequences for families involved.

Upon hearing the middle-aged robust man's threat, the four guards from the Marshal Mansion burst into laughter.

Disaster upon Huang Family? Could the Azure Hawk Gang really destroy the Marshal Mansion?

Huang Xiaolong shook his head and smiled wryly. The middle-aged robust man and his group were furious at the guards' laughter,

At that moment, Huang Xiaolong addressed the four guards from Marshal Mansion, saying, "You, come forward and apprehend them. Find out who incited them to cause trouble."

"Yes, Young Master!" responded the guards in unison. The middle-aged leader of the Azure Hawk Gang and his accomplices noticed the change in complexion and attempted to retreat, but it was too late. In a flash, the four guards from Marshal Mansion cut off their escape routes and swiftly took action. The air was soon filled with cries of pain.

Although the Azure Hawk Gang disciples were of Rank 5 and Rank 6 strength, and their middle-aged leader was even stronger at the Rank 7 Late Stage Peak, they were no match for the four guards from Marshal Mansion, who were Rank 9 and Rank 10. In a short span of time, all the Azure Hawk Gang disciples lay defeated on the ground.

One of the Rank 10 guards from Marshal Mansion, Wang Ning, gazed coldly at the middle-aged leader who was now lying on the ground. He asked in a stern tone, "Our Young Master demands to know who incited you to cause trouble!"

The middle-aged leader glared at Wang Ning angrily and spat out blood, refusing to answer.

Observing this, Wang Ning smiled coldly. He extended his hands, assuming a claw-like grip, and suddenly grasped the middle-aged leader's arm. With a swift twist, he dislocated it, causing the middle-aged leader to cry out in agony.

"If you don't want me to wrench both your feet apart, speak the truth," Wang Ning coldly threatened.

"I... I'll talk! I'll talk!" gasped the pale-faced middle-aged leader, his voice trembling. "A few days ago, someone came to our Azure Hawk Gang and informed us that our Gang Master ordered us to do this, to make our disciples cause trouble here!"

"An order?" Huang Xiaolong's gaze flickered with understanding. If the Gang Master of Azure Hawk Gang had issued such an order, it indicated that this person's status and origins were not ordinary.

But who was this person? And why did they target Li Family?

Unfortunately, the middle-aged leader was unaware of the identity of the person behind the order. The interrogation yielded no further results.

Huang Xiaolong turned to Li Cheng, who shook his head in confusion. He couldn't determine who held a deep grudge against Li Family.

At that moment, Li Cheng's complexion changed, and he said to Huang Xiaolong, "Xiaolong, do you remember my father's 80th birthday?" Li Cheng's face reflected sadness and resentment.

The 80th birthday? Huang Xiaolong remembered that day when mysterious individuals with poisonous snake Martial Spirits had delivered Li Feng's corpse as a birthday present.

Huang Xiaolong turned to the Rank 10 guard, Wang Ning, and asked, "Where is the headquarters of the Azure Hawk Gang?" He intended to find out why the Azure Hawk Gang's Gang Master, Jiang Wei, had ordered these attacks.

Huang Family Manor and Li Family had a longstanding friendship, so Huang Xiaolong felt compelled to get involved in this matter.

Wang Ning promptly replied, "The Azure Hawk Gang's headquarters is in the southern corner of the city. It's not too far from here, Young Master."

"Xiaolong, let's go together," Li Cheng said, his face filled with grief and indignation. For over a year, Li Family had been searching for the culprits behind Li Feng's death. Remembering his son's tragic end, Li Cheng couldn't contain his anger any longer.

Seeing Li Cheng's sorrowful expression, Huang Xiaolong nodded. He then turned to Fei Hou, Wang Ning, and the others and commanded, "Bring him with us. We're heading to the Azure Hawk Gang headquarters." Huang Xiaolong gestured towards the middle-aged robust man lying on the ground.

"Yes, Young Master!" Wang Ning and the others respectfully replied.

Thus, Huang Xiaolong, Li Cheng, and the others left the Li Family shop and made their way towards the Azure Hawk Gang headquarters.