Chapter 22: Promotion

The second day, at high noon.

Hong Sheng Lian headquarters.

Members of the gang had gathered, and there were even two troupes performing lion dances at the entrance, creating quite a lively atmosphere.

In truth, holding an incense hall ceremony to bestow the rank of "Red Pole" is a major event. By tradition, one should invite senior members of the Hongmen or leaders of other friendly organizations to witness it. However, He Wenchang already felt conflicted about promoting Yang Sheng to the rank of "Double-Flower Red Pole," so he naturally had no intention of making a grand spectacle. Having internal personnel present to acknowledge the new Red Pole was enough.

After Yang Sheng arrived, Huang Wen had him taken away to change into a black Tang suit, adorned with a red headband, and briefed him on the upcoming procedures. Although Hong Sheng Lian had fallen into decline, it was still a legitimate branch of the Hongmen, so the rituals could not be skipped.

Once the auspicious hour arrived, Yang Sheng walked to the entrance of the hall. Huang Wen, dressed in a long gown, announced in a sonorous voice, "Open the altar!"

As Yang Sheng followed Huang Wen into the back of the headquarters, he entered a windowless, lightless secret chamber where only dim candles flickered. He Wenchang, "Fisherman" Qiang, and several other senior leaders of Hong Sheng Lian were already seated inside.

Huang Wen stepped into the chamber, but two sturdy men in red, holding Yanying sabers, crossed their blades to block Yang Sheng’s path.

One of them shouted sternly, "Do you know that this is the forbidden ground of the Hong army? It is heavily guarded and must not be violated! Those who break the rules will face the merciless hand of military law!"

Yang Sheng said in a deep voice, "I am the vanguard who protected the Ming throne, the first to bridge rivers and build roads! I clear paths through mountains and shatter city walls; who does not recognize the heaven-blessed Hong!"

The two men withdrew their blades and cleared the way. Yang Sheng strode forward and knelt on one knee before an altar of ancestral tablets.

The altar was dedicated to:
The Five Founding Ancestors of the Hongmen: Yin Hongsheng, Fu Qinzhu, Gu Yanwu, Huang Lizhou, and Wang Chuanshan.
The Five Sects: "Literary Sect" Shi Kefa, "Martial Sect" Zheng Chenggong, "Propaganda Sect" Chen Jinnan, "Achievement Sect" Wan Yunlong, and "Power Sect" Su Hongguang.
The Five Early Ancestors: Cai Dezhong, Fang Dahong, Hu Dedi, Ma Chaoxing, and Li Shikai.
The Five Middle Ancestors: Yang Zhangyou, Fang Huicheng, Wu Tiancheng, Lin Dajiang, and Zhang Jingzhi.
The Five Late Ancestors: Li Shidi, Hong Taisui, Wu Tianyou, Lin Yongchao, and Yao Bida.
The Five Righteous: Zheng Junda, Xie Bangheng, Huang Changcheng, Wu Tinggui, and Zhou Hongying.
The Five Heroes: Zheng Daode, Zheng Daofang, Han Long, Han Hu, and Li Changguo.
The Three Heroines: Guo Xiuying, Zheng Yulan, and Zhong Wenjun.
The Two Masters: Male Strategist Shi Mingjian and Female Strategist Guan Yuying.

Every name on these tablets belonged to a hero of that dark era when the Middle Kingdom was crumbling and the nation was in peril—a hero who resisted with unyielding spirit. They had sworn blood oaths to resist the Qing and restore the Ming, knowing the odds were against them. Though they were like mayflies trying to shake a tree, their efforts were both tragic and worthy of profound respect.

Yang Sheng had initially been perfunctory about the Red Pole ceremony, not taking it seriously. But as he gazed at these tablets, his heart stirred. Though Hong Sheng Lian had become decadent and corrupt under He Wenchang, these ancestors of the Hongmen had been willing to face the iron hooves of the Qing and the unstoppable forces of the Japanese invaders with their own flesh and blood. They had lived up to the name of Hongmen and honored the oaths they had taken.

Huang Wen approached Yang Sheng and asked in a low voice, "Why have you come?"

Yang Sheng replied, "To pay homage to the Heaven and Earth Society!"

"Why pay homage?"

"To overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming!"

"What is your proof?"

"A poem is my proof!
The Qing have usurped the old lands, the Manchu forced their way into our capital.
To restore order and honor the sages, the bright moon rises to herald the uprising!"

Huang Wen nodded, lit a stick of incense, and handed it to Yang Sheng, instructing him to hold it between his palms.

"Bring the Hongmen blade!"

He Wenchang stood up, produced three keys, and inserted them one by one into a hidden door within the chamber. A moment later, he emerged with a sheathed long sword. The moment Yang Sheng saw the blade, his heart skipped a beat.

As He Wenchang drew the sword from its scabbard, a brilliant, sharp, and smooth gleam illuminated the entire chamber. The sword was about five feet long in total, with a three-foot-eight-inch blade and a one-foot-two-inch hilt. It was slender, resembling a seedling. On the edge, there was a faint, deep red hue. It was clearly a bloodstain, seeped into the steel from years of being stained with blood.

Huang Wen took the "Imperial Guard" saber, tapped it against Yang Sheng’s back, and demanded, "Do you love your brothers and sisters, or do you love gold?"

"I love my brothers and sisters!"

With that, Yang Sheng slammed the incense onto the floor, sending sparks flying.

"Drink the blood oath wine!"

Huang Wen took a cup of wine, pulled Yang Sheng up, and lightly grazed his hand with the edge of the Imperial Guard saber. Yang Sheng felt no pain; a single drop of blood fell into the cup.

The next moment, Yang Sheng felt a strange, ethereal energy connect with his spirit, and a series of messages appeared in the void before him.

Name: Imperial Guard
Category: Weapon
Quality: High
Information: A military saber used by the Ming Dynasty’s Qi Family Army. Since its forging, it has served six masters and beheaded two hundred and eighty-four Japanese pirate leaders. Since the late Ming and early Qing, it has been venerated by the Hongmen, slaying over a thousand traitors and bandits. Having been tempered by incense for over three hundred years, it has nurtured a weapon soul.
Skill: Breaking Edge. After accumulating enough sharpness during intense combat, it can shatter any weapon below high quality. As the battle continues, the sharpness overflows, allowing it to sever rare-quality weapons, though with a 50% failure rate.
Passive Skill: Xinyou???
Passive Skill: Weapon Soul???
Note: You are not yet its true master; you cannot activate all skills.

"Ah Sheng, drink!"

Huang Wen, seeing Yang Sheng standing there in a daze, whispered a reminder.

Yang Sheng snapped back to reality, took a deep breath, and downed the blood wine in one gulp. He had actually considered seizing the Imperial Guard saber and running away immediately, but the thought was dismissed as quickly as it had formed. Such a move was too foolish and reckless; it would not maximize his benefits. While he could end the world early by taking the saber, he would forfeit the subsequent mastery of national martial arts. He still needed to compete in the Dragon City Tournament, and his status in Hong Sheng Lian was still useful. Killing He Wenchang and stealing the saber was possible, but unnecessary.

The timing was not yet ripe, and his prestige was still lacking. At the very least, he could not cause a scene at his own promotion ceremony. Since the prize was already within his grasp, there was no need to rush, and Yang Sheng quickly suppressed his greed.

Huang Wen put the Imperial Guard saber away and shouted before the altar, "Hong Sheng Lian disciple Yang Sheng, officially granted the rank of 426 Red Pole. Ascend!"

Huang Wen took a red wooden rod from the altar and placed it in Yang Sheng’s hands. He shouted again, "The ceremony is complete!"

The other Hong Sheng Lian leaders watched this with mixed feelings. They had toiled in Hong Sheng Lian for years without ever achieving the rank of Red Pole, yet this newcomer had easily climbed above them. However, while they were jealous, no one dared to object. Yang Sheng was ferociously capable; the men he had killed were top-tier Red Poles from various organizations, and even their own Di Wei had been finished off by him. Who would dare challenge a man so fierce and ruthless that he showed no mercy even to his own?

He Wenchang stood up, led the gathered leaders in offering incense to the Hongmen ancestors on the altar, and then exited the chamber. From this moment on, Yang Sheng was truly a Double-Flower Red Pole.

However, Yang Sheng’s power and territory were not extensive. He only held the territory he had conquered from He Lian and the hundred-plus brothers from the headquarters who had voluntarily chosen to follow him. Di Wei’s territory and men were reclaimed by the headquarters—a tacit understanding between him and He Wenchang. After all, as members of the same organization who had taken the Thirty-Six Oaths of the Hongmen, they could not openly seize each other's territory and men; fratricidal conflict was not a good look. He had to surrender those to He Wenchang, nominally under the control of the headquarters. The He Lian territory, however, was something Yang Sheng had won himself, so he could manage it as he pleased, provided he paid his dues to the organization on time.

Of course, Yang Sheng had never cared much for such things.

Walking out of the headquarters, Yang Sheng instinctively squinted. Having spent so long in the dim chamber, the sunlight outside felt blinding.

"Brother Sheng, how does it feel to be a Red Pole?" Ghost Man Wen asked with a grin.

Yang Sheng said calmly, "It feels like being a Red Pole. There are so many gangs in Hong Kong; every Red Pole made it to the top with their own fists. You gain the status only after you have the strength and prestige. Without strength, you wouldn't even be a 'Straw Sandal,' let alone a Red Pole. I’m going back to catch some sleep; there are more matches to fight later. Wen, round up the brothers. Tonight, we celebrate my promotion—drinks and food on me!"

With that, Yang Sheng waved his hand and turned to leave.

Ghost Man Wen scratched his head behind him. He always felt a sense of detachment in Yang Sheng. In terms of strength, Yang Sheng could fight and kill; few Double-Flower Red Poles in the city could compare to him. In terms of character, Yang Sheng was bold and generous, treating his brothers well. He never skimped on their pay and often spent his own money to treat them to feasts, yet he still lived in a slum in Kwun Tong. But Ghost Man Wen always felt that Brother Sheng didn't care about any of this at all, not even the position of Dragon Head of Hong Sheng Lian, as if he were ready to walk away at any moment.

Ghost Man Wen shook his head. He couldn't figure it out, so he stopped trying. Regardless, he had been having a great time since following Yang Sheng. Although Ghost Man Wen was a bit mentally unstable, he knew one thing for sure: there was no future in sticking with the three old fogies of Hong Sheng Lian.