“Master Bennett's actions are truly gratifying, but it's a pity that in the end he still couldn't take the life of that Tartar emperor dog!”

A middle-aged man said excitedly.

He was Huang Zongxi's son, Robert Hall, a famous Neijiaquan master, rumored in the martial world to be one of Paul Carter's teachers. At this time, the news that Adam Cooper had been seriously injured by Eric Bennett had finally reached Jiangnan. However, after thousands of kilometers of retelling, there were already multiple versions, including different names and appearances for Eric Bennett. In the most exaggerated version, he had completely turned into a blue-faced, fanged demon riding a black wind, slaughtering rivers of blood in Beijing. In the end, Adam Cooper personally went into battle, and after a world-shaking fight...

He was finally struck in the face by a demonic fire.

“It must be that our Great Ming Taizu Hongwu Emperor's spirit in heaven didn't want to let him off so easily. In the future, when we march north to sweep the Hu invaders from the Central Plains, we can just drag him to the Taizu Mausoleum and execute him there.”

Eric Bennett said.

“Yes, this Tartar emperor dog can't be let off with an easy death. He must be executed to comfort the millions of Ming people who died in the calamity of Jiashen!”

Another, somewhat younger man said.

He was Lü Liuliang's son, Andrew Lee, who would later be beheaded by Yongzheng.

“Master Bennett, what is that on your back?”

He asked curiously.

Eric Bennett was carrying a strange black object on his shoulder. It looked neither like wood nor iron; the front end was a tube like a musket, while the back was a curved, box-like thing. The whole object looked mysterious, and on the belt around his waist, there were four more of these boxes, as well as a backpack that seemed very heavy. He had been carrying it ever since disembarking.

“A weapon!”

Eric Bennett said sincerely.

Of course, he wouldn't have come unprepared. In fact, he had spent the whole month preparing. These anti-Qing patriots were generally unreliable—full of passion but lacking in brains—so mixing with them required thorough preparation.

Since that was the case, Andrew Lee didn't ask further. After all, it was an immortal's weapon; even if explained, he wouldn't understand.

Carrying a Type 95 automatic rifle and a large bag of grenades, Eric Bennett walked along the mountain path of the year 1700, all the way up to Anqi Cave, said to be where immortals refined elixirs in the Qin dynasty. By now, more than three hundred people had gathered here—Confucians, Daoists, monks, and laypeople alike, and even quite a few fierce-looking men armed with weapons.

“Which one of you is Master Bennett!”

A tall, elderly-looking monk shouted loudly.

“Master Nathan, this is him.”

Robert Hall pointed at Eric Bennett and said.

“Good, good! What I've wanted to do all my life, you have done for me. Please accept my bow!”

The old monk immediately knelt before Eric Bennett, and at the same time, dozens of people behind him also knelt. Eric Bennett hurried forward to help them up. The others also crowded around, some cupping their hands in salute, others kneeling like the old monk, leaving Eric Bennett flustered. But just then, his expression suddenly changed.

“Master Bennett, what's wrong?”

Asked Monk Nathan, whom he had just helped up.

“It's nothing. Master and everyone, please rise. I have only done what I ought to do.”

Eric Bennett said casually.

But in his heart, he was in turmoil, because at that moment, the golden dragon on his arm suddenly swelled. Originally coiled only around his right forearm, its tail now stretched up to his shoulder, and it even seemed to twist slightly, as if turning over in its sleep. Most astonishingly, the dragon's mouth in his hand actually opened a little.

He suppressed his shock, returned to a normal expression, and continued talking with Nathan and the others.

This old monk was a former subordinate of the Prince of Lu, who had taken refuge in a monastery after the Battle of Zhoushan. Over the years, he had been looking for an opportunity to rise up. He was also a martial arts master and had much contact with Robert Hall. Knowing his intentions, Robert Hall had invited him by letter. Coincidentally, news of Eric Bennett's deeds had also reached Jiangnan, so he immediately brought dozens of followers. In history, he would later try to seize Taicang but was defeated and killed.

Besides him and some scholars influenced by Huang Zongxi and Lü Liuliang, there was also a group of Heaven and Earth Society members, led by a Xiangzhu surnamed Chen, said to be a relative of Chen Jinnan. According to him, he had also invited some remnants of the Zheng family, who had become pirates in Guangdong. It was unclear if they had received the message, but if they came, their strength would be greatly increased. Presumably, among them were the ancestors of Zheng Yi Sao's husband.

In fact, after Taiwan fell, many of the Zheng family's former troops went south and became pirates. If these people could be recruited, they would indeed be a considerable force.

There was also a group of local pirates, all descendants of those who perished when the Qing army massacred Zhoushan.

This area was actually a major disaster zone for Qing massacres—Suzhou, Jiading, Jiaxing, Kunshan, Haining, Zhoushan—all within a small region. Zhoushan alone was massacred twice. This was also the last stronghold of the Prince of Lu's forces and the main battlefield of the Battle of Zhoushan. If you wanted to find people with a blood feud against the Manchus, there were plenty. It's just that after so many years, the memories had been buried deep. Now, as the past was brought up, everyone gnashed their teeth, and many, in their agitation, wished they could go and execute Adam Cooper right now.