Zhou You had been unconscious for a full five days. Not a scrap of news about him had emerged during that time.
At the martial arts school, Fang Guiqi's exposure as a Void Wraith had caused quite a stir. Afterward, the apprentices had strictly sealed their lips, forbidding even half a word from leaking out.
Five days was enough time for many changes to take place outside.
Take the great matter at hand: Tu Laosan believed Zhou You had failed, so he seized the chance to strike back at the Old Zhou family.
"Fugui, do you know what happened to Shan Wa's family?"
The news that Shan Wa's entire family had been burned to death by the Wild Fox Gang had long spread through every street and alley.
That was the price of offending the Wild Fox Gang.
Song Fugui gritted his teeth and nodded. "So what if I do? At worst, my whole family will move out of the city."
His family had connections outside the city as well. Even if they left Gongliang City, they could still make a living selling oil through the countryside.
"Good brother, don't go."
Zhou You patted his shoulder. "I'll cover the cost of all the oil spilled today."
With that, Zhou You took a step forward, and a gust of wind rose from flat ground.
Song Fugui's vision blurred. A fierce wind rushed into his face, and Zhou You vanished from sight at once.
"So fast?"
Thinking of the Wild Fox Gang's cruel methods, Song Fugui felt somewhat downcast and lowered his head to gather the scattered oil-carrying poles.
He felt uneasy inside. If his father learned that he had acted so impulsively, he would definitely blame him.
Offending a gang for the sake of a friend, dragging his entire family into fleeing the city in panic—how foolish was that?
Yet Song Fugui did not regret it!
He had inherited his old man's slick temperament from years of doing business and had a touch of mercenary shrewdness in him. But ever since entering the martial arts school to train, his thoughts had changed. In this chaotic world, little people had to depend on the strong to survive.
Zhou You was the promising prospect he had chosen. He trusted his own judgment.
What he invested now would surely bring rich returns someday.
Widow Li clenched her rag tightly, too nervous to say a word.
Before the Old Zhou family's home, a large group of Wild Fox Gang lackeys were shouting and cursing loud enough to shake the heavens, hurling foul abuse and throwing stones.
The ground before the door was pitted with dents, littered with filthy objects that reeked to high heaven.
The Old Zhou couple had both hidden inside, too afraid to come out.
But how long could a wooden door hold? The Wild Fox Gang could break in with ease. It was only a matter of time.
Not long ago, Tu Laosan had arrived with his men to make trouble, claiming Zhou You had been seriously injured and that the martial arts school would no longer shelter his family.
The neighbors had not believed it at first, but even now, no one had come to interfere.
"Could Zhou You truly have been injured to death?"
As Widow Li's thoughts ran wild, two uninvited guests at her stall urged her on.
"Bring another pot of wine, proprietress. What are you standing there in a daze for?"
Two burly men sat at the stall. Their knuckles were thick with calluses, and their bloodshot eyes carried Killing Intent.
They were experts from the Wild Fox Gang, accompanying Tu Laosan to guard him.
Widow Li had noticed that Tu Laosan treated both men with great courtesy, inviting them to rest at the wine stall and have a few drinks.
These two were here to bolster Tu Laosan's confidence.
"C-customer, it's coming."
Widow Li's hands trembled beyond her control. She remembered Shan Wa's family being burned alive, as if she could already smell the scent of charred flesh.
With Zhou You gone, would the Old Zhou family soon meet the same fate?
The two burly men at the stall were called Wu Gang and Du Dayou, both experts of the Wild Fox Gang.
They served under Tu Lao Er. They were fierce generals of the gang, charging into battle with Martial Force-level strength.
Tu Lao Er had sent them to protect his younger brother, only for them to be dragged here to put on a show of force.
"For a common household, is there really any need for such fanfare? Tu Laosan truly is useless."
Wu Gang shook his head. He admired Tu Lao Er wholeheartedly, but he thought little of his younger brother.
He was nothing but trash, good for nothing except eating, drinking, and carousing.
Du Dayou deeply agreed. He nodded, drained a bowl of rice wine, and let his gaze fall greedily on Widow Li.
Wu Gang saw his movement and immediately stopped him. "Don't cause trouble. That woman's lover is a constable."
"So what if he's a constable?"
Du Dayou grumbled a few times, but ultimately did not lay rough hands on Widow Li.
After watching for a while longer, Wu Gang lowered his voice and said to Du Dayou, "The boys couldn't find anything earlier. Jianxiong Martial Arts School had kept things too tightly guarded, and no news leaked out."
"The Outer Court apprentices were all silenced. Not even a fragment of information could get out."
"Still, one clever lad bribed a servant who handled purchases for the rear kitchen and managed to learn something."
"The son of this household is Zhou You, the one who joined the martial arts school seeking protection. He's bedridden with a serious illness now, unable even to get out of bed, much less practice boxing."
At this point, Wu Gang sounded somewhat approving. "A mere commoner who knew to seek life amid death, using the martial arts school to check our gang—he can be considered a promising talent. Given the chance, he might have made something of himself."
"Unfortunately, fate toys with men."
"The kitchen servant said that a conflict broke out in the Outer Court. One person died and another was injured. Zhou You was the one injured."
Du Dayou slapped his thigh. "That settles it. It was him. He suffered serious injuries before even cultivating Martial Force. There's no hope for him now."
"That's right. Tu Laosan thinks so too. He couldn't wait to bring men over."
Wu Gang watched the Old Zhou family's doorway without expression. The Wooden Talisman representing Jianxiong Martial Arts School was swaying on the verge of falling.
"Once the deadline arrives, the martial arts school will expel Zhou You and take back the Wooden Talisman. When the boys receive the order to act, this family will be dead beyond doubt."
Hearing it was another family annihilation job, Du Dayou yawned. "It's a trivial matter. Does it really require the two of us?"
Two elderly spouses and an injured son, without any major power to protect them—a few gang members could wipe out their entire family.
"Ah, the city has been unsettled lately. Outsiders are stirring restlessly, and Second Master is worried about his younger brother."
"Second Master has worried himself sick over this fool. If I had such a worthless younger brother, I'd strangle him to death with my own hands and be done with it."
Du Dayou finished his wine and urged Widow Li, "Another pot of wine. Your family waters down its wine too much—it goes down too easily."
But there was no response. Widow Li stared blankly in a certain direction, frozen stiff.
"Little Zhou is back."
The figure returning from the street—wasn't that the Old Zhou family's son?
"Third Master, we can't use fire."
A gang member looked troubled as he pointed at the Wooden Talisman hanging by the door.
"Second Master said we must not touch the martial arts school's Wooden Talisman in the slightest. The brothers don't dare cause trouble."
Though the surrounding gang members were hollering loudly, they all stopped at the doorway, not daring to take a single step closer.
Even stones and cow dung avoided the Wooden Talisman, scattering randomly across the ground and walls instead.
The root of it was Jianxiong Martial Arts School's intimidating name. That was why the Old Zhou couple had remained safe and sound despite hiding until now.
"What a nuisance. Why hasn't the martial arts school come to take back the Wooden Talisman yet?"
Tu Laosan had just ordered the gang members to set fires and smoke out the Old Zhou couple, forcing them outside. Yet the lackeys feared damaging the Wooden Talisman and did not dare act.
Cruel by nature and somewhat hot-tempered, he was just about to fly into a rage.
Then he heard a gang member cry out, "Someone from the martial arts school is here!"
At last. Once those people took away the Wooden Talisman, he could unleash a slaughter without restraint.
Tu Laosan breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear, "It's not another apprentice—it's the Old Zhou family's son. Why has he come back?"
He was clearly supposed to be bedridden with serious injuries. Why did he look so light on his feet, so healthy?
Before you continue