Jiang Qinghe had truly shone on the trip to Cangfeng City.
Only a few days after returning to Lin'an County, his name had already spread like wildfire throughout the Yongxing Escort Agency.
Escort agencies were places where people constantly came and went, where news traveled through the martial world at lightning speed.
Before long, the martial practitioners of Lin'an County had a new topic to discuss over tea and meals.
"Have you heard? That Jiang Qinghe from Wanping Martial Academy was supposedly just an ordinary person half a year ago, yet now he's already a Bone Forging Realm martial master!"
"The brothers from the Yongxing Escort Agency saw it with their own eyes. That night outside Cangfeng City, he fought the Mountain Bandit leader alone. His moves were incredibly sharp—he's probably stronger than quite a few veteran martial masters!"
"At his age, with such progress... Lin'an County may have produced a true genius!"
"Compared to that so-called Little Overlord, Qin Wu, he's stronger by who knows how much!"
As the rumors spread, some marveled, and some envied.
Naturally, there were also those... who nursed jealousy and hatred.
That day, the atmosphere inside the main hall of the Iron Saber Gang Headquarters was especially oppressive.
Gang Leader Zhu Ning, once the eldest Senior Brother of Wanping Martial Academy, sat upright in the tiger-pelt chair at the head of the hall.
His face was gloomy. His fingers unconsciously tapped the armrest, producing dull, rhythmic knocks.
A trusted subordinate stood bent over before the steps, cautiously reporting the various rumors that had recently spread outside concerning Jiang Qinghe.
Even Jiang Qinghe's background had been thoroughly investigated from top to bottom.
This included the sudden upheaval at the Red Leaf Wine Shop, as well as the successive deaths of Liao Hu and Li Mu