An Incident

The next day.

Under the Cautious Punishment Division's handling, all the bodies in the courtyard were carried away. However, even after being washed, traces of blood still remained on the bluestone floor tiles, which couldn't be completely cleaned in a short time.

After learning about last night's events, Chen Gui was also shocked. After all, when he befriended Wu Ming, he valued Wu Ming's courage and resourcefulness, or rather, he valued Wu Ming's intellect. He never imagined that Wu Ming's martial prowess would be so astonishing. Relying on the advantage of his spear, he easily killed fellow First Blood Forging martial artists. Even seasoned Second Blood Forging experts met their end under Wu Ming's hands.

As a result.

Chen Gui's gaze towards Wu Ming changed.

As the young master of the Chen family, he had seen his fair share of dead people in his life, but he had never personally taken a life. Yet, Wu Ming had killed ten bandits in a single night. This was both calm and ruthless.

Especially after learning that Wu Ming had gained the appreciation of a Patrol Officer from the Cautious Punishment Division and was invited to work under them, he finally sighed inwardly. Indeed, individuals like Wu Ming were not easily controlled.

However.

Wu Ming joining the Cautious Punishment Division was also a good thing for him. Their friendship remained, and if Wu Ming could gain some experience in the Cautious Punishment Division in the future, it would be a useful connection for him.

Someone like him, from the Chen family and deeply connected to the Seven Martial Alliance, generally had no chance of entering the Cautious Punishment Division. They couldn't pass its scrutiny. It was only because Wu Ming had a clean background that he had this opportunity. And to have established some rapport with Wu Ming before he joined the Cautious Punishment Division was also a stroke of good fortune.

After all, even a prominent family like the Chen family found it very troublesome and costly to bribe internal connections within the Cautious Punishment Division when they encountered certain issues.

In the end, the brother he had taken a liking to and sought to win over had joined the Cautious Punishment Division. Using this opportunity, he could also gain some prestige at home. He remembered that his second brother had criticized him last time for not doing proper work and associating with a bunch of bad influences. Now, he would see what his second brother had to say.

At the same time.

The news of Wu Ming killing ten bandits overnight also quietly spread through the Seven Martial Alliance Outer Hall. Many who knew Wu Ming, such as He Jin and Li Cui, who had sparred with Wu Ming before, were all exceptionally surprised.

Perhaps the news was exaggerated, and those ten bandits were not all Blood Forging martial artists. However, during their spars with Wu Ming, they had indeed been convinced by Wu Ming's spear techniques. And with these ten lives on his hands, he had indeed made a name for himself.

And as this news was quietly spreading within a small circle.

Wu Ming left Jingye City alone, heading out of the city gates towards Wu Village.

"Hoo."

After leaving the city gates.

Wu Ming also let out a light breath, turning to look at the towering and majestic city walls behind him.

A few months ago, when he first arrived in Jingye City, he was merely a naive martial artist who had just entered the Blood Forging realm, possessing potential but lacking actual combat strength. He wasn't destitute, but he was certainly short on cash, even having to use money pooled from his family.

But as he left the city this time, he had truly established a foothold in the city. In a few days, he would enter the Cautious Punishment Division and hold a legitimate official position. With his powerful divine soul perception, he could engage in some less conventional means to earn money, escaping the dire shortage of funds. He could even afford to rent a courtyard to live in Jingye City.

"This time when I go back, I'll inform the elders about the Cautious Punishment Division, and I can also bring them into the city to settle down."

Wu Ming mused.

Moving into the city was not a small matter for villagers outside the city, nor was it an easy one.

Without ample funds and no background, living in the city might not be more comfortable than living in a village outside the city. This was the case for older martial artists in Wu Village like Wu Yang and Wu Sanbai, who hadn't moved into the city with their families.

As for the Clan Head, Wu Qu, he indeed had the ability to bring his family into the city. However, he owned land near Wu Village and was the Clan Head of Wu Village. Traveling into and out of the city was very inconvenient. Moreover, he wasn't a Third Blood Forging expert, so he didn't have the qualifications to establish his own residence, making the difference between living inside and outside the city negligible.

As for Wu Ming, he was always worried about his elders living uneasily in the village. Furthermore, he had escaped his financial predicament. As long as he was short on money, he could go to North Street to "borrow" some, and obtaining a small amount of silver wouldn't be difficult. Bringing his elders into the city to settle down was a very appropriate decision. However, he still needed to discuss this with his elders after he returned.

Wu Village.

In the thatched courtyard, Wu Qi and Liu Shi were tidying up.

"Husband, bring the hemp rope."

"Coming."

Wu Qi brought over a hemp rope.

Liu Shi had several neat and clean straw mats piled in front of her. Now, taking the hemp rope from Wu Qi, she rolled up the straw mats and tied them.

Wu Qi hoisted the straw mats onto his shoulder and said, "Wife, your legs aren't as nimble. Let's leave early to avoid being late."

Although their son Wu Ming had become a martial artist and had a stable future, Wu Qi and Liu Shi had been honest and diligent for most of their lives. They still felt their limbs were agile and hadn't reached the point where they needed Wu Ming's support.

Even though Wu Ming had sent some money home a while ago, they had saved it and were reluctant to spend it. Liu Shi still wove straw mats in her spare time to supplement their household income, and Wu Qi occasionally took on short-term repair jobs in nearby villages.

Today happened to be market day, so the couple set out together for the market a few miles away to sell their straw mats.

Soon.

They arrived at their destination.

Stalls had already been set up in many places along both sides of the road.

Wu Qi helped Liu Shi find an empty spot, set up the straw mats, and then asked Liu Shi to watch the stall while he walked around the market to see if there was anything worth buying.

As time passed, the market became more crowded with people, and the sounds of bargaining rose and fell.

"How much for these straw mats?"

Someone squeezed through and asked, looking at the straw mats spread on the ground.

Liu Shi smiled honestly and said, "These straw mats are all hand-woven by us. They're cheap, only four hundred copper coins per roll."

"Four hundred coins? That's expensive."

The person shook their head and left without haggling.

Liu Shi wasn't in a hurry. Having woven straw mats for many years, she knew the appropriate price. After waiting for a while, another person came to inquire about the price, and they seemed genuinely interested in buying.

"Four hundred wen is a bit steep. How about this, we won't haggle too much, just three hundred and sixty wen. What do you say, sister?"

A man, older than the rest, inquired.

This price was within Liu Shi's expected range. She gave a simple, honest smile and was about to agree.

But just then, the market was crowded, and suddenly a large foot stepped across, landing right on the straw mat. Not only did it press a large patch of mud onto the mat, but it also caused a small tear.

The older man, who was about to buy, immediately stopped when he saw this.

"Hey, you stepped on our mat."

Liu Shi also became anxious. Her good straw mat had been stepped on, and she instantly felt heartbroken.

However, just as she stumbled, trying to pull away the large foot that was stepping on the mat, the owner of the foot cast an annoyed glance and flicked his foot away.

"So noisy!"

"Oof!"

Liu Shi already had difficulty walking, and now she stumbled and fell. Her forehead hit the gravel on the ground, and she started bleeding.

This scene was just witnessed by Wu Qi, who was returning with a bag of grain. He was instantly shocked and angry. He rushed over, first helped Liu Shi up, and then saw that the person who kicked Liu Shi didn't even look at them and was about to leave. He couldn't help but step forward and grab the person.

"What are you doing? How could you hurt someone!"

The man who was grabbed had a fierce face. He glanced back at Wu Qi. Seeing Wu Qi's farmer's attire, a trace of impatience appeared in his eyes. He said, "Damn it, you dare to talk back to me, grab me. I think you're tired of living!"

Saying that.

He lifted his foot and kicked.

This kick brought with it a gust of wind. Wu Qi, who was standing very close, knew instantly that the man in front of him was no ordinary person; he was likely a Blood Forging martial artist.

But at this moment, it was too late to know. He only had time to raise his arm to block. The entire person was hit squarely by that large foot. An unbearable force instantly transmitted, his arm made a 'crack' sound, and the whole person was sent flying backward, falling onto the ground several meters away.

This incident.

The noisy crowd nearby immediately fell silent.

The previously congested area quickly cleared a large space.

The man who kicked Wu Qi spat disdainfully onto the straw mat beside him and then swaggered away.

The surrounding villagers and neighbors watched this scene, and they all looked at each other in dismay.

"Isn't that Wu Qi from Wu Village?"

"Quick, go check on him."

"I remember Wu Qi's son also became a martial artist. Oh dear, this is really... How did they provoke Guo Huai?"

The crowd was in chaos. Some went to check on Liu Shi's condition, while others hurried to check on Wu Qi.

"Quick, Old Wu is seriously injured. Go find a doctor."

Those who recognized Wu Qi were already heading towards the nearby villages.

"Was that Guo Huai just now?"

Some people heard the name of the man who had just assaulted Wu Qi, and their faces instantly showed fear. Others also changed color.

Guo Huai was no saint. In this area of ten miles, he was notoriously wicked, a bully that no one dared to provoke. He usually acted unscrupulously in the villages, doing all sorts of evil, and people spoke of him with fear, enough to stop children's nighttime crying.

He himself was a Blood Forging martial artist, which was one thing. But more importantly, he had an elder brother, Guo Xiang, who was rumored to be an inner disciple of the Black Fiend Sect, one of the two major sects, and even held some status within the Black Fiend Sect.

Relying on this connection, even though Guo Huai was only a First Blood Forging martial artist, no one dared to provoke him as he roamed the surrounding villages. Clan heads of villages like Wu Qu often retreated to avoid him.

Originally, Wu Qi's son, Wu Ming, had also become a martial artist, and there were basically no one in the surrounding villages who could bully him. But this time, he had provoked Guo Huai, which was a big trouble.

If Wu Ming, in his youthful impetuosity, went to seek revenge on Guo Huai in anger, the trouble would be even greater. One wouldn't know what would happen, and perhaps the entire family would suffer in the end!