Two Months

Ning Xuezhi knew Yang Shouzhuo.

In his younger days, Yang Shouzhuo had been a renowned farming hand throughout the surrounding villages, but now he was old as well.

What truly made Ning Xuezhi knit his brows tighter was Yang Jing's identity.

The main reason he could live steadily as a country landlord was not because he was crafty or miserly, but because he knew how to read the times, acted cautiously, and tried not to make enemies for himself. Of course, those farmhands with neither skill nor potential did not count.

If Yang Jing had merely been an ordinary country boy, he would not have cared.

But the other party had entered a martial arts school, and that changed everything.

Ning Xuezhi was not like those country folk who had never seen the world. He had truly seen martial arts experts—killing a mad bull with one punch was nothing to them.

Ning Xuezhi did not have the nerve to provoke such martial artists.

Thus, he was rather wary of those who practiced martial arts.

"Why didn't you tell me that Yang Jing had joined a martial arts school?" Ning Xuezhi asked in a deep voice.

Steward Shi bent forward and hurriedly replied respectfully, "Master, th-this matter was handled by Feng Lei. Perhaps he told Madam. I only just learned of it from Feng Lei's men."

Ning Xuezhi frowned. "Women, always so ignorant!"

Only after Ning Xuezhi finished did Steward Shi explain softly, "Master, I heard from Feng Lei's men that although Yang Shouzhuo's grandson, Yang Jing, joined a martial arts school, his will is weak. He spent one night in an abandoned house and was so frightened that he fainted."

Watching Ning Xuezhi's expression, he continued, "Feng Lei's men also said they made some simple inquiries about Yang Jing in the city. Yang Jing is nothing remarkable at the Sun Clan Martial Arts School. His natural aptitude is poor, and he does not train diligently either. Scrap iron can never be forged into fine steel."

Only after hearing Steward Shi's explanation did Ning Xuezhi's expression ease considerably.

Feng Lei was not truly a fool. He had seen that even if Yang Jing joined a martial arts school, he was still mud that could not be plastered onto a wall, which was why he began targeting the Yang Family.

After considering it, Ning Xuezhi shook his head slightly.

In his view, Feng Lei had still acted too hastily.

Previously, he had merely mentioned that he wanted to buy the Yang Family's two mu of prime farmland. He had not intended to act on it immediately; Feng Lei had volunteered himself.

At the time, Ning Xuezhi had not taken the matter too seriously. It was only two mu of land belonging to a farming household, after all, and it would also let him see what Feng Lei was capable of.

Had he known then that Yang Jing had entered a martial arts school in the city and become a martial arts disciple, he certainly would not have let Feng Lei continue pressuring the Yang Family for the time being.

The Ning Family owned over a thousand mu of land. Throughout Wazi Township, they were among the foremost great landowners. They did not lack the Yang Family's two mu.

The best course was to wait.

Ning Xuezhi had been a landlord for decades and had dealt with every sort of person in Yuhe County. His experience and methods in handling matters far surpassed a reckless brute like Feng Lei.

Yang Jing's natural aptitude might be poor and his talent for martial arts mediocre, but nothing was absolute.

What if Yang Jing really did develop some skill?

Ning Xuezhi knew that some martial artists had cultivated the so-called Inner Force, something ordinary people simply could not contend with.

The safest way to handle things was to wait a few months, or perhaps half a year to a year.

Ning Xuezhi knew the rules of those martial arts schools in the city. At most, after half a year to a year, if a disciple had still not cultivated that so-called Inner Force, he would have to leave the martial arts school.

Basically, the overwhelming majority of disciples had to leave the martial arts schools. Some could not afford to keep going for half a year to a year, while others reached the deadline without cultivating Inner Force.

When Yang Jing was thrown out by the martial arts school, it would prove that he was not cut out for martial arts. He would be nothing more than a farmhand then, and there would be no more cause for concern when they acted.

Ning Xuezhi silently cursed Feng Lei as an idiot, then committed Yang Jing's name to memory before continuing down the other names on the list.

After returning from the city, he had arranged for people to investigate Feng Lei's connections.

He wanted to determine why Feng Lei had been killed this time—whether the murderer had targeted Feng Lei, or the Ning Family standing behind him.

After Ning Xuezhi finished reading the list, he had some idea of the situation. At least he was no longer stumbling about in total darkness, knowing nothing.

After pondering for a moment, Ning Xuezhi looked up at Steward Shi, who stood before the desk, and said, "Investigate Zhang Wei of Zhang Family Fort, Ma Deliang and Ma Chaowei of Maliu Village, and the others on this list. See what they have been doing lately. Has there been anything suspicious? Be careful not to alert them. Investigate in secret."

The people Ning Xuezhi named all had conflicts with the Ning Family.

Aside from Yang Jing, if anyone else on the list was the murderer, they would only have personal grudges against Feng Lei. They had no real connection to the Ning Family and posed no threat to it.

"Yes, Master. I'll arrange for people to investigate at once." Steward Shi nodded, then recalled another matter. "By the way, Master, what about the authorities? Should we sound them out?"

"Hmph, no." Ning Xuezhi sneered. "What could they possibly uncover? The moment they encounter a little trouble, they'll let the matter fizzle out."

"Yes." Steward Shi nodded. "Master, if there is nothing else, I'll go make the arrangements."

Ning Xuezhi gave a grunt of assent.

Steward Shi turned to leave, but after taking only two steps, Ning Xuezhi called out to stop him. "Wait."

Steward Shi turned back to Ning Xuezhi. "Master?"

Ning Xuezhi slapped his forehead and hastily said, "I nearly forgot someone. Old Shi, pass down the order: leave the two mu of land belonging to Yang Shouzhuo's household in Yang Family Village alone for now. Do not make any further moves."

Steward Shi froze. He had not expected that this would be the matter his master had specifically wanted to remind him about.

But he did not think much of it. He only assumed that his master was somewhat worn out by Feng Lei's death and could not be bothered with the Yang Family. After all, it was only two mu of land. Ning Mansion had over a thousand mu.

Yet judging by his master's usual stinginess where land was concerned, he would likely only leave it alone temporarily. The Yang Family's two mu of prime farmland would ultimately still belong to the Ning Family.

"Yes, Master." After saying that, Steward Shi turned and left the study.

Only Ning Xuezhi remained in the room.

He leaned back in the grand chair, his eyes half-closed as he carefully pondered.

He knew very well that Yang Jing was also suspected of murder. After all, not only did Yang Jing have a motive, he also had the strength.

Though Yang Jing's natural aptitude was mediocre, he had trained at a martial arts school. He was certainly stronger and sturdier than ordinary people. With careful planning against an unsuspecting target, killing Feng Lei would not have been difficult.

But Yang Jing still had the identity of a martial arts school disciple.

Ning Xuezhi intended to wait a few more months, until Yang Jing failed at martial arts and was thrown out of the school. Then, the Yang Family would truly become dough in his hands, to knead and squeeze as he pleased.

Time passed day by day.

In the blink of an eye, two months had passed.

After Feng Lei was killed, the Ning Family made no further moves. The matter of the Yang Family's two mu of prime farmland seemed to have been forgotten, and no one mentioned it again.

Getting rid of Feng Lei had also temporarily removed a major danger from the household.

Yang Jing poured all his energy into martial arts training.

He knew very well that martial arts were the foundation.

In this chaotic age, a blade was safe only when held in one's own hand.