Struck It Rich

Yang Jing lit the oil lamp, and its dim yellow glow instantly filled the small room.

He dragged the burlap sack beside the table, untied the cord, and revealed what lay inside.

On top were several hefty gold ingots. Cold and weighty in his hand, their surfaces bore fine, delicate patterns visible in the lamplight. He counted them—exactly twenty taels.

Under the Great Qi Dynasty's currency system, one tael of gold could be exchanged for ten taels of silver. These twenty taels of gold amounted to two hundred taels of silver.

Beneath the gold ingots lay silver sycees, each plump and full. Three large fifty-tael sycees were stacked neatly together, while five twenty-tael silver ingots lay scattered nearby, adding up to a full two hundred and fifty taels of silver.

"Good heavens, that's four hundred and fifty taels of silver."

At that moment, Yang Jing seemed to hear his own heart thudding wildly. An indescribable surge of joy flooded his chest, leaving him so shaken that he felt dazed, as though he were dreaming.

He had guessed that the sack contained the Great Fortune Gang's accumulated wealth over the years, but he had never expected this much. After all, the Great Fortune Gang had only been an ordinary gang.

At current market prices, ten taels of silver could buy roughly two mu of farmland.

With four hundred and fifty taels, he could easily purchase ninety mu of farmland in Wazi Township.

After generations of effort, the Yang Family had possessed only twenty or thirty mu of land at their peak.

If he showed this money to his grandfather and the others, it would probably scare them unconscious.

With this money, he would not need to worry about silver for a long time to come. With ample financial support, his martial arts progress would surely soar by leaps and bounds!

"Killing and arson do bring a golden belt. Working an honest post earns me only ten taels a month, yet one bout of killing and treasure-snatching is worth several years of my earnings."

Yang Jing drew a deep breath and suppressed the shock and delight in his heart.

He then moved the gold and silver aside, his fingers brushing against a cold wooden box.

Yang Jing took out the box and lifted the lid. A bitter, medicinal fragrance rushed into his face. The instant he saw what was inside, his pupils contracted sharply.

Inside the wooden box lay a ginseng root. Its fibrous roots were intact, its main root thick and robust, and the rings on its surface dense and clear. Judging by those patterns, it was at least fifty years old.

Yang Jing had worked at the Liu Family Medical Hall, so he knew how precious aged ginseng like this was. It was worth no less than two hundred taels of silver.

"Damn, the Great Fortune Gang was no simple outfit. They must have struck it rich before!" Yang Jing thought.

The oil lamp's light fell across the wealth, making the entire room gleam.

As he looked at the gold, silver, and ginseng on the table, his furrowed brow finally smoothed out.

"If you want to live well, you still have to be bold!"

"This aged ginseng is no ordinary thing. It's at least fifty years old, so its medicinal potency must be excellent. This must be the precious medicine Xu Tai mentioned. But now that I've killed you, the precious medicine is mine as well."

"The further one advances in martial arts, the harder it becomes. I can wait until I break through to Hidden Strength before consuming this aged ginseng. It will help me reach the peak of Hidden Strength as quickly as possible and break through into the legendary Transforming Strength."

"For now, an ample supply of Fierce Beast Meat is already enough to increase my cultivation speed by a great deal."

Yang Jing looked at the gold, silver, and ginseng, thinking silently to himself.

A person truly needed money. At that moment, Yang Jing felt utterly refreshed from head to toe, filled with anticipation for the road ahead.

Yang Jing picked up the ginseng and examined it for a while, then carefully placed it back in the wooden box. He packed it together with the gold and silver back into the burlap sack, shoved the sack into the deepest part beneath his bed, and covered it with several wooden planks.

Only after finishing all this did he blow out the oil lamp and lie down on the bed.

"In a couple of days, I need to go home. Keeping so much gold and silver here still doesn't feel safe, even if the room has a lock. I'll take part of it home and hide it then."

Lying on the bed, thoughts raced rapidly through Yang Jing's mind.

The night outside the window remained deep and heavy, but Yang Jing's heart was bright indeed.

With the Great Fortune Gang's hidden threat resolved and this windfall in hand, the road of martial arts ahead of him had suddenly broadened considerably.

The next morning, early.

The teahouses and taverns in the western part of the city erupted in uproar.

"Have you heard? Xu Tai, the Great Fortune Gang's leader, was burned to death last night."

"Apparently, he burned to death in a courtyard in Xinghua Ward. How unpredictable life is. A man who used to be so imposing actually died in a fire."

"I passed by there this morning and saw the charred roof beams. They say the fire burned from midnight until dawn, and the corpse was burned beyond recognition."

"What accidental fire? I heard from the soldiers on night patrol that the Righteousness Gang most likely did it. The two gangs had been fighting each other fiercely these past few days."

"Not necessarily. The things the Great Fortune Gang did must have offended countless people. Xu Tai had enemies everywhere. Maybe some expert he once cheated took him out."

Rumors spread through the streets and alleys as if they had grown wings.

Yang Jing blended into the crowds of West Market, listening to the chatter without a ripple on his face.

He walked to a hunter's stall hung with tiger skins and pointed at the fresh meat on the counter. "Two jin of tiger meat. Make sure it has sinew."

The hunter swiftly weighed out the meat, tied it with straw rope, and said with a smile, "You have a good eye, sir. My brothers and I just took down this mountain lord this morning. One and a half taels of silver."

Tiger meat naturally counted as Fierce Beast Meat. And because the tiger was king of all beasts, it was even more expensive than bear meat. Two jin of tiger meat cost a full one and a half taels of silver.

Yang Jing was flush with money now and spent freely. After paying, he carried the tiger meat straight back to Datong Ward.

He set a clay pot over a small stove, cut the tiger meat into large chunks, and slowly stewed it with sliced ginger and sections of scallion. Before long, a rich aroma of meat filled the air.

He ladled out a large bowl and swallowed down both meat and broth. Warmth slid down his throat into his belly, soon transforming into a blazing current even fiercer than bear meat. It coursed through his limbs and bones, making his muscles and skeleton feel as though they had been steeped in warm water, so comfortable they seemed to swell.

After eating the tiger meat, Yang Jing immediately locked his door, left the courtyard, and headed straight for the martial arts hall in Chengping Ward.

Because buying tiger meat had delayed him for a while, by the time Yang Jing arrived at the martial arts school, some of the disciples had already gathered.

"Senior Brother Yang."

"Senior Brother Yang is here."

Several young martial arts school disciples hurriedly greeted Yang Jing when they saw him.

Regardless of Yang Jing's natural aptitude, he was now a Bright Strength expert. That alone put him ahead of the vast majority of disciples.

Aside from the older disciples and those who relied on their superior aptitude or wealthy family backgrounds, the other disciples still held Yang Jing in high regard.

Yang Jing gave a slight nod, walked to the courtyard wall, took off his outer robe to reveal his toned arms, and headed straight for the Stone Lock.

The ninety-pound Stone Lock felt weightless in his hands. It whistled through the air as it rose and fell. After less than a quarter-hour of warming up, a fine sweat had already broken out over his body, while the hot current stirred up by the tiger meat surged within him as though it might burst through his skin at any moment.

He walked to the center of the yard and planted his stance, sinking his waist into a horse stance as the framework of the Mountain Collapse Fist slowly unfolded.

As he threw the first punch, Bright Strength intertwined with the hot current inside him. His fist wind actually carried a humming vibration, fuller and more powerful than usual.

He could clearly sense the tiger meat's energy seeping through his qi and blood into his muscles and bones. Every punch drew forth an extra force that echoed through his meridians, as if a fierce tiger were roaring within him.

"Stone Splitting Stance!"

Yang Jing's fist sliced through the air, and the forceful wind it raised blew dust more than a zhang away.

When the Mountain Collapse Stance sank down, the bluestone slabs beneath his feet trembled slightly and let out a deep hum.

The Bright Strength that once required deliberate guidance now moved as effortlessly as an arm or finger, flowing naturally along the path of his punches. The former sluggishness between moves had vanished without a trace, adding a measure of fluidity to his fierce power.

Sweat dripped from his jaw, striking the ground and spreading into dark marks, yet it did nothing to weaken his momentum.

Yang Jing punched faster and faster, his fist shadows weaving into a blur. The hot current within him completely merged with his Bright Strength. Every punch seemed to bear the force of a thousand catties, yet he could release and withdraw it at will.

When he struck the wooden post, his force was incomparably fierce, shaking it until it hummed.

Yet when he withdrew his stance, he was light as a feather, his fingertips leaving only faint marks on his lapels.

Some disciples nearby were resting and discussing the great fire that had burned in the western part of the city last night, killing Xu Tai, the leader of the Great Fortune Gang. Others watched Yang Jing as he practiced, their faces showing either admiration or regret.

Whether they possessed Hidden Strength, Bright Strength, or were ordinary disciples who had yet to Enter Strength, few among them could match Yang Jing's dedication and diligence in martial arts. His perseverance and resolve earned the admiration of many disciples.

Yet everyone also knew that Yang Jing's natural aptitude was poor. Breaking through to Bright Strength had already been an extraordinarily fortunate stroke. As for breaking through to Hidden Strength, there was almost no hope. No matter how hard he worked, he could not change his aptitude or make up for his shortcomings in talent.

Martial arts was just such a profession. If you had talent, you could walk this road; without talent, you could not. With good talent, you could travel far down this road. With poor talent, any random bottleneck could block you to death, making it difficult to go far.

Yang Jing turned a deaf ear to the discussions of the other martial arts school disciples, his mind wholly immersed in practicing his fist techniques.

He could clearly sense that the tiger meat's nourishment did not merely strengthen his qi and blood; it also tempered his muscles and bones, making his control over Bright Strength increasingly refined and complete.

After finishing a set of punches, he stood where he was and regulated his breathing. The hot current within him continued to flow slowly, nourishing every inch of muscle and flesh. He felt as though his entire body was filled with inexhaustible strength.

July sunlight filtered through the treetops and fell over him, while his sweat reflected specks of light.

Yang Jing clenched his fist. The calluses on his palm seemed to have thickened again.

"Now that I no longer have any worries about money, I can use Fierce Beast Meat generously as dietary nourishment. My speed in reaching the peak of Bright Strength can increase again. Once I reach the peak of Bright Strength, with the System Panel, I'll have no bottlenecks and will naturally break through to Hidden Strength."

The next moment, Yang Jing's thoughts stirred.

The System Panel appeared before his eyes, clearly displaying the cultivation progress of the Mountain Collapse Fist—

[Mountain Collapse Fist, Minor Accomplishment (371/500)]

Seeing the cultivation progress of the Mountain Collapse Fist, Yang Jing could not help feeling delighted.

During this period, although he had also eaten bear meat, he only had ten jin each month. His dietary nourishment had mainly consisted of horse meat. This morning, he had eaten a jin of tiger meat, and practicing the Mountain Collapse Fist felt even more nourishing than when he ate bear meat. His cultivation progress had also increased a little faster.

After resting briefly, Yang Jing continued practicing his punches, fully absorbing and making use of the remaining tiger meat energy within his body.

When Liu Maolin entered the martial arts school's front courtyard, his gaze fell on Yang Jing at once.

At that moment, Yang Jing was bare-chested, beads of sweat dotting his bronze skin. The fist he had just withdrawn still carried lingering forceful wind, yet his breathing had already steadied.

Liu Maolin nodded slightly. Yang Jing's control over his strength seemed to have improved by another measure since before.

He slowly walked over with his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes held a touch of scrutiny as he looked at Yang Jing, along with a degree of understanding.

"Junior Brother, you've improved again." Liu Maolin's voice was not loud, yet it reached Yang Jing's ears clearly.

Yang Jing picked up a cloth towel and wiped away his sweat, smiling. "Senior Brother, you're here."

Liu Maolin nodded slightly without speaking. He merely glanced around, and seeing that the other disciples were all practicing on their own, he lowered his voice and asked, "Have you heard about Xu Tai?"

"Mm. I heard people talking about it on the way here. It seems there was a fire." Yang Jing's tone was calm, as if he were discussing something completely irrelevant.

Liu Maolin stared into his eyes. Those eyes were clear and bright, yet they concealed something he could not see through.

"A fire?" Liu Maolin gave a cold laugh. "Xu Tai was an expert at the peak of Bright Strength. A few days ago, he managed to fight his way out of the encirclement of two Bright Strength experts from the Righteousness Gang. Would he really be burned to death by a fire?"

Yang Jing fell silent for a moment, then looked up. "Perhaps his injuries were too severe, and he had no strength left to escape."

"Is that so?" Liu Maolin's gaze deepened. "I recall that you left rather early yesterday."

Yang Jing's movements paused briefly before he shook his head. "There was something to take care of at home. Why are you suddenly asking about this, Senior Brother?"

Liu Maolin looked at Yang Jing's frank expression, then suddenly smiled. He patted Yang Jing's shoulder and said, "Nothing. I just think that in this world, some people dying is actually a good thing."

He did not press further. Turning, he walked toward the courtyard wall and took off his shirt. "For the things Xu Tai did, retribution should have come long ago. Don't you think so, Junior Brother?"

Yang Jing watched his retreating back, something stirring in his heart. Then he smiled as well. "Senior Brother is right."

Yang Jing knew that Fourth Senior Brother harbored suspicions, guessing that he had killed Xu Tai.

But some things did not need to be laid bare. It was enough that they both understood.

In this world where the weak were prey to the strong, it was enough to hold fast to one's true heart.

Liu Maolin set down his shirt and turned to Yang Jing. The complexity and probing in his eyes had vanished, leaving only his usual gentleness. "Come, Junior Brother. Exchange a few moves with me and let me see how much you've improved these past few days."

"Alright!" Yang Jing answered with a smile.

By the time dusk washed over the martial hall's upturned eaves, Yang Jing had just finished his final punch, the heat still not yet dispersed from his fist.

There was hardly anyone left in the martial hall's front courtyard. Liu Maolin had long since departed as well. Now that he had taken over the family business, he spent little time at the martial hall each day. Only a few servants remained, putting away the equipment, the clatter of firewood striking together especially clear in the dusk.

He wiped away his sweat and was just about to put on his outer robe when a figure emerged from the inner courtyard.

Lin Yue wore a moon-white brocade robe, a jade belt tied at his waist, making his already upright frame appear even taller and straighter.

He glanced at Yang Jing, his gaze passing over him like it had passed over an inconspicuous stone, without lingering. He then turned away, a faint arrogance curling at the corner of his lips, as though sparing Yang Jing another glance would lower his own status.

Yang Jing did not care in the slightest. He draped the cloth towel over his shoulder, picked up his old cloth bag, and walked straight toward the gate.

Geniuses had the paths of geniuses; he had his own steps. Their roads had never needed to cross.