Night Raid

The news of Yang Jing breaking through to Hidden Strength spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the Sun Clan Martial Arts School in less than half an hour.

In the front courtyard, disciples who were practicing their forms stopped in their tracks, turning to look in Yang Jing's direction with expressions of shock and disbelief.

"Is it true? Yang Jing... he's become a Hidden Strength martial artist?"

"No way, isn't Senior Brother Yang supposed to have low-grade root bone? How could he possibly break through to Hidden Strength?"

"No wonder Senior Brother Yang practices his punches so relentlessly every day. All that hard work has paid off with real skill!"

"Hidden Strength... that's a level many people can't even touch in their entire lives, and he's already—"

Discussions erupted, and soon many disciples gathered around, their faces beaming with warmth as they congratulated him from all sides.

"Senior Brother Yang, congratulations! You'll have to guide us juniors a few moves from now on!"

"Senior Brother Yang was hiding his true abilities; we were blind before!"

Those who had previously kept Yang Jing at arm's length now flocked to him, their words filled with flattery.

After all, the gap between Hidden Strength and Bright Strength was like a chasm. The former was a top-tier expert in any faction, while Bright Strength experts, though rare, were still within reach for many disciples.

Everyone understood the significance of this.

Yang Jing nodded slightly, responding briefly without engaging too much.

He knew in his heart that this adoration was primarily due to the title "Hidden Strength." Instead of reveling in it, he preferred to use this opportunity to familiarize himself with the application of Hidden Strength and focus more energy on his martial path.

"Junior Brother, you've broken through to Hidden Strength. Feeling the itch to spar?" Liu Maolin walked over, stretching his wrists, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Come on, let's trade a few blows and let me see how much you've improved with Hidden Strength!"

Yang Jing had just broken through and wanted to test the depth of his Hidden Strength. He smiled and replied, "Alright, Senior Brother, please go easy on me."

The two moved to the training ground, and a clearing immediately formed around them.

Liu Maolin didn't delay, throwing out a punch first. The fist wind was gentle yet concealed Inner Force, clearly the style of Hidden Strength.

In the past, when Yang Jing was still at Bright Strength, Liu Maolin only needed to exert a third of his strength to easily neutralize Yang Jing's attacks, even guiding him with plenty of room to spare.

But now, Yang Jing also threw out a punch, employing the Hidden Strength techniques of Mountain Collapse Fist. His fist seemed slow, yet it carried a dense pressure that pierced the air.

As their fists met, Liu Maolin felt a solid wave of Hidden Strength travel up his finger bones, causing his arm to go slightly numb. He couldn't help but be inwardly alarmed; this force was much more stable than he had anticipated!

He didn't dare to be careless, immediately increasing his force. His punches became more aggressive, Hidden Strength flowing through his meridians, his moves sharp and seasoned.

Yang Jing, however, showed no fear. The movements of Mountain Collapse Fist became increasingly fluid in his hands, his Hidden Strength controlled with ease.

Although he had just entered Hidden Strength, through years of sparring with Liu Maolin, he had already gained some insight into its characteristics. Coupled with the adaptability honed through several life-and-death battles, he managed to withstand eighty percent of Liu Maolin's offensive power.

"Heh, interesting!" Liu Maolin, seeing his attacks failing to land, felt his fighting spirit surge. He unleashed his Hidden Strength without reservation, his fist wind whistling, now using ninety percent of his power.

This level of force was enough to make an ordinary martial artist who had just entered Hidden Strength flustered.

Yang Jing's expression sharpened. He pushed the "entwine" technique of Mountain Collapse Fist to its extreme. His fist force wrapped around like vines, deflecting force while simultaneously counter-attacking.

Even so, he gradually began to fall into a disadvantage, forced to retreat repeatedly, fine sweat beading on his forehead.

"I concede!" Liu Maolin knew when to stop, retracting his fist and stepping back, his face filled with surprise and admiration. "You've only just entered Hidden Strength, and you can withstand ninety percent of my power? That's incredible! When I first broke through, I was lucky to last against an experienced opponent at the same level with fifty to sixty percent of my strength."

Yang Jing wiped his sweat, inwardly marveling as well.

The world of Hidden Strength was truly profound. The control and variations contained within Liu Maolin's ninety percent force were far beyond what the peak of Bright Strength could compare to.

But he also knew that his performance was thanks to his solid foundation and, more importantly, the practical combat experience gained in life-or-death situations.

The surrounding disciples were stunned. Although the spar wasn't as explosive and impactful as Bright Strength exchanges, it was filled with subtlety and precision, allowing them to truly feel the formidable power of a Hidden Strength martial artist. It also instilled a newfound respect for Yang Jing's newly achieved Hidden Strength.

As the sparring concluded, while the two were wiping their sweat, a man in a blue cloth uniform hurried in from the main gate of the martial arts school and walked directly to Liu Maolin, whispering a few words.

Liu Maolin's expression shifted slightly, and then he gave Yang Jing an apologetic smile. "Junior Brother, there's an urgent matter at the medical hall. I have to go back right away."

He patted Yang Jing's shoulder. "The celebration banquet we planned has to be postponed until tomorrow night. I'll make it up to you then."

"Prioritize your business, there's no need to worry about this. This is a good opportunity for me to carefully ponder the follow-up techniques of Mountain Collapse Fist that Master taught," Yang Jing said with a smile. "I'll attend the banquet tomorrow night."

Liu Maolin nodded, added a few more words of "wait for my news," and quickly left with the man.

Meanwhile, he was also contemplating discussing Yang Jing's breakthrough to Hidden Strength with his father upon his return. He planned to increase Yang Jing's monthly allowance and meat supply, and perhaps add some conveniences, setting them in stone to announce at the celebration banquet tomorrow night, showing the Liu family's sincerity.

Just as Liu Maolin left, Xu Hong and Zhao Wenzheng approached, their faces wearing gentle smiles, a stark contrast to their usual distant demeanor.

"Junior Brother Yang, those few punches just now were truly exquisite," Xu Hong spoke first, his tone filled with genuine admiration. "You've already grasped some of the 'penetration' aspect of Hidden Strength."

Zhao Wenzheng chimed in, "Indeed. We didn't realize it before; Junior Brother was hiding his depth quite well. If there's anything going on in the school, or any insights on cultivation, we should exchange more."

Yang Jing knew the reason for their changed attitude but didn't mind. He cupped his fists and said, "Senior Brothers flatter me. I've only just entered Hidden Strength, and there's still much I need to learn from you both."

"No need for politeness," Xu Hong waved his hand with a smile. "We're fellow disciples; mutual support is only right. By the way, are you free tonight? I'll treat you to a few drinks at Jufou Restaurant in the South City."

If this were in the past, let alone Jufou Restaurant, Xu Hong wouldn't have even invited him to a street-side stall.

Yang Jing understood, but he still politely declined. "Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother. However, I want to take this evening to further study the Hidden Strength training methods of Mountain Collapse Fist. I'll trouble you another day for drinks."

Xu Hong didn't press. "That's fine, cultivation is important. We'll talk another day. You go ahead and busy yourself."

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before turning to leave.

Yang Jing watched their retreating figures and let out a soft sigh.

His status as a Hidden Strength martial artist had indeed changed everything.

He didn't dwell on it further. After a brief rest, he turned and walked towards a corner of the front courtyard, immersing himself once more in the practice of Mountain Collapse Fist.

Time flowed by slowly.

After a day of arduous training, the sky darkened, like a piece of cloth dipped in ink, slowly covering everything.

It was only when the last lantern in the front courtyard lit up that Yang Jing finally stopped punching. His body steamed with heat, and the Hidden Strength flowed through his meridians with increasing smoothness.

He nodded to the handyman tidying up the equipment and turned to leave the martial arts school.

"Senior Brother Yang's drive is truly unmatched," the handyman murmured, watching his retreating figure. "Practicing from morning till night, even an iron body couldn't withstand it. No wonder he could achieve Hidden Strength..."

On his way back, the marketplace hadn't completely quieted down yet, with scattered vendors packing up their stalls.

Yang Jing's steps were steady, his Hidden Strength concealed. He appeared no different from an ordinary passerby, yet he could clearly perceive the movements around him. The drunken ramblings of a man in the street corner, the light sound of cat paws treading on roof tiles—all were within his senses.

As he passed through a narrow alley connecting two main streets, the light suddenly dimmed. The high walls on both sides completely blocked out the moonlight.

The moment Yang Jing stepped into the middle of the alley, two shadowy figures leaped down from the wall tops like dormant vipers, bringing with them a sharp whistling sound, aiming directly for his back. It was Zhao Meng, the leader of the Righteousness Gang, and his deputy, Qian Bao, who had been lying in wait.

"Kid, surrender now!"

Each of them held a short knife, their blades flashing with a cold glint in the dimness, targeting weak points with impeccable coordination.

In the past, facing a surprise attack from two peak Bright Strength experts, Yang Jing, even if he could barely cope, would have been extremely flustered.

But at this moment, the Hidden Strength within him stirred slightly. Instead of retreating, he advanced. A seemingly stumbling step precisely avoided the intersecting paths of the two short knives.

Simultaneously, his right fist struck before theirs, making no sound at all, yet accurately hitting Qian Bao's wrist.

"Crack!"

The crisp sound of bone breaking was exceptionally piercing in the alley.

Qian Bao felt a soft yet indestructible force drill into his wrist bone. His short knife flew out of his hand. Before the searing pain could spread throughout his body, Yang Jing's fist followed like a shadow, landing on his chest.

Three consecutive punches struck his chest, forcefully caving in a large pit.

There was no earth-shattering impact, yet Qian Bao felt as if he were being gripped by an invisible, colossal force. His body suddenly arched like a shrimp, his eyes widened, blood gushed from his mouth, and with a face full of disbelief, he slowly collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

It was too fast. From the moment the two leaped from the shadows to launch their surprise attack until Yang Jing killed Qian Bao, only two or three breaths had passed.

Qian Bao never imagined, even in death, that he would die like this, here, under Yang Jing's seemingly effortless three punches.

"Old Qian!" Zhao Meng exclaimed in shock and anger. He changed his knife strike from a slash to a thrust, aiming directly for Yang Jing's throat.

He was experienced and had sensed something was wrong in that instant. Yang Jing's footwork and the way he exerted force were far beyond the scope of Bright Strength!

Yang Jing sidestepped the blade, his left hand forming a palm and pressing down on Zhao Meng's knife back.

Hidden Strength flowed from his palm, spreading along the blade like water.

Zhao Meng felt his arm go numb, his grip on the knife instantly dissipating, nearly losing it.

His heart trembled violently, and an absurd yet incredibly clear thought exploded in his mind: "This... this is Hidden Strength?!"

How could this be!

Before they acted, they had conducted a thorough investigation of Yang Jing. They were clearly told that Yang Jing was only at Bright Strength, so how could he be at Hidden Strength?!

In his shock, Zhao Meng lost all will to fight. He leaped back abruptly, trying to create distance. "You... you broke through to Hidden Strength?!"

Yang Jing didn't give him a chance to escape. He exerted force with his feet, and Hidden Strength surged from the ground. His figure moved like a phantom, catching up. He unleashed the "Entwine" technique of Mountain Collapse Fist. His punch seemed slow, yet it sealed off all of Zhao Meng's escape routes.

Zhao Meng threw a punch to block. Their fists met, and he felt a spiral-like force enter his body along his arm, as if his internal organs were being churned. His blood essence surged.

"No! Impossible! How could you be at Hidden Strength!" Zhao Meng screamed, his face draining of color.

He finally understood why Qian Bao had died so quickly. Bright Strength and Hidden Strength, though seemingly only one step apart, were as different as heaven and earth.

That seemingly gentle force could actually penetrate flesh and bone, directly damaging internal organs, making it several times more terrifying than the most forceful Bright Strength!

He turned to flee, desperate to escape the alley.

But Yang Jing's punch had already arrived. With the enhancement of Surging Wave Leg, his speed and footwork had been improving daily.

This time, his Hidden Strength was unleashed without reservation. The edge of his fist grazed Zhao Meng's back as it passed. Zhao Meng's forward momentum abruptly halted. His back clothes remained intact, but beneath his skin, he felt a violent, tearing pain, as if countless fine needles were piercing his internal organs.

"Ugh..." Zhao Meng stumbled a few steps, collapsing to the ground. After a few twitches, he fell silent.

Silence returned to the alley, with only the smell of blood lingering in the humid air.

Yang Jing stood beside the two corpses, slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air.

His first battle after achieving Hidden Strength was even easier than he had anticipated.

He glanced at the two corpses on the ground, his eyes calm. The moment the other party chose to ambush him, there was no turning back.

The smell of blood in the alley grew stronger, but Yang Jing didn't leave immediately.

He walked to the two corpses and, using the faint light filtering in from outside the alley, clearly saw the faces of the deceased. They were indeed Zhao Meng, the leader of the Righteousness Gang, and Qian Bao, his deputy.

The look of terror from their final moments still lingered on their faces, yet they hadn't even worn the most basic masks. It was clear they were so confident of easily taking him down that they hadn't bothered to conceal their identities.

"It really was them," Yang Jing understood in his heart.

He had long expected the Righteousness Gang to target him because of Xu Tai's matter. This sense of crisis was one of the motivations that drove him to practice punches all night and forcefully attempt a Breakthrough the previous night.

Now, it seemed, breaking through to Hidden Strength in advance was a truly wise decision.

He crouched down and began searching the bodies.

Zhao Meng's waist was bulging. When he felt it, he found a thick money bag. He poured out the silver and counted it: seventy-four taels.

Qian Bao's money bag was thinner, containing forty-three taels.

Together, that was one hundred and seventeen taels. While not a lot, it was enough for an ordinary family in the county town to live on for several years. It was likely the silver the two carried with them.

As he searched Zhao Meng's chest, Yang Jing's fingertips brushed against a hard object. His expression shifted. He took it out and found a small porcelain bottle, the size of his palm.

Upon opening it, he saw a pill the size of a longan, dark red in color, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance. He didn't know its purpose.

Yang Jing casually tucked the porcelain bottle into his clothes. This place was not suitable for lingering; he would find an opportunity to identify it later.

After securing the valuables, Yang Jing stood up, his gaze turning cold.

He didn't leave immediately. Instead, he channeled his Hidden Strength, striking the two corpses repeatedly with his fists.

The Hidden Strength penetrated their bodies, and the muffled sounds of shattering bones echoed softly in the alley. Moments later, the two corpses were unrecognizable, their limbs twisted at bizarre angles, making it impossible to tell their original appearance, let alone that they had died by the Mountain Collapse Fist.

Nowadays, with refugees rampant inside and outside the county town and public order in chaos, homicides occurred frequently. The government was already overwhelmed and too lazy to investigate such gang rivalries.

Zhao Meng and the other had made many enemies, so being hunted down and killed by their rivals was perfectly reasonable.

Even if someone discovered the bodies, they would only assume it was a martial world feud and would never trace it back to him.

After finishing, Yang Jing cast a final glance into the depths of the alley, ensuring no traces were left behind, before turning and quickly exiting.

He merged into the flow of people in the night, his steps light. The silver on his waist and the porcelain bottle in his clothes felt heavy, but far less reassuring than the Hidden Strength circulating within him.

The two major leaders of the Righteousness Gang were gone. The coming days should be more peaceful.

PS: Thank you to [Book Friend 20231226031539610] for the 100 Qidian Coin reward.