A Probe

The next day, at the Fish Market, inside a small tavern.

"Yo, Old Xu Tou, you're not dead yet?"

"You really are tough as old bones go!"

"Drinking again today—did you catch another turtle fish?"

"Why can't we catch any? It's all stinking fish and rotten shrimp, nothing but bad luck!"

"You don't understand. Turtle fish can't be caught with nets—you have to fish for them!"

"Old Xu Tou has lived so many years. He has no other skills, but when it comes to fishing turtle fish, he's unmatched."

"Master Xu, how about passing that skill on to me? I'll acknowledge you as my godfather and care for you in your old age, see you through to the grave."

"Wishful thinking..."

Xu Yang wore a straw rain cape and a bamboo hat, huddled in a corner as he drank and ate by himself. He ignored the crowd's teasing laughter, quietly enjoying this rare stretch of leisure.

Zhuang Zhou's Dream Butterfly—the difference in the flow of time meant that he had spent more than three hundred years in Great Zhou, while nearly a year had passed in reality.

That year had been miserable for him. Because of the vast difference in time flow, he had to remain asleep for long periods. Otherwise, the avatar on the Great Zhou side would be left without control and would die of thirst or starvation.

Especially in the beginning, before he had built up a foundation like Hundred Broken Mountain, while he lay low in Xiao Huang Village and secretly gathered strength, all he could do in the real world was chew unpolished rice raw and drink lake water raw.

Later, even the rice ran out. He could only enter the water himself, or have Cormorant catch all kinds of fish and shrimp for him. He had no time to cook them, swallowing them whole and eating them raw. He truly lived for a time like a savage drinking blood and eating raw flesh.

Only after his avatar took control of Hundred Broken Mountain, learned martial arts, leveled up skills, and gained the ability to fast without food did the situation improve slightly. But it had not improved by much. Time in the real world was still rushed and tense. Besides food and water, he had to deal with various trivial matters, proving that he was not dead yet.

Otherwise, if he lay on that Black-awning Boat for more than three hundred days without responding to anything, someone would have come to investigate his abnormality long ago.

Do not believe otherwise—the surveillance imposed on commoners at the bottom of society in this world was this strict. This was not an ordinary world. It possessed powers beyond the mortal realm, and there was even talk of "fortuitous encounters."

Common folk who encountered such opportunities and soared into the sky from then on, becoming impossible to contain—such things were not rare.

Thus, all factions kept a sharp and strict watch over "strange tales." Once anything unusual or tinged with the extraordinary happened within their jurisdiction, it would inevitably draw attention and all manner of investigation.

After fishing on Dongting Lake for decades, Xu Yang had heard of many such incidents. Though most were false alarms and wrongful cases, the various factions still pursued them tirelessly, even escalating their efforts.

Xu Yang could understand that. Living in a world where the extraordinary manifested openly, and possessing some power himself, one naturally had to search by every possible means and at any cost. Otherwise, how could one face oneself?

So strict surveillance was only natural. Indifference was what would have been strange.

That was also why Xu Yang had always kept a low profile, never revealing any anomaly. He honestly remained a fisherman on Dongting Lake, secretly accumulating strength as he waited for fate's turning point.

Now, that turning point had come. But Xu Yang still did not intend to expose himself. After all, he had accumulated strength for less than a year in the real world. He was not the invincible martial myth of Great Zhou, one who could suppress the age for a hundred years. His shallow Inner Force Cultivation gave him no sense of security whatsoever.

So he would continue being a fisherman honestly, at most finding a way to change identities—letting "Old Xu Tou" die a natural death and retire with his work complete.

As for leaving Dongting and withdrawing from the world into seclusion, that was still outside his consideration. Leaving aside the need for all kinds of supplies, Xu Yang had no desire to bear that risk alone.

This was a world with extraordinary powers. Deep mountains and ancient forests were not safe; they were even more dangerous. How could Xu Yang leave the familiar waters of Dongting and run off to such a place to live in seclusion?

Dongting Lake was his lair, the place he knew best and the safest place for him. To that end, he had specially trained his Swimming skill in the East Sea of the Great Zhou World, gaining the formidable trait of "Muddy Dragon" and transmitting it back.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, he would remain here until his Strength could advance no further. Only then would he consider leaving to seek a new place for cultivation.

So...

"Clang, clang, clang!"

"By order of the Golden Carp Gang, everyone is to gather at Fish Market Entrance immediately! No mistakes permitted!"

A burst of piercing gong beats rang out, leaving everyone in the tavern stunned.

Xu Yang frowned as well.

"What happened?"

"Who knows?"

"Such a huge commotion...?"

"It's an order from the Golden Carp Gang. Hurry and go—don't delay!"

"That's right. If we anger those Noble Patrons, we can't afford the consequences."

Seeing this, no one dared to tarry. They rose one after another and headed for Fish Market Entrance to gather.

Xu Yang silently stood as well, slung his fish basket over his back, and walked outside.

A fish market was simply a small marketplace. It did not cover much ground, nor did it have fences; people could enter and leave as they pleased.

But not now. A large force had appeared outside the market, surrounding the tiny Fish Market so tightly that not even water could pass through.

Everyone grew somewhat panicked at the sight. They dared not delay further and hurried to Fish Market Entrance. Xu Yang mixed among them.

Such a display was rare, but it had happened several times over the past decades. It was usually connected to some strange rumor and generally would not implicate an ordinary fisherman like him.

Thus, Xu Yang did not rush to break through the encirclement. Instead, he followed the crowd to Fish Market Entrance.

A crude raised platform had been erected at Fish Market Entrance. A group of people stood atop it, led by a richly dressed young man and woman.

The Golden Carp Gang's steward was there too—Fishery Bully Chen Qi, who normally threw his weight around. He now stood at the front and addressed the people below the platform. "This is our Golden Carp Gang's Third Miss. This is Young Master Tie of the Iron Lion Gang..."

"Greetings, Third Miss!"

"Greetings, Young Master Tie!"

The crowd cooperated, bowing one after another.

"Very good!"

Chen Qi nodded in satisfaction and took out a portrait. "Third Miss and Young Master Tie have come today to find someone. This person came through our area one or two years ago. Take a look. Anyone who can provide information will be richly rewarded by our Golden Carp Gang."

With that, he had several gang members carry the portrait into the crowd for everyone to inspect.

Xu Yang glanced at it. He had no impression of the person and did not know him, so he simply watched his nose, his nose watched his mouth, and he acted like an irrelevant bystander.

The crowd looked for a while, but no one spoke. Clearly, none of them wanted to invite trouble.

Chen Qi did not mind. He directly kicked over a small chest at his feet, sending gleaming silver ingots and sycees rolling out. "If you have clues, speak freely. Third Miss and Young Master Tie are here. When we say rich rewards, we mean rich rewards. You may even join our Golden Carp Gang and enjoy wealth and glory..."

"This..."

Looking at the glittering silver, then at the confident Chen Qi and the proud young man and woman behind him, someone finally could not resist the temptation. He raised his hand and said, "Seventh Master, we've met this man."

"Oh?"

Chen Qi's eyes lit up. He picked up a silver ingot and tossed it directly to the man. "Speak!"

The man caught the silver ingot, overjoyed. He hurriedly said to Chen Qi, "This man was a young master from a wealthy family. Two years ago, he brought his wife and daughter to the lakeshore and said he wanted to take a boat out on the lake. He offered a full tael of silver right away, so everyone fought to take him aboard."

"Is that so?"

Chen Qi was delighted. "What happened afterward?"

"Afterward?"

The man looked around, then said, "Old Zhang Tou snatched that business away, because his family's boat was larger. After that, there was no more news. Old Zhang Tou said they traveled down the lake, and that the family got off the boat at Qingshi Pass and left. I don't know whether that was true or not."

"Old Zhang Tou?"

Chen Qi frowned. "That Old Zhang Tou who disappeared more than half a year ago?"

"Yes, yes, that's him!"

"..."

Listening to the two speak, Xu Yang's brows drew together slightly beneath his bamboo hat.

"You're not deceiving me because the dead can tell no tales, are you?"

"How would I dare, Seventh Master? Lots of people saw it. If you don't believe me, ask them."

"This..."

Hearing that, Chen Qi had no choice but to turn back toward the young man and woman.

Young Master Tie frowned and said in a deep voice, "Ask when he disappeared, where he disappeared, what he did before disappearing, and whom he met."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Chen Qi hurriedly turned back and questioned the crowd again.

"Um..."

"Wasn't it at Baishui Bay?"

"His family's boat was always moored there."

"I remember that day, he seemed to have gone to see Old Xu Tou once."

"Yes, yes, I ran into him too. He said he wanted to give his Second Brother to Old Xu Tou as an adopted son, to see him through to the grave."

Under the heavy reward, the crowd could no longer care about much else. They dragged Xu Yang directly into the matter.

"Old Xu Tou?"

Chen Qi remembered Xu Yang. His gaze immediately swept across the crowd. "Where is Old Xu Tou?"

"Here, here!"

"Old Xu Tou, Seventh Master is looking for you! Did you hear him?"

The acquaintances around him directly pointed out Xu Yang's position.

Xu Yang had no choice but to step forward. "Seventh Master."

Chen Qi looked at him and saw nothing unusual. He asked directly, "Old Xu Tou, Old Zhang Tou went to see you before he disappeared?"

Xu Yang nodded, putting on the appearance of dim old eyes. "Ah, yes, yes, he came to see me."

"What did he want with you?"

"To... to adopt out his Second Brother. He said the boy would care for me in my old age and see me through to the grave."

"And then?"

"Then we settled it, and they went back."

"That's all?"

"That's all."

"This..."

Chen Qi frowned and turned to look at the young man and woman behind him.

The two examined Xu Yang. Then the young man stepped forward, looking down at him coldly. "Only that?"

Xu Yang wore a bewildered expression and said helplessly, "Yes, yes, yes!"

"Hmm..."

The young man pondered for a moment, then asked no further questions. He kicked a silver ingot at his feet, sending it down before Xu Yang. "Very good. Your reward. If anyone else has information, speak. You will be richly rewarded."

"Many thanks, Young Master Tie."

Xu Yang put on an overjoyed expression and bent down to pick up the silver ingot.

At that moment...

The young man's eyes turned cold. His foot moved, kicking out another silver ingot that shot toward the bending Xu Yang like a Flying Stone.

But Xu Yang seemed to have expected it already. He stepped forward, spun around, and seized the edge of his straw rain cape with his backhand. Like a cloak sweeping through the air, he lashed it violently, flinging out dots of cold, harsh starlight that shot toward the platform like a Pear Blossom Storm.

Hidden Weapons!

"Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft!"

The people on the platform were caught entirely off guard. Chen Qi and the others did not even know what had happened before the incoming Hidden Weapons blanketed their faces and bodies. Blood burst everywhere, and they fell at once.

The young man had not reacted in time either. What he had just done was merely Sudden Inspiration, a test born of slight suspicion. The other party was only a lowly fisherman; even if he wrongly accused him, no real harm would be done.

But he had not expected this decrepit, unremarkable fisherman to move so swiftly and retaliate so decisively, catching even him unprepared.

Though his mind had not reacted, his body's instincts stirred at once. True Qi within him flowed on its own, shielding his body.

In the end...

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The Hidden Weapons, flung with clever force, struck the young man's body and tore apart his brocade robes, revealing a layer of inner armor beneath as sparks burst forth.

Unfortunately, a vest was only a vest. It could not cover his entire body, much less his face. Several iron nail Hidden Weapons still struck his face. Even his True Qi could not protect him completely, leaving bloody gashes and wounds.

"Aah!!!"

The young man was injured. He screamed as his rage soared to its peak.

However...

"Whoosh!"

Xu Yang, still below the platform, leaped upward. No one knew what movement art he used, but he pounced onto the platform like a Great Peng Spreads Wings, carrying a fierce wind down upon the young man.

The young man was injured, shocked, and enraged. Before he could react, a gale struck his face and a black shadow descended.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang!"

The Great Zhou Martial Scripture, Battle Techniques—though he had no True Gang to support them, his Inner Force could barely drive them. In an instant, he unleashed several strikes: fists, chopping palms, stabbing fingers, and knee blows, landing upon the young man's throat, side of the neck, abdomen, ribs, groin, and other vital points. Even though the young man had formed True Qi, he could not defend against them. Pain crashed over him like a tide.

But he did not even have time to scream, because the man before him moved in flowing, seamless succession, faster than imagination. After several strikes in an instant came another killing move. A heavy palm, carrying tremendous force, slammed down upon the crown of his head.

"Bang!!!"

With a heavy impact, blood burst from his seven orifices, and the young man dropped to his knees.

"Sanlang!"

Only then did the woman on the left react. Ignoring the pain of the Hidden Weapons that had struck her, she reached for the precious sword at her waist.

However...

Xu Yang spun and shifted his step, rolling out like a top. All ten fingers curved into hooks, moving like dragons and tigers.

The Combat Scroll's Claw Chapter fused Shaolin Dragon Claw, Wudang Tiger Claw, Nine Yin White Bone, Great Strength Eagle Claw, and other supreme claw techniques. Then, after countless grandmasters, great masters, peerless geniuses, and talented prodigies Innovated from Old, discarding the dross and preserving the essence, it had become an unparalleled art of the human world, without equal under heaven.

Before the woman's precious sword could leave its sheath, she felt a fierce wind sweep toward her, sharp enough to take her life and extinguish all vitality.

"Riiip!!!"

A horrifying sound rang out. Blood sprayed in a bleak arc. The woman stood frozen, eyes wide, the flesh at her throat mangled and torn open to reveal pale white bone. More than half her neck bones and throat flesh had been torn away alive.

Xu Yang said nothing. He merely flung away the bloody flesh in his hand, then rose like a great peng. In one step, he leaped down from the platform and sprinted toward the edge of the market. The Battle Scroll's movement art unfolded, combined with the effect of Swift as Flying. In only a few breaths and ups and downs, he had become a black speck in the distance.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Murder!!!"

"Aah!!!!"

"Young Master!"

"Miss!"

"Quick, chase him!"

Only then did the crowd awaken as if from a dream. Looking at the platform strewn with corpses and flowing with blood, the scene immediately descended into chaos.

The Golden Carp Gang members surrounding the Fish Market did not know what to do. Seeing the incomparably gruesome scene atop the platform, each and every one of them turned deathly pale, terrified beyond measure.