Would Li Qing really go up against the Yan family just because of a single sentence from the Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader? Of course he would not be so reckless. No matter what, he had to personally investigate the Yan family's Condition before making a decision.
Although he greatly coveted the Yan family's Medicinal Wine Recipes, the risks involved were not small either.
"If the Yan family truly has only three Outer Strength experts, then taking a risk with Tian Long would not be impossible."
After returning home, Li Qing continually weighed the pros and cons of this matter.
His eyes flashed constantly as he assessed his current combat power and ability to withstand risks.
The Yan family had stood firm in Obsidian City for so many years. Li Qing had no doubt that they kept powerful martial artists as hired thugs.
After all, they had collected so many martial arts manuals. They could not possibly have merely used them to prop up table legs and let them gather dust.
"Tian Long has established the Righteous Gang for so many years. It is impossible that he has no designs on the Yan family at all. After planning for so long, if he had not met me, he would likely still be lying low even now."
As Li Qing spoke, his eyes gleamed as well.
"Phew... The only problem now is that Tian Long and I make only two Outer Strength experts. Could he have some way of dealing with the other Outer Strength expert?"
"Or could it be that the Righteous Gang has another mysterious Outer Strength expert hidden away?"
Li Qing did not believe that Tian Long could defeat two Outer Strength experts by himself. Judging by the degree of vitality and blood Tian Long had displayed, he might be considered formidable among Outer Strength experts, but fighting one against two was clearly impossible.
"This matter requires long-term planning. We must be as cautious as possible. It would be best to use some clever method."
Wait!
It was now the busy farming season, and black rye mushrooms were being harvested outside the city. The Yan family's three Outer Strength experts would certainly be on guard against any possible trouble during this period.
Having made his decision, Li Qing stayed Within his home for the next several days, not even stepping out of the courtyard gate once.
Toppling the Yan family would absolutely not be easy. He had to increase his strength as much as possible.
Over these days, Li Qing had been honing the Ancient Profound Hammer Technique, focusing all his attention on this martial art.
Compared with the True Intent of the Fierce Tiger and Light Silk Leg, which tempered the body, this hammer technique more obviously enhanced combat power.
No matter what, Outer Strength experts were ultimately still flesh and blood. They could not possibly withstand a blow from his hammer, which weighed over two hundred jin.
Especially since a small piece of incomparably hard Ink Gold had been smelted into the hammerhead. Even if his opponent wore sturdy Fine Iron Battle Halberd, Li Qing was confident he could smash them into grievous injury with one hammer blow.
With such repeated practice, more than ten days passed in a row.
The harvesting of black rye mushrooms outside the city gradually came to an end, and the Yan family's granaries were filled to the brim once again.
The Righteous Gang's patience seemed to have reached its limit as well. Unable to hold back any longer, they finally sent someone to Li Qing's home again to ask about his decision.
The visitor was still Wei Tian, light as a swallow. In two or three moves, he vaulted over the low courtyard wall of Li Qing's home. The moment he entered, he saw Li Qing slowly swinging his great hammer.
He had not come to steal this time, but when he saw Li Qing's solid muscles, he still felt somewhat intimidated.
In the bitterly cold weather, bare-chested Li Qing had sweat continually streaming down his body, where it evaporated into white vapor.
Drops of sweat ran over his sharply defined muscle lines, carrying an unspoken sense of power.
This guy seems even more muscular. What does he usually eat? What a freak!
Wei Tian could not help muttering in his heart. He then watched as Li Qing gradually put away the Peerless Hammer before lightly coughing. "Brother Li, our gang leader sent me to ask how your consideration is going."
Boom!
Having finished his martial arts practice, Li Qing set the heavy Peerless Hammer upside down on the ground with a muffled thud that made Wei Tian's eyelids twitch.
"Wei Tian, come here." Li Qing spoke with his eyes half-closed.
Wei Tian was utterly baffled as he walked toward Li Qing, not knowing what he intended to do.
"Go back and tell your gang leader that I have a plan," Li Qing said in a low voice.
As Wei Tian listened to Li Qing's plan, his expression immediately became quite colorful, shifting unpredictably.
"This..."
Before Wei Tian could finish, Li Qing chuckled. "Brother Wei Tian, forgive me."
As the words fell, strength slightly swelled in Li Qing's left hand. He then pushed out a Palm Strike, striking Wei Tian directly on the shoulder.
Boom!
Wei Tian flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing straight through the tightly shut courtyard gate. Blood even seeped from the corner of his mouth.
After flying out of the courtyard gate, Wei Tian wiped away the blood spilling from his mouth and nose. His gaze flashed for a moment before he shouted sharply, "You damned Blacksmith Li, just you wait! Our gang leader will not let you off!"
Having said that, his feet moved rapidly. As though he had an engine installed, he shot out of the street in a puff of smoke.
The speed left Li Qing taken aback. After taking one of his Palm Strikes, Wei Tian could still run so fast. He truly was no simple fellow.
If Li Qing had not practiced Light Silk Leg, he might not have been able to catch up with him.
After Wei Tian left, Li Qing sat down cross-legged at home and began regulating his breathing with his eyes closed.
Naturally, he had not used his full strength in that Palm Strike just now. Otherwise, the bones in half of Wei Tian's shoulder would likely have been shattered.
He had done so not only to avoid injuring Wei Tian, but also to conceal his own strength.
Very soon, the disturbance from earlier was noticed by the neighbors. It spread throughout the entire street in an instant and continued spreading outward.
As one of the few blacksmiths in the city, Li Qing was known by quite a few people on the street, and they immediately began whispering among themselves.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. How did Little Master Li offend the Righteous Gang?"
"Alas, Little Master Li is such a good blacksmith, yet he has been targeted by those inhuman bastards from the Righteous Gang."
"I hope he stays safe. He is the only one in the city whose blacksmithing is relatively cheap."
"This world... Alas! Why is no one doing anything about it?"
"..."
Old Man An naturally learned about this matter at the first opportunity. Since he had received Li Qing's benefits, he immediately came over to pay a visit.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Upon Hearing the knocking, Li Qing opened the door at once.
"Little Master Li, you were too impulsive! Though the Righteous Gang's influence in the city is not as great as the Yan family's, you still should not have offended them like this!" The moment Old Man An entered, he began earnestly advising him.
Yet Li Qing merely smiled. "Old Man An, you don't need to concern yourself with this matter. I, Li Qing, am not someone who remains unmoved even when others bully me right to my face."
Upon hearing these words, Old Man An was taken aback. Then he recalled how, some time ago on the market street in the city, Li Qing had dealt with the Yan family's three brothers from the Righteous Gang all by himself.
Old Man An sighed deeply and said with a regretful expression, "Alas! Little Master Li, why don't you leave Obsidian City? You have offended the Righteous Gang, and their gang leader is no soft-hearted person!"
"How about this? There is still quite a lot left of the food you gave me before. Take those black rye mushrooms and my granddaughter, and leave Obsidian City together. Head west—Giant Rock City is there. The Righteous Gang's reach definitely cannot extend that far!"
Yet Li Qing merely smiled and shook his head. "Old Man An, you should go back. I know what I am doing in this matter. I would like to see just how formidable the Righteous Gang's people can be."
Seeing that he could not persuade him, Old Man An opened his mouth, then finally shook his head with a sigh.
"Alas!"