That day, Obsidian City, Zhengming Street.
After Li Qing blasted Wei Tian out the door, the neighbors all began worrying over his situation. Some feared they might get caught up in it themselves.
The Righteous Gang was a notoriously vile force in Obsidian City. Those who mixed with them all had terrible reputations, and few were willing to have anything to do with them.
This matter naturally reached Second Young Master Yan's ears as well. After learning of it, Yan Gui'an showed little reaction, merely shaking his head with a smile.
"Looks like that Blacksmith Li really is as Uncle Jing said—a half-baked martial cultivator at most. Tian Long has always loved bullying spineless weaklings."
The burly middle-aged man called Uncle Jing was not particularly concerned with this matter. His expression dimmed slightly as he sighed.
"In this day and age, the path of martial arts has long ceased to be viable. When people cannot even fill their bellies, how can they speak of practicing martial arts?"
Yan Gui'an smiled. "Uncle Jing, there is no need to be so sorrowful. The Lineage has already begun finding ways to prepare enough meat for you Guest Elders. As for those wine recipes that stimulate the blood and qi, we have also been trying to improve them over the past few years, to see whether we can brew blood-and-qi medicinal wine suited to this era."
Uncle Jing merely took those words as consolation and did not take them seriously.
Improve the wine recipes?
How could such a thing be easy? Brewing wine itself had become quite difficult these days, simply because grain was far too scarce in this era.
Moreover, the Yan family's few wine recipes were things their predecessors had created only after who knew how many attempts. How could they possibly be improved just because someone said so?
By now, he no longer held any hope of advancing further along the path of martial arts. He only wished that in his next life, he could live peacefully and securely.
Meanwhile, Li Qing was still at home practicing his martial arts. He never tired of it and took it extremely seriously.
Unlike the others in this world, he had enough food, so when he trained, he could clearly feel his own progress.
These past few days, he had felt the force within his body grow stronger by several degrees. The moves of the Ancient Profound Hammer Technique had also become increasingly familiar.
Just as Li Qing was preparing to continue training, he suddenly heard a faint, chaotic commotion drifting over from afar.
They had arrived!
At the entrance to Zhengming Street, a group of ill-looking brutes abruptly appeared. Leading them was a vicious man carrying a Golden Ring Saber over his shoulder. He looked to be in his forties or fifties, with several scars on his face, a gleaming bald head, and killing intent rolling off him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Wherever this group passed, every household tightly shut its doors and windows, not daring to make the slightest sound.
"Gang Leader, it's right ahead. That blacksmith is incredibly arrogant. He doesn't put our Righteous Gang in his eyes at all!" Wei Tian said with a wronged expression, his act remarkably lifelike.
The scar-faced, bald man at the front was none other than the Righteous Gang's leader, Tian Long!
Tian Long gave a savage grin. "Heh, there is actually a blacksmith in Obsidian City who dares look down on our Righteous Gang? Today, I'll have to show him some colors!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the men behind him began shouting the Righteous Gang's slogan in unison. "Rob the rich and aid the poor! Righteousness reaches the clouds!"
"Rob the rich and aid the poor! Righteousness reaches the clouds!"
"..."
The resounding chants shook the entire street.
Li Qing, inside his home, naturally heard those words.
He could not help rolling his eyes. Then he donned the Fine Iron Battle Halberd and picked up the Peerless Hammer with both hands.
At the house directly opposite Li Qing's courtyard, Old Man An wore a deeply worried expression.
"Ah, why will young people never listen to advice? Now he has brought great trouble upon himself." Old Man An's voice was full of concern, as though the calamity were about to fall upon him instead.
"Grandpa... Uncle Li will be all right, won't he?" An Xuan's face was filled with fear as well. Though she was somewhat thin, her delicate, pitiful appearance truly marked her as a beauty in the making.
"I don't know." Old Man An shook his head.
Just then, the footsteps outside abruptly became chaotic. The Righteous Gang had arrived.
Old Man An quietly opened a tiny crack and looked at the hulking men outside. The worry in his eyes deepened further.
Boom!
The Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader Tian Long did not waste a word. He directly kicked open the gate to Li Qing's courtyard.
The two heavy iron doors crashed to the ground, sending dust flying everywhere.
When the dust settled, Li Qing, holding the Peerless Hammer, looked at his courtyard gate, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
This fellow was putting on the whole show, wasn't he?
"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, kid. How do you want to die?" Tian Long curled his lips into what he considered a savage grin. Then, with a clang, he viciously smashed his Golden Ring Saber onto the ground.
Clang!
Together with the fifty or sixty rough-looking men standing behind him, his presence was indeed quite imposing.
"Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader, you have come looking for trouble with me time and again, yet you still talk about toasts and forfeits." Li Qing's voice rose sharply.
"Hmph! Let me see just how much you weigh, to dare look down on our Righteous Gang like this!"
Saying This, Tian Long raised his saber. The golden rings clanged against the blade, and then he charged fiercely at Li Qing.
Though it was an act, Li Qing genuinely wanted to gauge the strength of other Outer Strength experts. Naturally, he would not let this opportunity pass.
He gripped the hammer shaft with both hands and swung without the slightest fear on his face, intending to meet him head-on in a clash of raw power!
Behind Tian Long, some people who understood the craft could not help mocking him.
"He really doesn't fear death. Our Gang Leader is an Outer Strength expert, and his power is tremendous. How could this fellow possibly face him head-on?"
However, the next moment, a crisp sound suddenly rang out.
Clang!
The Golden Ring Saber struck the Ink Gold hammerhead of the Peerless Hammer. Two immense forces collided, and sparks even burst from the surfaces of their weapons.
Seeing Li Qing had actually blocked it, the man who had spoken just now had not even had time to close his mouth before it fell open wider.
"This..."
Feeling Li Qing's strength, Tian Long was also slightly surprised. He had not expected Li Qing to have tempered his Outer Strength to such a level. He did not resemble a martial artist who had only recently entered the Outer Strength realm at all.
But the stronger Li Qing was, the more likely the plan was to succeed, and Tian Long's mood brightened accordingly.
Having not fought for many years, Tian Long's blood and qi began boiling throughout his body once more. He was eager to have a satisfying battle with Li Qing right here.
Thus, he consecutively slashed out several times, each strike reaching the peak of his strength.
Yet Li Qing blocked every one of those blows head-on, and none of them achieved anything.
At this moment, the others nearly had their eyes pop out of their heads. Their Gang Leader appeared to be locked in an evenly matched battle with Li Qing.
Li Qing had already gotten a general grasp of the Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader's strength. Seeing the expressions of the others, he knew it was time to stop.
Clang!
After blocking another slash from the Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader, he took advantage of the chaos to say in a low voice, "Enough. Save some strength. My true power cannot be exposed."
At These Words, Tian Long suddenly came to his senses. He seemed to have gotten a little too immersed in the fight.
The fact that Li Qing was an Outer Strength expert absolutely could not be revealed. That was the key to carrying out the plan!
At once, he shouted, "Hahahaha! Not bad, kid. You have a bit of strength after all. But I only used thirty percent of my power just now. Next, I will strike with all my strength!"
Upon hearing this, the men Behind Tian Long finally let out a sigh of relief.
So their Gang Leader had merely delighted at meeting worthy prey and had not struck with his full strength.
And hearing this, Li Qing knew the other man was about to hold back.
The next moment, Tian Long's muscles swelled all over, and the clothes on his body began bulging.
He slashed out once more. This strike looked tremendously imposing and made one's heart tremble.
Li Qing received this thunderous strike that ended in little more than a drizzle. Then he pretended to be defeated, staggered several steps backward, and was sent flying.
"Hahaha! Wei Tian, go tie this man up and bring him back to the gang!"
"Once we're back, I'll make sure to torment this fellow properly!"
Tian Long laughed wildly, his voice shaking the courtyard walls as though they might collapse.
"By your command, Gang Leader! Gang Leader, your divine skill covers all beneath heaven; you are invincible under heaven!" Wei Tian eagerly came forward with rope in hand, then walked toward Li Qing with concealed apology in his gaze.
At this time, the others also began praising Tian Long's martial arts in turn. Their flattery rang loud and clear; they were only short of declaring Tian Long the reincarnation of a martial god.
"Li, brother, bear with it... I'm sorry." Wei Tian spoke in a voice quieter than a mosquito's buzz.
Li Qing merely nodded slightly, then put on an unwilling expression.
Just as Wei Tian tied Li Qing into a human dumpling and prepared to haul him away, a slender figure suddenly rushed out and blocked the path of the bandits.
An Xuan spread her arms wide, tears glimmering in her eyes as she said in a trembling voice, "Y-you let Uncle Li go! Don't take him away."
At once, the Righteous Gang members led by Tian Long all stopped in their tracks and looked teasingly at the clean-faced little girl.
In this era, they had not seen such a clean and clear face—or such clear eyes—in a very, very long time.
"Heh, this little girl is quite pretty. It's a pity she is a little too thin. In the future, she will definitely grow into a graceful beauty."
Someone sized An Xuan up with greedy eyes, like a vicious wolf examining a frail little lamb.
"Xuan, come back!" Old Man An rushed out in horror, seized An Xuan, and repeatedly apologized.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! My granddaughter is still young and does not understand any better. I'm truly sorry!" Old Man An said in a trembling voice.
"You say sorry and that makes it sorry? Little old man, your granddaughter looks like she has not had a full meal in a long time. Why not let her follow this lord instead?" someone among the crowd said provocatively.
Li Qing naturally could not stand by and watch any longer. He coughed and said, "Ahem, this girl is someone Second Young Master Yan has taken a liking to..."
The moment the words "Yan family" came out, the Righteous Gang members immediately shut their mouths and turned to look at their bald Gang Leader.
Li Qing said this so Tian Long would rein in his subordinates and make them behave themselves.
Tian Long snorted coldly. "Hmph, we're leaving."
At This Was, Old Man An's face revealed a look of struggle and conflict. Then he suddenly stepped forward.
With his hunched figure, he blocked the tall and burly Tian Long, then said in a humble voice, "Heavenly Dragon Gang Leader, I don't know where Little Master Li has offended you. I still have some Black Rye Mushrooms at home. Could you spare him? He is young and does not understand any better."
Tian Long smiled at this time. He looked back at Li Qing, not expecting his reputation here to be surprisingly good—there was actually someone willing to protect him like this.
However, letting Li Qing go was impossible. This was part of the plan.
"Get lost! Our Righteous Gang robs the rich and aids the poor, with righteousness reaching the clouds. How could we possibly care about that little food of yours? If you Dare To get in the way again, I'll split you and your granddaughter alive with one slash!"
Tian Long shouted viciously, every inch a desperado.
These Words scared Old Man An so badly that he grabbed his granddaughter and ran back inside.
Though his steps were somewhat disheveled, Li Qing watched him go, and a trace of warmth welled up in his heart.