Trouble

At dawn, the sky was only just beginning to lighten.

Chen Qing had washed up and was preparing to head to Zhou Academy.

"A Qing, something terrible has happened!"

Madam Han hurried over, her face deathly pale. "Uncle-in-law was beaten!"

Chen Qing froze slightly. "What happened?"

Yang Tiezhu had always been honest and peaceable, never one to argue with others. How could such a disaster have befallen him for no reason?

Madam Han said anxiously, "I went to Lushui Market this morning and heard it from Aunt Wang of Baihua Lane. Your Eldest Aunt and Uncle-in-law are both at your grandfather's house now."

"I'll go take a look."

Chen Qing hurried off the boat, his pace unconsciously quickening.

As he turned into Firewood Fish Market, he could hear suppressed sobbing from the Old Residence courtyard from far away.

The courtyard gate stood wide open. Yang Tiezhu sat hunched on the stone steps, his left eye swollen shut and a scab of blood crusted at the corner of his mouth. Eldest Aunt Chen Jinhua clutched a handkerchief and wiped away tears without pause.

Second Aunt was applying medicine to Uncle-in-law's forehead, muttering, "What a sin..."

Old Master Chen squatted beside the millstone, puffing on his pipe. Through the smoke, his face was wrinkled like old tree bark.

"Grandfather, Eldest Aunt, Second Aunt."

Chen Qing stepped forward and greeted them.

Old Master Chen glanced at Chen Qing but said nothing.

Chen Qing walked up to Yang Tiezhu. "Uncle-in-law, what exactly happened?"

Yang Tiezhu's eyes shifted evasively. "People from the Blackwater Gang took a liking to Huiniang. They said they'd pay silver to send her to some Warm Jade Workshop in Prefecture City to learn a trade, said she could earn big money after learning it."

As he spoke, he hesitated, unconsciously touching the injury on his face. "Her mother and I... didn't agree, so they... they hit me."

"You only refused them this time?"

Chen Qing recalled seeing Yang Tiezhu injured before and pressed on, "Uncle-in-law, did they cause trouble before this?"

Yang Tiezhu's body stiffened. His lips trembled a few times before he finally lowered his head in dejection. "A while ago at Lushui Market, Huiniang went to help me collect payment for fish. Brother Leopard from the Blackwater Gang came over and said some improper things. I couldn't stand it and shoved one of them. They kicked me a few times right then. The neighbors were all there, and there were so many people that Brother Leopard and the others only left some threats. I thought lying low would keep us safe. I never expected them..."

He could not continue, his voice growing lower and lower.

In an instant, Chen Qing understood everything.

Before this, Uncle-in-law Yang Tiezhu would surely have chosen to swallow the insult and endure it, not daring to utter a single extra word.

But ever since Chen Heng began practicing martial arts, Eldest Aunt Chen Jinhua and Uncle-in-law had quietly gained a measure of confidence. In their words and actions, the timidity born of long oppression had faded without their notice, replaced by a trace of backbone unwilling to be kneaded and crushed by others any longer.

And that was precisely what had pricked the Blackwater Gang's sensitive nerves.

This time, how could their attack have been merely revenge for Yang Tiezhu's earlier shove?

They had clearly sniffed out this faint sign of resistance from the Yang Family and intended to use thunderous methods to ruthlessly "establish their authority" before everyone in Firewood Fish Market!

They wanted to stomp the Yang Family's newly emerging backbone completely back into the mud.

"What trade? They clearly want to sell her into a brothel!" Chen Jinhua suddenly shrieked, then covered her mouth and broke down sobbing.

"Where's Cousin?" Chen Qing looked around but did not see Yang Huiniang.

Second Aunt lowered her voice. "She's hiding at the Cloth Shop. She hasn't eaten or drunk anything since yesterday, and her eyes are swollen like peaches from crying."

Just then, a burst of commotion came from outside the courtyard.

"Father, Xiao Heng and I are back."

Second Uncle Chen Wen hurried in with Chen Heng.

"Ah Heng."

Like a drowning woman clutching at a lifeline, Chen Jinhua lunged at him and gripped his sleeve tightly. "You know so many people. Can't you think of something? If Huiniang is taken away by them, her whole life will be ruined!"

"Big Sister, get up first."

Second Aunt hurriedly supported the swaying Chen Jinhua.

Second Uncle straightened his back. "Xiao Heng has trained at the martial arts school for so long. He has connections."

Feeling everyone's burning gazes, Chen Heng's Adam's apple bobbed. "This... I'll think of something. Quite a few senior brothers at the martial arts school hold part-time appointments with major gangs. I'll ask around more..."

His voice grew softer and softer, and a layer of cold sweat had already seeped across his back.

Those senior brothers who usually drank and visited courtesans with him would probably avoid this sort of trouble as if it were the plague.

As for himself... the Blackwater Gang's desperate thugs were not something he could handle in the restrained sparring matches at the martial arts school.

Old Master Chen finally spoke, knocking his pipe hard against the millstone. "Ah Heng, this is no joke. Those people from the Blackwater Gang..."

"Don't worry, Grandfather."

Chen Heng forced himself to remain calm, his voice rising without his notice. "Senior Disciple Brother of Guangchang Martial Arts School is a great expert who has broken through three times. They'll definitely give him this bit of face!"

As he spoke, he stood up. "I'll go find someone right now."

As he turned away, Chen Qing noticed that the hand hidden in Chen Heng's sleeve was trembling uncontrollably.

After Chen Heng left, silence fell over the courtyard.

Second Aunt forced a smile. "Big Sister, don't worry. Xiao Heng will definitely..."

Chen Jinhua nodded woodenly, tears rolling silently down her face.

Chen Qing frowned inwardly. He had a nagging feeling that Chen Heng might not be reliable.

Guangchang Martial Arts School.

Chen Heng dragged his heavy steps back to the martial arts school, his face filled with worry.

"Junior Brother Chen!"

A sturdy young man in a brown training uniform approached him, warmly throwing an arm around his shoulders. "A few new girls came to the South River flower boats tonight. Those figures..."

Senior Brother Mao winked and traced an ambiguous curve in the air with his finger. "I heard they can even perform the Whirling Dance."

Chen Heng barely forced a twitch of his lips.

On any other day, he would have joined in the laughter already. But now, that laughter pierced his eardrums like knives. His throat dry, he said, "Senior Brother Mao, do you know the Blackwater Gang?"

"Blackwater Gang? That name sounds unfamiliar. Probably some newly emerged loach gang, right?"

Senior Brother Mao scratched his thick beard, then spat. "New gangs crop up every day in Gaolin County. Who knows, tomorrow they might be sunk in a pond to feed the turtles."

Chen Heng's Adam's apple bobbed as he told him about his predicament.

"This matter..."

Senior Brother Mao suddenly lowered his voice. After glancing around, he dragged Chen Heng beneath the Old Scholar Tree. "Isn't Senior Brother Lin holding a part-time appointment with the Blood River Gang? I'll ask him for you."

"Really?"

Chen Heng's eyes lit up.

Senior Brother Lin was an elite disciple of the martial arts school, with Hidden Strength cultivation at the major completion stage.

With Chen Heng's ability, it was difficult for him to fit into that circle, so he had never even been able to get a word in.

Senior Brother Mao patted his shoulder and went to find Senior Brother Lin.

About half an incense stick later, Senior Brother Mao returned.

"Junior Brother Chen."

Senior Brother Mao rubbed his hands, his brows furrowing into a deep groove. "Senior Brother Lin said that although this Blackwater Gang was newly established, it has a big tree behind it."

A big tree!?

Cold sweat seeped down Chen Heng's back.

"But..." Senior Brother Mao changed his tone. "Since you're fellow disciples, Senior Brother Lin is willing to make the trip with you. You'll just need to pay a little tea money."

As he spoke, he lightly rubbed his thumb and forefinger together.

"How much?" Chen Heng's voice tightened.

Senior Brother Mao held up two fingers. "Twenty taels. For an expert like Senior Brother Lin, ordinary people couldn't hire him even if they brought silver to his door!"

"T-twenty taels?" Chen Heng nearly bit his tongue.

Senior Brother Mao's smile faded somewhat. "Can't bear to part with the silver? Then the threshold of the Warm Jade Workshop costs far more than that."

"I... I need to go home and discuss it." Chen Heng said stiffly.

Senior Brother Mao gave a cold snort. "Senior Brother Lin is very busy. Give me a definite answer before noon tomorrow, or the offer expires."

With that, he turned and left.

Once Chen Heng saw his figure disappear completely, he collapsed to the ground like a deflated ball.

How was he supposed to explain this to Grandfather and Eldest Aunt!?

Chen Heng wore a miserable expression. I won't go home tonight. I'll delay for as long as I can.

That afternoon, Chen Qing found Xu Chengfeng of the Tiger Gang.

Xu Chengfeng said warmly, "What brings Brother Chen to see me today?"

The Chen Qing before him was an expert who had reached Bright Strength. In a small gang like theirs, he could already serve as a leader.

Chen Qing got straight to the point. "I want to ask about the backgrounds of several nearby gangs."

Xu Chengfeng's hand paused slightly as he poured tea, sending a ring of ripples across the tea in the cup. "Oh? Which gangs is Brother Chen interested in?"

Chen Qing casually named a few. "The Blackwater Gang, the Giant Bear Gang..."

Xu Chengfeng introduced them as though reciting treasures from his own household. When he spoke of the Blackwater Gang, Chen Qing showed nothing on his face but secretly took note.

"This Blackwater Gang emerged recently in Baihua Lane. It has around twenty people and three Bright Strength experts holding down the fort. Its gang leader, Jiang Hui, has reached the major completion stage of Bright Strength. They say he isn't far from Hidden Strength either."

As Xu Chengfeng spoke, a complicated look of contempt mixed with wariness appeared on his face. "This gang hasn't been around long, yet its airs are enormous, and it acts far too tyrannically."

"They say it has made some connections in the Inner City. Now it does this lowly business of forcibly snatching women and selling them off in Prefecture City? They've even 'pulled off several jobs.' If they truly had a powerful backer, would they need to scrape together this kind of filthy money? Their background can't run that deep!"

Xu Chengfeng suddenly lowered his voice. "Could it be that Brother Chen is looking for a gang to hold a part-time appointment with?"

He rubbed his fingers together, revealing a knowing smile.

These days, it was all too common for martial artists and gangs to take what they needed from one another.

Chen Qing waved a hand. "Brother Xu is overthinking it. I'm merely asking."

Xu Chengfeng clearly did not quite believe him. In a low voice, he said, "If Brother Chen wants a part-time appointment with a gang, you might as well come to my Tiger Gang. The offering we provide will definitely be more generous than theirs."

Chen Qing nodded and said perfunctorily, "I'll consider it."

Xu Chengfeng chuckled and said nothing more. Some things only needed to be hinted at.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chen Qing rose to take his leave.

From Xu Chengfeng, Chen Qing gained a clear understanding of the ways of the Outer City gangs.

More than twenty gangs stood intertwined like tangled roots, each backed by powerful figures from the Inner City.

Among them, the Blood River Gang and Iron Hand Gang were the undisputed leaders. As for newly established gangs like the Blackwater Gang, even if they had someone backing them, their foundations were exceedingly shallow.

It seemed he would need to be careful this time and leave no trace whatsoever.