Conflict

It turned out Yang Qingyun had been overthinking things.

If there were heavenly treasures scattered everywhere in the mountains and wilds, Huangshi Town's martial arts world wouldn't be so weak. The highest realm among all the martial artists in the entire town was only the Viscera Refining Realm.

Or rather, if this place truly held so many valuable items, countless martial artists would have already explored it. There would be no room for ordinary villagers to venture out and collect them.

Never underestimate the profit-seeking nature of martial artists.

Perhaps occasionally, some items that the villagers and farmers didn't recognize would appear in this market.

But the chance of encountering them was so low, it was practically no different from the odds of winning the lottery in his past life.

After a leisurely stroll, he naturally found nothing.

However, Yang Qingyun had some ideas.

Even if he couldn't find any good items, perhaps he could use this place and some silver as a reward to inquire among the villagers of Huangshi Town who gathered here for trade about dangerous places outside the wilderness, such as treacherous mountain terrains, forbidden areas inhabited by fierce beasts, and the like.

In this old era, before the Spiritual Qi Resurgence, although Spiritual Qi was scarce, there were always some wild lands where Spiritual Qi naturally congregated due to the terrain, or places that were rarely visited, producing some heavenly treasures!

Using his knowledge from his past life, he could estimate where heavenly treasures might appear and then explore them one by one. Wouldn't that be more effective?

"Brother Qingyuan, are you looking to buy medicinal herbs for cultivation?"

Zhou Weilong, who had been accompanying him, asked proactively as they wandered through the market.

"This place is a market spontaneously formed by the villagers from hundreds of villages in Huangshi Town. Although good items occasionally appear, they are usually confiscated by the Black Tiger Gang. Furthermore, pharmacies from the city have people here keeping watch. It's basically impossible to buy anything good from the mountain folk and farmers here."

"I see, thank you for the reminder, Master Zhou!"

"You're welcome, Brother Qingyuan. If you need any medicinal herbs, my Zhou Family Martial Arts School has dealings with some pharmacies in the city. Just tell me what you need, and I'll have them delivered."

As they were chatting, not far away, in the livestock trading area where the air was filled with the smell of animals, a commotion suddenly erupted.

It caused many people in the market to look up, their gazes directed towards the source of the noise.

"Damn country bumpkin! Master Qing lost a batch of good horses three days ago, and I didn't expect you, a little thief, to steal them! How dare you come to my territory and act arrogant? Beat him! Beat him to death!"

Along with the angry curses, a simple and honest-looking figure nearby was being violently beaten by several fierce-looking ruffians.

A lone fist is no match for four hands. The figure could only raise his arms to protect his head, retreating continuously under the brutal assault of the thugs.

And on a wooden stake not far away, several fine horses were snorting!

Clearly, this was a dispute over a transaction.

The surrounding villagers and passersby all moved to the sides, clearing a large open space, pointing and watching the spectacle with great interest.

However, when many saw the arrogant and overbearing "Master Qing" leading the charge, their faces showed disgust.

Their gazes towards the person being beaten also turned sympathetic.

"This guy is out of luck!"

"Yeah, but who told him to bring such valuable items here?"

"One horse is worth over twenty taels of silver. These few good horses are even more expensive, totaling over a hundred taels. Yet he's alone. No wonder that scoundrel Qing got greedy."

"It's best not to bring valuable items here!"

"Those guys from the Black Tiger Gang are not good people."

The surrounding onlookers chattered amongst themselves, not surprised by such an event.

Before long, the figure, bruised and swollen, collapsed on the ground under the beating.

The man who called himself Master Qing, with a sinister smile on his face, a blue tattoo on his forehead, produced an iron rod from somewhere and raised it high, about to smash it down fiercely onto the man's head on the ground, to finish him off completely!

But in mid-air, a clean hand suddenly reached out and grabbed the rapidly descending iron rod, stopping it in its tracks!

The newcomer's gaze shifted downwards, looking at the bruised and swollen figure on the ground, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Wang Zhu, what's going on?"

Ignoring the displeased expression and shouts of the man called Qing, a calm voice echoed through the air.

Upon hearing the familiar voice, the person on the ground, Wang Zhu, trembled. He quickly removed his hands covering his head and looked up, only to see Yang Qingyun's face!

"Young Master Yang, you're here?!"

The person on the ground was none other than Wang Zhu from Wang Family Village!

Seeing Yang Qingyun, a look of pleasant surprise appeared on Wang Zhu's bruised and swollen face.

But soon, it was replaced by anxiety over his incompetence, and he quickly knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

"Young Master, I failed the task you assigned me. Please punish me!"

"No need for that. What happened here?"

Yang Qingyun frowned slightly, bending down to forcibly help the person up.

"Kid, your Master Qing is with the Black Tiger Gang. Don't meddle in other people's business!"

At this moment, the person called Master Qing found his iron rod firmly gripped by Yang Qingyun. He couldn't break free no matter how hard he tried, his face turning red with exertion, but he threatened with a fierce but hollow tone.

"If you offend our Black Tiger Gang, no one in Huangshi Town, neither in heaven nor on earth, can save you!"

"Is that so?"

Yang Qingyun spoke indifferently.

His palm suddenly exerted force, Crack!

The iron rod dented, developing cracks.

Master Qing's face showed terror, Bang!

Yang Qingyun unleashed a lightning-fast kick, sending him flying. He tumbled and fell to the ground.

There was no need to ask; he could guess the entire situation with about eighty to ninety percent accuracy.

Previously, the Second Boss and Third Boss of Black Wind Stronghold had died by his hand. Before going up the mountain to deal with the Black Wind Stronghold's leader, Golden-Eyed Leopard, Yang Qingyun had asked Wang Family Village to help sell the captured spoils in the city for cash.

So, Wang Zhu brought those horses to this market in town to sell them and exchange them for silver for Yang Qingyuan.

However, Wang Zhu had a simple and honest appearance, wasn't a trained fighter, came alone, and was carrying such considerable wealth. Naturally, this attracted the covetous eyes of this Black Tiger Gang member called Master Qing.

And so, the scene unfolded.

It was nothing more than extortion.

Unfortunately, he ran into a hard nut to crack.

"Kid, who are you? If you have the guts, leave your name!"

Not far away, Master Qing got up from the ground, clutching his chest. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and glared fiercely at Yang Qingyun, issuing a harsh threat.

A killing intent flashed in Yang Qingyun's eyes.

However, before he could do anything, Zhou Weilong also arrived nearby. Seeing the scene, he walked forward and spoke to Master Qing from a condescending height:

"Qingwen Long, this is a distinguished guest of mine, Zhou Weilong. Give me some face, and let's just drop this matter."