The next day.
After breakfast.
He Ping sought He An out alone.
"Brother, is something the matter?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to remind you of a few things."
"My right hand is useless now. I probably can't stay in the Town Martial Division."
"Captain and the County Governor will probably arrange for me to go somewhere else."
"If I'm not in the Division, be sure to watch out for Zhang Yongda. I'm worried he'll target you even more ruthlessly."
"Big Brother, I know what I'm doing."
As he spoke, He An changed the subject and asked, "Big Brother, wasn't Lord Wei supposed to be in charge?"
"Then why were you still injured during the operation? Did something happen?"
A complicated look appeared in He Ping's eyes.
"Some strange things did happen."
"For some reason, the people from the Salvation Cult seemed to know we were coming. They actually withdrew in advance."
"If they hadn't left traces behind when they departed, allowing us to follow them and find them again, this operation would have been a complete waste."
"How could that be?"
He An was surprised.
This operation hadn't been a complete secret, but not many people knew about it.
Even when they left, they'd each come up with an excuse to avoid drawing suspicion.
Thinking it over, He An's expression turned serious. "Big Brother, do you think there might be a mole in the Division? Someone with a high enough position, even?"
Before he could finish speaking,
He Ping immediately cut him off.
"Don't say things like that."
He glanced around. Seeing that everything was quiet, he lowered his voice and said, "To be honest, Lord Wei suspects the same thing. Unfortunately, he has no evidence."
"So this matter had to be dropped."
Then he warned him, "He An, you have to be careful these next few days."
"If things get bad, we'll leave the Town Martial Division."
"With your talent, even without a position in the Town Martial Division, you'll still have a bright future."
"Understood."
After breakfast,
He An hurried to the Town Martial Division.
Criminal Prison.
He An and Wu Wenming had just arrived when someone else showed up right behind them.
"He An."
When he saw who it was, He An's expression changed.
"Zhang Yongda!"
"He An, how's your big brother's injury?"
After walking over, Zhang Yongda asked with a cheerful smile, as though nothing unpleasant had happened between them.
"That's none of your business."
He An's voice remained cold. He didn't bother to hide his dislike of Zhang Yongda.
Coveting my sister-in-law?
You deserve to die!
Even
Wu Wenming, standing off to the side, could tell something was going on.
Still, he didn't ask any questions. Using the inspection of the Criminal Prison as an excuse, he opened the door and went inside.
Once the person in his way was gone, Zhang Yongda revealed his true face.
"Your big brother is crippled, and you've only just joined the Town Martial Division."
"Without someone looking out for you, you won't last long in the Division."
"How about working with me? Clerk Meng said that if you're willing to help him and persuade your big brother, he can help you get established in the Town Martial Division."
"He can even get you registered and officially admitted into the Town Martial Division within six months, even if you haven't reached the Bone Forging Realm by then."
To get He An to agree, he'd clearly gone to a lot of trouble. He even produced a medicine bottle.
"This is a healing medicine. A little bottle like this is worth more than ten taels of silver."
"If you and He Ge agree, it's yours."
He tried to persuade him patiently. "In the end, a person has to look out for himself."
"Your sister-in-law is an outsider, after all. Just an outsider. What's there to be reluctant about?"
He An clenched his fists, forcing down his anger.
"My sister-in-law is family. Whoever dares to set their sights on her..."
"I'll kill them!"
Looking into He An's eyes, Zhang Yongda felt as if he were staring at a bloodthirsty beast. A chill rose in his heart.
"You..."
"Get lost!" He An barked.
Zhang Yongda's expression changed. "You're asking for death!"
"Behind Clerk Meng stands the Meng Family."
"You and your big brother think you can oppose him? You're just courting death."
"If you and your big brother have any sense, you'll offer up your sister-in-law without complaint and let Clerk Meng have a taste of her. That way, you can get plenty of benefits, too."
"You... want to die!"
He An roared and threw a punch.
Zhang Yongda had been ready for it and caught the blow with ease.
But the force behind that punch still stirred up a storm in his heart.
"That punch must've had eight hundred jin of force!"
"Didn't this kid only just start learning martial arts?"
In an instant,
countless possibilities flashed through Zhang Yongda's mind.
Looks like I can't let him live much longer!
Zhang Yongda gave a cold snort and kicked He An in the abdomen.
With his Muscle Condensing Realm strength, the kick made He An feel as if his internal organs were spitting blood.
Hearing the commotion in the courtyard,
a moment later,
Wu Wenming rushed out, too.
"He Ge!"
He called out and ran over to help He An.
He An slowly got back to his feet, bright-red blood staining the corner of his mouth.
"What are you doing?!" Wu Wenming shouted furiously at Zhang Yongda.
Zhang Yongda gave a vicious grin.
"Little Fatty, let me give you a piece of advice. Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong."
"You..."
Wu Wenming was stunned.
No one had ever dared speak to him like that, not once in his life.
Then Zhang Yongda looked away, a mocking smile tugging at his lips.
"If you don't know what's good for you, then we'll leave it at that for today."
"In the Division, Chief Meng might not do anything to you."
"But once you leave the Town Martial Division, you'd better watch your own safety."
At the doorway, Zhang Yongda added, "Your sister-in-law really is beautiful. I'd love to find out what she tastes like, too."
He An's eyes were bloodshot. He stared at Zhang Yongda's retreating back as his whole body trembled violently, both fists clenched so tightly they creaked.
The courtyard fell silent.
"Brother He, are you all right?"
After a long while, Wu Wenming asked anxiously.
He An took a deep breath and shook his head. "Don't worry. I'm not dead yet."
From their earlier exchange, Wu Wenming had more or less guessed what was going on.
"He Ge, don't worry."
He promised, "Leave this matter to me. I'll take care of it."
"I can promise you he won't bother you or your big brother's family again."
"No need."
"I have to take revenge for this myself."
"All right!"
After a moment of silence, Wu Wenming patted him.
"He Ge, if you ever need help, just ask me. Don't hold back."
"Don't worry. I won't."
After saying that, He An lowered his gaze slightly, a thread of coldness spilling from his eyes.
"Zhang Yongda, Meng Cao, and the Meng Family."
"The path of martial arts is long. We'll just have to wait and see!!!"
Before you continue