After who knew how long, Zhao An looked up at the window. The stars were already glittering across the sky, and the bright moon hung high.
He had read from daylight deep into the night, without thinking of food or tea, and he didn't feel the least bit tired. Instead, he felt invigorated, as though he had opened the door to an entirely new world of martial arts!
There was good reason this finger technique had been so highly regarded in the past. It possessed all manner of extraordinary qualities. Even if some aspects might have been exaggerated by the person who recorded it, the technique itself was already a marvel of martial arts, a rare gem in the world.
Old Man Xuanji hadn't assigned the finger technique a martial arts rank, which only made it seem more mysterious.
Even after studying it carefully for so long and becoming completely absorbed in it, Zhao An had only managed to grasp a tiny fraction of its surface.
If he wanted to master the profound finger techniques within, it was clear that he would have to spend an enormous amount of time and effort in the real world.
Naturally, the Soul Slave would bear the burden of that process. He would simply reap the rewards in the end.
"An ordinary Soul Slave probably can't master this. I'd better leave it to a Martial Master."
Zhao An made up his mind and assigned He Song's Soul Slave to study and practice the finger technique manual.
In twenty days, he would harvest the results!
That day,
"Brother Zhao, I passed by Two Wells Alley today and saw Gan Xing collecting protection money there," Li Gou'er said.
"What, are you jealous?" Zhao An was seated at a stone table, practicing calligraphy with a brush in hand. He glanced at Li Gou'er and spoke in a calm voice.
The Gan Xing Li Gou'er mentioned was one of the Tiger Head Gang's leaders.
Relying on his seniority, he'd often bullied Zhao An in the past. You could say he'd been Zhao An's sworn enemy within the gang.
"How could I be, Brother Zhao? You already told us we were done with that old line of work." Li Gou'er shook his head and waved his hands. He wouldn't dare provoke Zhao An.
Especially since he'd recently heard that Zhao An had casually wiped out a gang of middling size.
Zhao An's fearsome reputation had now spread through every street and alley of the Outer City.
The other gangs were all on edge. None of them knew what had gotten into Zhao An, and they were terrified he'd turn his madness on them.
"It's just that it used to be our turf. Seeing that bastard take advantage of it now leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth," Li Gou'er muttered quietly.
"That place has nothing to do with us anymore." Zhao An shook his head. His hand didn't pause; he continued to focus on his calligraphy.
In his previous life, he'd known how to write with a brush, but only at an ordinary, test-grade level.
As things stood, his writing was at least neat enough to look at.
Just then, Zhao Chunzi hurried in from outside.
"Chunzi, what took you so long? Has that bastard left?" Li Gou'er asked.
"Dog'er, Brother Zhao won't even need to lift a finger. Remember that Shen Boy? He nearly beat the shit out of Gan Xing just now!" Zhao Chunzi laughed.
"What? When did that Shen Boy get so strong?" Li Gou'er asked, astonished.
"Did you forget? He's been training at Master Zheng's Martial Academy. He's impressive. After two or three punches, Gan Xing couldn't defend himself and had to be carried away," Zhao Chunzi said with great conviction.
Zhao An listened, not particularly concerned at first.
But when he heard that Shen Boy had thrown punches, the brush in his hand suddenly stopped.
If Shen Boy could drive Gan Xing off so easily, it meant he'd made real progress. He'd probably stepped into the Martial Master realm!
And since the Tiger Head Gang had lost face today, they would certainly find a way to retaliate.
It was much the same as with the Python Gang. It was simply how these street gangs operated. If one of their leaders was nearly beaten to death and the gang did nothing, they would lose their authority and command no respect.
He wasn't worried about Shen Boy's safety. Rather, he feared the Tiger Head Gang would kick an iron plate and pay for it.
He'd long since regarded everyone in the Tiger Head Gang as a stockpile of Soul Slaves.
If someone else beat him to it and took the righteous path, he'd be heartbroken over losing those Soul Slaves.
Smack!
Zhao An gently set down his brush.
"Forget it. Better to collect these Soul Slaves sooner rather than later, before trouble has time to brew."
His Soul Slave numbers had been dwindling fast lately. It was time to replenish his supply.
Meanwhile, at the Shen Family's home,
"Mother, the Tiger Head Gang members have left." Shen Pan wore a neat set of short martial clothes as he reassured his mother.
"My son, you beat them today. The Tiger Head Gang won't let you off the hook. What are we going to do?"
Mother Shen's face was full of worry. Fear gripped her heart, and her whole body trembled.
In these streets and alleys, the Tiger Head Gang's reputation could sometimes carry more weight than a word from the officials.
People were genuinely afraid of gangs like that.
The thing they heard most often was that someone's tongue had been cut out, or someone else's legs had been broken.
They didn't dare disobey. And Shen Pan had beaten one of the Tiger Head Gang's leaders today—something they never would have dared to imagine before.
"Why don't we leave the Outer City? Or go to the Inner City and beg the Shen Family masters to take you in? Mother's safety is secondary. What I'm most worried about is you. What are we going to do, my son..."
The more Mother Shen spoke, the more anxious she became. She was on the verge of tears.
Shen Pan's heart ached for his mother, and he made up his mind.
"Mother, trust me. I promise that after today, the Tiger Head Gang won't come back!"
Late that night,
Shen Pan watched his mother sleeping soundly, then shut the door tight and resolutely vanished into the darkness.
He crossed the streets and alleys, slipping past the night watchman. Before long, the Tiger Head Gang's main hall appeared before him.
No one stood guard outside the main hall, so he climbed over the wall with ease.
In a side hall, Gan Xing angrily kicked over tables and stools.
"I'm going to kill that brat—and his mother, too!"
"Big Brother, don't get worked up. The gang leader has already given the go-ahead. Tomorrow, we'll take men to seize that mother and son from the Shen Family. Then you can do whatever you like with them," one of the Tiger Head Gang's trusted men said hurriedly.
"Good!" Gan Xing finally began to calm down.
But just then, the window beside them suddenly shattered.
A nimble figure burst inside and killed the Tiger Head Gang member with a single punch.
Gan Xing shuddered in fright. Before he could even react, a fist struck him on the chin.
There was a crack. His jaw twisted to the side and could no longer be set straight.
Gan Xing tried to shout for help, but the figure seized him by the throat, leaving him unable to make a sound.
"You!" Gan Xing recognized the person.
It was none other than the Shen Boy who had beaten him earlier that day!
Shen Pan's face was as cold as ice. He'd heard what Gan Xing had just said while he was outside.
Without another word, he unleashed his strength and twisted Gan Xing's neck in one sharp motion.
"And Zhou Hu..."
Shen Pan looked at the two corpses on the ground. He had no intention of letting this go.
If he didn't kill Zhou Hu, the Tiger Head Gang's leader, tonight, he and his mother would never know peace again!
Shen Pan stepped over Gan Xing's corpse, then set off in search of Zhou Hu.
Meanwhile, Zhao An walked along a road he'd once known like the back of his hand. Frogs croaked nonstop beside the alley, and a saber hung at his waist.
To keep blood from staining his clothes later, he'd deliberately changed into black robes and black boots.
In the darkness, he was hard to spot.
Soon, the main hall came into view.
There wasn't a drop of rain or a cloud in the sky tonight. It seemed the heavens were against him.
"Hmm?" Zhao An knitted his brow.
He hadn't expected to be one step too late after all.
The sounds of fighting were coming from inside the Tiger Head Gang's main hall.
Clearly, he wasn't the only one who'd broken in tonight!
Before you continue