Wang Jiantong

Chapter 14 Wang Jiantong

"We have a matter to discuss with you, young master. Come with us!"

There were six beggars in total. They had chosen the most deserted alleyway, blocking Huang Shang's path forward and retreat the moment they appeared.

More figures stood guard at both ends, their movements disciplined; they did not slacken their vigilance simply because he was a scholar.

The leader was a lean, tough-looking middle-aged beggar with five bags hanging from his waist, staring at Huang Shang without blinking.

Huang Shang knew at a glance that these fellows were seasoned veterans of the underworld; resistance would be futile.

Yet he was Huang Shang, a scholar whose integrity could not be bent by force. Without hesitation, he barked sharply, "This is the Eastern Capital Kaifeng, under the very feet of the Son of Heaven. To kidnap someone in broad daylight—do you hold the laws of the Great Song in such contempt?"

The lead beggar's expression remained calm, while another beggar pointed toward the Golden Water River, where dark, gaping holes lined the banks.

He sneered, "See that? That's the Worry-Free Cave. Many criminals hide there after committing their deeds. These drainage channels in the capital stretch for hundreds of miles; once you crawl inside, no one can ever find you. Some young ladies from good families have been dragged into those holes and ruined, heh heh!"

The other beggars joined in with a chorus of laughter.

Their gazes, piercing his face, sent a chill through his entire body.

Huang Shang knew these beggars were not just making idle threats.

Every place has its dark side, commonly known as the underworld.

This Worry-Free Cave was recorded in the Notes from the Old Study by Lu You, a place where the filth of the Eastern Capital Kaifeng Prefecture gathered.

Back when Bao Zheng served as the magistrate of Kaifeng, even he had been at his wit's end regarding the criminals hiding within.

If this were the world of The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants or Justice Bao, the scum of the Worry-Free Cave would have long since been apprehended by Zhan Zhao.

Unfortunately, the Bao Zheng of this world was merely an upright and impartial official, not a master detective, and Zhan Zhao did not exist.

Thus, facing the naked threat, Huang Shang deliberately fell silent, his body trembling in a show of compliance.

"Let's go!"

Seeing that he had intimidated Huang Shang, the middle-aged leader reached out to shove his shoulder.

Yet, at that very moment, a sharp whistle pierced the air, followed immediately by the sound of crossbow bolts cutting through the wind.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The whistle was a warning; the crossbows were an ambush.

The six beggars, alerted, threw themselves to the ground without a word, narrowly dodging a dozen arrows.

"It's the Fast Squad crossbowmen from the Kaifeng Prefecture!"

"Retreat!"

The leader swept his gaze across the area and saw a disciplined squad rushing toward them from not far away, shouting in a low voice.

The beggars on the ground sprang up with agile, arched backs, their feet swift as the wind as they retreated toward the Worry-Free Cave.

However, the beggar who had issued the threat earlier, a look of malice in his eyes, struck out with his palm toward Huang Shang's back before fleeing.

Well played!

Huang Shang had been prepared; instead of fear, he felt a surge of joy.

This body was indeed that of an ordinary person, its reflexes unable to keep up with his mind.

But the one attacking was merely a common Beggar Sect disciple, hardly a master. Since he had been focused and on guard, dodging this blow would not have been difficult.

Yet Huang Shang chose not to do so. Instead, he adjusted his posture and leaned backward, as if reacting with instinctive panic.

However, had he actually taken the full force of that palm, he might have tumbled down the embankment, putting himself in significant danger.

This was a test.

If he wanted to reach glory in the future, he had to take risks now.

Reincarnators, if you are truly watching, let's see if you have the guts not to save me!

Sure enough, just as Huang Shang muttered this in his heart, a sudden chill permeated the air.

The beggar's filthy palm seemed to strike an invisible block of ice; a freezing sensation washed over him, making him shiver as if he were about to be frozen solid.

The beggar was not afraid of the sudden appearance of the Fast Squad, but this inexplicable cold was truly terrifying.

The beggar scanned his surroundings in panic, no longer daring to cause trouble. He rolled on the ground like a lazy donkey to avoid a second volley of arrows, slid down the slope, and dove into the Worry-Free Cave, vanishing from sight.

He's gone.

Confirmed. The appearance of the Beggar Sect is the guidance of the Reincarnators; they are observing me from the shadows!

With the beggar thwarted, Huang Shang did not bother to readjust his posture; he simply clawed at the air and collapsed to the ground.

He looked disheveled, but in reality, only his clothes were dirty.

In the blink of an eye, a psychological game of mutual testing had played out.

At this moment, two men rushed forward, supporting him from either side: "Shengzhong, are you alright?"

They were none other than You Shixiong and Zhong Shidao, fellow students under Zhang Zai.

Huang Shang had written to these two classmates earlier, asking for their help and secret protection.

You Shixiong possessed extraordinary martial arts, while Zhong Shidao hailed from a prominent military family.

Only with their intervention could they summon the Fast Squad archers under the jurisdiction of Kaifeng Prefecture, known in later generations as constables.

Seeing that Huang Shang had only been startled and remained uninjured, the two men finally set their minds at ease.

"Abominable! These martial arts ruffians are lawless; we must investigate this to the end!"

Even though it was a close call, You Shixiong was filled with indignation, and a fierce look appeared on Zhong Shidao's slightly youthful face.

This was the capital, right under the feet of the Son of Heaven, yet martial artists dared to kidnap people in broad daylight—it was utterly lawless.

But looking at the dismissive expressions on the faces of the Fast Squad archers, Huang Shang knew that this so-called "investigation to the end" would remain nothing more than a slogan.

There was no help for it; snakes have their paths, and rats have their holes.

Often, no matter how powerful the government's reach, it is impossible to bring every area under their absolute control.

Taking out money to thank the constables, Huang Shang insisted on continuing his studies.

The three of them went together to Zhang Zai's home.

After the lesson, Zhong Shidao whispered to Huang Shang that he would settle this trouble, telling him to rest easy.

This so-called settlement was not about catching those few beggars, but about the mastermind behind the incident.

During the break, Huang Shang had told him about Chen Sheng's affairs; with the influence of the Zhong family, it would not be difficult to smooth this matter over.

Of course, this meant owing a significant favor.

One that would need to be repaid in the future.

After tossing and turning for most of the day, Huang Shang returned to his residence, physically and mentally exhausted.

I must begin my cultivation!

This experience had made him personally realize the importance of strength.

It was not just about the thrill of combat, but also about stamina and vitality.

A Star-level powerhouse could go days without sleep and still remain full of energy.

If that were applied to studying...

Alright, he was obsessed.

The most critical aspect of increasing one's strength was to handle unexpected situations.

After all, this was not the Great Song Dynasty of actual history, but the world of [Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils] with its martial arts factions.

As the saying goes, if the character setting doesn't collapse, the person is gone.

With the help of my classmates this time, I didn't give those two Reincarnators a chance to show their hand.

After the matter with Chen Sheng is resolved, what new methods will they use?

I cannot continue to be this passive; I must find a way to seize the initiative!

As Huang Shang pushed open the door, he was busy conceiving various scenarios in his mind.

He had to confirm the existence of the Reincarnators to act with a clear target.

Otherwise, he might just be fighting wits and courage against thin air.

And creating incidents required conflict.

Chen Sheng had likely brought this lethal disaster upon himself out of jealousy, though it was unclear what exactly he had done.

But now that the Zhong family had stepped in, unless the Chen family no longer wished to survive in Kaifeng Prefecture, they should quiet down.

Yet, the moment he stepped into his inner chamber, Huang Shang's footsteps came to an abrupt halt, his body tensing up.

He discovered a sturdy, rock-solid middle-aged man standing before his desk.

The man had a face full of thick whiskers, looked weathered by the elements, and wore beggar's clothing; he held a gourd in one hand, gulping down wine.

As Huang Shang walked in, the man didn't even lift his head, asking directly: "This one is Wang Jiantong. I have come to ask the young master a question: was it you who harmed the young master of the Chen family?"

Thanks to book friends "Heaven Crystal Hun Tian Treasure Mirror," "A Pot of Goji Berry Water Every Day," "baby Yu Die," "Eternity in an Instant," "Heavenly Feather Earthly Wing," "Rare Lucky Light," "World Fire," "Morning Rain and Evening Clouds," "Daoist of the Yi," "Xiahou Book No. 1," "Saint Weeping Blood," and "Book Friend 160601162958936" for their tips.