Conflict

"Well, would you look at that. The moment the goods go missing, the owner comes knocking."

Zhou Yun was mortified. Who could have guessed that Zhang Hu would be so impulsive as to pawn Lu Meng's clothes outright?

The kid practiced martial arts all day, so where had he gotten a whole string of spare cash? Turns out he'd already figured out where to get it.

The fool was probably planning to get the Blood Coagulation Pill first, then redeem Lu Meng's clothes.

Well, that was great. Now he was piling debt on top of debt!

In the courtyard.

Lu Meng had grown impatient waiting. He shouted, "Zhou Yun, get out here!"

Creak.

Zhou Yun pushed the door open and cupped his hands. "Senior Brother Lu, what can I do for you?"

"Cut the nonsense. Bring me my clothes, now. Tomorrow is my meeting with Miss Shen. I paid a fortune for that outfit, so nothing can happen to it."

Lu Meng sized Zhou Yun up and saw that his hands were empty. His brows furrowed.

"Zhou Yun, you didn't lose my clothes, did you?"

"Senior Brother Lu, your clothes are still being washed. They won't be dry until tomorrow. Sorry for the trouble, but could you come back then?"

Zhou Yun replied with a bow.

"They won't be dry until tomorrow?"

Lu Meng sneered, then suddenly flew into a rage. "Zhou Yun, do you think I'm that easy to fool?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he threw a punch at Zhou Yun's face.

With all four limbs tempered through the Martial Pass's six apertures, his speed was astonishing. An ordinary martial artist wouldn't have time to react.

But in the blink of an eye, Lu Meng's pupils contracted. His body pitched forward, and he stumbled several steps.

His punch had missed.

"Senior Brother Lu, I'll make sure your clothes are delivered to your residence tonight."

Zhou Yun had sidestepped the punch. He still held his hands cupped, his expression unruffled.

"You!"

Lu Meng's eyes blazed. He wanted to attack again.

But when he thought carefully about that punch, he realized an ordinary martial artist couldn't have dodged it.

Zhou Yun couldn't possibly have reached Bright Force, nor could he have opened six apertures in just a few days. That left only one possibility...

This Zhou Yun had learned the Black Ape Movement Technique despite being a mere mortal—

a technique usually mastered only by Inner Courtyard disciples and even Bright Force martial artists!

No, could he have learned it from watching Master Liang's demonstration yesterday?

Impossible. He must have secretly studied it for a long time, devoting every day to it!

Even so, it proved that Zhou Yun had an exceptionally rare gift for understanding.

"Zhou Yun, if you make me miss my meeting with Miss Shen, I'll have my brother come to your house and collect the debt himself!"

Lu Meng gritted his teeth and could only leave him with a threat.

If Zhou Yun really had grasped the Black Ape Movement Technique, there might not be much he could do about it.

That technique demanded tremendous insight. Even many Bright Force senior brothers had needed a long time to master it.

This time, he could only swallow his loss.

Besides, Zhou Yun might even earn Master Liang's favor. His constitution was only one-form, but mastering the Black Ape Movement Technique was proof enough of his insight.

Still, Zhou Yun's debt remained in the hands of the Sea Whale Gang.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Lu. I'll find your clothes and return them before tonight."

Zhou Yun cupped his hands, then turned and left the courtyard.

A tall, lean youth wandered through the martial hall, passing the Martial Arts Arena, the Weapon Pavilion, and even the Interrogation Hall.

After a long search, he stopped beneath a tree by the Dining Hall and wiped his sweat.

"Finding someone sure isn't easy."

Zhou Yun had been asking around the Outer Courtyard for news about the Blood Coagulation Pill. Every so often, he'd come across someone who knew the inside story, but they refused to say a word.

That was understandable. Most Outer Courtyard disciples didn't want to get involved in the secrets of Inner Courtyard senior brothers.

But there was one person who was an exception.

"Zhang Hu? I saw him heading to the Black Market first thing this morning. Probably to buy some medicinal herbs."

A good-natured Outer Courtyard disciple rubbed the back of his head as he swept the Dining Hall with a broom.

His name was Wang Tiezhu. He was usually close with Zhang Hu, likely because they came from similar backgrounds. Neither had the constitution to hope for Bright Force.

Unlike Zhang Hu, who was always charging ahead, Wang Tiezhu only wanted to serve out his five years in the Outer Courtyard, then use the martial hall's name to find steady work and live a quiet life.

"Thanks for telling me."

Zhou Yun didn't linger. He set off for the Black Market outside the martial hall.

He hadn't expected the matter to lead there. The Black Market might look like a place to trade goods, but in truth, it was a lawless territory where even the authorities refused to interfere.

Most dealings that couldn't bear the light of day took place in the Black Market.

And behind the Black Market stood the shadow of Black Stone County's foremost Escort Agency—the Sky Sea Escort Agency.

The martial hall usually placed few restrictions on its disciples.

Zhou Yun left without trouble. He walked through several deserted alleys and came to a hidden street.

Few people called out to sell their wares. Most simply laid their goods on the ground for passersby to browse.

Zhou Yun cautiously bought a black robe and put it on. Then he quickly searched for Zhang Hu's figure, but soon heard the sounds of fighting and cheering nearby.

He hurried over and immediately spotted someone surrounded by a crowd. A closer look confirmed it was Zhang Hu.

Zhang Hu was covered in blood, bruised and swollen from head to toe, gasping for breath.

His opponent was a burly, middle-aged man, winding white bandages around his knuckles as he sneered. "So these are disciples of Black Stone Martial Hall? You're nothing special."

"Senior Brother Wang, I give up. Can I buy the Blood Coagulation Pill now?"

Zhang Hu ignored the taunt. He slowly raised both hands and looked up at a wealthy-looking young man in the crowd.

Wang Lan chuckled, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced at the veiled woman beside him.

Even with her face covered, her fair neck and ample figure hinted at exquisite features.

Her cool eyes lifted slightly, then drooped again as though she'd lost interest.

"How dull."

Shen Qingxue uttered the two words calmly.

She was the daughter of the Shen Family's Chief Escort Leader, a Transformation Force grandmaster whose influence in Black Stone County was second only to Black Stone Martial Hall.

At her words, Wang Lan smiled faintly. "Then let them fight another round."

"I'm done. I'm not fighting anymore! Senior Brother Wang, didn't you say I only had to fight one round before you'd sell me the Blood Coagulation Pill?"

Zhang Hu shrank back and swallowed.

His opponent had opened seven apertures and was only one step away from Bright Force. He was no match for someone with just two apertures.

It was a complete one-sided beating!

They'd agreed that Zhang Hu would serve as a punching bag for the length of one incense stick, and then Senior Brother Wang would sell him the Blood Coagulation Pill for one string of cash.

So why had he changed his mind?

Zhang Hu didn't understand, but a massive fist was already flying toward him.

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of dark blood sprayed out. Zhang Hu crashed to the ground and passed out cold.

"Hmph. You were unlucky to run into me today, kid."

The burly man snorted, raised his foot, and was about to stomp on Zhang Hu's thigh.

One kick, and Zhang Hu would never stand again. His martial path would be over, and no one would hire him even for fieldwork.

Whoosh!

Just as the burly man was about to bring his foot down, a sweeping kick shot toward his face.

He hurriedly dodged, stumbling back in an awkward manner.

"Who are you?"

The burly man fixed a cold stare on the newcomer, his expression thoroughly hostile.

It was Zhou Yun.

"I am Lu Meng, a disciple of the Inner Courtyard at Black Stone Martial Hall."

Zhou Yun spoke in a hoarse voice. His face masked, he looked toward Wang Lan and noticed the brocade outfit in the man's hand—the one that belonged to Lu Meng.

"Senior Brother, would you spare this young fellow? I thank you in advance."

"Lu Meng, an Inner Courtyard disciple and the Sea Whale Gang chief's younger brother? I'm away from the martial hall most of the year, so I rarely see you junior brothers."

Wang Lan smiled without answering, then turned to Shen Qingxue.

"What do you think?"