Ge Pao Society

The next day, Lin Qing headed to the Iron Thread Fist Martial Hall as usual.

He was intent on asking Zhang Shun if he knew the whereabouts of the Ge Pao Society.

However, he noticed that Zhang Shun was nowhere to be seen inside the martial hall.

For the time being, he had no choice but to suppress his thoughts, practicing and sparring with his fellow disciples as he normally would.

Yet, he secretly kept a closer watch for Zhang Shun's appearance.

Zhang Shun had a mysterious background and extensive connections.

He surely knew a thing or two about the Ge Pao Society.

But for two days in a row, Zhang Shun did not show his face.

It was not until the afternoon of the third day that Lin Qing finally saw Zhang Shun appear at the martial hall; he seemed to have just returned from handling some business, looking travel-worn.

However, the sense of superiority typical of an inner-disciple between his brows seemed to have grown even more pronounced.

Lin Qing knew his opportunity had arrived.

He waited until Zhang Shun had finished instructing a few disciples and had a moment of leisure before walking up to him with a smile.

"Senior Brother Zhang, it has been many days. Your bearing is even more impressive than before; I presume your cultivation has made further progress?"

A smile hung on Lin Qing's face.

Zhang Shun glanced at him. He didn't have a bad impression of Lin Qing, who had once done dirty work with him and was currently quite outstanding among the outer-disciples, especially since the other man's attitude had always been very respectful.

He nodded slightly, his tone quite calm: "Mm, I was running an errand for Master. How has your cultivation been lately, Junior Brother Lin?"

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. I am still steadily accumulating."

Lin Qing smiled: "Now that you are an esteemed inner-disciple, Senior Brother, you are busy with affairs and rarely seen."

"I wonder if you might do me the honor today? Let this junior brother play host and treat you to a drink, so that I may listen to your teachings?"

Upon hearing this, a look of gratification appeared on Zhang Shun's face.

Since breaking through to the inner sect, his status had risen.

But those outer-disciples who used to call him brother were either distancing themselves due to the gap in status or acting cold out of jealousy.

There were truly few who, like Lin Qing, took the initiative to greet him with such a humble and sensible attitude.

He thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement: "Very well, I happen to be a bit hungry."

The two arrived at a private room in a decent restaurant within the inner city.

Inside the room were a few small side dishes and a pot of warm wine.

Seeing that Zhang Shun's expression had relaxed, Lin Qing raised his cup in a toast: "Thank you for your constant guidance, Senior Brother."

"Guidance is too strong a word; I was merely following Master's instructions to teach you."

After the two shared a drink, Lin Qing set down his cup, his tone filled with emotion: "Honestly, I am not at all surprised that you were able to promote to the inner sect, Senior Brother."

Zhang Shun raised an eyebrow, signaling for him to continue.

"Do you remember when we were practicing basic strikes?"

"While we were still fumbling with our stances, you had already started tying sandbags to your legs to practice generating force."

As Lin Qing spoke, he pointed to his own calves.

"Back then, everyone said in private that you trained ruthlessly. Looking back now, that ruthlessness and foresight—you deserved to enter the inner sect."

These words stirred up Zhang Shun's memories.

The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile, and he nodded gently.

These words were sincere; he had indeed put in more hard work than the others.

Seeing that Zhang Shun was pleased, Lin Qing struck while the iron was hot, his tone becoming more assertive:

"With your temperament and foundation, Senior Brother, I believe breaking through to the Organ Cleansing Realm is only a matter of time."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shun immediately broke into a smile, looking quite high-spirited.

It was clear that Lin Qing's flattery had pleased him greatly.

"The Organ Cleansing Realm... that is difficult," Zhang Shun said with a smile, shaking his head.

Lin Qing paused, lowering his voice slightly: "When you took me out to earn some extra money before, I knew you had wide connections and were no ordinary person. Now that you have entered the inner sect, please do not forget to pull this junior brother up along with you."

After this series of remarks from Lin Qing, Zhang Shun felt quite comfortable inside.

He waved his hand, but the smile on his face grew significantly broader:

"Stop with the flattery, drink your wine."

"Yes, Senior Brother, I toast you."

Lin Qing smiled and raised his cup, his tone sincere.

Zhang Shun was soothed all over by this flattery; his vanity was greatly satisfied, and he even found Lin Qing much more agreeable to look at.

He felt that this junior brother not only had good comprehension...

It was rare to find someone so adept at social interaction, sensible, and aware of the hierarchy.

He was far better than those ungrateful wretches.

He had helped many other disciples in the past, but those who knew how to return the favor were truly few and far between.

Imperceptibly, he had lowered his guard as an inner-sect disciple quite a bit.

As the wine flowed and the atmosphere grew lively, Zhang Shun began to talk more.

Lin Qing observed his expression, knowing the time was ripe.

He set down his wine cup and lowered his voice, appearing casual: "Senior Brother Zhang, you are well-traveled and well-informed..."

"Hey, don't call me Senior Brother. Just call me Brother Shun," Zhang Shun waved his hand.

"It's like this, Brother Shun. I've run into a bit of trouble recently and wanted to ask for your advice."

"Oh? What is it? Speak freely." Zhang Shun was in a good mood and responded immediately.

"I wonder, Brother, have you ever heard of the Ge Pao Society?"

Lin Qing stared straight at Zhang Shun and asked slowly.

The hand holding Zhang Shun's wine cup froze abruptly, and the drunken haze on his face dissipated significantly.

He looked at Lin Qing, his expression filled with deep suspicion: "The Ge Pao Society? How do you know about that organization?"

Lin Qing replied candidly, taking the two black iron tokens from his robe and placing them on the table: "I won't hide it from you, Senior Brother. A few nights ago, two blind thieves snuck into my home, and I took care of them."

"These were found on their bodies."

Zhang Shun picked up the tokens to examine them closely, especially the serial numbers on the back, and his shock deepened.

He looked up at Lin Qing abruptly, his voice changing pitch: "Sixty, Sixty-one."

"These are the tokens of the Sun brothers. They are quite well-known within the Ge Pao Society, nicknamed the Farmer Twin Fists."

"The two are experts in tracking and assassination, having once taken out several masters at the Second Gate."

"And now, they actually fell into your hands?"

Lin Qing felt a bit speechless regarding the unadorned nickname of the Farmer Twin Fists.

But he couldn't dwell on that now and continued to press: "Senior Brother Zhang, do you know why the Ge Pao Society would target me?"

"Who exactly is behind the bounty on my life?"

Zhang Shun looked at Lin Qing's questioning gaze, then back at the tokens on the table. He pondered for a moment, seemingly having made up his mind.

He lowered his voice to a near-whisper: "Junior Brother Lin, since you asked and have already dealt with the Sun brothers, I won't keep it from you. I did hear some rumors."

"About a few days ago, a steward from a prominent family in the Inner City approached the big boss of the Ge Pao Society with a substantial bounty to buy someone's life."

"The ones who took the job were the Farmer Twin Fists. Now that their mission has failed and they've vanished without a trace, the Ge Pao Society has already marked the task as a failure."

"I heard that the employer who posted the bounty is still considering whether to increase the reward and send even more capable hands..."

Lin Qing's heart sank.

Sure enough, someone had used the Ge Pao Society to hire assassins to kill him.

"Which family is it?" he pressed.

Zhang Shun shook his head: "It's the rule of the Ge Pao Society that both parties never know each other's exact identity; everything is handled through intermediaries for the sake of secrecy. I don't know which specific family it is."

He looked at Lin Qing, his tone carrying a hint of a warning: "Junior Brother Lin, think carefully. Who exactly have you offended recently?"

"Anyone capable of placing a bounty through the Ge Pao Society is certainly no ordinary family."

A look of confusion appeared on Lin Qing's face: "I spend my days managing the pharmacy or practicing at the martial arts hall. I've been law-abiding; I truly can't think of any prominent family I've offended."

Though he said this, his heart had gradually turned cold.

A murderous aura spread instantly.

The finger of suspicion pointed directly at the Pan Family!