Yang City Fish Gang

"Lu Cheng, haven't you gotten bored after all these days?"

"How about we go out for a stroll?"

"I heard there's a restaurant with especially good food. They have a soup brewed with all kinds of medicinal herbs—it's incredibly nourishing!"

The Twelve Forms of the Black Hawk Stance could be divided into four parts: three still stances, three moving stances, three Plum Blossom Stances, and three Breathing Stances.

The twelve forms had no particular order or hierarchy, but people generally began by practicing the still stances and moving stances.

Now, with the aid of pork knuckles, Fatty Liu Guicai had made considerable progress as well.

His still stance was beginning to look the part, and he had gone an entire day without suffering Feng Zhan's vicious hands.

Thus, firstly to celebrate today's progress, secondly to reward himself for his unrelenting efforts these past few days, and thirdly because the pork knuckles had long since been eaten and Fatty had been craving them for two days—

He decisively ended training early and suggested that everyone go out for a stroll.

Lu Cheng had not wanted to waste any time, but he could not withstand the joint urging of Thin Bamboo Pole Liu Chang'an and Liu Wan'er.

His progress in stance training had already exceeded his expectations.

Moreover, ever since arriving in Yang City, he had never gone out. Lu Cheng could not help feeling tempted, wanting to see what urban society in this world was like.

After a brief consideration, he readily agreed and ended training before the sun had set.

The commotion from the four of them also infected the Hu Brothers.

The group of seven left the Escort Agency in high spirits.

Yangcheng County had no divisions such as wards and markets.

A tributary of the Dragon Whisker River flowed straight into the city, then split into three branches at its center, forming the character for "river."

The three rivers and seven crisscrossing main streets divided the entire city into three sections.

The whole of West City along the upstream main river was occupied by dignitaries, officials, gentry, and wealthy clans. There were also several large and influential Martial Arts Halls and trading houses there.

The downstream area was likewise divided into two sections.

North City was somewhat inferior to West City.

It was generally home to people with a modest amount of property and a little standing in Yangcheng County, such as the Long Wind Escort Agency.

As for the opposite South City, it was a thoroughly chaotic district.

All manner of lowlifes conducted business there, while dozens of gangs, large and small, entrenched themselves within it.

Once the Dragon Whisker River entered South City, its waters gradually began to turn red.

At the southernmost end, there were more white bones on the riverbed than fish in the water.

"So that's how it is. Then as long as we usually stay out of South City, basically nothing will happen."

After listening to Fatty's introduction, Lu Cheng gained some understanding of Yangcheng County.

Hu the Second, standing nearby, shook his head.

"Not necessarily. Even South City isn't all that dangerous during the daytime."

"Just don't take small alleys, leave early after dark, and it'll be fine."

"Besides, the authorities know South City is chaotic, so they station more men there."

"Compared to that, North City is actually a little more dangerous."

"Martial Arts Halls and sects are everywhere. Martial artists draw blades and swords at the slightest disagreement, and they're all highly skilled. The authorities get an awful headache over it. Once something happens, the authorities are usually the last to arrive."

Thinking about it, that made sense. In this martial world of chaos, where could truly be safe?

Even at the county yamen, if one or two Body Refining Martial Artists barged in, no one could restrain them for a while.

At the point where the city's rivers split, three stone bridges spanned the water.

These Three Bridges connected the city's three districts and were clearly the very center of Yangcheng County.

The most famous restaurants, shops, brothels, pawnshops, jewelers, cloth stores, and other businesses were all located here.

Since Lu Cheng and the others were out to sightsee, they naturally headed straight for Three Bridges.

Along the way, the countless stalls and shops left all seven of them dazzled. They would look around one shop, then stop at another.

They were all half-grown youths. Before long, their playful spirits rose, and after a round of horseplay, chasing, and frolicking, the exhaustion of the past few days was almost swept away.

Only when the sky had darkened did they finally sit down at the restaurant Fatty had mentioned.

They had not lacked food at the Escort Agency these past few days, but the flavor naturally could not compare to a restaurant's.

Lu Cheng had been tempered by all sorts of technological culinary tricks in his previous life.

Yet when the medicinal meal was served, even he was greatly surprised.

He had not expected this world to make food taste so enticing as well.

Fatty could not hide his pride at the sight.

"Lu Cheng, what do you think? We didn't come for nothing, right? Hehe, the taste is only one part of it. Drink a bowl of this soup, and I guarantee it'll replenish all the sweat you've lost these past few days!"

There were quite a few customers in the restaurant, and no one had initially paid any attention to this table of half-grown youths.

But when Fatty called out the name "Lu Cheng," it immediately drew the attention of three young men at a nearby table.

One of them, seated in the place of honor and dressed more finely than the other two, asked them, "Didn't the gang say something happened over in Cold Willow Town a couple days ago?"

One of them immediately fawned over him.

"The Young Gang Leader truly cares about the gang's affairs. You even keep an eye on a tiny place like Cold Willow Town. Admirable, admirable."

Only after flattering him did he continue.

"You Lanchuang and this month's fishing silver both vanished together. Some people suspect he ran off with the money, but that doesn't hold water. He would never cut and run over a mere dozen taels of silver."

The man called Young Gang Leader nodded.

In truth, he did not care about gang affairs nearly as much as that man claimed. It was merely that You Lanchuang was somewhat special.

He had heard from his father that You Lanchuang had a nephew who had been accepted into a sect in the prefectural city as a child and had supposedly taken a fairly formidable master.

This made him, who had always wanted to practice martial arts but lacked the aptitude, burn with longing. Thus, he had promoted You Lanchuang from an ordinary gang member to a minor leader, intending to get close to that nephew cultivating in the prefectural city.

But a few days ago, news had arrived that You Lanchuang had disappeared.

"I also heard it had something to do with a fisherman. That fisherman seemed to be named Lu Cheng."

As he spoke, he tilted his head toward Lu Cheng's table.

"Could it really be such a coincidence?"

The other two looked toward Lu Cheng, drew in a sharp breath, and said, "His age does match. And I heard they checked over at Cold Willow Town—the Lu Cheng they were looking for had also come to Yang City."

The Young Gang Leader snorted coldly, a fierce glint appearing in his eyes.

"Better to catch the wrong one than let the right one slip through. Since that's the case, bring the brat back and question him."

As he spoke, he was about to rise.

"Young Gang Leader, you mustn't." The two men hurriedly pulled him back and advised, "Look at them, they're wearing the same clothes. Aren't they disciples from some Martial Arts Hall?"

"With the Young Gang Leader here, we certainly won't suffer a loss. But there are only three of us. What if we fail to catch him and let him run away?"

"Why not stay here and keep watch? Call a few more brothers over, and then nothing can go wrong."

The Young Gang Leader had not paid attention to Lu Cheng's group's clothing just now.

Only after the gang members beside him reminded him did he notice, and he immediately settled back down.

He was ambitious but incompetent, true, yet he was no fool. There were only three of them, while the other side had six. Even if they would not lose in a real fight, they would still inevitably take a few punches and kicks.

In his eyes, Liu Wan'er was merely a little girl and did not count at all.

"You two are right. Qi Leopard, go call some men. Shi Da and I will stay here and keep an eye on them."

Qi Leopard answered with an "Aye," glanced at Lu Cheng's group, and swiftly left.

Lu Cheng had already noticed the activity over there.

The restaurant was full of people coming and going, and the atmosphere was rather noisy.

The three men had no obvious distinguishing features, so Lu Cheng had not noticed them at first.

But this Young Gang Leader was quite the oddball.

As the Young Gang Leader of a street gang, he neither gambled nor chased women. Instead, he loved showing off.

Every day, he would head to the fish market early to "hold court."

He would stay there for the entire day.

As a result, he could not help picking up the smell of fish.

The moment Lu Cheng entered, he had keenly caught that scent.

Naturally, he kept an eye out.

The three men could have eaten and drunk peacefully without being discovered.

But the Young Gang Leader's action just now—trying to stand before being pressed back down—had been far too conspicuous.

It was impossible for Lu Cheng not to notice.

Then there was the look Qi Leopard had given him before leaving. Lu Cheng's heart immediately skipped a beat as he thought of something.

Qi Leopard had clearly gone to call for men. Fatty and the other five had only just begun learning martial arts; if a fight broke out, they would definitely suffer.

Since these people were coming for him, once he left, Fatty and the others would naturally no longer be in danger.

Furthermore, with rivers crisscrossing this place, it would be easier for him to escape alone.

Looking at the six people at the table, Lu Cheng said, "I'm full. I'm planning to visit my teacher at the county school. You can head back on your own later. Don't wait for me."

Lu Cheng had originally been a scholar, and they all knew that.

The county school was also in East City, which was somewhat safer, so no one stopped him.

Only after leaving the restaurant did Lu Cheng let out a breath of relief.

Without pausing in the slightest, he headed toward Three Bridges.

When the Young Gang Leader saw Lu Cheng leave, he immediately realized that they had been discovered.

Rather than getting angry, he became greatly excited.

He had not dared make a move when Lu Cheng was with others, but now that Lu Cheng was alone, did he still need to fear him?

Shi Da beside him did not take Lu Cheng seriously either.

In their eyes, he was only a young boy. What kind of waves could he possibly stir up?

They immediately chased after him with the Young Gang Leader.

The two had spent many years roaming Yangcheng County and knew its roads far better than Lu Cheng did.

Before long, they had instead blocked Lu Cheng in an alley beside the river.

The two of them approached Lu Cheng with vicious grins.

Lu Cheng slowly retreated. Just as he was about to enter the water, something clattered by his feet.

Looking down, he saw a wooden-shafted iron fork lying there.

Lu Cheng grinned, stopped retreating, and bent down to pick up the iron fork.