Blood Creek, Success!

As Chen Jing continued practicing the River-Breaking Fist, a sudden commotion broke out nearby.

One of the disciples lowered his voice. "Hey, I just got word. Brother Tiger from the Blue Scarf Gang is dead!"

"I heard he was beaten to death. His face looked like it had been burned by lime, his neck was broken, and he had three stabs in the chest."

"Sounds like three people did it together. One threw the lime, one stabbed his neck, and one drove a knife into his heart!"

Another disciple broke into a broad grin at the news. "Brother Tiger's dead? That's wonderful news!"

"Right? I've heard of that guy too. He'd learned a little martial arts before and was always swaggering around, extorting money..."

"If I'd already broken through to First Blood, I'd have taught him a lesson myself if I ran into him!"

Everyone whispered among themselves, some excited, others taking gleeful satisfaction in the news.

Chen Jing, meanwhile, kept practicing in his corner, focused and methodical, as if he'd never even heard of Brother Tiger.

Just then, one disciple seemed to remember something. He turned to Chen Jing and asked, "By the way, Junior Brother Chen, don't you live over in the northwest? You're pretty close to the Blue Scarf Gang. Have you heard anything?"

Chen Jing shook his head. "No. I've been at the academy during the day lately, and I drive a cart at night to help support the family. I haven't heard anything."

The disciple nodded and reminded him, "Then be careful when you go home. I heard the Blue Scarf Gang thinks the Canal Gang killed Brother Tiger. They're all raring for a fight now."

"Mm. I'll stop driving the cart at night for the next few days."

Chen Jing sounded perfectly calm, without the slightest hint of anything amiss. No one would have guessed that he'd been the one to kill Brother Tiger yesterday.

A river called the Cold River wound down from the north to the west along the northern edge of Red Rock County, dividing the county seat in two.

The Canal Gang was a gang that had grown powerful by relying on shipping along the Cold River.

It had originally been made up of five or six smaller gangs, but two years ago, a Second Blood martial artist had brought them together, turning them into a force to be reckoned with in the area.

The Blue Scarf Gang, meanwhile, had long held sway over the slums in the northwest of Red Rock County. They usually collected protection money and had their fingers in gambling dens and brothels.

In recent years, the Canal Gang had expanded too rapidly and encroached on the waterways, leading to constant clashes between the two gangs.

Now that Brother Tiger had been found dead at home, the Blue Scarf Gang's first thought was naturally that the Canal Gang had provoked them and was looking for a fight!

As the others at the academy kept discussing the news, Chen Jing remained silent, absorbed in his practice.

After a full afternoon of training, Chen Jing returned home carrying two pounds of Green-skinned Horned Pig meat.

He hid half of it in the cupboard, then tore off some jerky from the remaining meat and put it in his mouth.

As he chewed, a warm force slowly spread through his belly and flowed into every limb and bone.

At the same time, the Exemption Bead in his mind began to grow steadily.

Just then, the door opened, and Chen Sanwu hurried inside.

"Dad, you're back. I brought home some meat today. Hurry and have some!"

Chen Jing quickly handed him the jerky.

"What kind of meat is this? Why does it look a little green?"

Chen Sanwu eyed the jerky in Chen Jing's hand, puzzled.

Chen Jing smiled and explained, "It's Exotic Beast Meat, so of course it's different from ordinary meat."

"Exotic Beast Meat?"

Chen Sanwu immediately tried to push it back, saying, "Jing'er, you're the one practicing martial arts. You deserve to eat something this good! I'm just an old man. It'd be a waste for me to eat it!"

"Dad, I've already had some. Go ahead and eat it. There's more in the cupboard—two whole pounds!"

Chen Jing promptly pushed it back toward him.

Chen Jing was a young man, and now he was practicing martial arts too. Chen Sanwu might have built up some strength from years of driving a cart, but how could he possibly compare to Chen Jing?

So, after tugging back and forth, Chen Sanwu couldn't get Chen Jing to take the jerky back.

Seeing that Chen Jing wouldn't take no for an answer, Chen Sanwu tore off a few small pieces and chewed them, then gave most of the meat back to Chen Jing.

"By the way, Jing'er, something big happened today!"

Chen Sanwu remembered why he'd come back and quickly said, "Brother Tiger is dead!"

Chen Jing nodded. "Mm, I heard about it from my senior brothers at the academy too."

"I thought he'd come by today to collect protection money. I never imagined... he'd just end up dead."

Chen Sanwu slapped his thigh, looking uncertain. "By the way, should I pay back the money I borrowed? I don't know if the Blue Scarf Gang will still send people around to collect money..."

"It's all right, Dad."

Chen Jing reassured Chen Sanwu, "Pay that money back first. I've still got some silver. And don't go driving your cart for now. Take a few days to rest."

As he spoke, he took out the silver he'd gotten yesterday and handed Chen Sanwu some of it.

He'd originally planned to use forty taels to repay Zhuang Tao, but the rest... he'd handed over to Chen Sanwu as well.

"So much money... where did you get it?"

Chen Sanwu's face changed the moment he saw the silver Chen Jing held out. He was clearly startled and couldn't believe his eyes.

This wasn't a small sum. A cart driver from the slums might go his whole life without ever seeing this much silver!

"One of my senior brothers gave it to me as a congratulatory gift because I'm about to break through. He also gave us the meat we're eating today. Don't worry."

Seeing the alarm on Chen Sanwu's face, Chen Jing quickly explained.

At the same time, Chen Jing thought to himself that he needed to find a steady way to earn money.

Otherwise, he'd have no way to explain where his money came from.

After all, he couldn't keep relying on the story that it came from his senior brother.

The more money he had, the harder it would be to explain.

"If it was a gift from your senior brother, then we'll accept it for now."

Chen Sanwu thought it over, then finally took the silver.

After all, when Chen Jing had insisted he eat the Exotic Beast Meat, Chen Sanwu had realized there was no longer any talking him out of it.

"But we'll have to find a chance to repay this kindness. We can't owe people too much."

After speaking, Chen Sanwu carefully tucked the silver into the box under the bed. "I'll keep some of this money for now. We'll save it for your wedding someday..."

Watching his father handle the money so carefully, Chen Jing froze. A lump suddenly rose in his chest.

After a while, Chen Jing nodded and murmured, "Mm..."

Then he turned to look out the window.

Sooner or later, the Blue Scarf Gang and the Canal Gang would go to war, and ordinary people like them would be the first to suffer.

So he had to move and earn more money.

The sooner, the better.

At the thought, Chen Jing drew a deep breath, and the Five Harms Technique circulated faster.

Now, with the insight he'd gained from breaking through to First Blood using the Five Harms Technique, Chen Jing felt that his River-Breaking Fist was on the verge of a breakthrough too.

The next day.

Chen Jing stood in the academy, drew a deep breath, closed his eyes, and kept practicing the River-Breaking Fist.

His punches were steady as the tide, each movement carrying a distinct weight.

Zhuang Tao stood in the Central Courtyard with his arms folded, watching Chen Jing in the yard through the main gate, utterly absorbed.

"Junior Brother Zhuang, still watching Junior Brother Chen?"

Pu Shaojie had appeared from who knew where. Leaning against a pillar, he said coolly, "It's been two months already. Sure, there's another month left, but honestly, his chances aren't great anymore."

Zhuang Tao simply smiled.

He kept smiling for a long while before turning to Pu Shaojie and saying, "That's hard to say... How about a bet, Senior Brother?"

Pu Shaojie perked up and asked, "Oh? What are we betting on?"

"Fifty taels of silver. I'm betting that Junior Brother Chen will reach Blood Creek within the next half month!"

Pu Shaojie's eyes darted about, then he said with a smile, "Fifty taels, huh? But Junior Brother Zhuang, you're friends with Junior Brother Chen, so you know how his training is going. Besides, you even gave him two pounds of Exotic Beast Meat."

"How about this? If Junior Brother Chen breaks through within two days, I lose. Otherwise... you lose, Junior Brother Zhuang. Deal?"

Zhuang Tao frowned slightly. "Within two days? Isn't that a bit harsh?"

Seeing Zhuang Tao's uncertain response, Pu Shaojie immediately provoked him. "What? You afraid, Junior Brother Zhuang?"

Zhuang Tao's gaze sharpened, and he accepted at once. "If you say two days, then two days!"

Having got what he wanted, Pu Shaojie continued with a smile, "Honestly, Junior Brother, if you want to make friends, you'd be better off befriending Junior Brother Xiang. He's the teacher's favorite now, and the one he values most. He might even break through to Blood Creek in a few days."

After watching Xiang Lingfei's progress and seeing how much attention Fei Feng paid him, everyone at the River-Breaking Fist Academy had come to a conclusion.

Xiang Lingfei was the academy's uncut jade, while everyone else was nothing but gravel.

Zhuang Tao brushed off Pu Shaojie's reminder. "You don't need to worry about that, Senior Brother."

Then he continued watching Chen Jing's movements.

Their conversation had naturally piqued the curiosity of the others in the Central Courtyard. They all watched Chen Jing, trying to figure out what made him so important to Zhuang Tao.

Under everyone's gaze, Chen Jing swung through one set after another. His arms ached as if they'd been filled with lead, but with every punch, his premonition grew stronger.

Then, in the very next moment, the ache vanished. In its place came a soothing sensation that bubbled up from inside his arms, like a little stream surging through his bones!

At the same instant, the intent of the River-Breaking Fist suddenly opened up before him.

"It's here!"

Chen Jing's heart jolted, and he immediately kept his fists moving.

The next moment, a faint red mark appeared at the base of his arm, winding like a stream, clear to the eye.

Blood Creek, achieved!