Offering an Apology

Scholar Li's school was located right inside his home.

As Xu Yang and Xu Qing arrived, Scholar Li was in the middle of a lesson.

The two did not disturb him, choosing instead to wait quietly.

Once the lesson ended, Scholar Li stepped out of the classroom. Xu Yang hurriedly led Xu Qing forward to offer a bow and explain their purpose.

Scholar Li readily agreed. After accepting the tuition, Xu Qing was officially enrolled under his tutelage; should she pass the imperial examinations in the future, he would be her master.

It was a pity that in this world, women were not permitted to participate in the civil service examinations, though a few female martial champions had emerged from the military ones.

Watching Xu Qing enter the classroom, Xu Yang did not linger and turned to leave.

He had only walked a few steps when a beautiful woman approached him—it was Scholar Li's daughter, Li Yao.

She was indeed attractive, considered a rare beauty in a place like White Stone Ward.

Had it not been for the fact that Scholar Li and the current magistrate were scholars from the same year and shared a friendship, her beauty would have long ago made her a victim of the Tri-Union Gang.

"Miss Li!"

As they crossed paths, Xu Yang smiled at Li Yao, gave a slight nod, and strode away.

She was the daughter of Scholar Li, the daughter of Xu Qing's teacher, so he could not be impolite.

"Who is that?"

Li Yao frowned slightly, realizing she did not recognize the person who had greeted her.

"Father, who was that person who just left the house?" Li Yao asked her father as she walked into the courtyard.

Scholar Li was taken aback. "That was Xu Yang. You two often played together when you were children; do you not remember him?"

Xu Yang?

Li Yao shook her head. "That Xu Yang was scrawny and could barely afford a meal. The man just now was sturdy and full of vital energy. How could that possibly be Xu Yang?"

Scholar Li realized what she meant. "Oh, you just returned from the city and don't know that Xu Yang has become a martial artist. His temperament has changed drastically; even I almost didn't recognize him just now."

That poor boy who used to sneak looks at her had become a martial artist?

A look of disbelief appeared in Li Yao's eyes. No wonder she felt a sense of familiarity but couldn't place him.

"Father, why didn't you tell me sooner!" She chased after him, but there was no longer any sign of Xu Yang.

With his Qi Gathering now complete, many things felt different.

Xu Yang had originally planned to go home and change his clothes before rushing to Wei Yuan Hall.

To his surprise, before he even reached his doorstep, he saw a crowd blocking his entrance.

Among the crowd, he spotted Xu Laoer, Zhang Cuiting, and Yang Jun.

"Xu Yang is back!"

Someone spotted him and shouted, causing the surrounding crowd to clear a path.

Only then did Xu Yang see a group of men in matching black uniforms standing at his door, holding thick sabers, positioned behind a middle-aged man with a sharp, piercing aura.

Beside the middle-aged man knelt a person who was bound with ropes and gagged.

Seeing him appear, the middle-aged man cupped his hands and said, "I am Li Sanhe. Brother Xu is truly a man of talent; it is no wonder you have achieved Qi Gathering at such a young age."

Li Sanhe!

Xu Yang's heart stirred. He cupped his hands in return and asked, "So it is Gang Leader Li. May I ask what business you have with me?"

Li Sanhe pointed to the man kneeling on the ground. "I have just discovered that this dog has been sending people to intimidate and harass your sister. I have brought him here for Brother Xu to deal with. Whether he lives or dies is entirely up to you."

The people of White Stone Ward were shocked; Li Sanhe had actually come to apologize to Xu Yang.

Is he trying to test me? Xu Yang mused.

Li Sanhe most likely understood that Li Hu, Qian Ming, and the others had all been killed by him.

This current act could be a genuine surrender, or it could be a probe to gauge his strength.

If he were to kill the man Li Sanhe handed over, it would mean he was ruthless and vengeful, and that he would eventually come for Li Sanhe. In order to avoid future retaliation, Li Sanhe would naturally have to eliminate him first.

If he let the man go, it would signify a chance for reconciliation, and Li Sanhe would not need to risk offending Wei Yuan Hall to kill him.

"So it was this dog behind the mischief!" Xu Yang changed his tone. "However, he is a member of the Tri-Union Gang, and it would not be appropriate for me to deal with him. Perhaps it is better if you handle him, Gang Leader Li."

Li Sanhe's eyes flickered. "Then I shall have his arm severed, and I offer two taels of silver as an apology. What does Brother Xu think of this?"

This dog really is testing me.

Xu Yang cupped his hands. "I leave it to your discretion, Gang Leader Li."

Li Sanhe gave a signal to his subordinate, who stepped forward, drew his saber, and hacked off one of the bound man's arms.

The man rolled on the ground in agony, wailing loudly, which frightened the neighboring onlookers into turning their heads away, not daring to watch.

"You dog, what are you howling for? Get over here and thank Brother Xu for sparing your life!"

The man endured his excruciating pain, scrambling over to kowtow to Xu Yang.

Li Sanhe took out the two taels of silver as promised and handed them to Xu Yang: "Brother Xu, if you ever have any need for me, feel free to come to the Tri-Union Gang at any time. I must take this dog back for treatment immediately; I wouldn't want him dying here and soiling your place."

Li Sanhe departed quickly, yet that severed arm was left behind.

"Ruthless!"

He practically didn't treat his own subordinate as a human being!

Xu Yang leaned down to pick up the severed arm, then threw it away with force before returning home.

"Go on, you're his father, what could he possibly do to you?"

Xu Laoer's face went pale. He had originally come to mend the father-son relationship with Xu Yang, but this scene had left him shaken, and he didn't dare approach Xu Yang at all.

Though Zhang Cuiting pushed him several times, he still didn't dare step forward to speak to Xu Yang.

"Look at him, even the Tri-Union Gang is sending him money. Aren't you envious?" Zhang Cuiting added.

Hearing this, the fear in Xu Laoer's heart was finally suppressed by the thought of silver. If he could reconcile with Xu Yang, wouldn't there be as much money to spend as he wanted?

Little did they know that Xu Yang had heard every word.

As Xu Laoer approached the door, Xu Yang happened to push it open and step out.

"A-Yang..." Xu Laoer whispered.

Zhang Cuiting also pushed Yang Jun forward and said, "Hurry up and greet your Brother Yang!"

Xu Yang ignored Xu Laoer, his gaze turning as sharp as a blade as he looked at Zhang Cuiting: "If you incite Xu Laoer to try and claim a relationship with me again, I will slaughter your son."

Zhang Cuiting's face turned deathly pale. In the past, she would have thought Xu Yang was just trying to scare her, but after what had just happened, she knew Xu Yang was capable of it.

By the time Xu Yang arrived at Wei-Yuan Hall, it was nearly lunchtime. He found a spot and began to nourish his Qi and blood, tempering his physique.

As his breathing technique circulated, his True Qi surged, scouring his sinews and bones like a tide; the effect was far superior to that of mere Qi and blood.

"I didn't expect to grow lax just after a breakthrough!"

"He probably thinks that since he succeeded in Qi Gathering, he can just play around now."

"Coming from the bottom, how much ambition could he have? He probably thinks Qi Gathering is the pinnacle."

Seeing Xu Yang arrive so late, many people couldn't help but shake their heads in secret.

In the past, Xu Yang had always been the first to arrive, even before they did.

They never expected that, having succeeded in Qi Gathering, Xu Yang would become the last one to show up.

Xu Yang listened, but he couldn't be bothered to address these people.

At least he was still training, whereas these people spent their days eating pastries and drinking tea—did they really have the face to say he lacked ambition?

It wasn't until his body grew hot and he was drenched in sweat that Xu Yang finally stopped his practice of the Turtle-Snake Great Stance.