Urgency

Chen Jianghe pulled an old cloth from his tunic and covered his face in a few swift motions, leaving only his eyes exposed.

He shifted his stance and followed them, moving without a sound.

Aunt Wang and the Sun Moon Cultist who called himself Zhang Mingyuan had not gone far.

The two turned into a narrower alley and stopped in a corner piled high with broken wooden crates.

The end of the alley was a dead wall where no moonlight could reach, save for a faint glimmer filtering in from the distant streetlights of the main road.

Chen Jianghe crouched behind the corner wall, holding his breath to listen.

"Master Zhang, about this matter..." Aunt Wang's voice was very low, laced with obsequiousness. "I did as you instructed and lured him out. That Lin is soft-hearted and easy to manipulate; if her son hadn't suddenly run over, she would have already been on her way to the cult altar with us by now."

Zhang Mingyuan's voice remained gentle, yet it carried a chilling edge. "No matter. If today fails, there is always tomorrow. Since Chen Jianghe is a formal disciple of the Xingyi Martial Arts Hall, he is exactly the talent the Holy Master requires."

Aunt Wang sighed. "You don't know, that brat is sharp! The way he looked at me just now—it was fierce! I'm afraid he's already suspicious..."

"And what if he is?" Zhang Mingyuan chuckled. "He is merely a martial arts student. Our Sun Moon Cult now has over a thousand believers in the Outer City. Never mind a dilapidated place like the Xingyi Martial Arts Hall, even the 'Zhenlei Martial Arts Hall,' one of the best in the city, has disciples who have secretly defected to us."

Behind the wall, Chen Jianghe's pupils contracted.

Zhang Mingyuan continued, his voice tinged with smugness. "The Cult Leader says that in these times, the formal disciples of these halls have vigorous blood and strong bones, making them the perfect material for practicing our cult's 'Holy Method.' Not to mention that most of them come from poor backgrounds; promise them a little silver and a way out, and they naturally flock to us."

Aunt Wang seemed only half-understanding. "Then... why don't we just go straight to Chen Jianghe? Why go through all this trouble to target his mother?"

"Foolish." Zhang Mingyuan's voice turned colder. "Martial arts disciples have high spirits; if you approach them directly, you'll likely hit a wall. But if you hold their loved ones hostage, they have no choice but to bow their heads. Besides, filial sons like him are the easiest to control."

His tone softened, turning seductive. "Aunt Wang, you did well today. Once this is done, the cult will reward you. I'll add two taels of silver to your monthly 'alms,' ensuring no one in Loach Bay dares to bully your family."

Aunt Wang's face lit up with joy, and she bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Master Zhang! Thank you, Master Zhang! Then... how should we proceed? Since that brat caught us today, I fear he will be on his guard."

Master Zhang sneered. "On his guard? How much skill can a new martial arts disciple have? Just keep a close eye on him. In two days, I will find an excuse to visit the hall myself. I'll speak to Chen Jianghe directly—I'll offer him ten taels of silver a month and promise his mother a light job within the cult. I don't believe he won't be tempted."

He paused, his voice growing colder. "And if he still refuses to be sensible... the cult deacons are in need of 'medicine testers' lately. A martial arts disciple with strong tendons and bones is the most suitable candidate."

Chen Jianghe took a slow breath behind the wall and exhaled just as slowly.

He could not let them live.

It was clear that Zhang Mingyuan was targeting him.

At the mouth of the alley, Zhang Mingyuan turned to leave, with Aunt Wang following close behind, still muttering something.

Chen Jianghe stepped out, raised his right hand, and flung a handful of lime powder directly into their faces!

"Who is—ah!" Caught off guard, Zhang Mingyuan screamed and clutched his eyes.

Aunt Wang was terrified out of her wits and turned to run, but Chen Jianghe grabbed the back of her neck with his left hand and slammed her hard against the wall.

Although Zhang Mingyuan had retreated half a step, the lime powder still caught the corners of his eyes, causing an agonizing sting and a torrent of tears.

He roared, pulled a short blade from his tunic, and stabbed blindly into the air!

But Chen Jianghe was no longer there.

The moment the lime was thrown, he had slid to the side like a fish, circling to Zhang Mingyuan's flank.

He took his starting stance, twisted his waist and hips, and channeled the power from the soles of his feet into his fist.

Five Elements Fist—Splitting Fist!

The punch fell like an axe, smashing heavily into the elbow joint of Zhang Mingyuan's sword-wielding arm.

"Crack!"

The distinct sound of bone fracturing was chilling in the night air.

Zhang Mingyuan shrieked as the blade fell from his hand, his entire right arm hanging limp.

Chen Jianghe did not stop, flowing into his next move—a Crushing Fist struck straight out, landing squarely on Zhang Mingyuan's chest.

This punch unleashed his internal force, causing his tendons and bones to resonate!

Zhang Mingyuan felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer; his chest caved in, blood sprayed from his mouth, and he fell backward.

He stared wide-eyed at the masked Chen Jianghe, hissing, "You... you dare touch me? I am a disciple of the 'Sun Moon Cult'... the Deacon is nearby... if you kill me today, the cult will never let you rest!"

Chen Jianghe crouched down, looking at his face twisted in agony. His voice, muffled by the cloth, was low and cold. "What is your Cult Leader's name? Where is the main altar?"

Zhang Mingyuan grinned, blood bubbling from his lips. "Heh... hehe... are you afraid? Daring to touch one of our own... the Deacon... will surely find you... and wipe out your entire family... the 'Sun Moon Cult' is eternal!"

Chen Jianghe asked no more.

He gripped Zhang Mingyuan's chin with his left hand, while his right hand formed a blade, slicing precisely through the gap in the tendons along the side of the throat.

Blood surged like a spring.

Zhang Mingyuan's body convulsed, his throat emitting a wheezing, airy sound as his eyes gradually lost focus.

On the other side, Aunt Wang was still wailing and rolling on the ground, clutching her eyes.

Chen Jianghe walked over and looked at her face, which was etched with greed and terror. His heart felt neither sorrow nor joy.

"Aunt Wang," he said, his voice calm. "Did my boat really leak?"

Aunt Wang stiffened, her wailing coming to an abrupt halt.

She shook her head frantically, lime and tears smearing across her face. "No, I didn't leak anything! Chen Jianghe... it was this auntie who was possessed! It was Zhang Mingyuan who forced me! He gave me silver to trick your mother... I, I won't ever dare again! Please, spare me, spare me!"

Chen Jianghe watched her in silence.

After a long while, he said softly, "My mother trusted you, treated you like a neighbor. And for two taels of silver, you were willing to push her into a pit of fire."

Aunt Wang was terrified out of her wits, kowtowing like a pestle. "Jianghe! Auntie was wrong! Truly wrong! Let me off, I'll be your beast of burden from now on..."

Before the words had even faded, Chen Jianghe's hand rose and the blade fell.

It sank into the back of her neck, severing the tendons with precision and ease.

Aunt Wang's body went limp, collapsing to the ground, lifeless.

Chen Jianghe skillfully searched both bodies. In Zhang Mingyuan's robes, besides five taels of silver, there was a wooden plaque engraved with a sun and moon pattern on the front, and "Disciple Zhang Mingyuan" written on the back.

He weighed them in his hand, pocketing both the plaque and the silver. Aunt Wang only had four hundred copper coins on her.

He quickly cleaned up the scene. Using his blade, he carved a few more marks near the wounds on their necks and chests, creating the illusion of a chaotic struggle.

He then placed Zhang Mingyuan's short blade back into his hand, posing him as if he had died in a fight.

Chen Jianghe knew very well that the words Master Zhang spoke before his death were no empty threat; the Sun Moon Cult had been eyeing the martial arts school disciples for quite some time.

Kill one Zhang Mingyuan today, and there would be a Li Mingyuan or a Wang Mingyuan tomorrow.

There was no hiding from this.

The cultist had made it clear—if today's task failed, they would come directly for the school, for him, Chen Jianghe. Coercion and bribery, soft tactics and hard. Perhaps even... threatening his mother.

Unless he hid in the school forever, every step he took outside would be fraught with danger.

"Only strength is the foundation."

Chen Jianghe murmured to himself, turning and vanishing into the night.