Slow Hand

As Chen Jianghe stepped into the courtyard, every gaze converged upon him.

He wore a set of indigo martial attire—the standard issue for the Su Family Escort Agency—with his Butchery Blade, which had been by his side for years, tucked at his waist. His pace was steady.

Su Derong opened his eyes abruptly. Upon seeing Chen Jianghe, he was stunned for a moment before his expression shifted. "Jianghe? What are you doing here? Go back!"

Chen Jianghe ignored him, walking straight to the open space in the courtyard and coming to a halt five paces in front of Zhao Mingyuan.

He cupped his fists toward Zhao Mingyuan, his tone calm. "Instructor Zhao."

Zhao Mingyuan's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He recognized Chen Jianghe; they had met once at the Zuichun Brothel. He was the new junior apprentice his master had taken in, rumored to have some talent.

But no matter how good his talent was, he was merely a disciple of a dilapidated martial arts school. In a situation like this, what kind of waves could he possibly stir up?

Li Tian let out a direct, mocking laugh. "Yo, isn't this Junior Brother Chen? What, here to see your Third Senior Brother off?"

Chen Jianghe ignored him.

Zhao Mingyuan spoke slowly, his voice laced with a condescending indifference. "Chen Jianghe? This has nothing to do with you."

"It does." Chen Jianghe pulled a coarse cloth bundle from his chest and unwrapped it.

He placed the bundle on the ground and pushed it half a step forward. "Here are two hundred taels in gold notes, plus forty-two taels of silver shards."

The courtyard fell into a sudden silence.

Even the sound of the wind whipping against the escort flags was clearly audible.

Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, Zhao Tieshan, and the others widened their eyes, staring at the pile of wealth on the ground in disbelief.

Su Derong was even more shaken; the folding fan in his hand snapped shut with a "clack," his eyes locked onto Chen Jianghe.

Li Tian was stunned at first, then let out a sneer. "Yo, Junior Brother Chen is quite wealthy! Giving away gold notes just like that? Could it be that you came by this through thievery?"

Chen Jianghe raised his eyes to look at him, his voice remaining steady. "If you don't believe it, you may verify it on the spot. These are notes from the Tongbao Silver Bank; they are genuine."

The attendant behind Zhao Mingyuan stepped forward quickly, crouched down to examine them carefully, and looked up a moment later with a look of surprise on his face. "Instructor Zhao, they are indeed real."

Zhao Mingyuan stared at Chen Jianghe, his gaze deepening. "Where did you get so much money?"

Chen Jianghe's lips curled into a nearly mocking arc. "Why should I account for the source of my private property to Instructor Zhao?"

Zhao Mingyuan narrowed his eyes, stopped questioning, and turned to look at Su Derong. "The principal is four hundred taels. It's all here."

Su Derong was just about to let out a sigh of relief—

"What about the interest?" Zhao Mingyuan said flatly. "The debt note clearly states that after rounding off the fractions, it comes to one hundred taels of gold."

"One hundred taels?!" Zhou Yong couldn't help but roar. "Which bank dares to calculate it like that?!"

Li Tian sneered. "It's written in black and white, and Su Jingming signed it himself. What, trying to welsh on the debt?"

Chen Jianghe remained silent, but he understood clearly in his heart.

In these chaotic times, it was the strong who made the rules.

The Zhao Family was determined to swallow the Su Family Escort Agency today; naturally, they wouldn't be satisfied with just the four hundred taels of principal.

He slowly exhaled. "So, Instructor Zhao means that another one hundred taels of gold are required?"

Zhao Mingyuan spoke, his voice cold. "Repaying debts is only right and proper. It is written in black and white; there is no denying it."

He could not produce one hundred taels of gold.

Unless...

He subconsciously touched the Phantom Shadow Steps manual hidden in his robes.

If this manual were pawned, it could be worth several hundred taels of gold.

But this was an item belonging to the Green Dragon Guard. Once it leaked out, if the Green Dragon Gang traced it back to him...

Just as he was hesitating—

"What, can't scrape it together?"

A light sneer drifted over.

Chen Wanglong stepped out from beside Zhao Mingyuan, dressed in brocade robes and a jade belt, his expression cold and stern.

He walked slowly toward Chen Jianghe, looking down at the illegitimate cousin he had never once considered worthy of his attention.

He spoke slowly, mocking him. "I wondered who it was; it turns out to be that illegitimate cousin from Loach Bay."

He paused, his tone growing even more disdainful. "For an illegitimate son to make it this far is quite rare. Unfortunately, you shouldn't meddle in things that don't concern you. Don't try to be a hero when you aren't one."

Chen Jianghe remained silent.

Seeing him like this, the inexplicable irritation in Chen Wanglong's heart grew even stronger.

This illegitimate cousin, who had been ignored by the family since childhood and trampled under his own feet, actually dared to stand here now, looking at him with such calm eyes?

By what right?

He suddenly recalled his grandfather, Chen Qingyi, speaking of Chen Jianghe with disdain in the main hall of the Chen residence a few months ago: "An illegitimate son, what kind of future could he have? Wanglong, you are the future of the Chen Family."

Yet now, this "useless" illegitimate son had actually produced a full two hundred taels of gold!

A sinister glint flashed in Chen Wanglong's eyes.

He would not allow it.

He would not allow a mere illegitimate son to display such a "composed and steady" demeanor before him.

His voice rose sharply: "Chen Jianghe, do you know that in the face of a true genius, your meager skills are nothing more than an ant trying to shake a tree?"

Before the words had even faded, he struck!

No warning, no gathering of momentum.

His right fist drove straight for Chen Jianghe's vitals!

This punch was vicious to the extreme, clearly intended to cripple his cultivation and shatter the foundation of his martial path!

The surrounding crowd was shocked.

No one had expected Chen Wanglong to strike so suddenly, let alone unleash such a ruthless, lethal blow.

Su Derong's expression changed drastically, and he barked, "You dare!"

Zhao Mingyuan frowned but did not speak to intervene.

Li Tian's mouth curled into a grin, his eyes filled with malicious delight—that brat Chen Jianghe was dead for sure today!

In the blink of an eye, Chen Jianghe moved.

He did not retreat, did not dodge, and did not even adopt a stance.

He simply sank his hips slightly, raised his right fist, and met Chen Wanglong's vicious strike with a plain, straightforward punch.

The punch was silent, windless, and devoid of momentum.

It was as if he had simply raised his hand at random.

The fists collided.

"Bang!"

A dull, thudding impact exploded in the courtyard like the beating of a heavy drum!

The sneer on Chen Wanglong's face froze instantly.

He felt a surging, irresistible, and supple force penetrate from Chen Jianghe's fist, drilling straight through the tendons and meridians of his arm!

Wherever that force passed, his muscles went numb and his blood flow stagnated; his entire right arm instantly lost all sensation.

Furthermore, a strand of Dark Strength pierced his Dantian like a venomous snake, causing his blood to churn and a sweet, metallic taste to rise in his throat!

"Thud, thud, thud!"

Chen Wanglong retreated three steps, leaving deep footprints in the blue bricks with each one, until he finally lost his balance on the third step and fell to one knee!

He jerked his head up, glaring at Chen Jianghe with eyes full of shock and disbelief: "You... you are also at the Dark Strength level?!"

The entire scene fell into a deathly silence.

Every gaze was frozen upon Chen Jianghe.

Those gazes held shock, confusion... and finally, they converged into a sense of near-absurd disbelief.

Dark Strength?

This youth, who looked no older than eighteen or nineteen, born of a branch family in Loach Bay and trained at a dilapidated place like the Xingyi Martial Arts Hall... was actually at the Dark Strength level?!

Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, Zhao Tieshan... all the Su Family Escort Guards were dumbfounded, as if seeing this person for the first time.

The smile on Li Tian's face froze completely.

Even Zhao Mingyuan, who had maintained a cold expression throughout, saw his pupils shrink.

Chen Jianghe slowly retracted his fist and stood straight.

He looked at the kneeling Chen Wanglong with calm eyes, his voice remaining flat: "Cousin, you concede."

"You... you..." Chen Wanglong trembled all over, unsure if it was from rage or his injuries, "You hid your strength so well!"

Chen Jianghe did not reply, turning instead to Zhao Mingyuan and offering the bundle in his hand once more: "Instructor Zhao, four hundred taels of gold, the principal is returned. The Su Family will surely gather the remaining interest within three months. Please return the debt note."

Zhao Mingyuan stared at him for a full three seconds.

Then, he suddenly laughed.

The smile was cold, carrying a sense of condescending scrutiny and amusement: "Chen Jianghe... I truly underestimated you. An eighteen-year-old at the Dark Strength level would be considered a genius even in the Inner City. It is a pity—"

He paused, his voice turning sharp: "Even a genius must understand the rules!"

"Rules?" Chen Jianghe raised his eyes. "Repaying a debt is the greatest rule of all. But if you wish to use usury to force someone into bankruptcy... I fear that rule does not hold water."

Zhao Mingyuan let out a cold snort: "Sharp-tongued. I can accept the money. I can also return the note. But—"

His gaze swept toward the kneeling Chen Wanglong before returning to Chen Jianghe: "You injured a man of the Zhao Family. How shall we settle this account?"

Su Derong could bear it no longer and stepped forward: "Zhao Mingyuan! It is clear that Chen Wanglong launched a sneak attack first; Jianghe was merely defending himself! With so many eyes watching, do you intend to turn black into white?!"

"Self-defense?" Zhao Mingyuan said indifferently. "Chen Wanglong is a top disciple of the Zhenlei Martial Arts Hall and an honored guest of the Zhao Family. What is wrong with him teaching a lesson to a wayward member of his own family? On the contrary, this little junior of yours has committed an act of insubordination and struck with malicious intent... If I do not teach him a lesson today, where will the dignity of the Zhao Family remain?"

Before the words had even finished, the seven or eight Zhao Family Bodyguards behind him stepped forward in unison, their auras locking onto Chen Jianghe.

Li Tian grinned hideously as he drew his long blade: "Eldest Senior Brother, why waste words on this brat? Cripple his cultivation and see if he still dares to be arrogant!"

Chen Jianghe's gaze turned cold.

His right hand slowly dropped to his waist, fingertips brushing the hilt of his blade, while his left hand quietly reached for the bag of lime powder tucked inside his robe.

Although its effect on a Dark Strength expert was limited, it could always create an opening in the chaos of a brawl.

Just as the tension reached its breaking point—

"What's this? Two dogs of the Zhao family, looking to bully the few with the many?"

Su Derong's voice suddenly rang out. With a "swish," he snapped open his folding fan and stepped in front of Chen Jianghe, shielding him behind his back.

His moon-white silk robe fluttered in the wind, and the face that usually wore a lazy smile was now devoid of any expression.

"Su Derong," Zhao Mingyuan narrowed his eyes, "do you want to interfere?"

"He is my junior brother." Su Derong fanned himself, his tone nonchalant. "To touch him is to touch me. If you Zhao family want to bully the few with the many... fine, but you'll have to step over my corpse first."

"Young Gang Leader!" Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, and the others turned red with rage, drawing their blades and stepping forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Su Derong.

The Zhao Family Bodyguards faltered, looking toward Zhao Mingyuan.

Zhao Mingyuan stared at Su Derong and suddenly laughed: "Good, what a display of brotherly love. Since that's the case..."

He slowly drew the long blade at his waist.

"I shall grant your wish."

The blade was dull, faintly shimmering with a bloody light.

The atmosphere tightened to the breaking point!

However, just as Zhao Mingyuan was about to wave his hand and give the order—

Chen Wanglong, who had been kneeling on the ground, suddenly let out a low, beast-like growl!

He jerked his head up, his eyes blood-red as he locked onto Chen Jianghe, hissing: "Chen Jianghe... I want you dead!"

Before the words had even faded, his figure erupted!

This time, he held nothing back. His Dark Strength cultivation exploded with full force, his blood and qi steaming around him. His fist tore through the air, carrying a desperate, suicidal momentum as he lunged straight at Chen Jianghe!

This punch condensed all his hatred, humiliation, and resentment!

He would crush this illegitimate cousin before him into dust!

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