Gang Warfare, Opportunity Arrives

Lu Li felt his stomach churn, and he forced a laugh. "Master Hu, you must be joking. I don't even know Master Wang; why would he take an interest in me?"

Zhang Hu smiled faintly, pulled out a document, and handed it to Lu Li. "Master Wang certainly doesn't know you, but I do. I'm the one recommending you."

"How about that? Your Master Hu treats you well, doesn't he?"

Lu Li looked at the document. It was a formal adoption contract, flawless in its wording, but in this world, wasn't everything decided by those in power?

As a mere nobody, what say did he have?

Once he entered the Huang Mansion, he would no longer be the master of his own fate.

Moreover, the true intention wasn't adoption—it was a desire for his body.

A chill crept down Lu Li's spine, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes as he looked at Zhang Hu.

He wanted to strike Zhang Hu down right then and there.

But in broad daylight, it wasn't the right time.

Besides, the leader of the Black Tiger Gang was a martial artist, and his cultivation level didn't seem low.

He couldn't afford to provoke him yet!

Lu Li laughed and tried to deflect. "Master Hu, you're joking. My father still wants me to find a wife and carry on the Lu family line..."

Before he could finish, Zhang Hu interrupted. "Oh, Master Wang is benevolent; he won't make you change your surname."

Lu Li's heart sank. He looked deeply at Zhang Hu, realizing that this man was determined to devour him.

Lu Li feigned hesitation, glanced at the document, and sighed. "Master Hu, could you allow me some time to consider?"

Zhang Hu's smile didn't waver. He placed both hands on Lu Li's shoulders and squeezed hard. "Good. This is a big deal. I'll give you a week to think it over and discuss it with your late father."

Lu Li immediately put on a pained expression and nodded repeatedly.

With that, Zhang Hu led his men away, dragging the corpse along the ground. The blood left a long, trailing line, like a river of gore.

It was strikingly vivid against the pristine white snow.

Lu Li clenched his fists, watching Zhang Hu's back disappear around the corner, his intent to kill surging.

This was a naked threat.

When Zhang Hu had gripped his shoulder, Lu Li had gauged his strength. He was still some distance from the Skin-Refining Realm, but not far.

It was just that a gang leader like him was always surrounded by lackeys, making it difficult to strike.

The timing isn't right. I'll find another opportunity; he's bound to be alone eventually! Lu Li's thoughts raced, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

Soon, Lu Li shouldered his herb basket and headed out to forage.

Two days passed quickly.

After his daily routine, he spent time gathering information on Zhang Hu.

Whether he was collecting protection money with his men or carousing in taverns and brothels, he was never alone.

Thus, no opportunity presented itself.

Over these two days, Lu Li's martial progress was remarkably rapid.

His proficiency in the Tiger-Subduing Fist had reached 100 points.

On the third day, Lu Li carried his herb basket straight to the Huang Mansion. After the mansion's apothecary screened and recorded the qualified herbs, Lu Li prepared to leave.

"Uncle Zhao." Lu Li greeted an elderly man with white hair and a beard, who nonetheless looked full of vigor.

He had inherited his father's trade, but being young, he was often bullied. If he ran into someone ruthless, they would snatch his basket, leaving his day's work wasted.

If the Huang family then docked his pay, he wouldn't even have enough to eat.

It was only thanks to Uncle Zhao's help that Lu Li had managed to weather those difficult times.

"Oh, it's young Lu. How have you been lately?" Uncle Zhao smiled.

"Not bad," Lu Li replied casually. He didn't complain; at least he had work. It was hard, but he wouldn't starve.

Plus, he was practicing martial arts, and his future looked bright.

The two hadn't seen each other for a while, so they chatted for a bit before walking out of the Huang Mansion.

Suddenly, Uncle Zhao looked left and right. Seeing no one, he whispered to Lu Li, "Lu Li, be careful lately. Don't stay out foraging for too long; come back early."

Swallowing hard, Uncle Zhao continued, his face full of fear, "The Black Tiger Gang and the Blood Wolf Gang are about to go to war!"

Lu Li raised an eyebrow.

The Blood Wolf Gang was a force equal to the Black Tiger Gang. The two were evenly matched, constantly at odds, and frequently clashed.

Lu Li nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Uncle Zhao."

"Oh, what are you thanking me for? Your father and I were brothers. Seeing you grow up makes me happy; I haven't failed your father's trust."

They chatted a little longer before parting ways as their paths diverged.

However, Lu Li did not head straight home. Instead, he took a different route, heading toward Flowery Street.

Prosperity Street is a famous commercial district located within the inner city.

Changfeng County is divided into an inner and outer city, with the inner city housing wealthy families such as the Huang Family and the Wang Family.

Compared to the outer city, the streets here are wide enough to accommodate three carriages traveling side by side.

It is clean and tidy, with people constantly maintaining it.

Constables patrol the area, keeping everything in perfect order.

Settling down in the inner city has always been the dream of someone from the bottom like Lu Li.

Stepping onto the street, Lu Li's mind raced.

Ever since he learned the news that the two gangs were about to clash again, a thought had been lingering in his mind.

Zhang Hu had forced him to be sold to Master Wang, which was a death-deserving offense.

If he didn't die, Lu Li would never have peace of mind.

He had been struggling to find an opportunity to strike.

But now that the two gangs were at war and chaos reigned, the opportunity was significant.

Within the gangs, there were plenty of men who only knew a move or two, relying solely on their ruthlessness rather than any real skill; for him to enter the fray would be like taking candy from a baby.

Perhaps he could join the fray and fish in troubled waters.

It just so happened that he needed to kill Zhang Hu and also required silver; it was killing two birds with one stone, so why wouldn't it be a wonderful idea?

He arrived at Flowery Street.

The area was spacious, bustling, and lively, with the sounds of hawking filling the air, one after another.

Lu Li's nose twitched as he caught a rich, medicinal scent that made his lower abdomen heat up slightly.

Turning his head, he saw a pharmacy named Tongchun Hall, filled with a dazzling array of medicinal herbs.

Among them were many that only martial artists could use.

"Blood-Boiling Powder, twenty taels of silver."

"Spring-Returning Pill, fifty taels of silver."

"Marrow-Cleansing Heart-Purifying Leaf, seventy taels of silver."

"Azure Coiled-Dragon Root, one hundred taels of silver."

Hiss. Lu Li gasped.

His twenty taels of silver could only buy a single small portion of Blood-Boiling Powder.

Lu Li frowned as he looked at the description: the Blood-Boiling Powder stimulated the blood to temper the skin, membranes, and bones, but such forced stimulation caused great harm to the body.

And this alone cost twenty taels of silver?

Lu Li glanced over and saw the Flesh-Regenerating Pill that Hero Zhao had given him; it was actually worth one hundred taels of silver.

It's actually this expensive! Lu Li exclaimed inwardly, quickly moving his feet to stop looking; this was far from anything he could covet.

"It seems that making money really needs to be moved up the schedule."

"Beyond the martial path lies the Postnatal and Xiantian Realms; if things are this expensive even in the Body Refining stage, what will it be like further down the line?"

"It's not just pills; weapons and martial arts manuals also require money..."

"The scholar is poor, the warrior is rich; those words do not deceive." Lu Li swallowed hard, suddenly feeling that the path of martial arts had become an arduous one indeed.

He went straight to a fabric store, spent one qian of silver to buy a large piece of pitch-black cloth, and then headed straight back home.

Picking up a needle, thread, and scissors, he did some minor tailoring, using a small piece to make a face mask and roughly stitching the rest into a wide robe to conceal his figure.

After finishing all this, he looked into the bronze mirror and nodded in satisfaction, confirming that no one he knew would be able to recognize him.