Threat!

"You have no idea how horribly Song Jin died. His bloody head was strung up and hung there for hours!

Those damned constables are usually so overbearing, but that day they didn't dare do a thing. They just stood there glaring, and only dared take it down after nightfall!"

"Who wiped out the Iron Tiger Gang? Was it that mysterious person from last time?"

"No! It was a new gang, the Wave-Breaking Gang. I heard the Wave-Breaking Gang is incredibly powerful—there are three people as strong as Song Jin among them!

And they seem to have some mysterious backing. Even the authorities are extremely lenient with them."

Someone raised a question:

"Why did they destroy the Iron Tiger Gang?"

Another person sneered:

"How would I know about gang matters? I heard some rumors that they wanted to seize the shops in the southern part of the city."

Li Chuan's gaze sharpened at that.

The shops in the south of the city—his family's shop was there!

First, the Black Bear Gang had wanted the shops in that area.

He had thought things would settle down after he wiped them out, but now the Wave-Breaking Gang had popped up instead!

Li Chuan quickened his pace, intending to check on his family's situation as soon as he returned.

At least, there was no need to worry for the time being.

After all, Anning County had not yet fallen to the point where order had collapsed. No one dared go too far in broad daylight.

Simply put, the authorities still cared about saving face.

Li Chuan quickly arrived at a butcher shop in the eastern part of the city.

The butcher shop's owner was a burly man draped in tiger skin, surnamed Zhang.

Li Chuan said:

"Boss Zhang, my master, Liang Hangzhou, sent me to collect ten jin of tiger meat."

As he spoke, Li Chuan showed him the token Liang Hangzhou had given him.

Boss Zhang glanced at the token and asked in confusion:

"Your master only has this much left with me. He gave it all to you?"

Li Chuan froze for a moment, then nodded.

Boss Zhang smiled.

"Then your master treats you quite well."

One jin of tiger meat cost eight qian of silver. Ten jin came to eight taels.

Usually, disciples spent money on their masters. Masters spending money on their disciples was rare.

Li Chuan thanked him, took the tiger meat, and left.

"Who's there?!" Li Chuan felt as though needles had pricked every inch of his body.

Someone is following me! Li Chuan's expression did not change as he swept his surroundings with the corner of his eye.

Li Chuan suddenly quickened his pace and walked forward.

After taking a few steps, he abruptly stopped.

A burly man immediately crashed into him.

The man kept his head turned to the side, making his features hard to see. He muttered an apology, then hurried ahead.

Li Chuan casually glanced behind him.

There were two more.

The strength of the man who had just passed him was undoubtedly that of a Bright Force martial artist.

The two behind him were Bright Force as well.

That made three Bright Force martial artists in total.

With so many people following him, they were definitely up to no good!

Li Chuan suppressed the urge to kill them on the spot and strode swiftly toward Pine Wind Martial Hall.

It was daytime, and the streets were crowded. It was not convenient to make a move.

Besides, acting without first figuring out the situation could easily alert the snake in the grass.

Once they were alerted, it would be difficult to draw out the big fish behind them.

By then, these people would threaten him like blades hanging in the darkness.

The moment Li Chuan stepped into Pine Wind Martial Hall, that feeling of being watched vanished.

Li Chuan frowned.

He normally did not go out to make friends. He simply practiced his fists alone at the Martial Hall.

The Black Bear Gang, the enemy he had made, had already been wiped out by him.

Who else could it be?

"Could it be..."

"Senior Brother Li, someone outside is looking for you. He says he's your cousin!"

Li Chuan's heart stirred.

"Please bring him in."

Very soon, Li Qing appeared before Li Chuan.

Li Qing wore a trace of anxiety on his face and kept looking back.

The moment he saw Li Chuan, he hurriedly said:

"Quick, let's talk in your room!"

Li Chuan promptly brought him to the Common Dormitory and locked all the doors and windows.

"Big Brother, what happened?" Li Chuan asked.

His gaze shifted to Li Qing's face, where he spotted obvious abrasions.

Li Chuan immediately frowned.

"Big Brother, what happened to your face?"

Li Qing let out a heavy sigh. Instead of answering, he wore a bitter expression.

"Don't ask, A-Chuan. Run. The farther, the better!"

"What happened, Big Brother? Tell me exactly what's going on!"

Li Qing's voice trembled.

"It's the Wave-Breaking Gang. Their gang leader is called Wu Wenda. Heaven knows what madness possessed him—he wants to buy all the shops in our area."

"That shop was what Grandfather and Grandmother traded a lifetime of struggle for. Grandfather wanted to keep it as a memento, so he politely refused."

Li Chuan's pupils contracted.

"Is Grandfather all right?"

Li Qing shook his head.

Li Chuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Qing continued:

"Who would have thought that Wu Wenda would fly into a rage on the spot? He shoved me to the ground. That's how I got the wounds on my face."

"Before he left, he said he would give us one more chance to think it over!"

Li Qing sighed.

"Grandfather tried mentioning your name too, but they didn't recognize it at all. With no other choice, Grandfather is planning to sell the shop."

"But..." Li Qing swallowed, fear in his eyes. "I overheard them. They have no intention of letting us go. They want to wipe out our whole family."

"These past few days, many people have been loitering outside our shop, watching us and stopping us from leaving."

"I think they're waiting for you to return so they can catch our whole family in one net!"

Sorrow filled Li Qing's eyes.

"A-Chuan, we can't run anymore. Seize this chance and escape! They won't let you go!"

"How strong is the Wave-Breaking Gang?" Li Chuan interrupted him.

Li Qing was stunned, not expecting Li Chuan to ask that, but he still answered:

"I looked into it. Their leader, Wu Wenda, is a little stronger than Song Jin, though not by much. But the Wave-Breaking Gang has three people as strong as him!"

"As for the others, only a handful have reached Bright Force. Most are merely sturdy ordinary people. They seem like a hastily assembled rabble."

"A-Chuan, why are you asking this?"

A chill flashed through Li Chuan's eyes.

Just three Bright Force martial artists at the peak, and they dared act so arrogantly?

Perfect. He had been worried he would not find anyone to test the mettle of his Dark Force!

Li Chuan narrowed his eyes.

"Why should I run?"

Li Qing immediately grew anxious.

"A-Chuan, what do you mean? Don't do anything foolish! The Wave-Breaking Gang isn't something you can handle! You know how strong the Iron Tiger Gang was, don't you? Yet they were still wiped out overnight!"

"As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood. Wait until you master Dark Force and return, then it won't be too late to take revenge!"

Li Chuan glanced at him.

"There's no need to wait."

Li Qing suddenly realized something.

"Wait, are you saying... you've reached Dark Force?!"

Li Chuan nodded.

Li Qing suddenly laughed and wiped away his tears.

"There's hope! Everyone is saved!"

"I know you're meticulous, A-Chuan. You must already have a plan. Is there anything you need me to do?"

Li Chuan looked toward the wall, as though his gaze could pierce through layer upon layer of barriers.

"Big Brother, just pretend nothing happened. As long as I don't return home, you will not be in danger for now."

Li Qing's breathing grew heavy, and he nodded firmly.

After seeing Li Qing off, Li Chuan willed it and summoned the panel.

[Skill: Through-Arm Fist (Minor Mastery)]

[Proficiency: 1995/2000]

Although Dark Force against three peak Bright Force martial artists should, in theory, leave no suspense.

But the Wave-Breaking Gang had strength in numbers, and they might have other methods as well.

To be safe, he would first raise Through-Arm Fist to Major Mastery!

[Practiced Through-Arm Fist, proficiency +1]

[Practiced Through-Arm Fist, proficiency +1]

[Practiced Through-Arm Fist, proficiency +1]

...

[Through-Arm Fist has broken through to Major Mastery!]

As Through-Arm Fist broke through to Major Mastery, the sensation of being bound vanished from his body in an instant.

His strength was completely unleashed, and even the Dark Force within him surged like a raging tide.

At last, he could wield one hundred percent of his strength.

Li Chuan narrowed his eyes.

This was still not enough. It was not secure enough.

The Wave-Breaking Gang had many people. He had to make absolutely thorough preparations.

He could not let a single one of them escape.

With that thought, Li Chuan knocked on Luo Zheng's door.