Cousin

After the perfectly fused essence, qi, and spirit settled once more, his Supreme Yang spiritual power had grown by more than double its previous amount.

After familiarizing himself with it slightly, Zhang Jian was immediately able to move it at will.

At this moment, his spiritual instinct had become smooth and complete, giving him a feeling of primordial perfection without flaw.

The delight in Zhang Jian's heart was impossible to conceal.

Using the marvelous method of inner sight from the Nine Chapters of Paulownia Mountain Purity, he could sense that his Supreme Yang spiritual power was exceptionally pure, without the slightest impurity.

Zhang Jian opened his eyes, his expression suddenly shifting. His gaze swept over the surroundings, and his keen divine sense gave him a faint sensation. A moment later, his eyes settled upon Lock Dragon Tower atop the embankment.

Lock Dragon Tower stood upon the dam and could be considered Fengyang City's most famous grand restaurant. He faintly sensed someone's gaze resting upon him from within the restaurant.

Yet his expression did not change, as though he had noticed nothing. He merely summoned an old soldier at his side, and shortly afterward, the old soldier turned and departed.

"Young Master, the guest has arrived!"

Zhang Jian did not wait long before he saw the guest he had been expecting. A burly man clad in fitted martial attire soon entered the pavilion. Upon seeing Zhang Jian, his face brightened with delight as he said,

"He Xiong greets Young Master!"

Zhang Jian turned slightly and smiled. "Brother He, there is no need to stand on ceremony. We have not seen each other for several years, yet you have become increasingly capable. You have even established no small estate in the commandery city!"

He Xiong repeatedly said he dared not accept such praise. Yet as he looked at the gentle and jade-like eldest young master of the Zhang family, he was secretly astonished. This eldest young master was even more easygoing than the rumors claimed. Still, those eyes were rather intimidating. For some reason, he felt that Zhang Jian's gaze was exceptionally sharp, making him unable to take the man lightly.

Zhang Jian nodded, then had He Xiong introduce the situation within the commandery city.

That was why Zhang Jian had summoned He Xiong.

He Xiong was a piece the Zhang family had planted within the commandery city. He himself was also quite a capable body-tempering martial artist. The Green Bamboo Gang he had founded possessed some scale; while it could not compare to major gangs like the Three Rivers Gang, it still wielded a modest degree of influence.

The two then exchanged questions and answers. Zhang Jian gradually formed a relatively clear and complete impression of the commandery city's situation. Since he had come here, he naturally had to make preparations, lest he be caught off guard and drawn into some inexplicable trouble.

That was the awareness a future head of a great family ought to possess.

It was also what Zhang Yi had taught him since childhood.

Provoking enemies without even realizing it was nothing but needless loss.

Naturally, it was better to reduce the cost of trial and error.

Zhang Jian listened with great interest to the many bits of gossip about the commandery city, especially the rumors concerning the Qi family.

He also gained a deeper understanding of the relationship between the Zhang family and the Qi family. Back then, the old master of the Qi family had not wished to marry Qi off to the Zhang family.

To some extent, his own old man had used some dishonorable means, ultimately forcing the Qi family to pinch their noses and marry Qi into the Zhang family.

Just then, Zhang Jian's brows twitched as a burst of shouting and scuffling came from afar.

A group of beggars came noisily running over, while two little beggars fled in this direction ahead of them.

Seeing this, several household guards stationed beside the pavilion naturally could not allow it. They immediately stopped the group.

When the beggars saw that the household guards were all broad-backed and bear-waisted, ruddy-faced, and armed, they hurriedly retreated several steps, their faces showing fear.

Only the tall, thin beggar at their head suppressed his fear and cupped his fists. "Honored sirs, we do not wish to cause trouble. It is only that these two little brats have broken the rules. They begged on our turf and even stole our things. We ask you honored sirs to let us pass. We only wish to take these two little brats back, and we will leave at once!"

At that moment, another young, sturdy guard had already seized the two filthy little beggars.

The two little beggars' eyes rolled wildly. One of them began shouting loudly, "Honored sirs, do not listen to their nonsense! We did not take their things. These bits of silver were given to us by several generous gentlemen. They are the ones harboring evil intentions and trying to steal our copper coins!"

The beggars immediately grew displeased and hurriedly cried out, "That boy is lying! It was clearly these two boys who stole our bits of silver. They are ours!"

The guards looked somewhat impatient and were about to drive the beggars away when Zhang Jian looked over. Seeing the scene, he frowned slightly and glanced into the bowls of the two little beggars.

There were indeed several taels of broken silver in their bowls.

Zhang Jian knew that such broken silver had considerable purchasing power, enough to feed an ordinary family for a month.

After thinking for a moment, he immediately had the household guards drive away the tall, thin beggars who were still shouting and arguing.

Seeing this, the two little beggars beamed with delight. One of them, black as soot, stepped forward and imitated an adult by cupping his fists. "Many thanks, Young Master. Young Master must be a scholar. Your judgment hangs like a bright mirror; you will surely become the top scholar in the future and rise to be a high official!"

The younger beggar at his side also grinned foolishly in imitation. "You will definitely become the top scholar!"

Seeing this, Zhang Jian frowned and said coolly, "You two boys, stop putting on an act before me. You cannot hide what you have done from me. Those silver pieces are not yours, are they?

"However, though those people's faces were sallow, their spirits were full and their qi robust. Every one of them had strong limbs and balefulness in their eyes. Clearly, they had done no small number of wicked and heinous deeds.

"You two, on the other hand, have depleted qi and blood, and hidden injuries as well. That is why I drove that group of beggars away for you. Take care of yourselves. I can help you once, but you will not have such good fortune next time!"

He waved a hand.

His words left everyone present rather stunned. The little beggar's gaze also grew somewhat evasive. Seeing Zhang Jian wave his hand, he said,

"Many thanks, sir!"

The little beggar gave him a proper bow, then hurried away.

At the side, He Xiong's eyes flickered. "How did Young Master know that the silver had been stolen by those two little beggars?"

Zhang Jian smiled and answered casually, "It was very simple. The broken silver was covered in grime and smeared with grease. That showed the silver had been kept close to someone's body for a long time, and that its owner often handled it. Clearly, that did not match what those two little beggars said!"

He Xiong's gaze shifted slightly as he nodded to himself. His face showed a few more traces of closeness.

This scene also fell into the eyes of two young women in Lock Dragon Tower. The two exchanged a glance, then went downstairs and left directly.

After the two young women returned, however, a maidservant and an old woman nearby reported their actions to Qi Wanshi.

Qi Wanshi merely smiled faintly. "They have grown up, after all. They know how to protect themselves now!"

As the two young women departed, Zhang Jian looked over. He had long noticed their presence, but seeing that they bore no hostility, he had pretended not to notice them.

Still, he had Hu Shan follow the two young ladies and take a look.

After all, he had only entered Fengyang Commandery half a day ago. He should not have become entangled in trouble so quickly.