No Reason to Make a Move

Wen Hua, Zhao Dun, and Xia Shuang brought their mother to Zhang Yu's courtyard. They were assigned to the front courtyard, and the three of them settled down there.

Zhang Yu accepted Wen Hua as a formal disciple, while Zhao Dun and Xia Shuang became registered disciples.

The three of them could not put their gratitude toward Zhang Yu into words.

"Master treats us so well. We can only repay him with our lives," Wen Hua told the other two youngsters. "From now on, whatever Master asks of us, we must carry it out even at the cost of our lives."

"Mm!" Zhao Dun and Xia Shuang nodded hard.

Back in Boundless City, they had been worth less than dirt. No one had ever cared about them.

Having just moved in, everyone was busy.

Zhang Yu sat alone in his room, looking over his system panel.

[Iron Shirt: Beginner (35/100)]

[Clear Wind Stance: Beginner (1/100)]

[Master-Disciple Points: 62]

During the half month on the road, Zhang Yu had practiced the Clear Wind Stance whenever he rested at night and had quickly reached the beginner level.

His more than three hundred years of cultivating the Stone-Shattering Fist had laid down a deep foundation in martial arts. Thus, he had entered the beginner level of the Clear Wind Stance after practicing it casually for a while. The early stages were not difficult for him.

What troubled Zhang Yu now was whether he should save his Master-Disciple Points for the Clear Wind Stance or directly add them to Iron Shirt.

The Clear Wind Stance was a second-rate cultivation technique and included a breathing method. Once cultivated to completion, it could allow one to step into the realm of Transformative Force.

Although Zhang Yu could currently kill a Transformative Force martial artist using the true intent of the Stone-Shattering martial path, he could only use it once, and after doing so, he would suffer a two-hour period of weakness.

At the same time, he also wanted to learn Iron Shirt badly.

Once Iron Shirt was cultivated to completion, one could forge steel sinews and iron bones. Hidden Force could barely harm them, while even Transformative Force could have one-third of its power negated.

What was more, once he cultivated the true intent of Iron Shirt's martial path, he would be able to swagger sideways among martial artists of the lower three realms.

"Such a hard choice!"

"Damned system. If you were still the Evil-Slaying System, I could max out both martial arts in a short time."

Zhang Yu cursed the system in his heart.

After giving it some thought, Zhang Yu ultimately added his Master-Disciple Points to Iron Shirt. At the same time, he decided to have both Li Yue and Wen Hua cultivate the Clear Wind Stance.

Li Yue was a little girl and utterly unsuited to cultivating Iron Shirt. After all this time, she had still not reached the beginner level, only adding three points of proficiency for him.

Having made his decision, Zhang Yu stopped agonizing over it and added all his Master-Disciple Points to Iron Shirt.

[Iron Shirt: Beginner (97/100)]

"Just three more points to reach minor accomplishment. I'll have enough points tomorrow."

Knock, knock!

A knock sounded from outside, followed by Chu Qingwen's voice. "Master, this disciple requests an audience."

"Come in."

Chu Qingwen pushed open the door and entered, a trace of delight on her face. "Master, I just went to the Chu Family branch shop in Boundless City. The branch received a carrier pigeon letter from my father three days ago. The Fire Spirit Crystal has been found."

"Good!" Delight flashed across Zhang Yu's face.

Once Niu Mancang's Feral Ox Physique was activated, his cultivation speed for Iron Shirt would certainly increase by leaps and bounds, bringing Zhang Yu a huge amount of proficiency.

"However..."

"Speak." Zhang Yu glanced at Chu Qingwen.

"Reporting to Master, the Fire Spirit Crystal will appear at an auction in Hidden Cloud City one month from now. My father said the Fire Spirit Crystal is too valuable and hopes Master can make the trip personally," Chu Qingwen said timidly.

She then added, "The Fire Spirit Crystal is also useful to martial artists of the middle three realms. It would be best to use it in Hidden Cloud City immediately after winning it at auction. Hidden Cloud City falls under the jurisdiction of Great Chu's Hidden Cloud Academy. It is absolutely safe—no one would dare commit violence there."

Zhang Yu thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. When the time comes, I'll take you and Mancang there."

"Yes, Master!"

The two were still discussing the matter when hurried footsteps rang out from outside. Li Yue rushed in. "Master, the Black Tiger Gang's leader has arrived. Senior Brother Niu and Junior Brother Wen are stopping him at the gate."

Zhang Yu got up and headed toward the front courtyard, asking as he walked, "Did they make a move?"

"No. He looks quite friendly, not like he came to fight," Li Yue replied.

"Friendly?" Zhang Yu wore a puzzled expression. They had killed one of the other side's Hidden Force deputy leaders and a captain at the peak of Manifest Force. How could the other side still be friendly?

Boundless City was a place where fish and dragons mingled, without laws or order. If one was not ruthless, one could not gain a foothold here. Before arriving, Zhang Yu had already decided to kill someone to establish his authority.

The Black Tiger Gang had merely run into him. Their bad luck.

A short while later, he reached the courtyard gate and saw Niu Mancang, Wen Hua, and the others blocking the entrance, staring tensely at a one-eyed man.

The one-eyed man, on the other hand, wore a friendly expression and did not look like he had come for revenge.

"Master!"

"Master!"

When Niu Mancang and Wen Hua saw Zhang Yu emerge, they immediately bowed and stepped aside.

Seeing Zhang Yu come out, the one-eyed man, Li Xiong, cupped his fists and announced himself. "Li Xiong of the Black Tiger Gang has come to pay a visit."

"Zhang Yu," Zhang Yu replied, giving his own name.

He had originally intended to use the Black Tiger Gang as a stepping stone to establish his prestige and make a name for himself. Boundless City was a place that ate people alive; living quietly with one's head down was simply impossible.

"Young Master Zhang, I heard about what happened during the day. Huang Biao and Qian Yong of our Black Tiger Gang offended you, so I have come specially to apologize," Li Xiong said.

"Oh?" Zhang Yu was taken aback. He had not expected Li Xiong to come and apologize.

This...

The man was either a coward or a dangerous character.

For someone to become the third-largest gang in a place like Boundless City, Zhang Yu was more inclined to believe that Li Xiong was a dangerous man who could bend when necessary and stretch when the time came.

"Bring it up."

Black Tiger Gang members carried over a large chest. When they opened it, it contained some smoked meat and a bundle of medicinal herbs.

"One hundred jin of second-rank demon beast meat and thirty fifty-year blood ginseng roots. Please accept them, Young Master," Li Xiong said, lowering his posture to the utmost.

Buzz...

The onlookers immediately began whispering among themselves.

"Is Li Xiong scared? Has he admitted defeat?"

"I thought he came for revenge. Who would have thought he came to bow his head? Since when did Li Xiong become such a coward?"

"I think the Black Tiger Gang is finished."

"Not so, not so. Li Xiong truly is somebody."

For a time, every sort of comment could be heard.

Li Xiong's move left Zhang Yu without even a reason to kill him. In the end, he sighed inwardly. Sigh, my heart is still too soft!

"I'll accept the gifts. Listen carefully: if anyone from my courtyard loses so much as a hair in Boundless City, I'll hold your Black Tiger Gang accountable." Zhang Yu stared arrogantly at Li Xiong, pressing him once more.

Surely he can't endure this, right? Surely he'll turn hostile now? Perfect. I'll slaughter you in front of all these people.

If you can endure this much, leaving you alive makes me uneasy.

Yet Li Xiong disappointed Zhang Yu once again.

He cupped his fists toward Zhang Yu. "Rest assured, Young Master Zhang. Farewell."

Hiss...

"Li Xiong really has become a coward."

"He can endure even this?"

"Just what is the background of this young man named Zhang Yu?"

Li Xiong left with his men. The onlookers stood there dumbfounded, discussing the matter animatedly.

Zhang Yu frowned slightly as he watched Li Xiong's retreating back. At last, the fist clenched inside his sleeve slowly relaxed. He had been ready to kill just now. "I hope you truly can behave yourself."

Li Xiong's apology had likewise achieved the effect of establishing Zhang Yu's authority, only...

Zhang Yu turned and returned to the inner courtyard.

Wen Hua and the others carried the chest of compensation from Li Xiong, looking as though they were dreaming.

"Boss."

"Call me Senior Brother."

"Senior Brother, Li Xiong of the Black Tiger Gang bowed his head to Master. What kind of background do you think Master has? How high is Master's martial skill?" Zhao Dun asked Wen Hua excitedly.

There was no excitement on Wen Hua's face. "Li Xiong is not simple."

"Uh? What do you mean?"

"Don't ask. Move the things. Second-rank demon beast meat—tsk, tsk, what a lavish gift," Wen Hua said with feeling.

"Do you think Master will let us eat this demon beast meat?" Zhao Dun stared at the meat, drooling.