Xu Yunfeng's Tail

Xu Yunfeng's Tail

He arrived at the back kitchen.

On a square table, the last steaming bowl of medicinal soup had already been laid out.

A middle-aged woman in an apron wiped her hands on it.

"If you'd come any later, young man, I'd have drunk this bowl of medicine myself!"

Jiang Ning smiled sheepishly. "Sorry! I couldn't stop in the middle of practicing my fists!"

"Enough with that useless talk. Hurry up and drink it. Once the medicine cools, its effects won't be nearly as good!" the apron-clad middle-aged woman said.

Jiang Ning said no more and quickly picked up the final bowl of black medicinal soup from the table.

As soon as he sniffed it, an unpleasant odor hit his nose.

Then he held his breath and gulped it down mouthful after mouthful.

Huff—

Only after the entire bowl had gone down his stomach did he let out a long breath.

"Let's go, time to head home!" someone said, and they gradually filed out of the back kitchen courtyard.

The sun had completely sunk behind the mountains, the light was steadily fading, and night was beginning to fall.

After leaving Blue-Wave Martial Academy, Jiang Ning looked back at the academy behind him.

The next moment, he strode toward the outskirts of the city, the weakness left by his fist practice gradually fading from his body.

"The academy's medicinal soup really is good. Its effects aren't as obvious as wild ginseng's, but a bowl every day is still well worth it!"

Jiang Ning walked down the road in high spirits when his expression suddenly changed slightly and his gaze sharpened.

At a distant street corner, Xu Yunfeng stood in a constable's uniform, his right hand resting at his waist around the hilt of a standard-issue saber. He watched Jiang Ning with a faint smile, yet he seemed like a venomous snake.

As Jiang Ning headed toward the outer city, Xu Yunfeng followed close behind him, neither too far nor too near.

To outsiders, it would only look as if this constable were conducting a routine street patrol.

From Blue-Wave Martial Academy in the inner city to his home in the outer city, Jiang Ning walked for a full hour.

He stayed on the city's main roads the entire way, refusing to take any small paths with few passersby.

Outer City.

Jiang Li sat in the courtyard. The moment he saw Jiang Ning, a smile appeared on his face.

The next moment.

His expression instantly turned cold, and his eyes became sharp.

"Brother Li!" Xu Yunfeng smiled carelessly at Jiang Li's gaze.

"Xu Yunfeng, don't go too far!!!"

"Brother Li, why say that?" Xu Yunfeng smiled again. "The city has been rather chaotic lately. The major gangs have been clashing with weapons again and again. I escorted your younger brother all the way home. Why do you treat me like the enemy who murdered your brother instead of thanking me?"

At those words, killing intent flashed fiercely in Jiang Li's eyes.

Xu Yunfeng did not care in the slightest. He smiled again. "Brother Li, rest assured. From now on, whenever I come across your younger brother, I'll escort him all the way, so those blind-eyed fellows from the gangs don't hurt him!"

Even if Jiang Li had been stupider, he could still clearly hear the implication behind Xu Yunfeng's words.

Watching Xu Yunfeng's departing figure, Jiang Li could not help but feel helplessness fill his heart.

If it had been before, faced with Xu Yunfeng's arrogance, he would have dared to draw his blade and slash at him.

But now, with his right hand crippled and eighty or ninety percent of his martial skill gone, how could he possibly be a match for Xu Yunfeng, who was about to enter the ranks?

And behind him were not only his younger brother, but also his wife and children.

Wave after wave of helplessness rose within him.

When he saw Jiang Ning return home.

"Little brother, are you all right? Xu Yunfeng didn't do anything to you, did he?"

Jiang Ning shook his head. "I'm fine, Big Brother!"

Then he spoke with confidence. "Big Brother doesn't need to worry either. Xu Yunfeng came here today only to put pressure on you and force you to yield! He won't easily make a move against me now. And since I'm now a disciple of Blue-Wave Martial Academy, he'll be even less willing to provoke Wang Jin of Blue-Wave Martial Academy!"

He had already figured all of this out when he saw Xu Yunfeng.

So even though Xu Yunfeng had followed him the entire way, he had not panicked at all.

Wang Jin of Blue-Wave Martial Academy was no minor figure in Luoshui County. Jiang Ning had also read records about Wang Jin.

Given Wang Jin's temperament, if one of the academy's disciples were murdered without cause on the streets, he would absolutely dare to storm into the yamen and beat the murderous constable to death.

After all, behind Wang Jin stood Constable Wang, who commanded the troops stationed outside the city.

A great figure who held military authority and was qualified to watch from the sidelines—who would dare provoke him lightly?

Thus, Jiang Ning knew very well that Xu Yunfeng following him and then showing himself before his elder brother was merely to pressure his elder brother!

However, merely being an ordinary academy disciple was not enough to make Xu Yunfeng too wary of throwing a rat at a vase. If he could become Wang Jin's personal disciple, then he truly would have no fear of Xu Yunfeng.

As Wang Jin's personal disciple, even ordinary head constables would have to give me face—and give Wang Jin face.

By then, I should truly be safe for the time being.

I need to work even harder now!

Jiang Ning's resolve grew even firmer.

At the same time.

After hearing Jiang Ning's analysis, Jiang Li nodded with some relief.

"Little brother sees things clearly indeed!!"

Then Jiang Li smiled again. "Come with me, little brother. Your sister-in-law made a grand meal today and has been waiting for you!"

Jiang Ning smiled and quickly followed his elder brother's footsteps.

Yet he was not as relaxed inside as he appeared.

He knew Xu Yunfeng would not easily make a move against him to force his elder brother's hand, unless he deliberately walked into an empty alley.

But Jiang Ning had not forgotten what Xu Yunfeng had just said.

From now on, whenever I come across your younger brother, I'll escort him all the way, so those blind-eyed fellows from the gangs don't hurt him!

There was undoubtedly another layer of threat hidden within those words.

Xu Yunfeng would not easily act himself, but he might hire others to act.

For example, the thugs from the major gangs.

At that moment, Jiang Ning did not know whether his elder brother had caught the hidden meaning in Xu Yunfeng's words, but he had no intention of saying it aloud.

Even if he did, it would accomplish nothing. It would only add to their worries and make his elder brother anxious.

As for threats of this sort, he could only rely on himself. As long as he grew stronger, he would naturally be able to deal with such petty threats.

Xu Yunfeng had yet to enter the ranks, and he was only a constable. How strong could the hoodlums he could command possibly be?

Once his strength improved a little more, he naturally would not fear them.

He entered the main hall.

"Whoa! Whoa!!"

"Doudou is back!!"

"We can finally eat!!!"

"Little Doubao was starving flat!!!"

Little Doubao sat on a stool, happily swinging her short little legs, her face full of delight.

"Uncle," the little boy beside her said flatly.

He was Jiang Li's eldest son, Jiang Yiming.

"How is Jiang Yiming's schoolwork coming along?"

"Uncle needn't concern himself with it!" Jiang Yiming replied coolly.

"Don't be rude to your uncle!! Do you remember what I told you before?" Liu Wanwan glared at Jiang Yiming.

Jiang Yiming could not help shrinking his neck.

"Uncle, I'm sorry!! I was being immature!"

Jiang Ning smiled and rubbed his head.

"Doudou wants some too!!!" Little Doubao swung her short little legs with all her might.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning smiled and rubbed her head as well.

"You two, sit down!" Liu Wanwan said.

Then she lifted the large bowls that had been placed upside down over the dishes. Waves of steam immediately rose up, and the fragrance of food filled the room.

"Wow! Wow!!!"

"So much meat!!!"

Little Doubao's eyes shone as she cried out in amazement again and again.

At the scent of the food.

Grrr—

Rumbles of hunger came from Jiang Ning's stomach.

"Looks like little brother really is hungry!" Jiang Li laughed heartily.

Jiang Ning smiled sheepishly as well.

He had practiced his fists all afternoon, so naturally his stomach was completely empty.

"You two brothers, stop chatting and eat!" Liu Wanwan said.

Then she placed a bowl packed solid with rice in front of Jiang Ning.

"Thank you, Sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning said sincerely.

"Now that you've entered the martial academy, train properly! Don't let down your elder brother's expectations!" Liu Wanwan said as she served Jiang Li a bowl of rice.

"Don't worry, Sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning said.

"Thank you, my wife!" Jiang Li took the large bowl of rice and said with a grin.

At the dinner table.

Jiang Li said, "Little brother, how did your fist training go today?"

As he spoke, Jiang Li placed a large piece of fat-and-lean meat into Jiang Ning's bowl.

"Very well!" Jiang Ning nodded.

"Looks like little brother has quite a talent for martial arts!" Jiang Li was delighted.

"Doudou is amazing!!" Little Doubao clapped her hands hard from the side.

Even Jiang Yiming could not help looking at his nominal uncle Jiang Ning a few more times before lowering his head and focusing on eating.

(End of this chapter)