One Who Kills a Chicken to Warn the Monkeys

One Who Kills a Chicken to Warn the Monkeys

In the main hall.

Jiang Ning's gaze fell upon the once-brawny man. He immediately saw that Jiang Li's face had gone pale, his whole body trembling faintly, while drops of blood fell from the long sleeve covering his left hand.

The entire main hall fell silent at once.

After a long while.

"Big Brother!" Jiang Ning could not help calling out.

By then, Jiang Li had slowly regained his composure.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me!"

"Big Brother, what have you decided to do?" Jiang Ning asked.

Jiang Li said calmly, "Such a heart-chilling act—I refuse to believe the County Magistrate will allow Cao Bin to run amok."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning secretly shook his head. Whether he would or would not, who could truly see through another person's heart?

But judging from Xu Yunfeng's earlier remarks, the County Magistrate—the dragon crossing the river—and the local great families—the native serpents—had clearly already locked horns in a struggle at white-hot intensity.

If his elder brother refused to comply, it was entirely possible that the local great families would use him to kill a chicken and warn the monkeys.

After all, his elder brother had worked in the yamen for many years and possessed a modest degree of prestige, yet he had always followed the County Magistrate's orders as faithfully as a horse followed its master's lead.

Such a man was perfectly suited to be the chicken killed to frighten the monkeys.

Under pressure from the native serpents, the County Magistrate might not necessarily refuse to compromise.

And even if he did not compromise, caught between two great powers, how could they possibly have any path to survival? What good end could await them?

At that thought, Jiang Ning's sense of crisis grew even stronger.

He had not forgotten Xu Yunfeng's look and words when he left just now. He had clearly used Jiang Ning and his two nephews and niece to threaten his elder brother.

Should Xu Yunfeng seek to force his elder brother into submission someday, there was no telling whether he might do something that harmed Jiang Ning or the children.

I still have to rely on myself! Learning martial arts can no longer be delayed! Jiang Ning thought to himself. Then he recalled Wang Jin's identity at the Blue-Wave Martial Academy.

According to what he knew and had inferred, Wang Jin of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy might be related by blood to Constable Wang of the Luoshui County garrison.

Moreover, Wang Jin held an extremely high status. He was unquestionably a ranked martial artist and had traveled far down the martial path.

In a world where a single martial arts expert could become an army, Wang Jin's fists were his power.

If Jiang Ning joined the Blue-Wave Martial Academy, Xu Yunfeng would at least be somewhat wary of him on the surface.

More importantly, if he could pass the Blue-Wave Martial Academy's assessment and become one of its true disciples—

In this world, heaven, earth, ruler, parents, and teacher stood in order; the bond between teacher and disciple was like that between father and son.

If he could become a personal disciple of the martial academy, then for Wang Jin's sake, Xu Yunfeng would not dare touch him, much less make a move against him.

The personal disciple of such an expert was far beyond comparison with an ordinary constable's status in the clerk registry.

At that thought, Jiang Ning secretly nodded. Looking at it now, the Blue-Wave Martial Academy truly is a good place to go! If the panel can grind out experience for martial arts techniques, then given some time, I will certainly pass the Blue-Wave Martial Academy's test and become Wang Jin's true disciple. Reaching that point would be no less than crossing class boundaries, just as a commoner differs from Big Brother, who enjoys registered official status.

As his thoughts churned.

"Little Brother, what are you thinking about?"

Jiang Li's voice suddenly broke Jiang Ning from his thoughts.

Jiang Ning said, "I was thinking about what Xu Yunfeng said before leaving. He was clearly using me and your children to force you into submission!"

Jiang Li immediately nodded. "I saw that too! He is very clever. All of you are my weak spots!"

As he spoke, Jiang Ning still saw Jiang Li's left fist clenched tightly, the gaps between his fingers already stained red with blood.

Then Jiang Li continued, "I trust the County Magistrate. He will not simply stand by and do nothing!"

Jiang Ning shook his head. "Big Brother, placing the lives of our entire family upon a single thought from the County Magistrate is truly unwise!"

Hearing this, Jiang Li gave a faint, bitter smile. "Those are the Cao Family, Liu Family, and Xie Family—three families that can be called behemoths. Other than placing my hopes in the County Magistrate, Big Brother has no other way at all!"

"I have a way," Jiang Ning said.

"What way?" Jiang Li's eyes immediately lit up as he looked at Jiang Ning with hope.

Jiang Ning slowly said, "Wang Jin of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy is related by blood to Constable Wang of the Luoshui County garrison. As long as I can become a genuine disciple of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy, I will have the bond of teacher and disciple with Wang Jin. The bond between teacher and disciple rivals that of father and son. That should earn me Wang Jin's protection. And Wang Jin is blood-related to Constable Wang, who holds military authority. Whether it is the County Magistrate or the four great families, no one would want to provoke Constable Wang, who commands troops."

"Constable Wang?" Jiang Li murmured, deep in thought.

Having spent so long in Luoshui County, he naturally knew quite a bit.

After pondering for a moment, he nodded. "If we can establish ties with Constable Wang, the Cao Family probably truly would not dare make a move! In Great Xia, one hundred men form a unit. Even the weakest among them would be no weaker than I was at my peak, and there are quite a few elite squads made up of ranked martial artists!"

"But..." He looked at Jiang Ning and continued, "But how will Little Brother become a genuine disciple of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy? Wang Jin's standards are extraordinarily, extraordinarily high. Those who can become genuine disciples of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy receive its true teachings and are certain to become ranked martial artists!"

"You need not worry about that, Big Brother," Jiang Ning said. "I naturally have that confidence!"

"Fine, then!" Jiang Li nodded. "It is a good thing for Little Brother to have confidence. There is no harm in trying! You were going to enter the Blue-Wave Martial Academy anyway!"

"If it does not work, then even if I have to risk my life, I will beg Constable Feng to step in and have the County Magistrate protect all of you!" Jiang Li said with firm resolve in his eyes.

Looking at the genuine emotion in Jiang Li's eyes, Jiang Ning's feelings became incomparably complicated.

Humans were not grass or trees; how could they be without feeling?

Over these past few months since he had transmigrated here, he had long since accepted his elder brother and sister-in-law in this life.

Though his sister-in-law had quite a few complaints about him, for more than two months now, she had washed his clothes, mended his torn garments, and never shorted him in food or drink.

As for his elder brother, there was even less to say. The saying "an elder brother is like a father" found perfect expression in him.

Just yesterday, merely because Jiang Ning had said he wanted to practice martial arts, his elder brother had borrowed a large sum of silver so that he could join the Blue-Wave Martial Academy and train.

Born as a man, how could he not be deeply moved by such familial affection?

Now that such a sudden change had arisen, how could he possibly stand aside and remain uninvolved?

It is time for me to repay Big Brother and Sister-in-law! Jiang Ning silently told himself.

After returning to his room.

[Name]: Jiang Ning

[Source Energy]: 3.6

[Skill]: Literacy (First Limit Break 47/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory)

Looking at his panel, countless thoughts surged through Jiang Ning's mind.

He had never expected such a sudden upheaval.

Given what he knew, how could he fail to understand the crushing pressure of being targeted by the Cao, Liu, and Xie Families?

They were half the sky of Luoshui County!

Let alone the Cao, Liu, and Xie Families, the three foremost families of Luoshui County—even Xu Yunfeng, a constable who had achieved success in martial arts, exerted immense pressure on ordinary people.

With his martial arts training, his qi and blood were powerful. Barehanded, he could deal with more than ten ordinary strong men, let alone when armed with a blade.

He had not forgotten Xu Yunfeng's look when he left. If Xu Yunfeng truly intended to force his elder brother into submission, he would not simply do nothing.

Xu Yunfeng was an enormous potential threat to him!

And Xu Yunfeng was only someone accomplished in martial arts, not yet ranked.

If it were a ranked martial artist, like Constable Cao Bin—

According to what his elder brother had told him before, after entering the ranks of martial arts, one could complete Skin-Tempering. Their skin would become hard as copper, difficult for blades and spears to injure. They would no longer be opponents ordinary people could contend with.

Thus, Jiang Ning understood very clearly that in this world where martial arts flourished and great power rested with the individual—

Every so-called crisis was ultimately caused by his own lack of strength.

If he entered the martial ranks and possessed sufficient strength, what would Xu Yunfeng amount to?

What would Cao Bin amount to?

Beyond that, someone like Great Xia's Martial Saint Who Suppressed the Nation—what would the entire world amount to?

Everything will depend on what happens after my trip to the Blue-Wave Martial Academy!

After noon.

Once lunch was over, Jiang Ning headed out with his elder brother.

As they walked down the street, the road on both sides was already filled with all manner of hawking cries and the rich bustle of everyday life.

"Flatbreads! Flatbreads! Fresh-out-of-the-oven flatbreads! Fifteen coins each!"

"Come and take a look! Finest sesame oil!"

"Candied hawthorns for sale!"

Fifteen coins for one flatbread?

Jiang Ning could not help clicking his tongue.

He remembered from the original owner's memories that a flatbread had cost only eight coins. Now, the price had nearly doubled.

By peering through a tube and seeing the leopard, one can tell that grain prices must have soared. These times truly are growing more and more chaotic!

(End of Chapter)