Make a Move

Over the next few days, Zhao Feng continued practicing stance work and boxing during the day, while at night he had other matters to attend to.

For several days, he secretly followed and observed Leopard Lord. "During the day, this man was usually active at the gang hall, or else inspecting territory and collecting protection fees. He was often accompanied by several underlings. Only at night... and even then, he was usually drinking and carousing with his men. Even when visiting brothels, he went with company."

Zhao Feng found him far more troublesome than Huang Biao. The outer city was crowded and full of watchful eyes, and it was Black Tiger Gang territory. Unless he could instantly kill both his target and every last underling, if even one fish slipped through the net to report back, he would have to face the Black Tiger Gang's full retaliation.

Perhaps he had nothing to fear alone, but there were still his aunt and Qiao'er.

So this had to be foolproof. It could only be foolproof. He could not leave behind the slightest clue.

If I don't kill you, I won't be able to sleep.

Based on Leopard Lord's movements, he drew up a route map, carefully studying the paths and calculating the response speed of the gang members.

Though they were merely ordinary people who knew a few clumsy tricks, while he was already a Bright Force martial artist, even a lion used its full strength when hunting a rabbit.

If only I had a sturdy bow.

Once he had enough silver, he would have to commission a suitable bow and arrows and take up archery again.

Just as he spent several nights following Leopard Lord and searching for an opportunity to strike, that opportunity truly came.

On the outer city streets late at night, a jumble of footsteps rang out across the bluestone road,

accompanied by shouts and sounds of slaughter. The residents by the roadside were so frightened that they shut their doors tight, scarcely daring to breathe.

"Liu Laosan actually dares to run wild on my turf? Hack him to death for me!"

Leopard Lord led a group of underlings in a fierce pursuit of several Three Harmonies Gang members through the streets. The Black Tiger Gang had suffered losses at the other side's hands again and again lately, and today they had finally managed to win back some face.

"Chase them!" Leopard Lord had only just climbed off a woman's belly that evening. After chasing for a while, he was starting to feel weak, so he leaned against a wall to catch his breath.

He waved his men onward, telling them to keep chasing, while he remained behind to rest. Only one trusted confidant stayed with him.

"Leopard Lord, today you've really helped our Black Tiger Gang vent a huge breath of anger. The Gang Leader and Hall Master will surely reward you handsomely," the confidant said with a smile.

"Of course. Liu Laosan must be blind as a dog. Since he fell into my hands today, that's his bad luck. Doesn't he know who he's facing? Leopard Lord!"

"Once the Gang Leader's reward comes down, I'll treat the brothers to a trip to the brothel."

Leopard Lord panted as he spoke smugly. Then he felt an inexplicable chill. He turned around, but there was no one behind him.

"Must be overthinking it."

He turned back and waved for his confidant to follow, preparing to rejoin his men.

But just then, a black shadow shot out from the nearby alley like a whirlwind. "Not good!"

Leopard Lord had just raised his saber when his vision blurred. The shadow had already slammed into his chest. Heart-Top Elbow! Bang!

A violent pain exploded in his chest. With a crack, his bones shattered, and his entire body flew backward as foam spilled from his mouth.

"Mother of—!" When the confidant saw this, how could he not realize they had encountered a martial artist? He immediately threw down his saber and ran for his life.

"Help! Murder! Leopard Lord is dead!"

He had not run far when a sharp pain suddenly pierced his back. A short blade had already been buried in it.

Bang! He pitched forward onto the ground. Then it felt as though a red-hot iron bar had ripped open the blood vessels in his neck. The short blade slit his throat, and agonizing pain burst through him! He could only wheeze harshly, eyes bulging like those of a dead fish as his breath faded away.

Zhao Feng, his face covered with black cloth, sheathed the short blade and immediately returned to Leopard Lord, who lay sprawled on the ground.

Leopard Lord's breastbone had already been shattered by Zhao Feng's Bright Force-powered Heart-Top Elbow. As his consciousness drifted away, he struggled to see who had attacked him. But the other man had already picked up the saber from the ground and chopped down. His awareness plunged into darkness.

Zhao Feng swiftly felt around Leopard Lord and pulled out a cloth pouch. Then he used the saber to hack the corpse several more times, turning it into a bloody mess. He went to the confidant and added several more cuts before finally leaving.

Just over a dozen breaths after he departed, hurried footsteps sounded from ahead. More than a dozen Black Tiger Gang members rushed back. The instant they saw Leopard Lord collapsed on the ground, they began yelling in panic, and chaos erupted.

Zhao Feng circled around to the riverbank and threw his outer clothes, trousers, black face covering, and short blade into the foul-smelling river.

Only then did he use the cover of night to circle back to the row house where he lived.

After closing the door and bracing it with a wooden post, it was a long while before his wildly pounding heart slowly calmed.

Though it was not his first time killing someone, this murder had still made him tense to the extreme, his adrenaline surging wildly.

Once he calmed down, he reviewed the assassination. From beginning to end, the timing of his strike, the time it took, and the time before the gang members returned had all been calculated more or less correctly. There had been no real flaws.

Though their Gang Leader was at most a Bright Force martial artist, they had strength in numbers. Naturally, the best outcome was to leave behind no clue whatsoever.

In summary, even a martial artist like him, who had only just entered the Bright Force realm, was a dimensionality-shattering blow against ordinary people. His Heart-Top Elbow had left Leopard Lord with no ability to resist or evade; it had nearly killed him in one strike. If his opponent had also been a martial artist, that would have been another matter.

Bows and arrows are still better. With a bow and arrows, this would have been far easier.

Zhao Feng opened Leopard Lord's cloth pouch. Inside were a money pouch and an account book. He carefully counted the silver inside. Including the large coins, there were roughly thirty taels in all.

"Good!" Joy appeared on his face. This settled both his tuition and his supply of meat and Vitality Powder for some time.

As for the account book, he glanced through it and saw that it recorded the Black Tiger Gang's collections. He did not examine it closely, instead going straight to the kitchen and burning it to ashes.

Over the following days, familiar faces among the martial hall's disciples constantly disappeared, while new faces constantly appeared. Everything seemed as usual.

Meanwhile, in the outer city, the Black Tiger Gang and Three Harmonies Gang erupted into several more large-scale armed clashes, leaving many dead and wounded. The common people of the outer city all lived in fear.

"Junior Brother Zhao, are you free tonight? This senior brother will treat you to a few drinks at Fortune-Filled Tower. We never got the chance to celebrate your breakthrough last time," Wei Yuan said as he walked over.

"How could I let Senior Brother treat? I'll pay."

"Why be polite with your senior brother? You can make it up to me later."

Zhao Feng agreed with a smile. He did not want to seem like he was taking advantage of someone for a free meal, nor did he want too much involvement with others. But Wei Yuan had helped him quite a bit, and he was also his senior brother. Naturally, Zhao Feng had to give him face.

Fortune-Filled Tower, Nanhua Ward, inner city. The place buzzed with voices, and business was thriving.

Zhao Feng followed Wei Yuan up to the second floor. The waiter led them to a private window seat. Looking down at the inner city streets from the second floor, Zhao Feng saw that this place was far cleaner and more orderly than the outer city. The houses were much more neatly arranged, without so many dilapidated buildings, and the people passing by were not so raggedly dressed.

Wei Yuan ordered several dishes in a row, all of which sounded expensive. Zhao Feng could not stop him no matter how he tried.

Once the steaming dishes had all been served, Wei Yuan said, "Come, Junior Brother Zhao, try this fish."

Wei Yuan picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and placed it in Zhao Feng's bowl. Zhao Feng picked it up and put it into his mouth. His first impression was that it had an excellent chew. After swallowing it, he immediately felt a surge of heat rise from his abdomen. A thread of energy began moving through his meridians before flowing into his dantian.

"What kind of fish is this?" Zhao Feng was startled. This was definitely no ordinary fish.

"This is Treasure Fish. Its flesh contains strange energy and is extremely suitable for martial artists. It greatly aids spiritual power, vitality and blood, and the strengthening of force."

"There's something this good?" Zhao Feng said in surprise.

"This must be expensive, right?"

"An ordinary low-grade Treasure Fish costs nearly three taels of silver each. Mid-grade Treasure Fish cost around ten taels, while high-grade ones easily go for dozens of taels apiece."