Suspicion

Dark Force martial artists were honored guests before any wealthy family. They wanted for neither food nor clothing and lived in wealth and luxury.

Their standing in the martial world was far higher than that of Bright Force practitioners.

While everyone was still guessing whether Chu Fan had successfully broken through the barrier.

Fourth Senior Sister Zhou Xue was the first to run out from the rear courtyard and excitedly announce the news.

"Junior Brother Chu has successfully broken through the barrier for the second time!"

This confirmed everyone's guesses.

"Senior Brother Chu really succeeded in breaking through the barrier for the second time!"

"My god, how long has it even been? Senior Brother Chu has only been at the martial academy for a little over half a year, and he's already a Dark Force martial artist."

At that moment, Chu Fan walked out from inside. His steps were calm and unhurried. Though his expression was steady, the flicker of pride and excitement in his eyes gave away his true feelings.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Chu!" The disciples stepped forward one after another to offer their congratulations.

"Congratulations on successfully breaking through the barrier for the second time, Junior Brother Chu!" Shi Mao, Wei Yuan, Wang Yu, and the other Dark Force disciples also came forward to congratulate him.

From then on, Chu Fan stood on equal footing with them in terms of cultivation.

Huo Shan followed behind him, his face glowing with health. The more he looked at Chu Fan, the more pleased and gratified he became. Even his large hands trembled slightly. At his age, he had finally found someone to carry on his legacy.

Huo Yao, who happened to be at the martial academy these past two days, also looked at Chu Fan in surprise, her beautiful eyes filled with approval. She had seen quite a few geniuses in the prefectural city, including some who had quickly succeeded in breaking through to Dark Force. But one born into such humble circumstances as Chu Fan was exceedingly rare.

"I have decided to accept Chu Fan as my final disciple and pass down my legacy to him."

As soon as Huo Shan finished speaking, the disciples present all wore complicated expressions. A final disciple was the master's closest disciple, practically half a son. Unless something unexpected happened, this martial academy would be handed over to Chu Fan in the future. Of course, Chu Fan would also have to support his master in old age and stand in for him when trouble came.

Especially Eldest Senior Brother Shi Mao, whose feelings were especially mixed. He had followed his master all the way from the prefectural city to Big Stone County. Though he was the eldest senior brother, his master had never said he would inherit the legacy. Instead, it had been given to Chu Fan.

This meant that Huo Shan would devote half the martial academy's resources and most of his energy to Chu Fan. From now on, he would be the successor.

"Greetings, Master!" Chu Fan finally could no longer contain his excitement and dropped to one knee in salute.

Just over half a year ago, he had been living in a bare, impoverished home with only his mother to depend on. Now, he was a respected Dark Force martial artist, receiving his master's legacy. It truly felt like a dream.

"You have not yet held the disciple-taking ceremony. Let us set it for tonight." Huo Shan was overjoyed.

He had Wang Yu and Zhou Xue arrange the ceremony at the finest restaurant in the inner city. Naturally, only the formal disciples, along with the master's wife and Huo Yao, would attend. Most of the other disciples would not be included.

"I spent half my life exhausting every means available to me and still couldn't succeed, yet Junior Brother Chu did it in just over half a year." At that moment, an older Bright Force disciple said tremblingly.

He was one of the martial academy's longest-serving disciples. Although he had long since broken through to Bright Force, over the years he had nearly exhausted his family fortune. After half a lifetime of trying everything, he had not even touched the threshold of Dark Force, while Chu Fan had broken through in just over half a year with such ease.

"This isn't fair..." His hands trembled, and his face was ashen.

Zhao Feng glanced at him and knew his mindset had collapsed. He had lost all heart, and with his state of mind shattered, he likely would never again have a chance to break through to Dark Force.

Yet Zhao Feng's inner lake remained calm. This matter could not stir even the slightest ripple in his emotions. Other people's excitement had nothing to do with him.

He set his stance and began practicing the second form of the boxing art. The other disciples, however, were all distracted. They were either excitedly discussing the news or had no mind left for training.

Before leaving, Huo Yao cast a curious glance at Zhao Feng, the only person in the martial academy still focused on practicing his punches. Then she looked away and paid him no further attention. Having seen much of the world in the prefectural city, she knew deeply that some things were determined by fate. No matter how hard one worked afterward, one could never reach that height. It was only a pity to waste such unwavering perseverance.

After Chu Fan became the youngest Dark Force martial artist in Big Stone County, his fame soared. He became a prized guest in the eyes of many wealthy households and trading firms. Wherever he went, he was the center of attention, and among the martial academy's new disciples, he was the universally acknowledged idol. Every time he came to the martial academy, crowds gathered around him.

Zhao Feng, however, remained no different from before. He focused on training inside the martial academy and, aside from his second senior brother, had little contact with anyone else.

Chu Fan also seemed to have forgotten this fellow disciple of the same generation who had once made him uncomfortable. Zhao Feng no longer existed in his eyes at all.

Time flowed by like water. Clashes between the various gangs of the outer city grew increasingly frequent. The conflict between the Black Tiger Gang and the Three Harmonies Gang in particular caused ever greater disturbances, and their battles became increasingly fierce.

Harmony Ward, outer city. Black Tiger Gang headquarters.

"Clang!" Feng Dahu heavily threw his steel saber onto the table. He picked up a ladle of cold water from the table and gulped down several mouthfuls. Only then did the heat in his chest gradually subside.

"Damn it, that bastard Bald Zhang. Sooner or later, this gang leader will chop him to pieces."

Feng Dahu was deeply troubled. As a Bright Force peak expert, the Black Tiger Gang he had founded had accumulated enormous wealth for him in the western part of the outer city in only a few short years. Yet the Three Harmonies Gang, once weaker than them, had suddenly risen to prominence lately and begun clashing with them. The Black Tiger Gang was gradually falling behind, having lost both men and territory.

"This isn't right. How did the Three Harmonies Gang's strength grow so quickly?" Feng Dahu could not figure it out no matter how he thought about it.

Feng Dahu thought of his younger brother, Second Tiger, who was away from home. If he could return to help, the situation would surely turn around.

At that moment, the gang's strategist, Lü Tong, walked in.

"Gang Leader, there is something suspicious about Chen Bao's death."

"Oh?" Feng Dahu frowned.

Chen Bao had been one of his incense masters. Ordinarily, the death of an incense master was no great matter, but an account book in his possession had also vanished without a trace. That was why Feng Dahu had previously ordered an investigation.

"Chen Bao suffered several saber wounds and appeared to have been hacked to death in a chaotic attack. But his fatal injury was to the chest. His breastbone was completely shattered, crushed by a single strike. The killer should have been a martial artist. As for the body being slashed with sabers afterward, it was either to vent anger or to cover up the truth." Lü Tong stroked his eight-shaped mustache as he spoke.

"At first, we believed the Three Harmonies Gang had sent someone to kill Chen Bao, and we clashed with them several times over it. But they have always refused to admit it. That is highly suspicious. Our two gangs have long been like fire and water. If they had truly done it, there would be no reason for them to deny it again and again, much less try to cover it up."

Feng Dahu nodded, signaling for him to continue.

"Later, I suspected it was an inside job, but we ruled out everyone one by one. The matter was then set aside."

"But yesterday, Pockmarked Er, one of Chen Bao's men, suddenly remembered something. Chen Bao had previously wanted to abduct and sell a little girl from Treasure Brocade Workshop, but he gave up because one of her relatives was a disciple at the martial academy."

"You suspect him just because of that?" Feng Dahu said.

"Who is this martial academy disciple? What is his name?"

"His name is Zhao Feng. He is Huo Shan's registered disciple," Lü Tong said.

"Zhao Feng..." Feng Dahu carefully recalled the name, feeling that he had seen it somewhere before.

"Gang Leader, he was on the list sent by the wealthy Li of Peaceful Town last time," Lü Tong reminded him.

"So that's why. No wonder the name sounded familiar." Feng Dahu's expression changed.