An Explanation

Bald Zhang and Wang Kui exchanged a glance. The name Zhao Feng rang a bell. In fact, their Three Harmonies Gang knew something about both the formal disciples and registered disciples of all the major martial arts schools in the County Seat. Zhao Feng was indeed one of Huo Shan's registered disciples.

When Huo Shan had first come to the County Seat to establish his school, he had paid his respects to the local powers and demonstrated his skills. He was a genuine master of transformation force, one whom even Bloodhand Gu Ming of Black Cloud Stronghold had to fear. By coming here and revealing his fighting style, this man had made his affiliation clear: Huo Shan stood behind him. They certainly dared not act rashly.

But if he had revealed that fighting style, then he must be Huo Shan's inner disciple. Could he already have mastered hidden force?

"Martial Master Zhao, what brings you to our gang?"

"I came to ask you for an explanation, Gang Leader Zhang," Zhao Feng said.

"Hmph! Our gang has no quarrel with you, yet you come here to challenge us, injure my men, and then demand an explanation from us? Even if you're School Master Huo's disciple, I must first demand an explanation from you!" Bald Zhang said angrily.

His wording was clever, framing the conflict as a challenge to their school rather than a fight to the death. His men had been injured, so whatever else happened, he deserved an explanation first.

"Name your terms, Gang Leader Zhang." Zhao Feng nodded and assumed an opening stance with one hand.

Bald Zhang lunged forward and swung both fists. "Tiger Roar Fist!" His iron fists blasted out in rapid succession, whipping up fierce gusts that sounded like a tiger's roar.

Unhurried, Zhao Feng reached out! Coiling Dragon Hand! He caught Bald Zhang's right fist with unerring precision, then gave it a gentle twist.

"Coil!" A surge of coiling hidden force suddenly penetrated Bald Zhang's body. Pain contorted him, bowing him like a lobster. The muscles of his arm bulged high, twisting into the shape of a braided dough stick.

"Gang Leader!" His men shouted and reached for their weapons, about to swarm forward.

"Nobody move!" Wang Kui shouted. There was no doubt now: he was an expert in hidden force.

"Please stop, Martial Master Zhao. We concede," he said.

Zhao Feng nodded slightly, released his grip, and gave a light push. Bald Zhang hurriedly retreated, clutching his shoulder and baring his teeth in pain. He could not hide the horror on his face.

"Martial Master Zhao, please come inside to talk." Bald Zhang struggled to calm himself and gestured for him to enter.

Under the eyes of the saber-wielding gang members, Zhao Feng calmly entered the main room.

Once they had taken their seats as host and guest, Bald Zhang dismissed everyone else and asked, "What did you mean by coming to our gang for an explanation, Martial Master Zhao? We don't seem to have offended you."

"Has Feng Second Tiger come looking for you two?" Zhao Feng asked, getting straight to the point.

Bald Zhang and Wang Kui exchanged a glance. "How did you know, Martial Master Zhao?"

"The whole county knows his brother Feng Dahu was your sworn enemy."

"Since he came to avenge his elder brother, naturally you two would be the first targets. What I don't understand is why he came after me," Zhao Feng said coldly.

"I have no quarrel with him, and his brother's death had nothing to do with me. Why would he lay that debt at my door? Don't you two owe me an explanation?"

"This has nothing to do with either of us. We weren't the ones who killed his brother, either. Besides, we didn't even know you before today, Martial Master Zhao. There's no way we could have pinned this on you," Bald Zhang said hurriedly.

They had investigated who might have attacked Feng Dahu, but after several days, there had been too many suspects, and they could no longer be bothered.

"Whatever the case, you two can't wash your hands of this, so we'd best work together," Zhao Feng interrupted.

"How would we work together?" Bald Zhang and Wang Kui asked, somewhat surprised.

"I imagine you both want Feng Second Tiger gone for good, don't you? It's simple. Your gang finds his hiding place, and I'll handle the rest."

The County Seat was too large for Zhao Feng to find Feng Second Tiger's hiding place alone, but the Three Harmonies Gang was different. As far as he knew, they had already brought almost all the other gangs in the Outer City to heel. Their reach extended to the heavens. Finding one man's hiding place would not be difficult.

"Agreed. You have our word." Bald Zhang and Wang Kui exchanged a glance and accepted almost without hesitation.

Although Feng Second Tiger had escaped through the window last time and had not troubled them again for the moment, he remained a thorn buried deep in their hearts. Whether or not they had killed Feng Dahu, Feng Second Tiger would come to settle the score with them sooner or later.

Third Chief Cao Yuan could not stay with the gang forever. They had pledged allegiance to Black Cloud Stronghold; he had not come to serve as their bodyguard.

Since Zhao Feng wanted to kill Feng Second Tiger, they were naturally happy to see it happen. This was also a fine opportunity to remove that thorn from their hearts.

At the Huo Family Martial Arts School.

Amid the whistling gusts of fists came the dull collisions of force, sounding almost like metal striking stone.

"Watch out, junior brother!" Wei Yuan shouted. He unleashed Fierce Tiger Ramming Mountain, his fist thundering straight toward Zhao Feng's chest. Zhao Feng curved his arms around, then extended them like needles concealed within cotton. With Embracing the Moon, he deflected most of the punch's power, but the penetrating hidden force still surged toward his chest.

Just then, however, the point of Zhao Feng's raised left elbow suddenly struck downward, short and swift, hitting Wei Yuan's wrist.

"Inch force!" Wei Yuan felt his arm go numb and hurriedly retreated.

He was inwardly astonished. In such a short time, Junior Brother Zhao had already learned the combination of lightness and sinking their master had described. Throughout their exchange, he had been gathering his strength, waiting for the right moment to release inch force-and through the tip of his elbow, no less. It had scattered the penetrating edge of Wei Yuan's punch.

Had this been a fight to the death, the inch force striking his wrist would already have cost him the initiative. If Junior Brother Zhao had immediately pressed the attack, things would have looked rather ugly for him. There were so many disciples watching, too.

Though he was reluctant to admit it, setting aside the depth of their inner force, Junior Brother Zhao had already caught up with and surpassed him in fighting technique and fistwork.

"Good, good!" Wei Yuan said, drawing a deep breath.

At that moment, he was certain Junior Brother Zhao was no creature destined to remain in a small pond. His remarkable comprehension alone made Wei Yuan deeply grateful: grateful he had not acted foolishly last time, grateful he had judged him correctly, and grateful he had befriended him.

"Come on, junior brother! Let's go to Hongxing Tower and celebrate." Wei Yuan was in high spirits.

Nine Virtues Ward, in the Inner City. Hongxing Tower, one of the finest restaurants in Big Stone County, stood here.

After Wei Yuan and Zhao Feng stepped down from the carriage.

Rather than hurry inside, Wei Yuan stretched his arms and enthusiastically gestured at their surroundings.

"Junior brother, notice anything different?"

Zhao Feng looked around. Whether shops or residential courtyards, all the buildings here looked new, tidy, and imposing. Many of the passersby wore fine silks and satins, their clothing even more refined than that of people elsewhere in the Inner City.

"This is the central part of the Inner City, not far from the County Yamen. It's prime land-every inch worth its weight in gold. A single house can easily cost several hundred taels of silver."

"Hongxing Tower is an established name with over four hundred years of history. They even have a branch in the Prefecture City. Their ferocious beast meat tastes better here, and they have fine wine, too."

Once they entered Hongxing Tower, they found it bustling with voices, its business thriving indeed.

As they were about to go upstairs, a woman in a white embroidered dress suddenly descended from the upper floor. She had lovely features, a loosely gathered cloudlike bun, and fair skin, standing out conspicuously in the crowd. Her delicate hands held a packed food carrier.

"Oh, Cousin Xiangling?" Wei Yuan paused at the sight of her, then immediately greeted her.

The newcomer was none other than his distant cousin, Xue Xiangling.