Crushing

"The Yamen has been short-staffed lately and is actively recruiting. They've even formed a night patrol team that needs martial artists. Anyone who has trained in martial arts and has a certain level of skill can earn one or two taels of silver a day."

Yu Chen said, "If it's a Bright Force expert, they can earn ten taels a day."

"What about Dark Force?"

Xu Qing asked.

"Dark Force?"

Yu Chen shot Xu Qing a look and said, "Dark Force experts aren't easy to hire. If there were such experts, they'd definitely be getting dozens of taels a day."

"Mm."

Xu Qing nodded slightly.

"But they do require real-name registration,"

Yu Chen added.

"Anything else?"

Xu Qing asked.

"That's it,"

Yu Chen shrugged. "Other than that, basically families, merchant guilds, and gangs hire guards for only ten taels a month. With your appetite, I doubt you'd be interested."

"I understand."

Xu Qing nodded. He pondered for a moment and said, "In that case, Yu Chen, I'll have to ask you for another favor."

"What favor?"

Yu Chen asked.

"Find me a mask."

Xu Qing said, "I'm going to fight Fan Yanbin tomorrow."

"What?"

Yu Chen's eyes widened in disbelief. His voice was filled with shock, "You... you're going to fight Fan Yanbin? Hiss... Fan Yanbin is an expert who has truly mastered Bright Force. Are you going to your death tomorrow!?"

"You don't need to worry about that."

Xu Qing waved his hand. "You'll know tomorrow. Also, I hope you can keep this a secret. Don't even let Senior Disciple Brother Huo Yi know."

"Alright."

Yu Chen's eyes flickered. He thought of a possibility: Xu Qing had joined the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School five days ago and had already mastered their body refinement method. He must have achieved Bright Force and become a Bright Force expert.

Therefore.

Xu Qing dared to fight Fan Yanbin tomorrow.

Thinking of this.

Yu Chen's breathing quickened slightly.

If this were true.

Xu Qing had mastered a body refinement method in about six days, condensed Bright Force, and become a Bright Force expert. This was absolutely a true martial arts prodigy.

Without realizing it.

Yu Chen clenched the IOU in his arms.

If Xu Qing was truly a martial arts prodigy, then this IOU in his hand would be worth more than just a hundred taels of silver.

It was the favor of a true martial arts prodigy.

As the saying goes.

Debts are easy to repay, but favors are hard to repay.

Of course.

This was all based on the premise that Xu Qing was a loyal and righteous person.

"Okay."

Yu Chen nodded solemnly and said, "Xu Qing, don't worry, I'll keep it a secret. And I'll find the mask you want."

Although he hadn't spent much time with Xu Qing, Yu Chen believed in his judgment of people. Xu Qing didn't seem like someone who would be disloyal or unrighteous.

Time flew by.

The next day.

Morning.

Yu Chen found an evil ghost mask for Xu Qing. It had a ferocious expression. Xu Qing put the mask on and donned a gray cloak to conceal himself.

Underground black boxing.

On the stage.

At this moment.

Xu Qing stepped onto the stage again, but his state of mind had undergone a seismic shift. He felt the gaze of the multitude upon him, and the bloody, brutal, and rampant atmosphere of the entire underground black boxing event.

He couldn't help but be somewhat affected, a sinister grin appearing on his face.

"You're my opponent today?"

Before Xu Qing stood Fan Yanbin, arms crossed, his expression calm, a hint of disdain in his brow. He spoke indifferently, "I don't know where that fatso Yu Chen dug you up from. And you don't even dare show your true face, only daring to wear a mask when you appear."

"Heh."

Fan Yanbin let out a cold laugh. "Is it because you're too ugly that you're afraid to show your face? If that's the case, then you're truly pathetic."

Not so long ago.

When Xu Qing was in underground black boxing, he had no choice or right to refuse. Faced with the arrangements of the underground black boxing, Xu Qing could only comply.

He couldn't refuse, wouldn't refuse, only obey.

For the sake of underground black boxing's reputation, Fan Yanbin was ready to send Xu Qing to his death. If Xu Qing hadn't mastered Eight Extremities Fist and achieved Bright Force, he would have likely been beaten to death by Pang De.

Therefore.

Xu Qing didn't have a very good impression of Fan Yanbin.

He even felt a degree of disgust.

"Is your mouth all you've got?"

Xu Qing lowered his voice, making it sound slightly weathered.

Clang!

The bell signaling the start of the match rang.

Around them.

The numerous spectators were cheering and shouting, waving their tickets, their eyes bloodshot, sickly, bloodthirsty, and frenzied...

Just like before.

"I'll let you know how hard my fists are."

Boom!

As soon as he finished speaking.

Fan Yanbin let out a soft shout and attacked Xu Qing first, swiftly closing the distance with his practiced fighting style.

"You're too slow."

Xu Qing shook his head. In his eyes, Fan Yanbin's movements were slowed down several times. He easily dodged Fan Yanbin's assault.

Clearly.

Xu Qing was no longer the same as he used to be. He was no longer that scrawny little beggar, but a true master of Dark Force.

"!!!"

Fan Yanbin's pupils contracted. "You..."

The next moment.

His vision blurred.

Xu Qing had already raised his hand. With a swift downward palm strike, Fan Yanbin didn't even have time to see clearly. He only felt a black shadow flash past his eyes.

"Ah!!"

A piercing scream rang out.

Fan Yanbin spat out blood, stumbled backward, and retreated step by step. With each step he took, he left a deep pit in the ground, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading outwards.

He was just inches away.

Fan Yanbin was about to fall off the stage.

"Cough cough..."

After stabilizing himself.

Fan Yanbin coughed up several more mouthfuls of blood.

It could be seen.

There was a faint palm print on Fan Yanbin's chest. His clothes were intact, and his skin was unharmed, but his internal organs had been injured by a surge of Force.

This was the terrifying aspect of Dark Force.

It directly penetrated external defenses, sending Force into the body to injure the internal organs. Therefore, practitioners of Bright Force could basically not withstand even a single move against practitioners of Dark Force.

This time.

The entire venue fell silent once more.

You could hear a pin drop.

"Senior... Senior, this junior concedes, this junior concedes..."

Fan Yanbin immediately knelt on the ground.

Just from their brief exchange.

If Xu Qing had intended to kill, Fan Yanbin would have died from a ruptured heart. As it was, Fan Yanbin only suffered internal injuries that would heal with time.

Therefore.

Xu Qing had held back.

"Hoo..."

Xu Qing slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his emotions calming slightly, feeling a sense of clarity and exhilaration. Looking at Fan Yanbin kneeling on the ground, he was in a good mood.

Afterward.

Xu Qing left the underground black boxing ring.

Behind him.

The audience in the underground black boxing arena erupted in an uproar once more.

Clearly.

The outcome had shocked and bewildered them, making it hard to believe. They never imagined that Fan Yanbin, one of the three overseers of the underground black boxing, would lose to someone who had suddenly appeared and was wearing an evil ghost mask.

With this match concluded.

Xu Qing would most likely not return to the underground black boxing, nor would he fight there again.

In the evening.

In Yu Chen's room.

"Xu... Xu Qing..."

Yu Chen's tone was somewhat nervous because he had personally witnessed how Xu Qing had subdued Fan Yanbin with a single palm strike, leaving him too shocked to fully recover.

In fact.

Yu Chen was already wondering if Xu Qing was truly just a Bright Force martial artist.

However.

Yu Chen dared not ponder further.

Because.

Some things were better left unknown.

"This is your payment."

Yu Chen handed Xu Qing a money pouch filled with silver.

"No need to be so formal."

Xu Qing shook his head. He took the money pouch Yu Chen offered and opened it, surprised to find a full one hundred and twenty-eight taels of silver.

"So much."

Xu Qing was a little surprised.

"For this betting round, our underground black boxing earned over three thousand taels of silver. After deducting various expenses and capital, our net profit was two thousand taels of silver."

Yu Chen said, "You get one hundred and twenty-eight taels, that's already calculated. Actually, the real bulk of it goes to Lord Huo Yi; he takes more than half of the two thousand taels of silver."

"Tsk tsk."

Xu Qing clicked his tongue. "It seems Senior Disciple Brother Huo Yi is quite wealthy!"

"Of course."

Yu Chen nodded. "Lord Huo Yi is the Senior Disciple Brother of the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, though his daily martial arts training expenses are also quite high."

"Actually."

"Under the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, there are many affiliated businesses that receive support and protection from the school, allowing them to operate in the outer city."

"These businesses have to pay protection fees to the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School."

"Understood."

Xu Qing nodded.

"By the way."

Xu Qing said, "Regarding the Yamen recruiting people, I plan to sign up. One tael of silver a day is still money. Even though I just earned one hundred and twenty-eight taels of silver, I can't spend it all without earning more."

"That's fine."

Yu Chen nodded. "I know a constable who can help you get in touch."

"Then let's arrange to meet tomorrow at noon."

Xu Qing said.

"Okay."

Yu Chen nodded again, "Then let's set it for Kaiyuan Building. I'll host."

"Okay."

Xu Qing cupped his hands. "Thank you."

"You're telling me this now?"

Yu Chen pouted.

"Hahaha..."

Xu Qing burst into laughter.

"If you really want to thank me, my son is also almost an adult. If you really master Eight Extremities Fist, you can teach my son when you have time," Yu Chen said. "Of course, I'll pay for the lessons."

"You have a son too?"

Xu Qing asked in surprise.

"Is that strange?"

Yu Chen retorted.

"Sure,"

Xu Qing shrugged. "As for the tuition, I won't waive it because I'm short on cash. To make money, I've even risked joining the patrol team."

"You won't get a single cent less."

Yu Chen felt Xu Qing was more like a greedy, unscrupulous merchant than he was. "You still owe me a hundred taels."