Crushing

"Recently, the yamen has been short on manpower and has been recruiting everywhere. They've even formed a night Patrol Team and need martial artists to join. As long as you've trained in martial arts and have a certain level of skill, you can earn one tael of silver a day."

Yu Chen said, "If you're a Bright Force expert, you can get ten taels of silver a day."

"What about Dark Force?"

Xu Qing asked.

"Dark Force?"

Yu Chen rolled his eyes at Xu Qing. "How could Dark Force experts be so easy to hire? If there really were a Dark Force expert, they'd definitely earn dozens of taels of silver a day."

"Mm."

Xu Qing nodded slightly.

"However, they require real-name registration."

Yu Chen added.

"Anything else?"

Xu Qing asked.

"No."

Yu Chen shrugged. "The others are basically Lineages, merchant associations, and gangs. The people they hire are guards, and they only pay ten taels of silver a month. With your appetite, I'm afraid you wouldn't think much of it."

"I understand."

Xu Qing nodded. After pondering for a moment, he 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, "Tomorrow, I'm going to fight Fan Yanbin."

"What?"

Yu Chen's eyes widened, his face filled with astonishment. He said in a startled tone, "You... you're going to fight Fan Yanbin? Hiss... Fan Yanbin is a genuine Bright Force expert! Are you going to your death tomorrow?!"

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

Xu Qing waved a hand. "You'll know tomorrow. Also, I hope you can keep this matter secret. Even Senior Disciple Brother Huo Yi must not be allowed to know."

"Alright."

Yu Chen's gaze flickered. A possibility arose in his heart: Xu Qing had joined Azure Hawk Martial Arts School five days ago and had already mastered its training method. He must have cultivated Bright Force and become a Bright Force expert.

Therefore.

Xu Qing dared to fight Fan Yanbin tomorrow.

At that thought.

Yu Chen's breathing became somewhat hurried.

If that was truly the case.

Xu Qing had mastered a training method, condensed Bright Force, and become a Bright Force expert in around six days. He was absolutely a true martial arts prodigy.

Involuntarily.

Yu Chen clenched the IOU in his arms.

If Xu Qing truly was a genuine martial arts prodigy, then the IOU in his hand was worth far more than one hundred taels of silver.

It was the favor of a true martial arts prodigy.

As the saying went.

A debt was easy to repay, but a favor was hard to return.

Of course.

That was only if Xu Qing was a man who valued loyalty and righteousness.

"Alright."

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

Although he had not known Xu Qing for long, Yu Chen trusted his own eye for people. Xu Qing did not seem like a cold-blooded and ungrateful man.

Time flashed by.

The next day.

Morning.

Yu Chen found Xu Qing a Ghost Mask, its expression ferocious. Xu Qing put the Ghost Mask on his face, then draped himself in a gray cloak, concealing his identity.

Underground black boxing.

On the arena.

At this moment.

Xu Qing stepped onto this arena once more, but his state of mind had already undergone earth-shaking changes. He felt the sensation of being watched by countless eyes, as well as the bloody, brutal, unrestrained atmosphere of the entire underground black boxing venue.

Involuntarily.

Xu Qing was affected somewhat as well, revealing a savage grin.

"You're my opponent today?"

Before Xu Qing.

Fan Yanbin stood with his arms folded across his chest. His expression was calm, but there was contempt between his brows. He said indifferently, "Who knows where that dead fatso Yu Chen found you. You don't even dare show your real face, only daring to appear wearing a mask."

"Heh."

Fan Yanbin sneered. "Are you too ugly to show your face? If so, then you're truly pitiful."

Once upon a time.

In the underground black boxing arena, Xu Qing had possessed neither the right to choose nor the right to refuse. Faced with the arrangements of underground black boxing, he could only obey.

He could not refuse, nor was he allowed to refuse. He had no choice but to submit.

For the sake of underground black boxing's reputation, Fan Yanbin had directly sent Xu Qing to his death. If Xu Qing had not mastered Eight Extremities Fist and grasped Bright Force, Pang De would likely have beaten him to death alive.

Therefore.

Xu Qing did not hold much goodwill toward Fan Yanbin.

He even felt somewhat disgusted by him.

"Is your mouth the only thing you can use?"

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

Clang!!!

The bell announcing the match rang out.

All around.

The many spectators cheered and shouted loudly, waving the betting slips in their hands. Their eyes were crimson, sickly, bloodthirsty, crazed...

Exactly the same as before.

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

Boom!

The moment the words fell.

Fan Yanbin gave a low shout and struck first, rushing swiftly toward Xu Qing. He unleashed the corresponding combat techniques and rapidly closed the distance.

"You're too slow."

Xu Qing shook his head. In his eyes, Fan Yanbin's movements seemed to have slowed several times over. He effortlessly evaded Fan Yanbin's attack.

Clearly.

Xu Qing was no longer the same as before. He was no longer that frail little beggar, but a true Dark Force expert.

"!!!"

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

The next moment.

His vision blurred.

Xu Qing had already raised his hand, then his palm came down in a flash. Fan Yanbin did not even have the eyesight to see it clearly; he only felt a black shadow flicker past his eyes.

"Aah!!"

A miserable scream rang out.

Fan Yanbin spat blood, staggered backward again and again, and with every step he took, he stomped a deep crater into the ground. Spiderweb-like cracks spread outward.

He had almost fallen off the arena.

"Cough, cough..."

After steadying 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 completely intact, and so was his skin, but a force had injured his internal organs.

That was the terrifying aspect of Dark Force.

It directly penetrated external defenses and sent its force into the body, injuring the internal organs. Thus, Bright Force martial artists basically could not withstand even a single move before Dark Force martial artists.

This time.

The entire venue fell silent once more.

A needle dropping could have been heard.

"Senior... Senior, this junior admits defeat. This junior admits defeat..."

Fan Yanbin directly dropped to his knees.

In their brief exchange.

If Xu Qing had intended to kill him, Fan Yanbin's heart would have ruptured and he would have died on the spot. Yet Fan Yanbin had only suffered injuries to his internal organs now; after resting for some time, he would recover.

Therefore.

Xu Qing had still held back.

"Whew..."

Xu Qing slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. The emotions in his heart settled slightly, leaving him with the exhilarating sensation of having every thought flow freely. Looking at Fan Yanbin kneeling on the ground, he was indeed in quite a good mood.

Afterward.

Xu Qing left the underground black boxing arena.

Behind him.

The many spectators in the underground black boxing stands erupted into an uproar once more.

Clearly.

Such an outcome left them shocked, stunned, and unable to believe it. They had never imagined that Fan Yanbin, one of the three people in charge of underground black boxing, would lose to someone who had suddenly appeared wearing a Ghost Mask.

With this match over.

Xu Qing would most likely never return to underground black boxing, nor would he continue fighting there.

Evening.

In Yu Chen's room.

"Xu... Xu Qing..."

Yu Chen spoke somewhat nervously, because he had personally witnessed how Xu Qing subdued Fan Yanbin with a single palm strike. The shock had left him unable to fully recover even now.

In truth.

Yu Chen had already begun wondering whether Xu Qing was really no more than a Bright Force martial artist.

However.

Yu Chen did not dare think too deeply about it.

Because.

Some things were better known less than more.

"This is your reward."

Yu Chen handed the money pouch full of silver to Xu Qing.

"You don't need to be so restrained."

Xu Qing shook his head. He accepted the money pouch Yu Chen handed over, opened it, and took a look. There were actually a full one hundred and twenty-eight taels inside.

"That much?"

Xu Qing was still somewhat surprised.

"This round of betting earned our underground black boxing venue around three thousand taels of silver. After deducting all expenses and principal, we made a net profit of two thousand taels."

Yu Chen said, "Your one hundred and twenty-eight taels were calculated properly. Actually, the real lion's share still goes to Lord Huo Yi. Lord Huo Yi takes more than half of those two thousand taels of silver."

"Tsk, tsk."

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

"Of course."

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

"Actually."

"Azure Hawk Martial Arts School has many businesses under its banner. They can only operate in the outer city because they receive Azure Hawk Martial Arts School's support and protection."

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

"I understand."

Xu Qing nodded.

"Right."

Xu Qing said, "Regarding the yamen's recruitment, I plan to sign up. One tael of silver a day is still money. Although I earned one hundred and twenty-eight taels this time, I can't simply sit around and eat through my savings."

"That works."

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

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

Xu Qing said.

"Mm."

Yu Chen nodded again. "Kaiyuan Tower it is. I'll be the host then."

"Alright."

Xu Qing cupped his hands. "Many thanks."

"And you're only telling me this now?"

Yu Chen curled his lip.

"Hahaha..."

Xu Qing burst into laughter.

"If you really want to thank me, my son will be coming of age soon. If you truly master Eight Extremities Fist and have the time, you can teach my son."

Yu Chen said, "Of course. I'll pay you tuition."

"You have a son too?"

Xu Qing asked in surprise.

"Is that so strange?"

Yu Chen shot back.

"Sure."

Xu Qing shrugged. "As for the tuition, I won't waive it. I'm short on money right now—I even took the risk of joining the Patrol Team just to earn some."

"You won't be short a single coin."

Yu Chen felt that Xu Qing was even more like a money-grubbing profiteer than he was. "You still owe me a hundred taels."