Li Family, Retaliation

Zhan Yun was a martial arts disciple selected from the Inner City by the Wang Family for focused cultivation. He possessed above-average aptitude.

In just a few short years, he had cultivated to Hidden Force Great Completion.

Unfortunately, three months earlier, he had sparred with Jiang Ning, the chief disciple of Thunderclap Martial Academy, and been severely injured. He had yet to recover!

Wang Duchuan went over the many martial artists sponsored by the Wang Family again and again in his mind, but in the end, he could only let out a long sigh.

There was no one to use!

Though they usually sponsored quite a few martial artists, when the time came to truly put them to use, not a single one could shoulder the main pillar!

"Forget it!"

Wang Duchuan closed his aching eyes, his voice full of exhaustion.

"We'll yield Jingshan's territory. I only hope the Yang Family will be satisfied, and that we can live in harmony from now on!"

Having said that, he let out another deep sigh. At this point, this was the only thing they could do!

The Wang Family had once again ceded a territory, leaving them with only twenty percent of Gaoyang County's medicinal herb trade. Their days ahead would surely be worse still.

But if they fought the Yang Family until fish died and the net broke, the result would likely be the Wang Family being completely swallowed up, with no foothold left for them in Gaoyang County!

The next day, Cheng Heng arrived at the county yamen. Just as he was preparing to conduct his usual patrol, he ran into Wang Ming, whose brows were tightly furrowed.

Cheng Heng asked in confusion,

"What is it, Brother Wang? Did something happen?"

Wang Ming answered absentmindedly, "It's nothing serious. No need to worry."

He then looked around again. Only after seeing that no one was nearby did he speak.

"Cheng Heng, when you patrol the Inner City lately, be careful in all things. Especially with those great households—if you can avoid offending them, then avoid it!"

"The county lieutenant has already uncovered a few clues. Once he obtains solid evidence, he plans to move against the Li Family."

"You only need to know this matter. Remember, do not spread it!"

The Li Family?

The Li Family that monopolized all of Gaoyang County's medicinal herb trade?

Cheng Heng frowned slightly. "Could it be related to the bandits robbing the medicinal herbs?"

Afterward, Cheng Heng had carefully reviewed the matter as well. If there had not been an insider colluding with them, how could those mountain bandits of Black Crow Mountain have accomplished something so enormous with their strength?

The situation in Gaoyang County's Inner City truly had undercurrents surging beneath the surface!

The Li Family's patriarch was also an established Skill-Transforming Force martial artist. His strength could not be underestimated.

Increase his strength!

He had to increase his strength as soon as possible. Only then could he seek a sliver of survival amid the gathering storm!

After Wang Ming gave Cheng Heng a few more reminders, he finally left, weighed down with worry.

Cheng Heng quietly committed the matter to heart, then began patrolling the Inner City.

Inner City, Zhou Clan Residence.

Though the Zhou Clan's strength in the Inner City could not compare to the five great Lineages, they were still a wealthy household with considerable assets.

At this moment, Zhou Qing lay on his bed with his chest wrapped in bandages, his face pale and his expression gloomy.

Zhou Qing no longer possessed his usual imposing air. His bloodstained martial outfit had been changed, but blood still occasionally seeped from the wounds beneath the bandages around his chest.

The injuries he had received in his fight with Cheng Heng were not light!

It took a hundred days to heal muscles and bones. Zhou Qing might not even fully recover before the Martial Examination.

Being injured was secondary. What he hated most was how Cheng Heng had made him unable to save face before everyone. In full view of the crowd, he had suffered a crushing defeat. When he returned to Rich Household Martial Academy, who would still recognize him as their senior brother?

"Damn it! Unless I kill Cheng Heng, this hatred will never be appeased!"

At that thought, Zhou Qing viciously slapped the bed with his right hand, only to aggravate the wound in his chest again. The pain made him bare his teeth in agony.

At that moment, the door was gently pushed open. A servant dressed in a short gray outfit entered with his head bowed and a respectful expression, waiting quietly before Zhou Qing for orders.

It took Zhou Qing a long time to barely suppress the pain in his chest. He spoke hoarsely to the servant before him.

"Come here."

The servant hurried forward, bent over beside the bed, and listened closely.

"There is something you must do immediately. Go find the stronghold chief of the Black Wind Stronghold bandits outside the city. Give him this letter and tell him that I want someone dead."

"No matter what methods they use, as long as they dispose of this person cleanly and efficiently, I'll give them fifty taels of gold after it is done, along with twenty Essence-Blood Pills!"

As he spoke, a flash of viciousness passed through Zhou Qing's eyes, and an unhealthy flush appeared on his pale face.

"Remember, heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know. No third person must learn of this, or else..."

The words he left unsaid carried chilling killing intent. There was no need to say more; the servant naturally understood the deeper meaning.

The servant's entire body trembled. He hurriedly bowed deeply, his tone terrified.

"This lowly one will remember Young Master's instructions. I will set out tonight and see it properly done. Not the slightest whisper of it will leak!"

Zhou Qing slightly closed his eyes and weakly waved his right hand. Then he began regulating his breathing with his eyes shut.

It was not as though he had not considered the martial academies or acquaintances from the martial world within the city. But Cheng Heng was, after all, a constable of the county yamen. The relationships within the Inner City were tangled and intricate, making it easy for others to discover the matter. Acting there would draw too much attention.

Only those bandits outside the city would do. They were all desperate men with no ties or attachments. As long as they were paid, they would get the job done.

After finishing a day of patrols, Cheng Heng returned to his small courtyard.

Having only recently been promoted to constable, he had just over forty taels of silver on hand—not enough to buy a residence in the Inner City—so Cheng Heng still lived in the Outer City.

[Destiny: Heaven Rewards Diligence]

[Persevere without ceasing, and achievement will surely come.]

[Vajra Art, First Layer: (985/1000)]

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art, Great Completion (1258/7000): Practice ten times a day, reach perfection in three years]

[Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique, Great Completion (1125/7000): Practice ten times a day, reach perfection in three years]

[Mountain-Cleaving Saber Technique, Great Completion (2589/5000): Practice ten times a day, reach perfection in one year]

[Martial Dao Space: Unlocked (Charging 80/100)]

Taking out the final slice of Blood Ginseng, Cheng Heng felt some reluctance, but he still swallowed it in one bite. Then, taking advantage of the ginseng's medicinal power, he began cultivating the Vajra Art.

At the martial academy, Cheng Heng focused wholeheartedly on cultivating his stance art and fist technique. Only after returning to his small courtyard would he practice his external hardening art.

After all, there were too many eyes and ears in the martial academy. Cheng Heng regarded this external hardening art as a trump card, so naturally, the fewer people who knew of it, the better!

Moonlight shrouded the small courtyard, and a gentle breeze passed through it, making everything seem peaceful and tranquil.

Cheng Heng removed the martial outfit he had worn during the day, baring his upper body. His frame was now tall and burly, every muscle full and solid, his shoulders broad and his back thick.

His arms were thick and powerful, veins lurking beneath his flesh. His chest and abdomen were hard and taut, his leg muscles dense and weighty. Every inch of muscle across his body was firm and full, brimming with an oppressive sense of strength.

Taking advantage of the Blood Ginseng's medicinal power, Cheng Heng began practicing the Vajra Art. He spread his legs apart, turned his toes inward, followed the art's mnemonic verses, and suddenly exerted force through the muscles in both arms.

His fists alternately and slowly pounded his own chest, abdomen, ribs, and thighs.

Dull bang bang sounds rang out without pause. Cheng Heng carefully controlled the force, increasing it step by step, while the qi and blood throughout his body surged and crashed along his meridians. This was the Vajra Art's method for tempering flesh and muscle in its first layer.

After striking himself hundreds of times, sweat from his forehead kept dripping down his chin, and his muscles and bones gradually began to ache. Only then did Cheng Heng slowly withdraw his power.

[Vajra Art, First Layer: (992/1000)]

Haste made waste. His body had already been pounded to its limit today. Looking at the Vajra Art, which was about to break through to the second layer, Cheng Heng suppressed the impulse in his heart and decided to make the breakthrough tomorrow.