Death Note

"Your humble servant failed to recognize Mount Tai and offended you, sir. If you can spare my life, I'm willing to give you every last bit of my property!"

As he spoke, the tall, skinny bandit repeatedly kowtowed to Cheng Heng before him.

Cheng Heng stared expressionlessly at the man, then slowly walked over to him.

A flash of panic crossed the tall, skinny bandit's eyes. His final shred of luck vanished—this man would not spare him!

As the kneeling bandit waited for Cheng Heng to approach, he suddenly pulled a dagger from his robes with his left hand.

The dagger gleamed with a blood-red poisonous light. From such close range, it stabbed straight for Cheng Heng's heart!

"Humph!"

Cheng Heng had anticipated it. He sidestepped, then seized the man's left wrist with force.

Crack!

Without the slightest hesitation, he snapped the man's left arm.

Cheng Heng immediately threw a punch, his Hidden Force striking directly at the tall, skinny bandit's chest.

Bang!

A gaping hole was smashed through the bandit's chest. The Hidden Force churned his blood and qi into chaos, and broken, rasping sounds came from his throat. Then he collapsed limply to the ground, devoid of life!

In just a few breaths, two Hidden Force bandits who had run rampant outside the city, imposing and fearsome, had both died at Cheng Heng's hands.

Cheng Heng swiftly searched the two corpses. After stripping every valuable item from them, he quickly left the scene.

Deaths often occurred in the Outer City. These two corpses were nothing unusual.

By tomorrow morning, someone would naturally toss the bodies into the desolate wilderness!

After finishing all this, Cheng Heng hurried home.

When Li Qingwan saw Cheng Heng return, she quickly stepped forward and asked:

"Brother Heng, why are you back so late today? Nothing happened, did it?"

Her tone was filled with worry.

Cheng Heng calmly reassured her:

"Don't worry. In Gaoyang County now, there aren't many people who can threaten me."

"That's good! That's good!"

Li Qingwan let out a long breath of relief, then brought Cheng Heng his meal. "Brother Heng, hurry and eat while it's hot!"

"Mhm." Cheng Heng nodded lightly, then said:

"It won't be long. I'll buy a residence in the Inner City as soon as possible, and then we'll move there."

What happened tonight had served as a warning to Cheng Heng.

The Outer City was ultimately too dangerous. He did not need to fear for himself with his skills, but Li Qingwan was different. She was merely an ordinary woman without the strength to truss a chicken!

Though Li Qingwan was somewhat delighted, after thinking for a moment, she slowly said:

"Brother Heng, your martial arts training is what matters now. You should save the money to buy medicinal pills."

"I've grown used to living in this courtyard. Besides, ever since you became a constable captain, all the neighbors have been polite to us. Even those gangs that commit every evil deed don't dare provoke us!"

"You don't need to worry about this. In a few months at most, I'll make sure you move into the Inner City."

Cheng Heng made the final decision with one hammer blow, and Li Qingwan said no more afterward.

Once they moved into the Inner City as soon as possible, Cheng Heng would no longer have any worries behind him.

After dinner, Li Qingwan cleared away the bowls and chopsticks. Cheng Heng rested briefly, then began cultivating the Vajra Art once more.

At the same time, he silently engraved the name Zhou Qing in his heart. This man had already been listed as someone he must kill.

Time flashed by, and another two months passed. Only the final two months remained before the Martial Examination began.

Cheng Heng became increasingly diligent. Every day of his life was essentially a three-point line.

The martial arts school, the county office, and the Outer City. At the same time, his cultivation steadily improved.

At the Wang Family, the atmosphere was as though black clouds pressed down overhead.

In the main hall as well, two Wang Family disciples wrapped in bandages lay pale-faced upon stretchers!

These two disciples were the Hidden Force martial artists who had guarded the Wang Family's final territory!

Wang Duchuan stared at the two injured disciples with an ashen face, the fury in his heart seeming ready to erupt at any moment.

"The Yang Family! They've gone too far in bullying us!"

Everyone in the hall was equally indignant.

Ever since the Wang Family withdrew from Jingshan and retained only their final piece of territory, the Yang Family had begun to nibble away at the Wang Family before long.

Whenever they had nothing better to do, they came to the Wang Family to pick quarrels and stir up trouble, determined to force the Wang Family into a dead end!

Their earlier concession had been taken by the Yang Family as a sign of weakness!

Wang Ming was silent for a long while before finally saying desolately:

"The Yang Family just came by. They said that in five days, they want to compete with us and settle once and for all who controls Gaoyang County's herb-gathering business!"

"The winner monopolizes it. The loser is driven out of Gaoyang County!"

The entire hall fell silent, the atmosphere oppressive as an ice cellar.

Wang Duchuan's face twitched. A savage look flashed in his eyes as he said, "The Yang Family is forcing us onto a road of no return. We have only one path to choose—only a martial contest!"

Wang Ming's face was full of gravity.

The Wang Family no longer had any Hidden Force martial artists they could put forward!

The family's disciples were either old or young. They were absolutely no match for Wu Zhenyue.

The Yang Family had made it clear that they wanted to drive the Wang Family completely out of Gaoyang County!

"Father, if there's truly no other way, shall I ask Zhan Yun to take action?"

Wang Ming said bitterly.

Zhan Yun was a martial artist the Wang Family had fully supported ever since he was at Bright Force. Though he had been injured some time ago, several months had now passed, and his wounds should have healed.

Wang Duchuan let out a deep sigh, and a sliver of hope rekindled in his eyes.

"Go ask Zhan Yun. At present, this is the only way!"

After hearing Wang Duchuan's words, Wang Ming hurried to a residence on the eastern side of the Inner City to find Zhan Yun.

The residence where Zhan Yun lived had been purchased for him by the Wang Family. Even in the Inner City, it counted as a sizable courtyard.

After finding Zhan Yun, Wang Ming got straight to the point.

"Zhan Yun, how has your recovery been?"

Seeing Wang Ming's hurried expression, Zhan Yun quickly asked:

"Brother Wang, what is so urgent?"

Wang Ming took a deep breath, his expression grave.

"It's about the martial contest with the Yang Family. The Yang Family sent word that in five days, they will fight our Wang Family in a contest to decide life and death!"

Zhan Yun's expression changed, and his face immediately filled with difficulty.

"Brother Wang, you... you know that my old injury from sparring with someone last time hasn't healed yet. If I take action this time, I'm afraid I won't be able to compete!"

As a retainer heavily supported by the Wang Family, Zhan Yun naturally knew of the conflict between the Wang and Yang Families, and he understood Wu Zhenyue's abilities very well.

Wu Zhenyue was already an expert close to Hidden Force Great Completion. Zhan Yun was certainly no match for him.

This matter concerned life and death. It was no wonder he shrank back at the crucial moment.

Upon hearing this, the final thread of hope that had risen in Wang Ming's heart was completely extinguished.

At the same time, a powerful feeling of disappointment surged through him. The world was cold, and people were truly this pragmatic!

Back then, the Wang Family had valued Zhan Yun when he was at Bright Force, then spared no effort in supporting him, nurturing him step by step until he reached the Hidden Force realm.

The silver and effort spent on this were beyond counting!

He had never expected that today would bring such an outcome. Even if Zhan Yun repeatedly declined, he should not have been this cold-hearted.

Looking at the tightly shut courtyard gate, Wang Ming felt as if his soul had been ripped away. Numbly, he returned to the county office.