Settling in the Inner City

Three days later, in Cheng Heng's small courtyard in the Outer City.

After the sparring match that day, Cheng Heng had gone to the Inner City, where the Wang Family found a renowned physician to treat his injuries. Fortunately, the wounds were not too serious, and only then did the Wang Family finally let out the breath they had been holding.

Seeing that there was no serious issue, Cheng Heng took leave and remained at home these past few days to recuperate.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A sudden knock came from outside. Li Qingwan, who was beside him, hurriedly went to open the door.

It turned out to be Wang Duchuan and Wang Ming.

The moment Wang Duchuan entered, he clasped his fists, his expression solemn.

"Cheng Heng, this time, you saved my Wang Family in our hour of peril. For such a great kindness, I truly do not know how to repay you."

"From this day onward, you are an honored guest of my Wang Family. Should you ever need anything from us, we will brave fire and water without hesitation!"

"Your future subsidy will also be raised to one hundred taels of silver per month, along with ten Essence-Blood Pills."

Cheng Heng rose to his feet, just about to decline, when Wang Duchuan cut him off.

"I never expected that, as a martial artist on the verge of Hidden Force Completion, you would still be living in the Outer City."

"Ming, immediately inform the steward. Have him select an excellent residence in the Inner City and give it to Cheng Heng!"

Cheng Heng had wanted to refuse, but Wang Duchuan's enthusiasm was too much to withstand. In the end, he could only accept.

Wang Duchuan had actually feared that Cheng Heng would refuse. Only after seeing him accept did he secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

This young man Cheng Heng was the most successful investment the Wang Family had made in all these years.

Fortunately, they had agreed to Wang Ming's request back then. Otherwise, who knew what state the Wang Family would have fallen into today!

Moreover, Wang Duchuan believed that in the near future, Cheng Heng would surely take another step forward and reach a realm beyond Skill-Transforming Force.

If he could seize a place in the top ten of the Martial Examination and enter one of the prestigious orthodox sects in the prefectural city to begin cultivating, then perhaps beyond Skill-Transforming Force...

They absolutely could not let this opportunity slip away. The Wang Family had to forge ties with Cheng Heng, this hidden dragon!

Wang Duchuan and Wang Ming inquired after Cheng Heng's well-being for quite some time, then left behind many precious medicinal herbs before finally bidding him farewell.

That very afternoon, the Wang Family sent someone to deliver a deed for a residence in the Inner City to Cheng Heng's home.

The next morning, Cheng Heng and Li Qingwan took the deed and arrived together before the residence the Wang Family had purchased.

The courtyard covered no small area and had two sections. For just Cheng Heng and Li Qingwan, it was more than spacious enough.

Li Qingwan wandered through the rooms with delight written all over her face.

"This room can be the kitchen, this one the reception hall, and this one will be our bedroom!"

"Brother Heng, it all feels like a dream. I never thought we would move into the Inner City too, and into such a large courtyard at that! How much silver do you think this residence cost?"

Cheng Heng looked fondly at Li Qingwan, who was practically dancing with joy before him.

"This courtyard is considered above average even in the Inner City. I'm afraid it cost no less than four hundred taels of silver!"

"Four hundred taels! Heavens!"

Li Qingwan covered her cherry lips, her face full of disbelief.

How long had it even been? Yet Brother Heng had already brought earth-shaking changes to her life!

The two chatted idly in the courtyard for a while longer before Li Qingwan eagerly began tidying the place.

Every piece of furniture and every household item had already been purchased for the residence. Cheng Heng could move in directly.

The Wang Family had truly been thoughtful, Cheng Heng thought to himself.

Afterward, Cheng Heng carefully took stock of all his possessions.

Thirty-seven taels of silver, more than a dozen Essence-Blood Pills, and a copy of the Vajra Art.

This little silver would not be enough to spend. Luckily, he now had the Wang Family's full support, so he presumably would not lack cultivation resources for the time being. He only needed to devote all his energy to the Martial Examination two months from now.

He would strive to take his strength another step forward before the Martial Examination.

Though Cheng Heng had become somewhat well-known in Gaoyang County, he would never underestimate anyone else.

He had never fought the descendants of the five martial halls and four great lineages. Those people lacked neither cultivation resources nor techniques, so their strength naturally could not be taken lightly.

For this Martial Examination, he still had to go all out!

In the days that followed, Cheng Heng's life returned to tranquility.

Apart from patrolling the Inner City each day, he trained in stance arts and fist techniques at the martial hall.

After returning to the residence, he practiced the Vajra Art and the Mountain-Cleaving Saber Technique, living like an ascetic monk!

[Destiny: Heaven Rewards Diligence]

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

[Vajra Art, Second Layer: (569/2000)]

[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art, Major Mastery (3000/7000): Ten practices a day, completion in three years]

[Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique, Major Mastery (3017/7000): Ten practices a day, completion in three years]

[Mountain-Cleaving Saber Technique, Major Mastery (3212/5000): Ten practices a day, completion in one year]

[Martial Dao Space: Unlocked (Charging 88/100)]

In the blink of an eye, a month passed. The injuries on his body had fully healed, and the proficiency of all his martial arts was steadily rising.

During this period, visitors came to Cheng Heng's home in an endless stream, all merchants and landowners drawn by his reputation.

Because of his earlier defeat of Wu Zhenyue, Cheng Heng had become a somewhat renowned Hidden Force martial artist in Gaoyang County. The wealthy households who came to visit all wished to sponsor Cheng Heng and have him work for them.

Cheng Heng declined each and every wealthy household that came to recruit him.

He currently had the Wang Family's full support and lacked no cultivation resources. Naturally, he was unwilling to waste energy taking on nominal posts. He only wished to devote all his effort to advancing in martial arts; Cheng Heng had little pursuit of worldly fame and profit.

One day, Cheng Heng arrived at the county office as usual, only to be stopped by He County Magistrate and brought to his study.

"I was right about you, Cheng Heng. In such a short time, you have grown to this extent. The younger generation is truly to be feared!"

He County Magistrate lightly sipped the tea in his hand, his face filled with appreciation.

Cheng Heng looked respectful as he clasped his fists. "It is all thanks to the County Magistrate's cultivation that this subordinate has come this far!"

"Hahaha, Cheng Heng, there is no need to flatter me. I summoned you today because there is an important matter for you to handle."

Cheng Heng's heart tightened, and he said seriously, "Please give your instructions, County Magistrate!"

"The matter of the batch of medicinal herbs seized by the bandits around the New Year has now been investigated by the county office. The Li Family acted behind the scenes, and the missing batch of herbs was swallowed by the Li Family as well!"

"We act tomorrow. Exterminate the Li Family and make up for the losses from those medicinal herbs!"

He County Magistrate spoke with an icy expression.

The prefectural city had put considerable pressure on him. It had taken months of investigation to fully grasp the evidence. If the case remained unsolved any longer, he would not need to keep his position as County Magistrate.

Cheng Heng's heart jolted. So it really was as I thought. Those bandits alone would never have dared to make a move and swallow such a huge batch of medicinal herbs!

There truly had been an insider, but Cheng Heng had never expected that insider to be the Li Family!

This left Cheng Heng even more baffled. As a great lineage that had entrenched itself in Gaoyang County for so long, the Li Family lacked neither fame nor profit. Why would they risk everything to swallow the county office's medicinal herbs?

Though the Great Gan Dynasty's power was far weaker than before and it no longer possessed its former control, its lingering might still remained!

Any force that wished to touch the court's possessions had to weigh the matter carefully!