Settling the Score

Li Zepei, who had been quietly observing the sparring from the side, slowly said:

"Old Wu, you've truly taken in an uncut jade!"

Delighted inside, Wu Zhong nodded in agreement.

"Hall Master Li flatters him. Cheng Heng only achieved what he has today through his unwavering daily training."

Wu Zhong was not exaggerating. When Cheng Heng had first entered the martial hall, his natural aptitude had only been below average. Wu Zhong had not held much hope for him.

But unexpectedly, Cheng Heng had trained harder than any disciple Wu Zhong had ever encountered. Everything Cheng Heng had achieved today had come entirely from day and night of bitter cultivation.

After the people from Prosperity Martial Academy left, the many disciples of Tiger-Subduing Martial Hall returned to their places.

Cheng Heng swept his gaze around and, to his surprise, spotted Zhou Qing shrinking away amid the crowd.

A cold glint flashed through Cheng Heng's eyes, though his face revealed no emotion.

Zhou Qing had previously hired mountain bandits to take his life. Cheng Heng had yet to settle that debt with him!

In another three months, he would be heading for Qingchuan Prefectural City. It was time to bring things to an end!

The many matches that followed were also extremely fierce, with promising young talents emerging from time to time, but they still paled greatly beside Cheng Heng and Shen Liang's bout.

As the sun set behind the western hills, the Gaoyang Martial Gathering finally came to an end.

The various martial halls dispersed one after another!

Back at the martial hall, Wu Zhong summoned Cheng Heng alone to the inner courtyard.

"You performed very well today. I never expected you to advance to the Skill-Transforming Force realm in such a short time!"

Wu Zhong spoke to Cheng Heng with gratification.

Cheng Heng cupped his fists. "This disciple owes everything he has today to Master's teachings. If Master had not taken me in, I would never have what I have now!"

"Hahaha, there is no need for you to be so modest."

Wu Zhong chuckled softly, stroking the beard beneath his chin with his right hand. "At today's martial gathering, although you gravely injured Shen Liang of Prosperity Martial Academy, this matter is not yet over."

"Wu Yong is a man who never forgives the slightest grievance. You must be exceedingly careful of him!"

"Though he is already past fifty and his vitality and blood are declining, he is still an old-established Skill-Transforming Force martial artist. Do not underestimate him!"

Wu Zhong paused, then spoke in a solemn tone.

"The token for Qingchuan Prefectural City will likely arrive in another three months. During this time, try not to show your face again."

"Once you leave for Qingchuan Prefectural City, Qingwan can come live at my martial hall. Then you will have no worries behind you!"

Warmth rose in Cheng Heng's heart at those words, and he answered solemnly:

"This disciple thanks Master for the reminder. I will certainly act with caution from now on!"

Looking at Cheng Heng's current stature, Wu Zhong could not help sighing in emotion.

"You have been in my martial hall for less than a year and a half in total, yet you have advanced by leaps and bounds, reaching the Skill-Transforming Force realm in such a short time."

"After reaching Qingchuan Prefectural City, you must cultivate as diligently as before. Perhaps you may advance another step and reach the realm above Skill-Transforming Force—the Core-Embracing Force realm!"

"Since you still have three months before leaving Gaoyang County, I shall tell you about the distribution of forces in Qingchuan Prefectural City!"

Cheng Heng was delighted upon hearing this. He would be heading to Qingchuan Prefectural City in three months, yet he was still completely in the dark about the place!

"Above Gaoyang County lies Qingchuan Prefecture, which governs a total of seventy-seven cities like Gaoyang County!"

"Within Qingchuan Prefecture, the forces are tangled and intertwined. Sects, the authorities, aristocratic families, merchant associations, and escort agencies all restrain and guard against one another."

"However, in terms of strength, the first-rate forces are the five great sects."

"Mountain-Shaking Sect, Azure Water Pavilion, Myriad Swords Sect, Heavenly Treasure Sect, and Cloudpiercing Sect."

"These five sects are the unquestioned leading powers of Qingchuan Prefecture. Together with the authorities, they govern Qingchuan Prefecture. Your goal is to join one of these five great sects!"

"Below them are the forces of the authorities. They command Qingchuan Prefecture's troops and maintain order in the prefectural city, making them the strongest force beneath the sects."

"Below that are three great aristocratic families, two merchant associations, and the Thundering Lightning Escort Agency, which monopolizes the movement of goods throughout Qingchuan Prefecture."

"The three great martial families—the Wu Clan, Wang Family, and Zhang Family—have been passed down in Qingchuan Prefecture for centuries. Their clans possess superior cultivation methods and martial arts, and their connections run deep. They are third-rate powers within the prefectural city."

"Further below are the two merchant associations and the Thundering Lightning Escort Agency. Their commercial networks spread across all seventy-seven cities of Qingchuan Prefecture. They possess the greatest wealth and wield broad influence!"

Cheng Heng listened with a serious expression, committing every word Wu Zhong said firmly to heart.

The situation in Qingchuan Prefectural City was several times more complicated than in Gaoyang County. Wu Zhong's guidance today had cleared away the fog before him, and Cheng Heng benefited greatly!

When he went to Qingchuan Prefecture in the future, he would be able to watch out for the various forces instead of remaining a reckless hothead.

After saying this, Wu Zhong's expression grew somewhat forlorn.

"Alright, it is already late. Go back early."

Cheng Heng cupped his fists to take his leave of Wu Zhong, then departed the martial hall and returned to his small courtyard!

The night was deep. After returning to his small courtyard, Cheng Heng did not immediately go to rest.

Instead, he waited until midnight, preparing to go to the residence where Zhou Qing lived and demand an explanation from him!

Zhou Residence.

Ever since Zhou Qing had failed to have Cheng Heng killed by the mountain bandits he hired, he had feared day and night that the matter would be exposed. He rarely even went to the martial hall anymore, afraid Cheng Heng would discover it.

At today's martial gathering, Cheng Heng had actually broken through to the Skill-Transforming Force realm. This matter made Zhou Qing even more terrified!

After returning to the residence that evening, Zhou Qing could no longer suppress the fear in his heart. Once his injuries had healed, he would immediately leave Gaoyang County and go elsewhere.

As long as he no longer came into contact with Cheng Heng, he would be willing to flee to the ends of the earth!

He simply could not bear these days of constant fear and anxiety while remaining near such a ruthless Skill-Transforming Force expert.

Zhou Qing lay in bed, lost in thought, when he suddenly heard a gust of wind outside the window!

"Who is it?"

Zhou Qing was so frightened that his soul nearly left his body, cold sweat immediately beading across his forehead.

Yet before he could even rise and react, a black shadow smashed straight through the door!

Carrying a howling gale of force, it lunged directly at his face.

It was Cheng Heng, who had come under cover of night to take revenge!

Cheng Heng's fist carried a terrifying gale of force as it brutally smashed into Zhou Qing's forehead without warning.

Poor Zhou Qing had been injured by Shen Liang during the day and had no strength to fight back at that moment.

Caught completely off guard, he was immediately struck in the forehead by Cheng Heng's punch!

"Pfft!"

Before Zhou Qing could cry out or make a move, a dull sound rang out—the sound of his skull being completely shattered!

By the moonlight, one could vaguely see that Zhou Qing's skull had been utterly crushed. Red and white fluids mixed together on the bed, making for a horrifying sight.

"Uh... uh..."

Zhou Qing's body twitched twice more, incoherent sounds escaping his throat before he finally breathed his last!

Cheng Heng's gaze was icy. After briefly searching the room and finding nothing valuable, his figure flickered, and he vanished soundlessly into the vast night!

With Cheng Heng's current Skill-Transforming Force strength, naturally no one could detect any of this!