As the sun set in the west, Cheng Heng dragged his weary body back to the little courtyard.
Li Qingwan was cutting cloth, working hard at odd jobs to help support the household.
Seeing Cheng Heng return, she hurriedly set down her work.
"Brother Heng, how did martial training go today? I've had dinner ready for ages. Come eat quickly."
Cheng Heng smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I successfully got started in martial training today. As long as we endure the first three months, our days will definitely get better!"
"That's wonderful! I knew Brother Heng could do it!"
After sitting down inside, Cheng Heng looked at the food on the table and began wolfing it down.
Li Qingwan watched silently from the side before cautiously speaking.
"Brother Heng, Li Er and Wang Pockmark from the Black Tiger Gang came again today. I gave them the five hundred copper coins of incense money, but..."
Cheng Heng looked up. "Don't clash with them at home. If they want incense money, give it to them. What is it? Do they have some other demand?"
Li Qingwan fell silent for a moment, her heart heavy.
"Yes, Brother Heng. The Black Tiger Gang usually collects incense money only once every half year. But I don't know what happened this time. They said they'll come again in a month, claiming that the Dragon King is angry this year, and they want another five hundred copper coins of incense money!"
"The silver we have left, plus the loose change I earn at the tailor shop, should be enough to get us through three months. But if they demand another five hundred coins, we truly won't be able to afford it!"
Hmph! The Black Tiger Gang had already earned themselves a death sentence!
Cheng Heng's expression turned cold as he comforted her.
"Don't worry. Just stay home without concern. I'll settle this matter!"
If he had not started practicing martial arts before this, he truly would have been worried. But he had already successfully entered the martial hall as a disciple and begun Stance Training.
A month from now, he would surely have begun the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique as well. By then, how could those Black Tiger Gang lackeys possibly be his match?
But the Black Tiger Gang was in such a hurry to demand money; there had to be a reason. In previous years, they would not drive the poor people of the Outer City to death. After all, even leeks needed time to grow—regular harvesting was the long-term way.
To drain the pond to catch the fish like this, there had to be something strange going on!
He had already entered the martial hall, and his connections were broader than before. Over the next few days, he would ask around about the Black Tiger Gang before making further plans!
Early the next morning, after Cheng Heng had washed up and was about to leave for the martial hall, he heard banging and smashing, along with shouted curses, from the neighboring courtyard. It was Zhang Xiaohu's home.
Cheng Heng hurried over to the courtyard and saw Zhang Xiaohu's father clutching his bloody thigh, lying on the ground and howling in pain.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaohu and his mother were desperately pleading with Li Er and Wang Pockmark of the Black Tiger Gang.
"Please, sirs, show mercy. There truly isn't any extra money in our home. Please grant us a few more days. Once we gather enough incense money, we'll definitely hand it over to you at once!"
Mother Zhang looked panicked as she begged bitterly.
The fat Li Er wore a cold expression. "Hmph. Then we'll grant you a little over a month. If you still can't gather the incense money after one month, then wait for your house to be confiscated and your whole family wiped out!"
With that, Li Er and Wang Pockmark swaggered toward the courtyard gate, only to look up and see Cheng Heng standing outside.
"Well, well, if it isn't the great scholar Cheng? Your family managed to scrape together five hundred copper coins of incense money yesterday. But one month from now, if you fail to pay again, your family will end up just like theirs."
As he spoke, he moved close to Cheng Heng with a lewd gleam in his eyes. "But if your wife is willing to serve me for a few nights, perhaps I'll open the net on one side and waive your family's incense money. Hahahaha!"
After saying that, the two turned and strutted away.
Cheng Heng sneered inwardly, but his face revealed nothing. He had already engraved these two men firmly in his heart!
It seemed he had to speed up his Stance Training and fist technique progress as soon as possible. Cheng Heng could not wait until a month later. Once his strength was sufficient, he would definitely hack these two men to death with a thousand cuts!
After their footsteps had completely faded away, Cheng Heng hurried into the courtyard, helped Zhang Xiaohu's father up, and consoled him.
"Uncle Zhang, are your injuries serious?"
Zhang Xiaohu's face was pale at the side, and he was completely at a loss. After all, he was only a fifteen-year-old child.
"Heavens! How are you supposed to let us live? The harsh taxes and levies usually leave us unable to catch our breath, yet now these damned bandit gangs want to force people onto the road to ruin!"
Cheng Heng remained silent at the side, his fists already clenched tightly within his sleeves, the killing intent in his heart growing dense to the extreme.
Zhang Xiaohu's family was honest and simple. They never dared offend anyone in their daily lives, yet disaster had fallen upon them for no reason.
Moreover, Zhang Xiaohu had done him the favor of introducing him to the martial hall!
But he could not let anyone else know that he intended to eliminate those two Black Tiger Gang members, so he could only keep soothing Father and Mother Zhang.
Then he strode swiftly toward the martial hall. He could not delay today's training, and over the next few days, he also needed to investigate the Black Tiger Gang's background.
After arriving at the martial hall, Cheng Heng immediately began practicing Stance Training with meticulous focus.
It was not until noon that he finally saw Fourth Senior Brother Zhao Wei again.
After exchanging greetings, Cheng Heng pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Fourth Senior Brother, I'd like to ask you about something. Do you know anything about it?"
Zhao Wei looked startled. "Junior Brother Cheng Heng, do you have some question regarding martial arts?"
"It's like this, Senior Brother Zhao. A few days ago in the Outer City, I saw the Black Tiger Gang clashing with another gang. They had even drawn weapons against one another. I wanted to ask about the recent situation among the gangs in the Outer City."
Fourth Senior Brother Zhao Wei had trained at the Tiger-Subduing Martial Hall for more than three years. He was a Bright Force martial artist and was said to be on the verge of breaking through to Hidden Force, so naturally he was familiar with all sorts of situations in the Outer City.
"I heard someone mention this a few days ago. The Black Tiger Gang has been fighting fiercely with the River Tide Gang lately."
"The River Tide Gang is slightly stronger than the Black Tiger Gang. It has already seized quite a bit of their territory and business. The Black Tiger Gang's leader, Li Black Tiger, is also a Bright Force martial artist. I heard he was severely injured by the River Tide Gang a few days ago. I'm afraid the Black Tiger Gang will soon be swallowed up by the River Tide Gang!"
So that was it. After Senior Brother Zhao explained things, everything that had happened recently became connected.
The brawl he had seen on the street a few days ago, as well as the Black Tiger Gang's recent squeezing of incense money—everything now had a trail to follow.
The Black Tiger Gang had already reached the end of the road. They probably wanted to squeeze out one final haul before fleeing.
Within one month, once he had learned both Stance Training and the fist technique, Li Er and Wang Pockmark would certainly be no match for him. Then he would settle old grudges and new debts together.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother. When can I begin learning the fist technique?"
After pondering for a moment, Cheng Heng asked Zhao Wei.
Zhao Wei laughed heartily. "Junior Brother Cheng is far too impatient. Ten days from now, Master will teach the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique. You can learn it then. For these next few days, you must thoroughly temper your qi and blood. Remember, qi and blood are the foundation of everything!"
"Understood, Senior Brother!"
Cheng Heng respectfully cupped his hands.
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