Trouble Comes Knocking

As the sun set in the west, Cheng Heng dragged his weary body back to the little courtyard.

Li Qingwan was cutting cloth at the time, 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 already prepared dinner. Come and 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 would make it!"

After entering the house and sitting down, 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 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? Did they make some other demand?"

Li Qingwan fell silent for a moment, her heart heavy.

"Yes, Brother Heng. Usually, the Black Tiger Gang only collects incense money once every six months. I don't know what happened this time, but they actually said they would come again in one month. They claimed that the Dragon King was angered this year and demanded another five hundred coins of incense money!"

"The silver we have left, plus the small change I earn at the tailor shop, should be enough to get us through three months. But if they demand another five hundred coins, then we truly won't be able to afford it!"

Hmph! The Black Tiger Gang had already set foot on the road to death!

Cheng Heng's face turned cold as he comforted her.

"You don't need to worry. Just stay home and put your mind at ease. I'll settle this matter!"

If he had not begun practicing martial arts before this, he truly would have been somewhat worried. But he had already successfully entered the martial hall as a disciple and learned the foundational stance.

One month from now, he would certainly have mastered the Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique as well. By then, how could these Black Tiger Gang lackeys possibly be his match?

But the Black Tiger Gang was so eager for money that there had to be a reason. In past 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 was bound to be something fishy!

He had already entered the martial hall, and his connections were broader than before. Over the next few days, he would make inquiries, see what was happening with the Black Tiger Gang, and then decide what to do!

Early the next morning, after Cheng Heng washed up and was just about to head to the martial hall, he heard clanging crashes and shouts from the neighboring courtyard. It was Zhang Xiaohu's home.

Cheng Heng quickened his pace and entered the small courtyard. He saw Zhang Xiaohu's father clutching his bloody leg, lying on the ground and howling in pain.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaohu and his mother were desperately begging Li Er and Wang Pockmark of the Black Tiger Gang.

"Please, sirs, show us mercy. There truly isn't any extra money in the house. Please give us a few more days. Once we gather enough incense money, we'll hand it over to you immediately!"

Zhang's mother looked frantic as she pleaded bitterly.

The fat Li Er wore a cold expression. "Hmph. Then I'll give you a little over a month. One month from now, if you still can't scrape together the incense money, then just wait for your home to be ransacked and your family wiped out!"

With that, Li Er and Wang Pockmark swaggered toward the courtyard gate. Raising their heads, they spotted Cheng Heng outside.

"Well, if it isn't the great scholar Cheng? Your family managed to scrape together five hundred coins of incense money yesterday. But one month from now, if you don't pay again, you'll end up just like them."

As he spoke, he leered and stepped close to Cheng Heng. "But if your wife is willing to keep me company for a few nights, perhaps I'll open the net on one side and waive your family's incense money. Hahahaha!"

With that, the two turned and strutted away.

Cheng Heng sneered inwardly, but his face revealed nothing. He had already engraved those two deeply in his heart!

It seemed he had to accelerate his progress in the stance and fist technique as soon as possible. Cheng Heng could not wait until one month later. Once his strength was sufficient, he would hack those two men to pieces!

After their footsteps had completely faded away, Cheng Heng hurried into the courtyard, helped Zhang Xiaohu's father up, and comforted him.

"Uncle Zhang, are your injuries serious?"

Zhang Xiaohu stood nearby, pale-faced and at a loss. After all, he was only a fifteen-year-old child.

"Heavens, how are you supposed to let us live? The usual exorbitant taxes and levies already leave people unable to catch their breath, yet these damned bandit gangs still want to force people onto a dead-end road!"

Cheng Heng remained silent at the side. His fists had long been clenched within his sleeves, and the killing intent in his heart had grown dense to the extreme.

Zhang Xiaohu's family was honest and simple, never daring to offend anyone in their daily lives, yet they had suffered such a calamity for no reason.

Moreover, Zhang Xiaohu had done him the favor of introducing him to the martial hall!

But he could not let others know of his plan to eliminate those two Black Tiger Gang members. He could only keep soothing Father Zhang and Mother Zhang.

Then he strode quickly toward the martial hall. Today's training could not be delayed, 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 the stance with meticulous focus.

Not until noon did he finally see Fourth Senior Brother Zhao Wei again.

After exchanging greetings, Cheng Heng pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Fourth Senior Brother, I want to ask you about something. I wonder if you know the situation."

Zhao Wei looked startled. "Junior Brother Cheng Heng, do you have some question about martial arts?"

"It's like this, Senior Brother Zhao. A few days ago in the Outer City, I saw the Black Tiger Gang in a dispute with another gang. They had even drawn weapons against each other. I wanted to ask you about the recent situation among the gangs in the Outer City."

Fourth Senior Brother Zhao Wei had practiced martial arts 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 into Hidden Force, so he naturally knew the various circumstances within the Outer City well.

"I heard someone mention this a few days ago. The Black Tiger Gang has recently been fighting the River Tide Gang fiercely."

"The River Tide Gang is somewhat stronger than the Black Tiger Gang. Quite a bit of the Black Tiger Gang's territory and business has already been seized. Their leader, Li Black Tiger, is also a Bright Force martial artist, but I heard he was badly 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 it, everything that had happened recently became connected.

The gang battle he had seen on the street a few days ago, along with the Black Tiger Gang's recent squeezing of incense money—everything now had a trail to follow.

The Black Tiger Gang was already at the end of the road. They probably wanted to make one last haul before fleeing.

In one month, he would have learned both the stance and the fist technique. Li Er and Wang Pockmark would certainly be no match for him. Then he would settle both old and new grudges 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. These next few days, you must properly temper your qi and blood. You must know that qi and blood are the foundation of everything!"

"I understand, Senior Brother!"

Cheng Heng respectfully clasped his hands in salute!