In the blink of an eye, more than twenty days had passed.
[Tiger-Subduing Stance Art, Beginner (333/1000): Practice ten times a day; minor mastery in three months, great mastery in one year] [Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique, Beginner (223/1000): Practice ten times a day; minor mastery in three months, great mastery in one year]
Over these twenty-odd days, Cheng Heng's martial realm had advanced by leaps and bounds. At the same time, however, the deadline agreed upon by Li Er and Wang Pockmark of the Black Tiger Gang drew ever closer.
Yet while Cheng Heng focused on his training, he had already found out where the two lived. He only needed to wait until tonight to strike first!
The household food money that should have lasted three months was about to be spent dry under Cheng Heng's buffalo-like appetite.
On a moonless, windy night, it was the perfect time to kill!
"Next month's food money will come out of the two of you!"
At the western end of the Outer City stood a secluded little courtyard, from which the faint sounds of a man and woman making merry drifted out. This was the residence of Li Er and Wang Pockmark.
Afterward, the two cleaned up the traces and drove the two prostitutes from the room before beginning their scheming.
"Brother Li, once we collect the last installment of incense money in the next couple of days, we need to get out of here fast. Gaoyang County isn't a place we can stay any longer!"
Wang Pockmark brought out a wine jar and filled the bowls on the table, his face full of worry.
The fighting between the River Tide Gang and the Black Tiger Gang had grown increasingly fierce. Neither of them had ever learned much martial arts.
In their daily lives, they had relied on their gang leader's power to borrow a tiger's might and lord it over others, exploiting the common folk. They had already offended no small number of people!
"Damn that dogshit River Tide Gang, making me flee for my life. If I'd had a few more days, that sour scholar Cheng Heng's wife might already have become a plaything beneath my crotch."
"Pah! I can't wait any longer. Tomorrow, we'll grab the last batch and get the hell out!"
With that, the two raised their wine bowls and drained them in one gulp, letting out wave after wave of lewd laughter.
"Creak! Creak!"
A series of sounds came from outside, like someone crushing branches beneath their feet!
The candle in the room seemed to have been brushed by the wind and suddenly went out!
"Who the hell is outside? Stop playing ghost tricks!"
The two men inside immediately turned deathly pale at the sight before them, their hairs standing on end!
Bang!
The door was kicked open. In the moonlight, the two finally saw the visitor's face.
It was Cheng Heng, who had been waiting for a long time!
"Y-you're Cheng Heng? Did you eat a bear's heart and a leopard's gall, coming here to scare your grandpa?"
After recognizing Cheng Heng, Li Er finally relaxed and immediately began cursing.
A cold gleam flashed through Cheng Heng's eyes. He said nothing more, taking several quick strides forward before smashing a fist into Li Er's chest.
Li Er could bully poor commoners well enough, but when it came to a real fight, how could he possibly be a match for Cheng Heng now?
Li Er spat out a mouthful of blood at once, a hollow caved into his chest as he collapsed onto the ground!
"Y-you really are Cheng Heng? Wang Pockmark, get him! Hurry, get him!"
Clutching his chest with both hands, Li Er howled in pain, his face twisted savagely.
Wang Pockmark's eyes widened as he roared, grabbed a stool from the side, and fiercely smashed it toward Cheng Heng's head.
Cheng Heng drew a deep breath, twisted at the waist, and sidestepped the stool. Then, with a Black Tiger Rips Out Heart, his clawed hands shot straight for Wang Pockmark's chest!
Squelch!
His claws pierced only Wang Pockmark's flesh and could go no deeper. Cheng Heng swiftly changed moves and punched him in the throat!
That was a vital point of the human body. Once struck, even if one did not die, half one's life would be ruined!
"Kh... kh..."
Wang Pockmark's eyes bulged furiously as he clutched his neck tightly with both hands. He was clearly taking in less air than he was letting out!
Cheng Heng's attacks did not stop. Another punch landed on Wang Pockmark's temple, and this blow finally took his life!
"Ah, I've trained in martial arts for too short a time. Otherwise, Wang Pockmark would have died from the first move. What a nuisance!"
After sweeping his gaze over Wang Pockmark's corpse, whose eyes remained wide open, Cheng Heng turned his attention back to Li Er.
Li Er had been stunned senseless by what he had seen. No matter what, he could not understand how Cheng Heng, who normally could not even truss a chicken, had disposed of Wang Pockmark in just two or three simple moves.
At this moment, he could no longer care about anything else. Twisting around, he dropped nimbly to his knees and repeatedly slammed his head hard against the floor!
"Master Cheng, this little one failed to recognize Mount Tai! Please spare this little one's life!"
"This little one has more than twenty taels of silver, all stored in the cabinet beneath the bed. Every bit of it belongs to Master Cheng!"
"As long as you spare this little one, I'll leave Gaoyang County at once. I'll roll as far away as possible and never again offend your eyes!"
Blood had already pooled on the floor. Wet stains spread across the front of his trousers, and a reek of urine filled the room, yet Li Er continued begging without pause!
Cheng Heng looked at Li Er mockingly. Then a cold light burst from his eyes as he grabbed the stool beside him and smashed it down on Li Er's head!
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
After smashing down more than a dozen times, red and white matter lay scattered all over the ground, and Li Er's face was no longer recognizable. Only then did Cheng Heng stop.
Cheng Heng immediately searched the room. Sure enough, he found twenty-two taels of silver in the cabinet beneath the bed. Satisfied at last, he left the small courtyard.
Without stopping, he made a circuit through the Outer City, then found another secluded spot. He burned all the blood-soaked clothes he had worn, changed into the clean clothes he had prepared in advance, and only then carefully returned home.
The moment he entered his own courtyard and tightly shut the gate, Cheng Heng finally let out a long breath!
Under the moonlight, Cheng Heng looked at his hands. He had thought he might feel nervous or want to vomit, but neither came.
Having killed two people in succession, Cheng Heng felt only a cold calm.
Ever since he had embarked upon the path of martial arts, Cheng Heng had long been prepared to kill and be killed.
Besides, in times like these, if you did not eat others, you would not survive!
After repeatedly reviewing tonight's actions, he found nothing left behind. Besides, people often died in the Outer City. It should not be traced back to him!
Moreover, he had gained a great deal this time. He had never expected a mere Black Tiger Gang lackey to have amassed more than twenty taels of silver. For a while, he would not lack cultivation resources.
Cheng Heng drew several buckets of water from the well and thoroughly washed himself before quietly returning to the room.
Looking at the soundly sleeping Li Qingwan, Cheng Heng smiled softly, walked to the bed in a few steps, and embraced her as they fell asleep!
The next morning, after washing up, Cheng Heng left the courtyard and prepared to head to the martial arts hall.
"Have you heard? Li Er and Wang Pockmark were killed last night!"
"They had it coming. They kept demanding incense money again and again. They must have offended someone they shouldn't have!"
"I'd say the Black Tiger Gang is a grasshopper after autumn. It won't be hopping around for many more days."
"Li Black Tiger of the Black Tiger Gang has gone mad chasing the killer. Logically, he shouldn't be making such a fuss over a couple of minor lackeys!"
The neighbors who had long suffered at the hands of the two discussed the matter one after another. All of them applauded in delight, cursing that the pair had gotten what they deserved.
Listening to the neighbors' discussion, Cheng Heng's heart tightened secretly. Li Black Tiger is reacting this strongly—could it be because of those twenty taels of silver?
Twenty taels of silver could be considered a huge fortune in the Outer City!
It seemed this windfall had to be spent slowly, without attracting attention. Li Black Tiger was, after all, a Bright Force martial artist—not someone Cheng Heng could handle at present!
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