A Sharp Weapon Breeds Killing Intent

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, major mastery in one year]

[Tiger-Subduing Fist Technique Beginner (223/1000): Practice ten times a day; minor mastery in three months, major mastery in one year]

Over these twenty-odd days, Cheng Heng's martial cultivation had improved by leaps and bounds. At the same time, however, the deadline Li Er and Wang Pockmark had agreed upon with the Black Tiger Gang was drawing ever closer.

Yet while Cheng Heng focused on training, he had already found out where the two lived. He only had to wait until tonight to make his move first!

The household food money that had originally been calculated to last three months was about to be spent dry under Cheng Heng's water-buffalo-like appetite.

On a dark and 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 men and women making merry could be heard. This was where Li Er and Wang Pockmark lived.

Afterward, the two cleaned up the traces and drove the two prostitutes from the room before beginning to plot in secret.

"Brother Li, once we collect the last payment of incense money over the next couple of days, we should hurry and run. Gaoyang County isn't a place we can stay any longer!"

Wang Pockmark took out a wine jar and filled the bowls on the table, his face full of worry.

The conflict between the River Tide Gang and the Black Tiger Gang was growing increasingly vicious. Neither of them had ever learned any martial arts.

On ordinary days, they relied on the gang leader's prestige to borrow the tiger's might as a fox, lording over the countryside and exploiting the locals. They had long since offended countless people!

"Damn that River Tide Gang! They've forced me to flee. If I'd had a few more days, Cheng Heng's scholar wife might already have become a plaything beneath my crotch."

"Bah! I can't wait any longer. Tomorrow, we'll rake in the last payment and get the hell out!"

With that, the two raised their wine bowls and drained them in one gulp, letting out waves 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 be caught by a gust of wind and suddenly went out!

"Who the hell is outside? Stop playing ghostly tricks!"

The two men inside were instantly scared pale, their hair standing on end!

Bang!

The door was kicked open. In the moonlight, the two finally saw the newcomer'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, daring to come scare your grandpa?"

Once Li Er recognized Cheng Heng, he finally relaxed and immediately cursed aloud.

A cold glint flashed through Cheng Heng's eyes. Without wasting words, he took several swift strides forward, rushed before Li Er, and smashed a fist into his chest.

Li Er might have been capable of bullying poor commoners, but if it came to a real fight, how could he possibly be a match for Cheng Heng now?

He immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, his chest caving inward as he collapsed onto the ground!

"Y-you really are Cheng Heng? Wang Pockmark, get him! Hurry, get him!"

Li Er clutched his chest with both hands, his face twisted in pain as he snarled.

Wang Pockmark's eyes bulged wide. With a roar, he grabbed a stool beside him and viciously smashed it toward Cheng Heng's head.

Cheng Heng drew a deep breath, twisted his waist and abdomen, and sidestepped the stool. Then, with Black Tiger Rips Out Heart, both claws shot straight for Wang Pockmark's chest!

Pfft!

His claws pierced only through Wang Pockmark's flesh before they 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 crippled!

"Ghk... ghk..."

Wang Pockmark's eyes were wide with fury, both hands tightly clutching his neck. He was clearly taking in less air than he was letting out!

Cheng Heng's attacks did not stop. Another punch struck Wang Pockmark's temple, and this punch finally took Wang Pockmark's 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 glancing over Wang Pockmark's corpse, its eyes still wide open, Cheng Heng turned his gaze back to Li Er.

Li Er had already been stunned rigid by the sight before him. No matter what, he could not understand how Cheng Heng, who usually could not even truss a chicken, had killed Wang Pockmark in just two or three simple moves.

At this moment, he could no longer care about anything else. He twisted around, dropped nimbly to his knees, and repeatedly slammed his head hard against the ground!

"Master Cheng, this lowly one failed to recognize Mount Tai! Please spare this lowly one's life!"

"This lowly one has over 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 lowly one, I'll leave Gaoyang County at once. I'll roll as far away as possible and never get in your sight again!"

The floor was already covered in blood. Wet patches spread across the crotch of his trousers, and the room reeked of urine, yet Li Er kept begging for mercy!

Cheng Heng looked at Li Er with mocking eyes. Then a chilling gleam burst from his gaze as he grabbed a 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. Li Er's face could no longer be recognized, and only then did Cheng Heng stop.

Cheng Heng then immediately searched the room. Sure enough, he found twenty-two taels of silver in the cabinet beneath the bed. Only then did he leave the little courtyard in satisfaction.

Without stopping to catch his breath, he made a circuit through the Outer City, found another secluded place, and burned all the clothes stained with blood. After changing into the clean clothes he had prepared beforehand, Cheng Heng cautiously 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 vomit, but neither happened.

After killing two people in succession, Cheng Heng felt only a cold calm.

Ever since he had embarked on the path of martial arts, Cheng Heng had long been prepared to kill and be killed.

Besides, in times like these, if one did not devour others, one could not survive!

After repeatedly reviewing tonight's deed, he found nothing left behind. Besides, people often died in the Outer City. It should not be traced back to him!

Moreover, this haul had been quite plentiful. He had never expected a mere Black Tiger Gang lackey to have amassed over 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 deeply sleeping Li Qingwan, Cheng Heng smiled softly, walked to the bed in a few steps, and fell asleep holding her close!

Early the next morning, after washing up, Cheng Heng stepped out of the courtyard, preparing to head to the martial arts school.

"Have you all heard? Li Er and Wang Pockmark were killed last night!"

"They had it coming. They kept demanding incense money one payment after another. They must have offended someone without knowing it!"

"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, investigating the killer. Logically speaking, why would he react so strongly over a mere lackey?"

The neighbors who had long suffered under the two men discussed the matter animatedly. Every one of them applauded and cursed the pair for deserving it.

Listening to the neighbors' discussion, Cheng Heng's heart tightened in secret. Could Li Black Tiger's huge reaction be related to those twenty taels of silver?

Twenty taels of silver counted as an enormous sum in the Outer City!

It seemed he would have to spend this windfall slowly and avoid drawing attention. Li Black Tiger was, after all, a Bright Force martial artist—not someone Cheng Heng could handle at present!