Ambush

By the time Zhou Yan finished his stance, the oil lamp had already burned down by a good deal.

A black lump had formed on the wick. The flame flickered, and the shadows on the wall swayed with it.

He adjusted the wick, and the flame gradually steadied.

His figure was hidden in the darkness, his eyes lowered.

Instructor Ding's words from earlier that day kept turning over in his mind.

"He Song cares about his pride. He's from the He Family. You embarrassed him today, so he'll definitely come looking to get it back later."

He had wanted to use Zhou Yan to establish his authority today, only to be humiliated instead. Given his temperament, revenge was only a matter of time.

He had spent two years at the martial arts school, reached minor success in the Body-Tempering Realm, and ranked among the best in Class C.

Yet a newcomer freshly transferred from the Sun Family Guard Corps had embarrassed him in public.

He had lost a tremendous amount of face.

The He Family was no minor household in the county town. There were quite a few members of the He Family even in this martial arts school—some in Class B, some in Class A.

Though He Song was merely a distant relative, he bore the He Family name. What he had lost was not only his own face.

Zhou Yan slowly paced two steps around the room.

His boots landed on the blue brick floor, making barely audible sounds.

He had encountered people like this back in Willow Village.

Relying on a bit of family money, they strutted through the village like they owned it.

If you did not offend them, they would still come looking for trouble.

If you did offend them, they would not rest until they had crushed you beneath their feet.

Once would not be enough; they would try twice, then three times. They might even call others to join in, and they would not stop until they had beaten you into the ground.

Wait for He Song to gather people and come back for him?

He had been at the martial arts school for two years and knew far more people than Zhou Yan.

Not to mention the He Family behind him.

Though Zhou Yan had come from the Sun Family Guard Corps, the Sun Family would not stand up for him even if something happened.

At that thought, Zhou Yan stopped.

An idea rose from the depths of his heart and slowly became clear.

Strike first!

He was the son of a farming family. He had survived until now and entered the city to practice martial arts by being cautious!

Zhou Yan turned over his palm and lowered his head to examine it.

A thin layer of calluses covered his palm, worn there through stance training.

His knuckles had thickened, and the backs of his fists were harder than before.

He had now reached major success in the Body-Tempering Realm, and his stance training had also reached major success. He Song had only achieved minor success in the Body-Tempering Realm. If they truly fought, He Song would be no match for him.

But the question was, how should he kill him?

Zhou Yan rose and walked to the low cabinet. A bundle sat atop it, while a long saber rested against the wall in the corner.

He glanced at the saber.

No!

Saber wounds were too obvious. Few people in the martial arts school used sabers, and since he had come from the guard corps carrying one, any investigation would lead straight to him.

Besides, saber wounds and fist wounds were entirely different. Anyone could tell them apart at a glance.

Zhou Yan's thoughts stirred.

Words appeared in his vision.

[Mountain-Breaking Fist: Minor Success 189/200]

It was the Azure Cloud Gang's exclusive fist technique.

Once he used this fist technique, everyone would suspect the Azure Cloud Gang.

And the Mountain-Breaking Fist was already close to major success. Its power was terrifying!

Frame them, then silence them!

Two birds with one stone!

Perfect. He could muddy the waters in the city!

In truth, Zhou Yan also planned to wipe out the Azure Cloud Gang once he became strong enough.

Otherwise, leaving behind such a ticking time bomb would keep him from sleeping or resting easy!

Though he had not killed their young gang leader, the Mountain-Breaking Fist was in his possession. Even if he told the truth, no one would likely believe him!

Zhou Yan ran through every step twice in his mind. He pulled a dark brown rough-cloth shirt from the bottom of his bundle. Its washed-out color was nearly the same as the wall plaster. After putting it on, he walked a few steps through the darkness. From a distance, he looked like nothing more than a patch of black unless someone looked closely.

He tore off another piece of rough cloth from the bundle, folded it twice, and covered his face.

Before opening the door, he stood behind it for two breaths.

Just after nightfall, Zhou Yan had heard that He Song had gone to a tavern.

Martial artists at only the Body-Tempering Realm would become just as dizzy and unsteady as ordinary people after drinking.

Good. That would make things easier!

The door opened a crack, and he slipped outside. Another pitch-black figure appeared in the night.

The tavern's sign read "Liu's Tavern." There were few people outside, though shouts from drinking games occasionally drifted out.

Zhou Yan crouched in the darkness at a corner, his back against the wall.

From there, he could see both the tavern entrance and the mouth of the alley beside it.

He pulled the collar of his old cloth shirt higher, covering half his neck.

One incense stick later.

Just as expected!

The tavern door was pushed open from within. He Song walked out first, followed by two others.

Fang Jin had a round face and followed behind He Song. His footing was unsteady, and he tripped over the threshold as he stepped outside.

Wang Si came last. He was thin and wiry, wiping his mouth with his sleeve while still clutching a wine bowl. He turned back and set it on the wooden table outside the entrance.

The three turned into the alley.

Zhou Yan stood up.

He did not hurry after them. Only after the three had gone ten or so steps into the alley did Zhou Yan begin moving.

His pace was not fast, and his feet made no sound on the flagstones.

The alley was narrow, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Brick walls stood on either side.

There were no lamps atop the walls. Only a little lantern light from the distant street entrance leaked in, leaving the alley half-lit and half-dark.

He Song walked at the front, his steps somewhat unsteady.

Fang Jin muttered something beside him, but it was too indistinct to hear.

Wang Si had the loudest voice, and it echoed back and forth through the alley.

"He Song, call Brother Wu tomorrow! He's at the peak of major success in the Body-Tempering Realm. Beating that Zhou brat would be as easy as beating a dog!"

He Song said nothing and continued forward with his head down.

Fang Jin added, "Exactly. That Zhou brat only has tougher stance training. If they really fight, he might not be able to win. He Song didn't use his full strength today..."

Like a ghost, Zhou Yan listened behind them and followed at an unhurried pace.

The middle section of the alley was the narrowest. The walls pressed inward, making it difficult for even two people to walk abreast.

The light was dimmest there as well, and the foot of the walls was pitch-black.

This was the spot!

Zhou Yan turned three steps into two and slipped from the shadows to behind Wang Si.

Wang Si was speaking with great enthusiasm, one arm still raised in the air, his finger pointing at the sky.

Mountain-Breaking Fist!

Zhou Yan violently twisted his waist and hips. Force rose from the soles of his feet, passed through his waist and hips, and exploded from his fist.

His fist slammed into Wang Si's back over the heart.

Crack!

The instant his fist struck flesh, the force burrowed inward, drilling into the gaps between bone before bursting outward.

Wang Si's internal organs shattered instantly!

Wang Si did not even have time to cry out. He pitched forward and smacked onto the bluestone pavement, utterly motionless.

Fang Jin, walking ahead, heard the commotion and turned around.

Lantern light shone from behind him. The alcohol had not yet left his system, his eyes half-lidded and his mouth slightly open as he stood there in a daze.

He had not reacted yet.

Zhou Yan was already before him.

Fang Jin's pupils suddenly contracted, and he opened his mouth to shout.

A fist smashed into his chest.

The force of the Mountain-Breaking Fist drove in through his chest, shattering his ribs and sending them stabbing inward.

Fang Jin's back slammed into the brick wall with a dull thud.

His whole body slid down the wall. His buttocks hit the ground first, then his upper body tilted and collapsed sideways.

Bloody foam spilled from the corner of his mouth, and his throat made two gurgling sounds.

Zhou Yan knew the strength of that punch. Against someone who had only entered the Body-Tempering Realm, one strike from the Mountain-Breaking Fist was enough.

He Song sobered instantly.

Terrified out of his wits, he turned and ran.

His reaction was indeed faster than those two lackeys.

His feet kicked off the bluestone pavement, launching his body forward. He hurried his strides, swinging his arms as he ran.

Though his stance training had not reached major success, the foundation of minor success in the Body-Tempering Realm was there. He was not slow.

He Song ran five or six steps before Zhou Yan moved.

With major success in the Mountain-Settling Stance, his feet drove against the flagstones. Force surged upward from his soles, and his entire body shot forward as if launched from a slingshot.

He caught up in only three steps.

He Song sensed the wind behind him and spun around, throwing a punch.

The force behind a minor Body-Tempering Realm punch was not weak, and his fist carried the sound of rushing wind.

But He Song's stance training had not reached major success, so his footing was unstable.

His waist and hips could not exert force properly, and the power dispersed by the time it reached his fist.

Zhou Yan shifted aside.

He Song's fist brushed past his ear, the wind cutting through the air beside him.

Mountain-Shattering Fist: Stone Splitter!

His fist smashed into He Song's ribs.

He Song gave a muffled grunt and flew sideways into the brick wall.

All color had drained from his face. His lips were parted, but he could not draw breath.

Zhou Yan gave him no chance to recover and smashed a fist into the back of his neck.

Crack.

He Song dropped straight to his knees, then tipped forward and crashed face-first onto the ground.

The alley suddenly fell silent.

It was so quiet that Zhou Yan could hear the distant clapper of the night watchman and the sharp wind sweeping over the walls.

Zhou Yan crouched and placed two fingers against the side of He Song's neck.

Nothing.

He then walked over to Fang Jin and crouched down to inspect him.

The bloody foam at the corner of Fang Jin's mouth had already congealed. His eyes stared at the sky, his pupils dilated.

Wang Si lay facedown in the middle of the alley. A section of his back had caved in, the fist imprint still visible, and beneath his clothes, his flesh had sunk into a hole the size of a fist.

He was clearly beyond saving as well. All three were thoroughly dead.

Zhou Yan stood, drew a deep breath, then slowly let it out.

A money pouch hung at He Song's waist. Zhou Yan picked at it twice with his fingernail and poured out over four taels of broken silver, along with two gold leaves.

The gold leaves were thin, each about the size of a fingernail, glinting pale yellow in the dim light.

Zhou Yan rubbed one between his fingers. It was real gold!

He put the gold leaves and broken silver back into the pouch, tied it shut, and tucked it into his clothes.

Fang Jin and Wang Si were much poorer, carrying only a few dozen copper coins.

Zhou Yan took all the silver and copper coins, then swept his eyes over the three corpses.

There was still no one in the alley, and all was quiet behind the walls as well.

He turned and walked deeper into the alley without looking back.

After reaching the alley's end, turning once, then turning again, he finally tore off the rough cloth covering his face.

Beyond the alley was another street, deserted and cold. The shops on both sides had long since closed.

Zhou Yan rolled the rough cloth into a ball and casually tossed it into a well as he passed.

The cloth bundle fell into the well with a plop, water splashing up before falling back down.

Room Twelve, Class C.

Zhou Yan pushed open the door and bolted it behind him.

In the darkness, he took off the old cloth shirt, rolled it into a bundle, and stuffed it into the very bottom of his pack.

He took out the money pouch, poured the silver onto the table, and counted it by touch.

There were over four taels of broken silver and two gold leaves. At the apothecary, each gold leaf could be exchanged for more than five taels of silver. The two together were worth over ten taels.

Including the loose silver and copper coins from Wang Si and Liu Shun, it came to nearly twenty taels.

Twenty taels!

The martial arts school's monthly pay was five taels. Twenty taels could last four months.

And He Song had gold leaves on him. The He Family had indeed treated this distant relative well.

But none of that had anything to do with Zhou Yan now.

He put the silver and gold leaves back into the money pouch and tucked it beneath the bedboards.

[Mountain-Breaking Fist: Minor Mastery 195/200]

Zhou Yan had long noticed that in this system, actual combat progressed far faster than empty practice.

By tomorrow, the Mountain-Breaking Fist would probably reach major mastery!

The men were dead, and the money was taken.

The marks left by the Mountain-Breaking Fist remained on the corpses. Anyone who saw them would think of the Azure Cloud Gang.

Zhao Xiong was the Azure Cloud Gang's leader, and the Mountain-Breaking Fist was his exclusive technique.

Though he had clashed with He Song during the day, no one would suspect a newcomer who had just transferred from the Sun Family Guard Corps.

Zhou Yan took off his shoes and lay down on the bed.

Without pulling up the blanket, he rested his arms beneath his head and stared at the ceiling for a while.

He Song was dead. Class C had one less troublemaker, and he had one less problem.

As for the faint guilt in his heart, Zhou Yan considered it carefully and found none.

If He Song had not died, then he would have!

This was a world that ate people. If you did not eat others, you would be eaten!

He was not a good man. To survive and gain strength, he could stop at nothing!

Besides, He Song had already been preparing to kill him. Zhou Yan had merely struck first.

The wind outside the window died down, and the room became very quiet. Zhou Yan slowly closed his eyes.

The news spread early the next morning.

Zhou Yan pushed open the door to Room Twelve of Class C and headed to the training ground in the front courtyard.

Dawn had only just broken, yet seven or eight people already stood on the training ground. No one was practicing stances or fists. Instead, they crowded around the weapon racks in several layers, with Pockmarked Zhang standing in the middle.

Pockmarked Zhang's face was covered in sweat, and spittle flew everywhere.

"They're dead! All three of them! They died in the alley behind the tavern! The street patrol found them this morning!"

"He Song, Fang Jin, and Wang Si! All three are dead!"

"They were covered in fist wounds! Do you know what kind of fist technique it was? The Mountain-Breaking Fist!"

Someone sucked in a sharp breath.

"I saw those fist marks myself. Their chests were struck, but the skin wasn't broken—the bones inside were completely shattered. If that wasn't the Mountain-Breaking Fist, what was? The Mountain-Suppressing Fist can't cause injuries like that!"

"The Azure Cloud Gang's Mountain-Breaking Fist? Only their gang leader and young gang leader know it. But their young gang leader has been missing for a year!"

"Who said Zhao Mo was dead? The Azure Cloud Gang still hasn't found a body! Maybe Zhao Mo did it himself!" Pockmarked Zhang raised his voice again. "Zhao Mo vanished in Blackwind Ridge, neither alive nor dead, and now the Mountain-Breaking Fist has appeared again. Doesn't that prove Zhao Mo never died?"

Another person beside him spoke. His voice was not loud, but everyone around heard him. "If you ask me, maybe He Song offended someone from the Azure Cloud Gang? A tavern is full of people and loose tongues. Maybe he drank too much and said something he shouldn't have."

"Right!" Pockmarked Zhang slapped his thigh. "You all know He Song's mouth. Once he drank, he had even less restraint. Maybe he said something, someone overheard it, and people from the Azure Cloud Gang waited for him right there in the alley!"

The discussions grew louder and louder.

Some said the He Family definitely would not let this go. The He Family held considerable influence in the county town.

Others said something huge was about to happen at the martial arts school. Three lives had been lost, and the authorities would certainly investigate.

Others said the investigation would not lead back to the martial arts school. The alley behind the tavern was not martial arts school territory.

Zhou Yan walked to his usual spot and assumed his stance.

Meng Lei came over, his face still somewhat pale. Leaning close to Zhou Yan, he lowered his voice. "He Song is dead. He died last night. Have you heard?"

Zhou Yan frowned, sighed, and said regretfully, "Dead? What a pity. After I returned to my room last night, I thought about it and felt I had gone a little too far yesterday. I was even planning to apologize to him and turn hostility into friendship. Who knew I would hear of his death today? Life is unpredictable."

Meng Lei swallowed, glanced around, then lowered his voice further as he leaned closer. "Good thing you didn't really fight him yesterday, or people would have suspected you."

"I'm just a newcomer. How could I possibly have that kind of ability?" Zhou Yan shook his head.

Meng Lei nodded, finding that reasonable.

Pockmarked Zhang was still talking over there. "Instructor Ding has already gone over! Manager Pang too! They say it was the Mountain-Breaking Fist, and even the school master has been alerted!"

Zhou Yan sank his waist and lowered his stance, his hands forming a circle as he assumed the Mountain-Settling Stance. His energy sank downward, layer by layer, until it reached the soles of his feet.

[Mountain-Settling Stance: Major Mastery 90/300]

He closed his eyes, emptied his mind of distractions, and peacefully held his stance.

The discussions of the other Class C students buzzed in his ears like a swarm of flies.

Pockmarked Zhang had the loudest voice, sentence after sentence.

As he listened, those sounds gradually drifted farther away.

The sun rose, shining across the blue-brick ground of the training yard and stretching the wooden training dummies' shadows long.

Zhou Yan rolled his shoulders, preparing to practice his fists.