Returning to Spirit Crane Martial Hall

"The origins of the Four-Ping Gang are shrouded in mystery. Even I do not know much about them."

Chen Feiyi took a sip of tea, and rare wariness entered his voice. "All I know is that this gang went from being utterly ordinary nobodies to firmly occupying the position of Qinglin County's foremost gang in just one year."

"Even Master does not know?"

The little spark of anticipation in Cheng Yang's heart went out. Fine, he had imagined his master as someone who knew everything.

"What I am more curious about is this: Commander Wei holds heavy troops in his hand, so why has he allowed the Four-Ping Gang to grow so powerful while remaining still all this time?" Chen Feiyi furrowed his brows slightly. It was a question he had pondered a hundred times without an answer.

"Perhaps... he is simply too confident?" Cheng Yang thought it over. "After all, Commander Wei has four hundred City Guards under his command. Every one of them is armored and armed, and even the weakest are Skin Tempering martial artists. Supporting such a force costs a frightening amount."

As for how he could afford to support them?

Naturally, he extracted it bit by bit from every power in Qinglin County. The Chen Clan Martial Hall was one of them.

Chen Feiyi usually had plenty to say against Wei He, but the man was too powerful. Even he had no choice but to bow his head.

"Four hundred City Guards..." he murmured again, helplessness seeping into his voice. "Even a Force Tempering Martial Master would be walking into a dead end if he faced that force head-on."

Cheng Yang said nothing, but another thought turned over in his mind.

Perhaps Wei He was casting a long line to catch a big fish. Of course, that was only Cheng Yang's guess.

What exactly the man standing at the pinnacle of power in Qinglin County was thinking, perhaps only he himself knew.

The next day.

No distinguished guests came to the Chen Clan Martial Hall, so Cheng Yang went alone to the Spirit Crane Martial Hall early that morning.

He had only one purpose.

To obtain the subsequent portions of the Spirit Crane Stance's cultivation method.

"Who are you? What have you come to the Spirit Crane Martial Hall for?" The gatekeeping disciple questioned him as usual.

"My name is Cheng Yang. I have come specifically to visit the master of the Spirit Crane Martial Hall."

"Cheng Yang?" Hearing those two words seemed to flip some switch in the gatekeeping disciple. His eyes immediately lit up. "You are that Cheng Yang whose name has recently spread throughout Qinglin County's martial world?"

"I suppose so." Cheng Yang smiled.

"Alright! I will take you to see Master at once!" The gatekeeping disciple did not dare show the slightest neglect.

Cheng Yang's talent had already spread throughout Qinglin County's martial circles, and because of it, the Spirit Crane Martial Hall had become a complete laughingstock. Their hall master had been cursed for being blind as a bat, for letting such a genius slip away for nothing, disgracing himself all the way to his grandmother's house.

The gatekeeping disciple led the way, while Cheng Yang followed behind, his steps falling upon the familiar flagstone path.

Shouts from disciples practicing martial arts rose and fell within the hall.

More than ten days had passed since he had been expelled from the Spirit Crane Martial Hall.

Now that he had returned to this place, nothing had changed. The one who had changed was himself.

He had once been nothing more than a forgettable nobody. Now, he had gained no small amount of fame throughout Qinglin County.

"Senior Brother Wu, look at that man... why does he seem so familiar? Wait— is that not Cheng Yang?! Why has he come back?"

A sharp-eyed student gasped under his breath.

Wu Qian looked in the direction his companion indicated, and his expression changed at once.

It really was him...

In just over ten days, Cheng Yang seemed to have been remade with an entirely new frame. His muscles were several times more solid than Wu Qian's. A wave of desolation rose in Wu Qian's heart.

"Senior Brother Wu, I advise you to apologize to Cheng Yang," the student reminded him in a low voice. "He is a Flesh-Tempering Martial Master now, and the Chen Clan Martial Hall stands behind him. If he really remembers the old grudge, then you..."

Wu Qian's face turned even paler.

Speaking of which, when Cheng Yang had still been at the Spirit Crane Martial Hall, it was Wu Qian who had instructed him in both the Spirit Crane Stance and the Spirit Crane Fist.

Back then, Cheng Yang would come to him every few days with questions about martial arts, but Wu Qian had always answered carelessly and never spared him with his words. "You cannot even learn such a simple movement. What martial arts are you practicing for? You might as well leave the hall while you can."

"You are stupid! Truly stupid! I have never seen a junior brother as foolish as you, an utter waste!"

When he thought back on those words now, every sentence felt like a slap across his own face.

"Thank you for the reminder, Junior Brother." Wu Qian took a deep breath and hurried after him.

Cheng Yang and the gatekeeping disciple soon arrived before the Spirit Crane Martial Hall's master.

The master of the Spirit Crane Martial Hall was named Jiang Zhongwei, a spry-looking little old man. Yet compared to the last time Cheng Yang had seen him, the old man had visibly aged a great deal, and the wrinkles on his face had deepened considerably.

"Master, Cheng Yang has arrived."

Jiang Zhongwei had been sitting in a grand chair, squinting beneath the sun as he daydreamed. Upon hearing the words "Cheng Yang," he abruptly straightened as though by reflex. "Where? Where is he?"

His gaze swept around before finally settling on the broad figure behind the gatekeeping disciple. His voice began trembling unconsciously. "You... you are Cheng Yang?"

"Yes, Hall Master Jiang." Cheng Yang clasped his hands in greeting.

Jiang Zhongwei stared blankly at him, his lips moving several times. The older he grew, the more lightly he took many things. He had thought that nothing in the rest of his life would ever stir his emotions again.

But this young man before him.

A genius who had broken through to Flesh Tempering in five days.

He could have been his disciple!

Because of his indifference, because of his neglect, the Spirit Crane Martial Hall had let such a youngster with limitless prospects slip away for nothing.

What he regretted even more was that after learning of Cheng Yang's accomplishments, he had not even known what Cheng Yang looked like.

He examined Cheng Yang from head to toe, as though he wished to carve that face into his bones.

This was a lesson...

He would use this lesson to remind himself at every moment that he must never make the same mistake again.

"Young Brother Cheng," Jiang Zhongwei said in a weary voice, laden with deep remorse, "I was greatly neglectful toward you during your time at the hall. Here, I offer you my apology."

"There is no need for that, Hall Master Jiang." Cheng Yang waved his hand. "What happened in the past has passed. I came today because I have another request."

"Please speak, Young Brother Cheng. So long as it is within Jiang's abilities, I will certainly spare no effort."

His previous missed opportunity had filled him with endless regret. This time, no matter what, he had to seize the chance to befriend Cheng Yang.

"I want the complete subsequent cultivation method for the Spirit Crane Stance." Cheng Yang came straight to the point. "I am willing to pay the proper price in silver."

Jiang Zhongwei barely hesitated. "No need! No need! Young Brother Cheng, I will give you the Spirit Crane Stance's cultivation method for free. There is no need to speak of money."

"Hall Master Jiang does not want silver. Do you have some other condition?" Cheng Yang laid it bare directly.

"Young Brother Cheng, the gates of the Spirit Crane Martial Hall will always stand open for you." Jiang Zhongwei's tone was sincere. "All Jiang asks is that, when you have the time, you might come by for a visit—even if only to sit for a while."

"Alright, I agree."

Cheng Yang agreed readily. Jiang Zhongwei's request was not excessive. Whenever he passed by the Spirit Crane Martial Hall in the future, he could simply stop in for a look.

Only then did Jiang Zhongwei let out a breath of relief.

At that moment, Wu Qian finally hurried over.

He first looked at Jiang Zhongwei, then at the gatekeeping disciple. Finally, gritting his teeth, he clasped his hands toward Cheng Yang. "Brother Cheng, regarding what happened before... I am deeply sorry. I ask that you show magnanimity and forgive my offense from those days."

Cheng Yang studied this senior brother before him, who had lowered his head to admit his mistake. Those cold and cutting words from the past surfaced in his mind.

"So it was Senior Brother Wu." Cheng Yang's tone was neither warm nor cold. "I remember that you used to love calling me trash. Looking at things now, what does Senior Brother Wu think?"

Wu Qian's face flushed red. After hesitating for a moment, he still forced himself to say with self-mockery, "Now... I am the trash."

After saying it, he instead felt a little more at ease. If cursing himself once could dissolve this old grievance, it was worth it.

"Alright, Senior Brother Wu." Cheng Yang patted his shoulder, his tone easing slightly. "I forgive you."

With his current strength and status, there was no need to make things difficult for a weakling in the Skin Tempering Realm.

But the humiliation he had suffered before could not simply be brushed aside, so he had deliberately brought it up.

If the other party knew what was good for him, then they could let bygones be bygones; if not, then he should not blame Cheng Yang for holding a grudge.

Now it seemed that this Senior Brother Wu understood the situation clearly.