Fate

After a month of arduous cultivation, the Turtle-Snake Art had reached the third layer.

Turtle-Snake Qi filled his entire body, yet compared to before, his physique seemed leaner and more refined, lacking that bulky, muscular look.

This was the state of the Mystic Turtle's Stillness.

The Divine Ability of Rushing Rivers Return to the Sea affected not only his blood and qi but also his inner energy.

Now, inside his body, Turtle-Snake Qi circulated endlessly throughout his being.

This Turtle-Snake Qi created a terrifying pressure, making Qin Yang feel as if he were constantly submerged in the deep sea, enduring crushing water pressure.

In other words, every moment, Qin Yang's Physical Body was undergoing tempering.

Under this heavy pressure, his muscles, bones, and Internal Organs gradually shed impurities, making him appear leaner than before.

But in reality, his weight had only increased.

The Po Jun Saber Technique had broken through to Great Accomplishment, not far from perfection.

The Primordial Qi Shield had also reached the sixth layer, with the qi shield seed in his heart growing larger and denser, capable of forming a tougher barrier.

The Rushing Thunder Palm, after some practice, had entered the Proficiency realm, allowing him to unleash palm strikes as fierce as thunder.

This feeling of his Physical Body constantly strengthening and his cultivation steadily rising made Qin Yang feel great.

"Young Master. Master Li sent a few more paintings over."

Xiao Huan walked in, covering her mouth with a full smile.

"Again."

Qin Yang was a bit speechless.

These days, Li Tong kept sending portraits over.

Of course, these weren't antique calligraphy or paintings—they were portraits of noble ladies, for Qin Yang to pick from.

But Qin Yang was immersed in cultivation; when did he have time for this?

"Young Master, why not take a look?"

"At your age, back in our village, kids would already be running around buying soy sauce."

Xiao Huan teased.

"We'll talk about it after things settle down."

"Besides, the Outer City is getting more chaotic by the day. I don't have the leisure for this."

Qin Yang shook his head.

Seeing this, Xiao Huan dared not say more and quickly left the Small Courtyard.

But no sooner had she left than Qian Hai stepped into the yard.

"Young Master. The White River Gang has been expanding lately, and they seem to be getting cocky."

"They want to buy out our Laifu Restaurant, or else they'll make sure we can't do business."

Qian Hai's face showed anger.

"How much silver is Luo Jian of the White River Gang offering?"

Qin Yang's eyes flickered.

"Five hundred taels."

"That's just treating us like beggars. If they want to rob us, they should just say so."

Qian Hai let out a cold snort.

"How could Luo Jian do something like this?"

Qin Yang narrowed his eyes.

He had met Luo Jian a few times; the man was usually steady and prudent. Had swallowing a bit of territory recently gone to his head?

"Young Master. You've been cooped up in the yard cultivating, so you might not know what's happening outside."

"In the past two months, the White River Gang has gone mad—constantly pressuring shops, seizing property by force, using every trick to grab money."

"I figured as long as they didn't mess with us, it was fine."

"But I never expected Luo Jian to get this arrogant."

"It's utterly insane!"

Qian Hai was visibly agitated, cursing the White River Gang nonstop.

"Changed that much?"

Qin Yang was surprised.

Had he misjudged the man before?

"Yes."

"These days, the White River Gang has snatched a lot of wealth and harmed many people."

"Now I hear they've got a few hundred people."

Qian Hai calmed down a bit.

"What use are numbers?"

"I'll find some time to ask Luo Jian what he's up to."

Qin Yang gave a faint smile.

That night.

A dark figure carrying a broadsword silently vaulted over the high wall of Qin Manor and quickly melted into the night.

That figure was naturally Qin Yang.

The White River Gang had taken over the Twin Snake Gang's turf for a few months now.

Back when the White River Gang couldn't make it at the docks, if Qin Yang hadn't been willing to hand over this territory to them, they'd probably have ended up like the Twin Snake Gang—history, forgotten in some corner.

That was why Qian Hai was so furious.

In his eyes, the White River Gang's behavior was that of an ungrateful snake.

Qin Yang also understood that people's hearts could change.

If Luo Jian really was what Qian Hai said, then he wouldn't blame himself for being ruthless.

The White River Gang's base was actually the old Twin Snake Gang's base.

They'd just taken it over directly.

Qin Yang crossed two streets and spotted a large, brightly lit courtyard from afar.

In the dead of night, the courtyard was still noisy, like a marketplace.

Qin Yang quietly scaled the wall from the side, surveying the scene inside.

A dozen or so men had set up two tables of wine, drinking heavily, munching on snacks, and playing drinking games.

Seeing this, Qin Yang vaulted over the wall and moved like a cat, silent and stealthy.

Along the way, he occasionally ran into patrolling White River Gang disciples, but he dodged them all.

Soon.

He reached the depths of the White River Gang's base.

Compared to the noisy front, it was quiet here, with no patrols at all.

Qin Yang first hid behind a flower bed.

There were quite a few buildings here, and he didn't know which room Luo Jian was in.

He planned to wait for some lucky passerby to come along and ask for directions.

He didn't have to wait long.

A lucky person walked in.

The man had a fierce, murderous look—it was Li Yong, Hall Master Li, who had gone to cause trouble at Laifu Restaurant today.

Actually, Li Yong had his own mansion in Linjiang City.

But mainly, after going to Laifu Restaurant today, he felt guilty and scared that Qin Yang would come knocking, so he figured he'd hide out at the gang's base for a few days to lie low.

"I don't know what the gang leader's thinking."

"It's one thing to bully some common folks."

"But why provoke someone as ruthless as Qin Yang?"

Li Yong sighed softly.

He hadn't wanted to go himself.

But with Luo Jian forcing the issue, he had no choice.

Now he just hoped Luo Jian would step up and resolve this.

Thinking this over, he arrived at his usual spot in the gang, took out his key, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.

Crack~

An iron hand shot out like lightning and clamped around his neck.

The force from that massive hand was terrifyingly crushing.

In that instant.

Li Yong really felt like his neck was about to snap.

Then, he was shoved into the room.

Qin Yang casually closed the door and let go.

"You know who I am, right?"

Qin Yang said with a smile.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

Li Yong gasped for breath. Even without any lamplight, he could clearly make out the contours of that face.

"Y-Young Master Qin."

Li Yong's legs trembled with fear.

It was truly a case of dreading something and having it come to pass.

"I heard your gang leader wants to buy up my family's Laifu Restaurant."

"I've come to ask what that's all about."

"I didn't scare you, did I?"

Qin Yang said with a smile.

He had no idea that Li Yong was the one who'd gone to cause trouble at Laifu Restaurant earlier that day.

But from the clothes he wore, it was clear at a glance that he was an important figure in the White River Gang.

"N-No, you didn't scare me." Li Yong's face was pale.

"That's good."

"Let's sit down and have a chat."

Qin Yang wasn't afraid of Li Yong trying any tricks.

The gap between them was less than a meter.

With his current explosive power, if Li Yong made any suspicious move, he could shatter his head with a single palm strike.