Never Backing Down

Got it!

The tug transmitted through the rope filled Zhang Yuan with overwhelming joy.

He had learned this Flying Hook Turtle Fishing trick from Sun Bo, the Old Fisherman, and he had not been practicing it for very long.

Though he had trained hundreds, even thousands of times, this was the first time he had used it in actual combat.

According to Sun Bo, even its creator would miss nine times out of ten when fishing for turtles.

The chances of success were quite low.

Zhang Yuan had never expected that his very first attempt today would strike such incredible luck.

He immediately hauled on the rope.

The softshell turtle hooked by the flying hook struggled desperately, churning the water with loud splashes.

But its strength was utterly no match for Zhang Yuan's, and he forcibly dragged it onto the Black Awning Boat.

What a catch!

At the sight of the turtle he had just reeled in, Zhang Yuan nearly shouted aloud.

This huge turtle measured a full foot across. Its thick shell was Dark Green, and the fleshy rims on either side were covered in ring after ring of fine growth lines.

There were more than thirty rings at a rough estimate.

That meant it was an old turtle that had lived in the Celestial Steed River for over thirty years!

Wild turtles were like wild ginseng and medicinal herbs—the older they grew, the more valuable they became.

Zhang Yuan estimated that it could fetch more than ten taels of silver!

The old turtle's forelimb was caught on the flying hook. As it struggled, it stretched out its long neck.

It opened its jaws, trying to bite Zhang Yuan, who was right within reach.

But how could Zhang Yuan let it have its way!

He immediately pinned it down with one foot, bent over to remove the flying hook, then tossed the fiercely wild turtle into the livewell.

Zhang Yuan had just finished dealing with his spoils.

Suddenly, not far ahead, two Fast Boats burst through the thin mist and sped toward him.

They came from the left and right, forming a pincer attack!

Zhang Yuan's heart tightened, and he reached for the fish spear resting beside him.

Sun Bo had once told him that many fishermen made their living on the Celestial Steed River, and conflicts often erupted over territory.

People had even been killed!

But while Zhang Yuan remained vigilant, he was not the least bit afraid.

This river bend belonged to the Raging Whale Gang, and he was a Battle Hall Disciple.

The two Fast Boats slowed down several dozen paces away.

A lean, wiry man standing at the bow demanded fiercely, "Who are you? How dare you come to our Raging Whale Gang's fishing grounds to poach?"

Zhang Yuan answered in a low voice, "I am Battle Hall Disciple Zhang Yuan. May I ask your esteemed name?"

The lean man froze for a moment.

He stared hard at Zhang Yuan, as if flowers had sprouted from his body. "Zhang Yuan? I've never heard that name. If you dare impersonate a Wrathful Whale Disciple, three lives won't be enough to atone for it!"

The last two sentences were delivered with such fierce severity that the lean man looked ready to devour someone alive.

Zhang Yuan pulled out his Identity Token from his robes and gave it a shake. "Recognize this?"

The lean man's expression changed. He said darkly, "I can't see it clearly. Toss it over and let me inspect it."

Zhang Yuan gave a cold laugh, tucked the Identity Token back into his robes, and said calmly, "Are you from the Punishment Hall? Otherwise, what right do you have to inspect my disciple token?"

Though Zhang Yuan had not joined the Raging Whale Gang for long and spent most of his time learning Martial Skills from Dong Yuanwei,

he had a good relationship with Chen Zhize and had learned much about the gang from him.

He was far from some ignorant rookie!

The other man was probably also a Raging Whale Gang member, but Zhang Yuan did not believe he was a Punishment Hall Disciple.

The Punishment Hall would not be so bored as to come patrolling a river bend.

The lean man was instantly left speechless.

"Did Dong Yuanwei never teach you the proper order of seniority and rank?"

Humiliated into fury, he demanded sharply, "A mere newcomer dares to be so disrespectful to a senior?"

"Senior?"

Zhang Yuan sneered. "A coward who hides his head and shows his tail dares call himself a senior? What a joke! If you have something to say, say it. If you need to fart, let it out. Stop dawdling like some woman!"

The other man could recognize his newcomer token and knew Dong Yuanwei, so there was no issue with his identity.

But so what?

First of all, Zhang Yuan had broken none of the gang's rules.

This fellow, who was not from the Punishment Hall, had arrived acting as though he were here to demand an explanation. If Zhang Yuan swallowed his anger and acted meek and submissive, the man would only press his advantage and grow even more arrogant and domineering.

The Raging Whale Gang was no harmonious, loving family.

The Linhe Branch had several hundred official gang members and over a thousand peripheral members. Its factions stood like forested peaks, while open and covert struggles never ceased.

Only experts and the strong could earn everyone's respect and recognition!

Most importantly, one gang rule stated:

Disciples of the same sect were strictly forbidden from fighting privately.

Those who killed fellow members would first suffer three slashes and six holes, then be stuffed into a pig cage and sunk in the river as a warning to others!

So Zhang Yuan felt no pressure at all when he fired back.

His words were simply too vicious and cutting, like driving a fish spear straight into the man's heart. The lean man was so enraged that smoke seemed to pour from his seven orifices, and even his nose looked crooked.

"Fine, fine, fine!"

The lean man laughed in extreme fury. "Dong Yuanwei has taught quite the disciple!"

"Let me tell you this: I'm Chao Bao of the Outer Hall. This river bend has now been requisitioned by our Outer Hall. From now on, get the hell out and fish somewhere else, or don't blame me for getting rough!"

"Requisitioned by the Outer Hall?"

Zhang Yuan sneered. "How come I don't know about this? You say it's requisitioned, and it's requisitioned? Are you the Outer Hall Master?"

This Chao Bao was definitely bluffing and borrowing a fox's might from a tiger.

If the Outer Hall truly intended to requisition the River Bend Area, Chen Zhize, an Outer Hall incense master, could not possibly be unaware.

And Chen Zhize would certainly have told Zhang Yuan!

Zhang Yuan's barrage of retorts left Chao Bao looking incomparably ugly. Humiliated into rage, he roared, "Fine, just wait! I'll go find Dong Yuanwei and demand an explanation!"

Chao Bao truly wanted to leap onto Zhang Yuan's boat and chop him into mincemeat on the spot.

But with two boats and three or four people watching, he did not dare make a move against Zhang Yuan while he could not ensure the news would never leak out.

Otherwise, even his backer would not be able to protect him!

Yet after being thoroughly humiliated by Zhang Yuan, he truly could not swallow this insult.

Chao Bao's eyes were filled with venom as he stared at Zhang Yuan, as though Zhang Yuan were his mortal enemy!

"Only children run to adults to complain!"

Zhang Yuan stood firm without fear and sneered, "If you have the guts, let's go to the Grievance Resolution Stage right now—settle who is stronger, and decide life and death!"

The Grievance Resolution Stage, as its name implied, was a dueling arena for settling grudges.

It stood beside the Martial Arts Field at Whale Fortress!

The Grievance Resolution Stage was likewise meant to settle disputes between gang disciples and members, usually only determining who was superior.

Life-and-death matches were rare!

The moment Zhang Yuan spoke those words, he forced Chao Bao into a position where riding a tiger was hard, but getting off was harder.

If he did not dare agree, it would amount to admitting he was a child running to adults to complain.

But if he agreed...

Chao Bao truly was not confident he could defeat Zhang Yuan.

Especially since Zhang Yuan's words rang like iron, brimming with confidence. He did not look like an impassioned youth whose blood had rushed to his head.

"You've got nerve!"

Chao Bao knew he was no match for Zhang Yuan in a battle of words, so he shot Zhang Yuan a resentful glare. "Let's go!"

The four men aboard the two boats turned around and left in frustration.