After hearing his sister's words, the lame boy looked at Qing Chen in astonishment.
He had never imagined that the man before him possessed such astonishing strength.
Subduing a burly man in a single exchange-such ability was probably no less than that of the Twin Eagles Association's leader.
Moreover, a dagger hung at his waist. Most likely, he was a ruthless man too.
Qing Chen did not immediately make any promises. Instead, he posed a question:
"Tell me, besides forcing you to beg for money, does the Twin Eagles Association ever make you do anything else? Like serving tea and water or sweeping the courtyard?"
"Y-yes... sometimes!"
The boy nodded hastily and answered, "Especially when they're drinking. They make us go in and wait on them."
Qing Chen nodded. That was precisely the answer he wanted.
"Very good."
Qing Chen's expression was stern as he looked straight into the boy's eyes. "Do you want to crush the people who bullied you with your own hands? If you do, follow my arrangements."
Su Tong trembled all over. His suppressed fury instantly swept away his reason, and his features twisted with rage as he roared:
"I do! I want it so badly! I even dream of it! I want them dead! I'd devour their flesh raw if I could! I want them kneeling before me!"
"Very good!" Qing Chen nodded. "If you want revenge, hatred alone isn't enough. You need brains too."
He turned and instructed Qing Jie, who was waiting nearby:
"Second brother, take this young lady back into the city first and settle her at the Qing Residence. Remember, you must be careful. Don't let anyone notice."
Then he looked back at the boy, his expression turning serious:
"You must keep begging as usual. Under no circumstances are you to have any contact with the Qing Residence. If the Twin Eagles Association sets its sights on you, not only will your life be in danger, but your sister will be implicated too."
As he spoke, he took a dozen or so copper coins from inside his robe and held them out to Su Tong. "Take these copper coins and hand them over."
Watching Qing Jie lead the young woman away, while the boy silently dragged his injured leg toward the shantytown, Qing Chen gave a strange chuckle.
He had one more matter to deal with.
The blazing sun hung high, stretching the great locust tree's shadow long across the ground.
Qing Chen arrived at the agreed-upon slope several li away. Erhuzi was already waiting beneath the tree, his face plastered with a fawning smile.
"Brother Chen, didn't I do a fine job? That brat's nose is bruised and his face swollen. Not a single thing went wrong!"
Qing Chen said nothing and simply tossed him a money pouch.
Erhuzi caught it and hefted it, his face blooming with delight. "Heh, you're generous as always, Brother Chen! How about I treat you to some fun at the alley entrance?"
Qing Chen's voice was calm. "Let me ask you: did you mention this to anyone else?"
Erhuzi thumped his chest in assurance. "Beating up a little beggar and taking his money is something I can handle alone. Why would I need to call anyone else? Next time you have a job like this, just come to me..."
"There won't be a next time." Qing Chen's voice was calm and unruffled.
Erhuzi froze. "What?"
The instant the word left his mouth, Qing Chen moved. His aura abruptly changed, and his Jade Tempering power surged through his meridians.
Before Erhuzi could react, Qing Chen closed in like lightning, driving his right fist straight into Erhuzi's chest without any flourish.
With a muffled thud, Erhuzi flew backward several zhang and crashed heavily to the ground, blood spilling from his mouth and nose.
Before Erhuzi could struggle to his feet.
Qing Chen stepped up to him and knocked him unconscious with a single knife-hand strike.
In these chaotic times, nothing could be accomplished without ruthlessness.
If he wanted to take control of the [Twin Eagles Association], he had to kill.
Therefore, Erhuzi had to die.
First: he would use him as a sacrifice to raise his banner and steel his courage. Qing Chen wanted to know what killing someone for the first time felt like.
Second: the lame boy would be extremely useful. He had to ensure that no hidden dangers remained and make the boy work for him with unwavering devotion.
Cold steel flashed, and the dagger from Qing Chen's waist was already pressed against Erhuzi's throat.
His face was expressionless, the chill in his eyes fully revealed. With a turn of his wrist, the sharp dagger plunged into Erhuzi's throat, and blood gushed out.
Droplets of blood spattered onto Qing Chen's face.
He stared at Erhuzi as his life gradually faded, blood still dripping from the dagger in his hand.
He had thought his first killing would churn his insides like an overturned sea.
In fact, however, Qing Chen felt not the slightest nausea. Instead, an irrepressible excitement welled up in his chest.
"Could it be that I've always been a psychopath?"
He wiped the blood from his dagger with Erhuzi's robe. After confirming that the man had stopped breathing completely, he took all the money on him, then turned and left.
Two months quietly slipped by amid the surging undercurrents of Ford City's lowest strata.
During those two months, the lame boy, Su Tong, became the eyes Qing Chen had planted inside the Twin Eagles Association.
He followed Qing Chen's instructions to the letter, gathering details about the Twin Eagles Association's members;
-from the fighting skills of its ordinary lackeys to the methods of its two leaders, as well as their dealings with other factions and the authorities.
The information accumulated bit by bit and reached Qing Chen through Qing Jie.
At that moment, in the western courtyard of the Qing Residence, the oil lamp's flame was no bigger than a bean.
Qing Chen was lying on a couch. Sunlight filtered through the wooden window onto his bronze skin, and sweat flowed continuously.
The voluptuous woman lay languidly beside him, her hair disheveled and her cheeks flushed. Breathing heavily, she asked:
"Brother Chen, how has my little brother been doing these past few days? He hasn't caused you any trouble, has he?"
Qing Chen's eyes were half closed, and a satisfied smile curved his lips. There was no telling what he was savoring.
Of this scene, it could be said:
Warm sun pierced the western chamber's latticed pane; bronze skin streamed with sweat beneath the gentle light.
Young Qing's sweat-slick skin shone like amber; the lovely woman's hair lay askew, her face like frost.
A faint smile held affection, eyes brimming with tenderness; soft murmurs mingled with panting, feelings boundless.
Past idle sorrows were all set aside for now; the pleasure and love of this moment would ever be hard to forget.
After catching his breath, he said, "Mm, that boy is very clever. He's done even better than I expected.
Those two leaders of the Twin Eagles Association only know how to rake in money like mad, but they don't know how to share the profits. The association appears united, but its members are divided at heart, and resentment has been building for a long time.
We only need to concentrate our strength on those two leaders. Once we succeed, the rest will surely surrender at the first sign of our advance."
At this point, a cold gleam flashed through Qing Chen's eyes, fully revealing his killing intent.
In truth, he had not laid bare everything on his mind.
Born into humble circumstances, he coveted Northern Mang Mountain's supreme treasure, passed down through the ages, with single-minded determination.
But with his current strength, going to Northern Mang Mountain to seize that treasure would undoubtedly be seeking his own death.
Northern Mang Mountain was tightly guarded and never admitted anyone of unknown identity.
Any stranger was to be killed without exception.
To seize the treasure successfully, he had to improve his martial skills as quickly as possible.
That required money, medicinal herbs, and, more importantly, cannon fodder to pave the way for him!