Scouting the Site

Three wards lay between Black Forest Ward and Black Glory Ward.

The road to Black Glory Ward happened to pass the alley where Sun Li and his mother had met with disaster.

Wei Sheng took another look.

The bodies were long gone, pedestrians came and went, and everything seemed to have returned to normal.

Only the dark brown bloodstains left on the ground voiced a silent accusation.

Wei Sheng turned his head.

He disliked this feeling intensely.

"Old Wei, what's wrong? Something weighing on your mind?!"

Only when that familiar voice reached his ears did Wei Sheng look up and realize he had arrived in front of a five-story restaurant.

Che Zhenzhong and Niu Yong stood across from him.

Both were looking at him with concern.

"Nothing." Wei Sheng smiled and glanced around. "Why is it just you two? Where's Xiao Ran?"

"He went to pick up a friend. He told us to wait a bit once we got here."

Che Zhenzhong spoke.

Taking this opportunity,

Wei Sheng surveyed his surroundings. Shops lined both sides of the street.

Tea shops, rouge shops, cloth merchants, rice shops, money houses...

Niu Yong seemed to rarely come here. He stared at the many surrounding shops with amazement written all over his face, as though his eyes could hardly take them all in.

Wei Sheng swept his gaze around and was about to look away when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a residence at the southeastern end of the street.

Two imposing stone lions stood before its entrance, and the white lanterns hanging beneath the eaves bore a large "Hong" character written in vermilion.

The Hong Family!

Wei Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly.

Then he shifted his gaze away as though nothing had happened.

"Xiao Ran's here..."

Just then, Che Zhenzhong alerted them.

Looking in the direction of his voice, Wei Sheng saw Xiao Ran.

He came down the street surrounded by more than a dozen people, riding high on success, his face glowing.

Wei Sheng, Che Zhenzhong, and Niu Yong went to meet him.

Once the two groups met, Xiao Ran introduced everyone with a smile.

Most of the dozen or so people beside him were members of the High Bridge Branch Hall, where he presided.

The only one who drew a second look from Wei Sheng was the fat man in brocade standing alongside Xiao Ran. His eyes were tiny, especially when he smiled, when they looked as though they were not open at all.

Wang Yuelun, a trusted subordinate of Shanjia, one of Black Tiger's Five Tiger Generals.

His nickname was Brocade-Furred Rat!

Although the man looked unremarkable, the strength of the blood and qi he occasionally gave off was no weaker than Xiao Ran's.

Clearly, he was also a Third Refinement expert!

"I've long heard that talented men abound under Brother Fire Ox. Seeing you today, you certainly live up to that reputation!"

Brocade-Furred Rat smiled at Che Zhenzhong, Wei Sheng, and Niu Yong, but his gaze focused on Che Zhenzhong, merely sweeping past Wei Sheng and Niu Yong beside him.

Wei Sheng remained expressionless.

Niu Yong's expression soured a little.

Although his cultivation was inferior to Brocade-Furred Rat's, his status as Fire Ox's younger brother-in-law meant even ordinary Third Refinement practitioners in the gang greeted him with smiles. When had he ever received such a cold reception?

But no one cared about his feelings.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two groups crowded around Xiao Ran and entered the restaurant.

"Manager, Bing Room One!"

Led by a waiter, Xiao Ran arrived at the long counter and slapped it as he called out.

Hearing him, the many guests dining in the first-floor hall looked up at Xiao Ran in surprise. Some even showed envy and longing in their eyes.

Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding-the four grades of private rooms at the Guest-Welcoming Tower.

Even an ordinary Ding-grade room required spending five taels of silver per visit.

A Bing-grade room cost twice that.

What was more, this was Bing Room One. In terms of service, food, and wine alone, it was even on par with some Di-grade private rooms.

Their eyes filled with wonder. Which family's young master was spending so lavishly?

But when they saw the "three-tailed white fish" emblems embroidered on the chests of Xiao Ran and his companions, they all started and hurriedly lowered their heads.

The Fish-Dragon Gang!

One of the city's two great gangs!

Even though the Fish-Dragon Gang rarely preyed on the locals compared with the Firewood-Fisher Gang, it was still a gang, and ordinary people harbored an instinctive fear of it.

The manager looked troubled. "Young Master Xiao, I'm terribly sorry. Bing Room One has already been reserved."

Xiao Ran immediately looked displeased. "Didn't I arrange this in advance?"

The manager cupped his hands and begged forgiveness. "Please forgive me, Young Master Xiao. This old man set aside the room you wanted yesterday, but a guest called Huang Man'er came this morning and occupied it without another word. A waiter went to explain things to him, only to be given a savage beating..."

"Huang Man'er?"

At the name, a shadow flickered through Xiao Ran's eyes.

As one of the candidates for the Five Tiger Generals, how could he not have heard of the foremost expert under Violent Bear?

Not only was the man born with tremendous strength, but he had also broken through to the Third Refinement a month before Xiao Ran. He was Xiao Ran's greatest rival in the contest to become one of the Five Tiger Generals.

Yet he had never expected this.

Before the Five Tiger Generals Selection had even begun, the man had already stolen his private room.

Backing down now would undoubtedly fan Huang Man'er's arrogance and damage his own prestige, making others think he was afraid of him.

But if they faced off, Xiao Ran had no confidence in a certain victory either.

As he wrestled with the dilemma, Brocade-Furred Rat beside him smiled. "Brother Xiao, I've long heard that Bing Room Two is elegant and quiet. Might you show me?"

"I'm afraid Brother Wang and everyone else will have to make do..."

Xiao Ran gave Brocade-Furred Rat a grateful look, then snorted at the manager. "Well? Go get it ready!"

"Yes, yes! Young Master Xiao, please follow me!"

The manager breathed a sigh of relief and personally escorted Xiao Ran to Bing Room Two on the fourth floor. He also offered some wine and fruit of his own accord as an apology.

After the manager withdrew, everyone took their seats according to their places as hosts and guests.

Naturally, Xiao Ran occupied the seat of honor.

Brocade-Furred Rat sat to his left, Che Zhenzhong to his right, followed by Niu Yong and Wei Sheng.

As chance would have it, Wei Sheng's seat faced the open window. He only had to raise his eyes to take in the entire street below, including, of course, the Hong Family residence.

Moreover,

From this elevated vantage point, he could see the Hong Family residence's entire layout.

While Wei Sheng observed as though idly, the food and wine arrived. All were substantial dishes rarely seen, with color, aroma, and flavor in abundance, enough to make anyone's mouth water.

At Xiao Ran's invitation, the feast officially began.

During the meal, everyone's conversation revolved around Xiao Ran.

Brocade-Furred Rat was comparatively restrained, but the other gang members went to every length to flatter and ingratiate themselves with Xiao Ran, repeatedly offering toasts.

Wei Sheng was hardly surprised by the sight.

A martial artist at the Skin Third Refinement already counted as a minor expert within the gang.

If he could generate internal force and reach the Fourth Refinement, he would even qualify for promotion to the Five Tiger Generals and become part of the gang's middle ranks. In the Outer City, he would count as somebody.

There was nothing to lose by befriending such a person early.

During the meal, Che Zhenzhong also drew Wei Sheng into offering Xiao Ran a toast.

Wei Sheng did not mind. He was already getting a free meal out of the man, so what was one toast? At the sight, Xiao Ran's smile deepened, and he assumed the air of a victor.

No matter how talented you are, don't you still have to stand up and toast me?

Little did he know that Wei Sheng's cultivation and strength were already no weaker than his own!

The banquet ended.

Wei Sheng said goodbye to Che Zhenzhong and the others and went straight home to cultivate.

Not until the following evening, after he had refined the last dose of skin-refining ointment, did the talent panel finally show a new change-

[White Crane Skin Refinement Method (Entry)]