Congratulations and Amends

The first to visit was Shanjia, a fellow member of the Five Tiger Generals.

With a slightly awkward-looking Brocade-Furred Rat in tow, he smiled and cupped his hands. "I left in such a hurry earlier that I never congratulated you on becoming one of the Five Tiger Generals, Brother Wei..."

He waved a hand, and Brocade-Furred Rat took out a jar of fine wine. As he handed it to Wei Sheng, a trace of pain lingered in his eyes. He had spent fifteen taels of silver on this.

"This is Medicinal Wine blended by Spring River Hall using precious medicinal ingredients. It nourishes the blood and qi and strengthens the body... Please accept it as a small token of my regard, Brother Wei."

Shanjia smiled faintly.

Had Wei Sheng been an ordinary member of the Five Tiger Generals, a veteran like Shanjia would naturally never have gone out of his way to befriend him.

But Wei Sheng was different. In just a few short months, he had advanced from the first refinement to the third refinement. Such talent and strength of character were rare among his peers!

More importantly-

Tiger Lord valued him greatly.

None of the other Five Tiger Generals had ever received such treatment.

Exceptional talent, and Tiger Lord's favor...

Either of those alone would have been remarkable, let alone both in one person.

Wei Sheng's future was boundless. Shanjia could hardly afford to overlook him.

If he did not befriend such a person now, then after some time, when Wei Sheng soared to success, he would be beyond Shanjia's reach.

"You're too kind, Brother Shanjia. I'm only a junior. How could I accept such an expensive gift?"

Wei Sheng tried to decline.

His head was clear. He knew he was still only at the third refinement. Even after defeating Huang Man'er, he was merely a somewhat stronger third-refinement practitioner. There was still a gap between him and these fifth- and Six Refinements Tiger Generals. Their courtesy was purely out of regard for Black Tiger.

If he failed to recognize that, he would be a fool.

Sure enough, Shanjia's smile grew broader at his words, and a little more appreciation entered his eyes.

Neither arrogant nor impatient. No wonder he had accomplished so much at such a young age.

"Brother Wei, are you refusing because my gift is too paltry?" Shanjia feigned displeasure.

"You must be joking, Brother Shanjia..."

Unable to decline despite his repeated attempts, Wei Sheng finally accepted the jar of Medicinal Wine.

Not long after Shanjia left, Golden-Eyed Biao sent Ximen Bao over with a brocade box containing a root of Wild Ginseng worth twenty or thirty taels of silver.

Shortly after Ximen Bao left-

A booming laugh rang out beyond the door. "Are you home, Brother Wei Sheng? Violent Bear has come to congratulate you."

Wei Sheng's expression turned strange at the sound.

Back when he served under Fire Ox, he had witnessed plenty of clashes between Fire Ox and Violent Bear.

He had even been dragged into their conflict on Gaoliu Street.

Had he not already broken through to the second refinement then, Zhang Yan would probably have injured him.

Now, he had become one of the Five Tiger Generals by stepping over Huang Man'er. With new grievances tangled together with old grudges, it would have been only natural for Violent Bear to stay away.

Yet he had actually come?

Then Wei Sheng would meet him!

If Violent Bear dared to come, why would he not dare to see him?

Wei Sheng opened the gate and immediately saw the broad, powerful figure of Violent Bear standing outside.

Huang Man'er and Black Vajra stood behind him.

At the sight of Wei Sheng, Violent Bear laughed and praised him.

"Haha, Brother Wei! Who would've thought that the newly advanced First Refinement lad on Gaoliu Street would now become one of Tiger Lord's Five Tiger Generals, standing alongside this old bear! Heroes truly do emerge from the young!"

"You flatter me, Brother Violent Bear. I was just lucky."

As the saying went, one did not strike a smiling face. Wei Sheng smiled faintly.

"What happened on Gaoliu Street was just a little misunderstanding between me and Fire Ox. I wasn't deliberately targeting you, Brother Wei... Still, it was my fault for alarming you. Please take this little gift to settle your nerves..."

At this point, Violent Bear said, Black Vajra stepped forward carrying a bucket.

Inside was a Treasure Fish with a blue-green back, a gray tail, and a hard horn on its head.

An Oxhorn Pomfret!

It was noticeably smaller than the one Fire Ox had given him before, but it was still worth fifty or sixty taels of silver.

"...If you're still angry, Brother Wei, this old bear will stand right here and let you hit or curse me. I won't fight back..."

Seeing Wei Sheng remain silent, Violent Bear immediately lifted his chin, looking ready to throw caution to the wind.

"You're joking, Brother Violent Bear. I never hold grudges."

At those words-

Violent Bear visibly relaxed.

"Haha, I knew your heart was as broad as the sea, Brother Wei. If you ever need anything, just come to me!"

"Of course..."

They exchanged a few more pleasantries before Violent Bear left, satisfied.

Just after Violent Bear left, Fire Ox hurried back, also carrying an Oxhorn Pomfret. In size, it was at least the equal of Violent Bear's gift.

Fire Ox glanced at the Oxhorn Pomfret Violent Bear had left in the courtyard, then at the wine jar, and smiled.

"Looks like I'm the last one after all. Here, congratulations on becoming one of the Five Tiger Generals."

"Brother Fire Ox, what are you doing? Without your guidance, how could I have gotten where I am today?"

Though those words were somewhat exaggerated, Fire Ox enjoyed hearing them, and his smile broadened.

"You made me shine in front of the other Tiger Generals today, and even Tiger Lord himself. Besides, I got the Sinew Refinement Method... Compared with all that, what's one Oxhorn Pomfret?"

Since Fire Ox put it that way, Wei Sheng did not insist any further and had Wei He put away the Treasure Fish.

"A Sheng, barring any surprises, you'll be taking over Changyou's territory. That place won't be easy to manage...

"Best not to go out for now. Spend more time studying the Flesh Refinement Method and try to break through to the fourth refinement as soon as possible..."

After a few words of advice, Fire Ox hurried away, heading home to study the Sinew Refinement Method.

Not long after they left, Che Zhenzhong, Niu Yong, and even Cao Defa came with the other gang members from the Gaoliu Branch Hall, all smiling as they offered their congratulations.

Before long, the long table in Wei Sheng's main room was covered in gift parcels, dried meat, and other items.

After seeing them off, Wei Sheng frowned. "Strange. Why haven't I seen A Chang?"

Gaoliu Street.

"Lao Xu! Lao Xu!"

A Chang ran excitedly into Lao Xu's home. Lao Xu was asleep indoors, reclining in a grand armchair.

"What's all this shouting about?"

Unhappy at being woken, Lao Xu snapped at him.

"Lao Xu, Brother Sheng has become one of the Five Tiger Generals," A Chang blurted out.

"Brother Sheng?"

Lao Xu froze. "Wei Sheng!"

Since the Eldest Master of the Hong Family's death, his last wish had been fulfilled. And with Wei Sheng never visiting again after receiving the Skin Refinement Method, Lao Xu had almost forgotten him.

"That's right, Brother Sheng! He defeated Huang Man'er, overwhelmed all the other Third Refinement fighters, and received Tiger Lord's personal guidance. He's the newest member of the Five Tiger Generals!"

"What?!" Lao Xu exclaimed in shock. "He actually did it? Tell me what happened!"

A Chang held nothing back, recounting everything he had heard from Wei He in full detail to Lao Xu.

When he heard that Wei Sheng had shattered Huang Man'er's copper skin with a single punch and nearly seriously injured him, Lao Xu's eyes widened with excitement.

"It was him! It was him! It was him!"

"??"

Able to break through the defense of copper skin with one punch, Wei Sheng possessed strength comparable to the fourth refinement.

Now that Lao Xu thought it over carefully...

The Eldest Master of the Hong Family had indeed died shortly after he gave Wei Sheng the Skin Refinement Method and the Heart-Breaking Palm.

He had suspected Wei Sheng at the time, only to dismiss the idea as unrealistic.

But now...

Lao Xu was certain. Wei Sheng had killed the Eldest Master of the Hong Family. He had avenged him!

How laughable that he had actually thought Heaven had opened its eyes and some chivalrous hero had seen injustice and wiped out the Hong Family.

Lao Xu sprang to his feet in excitement, not even bothering to put on his shoes. "Where is he now? Take me to him, quick!"

Meanwhile-

A friend who had rarely been in touch for a long time came to see Zhou Huan.

"Old Zhou, I hear you're pretty close to Lao Xu?"

"Of course. We've been firm friends for decades. Why, do you need him for something?"

"Heh, I heard Lao Xu helped a young man named Wei Sheng a little while ago..."

"Yes. He even came to me to buy the Skin Refinement Method back then. Unfortunately, I'd invested in someone else."

"You turned him down? That really is a shame." His friend nodded regretfully, then rose to leave.

"Hey, what do you mean by that?" Old Zhou was utterly baffled.

"You don't know yet?"

His friend looked at Zhou Huan with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "The fifth Tiger General under Tiger Lord has taken his place! It's Wei Sheng!"

"What?"

Zhou Huan's wife had just approached with tea. At those words, her wrists trembled, and both tea bowls fell to the floor, shattering with a crack.

Yet she did not notice at all. Only one thought filled her mind-

That Wei Sheng they had turned away had become one of the Five Tiger Generals?!

How was that possible?!

At that moment-

She looked toward Zhou Huan, and each saw the unconcealable shock on the other's face, along with the deep regret welling up in their eyes.