By noon, the sun blazed overhead, and Zhou Muzhi was in the Li Family's back courtyard.
Seated on a wooden stool in the courtyard, Zhou Muzhi opened the letter a servant from his household had delivered. As he read the inked words, a trace of gravity gradually entered his eyes.
Qian Zhen's men had made their move, and the extent of it exceeded all expectations.
They had driven everyone out of three marketplaces, produced several marketplace managers' signed gambling debts, and stubbornly demanded payment from the Zhou Family, because those debts had been taken out in the Zhou Family's name.
These people were very professional and very quick. By the time the letter reached him, everything had already been done.
His second brother also said in the letter that he probably could not go outside anymore. Things had already become chaotic, and the end of the letter instructed him to wait at the Li Family's estate.
Zhou Muzhi put the letter away, knowing that dealing with Qian Zhen was now something he had to do.
He rose from the stool, walked to the room where Master Li was resting, and said softly, "Master, I've observed the heavens. Tonight might be an auspicious time."
No one spoke inside. Only as his words fell did the door open, revealing Li Jingfei's face as he spoke.
"Mm, understood. How is your mastery of the Cloud-Chasing Thunderclap Palm coming along?"
Zhou Muzhi shook his head, indicating that he had not mastered it.
He had originally intended to use Deduction Points to optimize the technique further, but he lacked enough points. Besides, even getting started with the original art was difficult, and he had only just finished learning the legwork portion.
Li Jingfei thought for a moment and said, "If you haven't mastered it, remember to bring your sword. The enhancement that weapon provides is no weaker than this art of mine."
"Understood, Master."
Zhou Muzhi answered at once.
The two chatted a while longer. Once they had settled on a time, Li Jingfei closed the door again.
Zhou Muzhi did not remain at the Li Residence either. He had to ascertain Qian Zhen's situation and location, and Third Master was the best person to ask about those things.
He climbed over the Li Residence's back wall, got his bearings, and headed toward the alley where Third Master lived.
The pedestrians along the roadside carried on as usual, drinking tea, watching performances, hawking their wares, or enjoying themselves. Everyone went about their business, and rich food aromas filled the street.
Only now and then did someone quietly discuss things that had happened in this small town, such as which household's master had taken a concubine, or which aggrieved victim had had his legs broken.
The most discussed topic was the Zhou Family's oppression at the hands of the Qian Family's eldest young master. Another minor family in town was about to disappear.
At this point in the discussion, someone sneered, saying they were all vicious dogs fighting each other, and whoever died, it was a good thing; someone else grew red in the face, saying he worked for the Zhou Family and that they paid fairly.
The two argued, drawing another circle of onlookers.
A thousand people had a thousand faces, each discussing matters other than their own. No one could concern themselves with anyone else.
Zhou Muzhi moved very quickly. In barely a few dozen breaths, he had crossed the long street and turned onto a narrow path, continuing toward Third Master.
A short while later.
Deep within the maze-like alleys.
In the depths of an alley where a small tree grew, several children in new clothes stood before a dilapidated house, looking at Zhou Muzhi with childish smiles on their faces.
One immediately went back inside, calling as he went, "Grandpa Third, Master Zhou is here! Master Zhou is here!"
The door clacked open from within, and Third Master came over, stooped at the waist, his expression somewhat anxious. Only after seeing Zhou Muzhi unharmed did his face return to normal.
"Master Zhou, I'm glad you're all right. I was truly afraid you'd come here badly wounded, afraid the sky would come crashing down."
Zhou Muzhi chuckled, his voice casual. "It hasn't come to that. Third Master, tell me, where does Qian Zhen usually stay?"
Third Master's head ached at those words. What was he planning now? He sighed. "Master Zhou, Qian Zhen is making his move now, causing trouble for the Zhou Family everywhere. He controls more men than I do. If I dared go out and say anything, they'd pin me down on the spot, and you wouldn't be able to see me either."
Just as Third Master was about to say more, several sets of footsteps sounded at the alley entrance.
"This dump is really out of the way. The bosses told us to find people connected to the Zhou Family. Surely there aren't any in this godforsaken place? Let's just have a quick look around, then leave."
He had barely finished speaking when he noticed his companions had frozen in their tracks, their expressions strange as they stared in one direction. Then he, too, rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding. Even here?"
The three men, dressed in black and looking every bit like street thugs, all began to panic when they saw Zhou Muzhi.
They certainly knew what Zhou Muzhi looked like. As for what he had done, although no one had given any definite word, everyone said he was responsible for the deaths on their side, so that was probably close enough to the truth.
Zhou Muzhi had already turned around, showing his white teeth. His burly, muscular body sprang into motion.
"Run!"
The three immediately fled the way they had come.
But against a Five Senses martial artist, such speed was doomed to be futile.
The next instant, a knife-hand strike appeared behind the three men. His speed had reached such a level that barely a few seconds separated the strikes, and a crisp crack rang from each man's lumbar spine.
Excruciating pain spread throughout their bodies. The three collapsed to the ground, howling in agony.
At the very front, Zhou Muzhi slowly turned around and looked back. Seeing Third Master running over, he spoke quietly.
"We have people ready to hand now. Third Master, question them."
Third Master's mouth twitched slightly as he ran over. This scene seemed familiar. He appeared to have done this once before.
The next second, he drew the short dagger he carried and narrowed his eyes at the three men writhing like worms. After a moment's thought, he looked behind him.
The children were already stunned, frozen where they stood. Third Master barked, "All of you, go back inside. Don't come out unless you hear me."
The children hurried into the house, obediently shutting the door tight.
After watching this, Third Master turned his attention back to the three men, his voice turning cold.
"Which of you three has the highest standing..."
What followed was very simple. Under Third Master's interrogation, the three explained why they had come and what their objective was.
They had received orders from their superiors-the bosses who specifically controlled the county's underworld-to find people connected to the Zhou Family. Anyone who found someone would receive silver as a reward, and anyone who personally captured someone and brought them in would be allowed to learn martial arts.
As for the subsequent question of where Qian Zhen was, these bottom-rung men naturally did not know.
Zhou Muzhi suddenly felt some regret that he had killed too early last night. He should have finished asking what needed asking; now even finding someone was this troublesome.
Still, fortunately, these men had superiors. If he sought out a few more people, he would naturally find him.
However, their mention of seeking people connected to the Zhou Family did make him somewhat worried about Half-Immortal Xu. Quite a few people knew that Half-Immortal Xu worked for him, and someone was bound to have a loose tongue.
He still had to make a trip to Youhe Street.
As he prepared to head over, Zhou Muzhi looked at the three corpses on the ground, then at the small tree in front of the house, and gave Third Master an instruction.
"This sapling could really use some fertilizer. Bury them underneath it."
Third Master naturally nodded and agreed.
Before you continue