The newcomer's words had barely fallen when a cold gleam sliced through the sky, thrusting straight at Wang Gang with a biting whistle of wind.
Wang Gang dared not hesitate. He pushed off hard, retreating as he drew his sword.
Clang!
With a clear ring, the two swords met and parted.
"Oh, you're trained! That'll cost extra!"
Wang Gang steadied himself and looked at the newcomer, who wore black and had an ordinary face-very well suited to being an assassin... Hmm, next time I insult someone, I'll say he's well suited to being an assassin!
"What murderous scoundrel dares attack someone in broad daylight!" The people outside the restaurant had noticed the trouble too. As the only one among them who knew martial arts, the county commandant roared and charged over.
"All right, no more wasting time!" The assassin glanced back and said with a grin, "Don't worry, I'm quick. It won't hurt!"
With that, the assassin moved, his sword turning into a streak of lightning as he thrust straight ahead.
Rather than retreat, Wang Gang advanced, likewise thrusting his sword toward his opponent's heart.
In the flash of flint and lightning, both men changed moves repeatedly, their swords clashing in rapid succession.
"One-Character Lightning Sword!"
Both men stepped back at the same time, looking astonished. Neither had expected the other to use the very same martial art!
"Again!"
The assassin attacked once more, his movements even swifter.
Wang Gang watched him coldly, his thoughts racing. This assassin had practiced the sword for years, and his swordsmanship was naturally more polished than Wang Gang's. But this sword art itself had a problem: its internal cultivation was lacking.
He immediately circulated his power at full strength, channeling Qi into his sword. A dazzling silver gleam flashed along the blade.
He kept his eyes fixed on the assassin. Ever since he had practiced the Lesser Formless Skill, his five senses had far surpassed what they once were, and he could clearly perceive the direction of his opponent's thrusts.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed slightly. The moment had come.
"Sword, come!"
Wang Gang gave a sharp cry and thrust straight ahead, striking his opponent's sword point squarely.
Crack!
With a faint crack, his opponent's sword tip shattered. Wang Gang pressed his advantage. Under the assassin's terrified gaze, he increased his force by another thirty percent and drove straight forward.
A series of cracks rang out. The assassin flew backward, with nothing but the hilt left of the sword in his hand.
"Die, villain!"
The county commandant arrived, his staff descending from above with a whistling rush of wind.
Pfft!
The assassin twisted to dodge but was too late. The blow struck his back, and he immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.
Seeing that he was no match for them, the assassin turned and hurled the sword hilt at the county commandant, forcibly mustering his internal power as he decisively fled.
Wang Gang chased him for several steps, shouting, "Don't run! I'm quick. It won't hurt!"
The assassin stumbled, turned to glare fiercely at Wang Gang, and darted into an alley. By the time Wang Gang and the county commandant followed, he had long since vanished.
The county commandant smashed his staff against the wall and cursed, "Those damned vermin! Just like rats, always burrowing into holes!"
"No matter. If I can beat him once, I can beat him twice!" Wang Gang smiled broadly, then cupped his hands. "And thank you for lending a righteous hand today, Commandant!"
"It's my duty, Brother Yukun. No need to stand on ceremony!" The county commandant laughed, took Wang Gang by the arm, and led him back.
After the county commandant explained what had happened to the officials, they were all alarmed and felt disgraced as well. Someone had dared commit violence in the streets under their jurisdiction, right in front of the officials who governed the people. Such utter lawlessness!
"County Commandant Yang, clear out these criminals within ten days and restore a bright, unclouded world to the people of this county!"
"Yes, sir!"
Having given his instructions, Li Yun turned to Wang Gang. "I never imagined your martial skills were so extraordinary, Yukun. You're accomplished in both letters and arms!"
Wang Gang smiled. "My brother-in-law is skilled in martial arts. I merely learned a move or two in my spare time. I hardly deserve your praise, Magistrate!"
"The Murongs of Gusu do indeed enjoy martial arts. I hear even many of their tenant farmers train! Their household is among those being levied for able-bodied men for this bandit-suppression campaign!"
Li Yun smiled. "Yukun, you might find one or two highly skilled martial artists to protect you. There will certainly be rewards after the bandits are suppressed, and when you become an official someday, you could shorten the time required for your promotion review!"
Wang Gang cupped his hands. "I shall engrave your earnest kindness deep within my heart, Magistrate. I will certainly consider it carefully!"
Though Wang Gang answered readily, he was puzzled inwardly. This was the second time today that Li Yun had urged him to join the bandit-suppression campaign. Just what was his intention?
Still, reducing the time required for promotion reviews was tempting. Su Shi had once challenged Wang Anshi: "The gentlemen of today would even kill over adding or subtracting half a year from their promotion reviews." That showed just how arduous the Song dynasty's promotion-review system was!
After seeing them off, Wang Gang returned to the restaurant. The moment he entered, Wang Zhong rushed over, took hold of him, and checked him all over. Only after finding no injuries did he breathe a sigh of relief, muttering, "As long as you're all right. As long as you're all right!"
Wang Gang said calmly, "Though he was only a petty villain, his martial skills were decent. He actually forced me to use a second sword strike!"
People who liked showing off generally hated others showing off in front of them. Wang Zhong was no exception and promptly changed the subject. "Wang Gui was behind this. He hired someone from the Fish-Dragon Gang!"
"Hm? How do you know?"
"Wang Xi and Wang Lu came to apologize. They covered the shortfall and informed on Wang Gui!"
"Those two certainly know how to trim their sails to the wind!"
Wang Gang sneered. Wang Xi and Wang Lu each managed a shop and had always followed Wang Gui's lead. They had seen that Wang Gui was about to fall.
"Have Gongye Qian seize Wang Gui first and send him to the county office tomorrow. As for everything else, proceed according to plan!"
With that, Wang Gang left. Every day was busy for him. Reviewing his studies and practicing his sword were things he could not go a single day without.
His exchange with the assassin today had exposed the shortcomings in his swordsmanship. Had his internal power not been stronger, he might have died there in bitter regret! He needed more practice!
The following day, Wang Gui appeared at the county office covered in wounds and confessed to every charge. The magistrate pronounced sentence in court: confiscation of his property and exile to Cangzhou.
When the common people heard of it, they discussed it heatedly. After failing to embezzle his master's property, this man had even hired a killer. He truly had a wolf's heart and a dog's lungs.
Even Wang Gui's wife and child were pointed at and gossiped about, and were even cursed to their faces. Their lives became miserable, until his wife could only take the child and flee back to her parents' home.
Inside the county jail, Wang Gang followed a jailer to Wang Gui's cell and tossed over a purse. The jailer left, thanking him profusely.
"You've come to see how I ended up!" Wang Gui said, his hair disheveled and his eyes red. "In the end, I underestimated you!"
Wang Gang looked at him calmly. "I gave you chances! More than once!"
"Haha, 'don't say you weren't warned,' is that it?" Wang Gui sneered. "Don't dress it up so nicely! The victor becomes king, the loser a bandit. I gambled and lost, and I accept it!"
"Did you never think of your wife and child?"
"They spent the money I earned and enjoyed it too! Isn't it only right that they should suffer along with me now?"
As Wang Gui spoke, a trace of hesitation flashed in his eyes. "If possible, please spare the child! Leave me a bloodline!"
"Do you think I will?"
"Don't worry. He's different from me. He takes after his mother-weak in character and lacking resolve. Just give him a bite to eat when he's struggling, and he'll decide you're a good man!"
Wang Gang frowned at him, feeling that he seemed utterly unfamiliar!
Wang Gui grinned, dropped to his knees with a thud, and kowtowed. "Please show mercy, Young Master!"
Wang Gang turned and left. Once he emerged from the jail, Wang Zhong came up to meet him and asked, "How did it go?"
"He gambled and lost, and accepts it!"
Wang Zhong gave a long sigh and walked away.
After the matter of Wang Gui had been settled for the time being, Wang Zhong announced selections for the vacant shopkeeper and steward positions at the shops: the capable would rise, and the mediocre would step down!
Once the news was announced, the stewards and shop assistants who had escaped disaster all grew excited. With one shopkeeper's fall, everyone along the chain, from stewards down to apprentices, had a chance at promotion.
Now, why would they worry about a shopkeeper getting into trouble? They only wished the shopkeepers had fallen sooner! They all worked hard to distinguish themselves.
Before long, another announcement was made, encouraging everyone to report unlawful conduct in the shops. Any report that was verified would earn a reward.
The shops immediately erupted. Apprentices and assistants who had long been kept down rushed to make reports, true or false, while the stewards and shopkeepers all feared for themselves and came to Wang Zhong with their grievances!
Wang Zhong's scalp prickled too. He had never expected to cause such a commotion, yet the man who had set it all in motion was no longer in the city.
Wang Gang came to Swallow Dock again. Scattering a handful of money, he walked into the dock amid the cheers of the young servants crowding around him.
When he reached the Listening Fragrance Water Pavilion, he found Murong Bo entertaining a guest. The visitor was a monk of about thirty, dressed in yellow monastic robes, with cloth garments and straw sandals. A precious radiance seemed to flow across his face, giving him every appearance of an eminent monk.
The monk noticed him too and nodded with a smile.
Murong Bo turned to look and barked, "What is all this noise? Where is your decorum! Yukun, come pay your respects to the Wisdom King!"