Mastery

Warm Breeze Hall was now on track and needed more and more manpower. Zhang Pingping had approached him the day before yesterday to discuss opening a gambling house and expanding Warm Breeze Hall to the scale of Baile Ward.

At first, Zhang Lingfeng had opposed Zhang Pingping opening a gambling house.

Warm Breeze Hall's income already covered his martial training expenses and social obligations.

With the Subsidy System's help, he only needed to train step by step. When the time came, he would become a Dark Force expert. There was no need to put himself under too much pressure.

Besides, lending money in Baile Ward had already taken a portion of the Baile Gang's business. It was only out of regard for Wu Yun that they had not dared make trouble.

If they opened a gambling house, Dong Wenhan might not tolerate it any longer.

After all, the Baile Gang's main borrowers now were those gambling addicts. If those gamblers also left the Baile Gambling House, the Baile Gang could face closure.

Taking someone's money was like killing their parents.

Dong Wenhan certainly would not stand for it.

But he considered how, after mastering Dark Force, he would need more expensive meat, along with money for all kinds of social obligations.

Besides, he was only a little over a month away from mastering Dark Force. By then, he could deal with Dong Wenhan even without Wu Yun's help. Only then did Zhang Lingfeng agree to let Zhang Pingping prepare the gambling house.

They would open once he had mastered Dark Force!

However, opening a gambling house first required getting past the authorities. Only with official permission could they compete with Dong Wenhan for territory.

Otherwise, even if they defeated Dong Wenhan, the authorities would shut them down afterward.

For this, Zhang Lingfeng could only take Chen Sanshi to see Wu Yun.

The Yan Lineage behind Wu Yun had connections in the authorities. Last time, when Wang Biao had nearly lost his head, it was the Yan Lineage that had shown mercy. With the support of Young Master Yan's brother-in-law, the gambling house could open smoothly.

"A gambling house?"

Wu Yun looked at Chen Sanshi suspiciously.

"Senior Brother Wu, as you know, opening a gambling house requires the authorities' approval. Since you hold a post in Young Master Yan's household, could you put in a word with his brother-in-law?"

Chen Sanshi slipped a two-hundred-tael banknote into Wu Yun's hand.

Young Master Yan's brother-in-law was named Huang Jiefu. He was a constable captain in the eastern district, responsible for public order around Baile Ward. Zhang Lingfeng had met him once at a restaurant.

Wu Yun glanced at the banknote in his hand, then at Zhang Lingfeng beside him.

He was no fool.

Chen Sanshi would own the gambling house in name, but Zhang Lingfeng would be its true owner. He had heard something about Warm Breeze Hall and knew Liu Feng was involved as well.

But in his eyes, such matters were merely small-time affairs. His most pressing concern now was to break through Dark Force as soon as possible and become a Transforming Jin expert.

He also needed to prepare for next year's martial examinations. As long as he earned a title, even if he could not become a Transforming Jin expert in the future, he could still land a position as a constable captain or constabulary officer.

At least he would never have to worry about food and clothing.

Thus, he thought nothing of what Zhang Lingfeng and Liu Feng were doing.

But there was one thing he appreciated about Zhang Lingfeng: the fellow was willing to spend money to please him.

Two hundred taels of silver equaled two months of the salary the Yan Lineage paid him.

Besides, the two had grown close over their half year together, so Wu Yun found it difficult to refuse.

He said, "All right. I'll invite him to the Drunken Spring House tonight and introduce you."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Wu."

Zhang Lingfeng's face lit up with delight.

He had always wanted access to the connections behind Wu Yun. Once they had a working relationship, it would be easier to ask the other party for favors in the future.

That evening.

Zhang Lingfeng hosted a banquet at the Drunken Spring House.

He spent a hundred taels of silver on a lavish tableful of food.

Wu Yun and Huang Jiefu arrived late, and Huang Jiefu had brought seven or eight constables along. Seeing this, Zhang Lingfeng hurriedly had Chen Sanshi ask the proprietor to set another table beside theirs.

He invited the seven or eight constables to take their seats.

"Greetings, Lord Huang."

Zhang Lingfeng bowed.

Having become a constable captain, Huang Jiefu was also a Dark Force expert. He had once been a third-grade martial licentiate, but years of neglecting his training and spending his days drinking and carousing had left his strength far below what it once was.

Even so, he was not someone a Ming Jin martial artist could hope to challenge.

"Your name is Zhang Lingfeng, right? I hear your family owns over a thousand mu of land in Zhang Family Gully. Brother Wu has mentioned you a few times."

Huang Jiefu patted Zhang Lingfeng on the shoulder.

Zhang Lingfeng's body sank, his knees bending slightly. The man's strength was decent, and he could withstand it, but showing weakness was the best course now.

"Our little bit of family land is hardly worth mentioning. What matters is that Senior Brother Wu and Lord Huang think well of me."

Zhang Lingfeng smiled.

"You have quite a way with words, Brother Zhang. Come, sit down and drink."

Huang Jiefu nodded slightly and invited everyone to sit.

As the banquet began, Zhang Lingfeng and Chen Sanshi took turns flattering Huang Jiefu, while Wu Yun added a few supportive words. In the end, the matter was settled.

Late that night, Zhang Lingfeng hired two carriages to send Wu Yun and Huang Jiefu home.

"Brother Feng, sixty percent of the proceeds? Isn't that too ruthless?"

On the way back, Chen Sanshi spoke with indignation.

Huang Jiefu had agreed to let Warm Breeze Hall open a gambling house in Baile Ward, but he wanted sixty percent of the proceeds every month. Officials and merchants had colluded since ancient times. Although Zhang Lingfeng had expected something of the sort, hearing that he had to give Huang Jiefu sixty percent every month still shocked him deeply.

Compared with the gangs, the authorities were the biggest bandits of all.

But without Huang Jiefu's support, even if they could defeat Dong Wenhan, they could not keep the gambling house running.

"Give it to him."

The next day, Zhang Lingfeng spoke.

He gathered Liu Feng, Zhang Pingping, and Chen Sanshi together. After weighing the advantages and disadvantages, Zhang Lingfeng decided to accept Huang Jiefu's terms.

After handing over sixty percent of the proceeds and deducting expenses, little of the gambling house's earnings would remain. But they would gain Huang Jiefu as a connection, which would at least make it easier to get things done in the county town in the future.

They could not look only at the short term; they had to take the long view.

"Even if the authorities let us open a gambling house, Dong Wenhan won't agree. The gambling house is the Baile Gang's lifeblood. He definitely won't let this rest."

Liu Feng reminded him.

"The authorities demanded sixty percent of our proceeds. Presumably, it's the same for the Baile Gambling House. That means this business can stay afloat if there's only one gambling house on Baile Street."

Zhang Pingping spoke meaningfully.

"Start letting word out slowly. We'll open the gambling house in two months."

Zhang Lingfeng said.

"All right."

Seeing how confident Zhang Lingfeng was, Zhang Pingping nodded.

Time hurried by.

In the blink of an eye, over a month had passed.

[Twelve-Form Iron Mountain Fist Middle Section: 600/600]

Zhang Lingfeng practiced his fist technique at home. His movements flowed more and more smoothly, and a force from within his flesh seeped outward from the inside.

It resonated with the Ming Jin force on the surface of his skin.

"Boom!"

It was as though some barrier, some shackle, had opened.

A second layer of force burst forth from Zhang Lingfeng's fist technique.

[Realm: Dark Force Entry]

Zhang Lingfeng had finally mastered Dark Force!

Those coming to Warm Breeze Hall for loans gradually learned that it was preparing to open a gambling house, and the news leaked out little by little.

The news finally reached the Baile Gambling House, where some of the gamblers were discussing it.

"Master Dong, if the news is true, then our Baile Ward...?"

Li Si frowned.

"Go find out yourself, then come back and tell me."

Dong Wenhan spoke with a grim face.

"Master Hu, Master Sun, I heard your Warm Breeze Hall is preparing to open a gambling house. Is that true? I often play at the Baile Gambling House, and I lose every time. I always feel like someone there is cheating.

"If your Warm Breeze Hall opens a gambling house, I'll be the first to come play here."

Ma Sanyang came over to ask.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Warm Breeze Hall only lends money. We're not opening a gambling house."

Hei Hu snorted coldly, but as he opened the door, he inadvertently let Ma Sanyang glimpse the courtyard's layout and furnishings. They plainly showed that a gambling house was indeed being prepared.