Commotion

The Baile Gang was the largest gang in the Baile Ward, and the Guo Wei Martial Arts School was located right within its territory. Last night, the Baile Ward was uprooted, and many of Dong Wenhan's loyal supporters died. A few troublemakers stirred up quite a bit of action, causing Wei He, Chen Sanshi, Liu Feng, and the others to go on a killing spree.

Finally, dragging Dong Wenhan's corpse and under the instigation of Li Si, this commotion was able to calm down.

Many neighbors and townspeople heard the sounds of shouting and killing. After the turmoil subsided, the county yamen also sent men over to inspect and took away a few injured Baile Gang members under the charge of gathering crowds to riot.

Some people with well-informed sources knew that the Warm Breeze Hall and the Baile Gang were fighting to the death last night. As for what the final outcome was, they would have to wait until today to find out.

Inside the martial arts school, apart from Wu Yun and a few junior fellow apprentices who knew that the Warm Breeze Hall was related to Zhang Lingfeng, most people did not know that the master behind the Warm Breeze Hall was Zhang Lingfeng.

Early this morning, on their way to the martial arts school, they could see bloodstains in the alleys, and even severed limbs and arms, as well as some corpses that the yamen had not yet had time to collect.

The true master of the Baile Gang was the yamen.

The yamen did not care who opened gambling dens in the Baile Ward or collected protection fees; they only cared about being able to obtain greater benefits, and that the public order here remained within a controllable range.

Jobs like wiping away bloodstains and cleaning up corpses had always been the responsibility of the yamen. Sometimes, if the casualties were too severe, the gangs would also conduct cleaning and clearing to avoid causing trouble for the county magistrate.

Wu Yun frowned.

Walking along this path, he had already seen dozens of traces of fighting from last night, as well as bloodstains and corpses lingering on the ground.

He did not expect the Warm Breeze Hall and the Baile Gang to end up fighting after all.

He knew that Zhang Lingfeng was resourceful, but Dong Wenhan's Flowing Cloud Saber Technique was peerless, and even he himself would have to temporarily avoid its sharp edge. He wondered who had actually won this battle.

He could not help but quicken his pace and walk toward the martial arts school.

A moment later, Wu Yun arrived at the martial arts school. He first observed the outer courtyard and did not see the tracks of Hei Hu and Sun Yan. The two were Zhang Lingfeng's lackeys and followed Zhang Lingfeng's lead in all things.

Quite a few apprentices in the outer courtyard hung around with them, usually going out to collect debts for the Warm Breeze Hall and earning a little money. At this moment, neither Hei Hu and Sun Yan nor the lackeys who usually followed behind them appeared in the outer courtyard.

Wu Yun could not help but feel his heart sink.

The fact that Hei Hu and Sun Yan had not shown up indicated that the Warm Breeze Hall had more bad luck than good last night. After all, the Baile Gang had entrenched itself in the Baile Ward for many years and had numerous gang members; how could it be something the Warm Breeze Hall could easily deal with?

He took a deep breath and walked toward the inner courtyard, hoping to see Zhang Lingfeng inside.

Emotionally speaking, he did not want anything to happen to Zhang Lingfeng, as they were fellow sect apprentices. From the perspective of interests, Wu Yun also hoped that Zhang Lingfeng could live well, since Zhang Lingfeng could frequently bring him benefits.

At the same time, having an obedient junior fellow apprentice by his side could sometimes help him put on a bold front or resolve some minor troubles.

"Ah!"

Regrettably, Wu Yun did not see Zhang Lingfeng's figure in the inner courtyard, nor did he see the trace of Liu Feng. He could not help but shake his head and sigh.

He had advised Zhang Lingfeng to stop and not go head-to-head with Dong Wenhan, but unfortunately, the other party refused to listen.

Now, I'm afraid...

"Did you all see the fight between the Warm Breeze Hall and the Baile Gang last night?"

"What kind of thing is the Warm Breeze Hall?"

"The Baile Gang has entrenched itself in the Baile Ward for many years and has Lord Huang backing them. Is the Warm Breeze Hall, a loan-sharking outfit, out of its mind?"

"I heard the yamen was busy all night, clearing away dozens of corpses."

There was a lot of heated discussion inside the martial arts school.

Not only were the outer courtyard apprentices discussing it, but some disciples in the inner courtyard were also talking about this matter.

"I only know the Baile Gang and have never heard of the Warm Breeze Hall. What kind of trash is the Warm Breeze Hall to dare fight the Baile Gang?"

Ye Fan said strangely.

Last time, his attempt to break through to Dark Force had failed. Now, after replenishing his Qi and blood, he was preparing to attempt the Dark Force breakthrough once more, and unconsciously became arrogant again.

"It's a small loan-sharking gang, and the gang leader seems to have the surname Chen."

Said Zhao Hu, who was also at the Dark Force cultivation level.

"Junior Brother Wu, I remember you seem to have dealings with the Warm Breeze Hall. You should know the origin of the Warm Breeze Hall better than we do."

Said Ma Fei.

In terms of strength within the inner courtyard, Ma Fei was the strongest, having already reached Great Accomplishment in Dark Force and currently making a push to break through to Transforming Jin.

Pity that he was already in his early thirties.

Furthermore, having failed a breakthrough attempt once, the probability of a successful breakthrough was quite small.

Yet no one dared to look down on his martial prowess; even the normally aloof Ye Fan was very polite to Ma Fei.

"Then Senior Brother Wu must know best about what happened last night."

Liu Rushuang said with a face full of gossip.

"Ah!"

Wu Yun sighed again, knowing that if he did not explain things clearly to everyone, they would dig to the bottom of it. Besides, the Warm Breeze Hall's momentum was gone, and Zhang Lingfeng and Liu Feng were probably unlikely to ever appear again.

And so he said: "The master behind the Warm Breeze Hall is not Chen Sanshi; Chen Sanshi is merely a puppet on the surface. Everyone knows the true master-he is Junior Brother Zhang, Zhang Lingfeng!"

"What?"

Everyone was caught completely off guard.

They all found it unimaginable.

"A country bumpkin, relying on a few mu of land at home, actually dares to run to the county town to seize territory and even go head-to-head with the Baile Gang. Isn't this courting death?"

Ye Fan felt speechless.

He had looked down on Zhang Lingfeng to begin with and despised landlord families.

"Junior Brother Chen is affiliated with the Zhang Clan and only earns a dozen or so taels of silver every month. If this matter implicates him, then Zhang Lingfeng has harmed that man miserably."

Liu Rushuang still remembered Chen Qing.

On that day, a group of Ming Jin disciples scrambled eagerly, wanting to obtain an assigned post. In the end, Zhang Lingfeng not only did not seek an assignment with a financial syndicate, but instead had Chen Qing attach himself to their Zhang Clan. He gave Chen Qing fifteen taels of silver every month, plus one hundred catties of meat, and left Chen Qing behind in Zhang Family Gully to guard the fields for their Zhang Clan.

Everyone remembered this matter vividly and just felt it was a bit absurd. They had not expected the Warm Breeze Hall to have been founded by Zhang Lingfeng, which really made people look at him in a new light.

"Weren't the Warm Breeze Hall and the Baile Gang getting along fine at first? How did they suddenly start fighting?"

Zhao Hu asked in puzzlement.

He knew that the Warm Breeze Hall had been established half a year ago; if they were going to fight, why wouldn't they have started right when it was first established?

"Junior Brother Zhang wanted to open a gambling den in the Baile Ward."

Wu Yun explained.

"A gambling den is the lifeline of the Baile Gang. Zhang Lingfeng has some real nerve."

Ye Fan could not help but sneer.

"Why didn't Junior Brother Wu advise him otherwise?"

Ma Fei felt some sympathy for Zhang Lingfeng.

"I advised him. Dong Wenhan sought me out and asked me to persuade Junior Brother Zhang to stop. He wouldn't listen and stubbornly insisted on keeping the gambling den open, so there was nothing I could do. I just didn't expect Dong Wenhan to strike so quickly."

Wu Yun sighed.

"This matter was Zhang Lingfeng seeking his own doom. If he won't listen, no one can save him."

Ye Fan comforted him.

Wu Yun nodded.

"Since that is the case, then this really cannot be blamed on Junior Brother Wu."

Zhao Hu lamented.

Gang struggles involved the yamen, and there were all sorts of intricacies hidden within. Such matters, let alone them, were inconvenient even for Guo Wei to interfere in.

"Good morning, Senior Brother Zhang!"

Suddenly, a respectful voice came from the outer courtyard.

(Please support with recommendation votes and monthly votes. Thanks to 313131 for the 100 Qidian coin tip. Requesting monthly votes for support!)