CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 33: A CHANGE IN STATUS, MOVING INTO THE INNER CITY

"Jiang Shu... you... killed someone..."

Old Man Li’s voice trembled. He had never expected that Jiang Shu, a young man he had known for so long and who had always seemed like a frail scholar, had actually killed Zheng Kun with just three punches!

Zheng Kun, wasn’t he a Martial Artist with great Qi Blood Circulation?

Even the head of the armed escort agency would treat Zheng Kun with utmost courtesy.

Yet in Jiang Shu’s hands, he seemed hardly able to withstand a blow?

He didn’t rush to respond to Old Man Li’s words. Jiang Shu bent down, twisted Zheng Kun’s neck to make sure he was completely dead, then searched the body and found a small bag of gold beans.

Zheng Kun turned out to be even more incompetent than I had imagined, although he too practiced great Qi Blood Circulation. But with only energy and no proper training in combat technique, he was far inferior to myself, who had mastered the three forms of the tiger to Great Success.

It showed that there was a definite gap between the gang Hall Masters of the outer city and the official Disciples of the martial arts schools of the inner city.

The former could overpower an ordinary person with their Qi, managing one against ten.

But compared to those who had mastered the three methods of training, nourishing, and fighting to Great Success, three or four Hall Masters likely couldn’t surround even one such Disciple.

After making sure nothing was overlooked, Jiang Shu stood up. At that moment, I felt immensely grateful that I had apprenticed at the Famished Tiger Martial Arts School early and mastered the threefold method to Great Success.

Otherwise, relying on my own Great Success of the Horse Stance, without any combat techniques, facing an injured Zheng Kun, I certainly could run, but what then?

Old Man Li would undoubtedly die.

I myself would be hunted down by the members of the Green Snake Gang’s Poison Tooth Hall.

This world, after all, wasn’t Xuanxing.

In the small outer city of Pingling County, danger lurked everywhere, always uncertain when it would strike.

Not to mention the inner city, crowded with Martial Artists.

Under the overwhelming presence of the great households and county government, without solid personal strength, one could at best eke out a subsistence living in the inner city. It would be a life fraught with uncertainties.

"Jiang Shu... maybe we should run..."

"Run? Zheng Kun wasn’t killed by me. Wasn’t he killed fleeing from the Black Water Gang?"

Having stood up, Jiang Shu stretched his limbs. He then turned to Old Man Li, his tone light and breezy. "Old Man Li, don’t worry. With Zheng Kun’s death, the Green Snake Gang will only suspect the Black Water Gang. Even if the Black Water Gang denies it, would the leader of the Green Snake Gang believe them?"

"Once the rain intensifies, I’ll dump him in a corner of the outer city."

"His hiding here was without anyone’s knowledge. He courted death himself. Who would even know that he had been in Qu She Alley?"

"As for you and me, Old Man Li, tomorrow you should go to the armed escort agency. Tell them that with the Green Snake Gang and Black Water Gang fighting over territory, you’re scared, so you’re returning to the agency to sweep the floors. Favors should be used at times like this."

"And me? As an official Disciple of the Famished Tiger Martial Arts School, naturally I reside in the inner city. Why would I come to a place like the outer city?"

Jiang Shu’s tone was calm, as if he hadn’t just killed a person but merely brushed some dust off his clothes.

Old Man Li felt his mind was a mess. At that moment, he was utterly unable to speak.

Jiang Shu... wasn’t he studying under Master Qin?

How had he suddenly become an official Disciple of the Famished Tiger Martial Arts School?

In those months I had been sweeping floors at the Poison Tooth Hall, what on earth had happened?!!!

"Old Man Li, you once told me your daughter was sold to someone in the inner city. Do you remember which human brokerage handled it, and roughly how many years ago? I’ll keep an eye out and see if I can find any traces."

"Once I become a Martial Artist, I’ll go to the county office to sort out your household registration. Then you can move to the inner city too. It’s not safe to constantly move around in the outer city with all the gang fighting. You’re old enough now. In the future, you should just enjoy a good life, free from this daily fear and dread."

As he spoke, Jiang Shu picked up a wooden bucket from Old Man Li’s room, went out to fill it with rainwater, and washed away the blood on the ground.

Killing. Cleaning the ground. All done in one smooth sequence.

...

「Three days passed in the blink of an eye.」

In the outer city, the battle between the Green Snake Gang and the Black Water Gang continued incessantly. After news of Hall Master Zheng’s death spread, Poison Tooth Hall disintegrated, and the Green Snake Gang was gradually pushed back. Curiously, the leaders of both gangs had not yet intervened, leaving only their members to be killed or injured in droves.

Many of the civilians living in Qu She Alley and other alleys began to relocate.

However, the county office didn’t care about this. If one batch of displaced people didn’t want to stay here, wouldn’t the next batch?

「In the inner city.」

Jiang Shu stood in his newly rented courtyard. The air in Pingling County was refreshingly clear after the rain.

In these three days, he had not only settled his household registration but had also rented a small courtyard on the eastern side of the inner city.

Located in a secluded area, the price was suitable. The courtyard itself was barely twenty square meters. Jiang Shu randomly planted some unidentified plants to add some vitality. Of the two rooms, he kept one for himself and cleared out the other to use as a training room.

At last, I have a foothold in Pingling County. I must thank Hall Master Zheng—without that small bag of gold beans, where would I have gotten so many Silver Taels?

’Murder and arson bring a gold belt.’ The ancients truly did not deceive me. Even a minor Hall Master possessed such wealth. I daren’t imagine the fortunes accumulated by those major households...

If I were strong enough, why would I even bother with business? Robbing those damned rich households would bring money in much faster.

Regrettably, my strength is insufficient, and my Talent seems lacking too. Three days have passed, and I haven’t even grasped the basics of ’Famished Tiger Roar Mountain Strength.’ It seems I must resort to the slower, harder way: advancing all three methods—training, nourishing, and fighting—to Perfection.

Jiang Shu muttered to himself internally as he pushed the door and stepped outside.

Unlike the cramped Qu She Alley, the stone-paved road outside the small courtyard was clean and spacious. Nearby, numerous small vendors hawked their wares. Jiang Shu, greeted by a ray of sunlight, walked towards the Famished Tiger Martial Arts School.

By the time he arrived, the front of the Famished Tiger Martial Arts School was already bustling with drums and cymbals, filled with activity.

The nearby residents gathered around, while apprentices practicing Qi Blood Transport maintained order. Zhou Yang, seemingly influenced by Jiang Shu, had shed his usual laziness. He stood in the most conspicuous place, loudly announcing the various congratulatory gifts from visiting factions.

Soon, inside the martial arts school, all the martial arts school masters from Pingling County’s inner city were present.

The prominent households also sent their stewards and concubine-born sons to congratulate Master Chou on accepting a new, distinguished Disciple.

Chou Hai sat on a high chair, with his twelve official Disciples, now at the Skin Grinding Realm, standing beside him.

After everyone was seated, Chou Hai cleared his throat. He looked at Jiang Shu, who stood in the center of the courtyard, and began to speak.

"Apprentice Jiang Shu, of good nature and diligent in martial arts practice. Having now achieved the grand circulation of Qi Blood, he is taken as my official Disciple, ranked thirteenth. In this life, he shall uphold the Martial Arts, not defy the teachings of his master, diligently train day and night, strive to reach the Skin Grinding Realm swiftly, and uphold the prestige of our Famished Tiger Martial Arts School..."

Amid a round of congratulations, Jiang Shu changed into the official training attire of the Famished Tiger Martial Arts School.

The pure black training suit had a fierce tiger head embroidered with gold thread on the chest, its fangs sharp.

He received a cup of clear tea from his senior brother. He then stepped forward a few paces, knelt, and respectfully presented the tea with both hands.

"Master above, please accept the bow of your Disciple Jiang Shu."