Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

Qin Ming bowed and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, performing the most proper and respectful form of martial arts.

Place your left hand on top of your right hand, with your palm pressed against the back of your fist, and your thumb firmly gripping the knuckles of your right hand, completely covering them.

He bowed very low, his expression respectful, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

The two men who had just been scolded by him looked at the blood foam still on Qin Ming's lips and recalled the strange scene of the teacup shattering earlier.

The hand holding the Emei dagger slowly softened, and the fierce look on his face faded.

With only a hint of resentment, he quietly slipped the weapon back into his sleeve, stood aside with his head down, not daring to even breathe loudly.

"Hehe, it's nothing."

Chen Zhan picked up the freshly poured iced tea, took a sip, and his gaze fell on Qin Ming. His tone was calm but tinged with curiosity, "Little Thunderbolt?"

Qin Ming quickly straightened up, but still maintained a half-bow posture: "That's right, we brothers make a living on the streets of Tianjin, calling ourselves Little Liangshan. I'm ranked seventh in the group, corresponding to the Heavenly Fierce Star. Back in the day, Liangshan had Thunderbolt Qin Ming, but our skills are not even a fraction of his, so we can only call ourselves Little Thunderbolt."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhan remained noncommittal, casually joking, "Little Liangshan? So, you're going to kidnap me to Liangshan?"

Qin Ming's face stiffened, and he stammered, "Uh... this, we would never dare. But just now, seeing that you were alone, with a refined appearance and clothes different from ordinary people, we guessed that you had probably returned from studying abroad. For a moment, we were blinded by greed and thought, thought of extorting some money from you to tide us over..."

"That's definitely the style of Little Liangshan."

Chen Zhan put down his teacup, his tone still sarcastic, "They didn't learn any of Liangshan's real skills, but they did learn the tricks of opportunism and extortion thoroughly."

Qin Ming blushed and lowered his head, not daring to refute, for Chen Zhan's words were absolutely correct.

Their Little Liangshan is nothing more than a group of street thugs banding together for warmth, relying on their rudimentary martial arts skills to bully honest people in the city. They are far inferior to true martial arts masters.

He could only force a smile, his expression growing increasingly awkward.

Chen Zhan changed the subject: "How did you get the information?"

His whereabouts were not exactly secretive. Although he attracted some attention from passersby when he walked around during the day, once he got into the rickshaw, no one could see his unshaved head and braided hair.

Although the streets of Tianjin are chaotic, they are not so chaotic that they are full of spies.

After much thought, the only possibility that the news might have been missed was the inn.

However, the inn was mostly inhabited by coachmen and laborers. Even if someone noticed something amiss, they would mostly only have covetous thoughts. Moreover, the innkeeper, Old Zhang, was a man with a certain reputation in the martial arts world.

These people were wary of Zhang Laojiao and dared not make a move rashly inside the inn.

Qin Ming answered readily, without hiding anything: "The information I bought cost me three qian of silver."

Where did you buy it?

"The black market outside the South Gate, the black and white pawnshops, belong to Master Liu of Yuchang Inn."

Qin Ming spoke slowly, afraid of saying the wrong word, "That pawnshop looks like it's doing pawnbroking business, but in reality, it does all sorts of shady deals."

Chen Zhan raised an eyebrow: "A pawnshop, selling information?"

“Selling, and it’s our main business.”

Qin Ming quickly added, "Third Master Liu is the head of all the shady businesses in Tianjin. He does everything from pawnbroking and lending to underground gambling and fencing stolen goods. He'll do anything that can make money."

Before Chen Zhan could ask any more questions, Qin Ming added, "In these chaotic times, there aren't many legitimate items to pawn. The most lucrative business for black and white pawnshops is buying and selling information."

“For example, in your case, someone might see that you haven’t shaved your head and are braiding your hair, but not knowing your strength, they wouldn’t dare to approach you and rip you off. So they would sell the information to a pawnshop for some money. We would then buy the information from the pawnshop and come to your door to try our luck, thinking that we could extort as much money as we could.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhan gently rubbed the white and blue teacup in his hand with his fingertips, occasionally picking up the teacup to take a sip.

The teacup looked perfectly intact, without even a crack, but Qin Ming, standing opposite it, felt a pang of anxiety.

Tiny droplets of water were slowly seeping out from the inside of the cup, sliding down the rim and dripping onto the table.

"My information is only worth three coins?"

Chen Zhan's tone was unreadable, yet it made Qin Ming freeze, cold sweat instantly soaking the hemp clothing on his back.

"No, no!"

Qin Ming hurriedly waved his hand, his voice trembling slightly, "The Black and White Pawnshop didn't know your capabilities! If they knew you were a master, they certainly wouldn't dare sell it so cheaply. If the price were higher, we definitely wouldn't buy it either; nobody wants to risk their life!"

"Ah."

Chen Zhan responded calmly and slowly stood up. "Take me to the pawnshop."

He had just taken two steps when he suddenly heard a faint rustling sound behind him.

Qin Ming subconsciously turned his head to look and saw that the teacup on the table was gradually shattering and melting, and in an instant, it spread into a pile of fine porcelain shards.

The remaining chilled tea in the cup slowly spread across the table.

This time, Qin Ming saw it clearly: Chen Zhan hadn't used any force to squeeze the teacup at all; he had simply used the internal strength in his fingertips to turn the hard porcelain cup into dust.

His shock deepened, and he clicked his tongue in amazement: "Even my own boss, who has practiced hard kung fu for more than ten years, can only crush a teacup with his bare hands. He could never do something as effortless as turning porcelain into sand."

"How advanced is this person's internal energy?"

It was already late at night, but Chen Zhan did not hesitate for a moment and went straight downstairs.

He walked very lightly, his feet barely making a sound when they landed. The doors to the inn’s lobby were unlocked and unguarded, with only a dim oil lamp flickering in the corner.

Qin Ming quickly composed himself and hurried after him.

After leaving the Four Gates Inn, Qin Ming quickly stepped forward and led the way, walking very quietly and glancing at Chen Zhan's expression from time to time.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally mustered up his courage and said in a low voice, "Could you let my two brothers go back first? Third Master Liu is ruthless and not to be trifled with. They both have families to support. I was the one who started this, so we should take responsibility for our actions and not implicate them."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhan did not stop walking; he simply waved his hand casually without saying a word, which was considered tacit approval.

Qin Ming felt relieved and quickly walked to the side, whispering a few words of advice to his two brothers who were waiting not far away.

Upon hearing this, the two felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They bowed deeply to Chen Zhan from afar and then quickly disappeared into the night.

In May, the streets of Tianjin were not cold, but they were damp after the rain, and the stone slabs underfoot gleamed.

The two walked towards the south gate. There were not many lights along the way, but fortunately the moonlight was bright and shone on the long street, making it easy to see.

On the quiet street, only the sound of their footsteps could be heard, crisp and rhythmic.

Chen Zhan suddenly spoke, breaking the silence: "What's Liu Sanye's background?"

Qin Ming dared not be negligent and quickly replied, "Third Master Liu is nicknamed 'Shady Liu.' He is extremely cunning and has an unpredictable temperament. He is not a native of Tianjin. I heard that he suddenly came to Tianjin more than ten years ago and gradually started doing shady business, eventually becoming the boss of this industry."

"His Yuchang Inn has offended many people, but he is ruthless and has a strong backing. Over the years, no one has been able to touch him in the slightest."

"Say something useful."

Qin Ming was taken aback, and quickly stopped talking, saying in a deep voice, "Well, we don't know much either. Yinmian Liu is a mysterious person who rarely shows his face. He has three experts under his command, known as the Three Vajras."

"These three men each oversee a pawnshop, a loan sharking operation, and an underground gambling den. They are all highly skilled, and it is said that one of them even studied under a famous master and has mastered Bajiquan. Liu Neng, who has connections in both the legitimate and underworld circles, owes much of his success to these three men. In Tianjin, few dare to mess with his men."

After listening, Chen Zhan didn't ask any more questions, nodded slightly, and continued walking.

The two walked quickly and soon arrived near the South Gate.

Turn left into a narrow alley, and you'll find Tianjin's famous dark market, also known as the Black Market or Pigeon Market.

This place is deserted during the day, but becomes bustling at night, attracting all sorts of people from all walks of life, and selling all sorts of shady things.

It was already late at night, and most of the people in the dark market had gone home to rest, leaving only a few scattered stalls and a few burly men patrolling, looking vigilant.

The two walked westward into the alley, going deeper and deeper, and the surrounding light gradually increased.

At the end of the alley, there is a small pawnshop in the corner. The storefront is simple and inconspicuous. A black plaque hangs above the door with the four large characters "Black and White Pawnshop" written in a messy hand.

Chen Zhan stopped, glanced at the pawnshop, and gestured to Qin Ming with his chin, indicating that he should come forward.

Qin Ming took a deep breath, suppressing his anxiety, and steeled himself to step forward. He reached out and gently knocked three times on the door. "Knock, knock, knock—"

The knocking was crisp and clear, standing out in the quiet alley.

Not long after, the wooden door of the pawnshop creaked open a crack, and a head peeked out, eyeing the two people warily. The head asked in a low voice, "What are you doing here?"

"I need to see Master Liu. I have something to say," Qin Ming said, trying to appear calm.

The man looked the two of them up and down, then glanced at Chen Zhan. After hesitating for a moment, he finally opened the wooden door and stepped aside, saying, "Come in. Third Master isn't here, so we brothers will be in charge of everything."

The two entered the pawnshop. The room was brightly lit, with several candles illuminating the entire hall. The room was small and simply furnished, with an old eight-immortal table in the center and a few chairs around it, rustic and simple.

In the corner of the wall, there was a small window with a large "当" (dāng) character pasted on it. The character was bright red and particularly eye-catching.

The group went inside, leaving only Chen Zhan and his companion in the main hall.

Chen Zhan walked straight to the window and gently tapped the wooden edge.

With a soft click, the interlayer on the window slowly opened, and a hoarse male voice came from inside: "What do you think we are, friends? Gold and silver jewelry or antiques and paintings, show them all."

Chen Zhan lowered his eyes to look at the vague figure inside the window, and said in a calm tone: "No, buy it."

"What will we use to buy it?"

The man paused, not asking what information he was buying, but instead inquiring about the stakes, his tone becoming even more wary.

Chen Zhan remained calm and composed, and with a slight turn of his hand, a piece of mutton-fat white jade pendant appeared in his palm.

The jade pendant is smooth and lustrous, with a slightly cool touch. It is engraved with a simple dragon pattern, the lines of which are smooth and exude an extraordinary texture.

He raised his hand and gently handed the jade pendant inside.

The person inside the window took the jade pendant. The moment their fingertips touched the pendant, they paused noticeably, and then their hand holding the pendant trembled uncontrollably.

A brief silence fell over the room, broken only by the crackling of the candlelight. The person seemed to be carefully examining the jade pendant, or perhaps weighing something.

A moment later, the hoarse male voice came again, his tone more respectful than before, but still wary: "What do you want to ask, friend? As long as it's something in Tianjin, as long as we know it, we can tell you."

"In Tianjin, who deserves to die the most?"

"Huh?" The person inside the window was clearly stunned, their tone full of astonishment.

Qin Ming, standing behind Chen Zhan, froze, almost exclaiming in surprise.

He hadn't expected Chen Zhan to ask such a question.

This question is too strange; it doesn't sound like a normal inquiry, but rather like nitpicking.
Without any specific target, should the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who colluded with foreigners, be executed?

Foreign missionaries oppress the people, should they die?
Shouldn't the leaders of various gangs who commit all sorts of evil deeds die?
No one can say for sure, and no one dares to draw a conclusion easily.

"This friend's question is completely unfounded."

The person inside the window was silent for a moment, then said with some difficulty, "Tianjin is a place where all sorts of people come together. Who should die and who shouldn't is uncertain, and we can't answer that."

"Then let's choose another one."

Chen Zhan didn't press the matter. He changed the subject, his tone still calm, "I need the addresses of Yinmian Liu, Cao Taisui, and Tiezui Ma Liu."

"Are you trying to cause trouble?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of screeching sounds of tables and chairs rubbing together came from inside the room, accompanied by heavy footsteps. Clearly, everyone hiding inside had stood up, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

"Snapped--!"

With a sharp crack, a wooden door on the side of the hall was suddenly pushed open, and three men strode out.

The leader was nearly two meters tall, almost taller than the door frame. He had a square face, and his eyebrows were straight with the ends slightly raised, resembling an inverted V-shape. He exuded a fierce aura with wide, angry eyes.

His body was bulging with muscles, and he was dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt. His exposed arms were covered with hideous scars, making it clear that he was a ruthless character who had been fighting for many years.

Qin Ming trembled with fright, jumped up from his chair, quickly moved behind Chen Zhan, and whispered:

"Yan Jiu, the Wrathful Vajra".

"He's in charge of the pawnshops, and his Bajiquan skills are unparalleled in their power and ferocity. In the Nanshi area, no one dares to mess with him!"

Chen Zhan nodded slightly. Yan Jiu narrowed his eyes and looked at Chen Zhan. When he saw that Chen Zhan had not shaved his head or braided his hair, he glanced at Qin Ming hiding behind him.

I instantly understood what had happened.

The news that was sold this afternoon seems to have attracted some tough customers.

The news itself wasn't a big deal; it was just a stranger who hadn't shaved his head. He happened to be on duty and knew the details of the news, but he never expected that this stranger would dare to come directly to Liu Sanye's door and ask for his address.

"Friend, what do you mean?"

Yan Jiu took a step forward, the blue bricks beneath his feet making a slight thud, his tone icy, "Asking about my boss's address is not very polite."

For those who live a life of crime and escapades, the worst thing is for someone to ask about their home address.

They are all cunning and have many enemies around them. If their address is leaked, they might be hacked to death one night, leaving no trace of their bodies.

As Yan Jiu spoke, his eyes suddenly widened, and the candles in the four corners of the room seemed to be swept by a strong wind, swaying violently a few times, with the light and shadows becoming disordered.

Chen Zhan did not answer, ignoring Yan Jiu's fierce aura, and turned to sit down on the chair behind him, closing his eyes slightly, as if he were an old monk in meditation.

Qin Ming hid behind Chen Zhan, his back soaked with cold sweat and his whole body trembling slightly.

He knew Yan Jiu's methods all too well. Of the three henchmen under Yinmian Liu, Yan Jiu was the most ruthless and acted with no restraint. In the Nanshi area, he could kill people and no one would dare to interfere.

If Chen Zhan fails today, the two of them will probably have to walk out of this black and white pawnshop sideways.

The silence lasted for a moment. Chen Zhan slowly opened his eyes, looked calmly at Yan Jiu, and slowly said, "If I remember correctly, there is an old rule in Tianjin called 'A fierce dragon passes through three provinces,' right?"

Yan Jiu was taken aback, the fierce look on his face softened a bit, and his tone became more doubtful: "That's right, there is such a rule."

The saying "a fierce dragon crossing three provinces" doesn't actually mean crossing three provinces.

Rather, it was outside martial arts practitioners and forces who wanted to establish themselves in Tianjin. They had to pass three tests and gain the recognition of the local martial arts community before they could open a school, establish a business, and remain undisturbed.

But Chen Zhan's current appearance didn't seem like he was there to establish himself and open a museum; rather, it seemed like he was there to seek revenge. This left Chen Zhan completely baffled.

"Passing three tests: the first is 'clarifying one's lineage,' the second is 'paying respects,' and the third is 'establishing martial prowess,' right?"

"Yes."

Yan Jiu responded in a deep voice, and the two underlings behind him also frowned, their faces full of doubt.

Hiding behind Chen Zhan, Qin Ming was even more confused, wondering to himself: What is he trying to do? Does he have some past connection with Master Liu? Or does he want to get affiliated with Yuchang Inn and establish a business in Tianjin, and is asking Master Liu for help?

The martial arts world in Tianjin has always been complex.

Almost all the masters of the martial arts world in the north have concentrated in Tianjin and Beijing. Martial arts schools, gangs, and sects are scattered throughout the streets and alleys. Martial arts people are involved in almost every industry.

People in the martial arts world value rules above all else.

Tianjin is only so big, with nine rivers crisscrossing it. Foreigners also occupy a small part of the territory. There is a constant stream of foreign martial artists coming here to make a living and establish businesses. If there are no rules to restrain them, it will sooner or later descend into chaos.

Thus, the martial arts world of Tianjin established the rule of "the fierce dragon crossing three provinces".

The first hurdle, "establishing a lineage," is the simplest; all you need is to have a lineage to which you are affiliated.

Tianjin is full of martial arts schools, offering all kinds of styles of boxing, including the three major internal martial arts, Bajiquan, Chuojiao, Fanzi, and Yingzhao. Anyone with even a little skill has a lineage.

Finding a sect to affiliate with isn't too difficult; once you pass this hurdle, you're considered one of the martial arts community's own.

The second challenge, "Offering Gifts," involves presenting gifts and inviting guests to various martial arts troupes in Tianjin under the guise of being affiliated with a sect, in order to gain their acceptance.

This hurdle is entirely a matter of personal relationships. Sects with good relations will naturally make things easier for you, but if you're an enemy, they will definitely make things difficult for you in every way.

The third challenge, "Establishing Military Might," is a means to deal with the difficult situation.

Some people feel that you have divided up the territory and taken the benefits, and they disagree with you establishing a business and opening a school. At this time, they will set up a platform to compete and determine the winner.

As long as you can subdue your opponent and gain a foothold, no one in Tianjin will dare to provoke you easily in the future.

After hearing Yan Jiu's response, Chen Zhan nodded slightly, slowly stood up, and walked step by step to Yan Jiu.

The two were vastly different in height. Yan Jiu, nearly two meters tall, towered over them like a small mountain, while Chen Zhan, only a little over 1.7 meters tall and rather thin, appeared exceptionally short standing in front of Yan Jiu.

Chen Zhan had to raise his head slightly to see Yan Jiu's face clearly: "That's right, I'll start from the third level and establish my martial prestige first, how about that?"

Yan Jiu was completely stunned, looking down at the thin Chen Zhan in front of him, and paused for a moment.
Suddenly, he grinned, revealing a set of yellowed teeth: "You want to use my Yuchang Inn to establish your authority?"

He had practiced Bajiquan for over a decade, and his power and ferocity were unmatched. One punch could shatter blue bricks and stone slabs, and ordinary martial artists could not even get close to him.

Chen Zhan remained calm, as if stating a matter of course: "I've heard that your Yuchang Inn is quite wealthy. Perfect, the things I need to do are short of funds." (End of Chapter)