Chaos begins when one joins a martial arts school

Chapter 26 Night Journey
Yang Jing smiled and said, "It's nothing. I just met two people who called themselves the Dayun Gang yesterday, and I was a little curious."

He didn't go into details about borrowing money from loan sharks.

Liu Maolin frowned and said, "They've given you trouble? Should I have someone investigate? My family clinic has quite a wide network in the city, so it shouldn't be difficult to find out the details of a gang."

"It's really nothing, Senior Brother, don't worry." Yang Jing quickly waved his hand. "I just wanted to know more about the situation so I would have a better understanding. If it's convenient, could you please ask me about their strength, what kind of business they mainly do, and the background of that gang leader? The more details the better."

After hearing some news about the Universiade gang from Liu Maolin, he did feel much more relieved.

Since the leader of this Grand Fortune Gang is only at the Ming Jin level, there is room for maneuver.

However, to be on the safe side, it is still necessary to thoroughly understand the other party's background in order to avoid being caught off guard and suffering a setback.

"What's inconvenient about that?" Liu Maolin readily agreed. "I'll have someone investigate when I get back this afternoon, and I'll get back to you first thing tomorrow morning."

He looked at Yang Jing and said seriously, "If you really run into trouble, don't hide it from us. We're brothers, there's nothing we can't talk about."

"Yes, thank you, senior brother." Yang Jing felt a warmth in his heart and nodded solemnly.

Time passes day by day.

Since that day, the Dayun Gang has not caused any more trouble for Yang Jing, but at the same time, it has not conveyed any intention to reconcile with Yang Jing.

Yang Jing remained wary.

The Dayun Gang is like a venomous snake lurking in the darkness; it might suddenly leap out and bite him.

Therefore, Yang Jing has never let his guard down against the Dayun Gang.

He had been asking his fourth senior brother, Liu Maolin, to inquire about the Dayun Gang through the Liu family's medical clinic.

However, the Dayun Gang was so busy fighting with other gangs for territory and profits that it seemed they had forgotten about Yang Jing's matter.

Besides asking Senior Brother Liu to keep an eye on the Dayun Gang, Yang Jing would also secretly visit the Dayun Gang's headquarters every two or three days, especially the Dayun Gang leader Xu Tai, who was at the peak of Ming Jin. Yang Jing's focus was almost entirely on him.

The Dayun Gang isn't targeting him right now, but that's because they're preoccupied with competing for territory and profits with other gangs, and they're also wary of his strength.

Once the disputes between the Dayun Gang and other gangs are over, it will probably be time to deal with him.

Yang Jing planned ahead for the Dayun Gang, gathering information in advance so that it would play a crucial role in the critical moment.

In the blink of an eye, a month has passed.

Chengpingfang, Sun Family Martial Arts School.

In the front yard, Yang Jing was squatting down and stomping his fists on the wooden stakes, his punches carrying a growing and powerful force.

Suddenly, a commotion arose in the center of the courtyard in the distance, like a pot boiling over, followed by the sound of many disciples discussing among themselves.

"It's Senior Brother Lin Yue!"

"My God! Really? He broke through to the Dark Force realm so quickly?"

"Is this for real? The museum owner said it himself!"

"It is said that Senior Brother Lin Yue reached the peak of Ming Jin half a month ago. In order to increase the chances of successfully challenging the barrier, he waited until today to formally challenge it and succeeded in one fell swoop!"

"My god, that's incredibly fast! He's only been a beginner for less than six months, right?"

"Sigh, it's really frustrating to compare yourself to others. I've been training at the martial arts school for half a year, and I still have little hope of breaking through to the Ming Jin level. Senior Brother Lin Yue has already broken through to the An Jin level. That speed is terrifying!"

Yang Jing withdrew his fist and looked over. He saw Lin Yue standing in the center of the front yard, with a handsome face and an extraordinary bearing. At this moment, a group of people were surrounding him.

"Superior aptitude really makes a difference. We haven't even touched the threshold of Ming Jin yet, while they've already broken through to An Jin."

"Sigh, I broke through to the Ming Jin level around this time last year, and it's been a year already. I tried to break through once before, but failed and damaged my vital energy. I should be able to recover my vital energy in about two months, and then I can try to break through for the second time. If I fail again, I'll go home. I can't just stay in the martial arts school and live off my savings. I really envy Junior Brother Lin's superior talent!"

"I heard that the master specially gave Lin Yue a 'Body Tempering Pill'. The reason why Lin Yue was able to break through to the Dark Force so quickly should also be related to that Body Tempering Pill."

"Tsk tsk, they not only have great talent, but also abundant resources. There's no way to compare."

The discussions were filled with envy and jealousy.

Yang Jing stared at the figure surrounded by the crowd, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his fist.

He felt no envy, only that the calluses on his palms had grown thicker.

As other martial arts school disciples have said, Lin Yue's path was paved by talent, but he has to fight his way out of his own path, punch by punch.

At this moment, Liu Maolin walked over, handed him a clean cloth, and said, "Junior Brother Lin's talent is the highest among all the core disciples of the martial arts school, so naturally he is the most valued by Master. His breakthrough to the Dark Force realm is to be expected."

As he spoke, Liu Maolin's gaze fell on Yang Jing. "Don't let him influence you. Your aptitudes are different, so it's normal for your progress to be different. Besides, your progress is quite steady, and you still have a good chance of achieving internal strength."

Liu Maolin encouraged Yang Jing, worried that Lin Yue's genius performance might affect his mindset.

Upon hearing this, Yang Jing wiped his sweat, smiled, and said, "I know, everyone has a different pace."

Upon hearing this, Liu Maolin felt that Yang Jing had a stable mindset, but he was also somewhat surprised.

He was quite close to Yang Jing, so he naturally knew that Yang Jing also had a persistent pursuit of internal strength, otherwise he wouldn't be the first to arrive and the last to leave every day to diligently practice.

What was unexpected was that Yang Jing's will was so firm.

Lin Yue broke through two levels within half a year, achieving mastery of internal strength.

Not to mention the ordinary disciples in the martial arts school, even he was stunned.

Yang Jing, however, remained as before, seemingly not taking Lin Yue, a disciple who had entered the sect later than him, to heart at all.

After speaking with Liu Maolin, Yang Jing continued practicing the "Crushing Mountain Fist".

With a thought, the panel appeared before my eyes—

[Minor Mastery of the Mountain-Crushing Fist (355/500)]

With an ample supply of meat, including some from wild beasts, Yang Jing's training speed in the "Crushing Mountain Fist" continued to improve at a relatively fast pace.

Although he is far from being able to compare with a genius like Lin Yue, whose aptitude is superior, his cultivation speed is no slower than that of other Ming Jin disciples, and even faster than that of some disciples who are not getting enough nutrition.

However, for Yang Jing, his greatest advantage has never been the speed of his cultivation, but rather that his martial arts have no bottlenecks!

As long as there is a road ahead, we can keep going!

"At this rate of cultivation, he should be able to break through to the Dark Force level in another two months. At that time, he will be considered a core disciple in the martial arts school. Even in the entire Yuhe County, a Dark Force martial artist is a rare master."

With anticipation in his heart, Yang Jing was even more motivated to practice his boxing.

If he could break through to the Dark Force realm, his income and benefits as a temporary employee would greatly increase, and he would certainly be more valued by his master at the martial arts school. Even the Yang family could be completely elevated from their humble beginnings as farmers. Three days later, in the afternoon, in Chengping Ward.

When Liu Maolin found Yang Jing in the front yard of the martial arts school, he had just finished practicing a set of punches and was wiping away sweat with a cloth.

"Junior brother, I have some news." Liu Maolin handed over the water bottle. "The Righteous Gang and the Dayun Gang in the city had a fight. I heard that the Dayun Gang suffered a great loss, with many of their members crippled. Their leader, Xu Tai, was also injured and we don't know where he is hiding now."

Yang Jing paused for a moment as he took the kettle, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, before calmly replying, "Oh? Is that so?"

“That’s right,” Liu Maolin said casually. “The two gangs were already at odds over territory, and this time it’s gotten out of hand. The Righteous Gang has a tough new guy, I heard he’s a peak Ming Jin who failed twice to break through to the Dark Jin level. With the original Righteous Gang leader joining forces, the Dayun Gang definitely won’t be able to withstand it.”

Yang Jing nodded and didn't ask any more questions. He simply nodded and said, "I understand. Thank you, Senior Brother."

Seeing that Yang Jing's expression was normal, Liu Maolin didn't think much of it. After chatting for a few more minutes about the martial arts school, he took off his shirt and started practicing his boxing in the courtyard.

Only after Liu Maolin left did the calm on Yang Jing's face gradually fade.

He gazed toward the courtyard wall, his fingers gently tapping the stone bench.

With the Grand Canal Gang suffering such a heavy blow, this is the best opportunity for him to settle that troublesome matter.

Delaying it will always be a hidden danger.

Instead of waiting for the other party to recover and retaliate, it's better to take the initiative and resolve the issue once and for all.

He clenched his fist, and a slight surge of internal energy flowed in his palm.

As the last rays of the setting sun swept across the eaves of the martial arts school, Yang Jing stopped his punches and stood still, the heat still lingering around him.

Liu Maolin had just finished practicing his boxing when he saw him packing up to leave, and he was a little surprised: "Why are you leaving so early today? You're usually still practicing at this time."

Yang Jing smiled and draped a towel over his shoulder: "I have some personal matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."

Without offering any further explanation, he strode briskly out of the martial arts school and headed straight for his residence in Datongfang.

Arriving in the courtyard and entering his room, he first busied himself in front of the clay pot in the corner of the room.

Half an hour later, the bear meat stewing in the earthenware pot was already bubbling and the rich aroma of meat filled the whole courtyard.

This is fresh meat picked up from Liu's Medical Clinic this morning; the meat is firm and has a healthy dark red color.

He ladled out a large bowl, ate it with the soup and meat, and a familiar warm current quickly rose in his dantian, slowly flowing along his meridians, washing away all the fatigue accumulated from practicing boxing.

He touched his stomach and felt full of energy, with his internal energy flowing exceptionally smoothly.

Back in his bedroom, he pulled an inconspicuous wooden box from under the bed. Inside, he found a set of black night clothes, a blue cloth mask covering most of his face, and a black dagger on one side.

He quickly changed into his night clothes; the fabric was close-fitting and didn't hinder his movements.

Then he picked up the mask and fastened it, revealing only a pair of clear yet cold eyes.

Finally, he took out the short knife from the box and slung it around his waist.

Time passed slowly, and the sky outside the window darkened completely, with only a few scattered stars flickering in the clouds.

Yang Jing blew out the oil lamp, his figure blending into the night like ink, and silently pushed open the door.

The night was as dark as ink. Yang Jing's figure moved through the alleys outside Yuhe County. His black clothes blended into the shadows, leaving only the light sound of the wind beneath his feet.

Guang'anfang was located on the west side of the outer city, and together with Datongfang and Chengpingfang, it belonged to the western city.

However, compared to Chengping Ward, Guang'an Ward is more chaotic, with at least three gangs having their headquarters there.

At this moment, Guang'anfang was unusually quiet and desolate.

Seeing the familiar courtyard of the Dayun Gang in the distance, Yang Jing quietly hid behind the old locust tree at the street corner.

The two stone lions outside the courtyard gate had been chipped at the corners, the vermilion gate was already shattered into pieces, and the weapons scattered on the ground were still stained with dark red marks, clearly indicating that a fierce battle had taken place.

The gang members who used to guard the gate were nowhere to be seen, and there was no sound of people inside the courtyard. The whole courtyard was like an abandoned house. Even when people passed by outside the gate, they walked in a hurry, obviously unwilling to have any contact with the Dayun Gang.

Yang Jing frowned slightly, suppressing the urge to go forward and investigate, and remained hidden in the shadows.

The more deathly still it is, the more likely something unusual is hidden there.

He tightened his grip on the short sword at his waist, his gaze sweeping over every corner of the courtyard wall like a hawk's, patiently waiting for the right moment.

The night wind blew through the streets and alleys of Guang'anfang, stirring up wood chips on the ground.

Yang Jing hid in the shadows of the alley corner, his gaze fixed on the dilapidated courtyard of the Dayun Gang.

Before long, two drunk men staggered into the alley. Judging from their clothes, they were members of the Dayun Gang, and there were blood-stained strips of cloth wrapped around their arms.

The two stumbled and shoved each other into the courtyard, cursing and grumbling as if they were complaining about something. Soon after, the sound of rummaging through drawers and cabinets could be heard in the courtyard, as if they were packing things up.

A moment later, three men dressed in shorts sneaked to the gate of the courtyard. They peeked around for a while, and seeing that there was no movement inside, they crouched down and slipped inside.

No sooner had they entered than the sound of arguing erupted in the courtyard, mixed with the muffled thuds of fists and kicks. It seemed that this group had run into the Dayun gang members who were left behind.

Yang Jing remained motionless, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the short knife at his waist.

This courtyard may seem empty, but it actually hides a lot of secrets.

There are remnants of the army cleaning up the mess, and outsiders taking advantage of the chaos. No one can say for sure whether there are other spies lurking in the shadows.

Suddenly, a man strode out from the shadows at the alley entrance.

The man was burly, with a ring-pommel sword at his waist. The scabbard clattered against his thigh with a dull thud.

He had a scar on his face that ran from his brow bone to his jaw, and his eyes were sinister. He was one of the leaders of the Dayun Gang and was known as "Scarface Li".

For more than a month, not to mention the information Liu Maolin obtained through the Liu family clinic, Yang Jing himself went to the Dayun Gang to lie in wait almost every night, and could know the Dayun Gang's situation like the back of his hand.

Yang Jing had a fairly deep impression of Scarface Li, the leader of the Dayun Gang whose henchmen had committed countless murders.

Yang Jing huddled in the corner, watching Scarface Li expertly push open the half-closed courtyard gate.

Before long, Scarface Li came out of the yard, carrying a bulging burlap sack on his shoulder. It was heavy and made a clanging sound as he walked, like the clinking of gold and silver objects.

He walked hurriedly, glancing around frequently, his face showing a hint of anxiety.

Upon seeing this, Yang Jing's eyes lit up.

(End of this chapter)