Martial Arts Sainthood Begins with the Tiger-Taming Fist

Lin Chong looked around, his gaze finally settling on Xie Zhen. His eyes hardened as he asked, "Xie Zhen, was it you who did this?"

Xie Zhen understood what Lin Chong meant, but shook his head. "The killing of your archers and the ambush on the Black Tiger Hall were not the work of my Xie family."

Hearing Xie Zhen's answer, Lin Chong frowned even more deeply.

He would rather it be Xie Jiaqian's. If it wasn't, it would mean that an unknown force had come to Anyang. The worst thing would be if it was someone from Chuzhou Prefecture. Then he would have to give back everything he had previously gained, and he might even lose his official position.

Most seriously, there was the matter they were plotting with the Black Tiger Gang...

Right now, everyone is waiting for Lin Chong to make a decision.

Now that things have come to this, it's not difficult for both sides to reconcile their old "friendship"; all it takes is a word from Lin Chong.

Even though the inside is full of cracks, the outside still has to be presented.

Lin Chong coldly scanned the room, his gaze sweeping over each person. He thought to himself, if the Xie family had indeed contacted the Chu Prefecture, then even if he severely injured Xie Zhen today, it would be futile and would only alert them. Perhaps…

I'll think about it.

The coldness on Lin Chong's face faded somewhat, and he slowly spoke: "Today's events must be a misunderstanding. What I said just now..."

"What Magistrate Lin said just now..." Xie Zhen immediately replied, "was all drunken banter. The iron cage falling from the sky was merely part of today's competition and exchange."

Lin Chong nodded slightly.

Meanwhile, Zhao Huayuan and the head of the Qi family, who were standing to the side, subtly darkened their expressions.

"In that case, the competition will end here today."

As soon as Lin Chong said this, the two sides stopped confronting each other. He Fengdang and the Iron Palm Gang were the first to leave, and the Xie family, Chen Mo, Yin Tianqing and others also left Zuichunlou together.

After leaving Zuichunlou, Xie Jinyou asked, "Master Yin, Brother Chen, why don't we stay at the Xie family's residence for a few days to avoid trouble?"

Yin Tianqing immediately declined, saying that Tianqing Martial Arts School still needed him. After thinking for a moment, Chen Mo also refused, since Chen Lan was still in Heihe Town.

"The Xie family's carriage can take you back to Heihe Town."

Xie Zhen thought for a moment and said.

Yin Tianqing and Chen Mo immediately thanked them and prepared to set off.

Before leaving, Xie Jinyou patted Chen Mo on the shoulder and said, "If you need anything, feel free to contact me."

Chen Mo seemed to be deep in thought, but didn't say anything at the moment.

The two men clasped their hands in a fist salute.

Then, a coachman from the Xie family arrived with a brocade-draped carriage, accompanied by a martial artist specializing in internal energy. After they boarded the carriage, it sped towards Heihe Town.

After they left, Xie Zhen stroked his beard and sighed, "You have a good eye. This young man, Chen Mo, does have some talent. I think he can grow to a certain level in the future."

Xie Jinyou looked worried, saying, "The situation is a bit dangerous right now."

Xie Zhen smiled slightly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "But Shen Qi has already made his move in the shadows. After all these years, he is still as swift and decisive as ever."

……

Have a safe journey.

Upon arriving in Heihe Town, Chen Mo and Wu Zhiai returned to the Wu family home. Chen Lan was waiting in the main hall and was overjoyed to see Chen Mo return.

Before they could exchange more than a few words, Chen Mo looked around to make sure no one was watching, then whispered to Chen Lan, "Sister, we'll be apart for a while."

Chen Lan frowned slightly. "Where are you going?"

Chen Mo revealed his thoughts: "I'm not leaving. I want to take you to the Xie family in the county town. I'm afraid things won't be peaceful in Heihe Town recently."

He recalled Xie Jinyou's words before he left: "If you need anything, just ask me anytime. Now is the time to do so."

Chen Mo was no longer an unknown figure. Only by accumulating favors from others would others reciprocate yours, and only through repeated interactions would the relationship develop.

He knew.

The path of martial arts relies on both talent and connections.

Upon hearing this, Chen Lan's first thought wasn't whether or not to go to the Xie family, but rather Chen Mo's safety. She asked anxiously, "What will you do alone at the Wu family?"

Chen Mo relaxed. "Sister, don't worry. I'm just being cautious. There probably won't be any danger at all. Besides, I've already reached the Inner Strength realm, so no one can bully me."

Even though Chen Lan was still worried, she knew that she couldn't help much and would only be a burden to Chen Mo. Now, the safest thing for Chen Mo was to listen to Chen Mo and go to the Xie family.

"This little child has grown up..." she thought to herself.

So she nodded slightly.

"Okay, I'll listen to you. If there's any danger, don't be reckless. Staying alive is the most important thing."

"Yes! I know, sis!"

A short while later, the Xie family's carriage returned to the Wu family's door. Chen Mo helped Chen Lan into the carriage, the driver cracked his whip, and the horse let out a long sigh before galloping away.

Chen Mo unconsciously touched the purse at his waist. He had earned more than forty taels of silver by blacksmithing these days, but it was still a bit short of enough to buy a house in the county town.

But right now, the most important thing is still how to survive.

"Sister Ai." Chen Mo turned around and called out after watching the carriage disappear into the distance.

"Um?"

"Although Lin Chong will not take the initiative, the Black Tiger Hall and the Zhao family will not let this go. And it's not that I'm being paranoid, but I feel that the eldest and second eldest sons of the Wu family are unreliable. You need to be extra careful lately."

Wu Zhiai nodded. "You're not overthinking it. I know how unreliable Wu Duan and Wu Zheng are. Right now, we can only hope that the sky doesn't fall down in Heihe Town. If it does, they'll definitely be the first to run away."

"Okay, Sister Ai, you should get some rest. I'll practice my kung fu a bit more."

Wu Zhi'ai glanced at Chen Mo, hesitated for a few moments, and then said, "Wait for me outside for a moment, I'll go inside to get something for you."

"Okay."

After Wu Zhiai entered the room, she made a slight rustling sound. A moment later, she pushed open the door and came out, now wearing a dark gold soft armor.

"Here, this gold-threaded soft armor is my... body armor. Wear it now, just in case."

As she finished speaking, a blush rose to her cheeks.

Chen Mo was taken aback.

A woman rarely shows her underwear to others unless that person is her closest confidant.

Wu Zhiai didn't know how to explain at the moment, and only urged, "Hurry up and accept it, it's more useful for you to wear than for me to wear."

Chen Mo pondered for a moment, then without hesitation, immediately accepted the golden silk soft armor, which was still warm to the touch.

Wu Zhiai turned and left, and Chen Mo went to the blacksmith shop alone to start practicing his boxing skills by forging iron.

"Although the gap between us was huge in today's battle with Zhao Huayuan, it made me vaguely feel the operation of the Hua Jin (化劲) energy. I must put this understanding into practice as soon as possible."

Insight is often elusive and hard to find; once missed, it's gone forever.

After nearly a month of blacksmithing, Chen Mo had a deeper understanding of forging than before, and therefore his cultivation of skills through mountain and water cultivation became more efficient.

"With the improvement of forging techniques, the effects of cultivating one's skills in the mountains and waters are even better, so they complement each other."

Thinking this way, he quickly became engrossed in it.

……

midnight.

The main courtyard of the Wu family.

A figure suddenly landed in the courtyard, stepping on the fallen leaves, and approached the window step by step.

"Squeak—"

The window was opened, and the figure quickly darted into the room, moved a few steps to the bedside, and lifted the sleeping Wu Duan up.

"who……"

Wu Duan tried to shout, but his throat was choked. By the moonlight outside the window, he could see the man's face clearly.

"Zhao Hua... Patriarch Zhao, you... what brings you here?!"

Zhao Huayuan casually threw Wu Duan on the ground and said in a deep voice, "I'm telling you, listen, don't make a sound. If you make even the slightest noise, you'll die immediately."

Wu Duan nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

Zhao Huayuan continued, "Chen Mo, who lives in the Wu family's house, is a prisoner handpicked by the Lin County Magistrate. You secretly burn down his house, remembering not to give yourself away. Once he's reduced to ashes, I will help you get rid of Wu Zhi'ai. If you don't do it well enough, you will die."

Wu Duan was terrified.

"Lin...the county magistrate?"

Zhao Huayuan said to himself, "You have no right to choose. Remember, this is something you did voluntarily, and it has nothing to do with anyone else."

Wu Duan nodded frantically without thinking. By the time Zhao Huayuan disappeared, his crotch was already soaked.