Ultimate True Lord

"Brother, have a pancake."

A crisp sound interrupted Jiang Ming's thoughts.

He looked up and saw his younger sister, Jiang Tao, standing in front of him, holding a half-eaten scallion pancake, which she offered to him. Her eyes, still moist from crying, were bright as she looked straight at Jiang Ming.

Now, only two people remain in the Jiang family, relying on each other for survival.

The younger sister, who was already quite sensible, remained the same as always, always leaving half of everything for Jiang Ming. Even when Jiang Ming told her to eat it all, she would just shake her head and refuse to take even a single bit more.

"OK."

Jiang Ming took the scallion pancake, which was still slightly warm.

"Brother, there's still some porridge and vegetables inside. I'll bring them over for you."

A moment later, in front of the wooden table, there was a bowl of thin porridge made from brown rice, a bowl of dark brown pickled radish, and half a scallion pancake that had completely cooled down. This was Jiang Ming's dinner.

Although this brown rice porridge is not as delicious as refined rice, it is much better than coarse grains and rice bran.

The pickled vegetables with scallion pancakes, and a sip of porridge, tasted pretty good.

Jiang Ming ate his meal while Jiang Tao did needlework to supplement their income, glancing at him every now and then. For some reason, she felt that her second brother had changed a lot since he recovered from his high fever.

My second brother used to be quite lazy and did nothing all day. But ever since my eldest brother went missing two months ago after that high fever, my second brother has taken on the heavy burden of the family.

I don't know where she learned accounting skills, but she can also write letters for others. She is a completely different person, calm and reliable.

Otherwise, given the second brother's previous state, the silver left by the eldest brother would have already been used.

"My second brother is so much better now. Otherwise, I really don't know how I would get by."

As Jiang Tao thought about it, she served Jiang Ming another bowl of porridge.

"Gurgle."

Jiang Ming drank another bowl of porridge, and finally felt a little more at ease.

He was only sixteen years old, the time when he was growing taller and stronger. Right now, he looked like a frail bean sprout, but as long as he was fed good rice and meat in the future, he might grow into a strong man like Zhang Hu.

"I went out to thank Aunt Zhang and will be back soon."

Jiang Ming gently put down the porcelain bowl, gave Jiang Tao a word of advice, and then pushed open the door and went out.

He walked through the muddy alley and went straight to Aunt Zhang's house.

Seeing that the door was ajar and the person was home, he took out a few copper coins from his pocket, went inside, and handed them over: "Aunt Zhang, thank you for reminding me earlier. Please accept this small token of my appreciation."

"You silly child." Aunt Zhang put down her work and came over. She couldn't refuse, so she took the copper coins, saying it was no trouble at all.

At this point, Jiang Ming took the opportunity to ask her to keep an eye out for any activity around their house. If any unfamiliar faces or members of the Gray-Clad Gang approached, he asked her to let them know.

Aunt Zhang was kind-hearted to begin with, and since she was going to receive a benefit, she immediately agreed.

Afterwards, Jiang Ming contacted several neighbors with whom he had a good relationship and gave each of them a few coins, asking them to help take care of his younger sister.

He made his point very clear: there was no need for everyone to confront Zhang Hu and his gang from the Gray Clothes Gang head-on; he simply asked them to act as informants and secretly pass on a message should any disturbance occur.

Seeing that he was young but sensible and polite, and that he had also benefited from the deal, the neighbors all agreed to help keep an eye on him.

Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Ming pushed open the door and returned home, where he solemnly gave his younger sister some more instructions.

"Xiao Tao, if you hear someone kicking the door or calling you from outside, don't answer. Don't make a sound. Just hide in the innermost part of the cluttered corner and pretend no one is home."

"Brother, I understand."

Jiang Tao nodded, keeping Jiang Ming's words in mind.

As night deepened, the two went to bed. Jiang Tao, perhaps because she had cried in the evening, slept very soundly. Jiang Ming, however, tossed and turned, unable to sleep, staring at the moonlight outside, before finally drifting off to sleep after a long while.

The next day, Jiang Ming went to Mixiang Street to do accounting and write letters for people as usual. He was busy until the afternoon before setting off for Hongshazhang, north of Fenghepu.

He had heard of this place before, and came here today specifically to find out more detailed information.

The more Jiang Ming inquired, the more he realized that the Red Sand Palm was extraordinary. If there was anywhere in Fenghepu where one could most easily come into contact with real martial arts, this was probably it.

As dusk fell, he returned to the alley and was about to push open the door to his home when he was stopped by his neighbor, Grandpa Zhang.

"Jiang kid, I just came back from the outhouse and saw Zhang Hu loitering around your house again. He didn't knock, just lurked around suspiciously, I wonder what he's up to."

Grandpa Zhang was a tall, thin old man, dressed in patched-up cloth clothes. His armpits reeked of sweat, and his hair smelled of smoke.

"It's him again..." Jiang Ming frowned.

Grandpa Zhang tapped the ash from his pipe against the wall, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and quickly pulled Jiang Ming into his room before speaking in a low voice.

"Jiang kid, you'd better watch out."

"Recently, things have been quite unsettled in Fenghepu. A lot of kidnappers have suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and many young girls in their teens have gone missing, mostly teenage girls."

"In my opinion, this matter is probably inseparable from the Gray-Clad Gang."

"Thank you, Grandpa Zhang."

Jiang Ming pondered in silence for a moment, then thanked him and quietly took out a few coins and stuffed them into Grandpa Zhang's hand.

Grandpa Zhang held the copper coin in his hand, his face immediately lighting up with a smile. He patted his chest repeatedly, promising that he would definitely keep an eye out for any activity in the alley from now on.

A short while later, Jiang Ming walked home with a solemn expression.

Fenghepu is home to numerous gangs, each with its own territory. If the Gray-Clad Gang were to truly harbor malicious intentions, given the current lax security in Wangyue City, these ordinary citizens would be utterly powerless to resist.

"What if my younger sister and I are really being targeted?"

"Given the current situation, we either need to move or become an apprentice and use the name of Red Sand Palm to bolster our image and deter bad guys."

Jiang Ming thought to himself that the best way to be safe was to use two methods simultaneously. On one hand, he would secretly prepare to move, and on the other hand, he would rely on the strength of the martial arts school to maintain order and protect his younger sister.

After returning home, he reminded Jiang Tao again to be careful of the gray-clad gang.

Time flies, and three days have passed.

Jiang Ming had roughly figured out the details of the Red Sand Palm technique and was about 70-80% sure that this technique was probably what the Primal Furnace needed.

One afternoon, in the dimly lit room, Jiang Tao was hunched over the table counting loose silver.

This was the savings his elder brother had accumulated during his months of service. It wasn't a large sum, but combined with the spare change the siblings had saved up during this time, it was barely enough for Jiang Ming to go to the martial arts school to become an apprentice.

If Jiang Ming were to save up the money slowly on his own, it would be an unknown number of years before he could raise the full amount.

"Brother, go and come back soon."

Jiang Tao carefully wrapped the loose silver into a piece of coarse cloth, tied the knot tightly, and handed it to him with both hands.

"Yes, I know, I'll be back soon."

Jiang Ming took the money bag and set off immediately without further delay.

He pushed open the door, glanced around, and then stuffed the money bag directly into his crotch.

This place is the safest; even if someone were to stop him and search him, they most likely wouldn't find him here. Of course, if the other party were to search his crotch, then Jiang Ming would have no choice but to accept his fate.

After tightening his belt, he walked towards Mixiang Street as usual, only a little slower.

Halfway there, it suddenly turned and headed towards the Red Sand Palm.