All the gods began by cultivating the Iron Shirt technique.

The Black Stone Gang's stronghold wasn't remote, and the nighttime fighting quickly attracted the attention of the surrounding residents. However, because it was taking place within the Black Stone Gang's territory, the people dared not come out to investigate, fearing that some powerful figures from the underworld were acting out of a sense of justice and might implicate them.

So the surrounding people all huddled in their houses until the sounds of fighting and killing completely subsided. Only then did the bolder ones wander around to investigate, and that's when they discovered that the Black Stone Gang's stronghold had been completely slaughtered.

However, by the time the news from here attracted the remaining members of the Blackstone Gang, the encampment was already in ruins.

The next morning, as the city began to stir, inns were knocked on one after another, and large numbers of diners poured in. These people, without even ordering, immediately began talking animatedly about the events that had occurred at the Black Stone Gang's stronghold the previous night.

"This is truly gratifying! I'm telling you, last night at the Black Stone Gang's base..."

"Alright, stop dawdling! I already knew the Black Stone Gang's stronghold was completely wiped out last night. To be honest, I even mustered up the courage to go and see for myself last night. It was a truly horrific sight! Blood was everywhere, and that beast Chu was beaten beyond recognition. It was incredibly satisfying!"

"Are you out of your mind?! The Black Stone Gang leader is dead, but the gang still has members in this county! Be careful they don't find out and cause you trouble."

Someone hurriedly whispered to stop them, glancing around as they spoke, fearing that members of the Black Stone Gang might come looking for trouble.

"What are you afraid of? Chu Ying and the core gang members in that area are all dead. What kind of trouble can the rest cause? Don't forget, there are two other gangs in this county that have always been at odds with the Black Stone Gang. I bet they're hiding somewhere now, too scared to show their faces. They still dare to come looking for trouble with us!"

Some people scoffed dismissively, clearly understanding that the Black Stone Gang's power was waning, and their words were full of arrogance.

"It's a pity, I wonder which great hero made the move. If the other two gangs had... umm!"

Some people sighed softly, thinking that it would be truly gratifying if this hero could also take down the Red Scorpion Gang and the Bamboo Union Gang.

However, before he could finish speaking, his mouth was covered tightly by his companion, and he could only make muffled noises in vain.

After a long while, his companion finally released his grip, his eyes wide open, filled with anger and terror.

"If you want to die, don't drag us down with you! Chu Ying is dead, but the other two are still alive!"

Hearing his companion's rebuke, the man realized he had almost said something foolish. His face instantly turned deathly pale, and he nervously darted around, his eyes darting about, afraid that the other two gang members would overhear.

His gaze swept over everyone in the inn, finally meeting a pair of tiger-like eyes.

Geek!

The man's heart tightened instantly, and his gaze swept quickly over the owner of the tiger-eyed man. He felt as if he could sense the oppressive aura of a collapsing mountain emanating from the man, even though the man was two zhang away from him. Just as he shifted his gaze to avoid those tiger-eyed eyes, he discovered that the man had raised his wine cup and was drinking with him from afar.

Suddenly, the man turned around, his head hunched over like a quail, his body trembling.

Yang Pan: ...

Yang Pan downed the fruit wine in one gulp, his hands still busy, as he continued to feast on the food on the table.

He heard everything the people around him were saying about what happened last night, and he even knew the unfinished words of the person who had just looked at him.

It's just a pity that he didn't wipe out the other two gangs in the county, leaving behind two menaces.

Yang Pan was not particularly moved by this; his trip to the Black Stone Gang last night could be considered a coincidence.

If the other party doesn't provoke him, he has no intention of eliminating them completely. In this day and age, the court is corrupt, and the emperor and his ministers live a life of revelry in the south, caring nothing for the lives of the common people.

The Mongols continued to migrate south from the border, causing the Song people to be displaced. Within the territory, there were also bandits and outlaws who occupied the mountains and ruled as kings. Although there were chivalrous gangs like the Beggars' Sect and the Quanzhen Sect, many more, like the Black Tiger Gang, oppressed the people.

There are too many tragedies and too much injustice in this world. Yang Pan can't handle it all, and he doesn't want to be a savior.

Even someone as devoted to the country and its people as Guo Jing could only guard Xiangyang and could not focus on the entire martial arts world.

All he could do was find a reason to eradicate these gangs when they bullied him. As for the other two gangs, Yang Pan didn't know the strength of their leaders, but since they were considered one of the three major gangs in Jingu County, along with the Black Stone Gang, their strength was probably not much different from Chu Ying's.

Although Yang Pan was capable of dealing with the opponent, he had no intention of making a move.

Firstly, he can hardly be considered a chivalrous hero who is eager to help others. Secondly, the current situation in Jingu County, where three gangs coexist, is also inextricably linked to the county magistrate's indulgence.

The gangs were not particularly strong and posed little threat to the county government.

Just like in Tongjiang County back then, once the archers appeared, even third-rate martial artists would be wary of the barrage of arrows. Unless a second-rate martial artist had relatively strong internal energy and the ability to dodge, someone like Chu Ying wouldn't dare to directly confront them.

If the magistrate doesn't change his ways, even if he finds an opportunity to wipe out the other two gangs, new gangs will simply emerge in the future, and the people's lives will continue as usual.

If that's the case, what's the point of wasting that effort?

……

After finishing his meal, Yang Pan got up and left. The street where the inn was located was within the territory of the Black Stone Gang. However, it seemed that news of the Black Stone Gang's destruction had spread, as Yang Pan observed the expressions of the surrounding vendors along the way and found that they all seemed more or less relaxed.

Although this ease is only temporary, the Blackstone Gang's territory will definitely be taken over by two other gangs in the future.

But people are tempered in the world, and knives are sharpened on stones. For them, perhaps a moment of ease is the greatest treasure.

Following the scent of cooking fires on the street, Yang Pan kept walking and, after a few turns, returned to the inn where he had stayed the previous night.

Last night's fight damaged many of the inn's rooms, and with corpses scattered everywhere, it will not be open for business today.

The guests who were drugged last night woke up to find the inn badly damaged. They hadn't heard a sound all night, so they knew they had been drugged. After checking and finding their belongings missing, they immediately dragged Manager Yan out.

Manager Yan dared not embezzle the valuables, and simply placed a large bag of valuables looted by the Black Stone Gang on the table for them to fight over and choose from.

In the end, although the guests got their lost belongings back, they also spread the word about what happened at the inn, which will likely make it difficult for the inn to run its business in the future.

However, although the main gate of the inn was closed, the side gate to the back courtyard was half-closed. Yang Pan went to the side gate, pushed it open, and walked straight in.

Just as they entered the backyard, they ran into Manager Yan, the innkeeper, who was walking out of the main lobby with a worried expression. Upon seeing Yang Pan's figure, Manager Yan's body trembled involuntarily, and his brows and eyes became even more sorrowful.

"Great hero, you're back. Madam Chu... no, I've arranged for that mother and son to stay in an empty room in the backyard. Would you like to go and see them?"

He couldn't help but be unafraid of Yang Pan; the scene of Yang Pan ruthlessly killing the Black Tiger Gang members last night was still playing in his mind. Not to mention the news that had spread throughout the streets and alleys today about the Black Tiger Gang's headquarters being wiped out.

While the others didn't know who had made the move, Manager Yan knew perfectly well that it was undoubtedly the murderous bastard before him.

There was no response; Yang Pan casually leaned against the stone mill in the backyard.

"Manager Yan, tell me about Madam Chu inside. What is her character like, and what is her relationship with Chu Ying?"

Yang Pan didn't care about Madam Chu herself; what he cared about was whether the person he left behind would become a hidden danger seeking revenge against him in the future.

Although he spared the lives of the mother and child, he feared that the infant might be instilled with a desire for revenge by the woman, and if the child sought revenge against him in the future, he would suffer the consequences.

Hearing Yang Pan's words, Manager Yan was momentarily speechless. Yesterday, when he saw Yang Pan bring back the mother and child, he assumed that Yang Pan was lusting after Madam Chu's beauty and wanted to keep them to play with.

Unexpectedly, after a whole night, not only did she not touch him, but she also asked him about Madam Chu's character and her relationship with Chu Ying.

What does this mean? Does the other party have a preference for loyal and virtuous wives? Are those who aspire to the Cao Wei regime trying to see if the other party and Chu Ying are truly devoted to each other before making a move?

Indeed, people in the martial arts world often have eccentricities!

Seeing that Manager Yan looked conflicted and remained silent for a long time, Yang Pan assumed there was some hidden reason and was about to ask when Manager Yan sighed and whispered:

"This Madam Chu is a pitiful person. Her real name is Fang Yue. She was originally the daughter of the owner of a clothing shop in Qing Shi Fang. However, she was later taken by the Black Stone Gang and forcibly given to Chu Ying. The clothing shop owner was also beaten to death while resisting."

Given this situation, what affection could there possibly be between Madam Fang and Chu Ying? Even if there were, it would only be hatred. As for her character... I can only say that Madam Fang was once a clever and kind maid in Qing Shi Fang.

"Master Yang, if Madam Fang is interested, this old man humbly begs..."

Before Manager Yan could finish his pleading, Yang Pan waved his hand to interrupt him: "Alright! What nonsense!"

Yang Pan was speechless. So the other party thought he was a lecherous man, which was an insult to him!

He kept her around to find out about her relationship with Chu Ying, hoping to determine if she harbored any desire for revenge. Now, hearing what Manager Yan said, there was no affection between the two, and they even had a blood feud. Therefore, Yang Pan no longer had any intention of killing her.

As for his character, recalling how the other party mustered up his courage last night and even resorted to desperate measures to beg him to release the baby, Yang Pan had a general impression of him.

……

While Yang Pan was questioning Manager Yan at the inn, he was unaware that the leaders of the other two gangs in the county, and even the county magistrate, were already restless because of the tragedy at the Black Stone Gang's stronghold.

Xuanhuafang, the headquarters of the Red Scorpion Gang.

Inside the council chamber, a middle-aged man dressed in a brown outfit, his chest partially exposed, leaned back in the main seat.

His brows and eyes were sharp and piercing. Even though he didn't speak, the constant tapping of his index finger on the armrest conveyed his anxious and restless state of mind.

To his left was a middle-aged man dressed in a blue short-sleeved outfit, with a bald head revealing a round, bronze-colored scalp. Opposite him was a refined man dressed in scholar's attire, with a fair complexion and no beard.

The three men are seated at the head of the table. The leader of the Red Scorpion Gang is known as "Poisonous Scorpion." To his left is the leader of the Bamboo Union Gang, known as "Unbreakable Copper Head." The third man, though not of high rank, is an advisor to the county magistrate and was clearly sent by him.