Martial Arts Awakening, Bloodfire Fist Master

"Oh no, someone's dead! Someone's dead!"

Just as dawn was breaking, a terrified scream startled the entire village, making it seem as if someone was scrambling and crawling in a panic.

A while later, even more shouts rang out.

People are dead! Lots of dead people!

"Murder! Murder!"

A little while later.

The cries of Zhang Dashu's family members also rang out.

"Big tree, how could you be so heartless as to abandon us?"

"Who could be so heartless..."

His parents, second sister, second uncle, and others all ran over, and Zhang Qingshan followed behind them.

Zhang Qingshan felt a little sorry for Zhang Dashu's family, but not much pity.

After all, according to those people, Zhang Dashu had explained his family situation and location.

Zhang Qingshan wasn't particularly angry about the situation. You can't expect a timid and cowardly farmer to become steadfast and unyielding; they were just ordinary neighbors.

Therefore, Zhang Qingshan was more indifferent and detached, and too lazy to discern the subtle logic behind it.

Zhang Dashu was carried back by his brothers and family. The marks of a kick to the chest and an impact to the back were clearly visible. The villagers were filled with sorrow and lamentation.

The villagers of Zhangjia Village only glanced at the dead outsiders from afar, too frightened to approach, and looked at each other in bewilderment, wondering why this had happened.

Some people thought of Zhang Qingshan, but when they looked back at him, he also looked lingering fear. Recalling that he had only gone to Qingshui City to make a living two months ago, and that he was a laborer a month ago, they dismissed this exaggerated speculation.

Zhang Qingshan didn't want to come forward and acknowledge this achievement in eliminating evil. He didn't care about himself, but his family was too weak. If the limelight became too great, they wouldn't be able to withstand much of the storm, especially since these people seemed to have some background.

By the afternoon, the mountain gang and men who looked like constables also appeared.

After driving away the villagers, Zhang Qingshan slowly began to investigate, and he could see that these people had serious expressions.

As evening approached, a farmhand from the village chief Zhang Youcai's household came to deliver a message, saying that some important figures wanted Zhang Qingshan to come over.

Upon arrival, it was observed that eight corpses had been dragged out and lined up in a relatively flat area, with even Zhang Dashu's body, which had been carried back, placed to the side.

A dozen or so men dressed in short jackets with the character "山" (mountain) stood around on guard; they were members of the Mountain Forest Gang.

In the center of the area stood seven or eight people, including constables in dark blue uniforms and others in silk short jackets with the character "山" (mountain). Zhang Youcai was also standing to the side, smiling obsequiously and saying something.

When Zhang Qingshan was brought here by the farmhand, he was immediately met with a barrage of gazes.

The first to speak was not the constable, but the man from the mountain gang standing in the middle, who was stroking the token in his hand.

He glanced at Zhang Qingshan with an inscrutable look, then turned to look at Zhang Youcai. "Is this the martial arts master from your village?"

Zhang Youcai said with a fawning smile, "Sir, it was Zhang Qingshan himself who said that. I heard he was still a laborer a little over a month ago, but this time he is said to be practicing martial arts at the Qinghe Martial Arts School."

The man stroked his chin.

Staring at Zhang Qingshan: "Did you kill these people?"

Zhang Qingshan shook his head. "I only found out today."

Just then, a man jumped out and pointed at Zhang Qingshan, saying, "Zhang Qingshan, the altar master is asking you a question. You must answer honestly."

As he spoke, there was a hint of jealousy and displeasure in his eyes. "Hmph, but you alone can't kill these powerful people."

"Slap!" The man was slapped hard on the back of the head.

A furious shout rang out, "Zhang Feng, you son of a bitch, since when did it become your turn to speak?"

"Chief Zhu, please calm down. Master Qin, please forgive me. My son was just eager to make a contribution and wanted to share the burden for you all," Zhang Youcai hurriedly explained for his son, whose face was flushed red.

Zhang Qingshan glanced at the man; he naturally recognized him as the young master of Zhang Youcai's family, a year older than himself, and a local bully since childhood.

The other party, having been hit on the head, showed no anger towards the leader of the Mountain Forest Gang. Instead, he glared at Zhang Qingshan with burning hatred, just like Rong Teng in the martial arts school. His true nature as a cowardly bully who preys on the weak and fears the strong, a coward who is all bluster and no substance, was revealed without a trace.

The leader of the Mountain Forest Gang, surnamed Qin, didn't even look at Zhang Youcai and his son, but continued to stare at Zhang Qingshan.

"Yesterday, when it got dark, someone said they saw you heading towards the village entrance, but the people at the village entrance didn't see you. Why is that?"

Zhang Qingshan didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Does the sect leader think I have that ability?"

"How dare you! You still dare to ask questions." One of the constables stepped forward, touching the iron chain at his waist.

"Master Qin, why talk too much with him? Just take him down and interrogate him. This is a major matter concerning the Black Mountain bandits."

Zhang Qingshan stared directly at the constable. "I think you're the one who's bold!"

He lifted the clothes covering his waist to reveal the martial arts school's nameplate: "Even if my Qinghe martial arts are in decline, it's still not up to you, a mere constable, to kick me when I'm down. I'd like to see how you dare to be an enemy of my Qinghe martial arts school."

The constable who had been speaking stood frozen in place, his face stiff, unsure whether to advance or retreat, leaving Zhang Youcai and the others in disbelief.

The constable dared to act this way because he knew the villager was new to martial arts training and was used to bullying villagers.

Now that the other party has put up the name of Qinghe Martial Arts School, he really doesn't dare to make a move. If word gets out, even if Qinghe Martial Arts School is on the decline, it's not something a mere village constable like him can afford to mess with.

He looked to Qin, the leader of the Mountain Forest Gang, for help.

Master Qin's expression remained unchanged: "Young brother, how is Master Ji doing?"

Zhang Qingshan cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "The venerable master of the museum is stationed in the backyard; I did not have the opportunity to meet him."

"Oh, how about the senior and second senior brothers who are personally trained at the martial arts school?"

"The martial arts school only has a senior female disciple who is a direct disciple."

Master Qin nodded. "Haha, young brother, you are indeed from Qinghe Martial Arts School. No one dares to underestimate Qinghe Martial Arts School. As long as Master Ji is still here, who would dare to truly look down on us?"

"It's just that the presence of the Black Mountain bandits here is quite significant, which is why we need to investigate. However, it's not important who killed them; rather, it serves as a warning to us. Someone, give Brother Qingshan from Qinghe Martial Arts School five silver dollars as tea money. We were indeed being presumptuous this time."

Seeing this, Zhang Youcai and his son looked even more incredulous. Were the martial arts school disciples really that intimidating?

There was also an overwhelming sense of jealousy: Why not us!

I watched Zhang Qingshan walk away.

One of the leaders, puzzled, said, "Sir, isn't he just a new disciple of the Qinghe Martial Arts School? In Qinghe City, everyone knows that you can get in by paying money."

As Master Qin watched the departing figure, he thought, "This person is no ordinary disciple. If he has only been practicing martial arts for a month or two, his physique doesn't seem like that of someone who has just started practicing. Either his talent is extraordinary, or he has been secretly cultivated by the Qinghe Martial Arts Academy for a long time."

"Um, sir, what if he really is just an ordinary disciple? And I've heard that the master of Qinghe Martial Arts School doesn't have much time left. Surrounded by wolves, they'll be devoured sooner or later."

Master Qin sneered, rubbing his hands together, making a metallic scraping sound that sent chills down one's spine: "Heh, when that time comes, those who ate my food will have to spit it out many, many times over."

Zhang Feng, Zhang Youcai's son, had a bright idea. "Master, he can't possibly be someone with extraordinary talent, nor is he someone who's being groomed for special training. Why don't I go and make him pay back double right now?"

Zhang Youcai nodded in agreement, "This guy was nothing special growing up, but you wouldn't have guessed he'd learned to bully others by borrowing their power."

He looked at the important figure of the Mountain Forest Gang with a fawning expression.

The other party neither confirmed nor denied.

"Slap, slap!"

The two of them were then slapped hard on the back of the head again.

"Damn it, you two sons of bitches, can't you understand what I'm saying? You two bastards have no right to speak here!"

Zhang Qingshan returned home and briefly explained the situation to his worried parents, instructing them not to go into the mountains during this period and to run to the hillside behind the village if any danger arose.

Regardless, the outcome was not bad. The trouble with Black Mountain was temporarily taken over by the Mountain Forest Gang. I was not particularly noticeable in this matter and should not implicate my family.

The next morning, Zhang Qingshan gave his parents a few silver dollars. Although they declined, they eventually gave in and accepted them.

Zhang Qingshan could sense that after accepting the silver dollars, his parents seemed to have gained some confidence, and their complexions improved.

After talking to my second sister for a while and giving her some instructions, I promised my younger sister that I would bring her delicious steamed buns next time before setting off on my journey back to the city.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see my eldest sister when I went home this time, as she had married and moved to another village.

Overall, things are looking good, and the future is promising.