章 14: Chapter 14: Crushing Tang Ruowei's Confidence
Three Bamboo Gang headquarters.
The lights were bright.
In the main hall lay the bodies of Liu Wei and his three companions, and at this moment, the Gang Leader and the two Vice Gang Leaders of the Three Bamboo Gang were all present, their expressions extremely grave.
Liu Wei was just a low-ranking member, not worth much consideration.
As the Gang Leader of the Three Bamboo Gang, Li Yunshu didn't even have someone like Liu Wei in mind. The reason for the seriousness on the faces of the three brothers was the manner in which Liu Wei had died.
An hour before, some citizens had found the bodies of Liu Wei and the others in an alley. They immediately reported it to the patrol office. The constables from the patrol office, recognizing that they were members of the Three Bamboo Gang by their attire, left the bodies unattended and informed the Three Bamboo Gang first.
There were rules within the jianghu. The patrol office wouldn't meddle in fights or fatalities within the gangs.
Murders and injuries inflicted by the gangs were for the gangs themselves to handle.
Otherwise, the cells of the patrol office wouldn't be able to hold them all. Even those in the gangs who hadn't taken a life usually had blood on their hands from injuring others.
"How do my brothers see this matter?" Li Yunshu turned to his two Vice Gang Leaders, his sworn brothers, and asked.
"This person is a master, killing with a single strike. Conservatively speaking, the striking power would be over two thousand. It's just uncertain how much strength was actually used."
"If it was their full strength, then it's nothing special, but if it was not full power, there's a possibility that we're dealing with a martial master."
"Investigate. Start by checking the whereabouts of the martial master candidates from Flying Tiger Gate and Blood Blade Hall, to see if they were the ones who took action. If not... then look into who Liu Wei and his comrades have recently offended. Either way, Liu Wei and the others are already dead. If this martial master has no affiliation with any gang, we should invite him to join ours."
Li Yunshu quickly made a decision. Over the past twenty years, the three brothers had expanded the Three Bamboo Gang to occupy much of Daning County's territory.
Ten years ago, with their ambition to unite Daning County and expand even further, the three brothers would have sought revenge for Liu Wei. But now all past their fifties, they only wished to secure their current territory, earn enough money, and retire comfortably in the capital city.
When expanding the gang, they needed to unify the gang's spirit and would have avenged Liu Wei. But now with no plans for territorial expansion, just holding onto their current territory to make money, there were plenty of people willing to take Liu Wei's place.
...
...
Chu Ning returned to the county town for the New Year and moved with caution. He had thought that the deaths of four people in the city would cause a stir, but it turned out he was worried for nothing.
The Three Bamboo Gang made no significant move, and the patrol office didn't mention the incident at all.
Feeling reassured, Chu Ning visited Director Huang's residence, only to find that Director Huang was not at home. He learned from the servants that Director Huang was originally from the capital city and returned there every year for New Year's celebrations.
The child of a high-ranking official indeed.
Afterward, Chu Ning paid a visit to Old Liao. As a solitary old man who didn't cook at home, Old Liao was delighted to see Chu Ning and dragged him to the opera house to enjoy an afternoon show.
The singer was still Xiao Xiang. Old Liao generously rewarded her with five taels of silver. However, Chu Ning did not expect that not only did Xiao Xiang not come over to thank him, but she even had the troupe leader return the money.
It was only then that Chu Ning realized Old Liao had never told Xiao Xiang about his relationship with her mother, leaving the young girl to believe he was after a much younger woman.
After visiting Old Liao, Chu Ning also went to the school to visit Instructor Liu.
The gatekeeper of the school recognized Chu Ning and did not stop him. Once Chu Ning reached Instructor Liu's courtyard, he discovered Tang Ruowei was also there.
Liu Junshan was very pleased to see Chu Ning. Although he didn't need the gifts Chu Ning brought, he appreciated the gesture.
"Not bad. With Director Huang looking out for you, your days at the patrol office should be quite bearable. I hope you haven't neglected your martial arts training?"
Chu Ning seemed more confident and composed than when he had left the school.
"As a student, I dare not forget the instructor's teachings. Although I have left the school, I have not ceased my martial arts training and still diligently practice at least six hours every day."
"Very good."
Liu Junshan was satisfied yet there was a tinge of regret in his eyes. If Chu Ning had stayed at the school, given his determination and unique physical condition conducive to strength growth, he might not become a martial master in three years, but he certainly could become a martial artist candidate.
"But practicing isn't just something to talk about. Chu Ning, let's spar and see for ourselves."
Tang Ruowei, on the side, spoke up, an eager look in her eyes. Chu Ning even saw a hint of hunger in the girl's gaze.
Could it be?
In the few months since he left the school, had Tang Ruowei been thinking about him this much?
Chu Ning was right; Tang Ruowei truly did miss him. Since Chu Ning's departure, she found no suitable sparring partner.
None of the other students at the school could take a hit like Chu Ning, and they gave up after just a few exchanges.
"Alright."
Chu Ning did not refuse; he, too, wanted to test his current true strength.
The two prepared to spar, with Tang Ruowei still waiting for Chu Ning to make the first move. Chu Ning knew that she wanted to gauge his current strength and then adjust her own to closely match it.
"Bull Demon Head Strike!"
Chu Ning bellowed, but his fists targeted Tang Ruowei's lower body.
Tang Ruowei instinctively defended her upper body, not expecting that Chu Ning's shout would not match his actual strikes. However, she reacted faster than Chu Ning and still managed to dodge.
"Bull Demon Spread Wings!"
"Step on the Moon, Pluck the Stars!"
On the sidelines, Liu Junshan who was watching the fight couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth. Although Chu Ning's tactics were somewhat shameless, they were indeed effective.
Tang Ruowei could only hastily block, without the strength to counterattack.
The situation had come about because Liu Junshan knew where the problem lay. Both Chu Ning and Tang Ruowei were familiar with the Bull Demon Fist. When Chu Ning shouted the moves of the Bull Demon Fist, Tang Ruowei would subconsciously judge which direction Chu Ning's attack was coming from and her body would instinctively brace for impact in that area. However, Chu Ning's strategy was to feign in one direction while attacking in another—his shouts did not match the actual moves he executed.
If it had been someone unfamiliar with the Bull Demon Fist, Chu Ning's tactic would have been ineffective.
"Chu Ning, you've become even more shameless than before."
Tang Ruowei found an opportunity to retreat a few steps, exiting Chu Ning's attack range, her pretty face colored with anger.
This spar had left her feeling totally stifled.
"How is that shameless? Is there a rule in sparring forbidding this kind of strategy?"
Chu Ning's retort silenced Tang Ruowei, who bit her lip lightly, "Then I won't hold back anymore."
Tang Ruowei no longer reserved her strength and took the initiative to attack this time, but to her surprise, Chu Ning didn't dodge but instead chose to meet her head-on.
Just as their fists were about to collide, Tang Ruowei suddenly drew back her punch and retreated several steps.
"Miss Tang, what is this about? Can't I meet you head-on either?"
"You don't have chili powder in your hand?"
Remembering the scene where she was bombarded with chili powder, Tang Ruowei looked at Chu Ning with suspicion. Chu Ning helplessly spread his hands, proving he had no chili powder on them.
Only a fool would keep chili powder in their hands. He had a tailor sew a small pocket inside the cuff of each of his sleeves and then tucked the chili powder in, securing it with a thread of silk. When needed, he could simply pull the silk thread to release it.
"That's good, watch out!"
Tang Ruowei threw a punch, and Chu Ning chose to meet it squarely. He wanted to see how far behind he was compared to these martial prodigies.
Bang!
At the impact of the fists, Tang Ruowei's stance sank and she staggered momentarily, but ultimately stood her ground, whereas Chu Ning was pushed back three steps before he stabilized.
"How is that possible?"
Tang Ruowei's mouth hung open in disbelief. She had the strength of seven hundred jins, but her Bull Demon Fist allowed her to unleash four times that strength. How did Chu Ning manage to withstand it?
She had been training martial arts for nearly six hours every day at the academy for almost six months, and she was sure Chu Ning hadn't trained as much as she had. Yet, how had he improved faster than her?
Could it really be that his martial talents were mediocre?
"Now you know how tough I am," Chu Ning said proudly, puffing out his chest.
Liu Junshan's eyes narrowed slightly. He saw deeper than Tang Ruowei; while she surpassed Chu Ning in speed and understanding of the Bull Demon Fist, Chu Ning's strength was considerable.
"Chu Ning, how much is your strength now?" Liu Junshan asked.
"A mere eight hundred and fifty jins," Chu Ning said with an embarrassed expression.
Liu Junshan: ...
Tang Ruowei: ...
He had to be doing it on purpose.
A mere 850 jins?
Then what did that make her strength of 700 jins?
Seeing Tang Ruowei's expression, Chu Ning was somewhat puzzled. What was with that resentful look? A mere 850 jins wasn't much because his true strength was 920 jins.
"It seems the elixir your father gave you to take wasn't ordinary," Liu Junshan deduced.
"I'm not sure about that," Chu Ning replied.
Because the growth of his strength was different from others, it wasn't apparent initially. Once the point was reached when everyone's strength gains slowed down, Chu Ning knew that if his strength continued to increase rapidly, it would certainly draw attention.
So, while at the academy, he had already concocted an excuse: his father had given him an elixir to consume before his passing, and this was the result of that elixir's effects.
Moreover, he had specifically sought out Instructor Liu for clarification on this matter. According to Instructor Liu, some precious elixirs, crafted from heavenly materials and earthly treasures, could indeed enhance one's inner strength. Many top martial artist families would have their children consume such elixirs in childhood, and the effects of the elixir would manifest as their bodies grew.
Tang Ruowei knew that Chu Ning's father was a martial master, and although such elixirs were precious and generally beyond the reach of a martial master, there was still a chance Chu Ning's father had been lucky enough to obtain one at a great cost.
After the spar with Tang Ruowei, Chu Ning didn't stay long in Instructor Liu's yard. As he bid farewell, Tang Ruowei followed him out as well.
"The academy has holidays tomorrow. Jin Le's family owns a restaurant and has invited everyone for a meal. Do you want to go?"
"Why would I go? Wouldn't my presence spoil the mood?"
"Not at all. With your current strength, everyone will accept you," Tang Ruowei reassured.
She believed that if she informed everyone about Chu Ning's current strength, they would no longer ostracize him. Even if they didn't become friends, they would at least refrain from mocking him.
"Forget it. If you have time in the future, Miss Tang, you can bring a gift and visit me in Xiazhen Town."
Not being ridiculed didn't mean he was welcomed.
If another decade or so passed, Chu Ning would be willing to attend. Not because he would be much stronger after so many years, but because after enduring hardships, these people would become more sophisticated.
Young people have thin skins and can't bow their heads easily.
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