Chapter 278: Chapter 123: Xuanzhen Sect (2)
The River Gang had grown to its current scale in large part thanks to the Jiang Family’s early financial support. The two parties had maintained close ties over the years, and their relationship was anything but shallow.
The Jiang Family had always acted with moderation. They had the best reputation among the six great families and were known for being considerate in their dealings with others.
With their help, the current crisis could surely be resolved.
Hearing Li Tieyun’s words, some color finally returned to the faces of the surrounding gang members. Their chatter died down, and a glimmer of hope rekindled in their eyes.
But this hope was short-lived, and worry soon flooded their hearts once more.
"The Jiang Family... when will they get here?" one of the leaders couldn’t help but ask, his voice filled with apprehension.
"Yes, Gang Leader. Will they send a Huajin Powerhouse?" another man asked immediately after.
The killer had slain He Yun without a sound, so his power must be immense. If the Jiang Family only sent some Anjin experts, it would likely be a waste.
Li Tieyun’s brows were tightly knitted. The messenger he’d sent had only just left. He had no idea when the Jiang Family would send reinforcements, or how many they would send.
But for now, he could only force himself to remain calm. "The Jiang Family and our gang go way back. They will certainly do everything they can to help. Everyone, just hold on for another day or two. As long as we can last until their experts arrive, we will definitely unmask the killer and avenge our fallen brothers!"
Despite his words, everyone’s heart remained heavy.
For some unknown reason, the mysterious killer was clearly bent on destroying the River Gang. Every day of delay from the Jiang Family meant another group of their members would die.
A night breeze blew over the stronghold’s walls, carrying the fishy stench of the Yuhe River and a bone-chilling cold that settled over the heart of every River Gang member.
...
Deep within a dense forest beside the River Gang Stronghold was a long-abandoned cave.
Its entrance was concealed by vines, nearly impossible to spot without a close look.
The inside of the cave was dark and damp, with a pile of rotting branches in one corner. A middle-aged man sat cross-legged on a bluestone.
His eyes were dark and profound. He was currently peering through the gaps in the vines, staring intently at the sparsely lit River Gang Stronghold in the distance.
"The Jiujiang Token... I’ve finally taken it back," the man murmured, his voice as raspy as sandpaper. A pitch-black token had appeared in his hand. The word "Jiujiang" was carved onto it, its edges worn with age.
He gently caressed the Token, a flash of bone-deep pain and hatred in his eyes. "Tan’Er, I’m so sorry... If I hadn’t been so worried about the consequences back then, I would have acknowledged you as my daughter long ago. You wouldn’t have died. But don’t worry, I will avenge you!"
"I won’t let a single one of them go!" The middle-aged man suddenly clenched the Token. "Everyone in the River Gang, from top to bottom—not one will be spared! I’ll make them pay for your life with their own! And that Yang Jing... he has to die too!"
As his voice faded, an icy killing intent radiated from him, and the very air inside the cave seemed to freeze over.
...
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Yang Jing was already at Sun’s Martial Arts Hall.
The servant disciples were in the front courtyard, tidying up the training equipment. Some were polishing weapons, while others were carrying wooden stakes. When they saw Yang Jing approach, they all quickly stopped what they were doing and bowed respectfully. "Good morning, Senior Brother Yang!"
Yang Jing’s status in Sun’s Martial Arts Hall was no longer what it once was.
His status as a Huajin Powerhouse had given him a reputation that rivaled that of the Hall Master, Sun Yong. The other disciples looked at him with gazes full of awe and admiration.
Yang Jing gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. He walked over to a wall, removed his outer shirt, and then strode to the center of the front courtyard’s training grounds to begin practicing the Mountain-Shattering Fist.
Each punch he threw tore through the air with a sound more powerful and ferocious than ever before.
He could clearly feel that after his Indestructible True Skill had broken through the Mingjin stage, his Inner Strength was not only more substantial, but it also circulated more smoothly. His body’s strength, speed, and explosive power had all increased significantly.
The same techniques, when executed now, were at least twenty percent more powerful. The wind from his fists even caused the nearby wooden stakes to tremble slightly.
’So it’s true... When the body is tempered to a certain degree, the boost to my Martial Dao techniques is this significant,’ Yang Jing mused, appreciating the value of the Indestructible True Skill more than ever.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, more of the Martial Arts Hall’s disciples began to arrive.
Seeing Yang Jing practicing his forms, their spirits lifted. Not daring to disturb him, they simply watched from a distance.
Watching the immense power contained within Yang Jing’s every move, many disciples blushed with shame as they thought of their own laziness.
’Senior Brother Yang is already a Huajin Powerhouse, yet he’s still so diligent. What right do we, who haven’t even reached Mingjin or Anjin, have to slack off?’
In an instant, the atmosphere on the training grounds turned exceptionally solemn. The disciples each found a spot and began to practice in silence. The sounds of fists cutting through the air and shuffling footsteps rose and fell in an orderly rhythm.
Jiang Haoyang finished a set of basic forms and was resting on the side, drenched in sweat. Seeing that Yang Jing had finished his practice, he quickly grabbed a water flask, ran over, and offered it to him. "Senior Brother, have some water."
Yang Jing took the flask and had a couple of drinks. He looked at the simple, honest young man before him, reminded of himself when he had first joined the Martial Arts Hall. He smiled and said, "Haoyang, you’ve made good progress recently. Your Mountain-Shattering Fist stance has stabilized. With a bit more practice, you have a good chance of achieving a breakthrough."
Jiang Haoyang scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "It’s only because of your excellent guidance, Senior Brother."
"How about this," Yang Jing said thoughtfully, "from now on, when you head home from the Martial Arts Hall, try to come with me to Tongyi Square. I can give you some private lessons on the finer points of the Mountain-Shattering Fist."
He was calculating in his mind. ’These are turbulent times; no one can say for sure what will happen next.’
Jiang Haoyang had decent aptitude but still hadn’t managed to break through to the Mingjin stage. His cousin, Yang An, showed no signs of even approaching a breakthrough. He couldn’t help but worry about them.
’I need to find a way to help them improve, to help them break through as soon as possible. At the very least, they’ll have a better chance of protecting themselves.’
