Chapter 113

Jiang Ping raised his eyebrows and said, "Even if he has the chance to ascend the dragon at the Martial Examination, he wouldn't have the courage to make a move against us. Why waste a meal on him?"

Gu Fang nodded: "That's true."

Xu Yang stepped through the evening glow into Bai Shi Lane. Before he even reached home, he saw a group of people at his door.

Surrounded by four or five burly men, a man in his twenties sat with his legs spread wide, holding a small teapot, looking quite arrogant and overbearing.

Xu Yang saw clearly that among the four or five people standing, one was his cousin from the main branch, Xu Zheng.

His own door was tightly shut, and he did not see Xu Qing's figure. The nearby neighbors' doors were also tightly shut, and not a single person was in sight.

Xu Yang's heart sank, and he quickened his pace as he walked over.

"Young Gang Leader, that is Xu Yang," Xu Zheng whispered.

"I've waited for him for so long; he's finally here."

Zhang Tong remained sitting with his legs spread, sipping his tea unhurriedly: "No tea left, add some water."

Xu Zheng understood immediately, turned his head, and said to the house: "Xiao Qing, add some hot water for the Young Gang Leader."

"Right away."

Xu Qing's voice came from inside the house. Immediately after, the door was opened, and she walked out carrying a teapot of hot water, carefully adding it to the teapot in Zhang Tong's hand.

After adding the water, she didn't return home but ran behind Xu Yang, who was already striding over, and hid.

"Xu Yang, this is the Young Gang Leader of the Zhang Si Shui Gang, a Qi Gathering Major Success expert. Why don't you hurry over and pay your respects?"

Xu Zheng spoke first, no longer calling Xu Yang "Brother A-Yang," but addressing him directly by his name.

"That idiot Li Sanhe!"

Xu Yang cursed inwardly. Li Sanhe said Zhang Tong was at the Qi Gathering Minor Success realm; that was complete nonsense.

Fortunately, he had decisively slaughtered Li Sanhe. If he had to face a Qi Gathering Major Success expert head-on, even with his mastery of Wind-Thunder Force, it would have been dangerous.

He finally understood why Li Sanhe wanted to kill Zhang Tong. The Zhang Si Shui Gang had two Qi Gathering Major Success experts; if Li Sanhe didn't want to die, he had to strike first.

Glancing coldly at Xu Zheng, Xu Yang looked at Zhang Tong: "Young Gang Leader, you honor my humble abode with your presence. May I ask what brings you here?"

Zhang Tong handed the teapot to the person beside him, revealed a smile, and said: "Don't be nervous. I'm not here to cause you trouble. It's just that my Zhang Si Shui Gang has taken over the Sanhe Gang's territory, and I heard there was a character like you in Bai Shi Lane, so I came to see for myself."

I'm afraid he's here to intimidate!

Xu Yang remained calm on the surface and said: "Compared to the Young Gang Leader, what kind of character am I?"

Zhang Tong nodded: "That is the truth. However, my Zhang Si Shui Gang has to make a living here. If I don't come to greet local notables like you first, and a conflict arises one day, others will say my Zhang Si Shui Gang doesn't know the rules."

How arrogant!

But with both father and son at Qi Gathering Major Success, they certainly had the capital to be arrogant against someone like him at Qi Gathering Minor Success.

Xu Yang took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and said: "How could I dare? The Zhang Si Shui Gang's reputation is like thunder to the ears. I have nothing but admiration; how could I dare to provoke a conflict?"

"Brother Xu speaks very nicely!"

Zhang Tong asked abruptly: "I heard you and Li Sanhe had a good relationship?"

So it was because of Li Sanhe!

Xu Yang shook his head and said: "We couldn't call it a relationship. It's just that after I gathered Qi, Gang Leader Li visited twice."

"Brother Xu, don't overthink it. I was just asking casually. It's getting late, so I won't disturb you further."

Zhang Tong stood up, revealing a smile: "In the future, the Zhang Si Shui Gang will be making a living here, so I hope Brother Xu will look after us. Your sister's tea-making skills are quite good; when I have time, I will definitely come to taste it again."

"Safe travels, Young Gang Leader!"

Was this using Xu Qing to warn him, or did he have designs on Xu Qing?

In nearly a year, thanks to the food he hadn't skimped on, Xu Qing had grown into a graceful young woman. With her reading and writing, she had developed a certain temperament, looking nothing like a country girl.

Xu Yang narrowed his eyes, watched Zhang Tong leave with Xu Zheng and the others, and only then returned home with Xu Qing.

"Did they do anything to you?" Xu Yang asked.

Xu Qing shook her head: "They didn't do anything. It's just that Xu Zheng is annoying; he kept ordering me to boil water for that Young Gang Leader."

"Don't get into a conflict with him. With your brother here, he won't dare to do anything to you."

Xu Yang nodded and got up to cook.

Recently, he had been eating exotic beast meat, so he hadn't been eating at Weiyuan Hall; he always came back for dinner.

Previously, Xu Qing would have it ready for him to eat when he returned, but today, because of Zhang Tong and the others, Xu Qing had no heart for cooking.

"At most, by the end of this month, I should be able to reach Qi Gathering Major Success," Xu Yang thought to himself.

Once he finished the seventy taels he got from Li Sanhe, he should reach Qi Gathering Major Success, two or three months earlier than he had previously expected.

The next day, Weiyuan Hall.

Hearing that his Master was looking for him, Sun Tao left the outer court disciples he was instructing and soon arrived at the courtyard where Lin Cheng was.

He saw Lin Cheng standing in a stance, stepped forward, bowed, and said: "Disciple pays respects to Master. I don't know what instructions you have for calling me here."

Lin Cheng scanned Sun Tao, secretly satisfied.

After a round of fighting in the mountains, this disciple of his had grown significantly; his aura was sharp, and his martial arts must have improved.

He ended his stance, took the towel handed over by a concubine, wiped the sweat from his face, and said: "You have gained much from this trip into the mountains, and your mindset has changed. From now on, you don't need to be responsible for outer court matters. Just focus on your cultivation and prepare for the Martial Examination's dragon ascension with all your might. I will have An Ye take charge of the outer court disciples' instruction."

Sun Tao shook his head: "Master, these small matters won't delay me. Junior Brother An Ye is still young, and I am not at ease leaving outer court affairs to him. Let me continue to share the burden for these few months.

Once I successfully ascend the dragon, Junior Brother An Ye can take over."

Lin Cheng thought for a moment and nodded: "As you wish."

Sun Tao cupped his hands: "If there is nothing else, this disciple will take his leave."

Lin Cheng seemed to remember something and said: "I already waived Xu Yang's tuition fees the day before yesterday. Don't go asking him for it in the future."

Weiyuan Hall was not a charity. If there was no record when tuition was due, Sun Tao would have to press for it.

Sun Tao was startled: "Why would Master waive Junior Brother Xu Yang's tuition?"

In the vast Weiyuan Hall, only he and An Ye, who would take over his duties later, didn't have to pay tuition. Everyone else, even those at Energy Gathering Major Success, had to pay their two taels of silver tuition on time every month.

"Don't ask, just do as I say."

Xu Yang hadn't reported his mastery of Wind-Thunder Force to Lin Cheng. As his Master, he naturally wouldn't blab about it.

"Yes, this disciple takes his leave."

Leaving his Master's courtyard, Sun Tao's mind was filled with why his Master would waive Xu Yang's tuition. Was Xu Yang his Master's illegitimate son? Or had his Master already taken Xu Yang as a personal disciple?

"Junior Brother Sun, why do you look so distracted?" Gu Fang's voice rang out.

Sun Tao looked up and realized he had been so lost in thought that he almost bumped into Gu Fang without noticing.

"Senior Sister, why do you think Master waived Xu Yang's tuition?"

Gu Fang was stunned. This was a privilege even she didn't have. Although she didn't care about the two taels of silver, the meaning was extraordinary.

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" She pointed at Xu Yang, who had just walked in.

"Forget it. If Master didn't tell me, I'd better not ask." Sun Tao resisted the urge to step forward.

Xu Yang and Wu Yongfeng stepped into the inner courtyard. They saw that the place where their small group often practiced together only had Qiu Wenjie today; Zhang Yong and Zhang Hong were both absent.

"Where are Junior Brothers Zhang Yong and Zhang Hong?" Wu Yongfeng asked.

"Over there!"

Qiu Wenjie pointed in a direction. Xu Yang looked over and saw Zhang Hong and Zhang Yong sitting in a pavilion with Jiang Ping and the others, chatting happily, with laughter ringing out from time to time.

Besides the two of them, several other disciples who had performed well during the mountain sweep were also in the pavilion.

"They actually managed to associate with Senior Brother Jiang Ping and the others." Wu Yongfeng looked envious.

Squeezing into the circle of young masters like Jiang Ping would make their future martial arts path much smoother.

Xu Yang was not jealous, nor was he envious; he set his stance and began to practice. ===== CHAPTER 114 =====