Chapter 104: Found the Real Culprit?

Dusk fell, and the Poor District gradually grew quiet.

Jiang Cheng sat at the table, eating dinner by candlelight.

He still didn't go hawking in the afternoon.

Since getting the Broken Jade Fist manual at noon yesterday, he has devoted himself entirely to practicing the fist.

So far, nearly thirty hours have passed.

Jiang Cheng's mind shifted, and the Panel appeared.

【Broken Jade Fist (Part One): Not Yet Entered (2156.6/3000)】

About a third left, and the Experience Bar would be full.

At the same time, the effect of Black Jade Paste has also dropped considerably, from ten times at the start to seven times now; it's estimated to be six times tomorrow, then five, then four.

"If this trend continues, it won't take a day—at most by tomorrow noon we can reach Entry,"

Jiang Cheng felt a surge of anticipation.

Once the Broken Jade Fist reaches Entry, it can absorb original force into the body.

He wondered what that feeling would be like.

During breaks in the period, he also tried cultivating the Broken Jade Skill.

Although the mantra above was cryptic, Jiang Cheng still achieved results; after ten minutes of meditation, the Experience Value increased by 0.1 point.

He then looked at the 5,000‑point Experience Bar behind the Broken Jade Skill.

Jiang Cheng decisively gave up, deciding to follow the advice of countless predecessors of the Broken Jade Skill and wait until the Broken Jade Fist can absorb a sliver of original force before further cultivation.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

"Xiao Cheng, are you home? It's Liu Sao,"

A woman's voice rang out.

"It's Liu Sao,"

Jiang Cheng no longer ignored it as he had when someone knocked in the afternoon.

First, he was practicing the fist and the Fist Manual lay on the table; being seen could easily invite trouble.

Second, the woman outside was one of the two households he had asked to watch over his place.

"Yes, Xiao Cheng, could you open the door? Liu Sao wants to discuss something with you," the woman outside pleaded.

"Hold on a moment, I'll be right there,"

Jiang Cheng tucked the Fist Manual away and walked over to open the door.

Outside stood a middle‑aged woman about one‑meter‑fifty‑something, pale and gaunt.

Seeing Jiang Cheng open the door, her smile deepened.

Seeing the food on the table, she hurried, "Xiao Cheng, I'm really sorry to disturb you while you're eating."

"It's fine,"

Jiang Cheng had already guessed her intention, and since he needed to continue practicing, he asked directly, "Liu Sao, are you here to borrow money?"

She heard that and gave an awkward smile.

She had originally wanted to make small talk.

"Yes, Xiao Cheng, I really don't want to bring this up, but people from the Iron Fist Gang showed up on the main street today,"

"People from the Iron Fist Gang came?"

Jiang Cheng's pupils widened slightly at the news.

"Yes, I heard there are over ten of them, each looking fierce and terrifying. They say in three days they'll take over this area, and anyone who wants to hawk on the street will have to pay 2,500 yuan a month,"

Liu Sao hurriedly added,

"It's a 500‑yuan increase,"

Jiang Cheng muttered to himself,

"When the Wild Wolf Gang was here, it was only 2,000 yuan a month. Once the Iron Fist Gang arrived, it jumped nearly thirty percent, and the management fee also rose by fifty percent, now 1,500 yuan a month," she said, pleading, "Xiao Cheng, you know our situation. A few days ago the Wild Wolf Gang collected a management fee of 2,000 yuan; we scraped together that amount. Now the Iron Fist Gang wants 1,500, and we simply can't afford it. Xiao Cheng, could you lend us some? We'll definitely repay you when we have money!"

Jiang Cheng sighed at her words.

"Liu Sao, I don't have much money myself,"

Lending that money has a ninety‑percent chance of never being recovered.

Moreover, if word got out that Liu Sao borrowed money from him, another family might also come asking for a loan.

What about the others nearby? Even though I have a little over 20,000 yuan of unexpected wealth, I can't afford to spend it like this.

"Xiao Cheng, sister is begging you, please help us. We truly can't come up with that much money; if we can't pay, we'll definitely be driven out," she said, about to kneel.

Fortunately, Jiang Cheng was quick and grabbed her.

"Liu Sao, putting that aside..."

Jiang Cheng frowned, feeling uneasy.

"Xiao Cheng, I..."

Liu Sao's eyes flickered evasively.

"Alright, Liu Sao, you go back first. If I have money in a few days, I'll lend you some; if not, I can't help,"

"Xiao Cheng..."

Liu Sao wanted to say more, but after seeing Jiang Cheng's displeased expression, she had to leave.

He locked the door from the inside and exhaled.

Liu Sao indeed had some ulterior motives, which were unpleasant.

But blaming or resenting these weak ones is unreasonable.

Because they are also victims; the culprit is the Iron Fist Gang, or rather, countless Iron Fist Gangs.

Stall fee, management fee—these aren't necessarily impossible to exist, but everything in excess is too much, let alone each time they increase even more.

Jiang Cheng lowered his head to look at his arms—become stronger; he himself must become even stronger!...

At the same moment.

The gambling house on the street, its doors tightly shut, the first-floor hall pitch black.

Only a certain room on the second floor had its lights on.

Wang Weisen stared at the list in his hand, looking back and forth several times, feeling only a gloomy heaviness blocking his chest.

"This is the result of your investigation over the past few days? Not a single suspect? Are you trying to fool me?"

He slammed the table hard, roaring angrily at the two people standing before him.

To investigate the killer, he spent over a hundred thousand, not counting giving half of Yue Shan's property, entrusting the other side to investigate the Iron Fist Gang and to delay as much as possible.

And just at noon, Yue Shan sent someone to tell him that he had already done his best; at most three more days, and the Iron Fist Gang would arrive.

The facts proved that they indeed came.

At most, only seven or eight days, which is nearly half short of the originally agreed half‑month period.

There's nothing to be done; the loser has no say.

But what he didn't expect was that, after so many days, the Martial Arts Hall had turned up no results, and those core disciples of the hall all had alibis.

This made him look like a clown.

"Brother Sen, please don't get angry first."

"One of them hurriedly said, 'Maybe the people on this list really aren't the killers? And I also have a lead—that person is probably the true murderer who killed Brother Bao and the others.'"

Wang Weisen was about to flare up, but hearing the latter part he restrained his impulse and asked, "What lead?"

"Brother Sen, do you still remember the kid selling roasted sweet potatoes I mentioned to you a couple days ago?" the man said with a chuckle.

Wang Weisen narrowed his eyes, his voice cold: "I remember—so you wouldn't be trying to tell me that he's the true killer who killed A Bao, would you?"

(End of chapter)