Chapter 108: Are You Looking for Me?

"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao, for your kindness."

Jiang Cheng smiled, "The Membership Card expires in about twenty days; then I'll give Senior Brother Zhao a reply."

"Alright."

Zhao Xiangyu let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"By the way, Jiang Shidi, have you encountered any problems while practicing Flying Crane Fist lately? I have nothing this morning, so I can give you some pointers, or we can spar. I heard your Staff Method has improved recently."

He wore an expectant expression.

Jiang Cheng felt embarrassed looking at him.

This Senior Brother Zhao truly is an honest person.

If I didn't have Secret Martial Arts, I would naturally be eager to obtain them now.

But now, I just want to get back quickly and refine the original force.

"Senior Brother Zhao, you're being too polite, but my cold is only just improving; I'm a bit weak. Once I recover, I'll seek your guidance again, cough—cough."

After speaking, Jiang Cheng coughed twice more.

"Alright then."

Zhao Xiangyu nodded a bit disappointedly.

"Fine, that's it for now. Jiang Shidi, take care to rest more, or go buy some medicine; don't delay too long."

"Mm, got it. Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao, for your concern."

Watching Zhao Xiangyu leave, Jiang Cheng took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

In twenty days, will I really still have to keep paying the three Martial Arts Halls on the street?

Or rather, should I pay the Iron Fist Gang? The Stall Fee can be skipped; at worst I just won't set up a stall. But the management fee—anyone living in this area must pay the 1,500; if not, they'll be expelled.

Before I obtained Secret Martial Arts, paying protection money to the gang was tolerable.

Now that I have Secret Martial Arts, I still have to keep paying; I'm unwilling.

But if I stop paying, it's like tearing the Iron Fist Gang's face; they're new here and will definitely assert dominance. Running into their line of fire guarantees danger for me, and my family can't escape either.

After twenty days, the choice must be considered carefully over the long term.

Of course, the most important thing is to keep getting stronger, strong enough that the Iron Fist Gang fears us; then we won't be paying them protection money.

After leaving the Conference Room and arriving at the open space on the second floor.

Senior Sister Bai was already there, guiding a member.

Seeing Jiang Cheng appear, she smiled.

Jiang Cheng smiled back, nodded at her, thinking that once the membership expires, he and Senior Sister Bai will probably have no chance to meet again.

Perhaps she might occasionally come to his stall to buy Roasted Sweet Potato, but it's not certain.

A moment later, Bai, with a ponytail and full of energy, walked over, "I heard you were sick these past two days? How are you, recovered yet?"

"Much better. Another day or two of rest and I'll be fine," Jiang Cheng replied.

"That's good, so you came to see me today specifically to bring your family back?"

"Mm."

Jiang Cheng nodded, "It's not good to keep bothering Senior Sister Bai, and in two days the Iron Fist Gang will take over here, so we don't have to worry about retaliation from the Wild Wolf Gang."

"Actually, it's fine that they've been living there all along."

Bai replied nonchalantly, "My house is empty all year; if they live there, it brings more foot traffic."

Jiang Cheng, hearing that, didn't lash out with his staff, but shook his head, "I've already troubled Senior Sister Bai enough; I can't add more trouble."

Still that saying, a person should have some AC count.

Moreover, in another twenty days, he won't be a member of this Martial Arts Hall.

"Alright."

Bai shrugged, "Then in two days, when the Iron Fist Gang arrives, I'll drive you over and bring your family back."

"Thank you, Senior Sister Bai."

Jiang Cheng hurriedly said, "No need to be so polite; it's just a small favor. By the way, I heard Senior Brother Zeng took you to meet the Gym Master?"

Bai's mouth curved slightly, her eyes twinkling.

"How did it turn out?"

Jiang Cheng was both amused and exasperated, but gossip is human nature, so he recounted the events again.

"What a pity."

Bai sighed lightly, "I originally thought we could have another junior brother, but Jiang Shidi, don't lose heart. Bone condition is important, but comprehension is even more so. Keep at it, and your future achievements won't be weak."

After speaking, she reached out and patted Jiang Cheng's shoulder.

"Keep it up!"

"Mm, thanks for the encouragement, Senior Sister, I'll keep it up."

Jiang Cheng watched her leave, suddenly had a premonition, turned his head; not far away, a figure stared at him intently.

"Again him?"

Jiang Cheng frowned.

Just when he thought the other would come over to warn him, the latter instead gave a cold smile and turned away.

"?"

This time Jiang Cheng was left a bit clueless.

Given the other's twisted need for control, it's one thing that he didn't get angry when he saw Senior Sister Bai chatting alone with me, but even after physical contact he could act as if he hadn't seen it?

"Has he changed?"

And what does his cold sneer at me before leaving mean? Is he planning to settle scores later? He thought for a while, but Jiang Cheng couldn't figure it out.

Fortunately, from now on he'll be coming to the Martial Arts Hall far less often; after he brings his family back they probably won't come much either, so let him go.

After bidding farewell to Lin Quanliang and a few others, Jiang Cheng left the Martial Arts Hall.

The main street seemed bustling beyond belief, with vendors shouting everywhere, but on closer inspection one would see that few people were actually buying.

Many people were fretting over the upcoming 1500 yuan Protection Fee.

Jiang Cheng shook his head, turned, and walked into the narrow alley behind the Martial Arts Hall.

The shadows of people hiding in the corners had also increased considerably.

But upon seeing Jiang Cheng dressed in the Martial Arts Hall training uniform, they were frightened and quickly averted their gaze.

However, two people were still watching Jiang Cheng covertly.

After Jiang Cheng walked away, one of the men in a blue T‑shirt whispered to his companion, "It's him, right? The kid who sells Roasted Sweet Potato on the street."

"It's him, it's him. Even though he's changed his clothes, I can recognize him at a glance," the companion said excitedly, eyes flashing, "Shall we follow?"

"No kidding!"

The man in the blue T‑shirt replied without hesitation, "Those guys said, as long as we find out where that kid lives, it's three thousand bucks! Three thousand! How many days would we have to rob for? Once we know his address, we file a report and the three thousand will be ours—nothing simpler than that."

"Let's go!"

The two immediately followed.

After a short while, they saw the figure in the training uniform from behind.

However, as they kept walking, the person ahead suddenly turned around and looked back, startling the two who quickly hid; after a moment, seeing nothing happen, they resumed the chase.

Until one time, when the two emerged from hiding, the figure was no longer on the road.

"Where's the person?"

The blue T‑shirt man's expression changed.

"Yeah, where did he go? He was just there a moment ago—did he get home?" the companion added.

"That fast? Keep looking; we can't just give up like this," the blue T‑shirt said anxiously.

"Are you looking for me?"

Suddenly, a voice sounded from behind the two.

(End of chapter)