Chapter 121: Beyond the Door of Refusal

After copying the secret manual, Jiang Cheng walked home alone.

He felt an inexplicable premonition that after this, he might not get another chance to meet Shi Yan for who knows how long.

Mostly it was people from the Iron Fist Gang.

That guy called Feng Ge knows his own strength yet still dares to be so arrogant; he must have some backing.

He might even be a Force Warrior.

If the opponent is only a First-level Force Warrior, I'm quite confident I could kill him.

After all, my own power has also reached Level One, and the Double Staff is at Great Completion; as my strength grows, the two iron staffs feel a bit light, swinging with a slight weightlessness.

But if the opponent is Second Level, that would be trouble.

Although Jiang Cheng thinks it unlikely that a Junior Leader of the Iron Fist Gang could have Second Level power, the gang's elite must be at least Level Three or Four, right?

"If only I could gather some information, that would be great."

A person suddenly came to Jiang Cheng's mind.

Senior Brother Zhao.

Indeed, it was from him that I first learned about the Wild Wolf Gang's departure.

Now that the Iron Fist Gang is arriving, they might also know some inside information.

Moreover, to be fair, I'm still a Senior Member of the Martial Arts Hall, and my membership is still valid; if the Iron Fist Gang wants to drive me out, the Hall should at least say something, otherwise the membership fee would be wasted.

Jiang Cheng nodded.

If the Hall could speak up for me and settle the matter, that would be ideal.

After all, even if I kill that Feng Ge, it would be hard to stay here; with my current strength, I still can't take on the entire Iron Fist Gang alone.

Grandma, Chen Sao and the others can't keep living in Senior Sister Bai's house forever.

Since I'm going over this time, I'll greet Senior Sister Bai, stall a few more days, give her more money; I can't keep taking advantage of her.

If the Hall refuses, there's nothing I can do but turn back and figure something else out.

Back home, after hiding the Secret Martial Arts, Jiang Cheng took ten thousand yuan and headed straight for the Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall on the street.

He's been staying at home these past few days and hasn't been out on the street for a long time.

Compared with a few days ago, the street's foot traffic has thinned, and the vendors on both sides have dwindled.

Passing his own stall, Jiang Cheng saw it had been taken over, and the person beside it wasn't Lu Zicheng.

"Has the stall been reassigned?"

Jiang Cheng thought to himself.

If he were to set up a stall now, he'd probably run into some trouble again.

Thinking that, Jiang Cheng shook his head; improving his strength is more important than running a stall.

Just like the three Martial Arts Halls on this street, they do nothing yet receive plenty of money each month; neither the Wild Wolf Gang nor the Iron Fist Gang dares to provoke them.

If I had that kind of power, would they still dare to speak to me like that?

Entering the Hall, he took out his Membership Card, placed it on the sensor, but the gate didn't respond.

Jiang Cheng tried a few more times, yet it still had no effect.

"?"

Jiang Cheng's eyebrows rose sharply.

What's going on? My membership isn't expired. Did I accidentally break it? "What's wrong?"

At that moment, the woman behind the counter noticed Jiang Cheng's situation and walked over.

"My card doesn't register? Could it be broken?" Jiang Cheng said.

"Is that so? Let me see."

The woman took Jiang Cheng's card, glanced at it, and instantly widened her eyes, "Y-You're Jiang Cheng?"

"Yes, what's up?"

Jiang Cheng grew even more puzzled.

"Um, sorry," the woman said apologetically, "You're no longer a member of our Hall?"

"What?"

Jiang Cheng's expression changed.

"Mr. Jiang, please don't rush. I'm not entirely sure what's happening, but Senior Brother Zhao specifically instructed me that if you came, I should notify him; he'll explain to you. So, Mr. Jiang, could you wait here a moment? I'll go call Senior Brother Zhao over."

The woman apologized repeatedly.

"Got it, you go ahead. I'll wait here," Jiang Cheng took a deep breath.

Clearly, I was overthinking.

The Hall refused to mediate and even outright revoked my membership.

It would be false to say I'm not angry, but when you're weak, you can only endure; there's no other way, just as now I can't even get through the gate.

Soon, hurried footsteps sounded as Senior Brother Zhao rushed over; seeing Jiang Cheng standing outside the gate, his expression was complicated.

"Jiang Shidi."

He sighed, "I know you have many questions. Let's find a place to talk slowly."

"Alright."

Jiang Cheng nodded, his face unusually calm.

The two went into a Conference Room.

"Jiang Shidi, before this, I want to ask you a question."

"Senior Brother Zhao wants to ask me whether the Wild Wolf Gang members on the street were killed by me?"

"Exactly."

Zhao Xiangyu looked into Jiang Cheng's eyes.

"It was me who killed (them)."

Jiang Cheng nodded.

At this point there is no need to hide anything any longer.

The Iron Fist Gang members have already confirmed that it was me.

And the Martial Arts Hall has already expelled me.

Moreover, Zhao Xiangyu's first sentence was this, so denying it is of little use.

"Is it really you?"

Zhao Xiangyu inhaled a breath of cold air.

He immediately grew a little anxious, "Jiang Shidi, haven't I told you many times that if you can avoid those people, don't provoke them? Killing them won't stop anything—just like this time, the Wild Wolf Gang members left, the Iron Fist Gang members came, and they even named you specifically to attack you. For your sake, Senior Sister Bai even dared to confront the Gym Master, and now she is being locked up."

"What? Senior Sister Bai confronted the Gym Master because of me?"

Jiang Cheng could not believe his own ears.

"Sigh, this story is a long one."

Zhao Xiangyu let out a sigh and recounted the series of events that had occurred when the Iron Fist Gang members arrived earlier.

The Iron Fist Gang members said that you killed the Wild Wolf Gang members, and unless you later join the Iron Fist Gang, they will either drive you away or eliminate you.

"Jiang Shidi, I know your character well; you would never join the Iron Fist Gang and aid tyranny, so you have only two options—no, you have only one option left, which is to leave here as soon as possible, go elsewhere to live, and even when you go to another gang's territory, be sure not to let them know you killed Wild Wolf Gang members, otherwise they will also drive you away or strike you!"

Zhao Xiangyu sighed and muttered.

From his personal perspective, he admired Jiang Cheng.

Though his strength is not as great as his, he dares to do what he would not dare to do.

However, the consequences are severe; no one backs him up, and if discovered he can only become a fugitive.

"Senior Brother Zhao, are the people the Iron Fist Gang sent this time very powerful?"

(End of chapter)