Chapter 60: Secret Martial Arts

But Zhao Xiangyu didn't rush to answer; instead he glanced around, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's find a place to talk."

The two of them arrived at a conference room.

It seemed to be the very one Jiang Cheng had first come to a few days earlier.

Closing the door, Zhao Xiangyu sat down on a chair and said, "That's right, the Wild Wolf Gang is about to run away, and within this half‑month."

"Within this half‑month?"

Jiang Cheng felt both shocked and delighted upon hearing the news.

The surprise was that he hadn't expected the Wild Wolf Gang to collapse so quickly; he had thought they could hold out for two or three months like those gangs a few years ago.

The joy was the same: if this turbulent period ended sooner, his sweet‑potato vending business could resume sooner, and when he returned at noon to tell Chen Sao, she would surely be very happy.

"Indeed."

Zhao Xiangyu's demeanor seemed hardly changed.

"Jiang Cheng, you might not know, the Iron Fist Gang on the adjacent street has been fighting the Wild Wolf Gang for almost two months. The Wild Wolf Gang has suffered many more defeats than victories, so handing over this street is only a matter of time. And just the day before yesterday, the two gangs staged a ring battle."

"Ring battle?"

Jiang Cheng was curious.

"Yes, each side sent three people, drew lots to select opponents, then fought one‑on‑one, best two out of three. The losing side would withdraw from this street."

"So, the Wild Wolf Gang lost?"

"They lost, and lost badly."

Zhao Xiangyu's face showed a trace of remorse.

"The three people the Wild Wolf Gang sent were all top fighters in the gang; one of them was one of the gang's three great kings. In the ring, a young man from the Iron Fist Gang beat him to death."

"Three great kings?"

Jiang Cheng's expression turned odd.

"Jiang Cheng, you haven't been involved with gangs, so you naturally don't know this. If we weren't dealing with them, we wouldn't bother with these details."

Zhao Xiangyu chuckled, "The so‑called three great kings are the three best fighters in the Wild Wolf Gang. One could take on a dozen opponents without trouble. Unfortunately, of the other two, one died long ago and the other is ill. Only this one remains able to step into the ring. He could have stayed out, but he went anyway, his heroic name becoming a stepping stone for others—truly lamentable."

"So that's how it is."

Jiang Cheng nodded.

Perhaps that person truly was a figure, but he felt nothing and even thought the other's death was fine.

There's nothing good about gang members.

"So, Senior Brother Zhao, after half a month the Iron Fist Gang will be in charge here, right?"

"Correct."

Senior Brother Zhao let out a light sigh.

The Iron Fist Gang is no savior.

When they arrive, they won't bring happiness to the people here.

Moreover, each successive gang squeezes the people harder than the previous one.

"Jiang Cheng, regarding this, you need not worry."

He comforted, "You are a senior member of my Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall. Whether the Wild Wolf Gang or the Iron Fist Gang controls this street, they won't do anything to you. Moreover, in all these years our hall's dues have never increased. If you don't believe it, you can ask the old men; they can all attest to that."

"I'll certainly believe what Senior Brother Zhao says."

Jiang Cheng sighed, "It just feels powerless. Gangs keep coming one after another, and ordinary people only get bullied. This time the management fee doubled; in less than half a month the Iron Fist Gang will be back, and they'll probably raise another fee. I don't know how many will be forced out of their homes."

Hearing this, Senior Brother Zhao was startled; his gaze at Jiang Cheng shifted slightly. "Jiang Cheng, stop overthinking. This isn't something you or I can change. Focus your energy on training; if danger comes, even if you can't fight, you can still run away."

"Senior Brother Zhao is right."

"Well, actually you didn't bring it up today, so I should give you a heads‑up."

"Hmm?"

"The Wild Wolf Gang is leaving; for the next half‑month this area won't be peaceful. I don't know what those Wild Wolf members will do. In theory our hall's deterrence still works, but it's not a matter of fearing ten thousand, it's fearing that one."

Zhao Xiangyu looked at Jiang Cheng, "Jiang Cheng, on your way home tonight you must be careful, preferably avoid them. If you get blocked, pull out your membership card immediately. If that still doesn't help, cooperate with them for now and discuss it at the hall tomorrow."

Before Jiang Cheng could speak, he added apologetically, "I'm really sorry, Jiang Cheng. Usually when they see a high‑level membership card they won't block you, but this is a special period. To be safe, for the next half‑month you can temporarily stop setting up your stall; wait until the heat passes."

"Thanks for the reminder, Senior Brother, but half a month isn't short."

Jiang Cheng gave a wry smile.

He owed Chen Sao money and next month's high‑level membership fee, both hoping to earn from selling sweet potatoes.

"That's true."

Senior Brother Zhao also sighed, then promised, "If that really happens, Jiang Cheng, our hall will definitely help you seek justice."

"Hmm."

Jiang Cheng agreed, though he held no expectation.

According to Senior Brother Zhao, since they entertain the idea of looting and fleeing, they're unlikely to stay here afterward.

"Jiang Cheng, is there anything else you'd like to ask?"

Zhao Xiangyu asked.

"If I'm being honest, there is one question."

Jiang Cheng felt a bit nervous.

"Oh? What question?"

Zhao Xiangyu wore a smile.

"There was nothing at first, but after hearing Senior Brother Zhao say that the Iron Fist Gang and the Wild Wolf Gang held a ring battle, I became a bit curious and wanted to speak… Senior Brother Zhao, please don't …"

"Go ahead, it's fine."

Zhao Xiangyu said without hesitation.

"That's the experts of those two gangs; Senior Brother Zhao said they can each take on ten or more people. I'm curious—do they learn the same fist and foot martial arts as us, or have they learned Secret Martial Arts?"

When he said the last two words, Jiang Cheng felt his heart jump up to his throat.

Secret Martial Arts—those two words, he finally asked them out.

I had thought that after hearing it, Senior Brother Zhao would show a look of astonishment or fear, but he didn't.

His face still bore its usual smile as he spoke:

"Of course it's the same as us—learning fist and foot martial arts."

"Is that so?"

Jiang Cheng deliberately showed a look of shock, "As it turns out, mastering fist and foot martial arts can also enable one to take on ten or more people."

"Heh, theoretically that's the case, but really few can actually do it—just like the Wild Wolf Gang's Three Heavenly Kings, of which there are only three, whereas the Iron Fist Gang has five such people; not counting other factors, just looking at this point, the Wild Wolf Gang is also doomed to lose."

"As for Secret Martial Arts…"

(End of chapter)