Chapter 61: Schemes

Jiang Cheng just let his heart down, then lifted it up again.

Senior Brother Zhao, are you about to discuss Secret Martial Arts with me? "Ordinary people can never get near it, even core members of the gangs can't."

"So hard?"

Jiang Cheng heard that and felt a surge of joy.

He didn't want a direct clash with gang members that could spiral out of control.

But many things in this world don't bend to human will; the moon waxes and wanes, people's fortunes rise and fall—that's the principle.

If a fierce clash really occurs, he can only give his all, and if the opponent has anyone who knows Secret Martial Arts, the situation becomes dire.

Now, hearing Senior Brother Zhao's meaning, even those so‑called Three Great Heavenly Kings are only marginally stronger in flesh than ordinary people; after becoming familiar with punches, kicks and weapons, he feels considerably reassured.

"Indeed."

Senior Brother Zhao let out a sigh.

He first glanced toward the outside, then said, "You should have heard of the Martial Arts Ban, Jiang Shidi, right?"

"Of course I've heard."

Jiang Cheng nodded heavily.

"Since the Martial Arts Ban was issued, all Secret Martial Arts circulating on the market have been destroyed, and individuals are forbidden from keeping any. In just a few years, ninety percent of the Secret Martial Arts texts were burned. Even the few owners who luckily preserved them dare not tell anyone, let alone produce them. Consequently, to obtain Secret Martial Arts now one must rely on word‑of‑mouth transmission; someone must bring you through Entry for you to learn the true Secret Martial Arts. As for those gang members, even ignoring other factors, their corrupt hearts alone mean no one would risk handing Secret Martial Arts to them."

"That's true."

Jiang Cheng nodded repeatedly.

After all, this concerns one's own livelihood and life.

"Moreover, to study Secret Martial Arts there is another requirement, and its difficulty is no less than actually obtaining the true Secret Martial Arts."

"What requirement?"

"Secret Medicine."

Zhao Xiangyu spat out the two words.

"Opening the Acupoints within one's body is far from easy; unless one is a once‑in‑a‑millennium prodigy, others need a Secret Medicine that matches their Secret Martial Arts to achieve double results. Without Secret Medicine, one might not reach Entry for three or five years, and even a lucky entry would progress at a terrifyingly slow pace."

"I didn't know such a thing existed."

Jiang Cheng took a deep breath.

His original self hadn't known this, since the great upheaval occurred a hundred years ago; back then, not only his original self, but even his parents probably hadn't been born.

"Indeed, the Martial Arts Ban forbids not only the spread of Secret Martial Arts but also the circulation of ingredients used to make Secret Medicine."

"If you possess Secret Martial Arts, no one will tell, even if you practice in secret, no one will target you. But the moment you purchase ingredients to make Secret Medicine, you'll be watched immediately—that's the truly terrifying part of the Martial Arts Ban."

"What if I grow them myself in secret?"

Jiang Cheng asked tentatively.

Zhao Xiangyu was taken aback, smiled and said, "Jiang Shidi, you are indeed a bit clever; some might try it, but cultivating those ingredients is not easy, and they are all contraband. Once discovered, the consequences are severe."

"Understood. No wonder Senior Brother Zhao said those gang members can't have Secret Martial Arts; the difficulty is that high," Jiang Cheng shifted the topic appropriately.

It's not that he doesn't want to ask whether the Martial Arts Hall has Secret Martial Arts.

Rather, the relationship between the two sides hasn't reached that point yet.

Moreover, Zhao Xiangyu has already disclosed a lot of information; these are probably just the basics and don't involve any secrets.

But if he hadn't spoken it, he wouldn't have known.

"Indeed."

Senior Brother Zhao nodded and then asked, "Jiang Shidi, do you have any other questions?"

"Nothing else, thank you for the answers, Senior Brother Zhao," Jiang Cheng said gratefully.

"Hehe, it's nothing, just basic questions."

Zhao Xiangyu waved his hand nonchalantly, "But regarding the Secret Martial Arts we just discussed, when we go out later, Jiang Shidi must never bring it up to anyone." "Don't worry, I won't mention it to anyone," Jiang Cheng replied.

The two left the Conference Room and went to the training ground on the second floor; Zhao Xiangyu stayed behind, observed Jiang Cheng's fundamentals for a while, then went to instruct others.

Jiang Cheng silently digested the earlier information.

Within half a month, all members of the Wild Wolf Gang will leave.

After all, one mountain can't host two tigers; staying here and waiting for the Iron Fist Gang to arrive guarantees no good outcome.

So doesn't that mean Jiang Xiong and his few allies lose their backing? According to his original memory, those people were local thugs living here; after the Wild Wolf Gang arrived, they clung to them and ran rampant.

When the Wild Wolf Gang leaves, their support naturally disappears.

Unless they also leave with them.

But life on the run is hard; every nook of the Poor District is controlled by gangs, and any outsider is noticed immediately.

Thinking of this, Jiang Cheng's mouth twitched upward.

He avoids direct conflict with those few mainly because he doesn't want to provoke the Wild Wolf Gang; secondly, his Double Staff skill is not yet high, only Proficient.

If he trains another ten‑plus days, reaching Mastery is a foregone conclusion.

Moreover, at that time the opponent would have no backing; even in daylight, he could storm their doorstep without any concerns.

Of course, if several of them have the Iron Fist Gang's support, that's another matter.

Jiang Cheng just thinks that possibility is slim.

Why, after the Iron Fist Gang arrives, don't they let their own thugs handle this, and instead trust someone who previously worked with the Wild Wolf Gang?

A ruler and his ministers change with the times; the age‑old principle remains unchanged.

"In the next half month, I'll train hard; the day the Wild Wolf Gang leaves will be your death day!"

A flash of resolve crossed Jiang Cheng's eyes.

These people, even if they haven't killed directly, have indirectly caused many deaths; they deserve to die!

As for Secret Martial Arts.

According to Zhao Shixiong, without the secret medicine that corresponds to the Secret Martial Arts, the speed is as slow as a turtle's crawl, even just staying in place.

Jiang Cheng didn't know whether his proficiency panel could exempt the need for secret medicine and raise the level of the Secret Martial Arts.

But for now he has no Secret Martial Arts, cannot verify it, and can only speculate secretly.

……

As noon approached, Jiang Cheng returned home and told the neighbor Chen Sao the news he had obtained from the Martial Arts Hall.

Upon hearing this news, Chen Sao finally let out a sigh of relief.

But upon hearing that the Iron Fist Gang would arrive in half a month, he let out a helpless sigh.

It's still the same saying: the Iron Fist Gang will never be extra kind to waive everyone's management fee for a month; at most they'll charge a little less.

As for the final amount, it will definitely not be less than one thousand.

It might be twelve hundred, or it might be fifteen hundred.

Moreover, from now on, this will be the amount due each month.

After finishing lunch, Jiang Cheng pushed his cart to set up his stall; upon reaching the street, indeed, the number of pedestrians visible to the naked eye had noticeably decreased.

This made his heart skip a beat.

He had anticipated that today's revenue would be lower than yesterday's, but the extent of the decrease was likely greater than he thought……

Thanks to reader and photographer Zee for the 100-point coin reward!!!

(End of chapter)