"Sparring is rough, and accidents happen. Shouheng didn’t do it on purpose."

Chen Li’s tone was flat.

’He didn’t believe a word of Chen Yongquan’s story.’

Chen Li had seen the fight clearly that day. Though Chen Zhengtong’s injuries looked severe, they were merely superficial.

’Besides, several months have passed. Bringing it up now is definitely a sign of ill intent.’

’Could this have something to do with Chen Zhengping and Tu Sandao, the Gang Leader of the San Dao Bang?’

Chen Li instantly recalled what he had seen in the county town a few days prior, and his brow furrowed slightly.

Chen Yongquan trembled with rage. "You... What do you mean by that? Are you saying it’s my Zhengtong’s fault? I say you deliberately let your son run wild!"

Chen Li said calmly, "Zhengtong was the one who initiated the challenge that day. Shouheng was merely responding."

"Responding?"

Chen Yongquan shot to his feet, the grief on his face gone as he impatiently dropped the act. "Chen Li, I didn’t call you here to bicker about this. What’s done is done, and there’s no point in saying more. Zhengtong’s future is ruined. As his father, I must secure the rest of his life. You must compensate Zhengtong today."

The mask was off!

Chen Li sneered. "And what kind of compensation does Uncle Quan require?"

Chen Yongquan stared at Chen Li, his eyes filled with nothing but naked greed and malice. "All your family’s land and property deeds. All of them. Hand them over to my Zhengtong as compensation."

Chen Li’s gaze turned glacial. He slowly rubbed his fingers along the arm of the chair and smiled faintly. "I’m afraid that isn’t for you to decide, is it, Uncle Quan?"

"It’s not up to you, either!"

A thunderous roar erupted from the doorway, carrying with it the thick stench of alcohol and a suffocating, brutal aura.

A tower-like figure blocked the doorway. His hulking frame blotted out most of the sunlight, casting a large shadow over the room.

The man was none other than the Gang Leader of the San Dao Bang, Tu Sandao.

His large, bell-like eyes flashed viciously as he locked his gaze on Chen Li. "So you’re Chen Li? Motherfucker. You dare offend my brother, Zhengping, and injure brother Zhengtong? You refuse to compensate? Looks to me like you’ve got a death wish!"

"Are you deaf or just ignoring me?" Seeing Chen Li’s lack of reaction, Tu Sandao roared. The sound was so loud it made eardrums ring.

"Sir, transferring land deeds isn’t so simple. It requires a guarantor, a transfer agreement, and it has to be processed at the County Magistrate’s Office. I can’t just hand them over right now."

Chen Li stood up, tense and on guard.

Tu Sandao paused, then glanced at Chen Yongquan. Seeing him give a slight nod, he broke into a vicious grin. "Fine. Three days. I’ll give you three days."

He stuck out three thick, stubby fingers and waved them in Chen Li’s face. "Three days from now, at this very hour, I’ll personally come back with my men. If I don’t see those deeds..."

He paused, the coarse flesh of his face twisting into a savage grin. "...then I’ll let you have a taste of what it means to have your family shattered and your home destroyed! You get me?"

"In three days, I will have an answer for you."

Chen Li smiled.

"Hmph! Coward." Tu Sandao spat disdainfully, not even deigning to give Chen Li another glance. He turned to Chen Yongquan and said in his rough voice, "Let’s go! If he dares pull any tricks, I’ll crush him."

With that, he swaggered off, radiating an air of murderous brutality.

"So, Uncle Quan, you called for backup. No wonder you’re so confident."

Chen Li turned to glance at Chen Yongquan and gave a dry laugh. Though his face remained calm, the killing intent in his eyes was like tangible needles of ice, sharp enough to pierce the very air.

The arrogant expression that had just formed on Chen Yongquan’s face vanished instantly under Chen Li’s gaze, and a chill shot up from the soles of his feet.

But that fear was quickly replaced by a surge of anger and venom from deep within his heart.

’Little bastard, just you wait!’

’Your family shattered and your home destroyed—that will be your end!’

...

Chen Li made a trip home to warn his family not to go out for the next few days, then returned to the county town.

He went to the martial arts hall and found his eldest son, Shouheng.

"Father? What are you doing here?" Chen Shouheng asked in surprise.

Chen Li had no time for pleasantries and cut right to the chase. "Shouheng, do you know anything about the San Dao Bang?"

"The San Dao Bang?"

Chen Shouheng paused, then explained, "The San Dao Bang is the biggest gang in the county town. They call themselves a gang, but most of them are just local riffraff. Apart from a few of the leaders, the rest don’t know any Martial Arts. They specialize in collecting protection fees around town.

"However, they seem to have connections in the County Magistrate’s Office. Brawling, drunken rampages, harassing respectable women... as long as they don’t kill anyone, nothing ever happens to them. At worst, they get tossed in jail for a few days and are let right back out. Rumor has it they’re the ’black gloves’ for some big shot in the magistrate’s office, handling all the dirty work."

Chen Li then asked, "What about their leaders? Do you know how strong they are?"

Chen Shouheng racked his brain for the rumors he’d heard. "The Gang Leader, Tu Sandao, is at Blood Refining Great Success. But I’ve heard he cultivates Horizontal Hard Training. Add to that his massive build and ferocious nature, and even many Qi Realm masters can’t get the better of him. I’m not clear on the other leaders, but logically, they can’t be stronger than Tu Sandao."

At this, Chen Shouheng’s expression grew grim. He asked cautiously, "Father, have you run afoul of him?"

"It’s nothing. Just asking." Chen Li smiled. Back at Chen Yongquan’s house, he hadn’t sensed any Inner Qi from Tu Sandao.

Now, having confirmed it with his son, he patted Shouheng on the shoulder. "Don’t mention this to anyone. Just stay here at the martial arts hall and focus on your training."

With that said, he left the hall, giving Chen Shouheng no chance to ask any more questions.

...

「You Suo Street.」

Chen Li sat at a roadside stall, having ordered a bowl of three-delicacy wontons and some soup dumplings, which he ate slowly.

Not far off was the Liu Family Winery.

Several burly, imposing men in short, blue jackets were blocking the entrance to the winery.

"Old man, are your ears stuffed with cotton? This debt of one hundred taels, are you going to pay it or not? Hurry up and fork it over! Stop dawdling and wasting my time!"

The leader, a fierce-looking man with a tattoo on his face, had one foot propped on a bench in front of the entrance. He was sneering at the Shopkeeper behind the counter, whose face was pale and who was bowing repeatedly.

The Shopkeeper, drenched in sweat, pleaded, "Third Master, but this old man has never owed you any money!"

"Bullshit! See for yourself. The monthly five taels of peace silver—you haven’t paid for ten months straight. Add in the interest... it’s all written out clear as day on this IOU. What, you trying to skip out on your debt?"

The tattooed leader was shouting so forcefully that spit flew into the Shopkeeper’s face.

The Shopkeeper bowed so low it looked as if his back might snap. He spoke in a hoarse voice, "I wouldn’t dare, sir, I wouldn’t dare. Third Master, please, have mercy. Business has been slow these last two years. I... I’m really short on funds! Could you... could you please grant me a few more days? I’m begging you!"

"An extension?"

The tattooed leader’s eyes bulged. He kicked the bench over with a loud CRASH. "You think I run a Charitable Hall? Rules are rules!"

"No silver? Fine by me!"

His gaze swept lecherously toward the winery’s rear courtyard. "I’ve heard you have a daughter... a real tender young thing..."

The tattooed leader licked his lips, a nauseating grin spreading across his face. "Let her come back with me and serve our Gang Leader for a few days! In return, I’ll take it upon myself to forgive this one-hundred-tael debt. How about it?"

As he spoke, he waved a hand, and two of his cronies behind him burst out laughing as they charged into the winery’s rear courtyard.