Chapter 198: Chapter 104: Hall Master Liu’s Backup Plan

Chengping Square, Sun’s Martial Arts Hall.

The bluestone slabs of the front courtyard’s training grounds were scorching hot under the sun.

Jiang Haoyang was in a horse stance, repeatedly practicing the opening move of the Mountain-Shattering Fist. Although there was some force behind his punches, they were sluggish and distracted.

His gaze kept darting toward the Martial Arts Hall’s main gate, his fists clenching and unclenching.

His mind was a mess, filled with images of his senior brother, Yang Jing.

’Senior Brother has probably reached Black Wind Valley by now, right?’

’The Flying Horse Thieves are so vicious. Will they try to kill Senior Brother?’

The more he thought about it, the more unsettled he became. His punching rhythm fell into disarray, and even his horse stance wavered.

BANG!

His fist slammed into the wooden stake, the force slightly off-center, and the impact sent a numbing shock through his knuckles.

Jiang Haoyang shook out his hand and took a deep breath, forcing himself to refocus on his fist techniques. But his worries were like vines, impossible to sever.

Just then, a slight commotion came from the main gate of the Martial Arts Hall.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jiang Haoyang saw a servant disciple from the gatehouse jogging in, crossing the front courtyard and heading for the inner courtyard.

A moment later, the servant disciple came back out, leading a middle-aged man in from outside the main gate.

The man wore a sapphire-blue brocade robe with a jade belt at his waist. He had a fair complexion and was toying with a string of jade beads in his hand as he walked at a leisurely pace.

The servant disciple followed closely at his side, respectfully guiding him toward the inner courtyard.

Jiang Haoyang’s gaze lingered on the richly dressed middle-aged man’s face for a moment, and he subconsciously committed the man’s features to memory.

The man looked unfamiliar. He didn’t seem like a regular at the Martial Arts Hall, and certainly not like a disciple here to learn fist techniques.

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat as he recalled Yang Jing’s warning before he left.

"The Flying Horse Thieves have been watching the Martial Arts Hall. They might even send someone to test the waters. If Master shows himself, they might back off. But if Master doesn’t appear, they’ll get suspicious and might kill Fourth Senior Brother."

His senior brother’s words still echoed in his ears.

Watching the back of the richly dressed middle-aged man, Jiang Haoyang instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

’Could it be... that this man is a spy sent by the Flying Horse Thieves?’

He couldn’t help but admire Yang Jing in his heart. ’Senior Brother really can predict things with uncanny accuracy!’

’Someone really did come to visit Master.’

A tide of nervousness washed over him. Jiang Haoyang clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.

He didn’t dare to look any longer for fear of attracting the man’s attention, so he could only lower his head and continue practicing his punches.

But the tension inside him coiled even tighter, and he even found himself breathing more shallowly.

WHOOSH...

He threw a punch, and with the exhalation, Jiang Haoyang felt his internal breath flow a bit more smoothly than before.

He stared at the deepening fist print on the wooden stake, a powerful yearning rising within him. ’I have to break through to the Bright Strength realm, and fast!’

’If I could just reach the Bright Strength realm, even the initial stage, I could at least help Senior Brother a little. I wouldn’t be stuck here in the training grounds, worrying uselessly and unable to do a single thing to help.’

He gritted his teeth, sank into his stance, and once again began performing the moves of the Mountain-Shattering Fist.

This time, the wind from his fists carried a new, desperate ferocity.

...

「West side of the city, Songlin Posthouse.」

In a room on the second floor of the posthouse.

The furnishings were simple: just a wooden table, a few chairs, and a bed.

Hall Master Liu sat in a chair by the window. His face was still pale as paper, his lips a purplish-blue, clear signs that his injuries had not yet improved.

A thick, cotton-padded robe was draped over him, but he still coughed from time to time. Each cough pulled at the wound in his chest, causing his brows to knit in pain.

The old steward stood nearby, his face etched with worry. He would periodically glance out the window, then look back at Hall Master Liu, seeming to want to speak but holding back.

The window was open a crack, the width of a bowl. A bitter, cold wind poured through the gap, stirring up a few specks of dust from the floor and adding to the room’s chill.

Neither of them spoke. The room was silent, save for the occasional sound of carts and horses from outside and Hall Master Liu’s suppressed coughs. The atmosphere was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

A stone of anxiety hung heavy in each of their hearts, as they had no idea what was happening at Black Wind Valley.

Suddenly.

FLUTTER FLUTTER.

The soft sound from outside shattered the silence in the room.

Hall Master Liu was the first to react. A sharp glint flashed in his cloudy eyes as he whipped his head around to look out the window.

The old steward also quickly turned toward the sound.

A gray pigeon was flapping its wings, having flown in through the open crack in the window. It landed on the edge of the wooden table and tilted its head, looking at the two men. A small message tube was tied to its leg.

The old steward hurried forward, carefully caught the gray pigeon, and gently untied the message tube from its leg.

He placed the pigeon on the windowsill, then turned, holding the slip of paper that had been rolled into a thin tube. He walked quickly to Hall Master Liu and presented it with both hands.

Hall Master Liu took the slip of paper and unrolled it with trembling fingers.

There were only a few words on the paper. After he finished reading, the tension in his face eased slightly. He gave a small nod and handed the slip to the old steward.

The old steward took it and saw two words written on it: "In position."

His heart went cold. He looked up at Hall Master Liu and asked in a low voice, "Master, Gang Leader Li and his men... are they already in ambush over there?"

Hall Master Liu coughed twice, his voice hoarse. "Yes. Li Tieyun brought the best fighters from his River Gang. They’re hidden near Black Wind Valley."

He paused, a resolute look flashing in his eyes. "We can’t bet everything on the Flying Horse Thieves’ honor. This is my backup plan. If something goes wrong with the ransom, they’re our only hope."

The hand with which the old steward held the slip of paper trembled slightly, and he sighed inwardly.