Chapter 281: Chapter 124: Escorting People to the City, Investigating the Grand Stockade by Night

Thoughts raced through Yang Jing’s mind. Seeing how knowledgeable his master was about the Indestructible True Skill, he took the yellowed booklet from his robes.

It was the first half of the Indestructible True Skill.

He presented it to Sun Yong with both hands. "Master, this is the first half of the Indestructible True Skill. If you’re interested, please take a look."

Sun Yong glanced down at the booklet. On its cover, the four characters for Indestructible True Skill were written in a bold, powerful script that exuded an ancient air.

He simply shook his head, his tone tinged with a sigh. "Put it away. It’s of no use to me."

Yang Jing was taken aback.

"These old bones of mine ran out of energy long ago." Sun Yong raised a hand to stroke his graying beard, a look of acceptance in his eyes. "My qi and blood are in decline; I just can’t keep up anymore. How could I have the energy to practice a new martial art? Especially a True Skill like this. It requires immense effort to cultivate, the breakthroughs are incredibly difficult, and the demands on one’s body, qi and blood, and talent are even higher. It’s more than I can handle."

Seeing his master’s calm expression, which didn’t seem feigned, Yang Jing knew he truly didn’t want it.

He responded respectfully and tucked the booklet safely away again.

Sun Yong turned, his gaze growing solemn as he looked at Yang Jing. "Jing’Er, there is something I must impress upon you. In the future, no matter when or where, never reveal the origin of your Cultivation Technique, your training secrets, or any fortunate encounters you may have. The more important the secret, the deeper you must bury it in your heart. You must think twice, even with those closest to you."

He sighed. "You’re a good kid, pure-hearted and sincere. That’s a fine quality, but it also makes you an easy target. The Jianghu is treacherous, and people’s hearts are unfathomable. Once certain secrets are revealed, they might not bring you admiration, but disaster and death."

Yang Jing recalled the gravity in Sun Yong’s voice when he’d mentioned the Xuanzhen Sect. A chill went down his spine, and he nodded solemnly. "This disciple understands. I will take my master’s teachings to heart."

He naturally understood the principle that caution is the parent of safety. But in his eyes, this Indestructible True Skill was only an incomplete version that could at most get him to the Huajin realm. It didn’t seem like such a critical secret, at least not one he couldn’t share with his master.

Most importantly, Yang Jing was confident in his current strength.

Many things were built on a foundation of strength.

If he were still at the Anjin realm, he would never have mentioned the Indestructible True Skill—not even the incomplete version, and not even to his own master.

Seeing Yang Jing’s solemn expression, Sun Yong nodded in satisfaction. Then, as if remembering something, he tapped his forehead. "Look at me, getting sidetracked. All that talk of sparring and Cultivation Techniques made me forget the real reason I called you here."

A look of confusion appeared in Yang Jing’s eyes. "Master, what did you want to talk to me about?"

Sun Yong’s expression grew grim. He said slowly, "I just received news that things have not been quiet at the River Gang Stronghold outside the city these past few days. I hear dozens of their members are dying every day. Even one of their Vice Gang Leaders was killed."

"What?" Yang Jing froze, his eyes wide with astonishment.

He was no stranger to the River Gang, especially not to its Gang Leader, Li Tieyun, and the three Vice Gang Leaders. He had fought alongside them when they joined forces to eliminate the Flying Horse Thieves. Afterward, Li Tieyun had even invited him to spar and meet on several occasions. Their relationship could be considered amicable.

’To think that such a thing had happened to the River Gang in just a few days. I wonder which Vice Gang Leader was killed.’

Yang Jing’s brow furrowed as understanding dawned on him.

’No wonder I didn’t see anyone from the River Gang at the sparring yesterday. So this is why. Something major has happened to them.’

Sun Yong continued, "Li Tieyun invited many skilled martial artists from Yuhe County to help, but of the experts who went, many have already died under mysterious circumstances. Not even He Yun, the Gang Leader of the Thundercloud Gang known for his speed, was spared."

Yang Jing’s brow furrowed tightly.

He’d heard of He Yun. His Wind-Following Step technique was quite famous in Yuhe County. He was incredibly fast, far exceeding ordinary Anjin-level masters. ’And he died at the River Gang Stronghold, too?’

"Eventually, Li Tieyun had no choice but to ask the Jiang Family for aid." Sun Yong picked up his cool tea from the stone table under the eaves and took a sip. "The Jiang Family’s Third Elder, a Huajin Powerhouse, personally led a group of their experts to the River Gang last night. They thought having a Huajin Powerhouse on site would stabilize the situation, but according to the news this morning, the Jiang Family... lost people too."

"Even the Jiang Family..." Yang Jing’s heart sank.

The Jiang Family was one of the six great families of Yuhe County, and their Third Elder was a Huajin Powerhouse who had been famous for years. ’For the killer to murder someone right under the nose of a Huajin Powerhouse, and even dare to attack members of the Jiang Family... The sheer audacity is unbelievable!’

"Do we know the killer’s identity?" Yang Jing pressed. ’Someone with this kind of strength and audacity can’t be a nobody.’

Sun Yong shook his head. "Not yet. But to target the River Gang so specifically, it must be a vicious enemy they’ve made in the past. Otherwise, there would be no reason for such lethal attacks."

Yang Jing’s expression slowly darkened as an ominous premonition surfaced in his mind.

He thought back to when he had joined forces with the River Gang to wipe out the Flying Horse Thieves.

Back then, he had personally slain the leader of the Flying Horse Thieves. The rest of the bandits had either fled or were killed. Among them, the second-in-command’s whereabouts remained unknown, with no news of him to this day.

"Could it be... a remnant of the Flying Horse Thieves?" Yang Jing muttered to himself.

The guess wasn’t without merit.

’If this were an old enemy the River Gang had made years ago, why wouldn’t they have acted sooner? Why wait until now? And the River Gang’s biggest move recently was wiping out the Flying Horse Thieves. Could the killer be the second-in-command who escaped? Could he have been lying in wait all this time, looking for a chance at revenge?’

But Yang Jing was also puzzled.

’But to kill someone right under the nose of a Huajin Powerhouse... not even Li Qianxiong, the leader of the Flying Horse Thieves, was capable of that. Does the second-in-command really have that kind of power?’