Chaos begins when one joins a martial arts school

Chapter 27 Assassination
Yang Jing's eyes sharpened, and he silently followed.

With soft soil beneath their feet, they tried to avoid pebbles, always keeping a distance of more than three zhang (approximately 10 meters).

Scarface Li was completely focused on the sack and didn't notice that a tail had appeared behind him.

The wind was strong in the alley, blowing up Yang Jing's clothes. He pressed his hand on the short knife at his waist, his gaze fixed on the arrogant figure in front of him.

The contents of this sack are very likely the silver and treasures accumulated by the Dayun Gang.

The Dayun Gang has been severely weakened by the Righteous Gang and has even lost its headquarters.

Given the tense situation at the time, and the haste, the Da Yun Gang probably didn't have time to transport all the money and treasures away.

Now that the situation has stabilized, the leader of the Dayun Gang may send his trusted men to collect these silver coins and treasures.

However, Yang Jing is still unsure whether Scarface Li was sent by Xu Tai, the leader of the Dayun Gang, or whether he saw the Dayun Gang about to fall and, driven by selfish motives, took advantage of being a trusted confidant of the gang leader to secretly steal the money and treasures hidden by Xu Tai and make a quick getaway.

Yang Jing did not rush to make a move, but quietly followed behind Scarface Li.

After leaving Guang'anfang, head north.

Scarface Li was secretive, always circling around, and even if someone was following him, he would have shaken them off long ago, except for Yang Jing.

For more than a month now.

He did do something, though.

On the contrary, he did a lot.

Although Liu's Medical Clinic also helped keep an eye on the Dayun Gang, it was ultimately just a side job and they couldn't be as dedicated as they would to their own affairs.

The real key factor was Yang Jing's almost nightly surveillance around the Dayun Gang.

Yang Jing kept a close eye on Xu Tai, the leader of the Dayun Gang.

Whenever Xu Tai left the headquarters of the Dayun Gang, Yang Jing would secretly follow him.

In just over a month, Yang Jing followed Xu Tai at least a hundred times, gaining knowledge of the places Xu Tai frequented and visited less often.

“Scarface Li went in this direction. North of Guang’an Ward are Fengle Ward and Xinghua Ward.”

“I followed Xu Tai here many times before, and went to three different places.”

“There are two Fenglefang locations and one Xinghuafang location.”

"Xu Tai has been to those two places in Fenglefang many times, but he has only secretly visited that secluded courtyard in Xinghuafang once."

"If Scarface Li wants to defect and take the money and treasures from the Dayun Gang, the best way is to head west and leave the city as quickly as possible. Once he's out of the city, Xu Tai won't be able to do anything to him, and all the money and treasures will be his."

"But Scarface Li isn't in a hurry to leave the city. Instead, he's heading north. It seems he was sent by Xu Tai to retrieve something from the Dayun Gang and bring it back."

With this in mind, a bold plan gradually emerged in Yang Jing's mind.

As long as he follows Scarface Li, he should be able to find Xu Tai, but Yang Jing doesn't plan to continue following Scarface Li indefinitely.

"Let's see where he's going."

In the darkness, there were few pedestrians on the street, the moonlight was mostly obscured by clouds, and only a few dim yellow lanterns remained in the alleys, swaying in the wind.

Scarface Li carried a sack and deliberately chose to walk through secluded, narrow alleys.

The stone path under his feet was uneven, and he stumbled along, glancing around every now and then. When he saw that there was no one around, he breathed a sigh of relief.

We've already passed through two neighborhoods since we arrived here from Guang'anfang.

He moved cautiously all the way, and even if someone had discovered him, they should have been shaken off by now.

After checking again to make sure no one was following him, Scarface Lee stopped dawdling and immediately strode forward.

After Scarface Lee left, a black figure walked along the wall. If you didn't get close to him, you would hardly notice that there was a person there.

Yang Jing watched Scarface Li's retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"If you go any further, you'll exit Fenglefang."

"So, those two places in Fenglefang are ruled out."

"Xu Tai is very likely hiding in that secluded courtyard in Xinghua Ward."

Yang Jing thought about it and felt that this was very likely.

He recalled that he had followed Xu Tai and once visited that secluded courtyard in Xinghuafang.

On that occasion, Xu Tai only brought two trusted subordinates, including Scarface Li, and they didn't stay long in the courtyard before quickly leaving.

Looking back now, that secluded courtyard was very likely a secret hideout left by Xu Tai for himself.

Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows, let alone a shrewd and cunning fellow like Xu Tai.

"It's time to take action!"

"Whether Xu Tai is hiding in Xinghuafang or not, I am determined to get my hands on all of the Dayun Gang's treasures!"

Thinking of the sack that Scarface Li carried, which occasionally made the sound of silver ingots clinking, Yang Jing felt a surge of excitement. He immediately took a deep breath, held it, and quickened his pace.

A secluded, narrow alleyway at the intersection of Fenglefang and Xinghuafang.

The alley was so dark it looked like ink had been splashed on it, with only the wind squeezed out by the high walls on both sides carrying a damp, earthy smell.

Scarface Li traveled along all sorts of hidden paths and corners, and feeling confident that no one could follow him, he relaxed and couldn't help but think about the battle he had fought with the Righteous Gang during the day.

Then he turned a corner, and suddenly his foot tripped over something. Just as he was about to curse and look down, he suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck.

It was a touch that felt like ice, so fast that he didn't have time to react.

He instinctively wanted to turn around and draw his knife, but the excruciating pain in his neck had already exploded, as if a red-hot iron clamp had ripped open his blood vessels.

A metallic taste rose in his throat, but he couldn't make a sound, only a hissing sound as he breathed out.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a dark figure standing against the wall, a short knife in its hand dripping something, gleaming with a barely perceptible cold light in the absolute darkness.

"who is it?"

Confusion and shock were like ice water poured over him, and complex thoughts surfaced in his mind, followed by overwhelming fear.

Who is he?
Why is he here?

How come I didn't notice anything?
Countless thoughts raced through my mind, but my body wouldn't obey me. My legs gave way, and I collapsed heavily forward.

"Boom!"

The burlap sack on Scarface Lee's shoulder slipped off.

The gold and silver objects inside collided, producing a dull and jarring clang that was particularly jarring in the deathly quiet alley.

Scarface Li lay on the ground, his face pressed against the cold stone slab. The blood from his neck was flowing faster, and the warm liquid quickly soaked his collar.

He could feel the life force flowing out of the wound, and the darkness before him grew thicker and thicker, until only boundless cold and fear remained. Yang Jing stood there, blood droplets sliding down the blade of the dagger and dripping silently onto the ground.

He didn't look at Scarface Lee's body on the ground again.

Although Scarface Li was physically imposing, he was essentially just an ordinary person, far inferior to a martial artist who had reached the Energizing Realm.

A Ming Jin martial artist is already overwhelming an ordinary person, and with Yang Jing's unexpected sneak attack, the outcome was predetermined from the start.

He wiped the blood off the knife, sheathed it, then squatted down and patted Scarface Li's body. He actually found something – six or seven taels of loose silver.

Then Yang Jing stuffed six or seven taels of silver into his pocket, picked up the sack, and disappeared into the darkness in a flash, as if he had never been there.

Leaving that deep alley, Yang Jing didn't have time to open the sack to check. When he passed a garbage dump full of rotten vegetable leaves and rags, he stopped, stuffed the sack into the deepest part, and carefully covered it with several bundles of withered branches and leaves. After confirming that nothing was amiss, he turned and headed towards Xinghua Lane.

Xinghuafang is located on the edge of the western city, and many of its areas are abandoned old houses.

Yang Jing had followed Xu Tai once before, and following his memory, he quickly found the secluded courtyard.

Yang Jing crept to the outside of the courtyard and peered inside through a crack in the wall.

The courtyard was quiet, except for a lean man sitting under an old locust tree, playing with a short axe in his hand. The night was too dark, and there was no starlight or moonlight, so Yang Jing could not see the man's face clearly. However, from the outline of the man and the short axe, Yang Jing guessed the man's identity—Zhang Kui, nicknamed "Skinny Monkey," another confidant of Xu Tai, the leader of the Dayun Gang.

Skinny Zhang Kui glanced into the main room every now and then, his brows furrowed, clearly somewhat distracted.

The window paper of the main room let in a dim yellow light, and one could vaguely hear suppressed coughing coming from inside, which must have been Xu Tai, who was seriously injured.

Yang Jing crouched against the wall, holding his breath and concentrating.

There were only two people in the courtyard, which was better than expected.

He touched the short sword at his waist, his eyes gleaming coldly in the dim light.

It's easy to imagine that after fighting two peak-level Ming Jin experts from the Righteousness Gang, Xu Tai must have been seriously injured and then hid in this remote place.

He didn't even dare to bring many other gang members with him, only two trusted confidants.

Yang Jing peered through the cracks in the wall, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard, searching for a suitable opportunity to make his move.

Upon seeing the sack that Scarface Li was carrying, Yang Jing guessed that it must contain the wealth accumulated by the Dayun Gang, and an idea immediately formed in his mind.

For him, the importance of that sack of valuables was not less than that of killing Xu Tai, a potential threat.

For Yang Jing now, the most important thing is to improve his own strength. As long as he can break through to the Dark Force level, people like Xu Tai will no longer be a threat.

What he lacks most right now is money.

If he had enough money to supplement his diet and even medicine, he might have already reached the peak of Ming Jin, and could break through to An Jin at any time with the help of the panel.

Yang Jing's original plan was that even if he failed to find Xu Tai this time, the wealth he had seized from the Dayun Gang would be enough to support his cultivation for a long time.

With these resources, his cultivation speed will surely increase even further.

By the time the Dayun Gang recovers and Xu Tai heals his injuries, Yang Jing might have already broken through to the Dark Force realm.

However, these are all just his own thoughts and speculations. As long as Xu Tai is not eliminated, he will always be a thorn in his side.

But now is a rare opportunity.

His previous guess was right; Xu Tai was indeed hiding here.

More importantly, Xu Tai was severely injured by two peak-level Ming Jin experts from the Righteousness Gang, and it is estimated that his current strength is less than half of his peak strength. This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of his weakness and kill him.

Just as Yang Jing was looking for the best opportunity to make a move, Zhang Kui, the skinny monkey in the yard, couldn't sit still any longer. He stood up, paced back and forth in the yard for a few steps, and then turned and walked towards the main house.

The door to the main room was ajar, and a sliver of dim light from the oil lamp leaked through the crack, allowing Yang Jing to see what the skinny Zhang Kui looked like: a white cloth wrapped around his head, blood seemingly seeping through his ears, and a pale face, clearly injured.

"It seems the Dayun Gang got a pretty bad beating from the Righteous Gang this time," Yang Jing thought to himself.

At the same time, he was also keeping a close eye on the direction of the main house in the courtyard.

Skinny Zhang Kui pushed open the door to the main room. In the dim light of the oil lamp, Yang Jing could see the medicine residue scattered on the ground. As for the content of their conversation, it was hard to hear clearly because the two were deliberately speaking in hushed tones.

in the courtyard.

Skinny Zhang Kui pushed open the door and entered, a strong smell of blood mixed with the scent of herbs hitting him.

Xu Tai, the leader of the Dayun Gang, sat shirtless on the edge of the bed. His broad back was sunken in, clearly indicating a fracture or similar injury.

He was wrapped in thick white bandages, from his shoulders all the way to his waist and abdomen. Several bandages were soaked with blood, and the dark brown stains spread out, resembling dried-up mud.

"Gang leader."

After the skinny Zhang Kui entered, he bowed and gave a salute.

Xu Tai opened his eyes, looked at his trusted aide, and said in a deep voice, "Has Scarface Li not returned yet?"

Skinny Zhang Kui shook his head. "Boss, there might be members of the Righteous Gang watching over headquarters. Could Scarface Li be discovered by them?"

"Cough cough."

Xu Tai tried to speak, but a violent cough struck him, causing him to bend over abruptly, and the bandage on his chest instantly blotted out a new patch of red.

His coughing stopped, and he leaned against the bedpost, panting heavily.

"Master." Upon seeing this, the skinny Zhang Kui quickly stepped forward.

"No problem."

Xu Tai waved his hand, stopping the skinny Zhang Kui from helping him up.

The Dayun Gang has now been almost completely destroyed by the Righteousness Gang, and the entire gang is in a precarious state. Many members are considering leaving the Dayun Gang.

Although Zhang Kui, nicknamed "Skinny Monkey," was his confidant, Xu Tai was still unwilling to show weakness in front of his trusted subordinate at such a crucial moment.

"These are just superficial injuries; they'll heal in a month or so," Xu Tai said casually, his gaze falling on the skinny Zhang Kui. "It's a pity you were also injured; otherwise, you'd be more suitable for headquarters than Scarface Li."

Compared to Scarface Li, who is somewhat reckless, Skinny Zhang Kui is more agile and meticulous, and has a greater chance of successfully retrieving the valuables from headquarters.

Unfortunately, Zhang Kui, the skinny monkey, was also injured in the fight with the Righteous Gang. He even had one ear cut off and suffered internal injuries, making him unsuitable to go to headquarters to retrieve the items.

"Boss, should I go to headquarters?" said Zhang Kui, the skinny guy.

Xu Tai frowned, pondered for a moment, and shook his head, saying, "Don't go to Guang'anfang. You're still injured, and you won't be able to handle the Righteous Gang if you encounter them."

He paused, then continued, "You can go to Fenglefang to meet him. If you can pick up Scarface Li, come back as soon as possible. If you don't find Scarface Li, come back as soon as possible as well."

"Yes, Chief." Upon hearing this, Skinny Zhang Kui turned to leave.

"Wait, be careful to conceal your whereabouts," Xu Tai added.

Skinny Zhang Kui felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this and nodded, saying, "I understand, Chief."

After the skinny Zhang Kui closed the door and left, Xu Tai's face suddenly turned red, and then he spat out a mouthful of bright red blood. He had been able to suppress his anger in front of his trusted subordinates, but now that he had spat out this mouthful of blood, he felt much better and his breathing became much smoother.

(End of this chapter)