Chapter 92: Chapter 84: Recommendation

With its master, Shi Wenshan, found dead in a dark alley, the Songfeng Martial Arts Hall was left leaderless.

When the County Soldiers stormed in, they quickly took control of the Martial Arts Hall.

The howling wind and snow could not drown out the sounds of clashing metal and dying wails coming from all corners of the Inner City.

This long-planned, thunderous operation struck with lightning speed, causing the Huang and Zhu Families—who had been entrenched in Gaolin County for years—and all their minions to utterly crumble.

「Just as dawn was breaking, the wind and snow began to subside.」

But Gaolin County, especially the Inner City, was filled with the clamor of the disaster’s aftermath.

On the long streets, the accumulated snow had been trampled into a muddy slush.

At the corner teahouse, the stove was burning brightly, yet no one was in the mood for tea.

People crowded around the door and windows, their chatter bubbling like boiling water:

“Did you hear? The County Soldiers raided the Huang Family and the Zhu Family last night! The glow of fire lit up the sky, and the sounds of killing shook the city all night long!”

“That’s not all! Renhe Pharmacy, Wangyuan Escort Agency, Songfeng Martial Arts Hall… they were all taken down! My heavens, it’s like they’re trying to tear the sky down!”

“I knew it! How could the Lord Captain have been seriously injured? Turns out he was just pretending to be sick to lure them in! And now, he’s caught them all in one fell swoop!”

“Hah, the Gaolin Commerce Association? More like a den of thieves! Illicit medicine! Armor! Colluding with River Bandits! Which one of those isn’t an offense punishable by beheading? Captain Pang is brilliant!”

“Look! Is that Second Young Master Zhu’s wife? Heavens, they’re… they’re finished. Things in Gaolin County have truly changed!”

“The Blood River Gang was rounded up too! Serves them right! They were always bullying people and cornering the market. Now they’ve finally gotten what was coming to them!”

“What about Master Shi from Songfeng Martial Arts Hall? How come no one’s seen him?”

…

One explosive piece of news after another spread as if on wings, stirring up the small town that had just undergone a baptism of blood and fire.

Inside the Zhou Martial Arts Hall, the air was also thick with discussion.

The earth-shattering events in Gaolin County last night were like a sudden clap of thunder in winter, shaking every disciple’s Heart and Spirit. Who could possibly have the mind to practice their Martial Arts?

All conversation revolved around the thunderous storm.

The disciples gathered together, their faces filled with awe and fear for Pang Qinhai’s ruthless methods.

That a behemoth like the Gaolin Commerce Association could crumble in a single night—such an earth-shattering change was simply too astonishing.

Chen Qing stood in a corner, an appropriate look of shock and bewilderment on his face, but inwardly, he felt not a single ripple of emotion.

Sun Shun sidled up to him and whispered, “Junior Brother Chen, the fall of the Gaolin Commerce Association is a good thing… Our Zhou Institute’s official appointment documents can finally be issued.”

Chen Qing replied, “That’s right. And Brother Sun, you won’t have to consider going to Shuangye County anymore.”

Sun Shun let out a long sigh of relief and nodded emphatically.

’Who would want to leave their home if they had a choice?’

Just then, Zhou Liang emerged from the rear courtyard.

His brow was deeply furrowed, and his eyes held a lingering worry.

“Silence, all of you!”

Zhou Liang’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a heavy authority that instantly silenced the whispers in the courtyard.

All the disciples’ eyes focused on him.

“These next few days, the situation will be volatile, and people’s intentions will be hard to fathom.”

Zhou Liang’s gaze swept over the crowd as he said in a low, serious voice, “Unless absolutely necessary, no one is to leave the Martial Arts Institute! Keep the gates shut, practice your Martial Arts diligently, and do not get involved in any trouble! Remember, be cautious in word and deed. Disaster stems from a careless tongue!”

His tone was unprecedentedly stern.

The disciples’ hearts clenched, and they replied in unison, “Yes, Master!”

Suddenly, the sharp clang of metal armor came from outside the courtyard.

Two County Soldiers in Profound Black Martial Attire were the first to step inside, their sharp gazes sweeping across the grounds.

The noise died instantly, and all the disciples fell deathly silent.

Immediately after, a figure appeared at the gate. It was none other than the Captain’s personal guard, Pang Jiu.

His gaze was like lightning as he walked straight toward Chen Qing, bowed, and said:

“Master Chen, my lord requests your presence!”

The moment he spoke, the entire Zhou Institute erupted into an uproar!

Every single person’s gaze snapped to Chen Qing!

’Captain Pang Qinhai is personally summoning Chen Qing?!’

Zhou Liang quickly strode over and asked in a low voice, “Lord Pang has summoned my young disciple. May I ask for what reason?

Pang Jiu cupped his fist and said, “Master Zhou, Master Chen is a distinguished guest of my lord.”

What kind of man was Pang Qinhai?

’And Chen Qing… had somehow become Captain Pang’s distinguished guest?!’

“Master, I’ll be right back.”

Chen Qing’s expression was calm as he said to Pang Jiu, “Thank you for your trouble.”

“This way, please!”

Pang Jiu turned to the side, gesturing for him to proceed.

Chen Qing followed Pang Jiu through the Gaolin County Soldier Camp, where the atmosphere was grim and the paths were lined with soldiers in full armor.

The air was thick with the stench of blood and a suffocating chill.

Along the way, he saw nothing but stern-faced soldiers escorting dejected, disheveled prisoners, or carrying chests and valuables marked with seals.

The once high-and-mighty servants and Nursing Homes of the great families were now like stray dogs, huddling in the cold wind.

Their family members were among them.

Xu Xiuhua was kneeling there, her hair disheveled, her magnificent brocade robe stained with mud. Her carefully maintained face no longer held a trace of its former nobility, only fear and despair.

She looked up, and her eyes met Chen Qing’s calm, unwavering gaze!

In that instant, Xu Xiuhua’s eyes flew wide, as if she were witnessing the most unbelievable sight in the world.

She recognized Chen Qing—the fisherman’s boy she once thought she could toy with as she pleased.

’How is he here? And… and being led in so calmly by Captain Pang’s personal guard?’

Kneeling beside her, Xu Fang also saw Chen Qing, her face a mask of astonishment.

Pang Jiu’s gaze shifted slightly as he asked with a small smile, “Master Chen, you know them?”

Chen Qing pointed at Xu Fang. “The one next to her. I know her.”

Pang Jiu understood and said casually, “Once we’ve completed our investigation, if she’s not involved in anything important, we’ll simply let her go.”

As Pang Qinhai’s personal guard, he naturally understood his lord’s intention to win over Chen Qing. This was merely an opportunity to Go with the Flow and do him a personal favor.

Chen Qing cupped his fist. “My thanks.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep