A masked Lu Qingshan watched the Azure Wind Gang’s two leaders hold a meeting with the rest of their gang’s higher-ups, which included the force of ten that first helped him attack the Barbarian Bull Gang. They spoke like a group of scholars, debating the best method to ease the concerns of the commoners under their control. Their meeting place was quite fancy - built comfortable for sitting, with mats and wooden stools surrounding steaming plates of food.

  “One family has been paying their dues until now. They say they’ll struggle for the next few months. How much money should we continue taking from them?”

  “We’ll have to reduce our spendings,” the vice-leader said. He was a grim-faced man with some stubble on his chin. “Halve what we’re taking. This will be the best way to maintain goodwill with them.”

  “I’m more in favor of their requested twenty percent reduction. They don’t need that much mercy,” the leader said. “All in favor?”

  “Their past history is credible. So are their future and current circumstances,” another woman said. “The father is currently being targeted by another group of enemies he’s made. Not another gang, and they’re paying their dues as well, so we shouldn’t interfere. His son has recently lost his apprenticeship too.”

  “Then we’ll give them two months of leniency. I vote for a twenty five percent reduction of what they need to give. It’s a small additional amount, but coal given in winter is the best way to secure loyalty.”

  “Agreed,” echoed most of the room.

  “Do they usually discuss this much?” Lu Qingshan whispered to Meng Zhang. This was the first time he’d witnessed how they ruled in-person, instead of simply seeing the aftereffects.

  “Yes, they do good work for how much time they spend,” Meng Zhang said.

  Lu Qingshan watched them switch to another topic. This time it was about how to deal with the gangs encroaching on their territory. As a small gang, they couldn’t capture all of the Barbarian Bull Gang’s past territory even with the Stone Axe Gang’s help, leaving them to deal with other gangs who took advantage of the situation.

  “Let’s go,” Lu Qingshan whispered. “I can tell this one will take even longer.”

  “Before that,” Meng Zhang interrupted, stepping forward, “we‘ll have to get rid of the big crossbow. The Marquis is getting ready to make another move. It’s likely dangerous to keep it now.”

  “Very well,” the leader of the Azure Wind Gang said. “Follow me. We know where it’s been stored.”

  Her eyes had met his a few times during their meeting. Clearly, she was curious about the expert who Meng Zhang — their leader — seemed to hold in high regards. With the help of the new resources accumulated from ruling the territory, she was very close to becoming a Marrow Tempering expert. Lu Qingshan was keen to welcome her into their ranks soon.

  But not yet. “This is a local expert who I’ve made friends with,” Meng Zhang said. “He’s someone I highly respect.”

  The Azure Wind Gang started to whisper to one another about what this could mean. “Does this mean we have a new leader?” one of them asked.

  “Probably not. From what it looks like, Meng Zhang is simply working together with this man. There’s not many people stronger than Meng Zhang other than those elders from the major sects, and there’s no way one of them would come visit us,” another said confidently.

  Lu Qingshan didn’t interrupt their little theories. He kept his focus on the information his swarm of flies fed him. And he didn’t like what he was seeing. Marquis Zhou and his army was in the Azure Wind Gang’s territory, seemingly searching around for something.

  “Have you used the crossbow before?” he asked the leader.

  “Yes. There was a time we had to bring it out to kill a Marrow Tempering martial artist,” she said. “Others saw it, but we chased them down.”

  “Did you search the entire area?”

  “No, there was no time.”

  Lu Qingshan turned to Meng Zhang and whispered, “Marquis Zhou is here. We can’t easily take away the crossbow yet.” He was loath to just destroy it, though. He wanted to sell it to the ghost market.

  The soldiers were locking down the area. Sneaking through was near impossible. They had to either get rid of the evidence or face off against the Marquis himself. Rumor had it the man was close to reaching the Innate realm.

  “Meng Zhang,” he said. “How much do you think we’ll get for the crossbow with the ghost market?”

  “A lot,” was the reply. “Before, it was very difficult to get, but still possible. They wouldn’t have offered too much. But now that the Marquis is here, the price will go up even if they don’t have a use for it. They would want to know how to use the mechanism, both how to counter it and how to make it.”

  “So we shouldn’t destroy it then. Unless they already have one.”

  “Unlikely. The ghost market does not have the means to trade with every force in the city. At least when I was there, I hadn’t heard anything.”

  “Weren’t you just a Flesh Tempering martial artist back then?”

  There was a period of silence. “My master,” Meng Zhang finally said after a while, “was a Viscera Tempering expert.”

  Lu Qingshan furrowed his brow. “Your stories aren’t adding up. I don’t have to hear the entire truth if you’re not comfortable yet, Meng Zhang.” Marquis Zhou was coming closer.

  “It’s fine. Truth is, the Wang brothers and I haven’t managed to get revenge on all of our master’s enemies, just their lowly disciples. I didn’t want to tell you in case we couldn’t manage it. But you should be as strong as them now.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “More enemies? Who are they?”

  “A powerful figure who founded the current ghost market. Their power is above this place’s leaders, who are at the peak of Viscera Tempering themselves. They usually wander the other provinces instead of staying here. That’s why we were able to assassinate some of that man’s disciples.”

  “And he hasn’t come for revenge?”

  “It’s been very quiet. Our assassinations were almost a decade ago.”

  Lu Qingshan recalled those times. He had just finished an outer-sect tournament and secured the Deer Steps from the victory.

  “That should be fine,” he decided. “Then we’ll try to salvage the crossbow.” Lu Qingshan had to deal with Marquis Zhou the only way he knew how. With threats.

  They wrapped the large box containing the Divine Crossbow tightly with cloth. It could not be seen by the Marquis, or they’d have to deal with the entire force. Lu Qingshan was not confident in preserving the power of the Seven Mysteries Gate through such a conflict.

  To bluff their way through, Lu Qingshan had to reveal his power. But he debated on using the Hidden Veil Technique, as it might provoke the other soldiers.

  He decided to risk it. From what he knew of Marquis Zhou, the man was no friend of the previous armies. After all, those people had lost the Divine Crossbow. Perhaps he wouldn’t care about their deaths.

  Lu Qingshan looked around the storage area. He scattered dozens of medicinal materials around him, then sat cross-legged in the center. “I’ll handle the situation from here,” he said to the surprised Azure Wind Gang.

  While Meng Zhang led them away, their faces turned to shock. He heard them asking the Elder about his true power. Lu Qingshan hoped the Azure Wind Gang would continue acting as they were before the reveal of a higher power backing them.

  “Time to learn the Verdant Summer Inner Force,” he muttered. Lu Qingshan fell into his usual practice. This wisp of inner energy took much longer to form than the Flowing Cloud Inner Force. There seemed to be something impeding his progress.

  When he looked closer, it was three other Inner Forces in his body constricting the growth. Lu Qingshan focused on calming the Black Fury, Golden Drop, and Flowing Cloud Inner Forces to a standstill. He then initiated the technique again.

  With his iron control over his inner energies, Lu Qingshan was able to form the first wisp of Verdant Summer Inner Force. He checked the stone slab. There it was, recorded in all its glory, a step above the other inner forces. Over the past few months, he'd primarily spent his time focused on the Insect Harmony Mantra, the Blood Seas Inner Force, and the Great Ape Breathing Method. There had also been a few isolated, minor training sessions with various other martial arts whenever he grew bored.

  Lu Qingshan (26 years old)

  Lifespan Remaining: 38 years

  Cultivation: Mortal Shedding - Aperture Tempering

  Techniques: Hundred Beasts Refinement (Level 1, 11/10000), Insect Harmony Mantra (Level 6, 38/10000), Blood Seas Inner Force (Level 5, 1345/10000), Heavenly Demon Disintegration Technique (Level 2, 623/10000), Blood Pulse Technique (Level 2, 367/10000), Dragon Spine Manual (Level 1, 1/10000), Red Falcon Breathing Method (Limit), Tiger Fist (Limit), Deer Steps (Limit), Stoneskin Technique (Limit), Great Ape Breathing Method (Level 6, 5267/10000), Seven Steps Technique (Level 4, 79/10000), Verdant Summer Inner Force (Level 1, 1/10000), Black Fury Inner Force (Level 3, 1000/10000), Soaring Crane Breathing Method (Level 3, 799/10000), Flowing Cloud Inner Force (Level 3, 499/10000), Golden Shell Body (Level 2, 55/10000), Roaming Tiger Breathing Method (Level 4, 5700/10000), Nimble Deer Breathing Method (Level 4, 3600/10000), Golden Drop Inner Force (Level 3, 4200/10000), Hidden Veil Technique (Level 4, 2750/10000), Turtle Breath Inner Force (Level 3, 100/10000), Wave Motions Fist (Level 3, 25/10000), Tiger Roar Technique (Limit), Crane Wings Technique (Limit), Iron Bear Technique (Limit), Viper Strike Technique (Limit), Silent Step Technique (Limit), Basic Hand-to-hand (Limit)

  Mystic Jade Essence - Dao Fruit of Sublime Miracles - Condensing... 53%

  Lu Qingshan grinned. Through his flies, he saw Marquis Zhou and his retinue come to a stop outside the storage building. They began arguing with the Azure Wind Gang disciples stationed outside.

  “Wait,” an Azure Wind disciple said while trembling. “There’s an expert secluding themselves inside.”

  “Ha! Lies,” cried one of the members in the retinue. “They’re finally unwilling to let us in! Marquis, this is the place. I told you, the Azure Wind Gang has been the most suspicious gang from the beginning. They’re hiding the lost crossbows!” He tried to force himself inside, only to be pushed back.

  So weak? Lu Qingshan thought.

  “You dare?” the young man shouted. “Guards, take them!”

  Lu Qingshan was moments away from unleashing a Tiger Roar. Before he could do so, Marquis Zhou put a hand out. “Stop,” he said. “If there really is a so-called expert, then let me see. Surely he wouldn’t refuse to see this dignitary?”

  “The expert won’t be happy,” the brave Azure Wind Gang disciple warned. But he had no choice but to step aside.

  The retinue tried to follow the Marquis inside. Seeing this, Lu Qingshan let some of his aura slip out. The deadly air of a beast stopped most of the invaders in their tracks, except Marquis Zhou, who continued onward with a small smile on his face.

  Lu Qingshan covered himself in the Hidden Veil Technique. He had an inkling this would work.

  “Thank you for not harming innocents,” was the first thing he said as soon as he met the Marquis’ eyes.

  “Now I understand,” the man muttered. “Why you were hiding inside this city.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “You’re the one who slaughtered the Golden Dragon and Iron Dragon armies, aren’t you?” The Marquis smiled.

  “I did not.”

  “Don’t lie. Everyone saw the smoke you used.”

  “It must’ve been someone else,” Lu Qingshan denied. “I’ve always been staying here in this quiet place, practicing martial arts. Peace in power is what I seek.”

  “I’m not going to report this to the other armies. Who they anger is none of my concern.” Marquis Zhou was still smiling. “Instead, I have an offer for you. Why don’t you come and join my retinue?”

  Lu Qingshan refused.

  “I am in dire need of helpers,” the Marquis said. “You will be richly rewarded.”

  “I do not want to get involved with you. You are the epitome of chaos,” Lu Qingshan declared. “There is no peace for anyone who joins you.”

  “You understand my worries!” Marquis Zhou laughed. It was a carefree laugh, belly-deep, as if he had found something that could alleviate all his worries. “Come, then. I promise you anything in the kingdom,” he declared. “Even an Innate realm technique is not beyond my reach.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be impartial and incorruptible? Are you sure you should be saying this to me?”

  “Would you like me to bring you in?” The man smiled. “I am no longer those things because the kingdom has sought to limit me in too many ways. They twist my actions, watch my every move, bind my choices. Am I supposed to lose every ounce of dignity I have, for the sake of reputation?”

  “No. What I seek is justice,” the Marquis said, ignoring the silence. “I can no longer abide by how far the kingdom has fallen. Now, join me, or step aside, while I purge the kingdom of its traitors.”

  “As if you could,” Lu Qingshan returned.

  “Then let me see your reliance!” Marquis Zhou burst into motion.