Chapter 50: Ripples

Over the next ten-plus days, Zuo Zhicheng practiced martial arts and worked at the Haoran Martial Hall during the day. In the evenings, he kept an eye on the activities of the Xinlu underworld. After that, he practiced his Authentic Transmission Martial Arts, contemplated the Nourishing Qi with Vast Righteousness spirit-refining technique, and gradually polished his mental state.

Of course, he also had to build his underground base. Besides the final digging, he constructed some cabinets and platforms to make it easier for him to work inside later.

Everything proceeded step by step, moving slowly forward according to Zuo Zhicheng’s plan.

During this time, Zuo Zhicheng could feel his body growing stronger bit by bit. Although the progress wasn’t as fast as when he consumed the Dwarf Spirit, he could clearly sense every small improvement. His muscle endurance and explosive power were both increasing gradually, and the proportion of Purple Innate Qi had already reached 36%.

As for Spirit Refining, although he hadn’t fully grasped it yet, thanks to his naturally calm instincts, he was getting closer and closer to entering a state of mental stillness.

The underworld of Xinlu Port was also in turmoil during this period. Taking advantage of the fact that all four of the Sea Dragon Gang’s Four Heavenly Kings were either dead or injured, and with Zuo Zhicheng’s subtle encouragement, the Hundred Families Association joined forces with more than ten other small gangs in Xinlu to aggressively carve out the Sea Dragon Gang’s territory. Even the dock businesses, which the Sea Dragon Gang had tightly controlled, began to slip from their grasp.

Seeing the Sea Dragon Gang retreat, the smaller gangs grew even more frenzied and greedy, banding together to attack the Sea Dragon Gang. Zuo Zhicheng himself also took the opportunity to double-cross a few gangs several times, making some extra money.

Additionally, Master Jiang, who had been trying to unite the other martial arts halls in Xinlu in the face of the Sea Dragon Gang’s threats, seemed to have made some progress.

Just when everyone, including Zuo Zhicheng, thought the Sea Dragon Gang was about to collapse and that the underworld of Xinlu Port was heading toward a free-for-all, a hint of the storm had already landed in Xinlu.

…

Evening.

Xinlu Port, West City.

A dusty carriage slowly came to a stop. After a series of yawns, a young man stepped out of the carriage. He had short brownish hair, a nose dotted with freckles, and wore a silver earring in his left ear. Notably, his skin was unusually smooth, almost like a woman’s.

He looked at the several men in front of the carriage, their faces hidden under cloaks, and said, “You guys, wearing so much in this hot weather—aren’t you hot?”

The leader took off his cloak, revealing a head of white hair. It was none other than the leader of the Sea Dragon Gang, Long Feiyang. He no longer had the vigor and vitality of before; instead, he seemed like an old man in his twilight years, with even more wrinkles on his forehead.

He offered a slightly flattering smile and said, “The gang is under attack from all the major associations in Xinlu. We can’t afford to be careless.” Then, he glanced at the carriage and asked, “Sir, has Miss Qin arrived yet?”

“Don’t worry, my senior sister arrived even earlier than I did. We’ll just see who gets unlucky first.” The young man chuckled. “These country bumpkins—once we teach them all a lesson, they’ll know who’s in charge.”

…

Because it was summer, by the time evening approached, Zuo Zhicheng and the others had already finished their lunch at the martial hall.

In the sky, the sun was slowly setting, casting golden light on the long street in front of the martial hall and leaving mottled shadows.

After cleaning up the Training Ground, Xiao Lan, Zuo Zhicheng, and the Jiang father and daughter said their goodbyes and prepared to leave. But when they opened the door of the martial hall, they saw a woman dressed in a bright red short jacket, as vivid as flames wrapped around her, standing gracefully at the entrance and looking up at the four characters above the door: Haoran Martial Hall.

When she saw Zuo Zhicheng and Xiao Lan coming out, the woman smiled, her figure bathed in a brilliant golden glow under the setting sun. “Is this the Haoran Martial Hall?”

“Mm-hmm,” Xiao Lan nodded. “This is it. Sister, are you here to learn boxing? But today’s training session is already over. If you want to learn, you’ll have to come back tomorrow.”

Zuo Zhicheng, however, remained silent. From the moment the woman in red appeared, his expression and movements showed no change, but his internal alertness had skyrocketed.

Every muscle and bone in his body was ready to spring into action, prepared to unleash one hundred percent of his power at any moment.

Because in Zuo Zhicheng’s left eye, the woman’s body appeared like a blazing fire, radiating fierce light and heat under the sunset. Golden and red light flooded his Infrared Vision.

From her feet, calves, and thighs to her waist, chest, and shoulders, all were surging with Innate Primordial Breath. The proportion of purple was even slightly higher than Zuo Zhicheng’s, around 40%. This meant that although the coverage of her Innate Primordial Breath—her overall physical power—was less than Zuo Zhicheng’s, the intensity per unit was a bit stronger than his.

Monstrous power lay dormant within her body.

What felt even more familiar to Zuo Zhicheng was the thick, palpable scent of blood on her—a terrifying aura of killing intent that only he could sense. It spread unrestrainedly before Xiao Lan and Zuo Zhicheng, as if showing off.

“Thanks,” the woman said with a light laugh upon hearing Xiao Lan’s reply. “I’m not here to learn boxing. Besides, what’s worth learning in this place?”

She glanced at Zuo Zhicheng with mild interest. He could feel her gaze lingering on his eye patch, as if curious about what lay beneath it.

“I just came to familiarize myself with the place, so I don’t end up at the wrong location when I need it later.

But this should be the last spot. Probably won’t even need it.” Like any ordinary young woman, the one in red turned and left after speaking.

Zuo Zhicheng frowned, watching the woman in red disappear, his mind racing to guess her identity.

“A hidden card of the Sea Dragon Gang? Someone from the Imperial Court? Or from another gang? According to earlier intelligence, there shouldn’t be any woman in Xinlu with such high martial skills.”

Just then, she suddenly turned back and gave Zuo Zhicheng and Xiao Lan a charming smile. “Little brother and little sister, here’s some advice: you should find another job in the next few days.”

Zuo Zhicheng stared coldly as the woman in red vanished down the street. Her words were ambiguous—part threat, part warning—and he couldn’t tell what she really meant.

He sniffed the air and thought silently, “Such a strong smell of blood… and something else… fire oil?”

Xiao Lan, however, was much more innocent. She sighed and said, “What a beautiful sister! Big Brother Zuo, do you think she’s prettier, or is Sister Qing prettier?”

“About the same,” Zuo Zhicheng replied absentmindedly as they walked down the street.

“Is that so? Then what about me?” Xiao Lan rested her chin on Zuo Zhicheng’s shoulder, and the unique fragrance of a young girl wafted into his nostrils. “Who’s prettier, me or them?”

Seeing the girl’s big, sparkling eyes looking at him expectantly, like a little kitten, Zuo Zhicheng curled his lip and said, “Of course, they’re prettier. You’re silly, and you look so thin and bony—how could you compare to them?”

Xiao Lan’s small fist thumped heavily on Zuo Zhicheng’s shoulder. “You make me so angry!”

As they roughhoused their way home, Zuo Zhicheng’s mind continued to linger on the woman who resembled flames. Her appearance signaled one thing: the Sea Dragon Gang incident was far from over.