Standing at the entrance of the alley, Han Zheng furrowed his brows tightly.
The man recognized him and was surprised to see him still alive.
In his own understanding, he was supposed to be dead.
Judging by the other person's behavior, if he was supposed to "die," it definitely wasn't by accident; otherwise, why would he run away?
Piecing together the lost day from his memory that had abruptly started outside of the county town, the ten "silver" on him, and the attitude of the man before him,
The memory Han Zheng had lost before his transmigration was definitely not uncomplicated.
Han Zheng rubbed his head, suddenly recalling that he seemed to know the man before him.
Not recently, but a long time ago, he seemed to have learned martial arts with him at Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy.
However, Han Zheng could no longer remember the man's name or status.
After thinking hard and still unable to remember anything, Han Zheng could only first head home.
But this was a matter Han Zheng needed to investigate thoroughly.
He was supposed to be dead, and yet he was alive now.
He had no idea what he got himself involved in that night.
Now that this man knew he wasn't dead, there could be someone out there looking to secretly harm him, and that was all an unknown.
The next morning, Han Zheng got up early and went straight to the Martial Arts Hall.
Standing at the entrance waiting for a moment, he saw Li Sancheng arrive and quickly pulled him into the toilet in the backyard.
"What's the hurry dragging me here? Do you need company to take a dump because you're lonely?"
Li Sancheng looked completely puzzled.
"I want to ask about someone."
Han Zheng had been quiet and reserved before, only burying himself in training when he entered the Martial Arts Hall.
Other than Li Sancheng, his friend, he hadn't spoken more than three sentences to anyone else there.
But Li Sancheng was lively and active, getting along quite well with everyone.
"Who are you talking about?"
Han Zheng concentrated on recalling the man's features: "That person used to practice martial arts with us at the hall, but he's older than us, around thirty-something.
Thin and tall, with a kidney-shaped face, a sleazy look and a face full of pockmarks."
"Aren't you talking about that bastard, Ma Gui!"
Li Sancheng slapped his thigh: "Why are you asking about him?"
"Just don't worry about that for now; do you know what's going on with him?"
Li Sancheng looked scornful: "Others might not know, but I am quite familiar with that bastard.
His father was a Prison Chief at the County Government, but he was too greedy, and he pushed someone in the cell to death.
However, it just so happens that the family of the deceased had cleared the relations for release, and they were supposed to pick up a living person but got a dead body instead.
When the incident blew up, his father was put in prison and was killed inside by a few thugs bribed by the aggrieved family.
That bastard, Ma Gui, had the same tendencies as his father, stealing and bullying from a young age, living the thug life for many years.
His mother scraped together some "silver" to send him to the Martial Arts Hall, and in less than a month, he was kicked out by the Martial Arts Hall Master for stealing money, which literally killed his mother from anger.
However, I've heard recently that the bastard has become flush with cash again, cozying up to the Sanhe Gang's head, Wang Xiong. That guy is one of the trusted men of the second gang leader of Sanhe Gang, Gao Kaiyuan, and a significant figure in Black Stone County."
Han Zheng slightly furrowed his brow; Ma Gui's background seemed somewhat complicated.
The ones who really ruled Black Stone County weren't the County Magistrate, but the five martial forces within the county town, consisting of two families and three gangs.
The two families referred to the Song Family in East City and the Shen Family in West City.
Among them, the Song Family had a profound heritage, being a collateral branch of the 'Heavenly Saber' Song Family, a large and reputable family from Southern Mountain.
The Shen Family from West City had only risen in the last dozen years. Although they were not rich in resources, the eldest young master of the Shen Family was a Direct Disciple of the significant sect of Southern Mountain, Tiangang Sect, which brought several external cultivation techniques to the Shen Family.
The three gangs were the Black Tiger Gang, Sky Eagle Gang, and Sanhe Gang.
In these five forces, each had at least one expert at the Innate Transcendence Late Stage to sit in authority.
Of these, the strength of Sanhe Gang was the strongest among the gangs because they had not one but three gang leaders, all of whom were Innate experts.
The three gang leaders of Sanhe Gang were sworn brothers in their youth.
After founding Sanhe Gang, they didn't set up the usual hierarchy of a gang leader and deputies. Instead, they arranged themselves according to their brotherly seniority as the first, second, and third gang leaders.
Among them, the second gang leader, Gao Kaiyuan, was nicknamed "Shattering Jade Hand" and was famous in Black Stone County for his grappling skills.
After finding out where Ma Gui's family lived, Han Zheng pulled Li Sancheng back to the front to resume classes.
Li Sancheng did not continue to question why Han Zheng was inquiring about Ma Gui.
Although he seemed to be all smiles and appeared not to take things seriously, he knew when to mind his own business.
After the major examination, only half of the disciples remained, and the subject matter that Li Jingzhong was teaching had changed.
It was no longer just about Inner Strength cultivation but about fighting techniques.
"What is the real purpose of practicing Martial Arts?"
Li Jingzhong looked at the disciples and said gravely, "Some say it's for strengthening the body; others say it's for chivalry and righteousness, for slaying Demons and vanquishing evil.
But in my view, all that is bullcrap!
Chivalry and righteousness, slaying Demons and vanquishing evil, are not the purpose of Martial Arts; they are the meanings of being a person.
Martial Arts have only two cores: cultivation and combat!
Transcending the limits of the human body, returning from Postnatal to Innate, reaching the pinnacle of Martial Arts—that's cultivation.
Fighting and struggling for survival in this chaotic world is what Martial Arts are really about!
Previously, I taught you the Iron Elephant Skill as the foundation of Martial Arts cultivation.
But now, the Vajra Fist is the beginning of Martial Arts combat.
Real combat and practiced forms are two different things; your opponents aren't wooden dummies that stand still and let you hit them.
So, integrating Martial Arts into actual combat is what the lessons ahead are going to be about.
In Martial Arts combat, it's better to advance a thought than to halt mid-thought.
Once you strike, do not hesitate; everything should aim to kill your opponent thoroughly."
Li Jingzhong tore open his clothes, revealing a ferocious scar just above his chest as though it was from a piercing weapon.
"When I was first involved in the Martial World on escort missions at night, I caught a little thief trying to steal and could have killed him.
But back then, I had never killed anyone, and just that moment of hesitation nearly got me pierced through the heart with his dagger.
In Martial Arts combat, it's either your death or mine.
Stopping at 'a touch' is a game played by Grandmasters. What you need to learn is a fight to the death!"
The more Han Zheng listened, the more reasonable it all seemed.
Although Li Jingzhong might not be a top expert,
He had been the Martial Arts Hall Master for over a decade, and he could say he excelled the most at teaching disciples.
Especially when it came to disciples who had just stepped onto the path of martial arts, the lessons taught by Li Jingzhong were all hard-won experiences bought with blood.
Li Jingzhong spent the whole morning teaching them what to pay attention to in real combat, the vulnerable organs of the human body, and even the transitions between offensive and defensive stances, among other things.
After class was dismissed, Han Zheng first went home to change his clothes.
He found his father's scholar's robe to put on and tied a headscarf, also taking a folded fan with him, dressing up like an impoverished scholar.
Black Stone County had four city sectors: East and West City were the most prosperous, while North and South City were more dilapidated.
Han Zheng lived in North City, and Ma Gui's home was in South City.
Black Stone County was not small, quite a significant town along Southern Mountain, due to its advantageous geographical location.
The reason why it was called Southern Mountain was that it was located to the south of the Tiancang Mountain Range, surrounded by mountains on two sides and facing the water on another.
The only road led to Jingzhou Prefecture, and Black Stone County was the first major town at the border of Jingzhou Prefecture.
Therefore, to take over Southern Mountain, one must first take Jingzhou Prefecture.
To take over Jingzhou Prefecture, one must first capture Black Stone County.
Black Stone County was advantageously positioned as a transportation hub, with numerous caravans coming and going, and its population was quite large, with even more than two hundred thousand permanent residents.
Both North and South City were old districts, densely populated with narrow alleys intertwined like a labyrinth.
Han Zheng searched for about two hours before he found the location of Ma Gui's home.
However, he did not approach but instead lingered nearby, staking out the area.
But as it became dark, Han Zheng had not yet seen any signs of Ma Gui.
"Could it be that he's not at home?"
Han Zheng frowned slightly.
Although there was no curfew in Black Stone County, troubled times meant that there were hardly any people on the street after dark.
Han Zheng walking around the streets would be quite conspicuous.
Feeling a bit hungry, Han Zheng found a stall selling bean curd and baked flatbread to sit down.
"Excuse me, is your bean curd sweet or salty?"
"Spicy."
Han Zheng fell silent, along with anyone favoring sweet or salty.
"Alright, give me a bowl of bean curd and three flatbreads."
The snow-white bean curd topped with seasoned sauce and hot chili oil indeed tasted remarkably good.
Han Zheng polished off the bean curd and flatbread in no time, only to notice that the stall owner showed no signs of packing up.
With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he squatted in front of the stall, staring blankly at the empty street.
"Aren't you going to close up now that it's dark?"
The stall owner managed a forced smile, "Two years ago, my eldest son joined a merchant caravan and encountered robbers halfway, ending up beheaded.
Last year, my wife took our younger son back to her parents' home, and they were eaten by demons on the way.
My home feels too empty, it suffocates me. It's easier to stay outside.
Take your time eating, there's no rush."
Han Zheng was silent for a moment before taking out a few dozen coins and placing them on the table, then turned and left.
Previously, Han Zheng had no direct experience of the current state of the world.
He knew it was a troubled time but hadn't seen with his own eyes what kind of chaos it entailed.
Now, he had a better understanding.
Life was as fragile as a blade of grass, with no assurance of survival from one day to the next.
Unable to wait for Ma Gui, Han Zheng decided to seek him out himself.
Outside, the sky was dark, the alleys were empty, and even homes with lit lamps were few.
With prices skyrocketing, the people in the impoverished South City hardly could afford to light oil lamps.
Han Zheng walked quietly through the alleys, silently scaling the wall into Ma Gui's house.
Other households refrained from using lamps, but Ma Gui's home was brightly lit.
Through the cracks in the windows, Han Zheng could see him enjoying a plate of fennel beans and a dish of roasted chicken, happily sipping on his drink.
Assured that there was no one else inside, Han Zheng knocked a small piece of broken tile against the house door.
"Who the hell is throwing stuff in the middle of the night?"
Ma Gui put on his shoes, cursing as he opened the door and stepped out.
In that instant, Han Zheng leaped from midair, pouncing on Ma Gui like a bird of prey, then delivered a fierce punch to his stomach.
The power unleashed from the sixty acupoints and the channeling of the Hand Lesser Yin Heart Meridian could be immense.
Han Zheng's full-force punch could shatter a tree trunk as thick as a man's thigh.
He held back, fearing that he might kill Ma Gui with just one punch.
Still, Ma Gui instantly doubled over, almost vomiting blood.
As he was about to scream, Han Zheng firmly clamped his mouth shut.
"Speak! Why were you so surprised that I was still alive?"
Han Zheng's arm tightly choked Ma Gui's neck, his eyes emitting a cold glare.
"Make a noise, and I'll kill you right here!"
Fear filled Ma Gui's eyes.
How could Han Zheng have changed so drastically in just a few days?
He even dared to seek him out at his own home!
"Han Zheng! Do you have any idea who you've provoked? You're digging your own grave!"
Ma Gui's face was ferocious yet fearful inside.
"Whether or not I'm digging my grave, we can discuss later. If you don't start talking, then you're genuinely courting death."
As Han Zheng tightened his hold, Ma Gui's face turned red, and he pleaded in a low voice, "I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"
Just as Ma Gui was about to breathe a sigh of relief and speak, the courtyard door suddenly opened.
A man in his thirties wearing a black short martial artist's uniform, with a strong build and a fierce face, strode in.
"Xiong Ge, save me!"
Ma Gui suddenly shouted out loud.
The next moment, Han Zheng's foot savagely kicked his knee, and with a 'crack,' Ma Gui's leg was broken by Han Zheng'skick.
"How dare you! Did you actually survive!?"
Xiong Ge was initially stunned, then with a quick stride, he rushed at Han Zheng, his hands chopping down like knives towards Han Zheng's head!