Li Jingzhong was an extremely qualified teacher.
Among teachers, there were those stronger than him who weren't necessarily as skilled.
Even some elders from major sects who transmitted martial arts could hardly compare to Li Jingzhong.
After all, those major sects dealt with exceptionally talented disciples; they could simply throw a cultivation technique at them, give a brief explanation, and let the disciples figure it out after some time.
But Li Jingzhong had to start from scratch, teaching those who had no foundation in martial arts whatsoever.
Thus, he had to break down every trick and bottleneck meticulously and explain it clearly to everyone.
Li Jingzhong went through the details of the Innate Realm with Han Zheng, and his explanations were so detailed that even a fool could understand a third of it.
"Thank you, teacher, for your guidance,"
Han Zheng sincerely thanked him.
Li Jingzhong smiled and said, "No need to be so formal. Over the years, I've taught quite a few disciples, many of whom have broken through to the Innate Realm.
But they all did it after leaving the Martial Arts Hall; you might be the first among my disciples to break through while still inside the Martial Arts Hall.
By then, you'll also be a representative of Zhenwei Martial Arts Academy. Next year, when I recruit new disciples, perhaps there'll be even more."
"Alright, go back and rest. Breaking through to the Innate Realm isn't something that can be achieved in a short time. Although you have a strong foundation, you also need to be steady and thorough."
"Yes, teacher."
Leaving the Martial Arts Hall, just as Han Zheng was about to reach his home, he abruptly halted his step.
He looked around but didn't notice anything unusual.
Just a moment ago, Han Zheng had felt as if someone was watching him, but the feeling disappeared when he stopped.
It wasn't that Han Zheng was paranoid.
Rather, after practicing martial arts, one's six senses naturally enhance, making one's sensing ability far more acute than that of an ordinary person.
After getting home and closing the gate, Han Zheng frowned slightly.
Was someone simply sizing him up unintentionally, or was someone deliberately spying on him?
Since coming to this world, he only had hidden enmity with the Sanhe Gang, but with Wang Xiong's death, it should be impossible for anyone to trace it back to him.
On the surface, Guo Mingyuan and Song Tianqing did have some grievances with him.
Although both were defeated by him fairly and squarely in the Martial Arts Hall, it didn't ensure that they wouldn't bear small-minded grudges against him.
But even if they really resented him, they likely lacked the strength to act on it.
The Guo family was now the richest in the county town, but they only had silver, not much power.
Plus, the Guo family was so rich now that it made many people envious.
It was said that recently, Guo Mingyuan's father had even moved all protectors and apprentices to the grain store, fearing someone would rob the grains.
Even if Guo Mingyuan wanted to cause trouble, his father wouldn't agree.
As for Song Tianqing, he wasn't the young master of the Song Family yet; he was still marginalized within his family.
The only truly loyal person to him was the old shopkeeper Zheng Zhishan, who likewise had no extra capacity to disturb him.
Who then was spying on him? Could it really be someone from the Sanhe Gang?
But with the force of the Sanhe Gang and Gao Kaiyuan's arrogance, if they were certain that Wang Xiong had been killed by him, they would definitely have come directly to the Martial Arts Hall to demand him. Why spy in secret?
Han Zheng pondered for a long time but couldn't figure it out, so he decided to stop thinking about it and focused on cultivating instead.
Only by strengthening himself could he fear no external threats.
The next day, Han Zheng went to the Martial Arts Hall early, feeling that probing gaze again on the way.
Although it wasn't very close, this time Han Zheng was one hundred percent sure that this person was targeting him.
After arriving at the Martial Arts Hall, before Han Zheng could go to the inner hall, he was quietly pulled aside into a corner by Li Sancheng.
"I need to tell you something, be more vigilant recently. It seems someone might be looking to cause you trouble."
"Looking for trouble with me? Who wants to cause me trouble?"
Li Sancheng shook his head, "I don't know. I heard it from a friend who was also a disciple at the Martial Arts Hall but got eliminated during the first assessment.
Yesterday, someone was specifically asking about you and was quite detailed.
You're well-known in our Martial Arts Hall, but who knows you outside?
If someone is specifically inquiring about you, there is a high probability they're looking to cause trouble."
Han Zheng pondered for a moment, then patted Li Sancheng on the shoulder, "Thanks, brother."
"Why the thanks? We're brothers, after all. Just be careful these days."
The Martial Arts Hall was conducting a major class today, and Han Zheng purposely practiced for a longer period, only leaving when it got dark.
With the increasing activity of the Smell Fragrance Sect in Huainan Road, the county town's grain prices soared, making the nights seem even more desolate and dreary.
Even idle men weren't wandering the streets as before, likely due to lack of energy from hunger.
Han Zheng walked past a street corner, then suddenly his Qi and blood burst forth, his steps pivoting as his body lunged back like a loosed arrow toward the person who had been following and watching him.
The person, who had unconsciously quickened their pace seeing Han Zheng enter the alley for fear of losing sight of him for too long, hadn't expected Han Zheng to suddenly turn and pounce.
He pressed the follower against the wall, covering their mouth.
He then delivered a punch to the opponent's stomach, instantly causing the man to stoop over on the ground, unable to scream although he wanted to.
Han Zheng dragged him into a dark alley, grasping his neck and said coldly, "Make a sound, and I will kill you right now!"
The icy evil Qi refined by the Blood Slaughter Saber Technique leaked out, immediately turning the man's face pale.
In his eyes, Han Zheng had become that kind of deeply hidden homicidal maniac, outwardly a disciple of the martial arts academy but secretly, he might have an unknown number of lives on his hands!
Releasing his grip, Han Zheng then took a good look at the man.
Dressed in a short blue outfit, he looked ordinary and had mediocre strength, seemingly not even one meridian had been opened.
"Speak, who are you? And who sent you to spy on me?"
The man shuddered, lowering his voice, "I am under Punishment Hall Master Feng Yuan of the Sanhe Gang, named Liu San. It was Hall Master Feng who sent me to investigate you."
Hearing that the man was from the Sanhe Gang, Han Zheng's heart sank instantly.
Had the Sanhe Gang started investigating him because they found out about his murder of Wang Xiong?
"Why are you investigating me?"
Under Han Zheng's intimidating gaze, Liu San honestly replied, "A while ago, a trusted follower of the second gang leader named Wang Xiong was killed, together with a street thug named Ma Gui.
The second gang leader presumed that the killer wasn't targeting Wang Xiong but was after Ma Gui instead. He then ordered his subordinates to start investigating everyone related to Ma Gui.
Feng Yuan, a supporter of the second gang leader within the gang, then took on this task.
Ma Gui was just a lowly thug, well-known amongst all sorts of people.
Hall Master Feng instructed me to investigate each suspect one by one and eliminate them from suspicion. In the end, there were five prime suspects left who required thorough investigation, and you were among them.
So, these past two days, I began to follow and investigate you, but I haven't found anything. Tomorrow, I was planning to start tracking another person."
At this point, Liu San was full of regret.
Feng Yuan had asked him to first gather information on these five people for preliminary judgment.
Originally, Liu San was meant to investigate one person per day, but he intentionally delayed, dragging out the investigation of Han Zheng over two days.
After all, stalking someone on the streets was much easier than practicing boxing within the gang.
Who would have thought his luck would be so bad that the very first person he investigated would hit the jackpot?
Han Zheng slightly furrowed his brows.
Initially, he had thought that killing both Ma Gui and Wang Xiong would be enough to silence the matter.
Yet, he had underestimated Gao Kaiyuan, who had unexpectedly started investigating from Ma Gui's end right away.
Clearly, the cause and effect between Ma Gui and Wang Xiong were significant, and Gao Kaiyuan was not prepared to give up the investigation.
This method of elimination was clumsy but effective, especially in a small county like Black Stone County with a low population and simple relationships.
"Who else knows about these things now? Does Gao Kaiyuan know you have investigated to this extent?"
Liu San quickly shook his head, "Currently, only the hall master knows because we haven't identified the real murderer yet, so we haven't reported it to the second gang leader yet."
"Where is Feng Yuan? What is his strength?"
"The hall master should be preparing to visit Zuihua Brothel; he has sponsored a girl there and nearly visits Zuihua Brothel every day.
But he never spends the night at the brothel. After he's done, he immediately returns to the Sanhe Gang.
It's said that because he was ambushed by the Black Tiger Gang while fighting for territory at a brothel earlier, he dares not sleep anywhere other than his place.
As for his strength, I don't know, I only know the hall master definitely isn't at the Innate Realm yet but is probably close to breaking through.
Because once, I overheard the hall master asking the second gang leader for advice on the breakthrough to the Innate Realm."
After finishing, Liu San looked eagerly at Han Zheng, "I've told everything, without any concealment. Can you let me go now?"
Han Zheng squinted at Liu San, "You lied to me about one thing."
"I didn't!"
Liu San raised his voice unconsciously, "I really didn't lie to you, I've told you the truth!"
Han Zheng said somberly, "You said only Feng Yuan knows about these matters, but there's one more person— that's you.
You even know more than Feng Yuan does. By now, you already know who the murderer of Wang Xiong is, don't you?"
Just as a hint of fear flashed across Liu San's eyes, Han Zheng tightened his grip, and with a snap, the man's neck was broken.
This time, Han Zheng had enough time to dispose of the body.
On the other side of the alley was a dark channel of the protective river outside Black Stone County, and Han Zheng shoved Liu San's body into it.
Killing him didn't even prompt Taotie Furnace to accumulate Qi Blood Essence.
It must be because the opponent was too weak, not having even a single meridian opened, not even qualifying as a postnatal martial artist, and thus unable to condense Qi Blood Essence.
Taking a detour back home, Han Zheng frowned and pondered the situation.
The current circumstances were somewhat unfavorable for him.
Feng Yuan's simple method of elimination had already narrowed down the suspects to a small range.
If he allowed the investigation to continue, in a few days, they would find him and completely expose him.
A murderous intent flashed in Han Zheng's eyes.
Strike first to gain the advantage, delay could bring disaster.
It would be too late if the investigation reached him!