[Slaying a Perfect Postnatal Realm martial artist, received 30 Qi Blood Essences]
Han Zheng stood in front of Feng Yuan's corpse, exhaling deeply.
His arm was black and blue, and although he felt no pain, he could hardly lift it.
He now finally had a clear understanding of his own strength.
Although Han Zheng had not yet reached the Perfect Postnatal Realm, he possessed three Innate Martial Skills, with a profound and solid foundation.
Even facing Feng Yuan, a Perfect Postnatal martial artist with abundant combat experience, he could overpower and directly kill him.
Initially, Han Zheng had planned on launching a surprise attack, but it seemed he had been overly cautious.
He searched the body and found that Feng Yuan did not even have a single silver on him.
"Visiting a brothel without bringing any silver?"
Han Zheng cursed under his breath, having hoped to come across a windfall.
Little did he know that the others were subscribed on a monthly basis, not needing to pay per visit.
Taking one last look at Feng Yuan's corpse, Han Zheng immediately left.
Given his injured arm, dealing with the body could easily lead to discovery.
Besides, there was no need to bother, as his purpose had been murder all along.
He didn't believe that with Feng Yuan's head smashed like a watermelon, Gao Kaiyuan could still recognize the martial skill used to kill him.
After Han Zheng left, a tall and lean figure emerged from the darkness.
Dressed in a black and red constable uniform and carrying a sword at his waist, it was Zhang Tianyang, the recently appointed Chief Constable of Black Stone County.
He carefully examined Feng Yuan's body and a slightly odd smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"White Ape Extended Arm Fist, a Devil Swordsmanship that can condense Evil Qi, and that, is it Vajra Fist?
No, although it derives from Vajra Fist, it's far stronger, an Innate Martial Skill, but not one from Vajra Bodhi Temple.
Tsk-tsk, ferocious and decisive in combat, stronger than my first time on the battlefield.
Very interesting, seems my teacher has produced an extraordinary disciple.
But he probably doesn't even know it, does he?"
Zhang Tianyang looked in the direction Han Zheng had left, a weird smile again stretching across his face.
Unbeknownst to Han Zheng, Zhang Tianyang had witnessed the entire scene of him killing Feng Yuan.
The fierce battle had led to a surge in skill level for all his Martial Skills.
[Name: Han Zheng
Cultivation: Postnatal Open Meridian Realm（Opened 305 acupoints, ten meridians.)
Martial Arts Skills: Postnatal Realm's "Iron Elephant Skill" Perfect, Postnatal Realm's "Vajra Fist" Perfect.
Innate Realm "Dragon Elephant Wisdom" Skill Level at 17%, Innate Realm "Vajra Demon Suppression Seal" Skill Level at 18%, Innate Realm "White Ape Extended Arm Fist" Skill Level at 10%, Postnatal Realm "Blood Slaughter Saber Technique" Skill Level at 15%.
Current status: Lack of pain sensation, slight fracture in left arm]
"Indeed, actual combat is the best way to enhance one's combat capabilities."
Li Jingzhong once mentioned that the road to Martial Arts has only two core aspects, cultivation, and killing.
Cultivation without killing lacks combat abilities.
Killing without cultivation, one cannot advance in cultivation level and the foundation remains unstable.
Both aspects are crucial for dominance.
Han Zheng touched his arm, surprised that challenging an Iron Spear with his White Ape Extended Arm Fist had resulted in a fracture.
The corporeal body in the Postnatal Realm was still too fragile.
Li Jingzhong used to perform the White Ape Extended Arm Fist against iron stakes as if they were wooden stakes, able to directly confront blunt weapons.
Wrapping his arm in white cloth, Han Zheng sat cross-legged on his bed, circulating the Dragon Elephant Wisdom, focusing on his cultivation.
The Dragon Elephant Wisdom, an Innate Realm Cultivation Technique, focused not only on cultivating inner strength but also on enhancing and transforming the physical body.
Some of its methods were specifically for examining and repairing the body after injuries.
The Inner Strength, rich and flowing like water, circulated through his meridians, restoring those damaged during the combat.
Only the meridians and acupoints in Han Zheng's arm were slightly damaged, nothing serious; they would fully recover in two days.
However, the fracture would require some time to heal, depending solely on his recovery abilities.
The next morning, Han Zheng went to the Martial Arts Hall to train as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, the alley where Feng Yuan was killed had been sealed off by the Sanhe Gang.
Actually, when Feng Yuan had not returned all night, his subordinates had already felt something was amiss since he hardly ever spent a night at Zuihua Brothel.
But they dared not go to Zuihua Brothel looking for Feng Yuan.
What if their boss was enjoying himself, and they would interrupt? That would be fatal.
So they waited until this morning when Feng Yuan still hadn't returned, then hurriedly went to Zuihua Brothel.
Halfway there, they saw the body of Feng Yuan, his head smashed.
"The Vice Gang Leader is here!"
The members of Sanhe Gang stepped aside, making way for Gao Kaiyuan, who approached with a grim expression.
Feng Yuan was the master of the Punishment Hall and was effectively second only to the three gang leaders.
Importantly, Feng Yuan was his biggest supporter within the gang.
With Feng Yuan dead, it was as if he had lost an arm.
Gao Kaiyuan meticulously examined Feng Yuan's body and then looked at the marks of a saber on the Fine Iron Bright Silver Spear.
"The person who killed Feng Yuan used a saber, but the fatal blow was dealt with fist technique.
The fight must have been brief, but the assailant's moves were ruthless and fierce.
No other injuries on Feng Yuan imply that his adversary exploited a vulnerability and killed him with one move, causing his head to burst with that powerful punch.
Who could have done it? Neither Black Tiger Gang nor Sky Eagle Gang seems to have such capable individuals."
Gao Kaiyuan furrowed his brows, unable to imagine anyone within Black Stone County who met the two conditions.
"Recently, what has Feng Yuan been doing, and who has he offended?"
Gao Kaiyuan called over several of Feng Yuan's subordinates and asked.
Feng Yuan was the Punishment Hall Master, primarily responsible for disciplining gang members who made mistakes, thus he hadn't many underlings, only less than ten.
One subordinate said, "Recently, the hall master hasn't been in contact with outsiders. He has been busy with the tasks you assigned him, Second Gang Leader.
By the way, recently a few gang members embezzled protection money collected from shops and were severely beaten by the hall master.
But those guys aren't even Postnatal Realm warriors, there's no way they could have killed the hall master."
Gao Kaiyuan shook his head, it shouldn't have been done by someone from within the gang.
The disciples within the Sanhe Gang were all locals of Black Stone County; everyone's identity and background were clear.
At this moment, a subordinate suddenly exclaimed, "That's right, Liu San is also missing. He didn't show up this morning, and I even went to his house to look for him but didn't see anyone.
Later, when I heard that something had happened to the hall master, I didn't continue searching for him."
Gao Kaiyuan's eyes sparkled with sharpness, "What has that Liu San been up to recently?"
"The hall master had found quite a few people who had been in contact with Ma Gui, and we've been helping him investigate and screen the suspects. Now, it's narrowed down to five people.
Liu San was supposed to investigate those five people two days ago but seems not to have reported back yet."
Gao Kaiyuan clenched his fist, a trace of coldness flashed in his eyes.
First it was Ma Gui and Wang Xiong, then Liu San and Feng Yuan.
The dead were all involved with that matter; who exactly was behind this?
Could it be that his actions were discovered by someone?
But if they had been discovered, why didn't they blackmail him? Or spread the word all over the city?
Instead, it now appears that the person is eliminating witnesses, as if afraid of being discovered by him.
Strange, truly strange.
Regardless of the reason, he must root out this person!
"Feng Yuan is dead, and the gang will definitely need to choose another Punishment Hall Master.
You all don't need to deal with Punishment Hall matters for now; focus all your efforts on investigating those five suspects Feng Yuan hadn't gotten around to!"
"Yes, Second Gang Leader!"
Feng Yuan's subordinates hurriedly nodded in agreement.
Their own leader had died, leaving them somewhat panicked.
Now that Gao Kaiyuan needed them, they had suddenly become the Second Gang Leader's men, a stroke of unexpected luck.
"Second Gang Leader, the Gang Leader is asking for you to come over to discuss matters."
At this moment, a gang member, panting, came running over and whispered to Gao Kaiyuan.
Gao Kaiyuan snorted coldly, "They sure have quick news!"
With a flick of his sleeve, Gao Kaiyuan stood up and left.
As the largest gang in Black Stone County, the headquarters of the Sanhe Gang was located in the bustling West District, occupying even half a street.
Over the years, the Sanhe Gang had not only monopolized protection fees from a sizeable portion of Black Stone County's shops, but was also involved in high-interest loans, brothels, weapon stores, gambling houses, and more.
One could say that compared to the two major families of Black Stone County, the Sanhe Gang lacked only some heritage.
Gao Kaiyuan entered the Council Hall of the Sanhe Gang. Three chairs were at the head of the hall, and a middle-aged man, slightly aged but with sharp eyes, sat in the center.
He was the Gang Leader of the Sanhe Gang, "Green Scale Hand" Cao Bin.
On the right, a 37- or 38-year-old young man was lounging indifferently on a chair.
He was the Third Gang Leader of the Sanhe Gang, "Zhengyang Hand" Jiang Tai.
Below them, more than a dozen people were present—all high-level members of the gang, and their strength had also reached the Perfect Postnatal Realm.
Among the three gangs in Black Stone County, only the Sanhe Gang had three Innate Transcendence Late Stage warriors, forcing Black Tiger Gang and Sky Eagle Gang into an alliance just to resist.
In fact, with the power of the Sanhe Gang, progressively swallowing the Black Tiger Gang and Sky Eagle Gang would not be an issue.
However, it was because of the discord and internal strife between Gang Leader Cao Bin and Second Gang Leader Gao Kaiyuan that the growth of the Sanhe Gang was hindered.
Although the three of them differed in age, they were sworn brothers who had risen from humble beginnings.
Yet as is often the case in the world, most people can share hardships but not wealth.
As the Sanhe Gang's power continued to grow, the conflict between Gao Kaiyuan and Cao Bin also deepened, almost to the point of openly breaking relations.
Gao Kaiyuan strode into the hall and directly sat down grandly on the left chair.
"Big brother, what's so urgent that you need me for a discussion?"
Cao Bin snorted coldly, "Feng Yuan was the Punishment Hall Master, and yet he died inexplicably in the street, how can I not be worried?
Gao Kaiyuan, what exactly are you doing?
First, Wang Xiong died inexplicably, and then Feng Yuan died inexplicably; who exactly have you angered?
You've always been secretive about your actions lately; do you still consider the gang at all?
I need an explanation! An account!"
Gao Kaiyuan sneered, "Big brother, have you forgotten the oath we took when we first established the Sanhe Gang?
You and I are brothers, sharing weal and woe, without distinction of rank;
thus, our Sanhe Gang has three leaders."
At this point, Gao Kaiyuan's expression suddenly darkened: "I have to consult and report everything to you.
Then what's the point of having three leaders in our Sanhe Gang? It would be better for me and Third Brother to resign, and you can be the Gang Leader yourself!"
After speaking, Gao Kaiyuan directly brushed his sleeve and left, while Cao Bin behind him angrily shattered a teacup with his hand.
Third Gang Leader Jiang Tai acted as if nothing had happened, smilingly saying, "Big brother, don't be angry, Second Brother was just speaking in anger.
You guys go ahead, I heard that a merchant convoy brought in a batch of authentic wine from the west, I'll go taste it first."
The other high-ranking gang members around didn't utter a word, as if they were used to it.
The conflict between Cao Bin and Gao Kaiyuan was almost laid out in the open.