76: Inquire

In the courtyard at home, the morning light was just right.

Su Wan, dressed in plain clothes, stood under the old tree in the courtyard with her eyes closed in concentration.

Her breathing was long and steady, and a faint but clearly discernible fluctuation of Qi and blood flowed around her like a trickling stream; though not vast, it had formed its own cycle, continuous and unending.

Chen Linsheng stood to the side, watching with his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with gratification.

The "Plain Heart Art" truly lived up to its reputation as an excellent Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique tailored for women, being moderate, peaceful, and nourishing things silently.

Relying on her startling Comprehension Ability and delicate mind, Su Wan had mastered the basics of this Cultivation Technique in just over ten days. Not only had she stabilized her Early Stage Skin Quenching Realm, but her control over her own Qi and blood had also reached a point where it was as natural as moving her own limbs.

After a moment, Su Wan slowly finished her exercise and opened her beautiful eyes. A moist luster flashed within them, making her look even more elegant and moving.

She looked at Chen Linsheng with a hint of expectation: "A Sheng, did I do it right?"

"More than right," Chen Linsheng stepped forward and praised with a smile. "Wan'er, your progress in the Plain Heart Art has far exceeded my expectations. Your Qi and blood flow smoothly and naturally, and your Foundation is extremely solid. It seems it's time to teach you some practical self-defense techniques."

Upon hearing this, a bright smile immediately blossomed on Su Wan's face, and she nodded vigorously: "Mm! I will definitely learn diligently!"

What Chen Linsheng taught her were the most basic palm techniques from the "Soft Cloud Nine Strikes," which were best at defense and neutralizing force, such as "Cloud Hands," "Brushing Willow," and "Embracing the Moon."

He did not pursue power, but only sought to give Su Wan some ability to protect herself and maneuver when encountering danger.

He stood behind Su Wan, just as he had when first teaching her the "Cloud-Raising Hand," guiding her movements hand-in-hand, carefully explaining how to overcome hardness with softness, how to use the opponent's strength against them, and how to coordinate footwork to dodge within a small space.

"Let the intent follow the palm, and keep the strength contained but not released. When facing an enemy, do not fight head-on; focus on moving and entangling them, and seek an opportunity to escape as the best strategy..."

Su Wan was fully focused, feeling the warmth and steady force from Chen Linsheng's palms, deeply imprinting every word he said and every detail he demonstrated into her mind. She was already clever and nimble, and coupled with the precise control over her own strength brought by the Plain Heart Art, she was quite adept at learning these palm techniques that won through skill.

In just half a day, she had practiced these few palm techniques reasonably well. Although her strength was still shallow, that flexible and enduring charm, combined with her lithe figure, already showed a hint of their true essence.

"Very good!" Chen Linsheng let go, his eyes full of admiration. "Wan'er, your Comprehension Ability truly amazes me."

Receiving his affirmation, Su Wan felt a sweetness in her heart, and the fatigue from practicing seemed to vanish instantly.

She finished her stance and stood still, breathing slightly, with fine beads of sweat appearing on her smooth forehead.

Chen Linsheng naturally reached out and gently wiped away the sweat with his sleeve. His fingertips occasionally brushed against her smooth cheek, bringing a subtle sensation.

Su Wan's pretty face turned slightly red, but she did not dodge. Instead, she raised her eyes, which were as clear as water, and boldly met his gaze.

In that gaze, there was reliance, admiration, and an indescribable intimacy and understanding born from progressing together.

As their eyes met, invisible threads seemed to entwine in the air, filled with tender affection that needed no words.

Chen Linsheng's heart softened, and he gently placed his hand on her shoulder, whispering: "Rest if you're tired. The way of Cultivation is to balance tension and relaxation."

"Mm." Su Wan obediently leaned against his side, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility amidst their busy Cultivation.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the two of them. There was no better example of peaceful years than this.

However, deep in Chen Linsheng's heart, a string was always pulled tight.

Zhang Yang's face in his tragic death, those strange purple threads, the sudden assassination in the alley... these were all like dark clouds hanging over his heart.

The threat of the Black Mountain Gang and the White Lotus Sect had not truly disappeared due to his Master's thunderous counterattack; they had merely moved into deeper shadows.

He could no longer impulsively think about directly killing his way to their doorstep as before.

That would be not only dangerous but also foolish.

Master was right; some levels of competition required more covert and clever methods.

Zhang Yuchen must die.

But having experienced the previous assassination, he knew well that the Black Mountain Gang's headquarters was a dragon's den and a tiger's lair; rushing in blindly would be no different from seeking death.

A few nights ago, he had disguised himself as an inconspicuous night watchman and quietly approached the large, high-walled estate where the Black Mountain Gang's headquarters was located.

Before even reaching the core area, the extraordinary perception brought by Tracking Perfection made his heart turn cold.

There were several times more sentries and hidden posts than before, all coordinating with each other, leaving almost no blind spots.

Atop the walls and under the eaves, the cold glint of drawn bows flickered faintly. There was even a vague, chilly aura that made the skin prickle slightly permeating the estate, which was definitely not something ordinary Gang members could possess; it was likely some kind of warning measure set up by Zhang Zhifeng.

He tried to approach from two seemingly weak directions, but in both cases, he was scanned by the gaze of hidden posts from a hundred paces away. Had it not been for the fact that his Disguise Perfection was flawless and he responded with the typical reaction of an ordinary night watchman, he would have almost aroused suspicion.

'The defense is actually so tight, it's like an iron bucket! That Zhang Yuchen has probably become a key object of their protection, or rather, a key object of their surveillance.'

Chen Linsheng sneered inwardly, decisively gave up the idea of scouting that night, and quietly retreated.

If a direct intrusion wouldn't work, then patience was needed.

His identity as a Youjiao of the Water Patrol Division was an excellent cover.

In the following days, he resumed his daily patrols, commanding a small boat to inspect the waterways and docks.

He turned it into a window to observe the movements of the Black Mountain Gang.

"Uncle Zhao, have the Black Mountain Gang's boats at the docks been as arrogant as before lately? It feels like they've quieted down quite a bit."

Chen Linsheng leaned casually against a mooring post at the dock, chatting with a familiar old boatman.

The old boatman grinned: "Leader Chen, you noticed too? Indeed! They've been very well-behaved lately, loading and unloading cargo silently. Even those Gang members who are usually loud and boisterous are now hanging their heads and rarely causing trouble. It's like... like they've been scared by something, or received strict orders from above."

While resting at a tea stall along the river, he would chat with the well-informed stall owner.

"Boss, I heard the Government has been conducting strict inspections recently. Was there any pushback from the Black Mountain Gang's side?"

The stall owner lowered his voice: "Heh, that's the strange part. Given Zhang Zhifeng's usual temper, he would have made some kind of scene. But this time, he hasn't made a peep. The Government inspects and closes their casinos and brothels whenever they want, and they just endured it! Several Incense Masters in the Gang who are usually very active have also disappeared recently; I heard they're all being kept in the headquarters and not allowed to leave as they please. The whole Gang is like an old turtle shrinking into its shell."

During patrol breaks, he would "analyze" the situation with his subordinates, Zhao Tiezhu and Li Qing.

"Iron Pillar, Li Qing, don't you think the Black Mountain Gang has been too quiet lately? When things are abnormal, there must be something fishy going on."

Zhao Tiezhu said in a booming voice: "Boss, I also think it's strange. Usually, when we patrol near their docks, there are always a few blind fools who come to pick a fight. Now, they stay far away, and the way they look at us is full of avoidance."

Li Qing, who was more meticulous, added: "Moreover, the frequency of their patrol teams in the core area has clearly increased, and the shift change times have become irregular. It looks like they're hunkering down in defense, but with this posture, I always feel like something is being bottled up inside."

All the fragments of information pointed to the same conclusion: under the official pressure from Master Zhao Zheng and the potential deterrence from Martial Uncle Senior Martial Uncle, the Black Mountain Gang had chosen to fully hunker down, restrain their edge, and strengthen their core defenses.

While this certainly made the county town appear much more peaceful on the surface, it also made the opportunity for Chen Linsheng to find Zhang Yuchen alone or to infiltrate when defense was lax extremely slim.

Learning this, Chen Linsheng stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the rolling waters of the Qing River. A cold light flashed in his eyes, but then it returned to calm.

Was he anxious?

Naturally, he was.

With every passing day, that evil-like Zhang Yuchen might harm another person, and the potential danger to Wan'er and everyone at home would remain.

But he was not impatient.

Rushing in blindly was the worst possible strategy; relying solely on hot-blooded courage would not only fail to solve the problem but would also get himself killed.

The opponent had retreated to their nest and was temporarily lying low; wasn't this also giving him precious time?

'Fine, then stay hunkered down.' Chen Linsheng sneered in his heart. 'I will take this opportunity to sharpen my claws and teeth. Once my Python Dragon Strength progresses further, and I even find the prerequisites for the Golden Robe Skill, when my strength is enough to crush you, no matter how sturdy your nest is, I will be able to blast it open with one punch!'

His killing intent remained fierce, but it was governed by a stronger sense of reason and patience.

By day, he was an impassive Youjiao of the Water Patrol Division collecting intelligence.

At night, he returned home to guide Su Wan in her practice, or he would enter the Immortal Cave at the bottom of the river to throw himself into even more frantic bitter cultivation. His Python Dragon Strength was steadily advancing at the Major Achievement Realm, the medicinal power of the crimson blood flesh paste was greedily absorbed and transformed, and the number of muscles refined to Perfection increased one by one.

He could clearly feel his strength and Qi and blood steadily advancing toward the deeper levels of the Flesh Refining Realm.

Occasionally, he would perform Alchemy to temper his spirit and control over power.

He was like a sponge, desperately absorbing all the nourishment that could improve his strength, turning that urgent killing intent into infinite motivation for Cultivation. Time was on his side. He could afford to wait, and he had to wait for a foolproof, certain opportunity to kill.