"Brother Wen, I owe you my life for your help today," Yan Song said to Su Changkong with immense gratitude. Su Changkong had helped him once before, and if not for Su Changkong this time, Yan Song would surely have lost his life.

"It's nothing, but I don't want to attract trouble. Let's keep Du Zhen's death... untied to me."

Su Changkong spoke in a deep voice.

It was clear to Su Changkong from Yan Song that the Black Lotus Sect was a colossal entity. Even though he disdained the Black Lotus Sect's actions, he had no intention of acting as a champion of justice for heaven's sake.

After all, Su Changkong was not even able to exterminate the Black Cavalry Gang at his current strength, let alone the Black Lotus Sect, whose influence spanned several states and was ten to a hundred times more formidable than the Black Cavalry Gang!

One should do what one's abilities permit, and personal safety is of utmost importance.

"I understand... I understand!" Yan Song nodded repeatedly.

"So poor... Do these monks go out without any money?"

Su Changkong frowned as he found only a few taels of broken silver on Du Zhen and the others, some poison pills that were of no use to him, and an identity token identical to the one previously found on Zhao Qing.

Du Zhen was shockingly destitute! Compared to him, Zhao Qing was downright wealthy!

"Brother Yan, I shall take my leave now."

Then Su Changkong rose to his feet and said to Yan Song, not staying for long and preparing to leave.

"Hmm, Brother Wen, take care!"

Yan Song did not try to keep him, knowing Su Changkong was mysterious and preferred to come and go alone.

"Who would have thought... this unheard-of Wen Tai possessed such profound and unpredictable strength? In Clearwater City's Martial World, probably only Bai Tianhao and Shi Zijian could outmatch him," Yan Song speculated as he watched Su Changkong's retreating figure with shock in his heart.

Wen Tai was unknown to Yan Song before their encounter, and Yan Song suspected that the death of the Black Cavalry Gang's Young Gang Leader, Shi Hanshan, was his doing. Outsiders guessed that the young, mysterious martial artist was a prodigy secretly cultivated by the White Jade Gang.

Yan Song had thought so too, but considering that Wen Tai had to personally deal with purchasing medicinal herbs, if he were truly a member of the White Jade Gang, that shouldn't be the case, adding to his mysteriousness.

An unknown martial artist in the Martial World of Clearwater City, yet possessing top-ranking strength, was astonishing!

"Damn it! How dare someone lay hands on my Jie Er, I'll chop them up and feed them to the dogs!"

Yan Song shifted his gaze from Su Changkong to Du Zhen's corpse on the ground, his eyes tinted with blood-red fury. He started chopping wildly with his sword, venting the hatred in his heart. No one could endure the humiliation of his woman being touched by another man!

Let's leave Yan Song aside and return to Su Changkong, who made his way back to Black Iron Manor.

"This Black Lotus Sect is spreading a plague in the Clearwater City area, using it to promote their sect. The vicinity of Clearwater City will probably be in turmoil for a while! It's best to limit my outings," he thought to himself as he walked.

With chaos outside, it was better to steer clear!

Upon returning to Black Iron Manor, Su Changkong resumed his training as usual.

News of the turmoil outside reached Black Iron Manor as well, and its members also tried to minimize outings to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Inside the small Black Iron Manor, Su Changkong lived a rather content and peaceful life, unbothered by the chaos of the outside world.

Two months passed quietly.

"My Five Animal Frolics and Turtle Breath Technique are becoming stable..."

Su Changkong's progress in martial arts had reached a point where no quick breakthrough in the Divine Bravery Stage was possible.

Five Animal Frolics (Stage 7 Profound Mastery 31%)

Even four months after breaking through to Stage 7 in Five Animal Frolics, Su Changkong still practiced it daily.

In terms of progress, Su Changkong felt it would take about two years to advance further at this speed, which was not slow at all! It's difficult for any martial arts to improve further once a high level is reached!

Turtle Breath Technique (Stage 6 Reach the pinnacle 13%)

As for his practice of the Turtle Breath Technique, it was quite slow; even two months of hard training, along with the aid of the Vital Qi Spread medicine, brought limited progress.

The cultivation of Inner Strength is related to one's talent and physical constitution and requires time and the accumulation of resources. After the Turtle Breath Technique reached Stage 6, the effect of the Vital Qi Spread was already very limited!

Iron Cutting Blade Technique (Stage 6 Reach the pinnacle 86%)

Su Changkong's blade technique had recently progressed as his potential value had increased, and he should be able to step into the 7th realm soon.

"I've run out of medicinal herbs again, I need to make a trip to Ginseng Town, and I don't have much money left..."

However, Su Changkong couldn't help but feel somewhat vexed.

Nowadays, Su Changkong's cultivation required him to spend 300 taels of silver a month. He had made quite a fortune from Zhao Qing previously, but now there wasn't much left.

As for the money earned from forging at Black Iron Manor, it was substantial but still not enough to cover all his expenses.

"Should I make another trip to the Ghost Market and sell those crossbows?"

Su Changkong pondered.

During his previous transaction with Zhao Qing, he had taken back all the crossbows he had crafted, along with a penalty fee, but since Zhao Qing had died outside the Ghost Market, there was no guarantee that the Black Lotus Sect wouldn't investigate his death and have people watching in the Ghost Market.

There was a risk that the Black Lotus Sect would discover him if Su Changkong went to sell the crossbows.

"I'll go to Ginseng Town first."

Collecting his thoughts, Su Changkong decided to go to Ginseng Manor to buy medicine first, as he still had some savings left.

On the rest day, Su Changkong arrived at Ginseng Manor around noon.

In a reception room within Ginseng Manor, Su Changkong met with the manor's lord, Liu Feng.

"Brother Wen, I'm sorry... As you know, the prices of necessities like food and medicine have been continuously rising lately. The cost of the medicinal herbs you want to purchase has increased, and they are now 12 taels of silver per serving," Liu Feng said with a hint of apology facing Su Changkong.

"Damn the Black Lotus Sect!"

Already strapped for cash, Su Changkong inwardly cursed the Black Lotus Sect for causing the chaos that had driven the prices up.

"Let's go with that price," Su Changkong didn't make it difficult for Liu Feng.

After the transaction, Liu Feng added, "By the way, Yan Song was looking for you some time ago and asked me to pass on a message if I saw you. If you are available, you might want to visit where he resides for a chat."

"Yan Song is looking for me?"

Su Changkong was puzzled as to why Yan Song would want to see him.

Su Changkong knew Yan Song's address, but Yan Song didn't know how to get in touch with Su Changkong. He had gone to Liu Feng in advance, figuring Su Changkong would come to Ginseng Manor every so often to buy medicine and asked him to relay a message when he saw Su Changkong.

"Hmm, got it," Su Changkong nodded.

With Liu Feng seeing him off, Su Changkong carried the packaged medicinal herbs and left Ginseng Manor.

"Let's see what Yan Song wants from me."

Ultimately, Su Changkong decided to go see Yan Song.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Outside the residence where Yan Song lived in Ginseng Town, Su Changkong knocked on the door knocker and then waited.

"Creak!"

Shortly after, the courtyard door swung open, and Yan Song peeked outside through the gap, spotting Su Changkong waiting at the door.

"Brother Wen, you're here? Please, come inside and sit!"

Delighted, Yan Song immediately opened the gate wider and invited Su Changkong in.

Inside the modest residence, Su Changkong also saw a woman who must have been the Jie Er that Yan Song had mentioned, who was already living with him.

When the woman saw Su Changkong, she slightly curtsied and then sensibly turned to go back to her room, not wanting to interrupt their discussion.

In the living room, Su Changkong and Yan Song sat down.

Su Changkong cut to the chase: "Lord Liu just told me you were looking for me?"

Yan Song nodded, his expression becoming more serious as he spoke, "To be frank with you, Brother Wen, it's not that I have something to discuss with you, but rather the County Magistrate of Clearwater City, Wang Yun, would like to meet you to discuss some matters."

At those words, Su Changkong's face instantly turned cold: "You've been telling others about my affairs?"