Chapter 20: Turbulence

Early morning, just as the sky was beginning to pale.

After a quick wash, Chen Qing was preparing to head to the Zhou Academy.

"A-Qing, something terrible has happened!"

Lady Han rushed in, her face deathly pale. "Your uncle has been beaten!"

Chen Qing froze momentarily. "What happened?"

Yang Tiezhu had always been honest and dutiful, never quarreling with anyone. How could such a disaster strike him without cause?

Lady Han said urgently, "I went to Dew Market this morning and heard it from Auntie Wang of Hundred Flowers Alley. Your eldest aunt has taken your uncle to your grandfather's house."

"I'm going to see for myself."

Chen Qing stepped off the boat and quickened his pace instinctively.

As he turned into Chaiyu Workshop, he could hear muffled sobbing coming from the old courtyard in the distance.

The courtyard gates were wide open. Yang Tiezhu sat hunched on the stone steps, his left eye swollen shut and blood crusting at the corner of his mouth. His eldest aunt, Chen Jinhua, was clutching a handkerchief, weeping incessantly.

The second aunt was applying medicine to the uncle's forehead, muttering under her breath about "sinful deeds."

The old man sat squatting by the millstone, puffing on a dry tobacco pipe; his face, shrouded in smoke, was as wrinkled as old tree bark.

"Grandfather, Aunt, Second Aunt..."

Chen Qing stepped forward to greet them.

Old Man Chen glanced at Chen Qing but said nothing.

Chen Qing walked to Yang Tiezhu's side. "Uncle, what on earth happened?"

Yang Tiezhu's eyes flickered evasively. "The people from the Blackwater Gang took an interest in Huiniang. They said they'd pay silver to have her go to the Nuanyu Workshop in the prefectural city to apprentice, claiming she could make big money once she learned the trade."

He hesitated, subconsciously touching the wound on his face. "My wife and I... we didn't agree, so they... they turned violent."

"Only this time?"

Recalling that he had seen Yang Tiezhu injured before, Chen Qing pressed further. "Uncle, have they been causing trouble before?"

Yang Tiezhu's body stiffened, his lips trembling before he finally lowered his head in defeat. "It was a few days ago at Dew Market. Huiniang went to help me collect fish money. Brother Bao from the Blackwater Gang walked up and said some indecent things. I couldn't take it and pushed one of them... I was kicked several times right then and there. The neighbors were all around, so with so many people, Brother Bao just left a warning. I thought if I just kept my distance, it would be fine... I didn't expect them to..."

He couldn't continue, his voice growing smaller and smaller.

As his thoughts raced, Chen Qing saw the situation clearly.

Previously, Uncle Yang Tiezhu would surely have chosen to swallow his pride and not dare say a word.

But ever since Chen Heng began practicing martial arts, a sense of confidence had quietly grown within the hearts of Chen Jinhua and her husband. In their words and actions, the long-standing timidity of being oppressed had inadvertently faded, replaced by a trace of toughness—a refusal to be bullied any longer.

And this was exactly what had pricked the sensitive nerves of the Blackwater Gang.

Was their strike merely retaliation for Yang Tiezhu's previous shove?

Clearly, they had smelled this faint sprout of resistance from the Yang family and intended to use thunderous means to "establish authority" right in front of the people of Chaiyu Workshop!

They wanted to stomp this newly emerging backbone of the Yang family back into the mud.

"Apprentice what? They clearly want to sell her to a brothel!" Chen Jinhua suddenly shrieked, before covering her mouth and breaking into hysterical sobs.

"Where is my cousin?" Chen Qing looked around but could not see Yang Huiniang.

The second aunt lowered her voice. "She's hiding in the cloth shop. She hasn't eaten or drunk anything since yesterday, and her eyes are swollen like peaches from crying..."

Just then, a commotion came from outside the courtyard.

"Father, Xiao Heng and I are back."

Second Uncle Chen Wen arrived in a hurry, bringing Chen Heng with him.

"A-Heng!"

Chen Jinhua lunged toward him like a drowning person grasping at a straw, clutching Chen Heng's sleeve tightly. "You know many people, can you think of a way? If Huiniang is taken by them, her life will be ruined!"

"Big Sister, please get up first..."

The second aunt hurried to support the staggering Chen Jinhua.

Second Uncle straightened his back. "Xiao Heng has been practicing martial arts at the academy for so long; he must have some connections."

Feeling the burning gazes of everyone, Chen Heng's Adam's apple bobbed. "This matter... I'll try to find a way. Many senior brothers at the academy hold positions in large gangs. I'll ask around..."

His voice grew lower as he spoke, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

Those fellow disciples he usually drank and caroused with would likely be too afraid to even show their faces in a situation like this.

As for himself... the desperate thugs of the Blackwater Gang were not something one could handle with the controlled sparring of a martial arts academy.

Old Man Chen finally spoke, tapping his pipe heavily against the millstone. "A-Heng, this is no joke. Those Blackwater Gang people..."

"Don't worry, Grandfather."

Chen Heng forced himself to remain calm, his voice rising instinctively. "The eldest senior brother of the Guangchang Academy is a master who has reached the third threshold of cultivation. They will definitely have to give him some face!"

He stood up. "I'll go find someone right now."

As he turned, Chen Qing noticed that the hand hidden in Chen Heng's sleeve was trembling uncontrollably.

After Chen Heng left, silence fell over the courtyard.

The second aunt forced a smile. "Big Sister, rest easy. Xiao Heng will surely..."

Chen Jinhua nodded blankly, tears rolling down silently.

Chen Qing frowned inwardly; he had a feeling Chen Heng might not be reliable.

***

Guangchang Academy.

Chen Heng returned to the academy with heavy steps, his face clouded with worry.

"Junior Brother Chen!"

A sturdy young man in brown training clothes approached him, warmly throwing an arm around his shoulder. "Tonight, some new girls have arrived on the South River flower boats. Their figures are..."

Senior Brother Mao winked, tracing an ambiguous curve in the air with his finger. "I heard they can even perform the Hu Xuan dance."

Chen Heng managed a forced smile.

On any other day, he would have joined in the laughter, but now the sound felt like knives stabbing his eardrums. His throat felt dry. "Senior Brother Mao, do you know of the Blackwater Gang?"

"Blackwater Gang? That name sounds unfamiliar. Is it some new loach of a gang popping up?"

Senior Brother Mao scratched his beard and spat. "New gangs pop up in Gaolin County every day. Who knows if they'll be drowned in a pond to feed the turtles by tomorrow."

Chen Heng's Adam's apple bobbed as he explained the predicament.

"This matter..."

Senior Brother Mao suddenly lowered his voice, glanced around, and pulled him under an old locust tree. "Isn't Senior Brother Lin holding a position in the Blood River Gang? I'll ask for you."

"Really?"

Chen Heng's eyes lit up.

Senior Brother Lin was an elite disciple of the academy, a master of the Hidden Strength stage.

With Chen Heng's current strength, it was difficult to integrate into such circles, so he could never strike up a conversation.

Senior Brother Mao patted his shoulder and went to find Senior Brother Lin.

After about the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, Senior Brother Mao returned.

"Junior Brother Chen..."

Senior Brother Mao rubbed his hands together, his brow furrowed into a deep "川" shape. "Senior Brother Lin said that although the Blackwater Gang is newly established, they are backed by a big tree..."

A big tree!?

Cold sweat broke out on Chen Heng's back.

"However..." Senior Brother Mao's tone shifted. "Since we are fellow disciples, Senior Brother Lin is willing to take you on a trip. You just need to provide some tea money."

As he spoke, he rubbed his thumb and index finger together.

"How much?" Chen Heng's voice was tight.

Senior Brother Mao held up two fingers. "Twenty taels. A master like Senior Brother Lin is someone ordinary people can't even invite with silver!"

"Tw-twenty taels?" Chen Heng nearly bit his tongue.

Senior Brother Mao's smile faded slightly. "Can't part with the silver? The threshold for the Nuanyu Workshop is much higher than that."

"I... I have to go home and discuss it," Chen Heng said dryly.

Senior Brother Mao gave a light snort. "Senior Brother Lin is very busy. Give me a definite answer before noon tomorrow, or the offer expires."

With that, he turned and left.

Once Chen Heng saw his back disappear, he slumped to the ground like a deflated balloon.

How was he supposed to explain this to his grandfather and his aunt!?

With a miserable face, Chen Heng muttered, "Don't go home tonight. Every moment of delay helps."

***

In the afternoon, Chen Qing found Xu Chengfeng of the Tiger Gang.

Xu Chengfeng said warmly, "Brother Chen, what brings you here today?"

The Chen Qing before him was a master who had reached the Bright Strength stage; in a small gang like theirs, he could easily be a leader.

Chen Qing went straight to the point. "I want to inquire about the backgrounds of several nearby gangs."

Xu Chengfeng's hand paused slightly while pouring tea, causing a ripple in the cup. "Oh? Which gangs is Brother Chen interested in?"

Chen Qing casually named a few. "The Blackwater Gang, the Great Bear Gang..."

Xu Chengfeng introduced them as if reciting a precious collection. When he reached the Blackwater Gang, Chen Qing kept a straight face, but his mind was secretly noting the details.

"The Blackwater Gang is a newcomer in Hundred Flowers Alley. They have about twenty members and are overseen by three Bright Strength experts. Their leader, Jiang Hui, is at the peak of Bright Strength and is said to be not far from the Hidden Strength stage."

As Xu Chengfeng spoke, his expression was a complex mix of disdain and wariness. "These people are newly established, but they aren't small-time. They act incredibly overbearing."

"Word is they've secured some connections in the Inner City. Now they're doing this low-life business of kidnapping women and selling them in the prefectural city? And they've supposedly 'pulled off several big scores'? If they truly had a powerful backer, why would they bother with such dirty money? Their background can't be that deep!"

Xu Chengfeng suddenly lowered his voice. "Could it be that Brother Chen is looking to hold a position in a gang?"

He rubbed his fingers together, offering a knowing smile.

In these times, it was common for martial artists and gangs to fulfill each other's needs.

Chen Qing waved it off. "You're overthinking it, Brother Xu. I was just asking."

Xu Chengfeng clearly didn't believe him and whispered, "If Brother Chen wants to find a gang to hold a position in, why not come to my Tiger Gang? Our offerings are definitely more generous than theirs."

Chen Qing nodded perfunctorily. "I'll consider it."

Xu Chengfeng chuckled and said no more; some things were better left unsaid.

After a few more pleasantries, Chen Qing rose to take his leave.

From Xu Chengfeng's mouth, Chen Qing had grasped the workings of the Outer City gangs.

The gangs were intricately interconnected, and behind each of them stood the powerful elites of the Inner City.

Among them, the Blood River Gang and the Iron Hand Gang were the undisputed leaders. As for newcomers like the Blackwater Gang, even if they had backers, their foundations were extremely shallow.

It seemed he would have to be careful this time; he couldn't afford to leave any clues.