Chapter 28: Organizing Gains, Virtue Skyrockets! (Happy New Year)
The sudden turn of events at the Hall of Heroes drew the attention of everyone on the west riverbank of the city.
The sight of the long saber that nearly penetrated the entire boat was truly terrifying.
It frightened many of the Gold Spenders who had come to the Hall of Heroes for pleasure.
With such an incident occurring, word naturally spread from one to ten, and from ten to a hundred, quickly reaching every corner of the west riverbank.
Briefly, many of the gangs within Black Goose City were keen to find out who had made the powerful Canal Gang suffer a significant loss.
Was it Ji Changyin, the Garrison Commander from outside the city, or Xu Weisan, the head constable of the government office?
However, under the scrutiny of the various factions, it quickly became evident that neither of these two was at the west riverbank.
Moreover, the few Sinew Refining Realm martial artists in Black Goose City also came forward to deny any involvement.
Therefore, the sudden appearance of this unknown strong figure immediately caught the full attention of Black Goose City's powers.
Although the Canal Gang was tight-lipped, no one was able to learn the identity of this newly emerged Sinew Refining Realm martial artist for the time being.
As for Qin Zheng, who instigated the whole affair, he took advantage of the chaos to leave the west of the city and returned to his home in the south of the city.
Gulp, gulp~
Qin Zheng gulped down several mouthfuls of medicine.
Then, he took a long, deep breath.
Although he hadn't exerted much force tonight, that final strike had genuinely exceeded the strength of a thousand jin.
Therefore, the still-healing injury within Qin Zheng's body had become slightly more severe.
However, it wasn't too significant; this level of injury would heal after a night's rest.
But still...
He had indeed taken action tonight.
And he had done so under his true identity!
He believed it wouldn't be long before someone inquisitive would find out about this event.
At that time, his strength would be exposed to all.
Fortunately, the leader of the Canal Gang understood the situation and conceded, holding back.
Otherwise, if he hadn't relented, Qin Zheng would have had no choice but to kill all the Canal Gang disciples present tonight.
In that case, his full strength would have been revealed to the public.
He would no longer be able to live quietly in Black Goose City and would have to leave for distant lands and adopt a new identity.
Until his strength was enough to ignore the greed of the entire martial world.
Reaching such a level, however, would undoubtedly take a very long time.
Qin Zheng wasn't ready yet to live that kind of life.
But taking action tonight also had its advantages.
The men he killed weren't very strong—just a bunch of Flesh Refining Realm martial artists who had broken through the Second Major Pass.
But the deterrence he established was substantial!
If word of him intimidating the Canal Gang and withdrawing at ease were to spread,
it would both obscure his actual strength, preventing the full extent of his capabilities from being revealed,
and show the various powers in Black Goose City that he was not someone they should provoke over trivial matters.
Additionally, with rumors about outside bandits circulating, if his reputation grew, even if it couldn't intimidate the bandits,
it would let them understand that inside Black Goose City, there were some people they could provoke and others who would cost them dearly.
Nonetheless, Qin Zheng was somewhat unsure whether he had truly intimidated the Canal Gang.
He wondered if that strike which had penetrated six floors could achieve the effect he had hoped for.
If the leader of the Canal Gang was one way to his face and another behind his back,
then Qin Zheng might still face retribution from the Canal Gang.
If that happened, with no way out, he would genuinely have to strike back and annihilate the entire Canal Gang.
With this thought, Qin Zheng sighed softly.
All of this stemmed from the fact that his own strength was not sufficient.
If my strength were sufficient tonight, I would take action and annihilate the entire Canal Gang.
Once word of such a feat spread, who would dare to provoke me?
Send one and I'll kill one, send two and I'll kill them both!
As long as my power is sufficient, all these gangs delivering themselves to my doorstep are merely volunteering their merit!
To achieve such liberating pleasure, all I'm missing is a set of Inner Strength!
With Inner Strength in my grasp, I could rapidly enhance and strengthen my inner body.
Thus, I could bring various martial arts to their ultimate peak!
The Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique has thirteen levels, each level increasing one's strength by a thousand jin.
If I can perfect this martial art, I'll possess a colossal strength of 13,000 jin!
With such immense strength, every move I make will be unparalleled in power!
At this moment, Qin Zheng's desire for Inner Strength reached its utmost peak.
However, he also understood that this was controlled by noble clans and martial sects and would not be easily passed on to someone who wasn't a core disciple.
It was something far more valued than External Strength, by hundreds, if not thousands of times.
Being just a minor Executioner in Black Goose City, the path to obtaining Inner Strength was fraught with hardships.
Nevertheless, with the Merit Scroll in my possession and unlimited potential, as long as I accumulate it slowly, I will eventually have a chance to obtain Inner Strength.
By then, I will break free from all constraints and soar to great heights!
For now, I will quietly lie in wait, slowly growing stronger, biding my time for the right moment!
After replaying the scenes from tonight in his mind, Qin Zheng focused his thoughts internally to inspect the Merit Scroll.
Although tonight was somewhat perilous, the rewards were rich!
[Qin Zheng]
[Lifespan: 70 (17)]
[Martial Arts: Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique (Level 3), Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique (Minor Achievement), Black Evil Palm (Perfection), Golden Cicada Shedding (Perfection), Ghost Head Saber Technique (Perfection)]
[Merit: Fourteen taels and eight qian]
[Current Martial Arts·Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique can be improved, requires one tael of merit, do you wish to upgrade?]
[Current Martial Arts·Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique can be improved, requires five taels of merit, do you wish to upgrade?]
Seeing the information, Qin Zheng's eyes suddenly brightened!
Merit has reached a new high!
A grand total of fourteen taels and eight qian!
The people I killed tonight, including the father and son who were the second in command of the Canal Gang, actually numbered just nine in total.
Yet saving others has caused my merit to surge to fourteen taels and eight qian!
Qin Zheng still remembered that after promoting the Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique to Minor Achievement and the Black Evil Palm to Perfection, he was left with only one tael and two qian of merit.
Thus, killing these nine people added thirteen taels and six qian of merit to my account!
Indeed, these scum, not one of them is clean; they are all deserving of death!
At this time, Qin Zheng suddenly feels an exhilarating rush of killing, a continuous thrill that lasts as long as he kills.
As long as I obtain Inner Strength, I can actively hunt down these detestable gang members.
Certainly, those with sullied reputations are targets I won't hesitate to kill.
Then, as I keep killing, my merit will grow endlessly.
I would also rapidly become stronger and stronger!
Thinking about this, Qin Zheng lets out a soft smile, seemingly imagining that lifestyle which seemed quite blissful.
However, this all rests on the condition of obtaining Inner Strength.
Plus, since I've arrived in this world, the time has been too short, and my understanding of Martial Arts is not sufficient.
All of this still requires a long-term strategy and gradual progress.
Thus, Qin Zheng withdrew his thoughts, looking at the Merit Scroll, and silently chanted:
"Improve Martial Arts·Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique!"