nagpurpolice Chapter 32: Beggar Searches for Someone, Martial Arts School Provokes
Chapter 32: Beggar Searches for Someone, Martial Arts School Provokes
An overwhelming sense of anticipation welled up inside me.
When Master He took Wang Ziteng away that day, was he with Zhao Hengjiang?
If they come this time, will they be able to see Ziteng?
However, Chen Wenyuan's cold and calculating words about "driving a tiger to devour a wolf" and "dogs biting dogs" were like a bucket of ice water being poured on him.
The defeated soldiers of Tanjialing were desperate criminals, as were Zhao Hengjiang and Master He. A clash between the two sides would inevitably result in a bloody and brutal battle!
Wang Ziteng... He's just a ten-year-old child. Even if he learned some skills from Master He, how could he possibly protect himself in such a chaotic situation?
A deep sense of worry instantly gripped Zhang Yuan's heart.
The atmosphere in Fengming County was noticeably different over the next two days.
On the streets, there were noticeably more unfamiliar faces carrying knives and swords, with fierce expressions and hurried movements.
They either chatted in small groups or looked around warily, exuding a fierce and worldly aura unique to the outlaws of the martial world.
The county government also quietly posted notices, recruiting "volunteers" to help suppress bandits, but everyone with discerning eyes knew that this was the government sending a message to those undercurrents.
Zhang Yuan was worried about Wang Ziteng. Every day after returning from the martial arts school or the county government office, he would deliberately wander around the main streets and docks of the city, searching for the child's figure among the martial arts practitioners entering the city.
However, these people were either strong and muscular men or stern-faced veterans; there was not a trace of a child among them.
That afternoon, Zhang Yuan returned empty-handed once again, and walked into Willow Lane with a slight frown.
As soon as he arrived at his doorstep, he saw Xiao Yang standing there with a smile in front of the Xiao family's house next door, which had already been tidied up, as if he had been waiting for him.
"Cousin Qingyang!" Xiao Yang greeted him warmly, walking over in a few steps. "You've seemed preoccupied these past few days, looking around the streets. Are you looking for someone?"
Zhang Yuan's heart stirred, and without hiding anything, he nodded: "Yes, I'm looking for a friend. He... might be with some martial arts people who have recently come to the city. He's a child around ten years old."
"A ten-year-old child? With some江湖客 (jianghu people, people of the martial arts world)?" A hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Yang's eyes, followed by a knowing smile that said, "You've come to the right person." "Hey, you should have come to me for this! You can't find someone like this, hiding in some nook and cranny, especially someone connected to those江湖客 (jianghu people), by wandering around the streets on your own."
He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said with a touch of street smarts: "For this, we need to find the 'local bigwigs'! Like... those inconspicuous 'little rats' in the east of the city."
"They're those little beggars you helped in the alley last time, and their leader, that kid called 'Scarface.' They're always out on the streets, they're the most well-informed!"
"Whether inside or outside the city, among all sorts of people, they know about the slightest disturbance! They're even faster than the government's eyes and ears!"
Zhang Yuan's eyes lit up.
Yeah! How could he not have thought of them?
Those little beggars may seem insignificant, but they are like the tentacles of the city, reaching into the deepest and most chaotic corners.
If you're looking for someone like Wang Ziteng who's mingling among the underworld, they're definitely the best candidates!
"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Xiao!" Zhang Yuan said sincerely.
"Don't mention it!" Xiao Yang waved his hand. "Go on! Do you need me to find someone to pass on a message for you?"
"No need, I'll go find them myself." Zhang Yuan was anxious and turned to walk quickly toward the alleyway he had visited before.
Based on his memory, Zhang Yuan quickly found the relatively quiet alley.
Sure enough, in a sheltered corner deep in the alley, several familiar little figures were gathered together, munching on hard, dry biscuits.
The boy who was leading the group, whose face still bore faint red marks, was none other than "Scarface".
Upon seeing Zhang Yuan appear, the beggars were initially taken aback, but then their faces lit up with surprise and awe, and they all stood up.
"Young Master Zhang!" Scarface hurriedly stuffed the last bite of the biscuit into his mouth and awkwardly patted the dust off his clothes.
Zhang Yuan didn't waste any words and got straight to the point: "Scarface, keep an eye out for me on something."
"Aren't there a lot of martial arts practitioners carrying knives and swords coming to the city lately? Help me find out if there's a boy around ten years old among them, or if he's connected to them."
"He might... know some martial arts, has a rather tough personality, and his name is Wang Ziteng."
He described Wang Ziteng's features with anticipation in his eyes.
Upon hearing this, Scarface immediately straightened his back and patted his thin chest: "Young Master Zhang, don't worry! Leave this to us!"
"Finding people is our specialty!"
"Whether he's hiding in a rat hole or following a tiger, as long as he's within this small area of Fengming County, I'll find out for you!"
He turned and waved to his companions.
"Did you all hear that? Ten-year-old boy, Wang Ziteng! Listen up, eyes wide! Whoever finds the clue first will be rewarded by Young Master Zhang!"
"Yes, boss!" the beggars replied in unison, their voices filled with excitement, as if they had received a military order. They scattered like birds and beasts, nimbly disappearing into different alleyways.
Watching their disappearing figures, Zhang Yuan felt a little relieved, but his heart was still heavy.
He looked towards Tanjialing outside the city, his brow furrowed with worry.
Wang Ziteng, you must be safe and sound.
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The next morning, Zhang Yuan went to the Panshi Martial Arts School as usual.
From a distance, one could see a large crowd of onlookers gathered in front of the martial arts school, their voices buzzing with discussion.
"Oh no, that arm is so bad, I can't even lift it. I heard the bone is fractured..."
"You bet they were ruthless! Those outsiders were really vicious!"
"Why didn't Master Zheng intervene? Did he just watch his own disciple get beaten up?"
"What do you know? What is Master Zheng's status? Those martial artists may be fierce, but judging from their aura, they are only at the level of Bone Refining and Tendon Changing. If Master Zheng were to take action, it would be bullying the weak, and it would sound even worse if word got out."
"Sigh, martial arts students only learn routines. When they really encounter a ruthless person who lives on the edge of a knife, they're definitely not up to the task..."
Pushing through the crowd, Zhang Yuan approached.
At the entrance of the martial arts school, several martial arts practitioners dressed in tight-fitting clothes, carrying weapons, and covered in dust stood with their arms crossed, their faces showing a hint of arrogance and disdain after their victory.
Opposite them were several martial arts school disciples, their faces bruised and swollen, their bodies injured, their eyes filled with anger yet also a hint of fear, being supported by their fellow disciples.
On the stone steps stood Zheng Chaoyang's tall figure, his face calm and expressionless, revealing neither joy nor anger.
He clasped his hands in a fist salute to the burly martial artist with a scar on his face, his voice steady: "Gentlemen, the fight has begun, and my Rock Martial Arts School has already paid for the medical expenses. What, do you intend to stay and cause trouble at my establishment?"
Upon hearing this, the scarred martial artist exchanged a glance with his companion, then burst into laughter, his laughter full of sarcasm: "Hahaha! What are you saying, Master Zheng? We brothers are just passing through your esteemed place, merely 'exchanging' a few moves with your esteemed disciple to broaden our horizons! To challenge your school? Heh, this martial arts school in Fengming County..."
He deliberately dragged out his words, his gaze sweeping over the injured disciples, his contempt evident in his tone.
"Most of them are just for show; if they really put in the effort, they probably wouldn't succeed!"
He paused, then casually cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Zheng Chaoyang, his tone carrying a hint of charity: "However, Master Zheng is kind and righteous, and we should also be principled! Since you readily reimbursed us for the medicine, we brothers won't make things difficult for you... well, you young martial arts practitioners. Farewell!"
After saying this, the martial arts practitioners, amidst a cacophony of mixed gazes, swaggered away, parting the crowd.
As the crowd of onlookers saw that there was no more excitement to be had, they gradually dispersed, leaving behind a mess and a depressing atmosphere in front of the martial arts school.