At the age of eight, he impersonated the orphan of a military officer and went to the martial world.

Zhang Yuan sat behind his desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface, recalling the fragmented information provided by Zhang Shi and the others: "According to Zhang Shi and the others, the gang leader Qin Hu has the cultivation of the late stage of the Acquired Realm, and he has gathered dozens of ruffians under his command."

"They mainly occupied the area around the East Wharf, controlling the porters and cargo handlers. In private, they also engaged in loan sharking, gambling, and even human trafficking. They were the local tyrants in the East Wharf."

Wang Quanfu nodded. "Yes, these rumors circulating in the streets are not unfounded. However," he lowered his voice, adding a touch of mystery, "nephew, do you know who's backing them?"

Zhang Yuan looked up at him.

"It's the Wang family!" Wang Quanfu uttered two words, then quickly added, "But not the Jiujing Wang family from which my uncle came, it's the 'Zhengyuan Wang family'!"

Zhang Yuan immediately recalled Chen Wenyuan's casual remarks about the layout of Fengming County and blurted out, "The Wang family from 'Chen, Fang, Wang, Li, the Four Pillars of Fengming'?"

"That's right!" Wang Quanfu slapped his thigh, his eyes gleaming with the shrewdness of a businessman who knew the local power structure like the back of his hand. "'The Chen family is noble and holds the official seal, the Fang family owns vast fields. The Wang family is powerful and well-established, and the Li family's wealth extends to the prefectural city.' This rhyme describes the four major families of our Fengming County."

He counted on his fingers for Zhang Yuan: "The Chen family, a family of scholars for generations, the current county magistrate is a direct descendant of the Chen family, a leader of the upright officials; the Fang family, the largest landowners in the county, with countless estates and the most stable foundation; the Li family, the Li family of Li Decai, a wealthy man, with a large business, skilled in social maneuvering, and enormous wealth; and finally, the Wang family of Zhengyuan!"

Speaking of the Wang family, Wang Quanfu's tone became more serious: "The Wang family's power is especially evident in the military!"

"Wang Chenghuai, the ninth-rank captain in the county's military yamen who wields real power and commands all the soldiers in the county for arrests, is a direct descendant of the Zhengyuan Wang family!"

"And Wang Ji, the clerk in charge of money and grain in the county government's household office, is also from a collateral branch of the Wang family! In Fengming County, the Wang family is the real local tyrant, especially in the Wuwei area, where their influence is deeply entrenched."

Fengming County is located in Dayu County, a place far from the reach of the emperor.

Normally, despite the magistrate's prestige, the county government office remains but the magistrates come and go.

Most of the officials, including Chen Wenyuan, were from outside the county and did not have much of a foothold in Fengming County.

Only local gentry and officials, whose families were intertwined and complex.

Zhang Yuan is now aware of these things.

Seeing Zhang Yuan listening quietly, Wang Quanfu paused, then couldn't help but mention the Li family again: "As for the Li family being able to rank among the top four families, besides Li Decai being good at making money, the key is the influence of his main branch in the Luyang Prefecture government."

"I heard that Li Yuanjiang, a rather powerful clerk in the government office, is Li Yuanwai's cousin within five degrees of kinship. This is the source of the Li family's confidence in the government office."

Connections and wealth ultimately converge into power.

Indeed, wherever there are people, there is a world of intrigue and conflict.

Zhang Yuan nodded slightly and clenched his fist.

Fortunately, although there are no laws in this world, there are extraordinary beings.

If your fist is strong enough, you can smash everything.

This is somewhat different from my previous life.

Wang Quanfu rubbed his hands together, a sincere smile spreading across his face as he looked at Zhang Yuan: "Nephew, your uncle knows you are very opinionated. But in this matter, a head-on confrontation is ultimately not the best strategy."

"If you're willing, your uncle will swallow his pride and take you to the Li residence again tomorrow. We'll ask Master Li to act as a peacemaker and put in a good word for the Wang family."

"Let's sit down, talk things out, apologize, and it's just a matter of spending some money. After all, getting involved with these dangerous gangs and getting into inescapable trouble, ruining our futures, is really not a good thing!"

Zhang Yuan understood that Wang Quanfu meant well, and he was also well aware of Wang Quanfu's businessman nature.

He was afraid that something might happen to his "nephew," but he was even more afraid that it would offend the Black Tiger Gang and the Wang family, thus affecting his business.

Looking at Wang Quanfu's expectant gaze, he remained silent for a moment before slowly nodding, "Alright. Thank you for your trouble, Uncle. Tomorrow, after I finish my lessons with my master, I will accompany you to the Li residence for a visit."

Upon hearing this, Wang Quanfu's face instantly broke into a relieved smile, as if he had closed a major deal: "Hey! Good! Good! I knew it, nephew, you're a sensible person! It's good that you're willing to go, it's good that you're willing to go!"

"In the end, it all comes down to 'harmony brings wealth'! Fighting and killing only result in mutual destruction, so what's the point?"

"Your uncle will go back and make preparations now, and will pick you up tomorrow afternoon!"

Seeing that Zhang Yuan agreed, he got up and took his leave with satisfaction.

After seeing Wang Quanfu off, Zhang Yuan returned to the main room.

Zhang Shi and Zhang Zhu, with their heads bowed, supported Zhang Jian, who was pale and enduring pain. The three of them walked together to Zhang Yuan.

With a "thud," Zhang Jian, enduring the excruciating pain of his severed arm, was the first to kneel down heavily, followed closely by Zhang Shi and Zhang Zhu.

Zhang Jian raised his head, his face a complex mix of gratitude, guilt, and resolute determination. His voice was hoarse but clear: "Young Master! We...we thank you for taking us in, for giving us a surname, for feeding us, and for providing Brother Xiangyang with a place to stay!"

"We will repay your great kindness even if we are reborn as oxen or horses in our next life!"

His eyes were filled with tears, but his tone was unusually firm: "But... we dare not and cannot implicate you, young master, in Xiangyang's grudge!"

"The Black Tiger Gang is no pushover. We're leaving today! We'll leave Fengming County and go far away! We'll never cause you any more trouble, young master!"

Zhang Shi and Zhang Zhu nodded vigorously, their voices trembling with tears, "Young Master! We...we can't bring you to this! Please let us go!"

Zhang Yuan looked at the three people kneeling in front of him, his gaze calmly sweeping across their faces before finally settling on Zhang Jian's empty sleeves and his pained yet stubborn eyes.

He slowly shook his head, his voice low, yet carrying a resolute determination that severed all hesitation:

"I said that since you all share my surname Zhang, I will not abandon you."

"I also said at Xiangyang's grave that I would avenge him for you."

"A man's words carry weight."

"I'll take care of some things. You can stay here without worry."

"stand up."

The words were simple, yet carried a weight heavier than a thousand pounds.

Zhang Jian stared blankly at the "young master" in front of him, who was much shorter than them but as steady as a mountain. His eyes welled up and tears rolled down his cheeks.

……

Night fell as dark as ink, enveloping the Zhang family's courtyard.

Zhang Yuan stood quietly in the backyard, his gaze piercing through the gaps in the bamboo fence and landing in the shadows of the dim alleyway outside.

reconciliation?

Wang Quanfu's suggestion echoed in my ears.

Ask someone to pass on a message, apologize, and spend some money to exchange for temporary "harmony brings wealth".

There are indeed many methods, and this one seems to be the most "wise".

But in Zhang Yuan's heart, there was only a frozen, snowy plain.

If we were to bow down to those scum who trample on human life and extort and threaten others today, we would not only tarnish the reputation our father, "Tiger of the Mountain," earned through bloodshed on the frontier.

Even the name "Zhang Qingyang," which he had painstakingly established through the bloody battle in Songshi Town, under Zheng Chaoyang's tutelage, and in front of the Fengming County government office, would collapse like a sandcastle.

More importantly, martial arts training seeks courageous and diligent progress, breaking through limitations with force!

What I seek is a clear and open mind, free from fear and dread!

A hint of retreat, a trace of compromise, is like dust in the heart, enough to hinder the torrent of energy that climbs to the summit.

Zhang Xiangyang's silent, hanging figure, Zhang Jiumei's empty, fearful eyes, Zhang Jian's empty sleeves... how could money possibly erase these things?

If this grudge is not avenged, and this humiliation is not wiped away, how can Zhang Yuan stand tall? How can he aspire to the pinnacle of martial arts?!

"Black Tiger Gang..." Zhang Yuan murmured, his voice as cold as a blade scraping against iron in the silent night, "You are destined to become the first solid stepping stone under my feet!"

He turned around and stepped steadily into the study.