A Martial Saint in Chaotic Times: Starting with Grinding Proficiency

Fighting?

Zhou Yuan looked puzzled.

Lu Chong took a big gulp of wine, his face flushed, and explained in a low voice, "This is an unwritten rule in Luochuan County. If two forces are arguing over a piece of land or an industry and don't want to take it to the authorities, they will decide the matter by fighting."

"The losing side withdraws unconditionally and never intervenes again."

Zhou Yuan instantly understood that this was the rule of the underworld: simple, brutal, and most effective.

"And who will be chosen to represent us?"

"They must be martial artists affiliated with our own organization or powerful reinforcements we've invited," Lü Chong sighed again. "It's also a competition of connections and resources among different organizations."

Zhou Yuan's heart sank.

The Wang family, the most prestigious family in Luochuan County, possesses an incredibly deep and powerful foundation. The experts they can hire are no ordinary individuals.

The Chen family, however, was merely a neutral family specializing in weapon forging.

For the Wang family, this boxing match was nothing more than a game of showing off their strength, but for the Chen family, it was a gamble with decades of their foundation. A slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.

"I heard..." Lu Chong's voice lowered even further, "After the Wang family made their announcement, most of the martial artists affiliated with the Shao Shang family fled, fearing they would get into trouble."

Lu Chong gripped the wine glass tightly, his knuckles bulging slightly from the force.

"If I weren't absolutely certain of victory, I would really like to play for Shao Shang!"

His face was filled with resentment and unwillingness.

Zhou Yuan remained silent.

He understood Lü Chong's feelings, but this was not the time to act impulsively. If they lost, they would not only fail to help Chen Shaoshang, but would also harm the entire Chen family.

Lü Chong gulped down another cup of wine, his eyes filled with disappointment and dejection. "These past few years have been wasted. If only I had entered the Yi Jin Jing earlier, I wouldn't be in this situation!"

Zhou Yuan patted him on the shoulder, but offered no words of comfort.

Empty words are meaningless at this moment.

Chen Shaoshang was one of his few friends, and now that his friend was in trouble, he had no reason to stand idly by.

However, the expert sent by the Wang family must be a strong person at the Yi Jin realm.

Although he was able to kill Xu Qingyi, there are different levels within the Yi Jin Realm. What are his chances of winning against a truly top-tier expert?

This matter must be investigated thoroughly in secret first.

This is no ordinary fight or battle; one wrong step could harm both yourself and others.

Just as Zhou Yuan was pondering to himself, a figure carrying a wine cup walked over with a smile.

It was none other than Xue Renjie, the centurion of the patrol battalion with whom he had clashed that day.

Zhou Yuan remained calm, but a slight sense of wariness arose in his heart. He had a grudge against this person that day because he wanted to get out of the city gate quickly.

"Weekly Inspection."

Xue Renjie walked up to him with a perfectly timed smile. "What happened at the West Gate that day was just my duty, and I may have offended you. Inspector Zhou, please don't take it to heart."

He actually came to reconcile?

Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback, then grinned and picked up his wine glass.

"My elder sister was also kidnapped by bandits at the time. I was anxious and that's why I offended Commander Xue. I hope you won't take offense."

The two men lightly clinked their glasses and drank the wine in one gulp.

Zhou Yuan smiled, but his mind was perfectly clear.

The Xue Renjie before me is young but already holds the position of a centurion. His cultivation has reached the Yi Jin stage, and his talent and shrewdness are both remarkable.

As a centurion, he held a higher official rank than me, yet he took the initiative to come and show goodwill.

Ultimately, it's because of the strength and potential they've demonstrated.

If I were still just an ordinary patrolman in the outer city patrol office, I probably wouldn't even be qualified to drink with him.

This world is just that realistic.

The two exchanged a few more drinks and chatted about social niceties, gradually becoming more familiar with each other.

Multiple friends have multiple roads.

Although Zhou Yuan is decisive in killing enemies, he will not make unnecessary enemies for no reason.

As Xue Renjie began, the atmosphere at the table became increasingly lively.

People kept coming to offer toasts, including inspectors of the same rank and other centurions from the patrol battalion.

Zhou Yuan's social circle was forcibly expanded several times over overnight, allowing him to come into contact with many people who were previously out of reach.

He handled the situation with ease, but inwardly he was marveling at the enormous changes brought about by class status.

Once upon a time, he was just a laborer on the dock, selling his strength for a few coins.

Now, he is "Master Zhou," a man who can drink and socialize with the city's powerful and influential figures.

Strength is the foundation of everything.

The banquet lasted for nearly two hours before the guests, slightly tipsy, helped each other off.

Zhou Yuan and Lü Chong parted ways at the street corner where the inner and outer cities met.

Tonight, he was repeatedly urged to drink, and even though he was robust, he felt waves of alcohol rising in his body, and his steps became somewhat unsteady.

The night breeze was cool, and it brought a sense of clarity to my face.

He walked unsteadily for nearly an hour before finally returning to the familiar mud alley.

However, as soon as he reached the alley entrance, he suddenly stopped, and the effects of the alcohol on his body instantly sobered him up.

At the entrance of the alley, Song's small grocery store was completely surrounded by twenty or thirty thugs wielding sticks.

These people all had fierce faces and a powerful aura, far superior to the thugs from the Black Tiger Gang.

Zhou Yuan frowned slightly.

Just then, a burly man with an extremely fierce face stepped out from the crowd. He quickly walked up to Zhou Yuan, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply, adopting an extremely humble posture.

"May I ask if you are Inspector Zhou Yuan?"

Zhou Yuan nodded almost imperceptibly, his gaze falling on the man.

The realm of bone forging.

This person is quite skilled, yet he is so humble, clearly aware of his reputation.

"I am Ding Yong, the leader of the Salt Gang," the burly man said respectfully. "I am handling some private matters within the gang. If I have disturbed Inspector Zhou's rest, please forgive me."

Salt Gang!

Zhou Yuan's heart stirred slightly.

The Salt Gang, the Firewood Gang, and the Canal Gang were the three major gangs in Luochuan County. They controlled almost all the livelihoods and industries in the city, and their influence was deeply entrenched, far surpassing that of the Black Tiger Gang, a street gang.

Out of the corner of his eye, he inadvertently glanced at the besieged Song family general store.

Judging from this situation, has the Song family offended the Salt Gang?

Seeing this, Ding Yong cautiously probed, "Master Zhou...does he have a past with the Song family?"

"no."

Zhou Yuan uttered two words calmly.

"Oh, that's good, that's good!"

Upon hearing this, Ding Yong seemed to have a huge weight lifted off his shoulders, let out a long sigh of relief, and his fawning smile became even more obsequious.

Zhou Yuan ignored them and walked straight through the passage cleared by the crowd towards his home.

What does the life or death of the Song family have to do with him?

Watching Zhou Yuan's departing figure, Ding Yong's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a ferocious and ruthless expression.

He turned around fiercely, staring at the tightly closed shop door.

The reason he waited until now was because he heard that the ruthless person who could forge bones and sever tendons lived in this muddy alley, and seemed to have had some interaction with the girl from the Song family.

In retrospect, the rumors were wrong.

Without any further hesitation, he waved his hand behind him.

"Kick the door!"

One of his men immediately stepped forward and, with all his might, kicked the door hard.

boom!

The gate collapsed inwards with a loud crash.

"Get inside, all of you!"

At Ding Yong's command, more than twenty thugs surged into the small grocery store like a tidal wave, and the sounds of smashing and screaming filled the air.

"Where's Song Tao! Get the hell out here!" Ding Yong's roar shook the dust off the roof.

A moment later, Song Laogen walked out of the back room shakily. When he saw the room full of fierce-looking men, his old face instantly turned pale.

"Gentlemen, what business do you have with me?"

Ding Yong shoved him away, not bothering to pay him any attention.

Just then, the curtain to the inner room was lifted, and Song Tao walked out cursing.

"Who is it! It's the middle of the night, can't a person get some sleep...?"

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Ding Yong's fierce face.

"Who are you! How dare you trespass on private property!"

Upon seeing this, Ding Yong let out a sinister laugh and, without saying a word, raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap.

Snapped!

"You bastard! Who gave you the right to start a gang? And you even dared to harass our gang leader's concubine!"

The slap was powerful and heavy, making Song Tao spin twice on the spot. Half of his face swelled up at a visible speed, and five or six bloody teeth flew out of his mouth.

"I... my brother-in-law is..." Song Tao mumbled incoherently, clearly trying to bring Zhang Hao into the picture as a savior.

"I don't care who your brother-in-law is!"

Ding Yong kicked him again, this time hard in the stomach, sending him flying backward and crashing into a table.

Ding Yong stepped forward, stomped on his chest, and gave orders to his men on either side.

"Break his legs first, then take him back to the gang and await the gang leader's orders!"

......