Surviving in the chaos of battle, I'm grinding for proficiency.

His surname is Zhou, and he comes from Sanyuan Prefecture.

Li Chuan sensed something was wrong.

Zhuang Beiwang continued:

"This man surnamed Zhou didn't ask me directly, but secretly found an outer disciple, gave him five taels of silver, and repeatedly told him not to reveal it."

"However, this matter is of great importance, so the disciple dared not hide it and immediately told me."

Li Chuan frowned:

"What exactly did he ask?"

Zhuang Beiwang thought for a moment:

"They asked a lot of questions, starting with when you became successful and how your interpersonal relationships were."

"Then they focused on finding out about your relationships with the Black Bear Gang, Iron Tiger Gang, Broken Wave Gang, and Blood River Gang."

"However, he didn't just ask about you, Senior Brother Li; he also asked about Senior Brother Tang, Senior Brother Luo, and other disciples with Dark Force."

"According to that disciple, after leaving our Songfeng Martial Arts School, this person went to other martial arts schools."

Upon hearing the words "Black Bear Gang," Li Chuan subtly narrowed his eyes.

He still remembered, before killing Cao Yan, the leader of the Black Bear Gang.

I once heard him mention the name "Brother Zhou".

It is said that this week's elder brother is a master of internal strength. He went to Sanyuan Prefecture to learn martial arts, and he is practicing external strength kung fu.

"What does he look like?"

Zhuang Beiwang recalled the message his disciple had given him and relayed it:

He wore a black short-sleeved shirt and had an ordinary, square face, but exuded a fierce and ruthless aura.

"What's most striking is the vertical scar between his eyebrows, which looks extremely gruesome!"

Li Chuan's pupils contracted slightly as he recalled the medicine delivery trip not long ago.

At that time, he had just led the team to deliver the first batch of medicine.

Just as they stepped out of the city gate, they saw a fierce-looking martial arts master.

He was dressed in short black clothes and had a vertical scar between his eyebrows.

That appearance left a deep impression on him at the time.

Now that Zhuang Beiwang has described these details, Li Chuan is almost certain.

This person is Brother Zhou!

Li Chuan remained calm, only occasionally revealing his doubt:

"Strange, I don't know this person. You should continue to keep an eye on his news, and let me know if there are any other unusual occurrences."

Zhuang Beiwang was about to leave, but then suddenly stopped:

"Senior Brother Li, what should we do with these five taels of silver?"

Li Chuan smiled and said:

"Since this outer disciple risked offending people to inform me of this news, then he should get the silver."

"As for you, you can come to my courtyard in a few days. I'd like to see how your boxing skills are progressing."

Zhuang Beiwang's face lit up with joy:

"Thank you, Senior Brother Li!"

The personal guidance from a martial arts scholar was invaluable to someone like him who had just entered the Ming Jin realm.

I wonder how many detours I can avoid!

Li Chuan's mind was as clear as a mirror.

Although he could have easily accepted the five taels of silver without making any offer to Zhuang Beiwang.

Zhuang Beiwang will still do his best to help him.

But how long can it last?

You want the horse to run, but you don't feed it.

That horse will starve to death sooner or later.

Only by offering small favors, as is the case now, can this relationship last longer.

If you try to get all the benefits yourself, over time, no one will want to associate with you.

Having such a subordinate has many advantages.

Otherwise, if no one informs you of this news, you will be targeted by others without your knowledge.

Even if you are not afraid, your family will be in danger.

As for this "Brother Zhou"...

Although I've inquired with many people, there's still a possibility that suspicion might fall on me.

Having such a master of internal strength lurking in the shadows, coveting him, is undoubtedly unsettling.

No one knows whether the venomous snake will jump out and bite them when they're not paying attention.

If I don't get rid of him this time, he'll come out and threaten my family again after I leave Anning County.

By then, it will be too late for regrets!

Moreover, someone with such close ties to the Black Bear Gang is certainly not a good person.

A cold glint flashed in Li Chuan's eyes.

Brother Zhou can't stay!

……

The sky gradually darkened.

Under the influence of the Gathering of Heroes, Songfeng Martial Arts School was always bustling with customers.

In the shadows where the lights couldn't reach, Brother Zhou, dressed in black, lay in ambush.

The cicadas in the trees chirped and sang loudly.

Brother Zhou below slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his mind racing with thoughts.

After returning to Anning County, they conducted an investigation for more than ten days.

They arrested several remnants of the Iron Tiger Gang, as well as a few ordinary people living in the southern part of the city, and subjected them to severe torture.

He has finally investigated the matter of the Black Bear Gang's demise to a fairly good extent.

A few months ago, the Black Bear Gang was defeated by the Iron Tiger Gang, but it still retains considerable strength.

However, with the help of a "mysterious man," the Iron Tiger Gang suddenly learns the Black Bear Gang's hiding place.

Cao Yan broke through the crowd and escaped by sheer luck, only to be ambushed and killed.

Brother Zhou keenly sensed that this "mysterious man" played a crucial role in the downfall of the Black Bear Gang.

He even suspected that the person who dropped the note earlier was the same person who killed Cao Yan later.

Next, he looked for clues in Cao Yan's interpersonal relationships.

Finally, among the list, he discovered a breakfast stall that had been bullied, which had miraculously produced a "martial arts scholar".

Based on extensive investigations and considering the timeline of Li Chuan's development,

Brother Zhou was 50% certain that this mysterious person was Li Chuan!

Of course, the mysterious man's actions were so meticulous that he had no other evidence to support his conclusion.

But it's not a big deal!

50% is enough.

As for killing the wrong person...

Brother Zhou's eyes were icy cold.

Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free!

He was just a martial arts scholar ranked thirty-sixth.

He was absolutely confident that he could kill him in a sneak attack!

His time learning martial arts in Sanyuan Prefecture made him look down on these unorthodox methods from remote and impoverished areas.

In an instant, Brother Zhou's confidence soared!

Thinking about this, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

The previously noisy cicada chirping immediately stopped.

Danger!

Suddenly, a black figure appeared in the darkness.

Immediately afterwards, a fierce whip kick lashed out!

The speed of that whip kick was too fast, completely beyond his imagination.

"Bang!"

Brother Zhou couldn't dodge in time and had to take the blow with his abdomen.

"puff!"

Brother Zhou spat out a mouthful of blood mist, and a tearing pain spread from his abdomen to his whole body, making his temples feel like they were about to explode.

He fell to the ground and rolled several times before he could stop his retreat.

A master, an absolute master!

Brother Zhou's eyes showed a look of horror.

When did he ever provoke such a formidable enemy?!

Under the moonlight, a dark figure slowly emerged, revealing a cold and stern face.

A hint of doubt appeared on his face:

"He's still alive?"

Then, a look of joy appeared on his face, and he smiled and said:

"His external martial arts skills are indeed extraordinary; they should be put to my use!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly sprang up again, quickly closing in on Brother Zhou.

Whip kick, straight kick, side kick.

What seemed like three ordinary moves were, in Brother Zhou's eyes, clearly a death warrant!

He tried his best to channel his energy and launch a counterattack.

But the shadowy figure's attack was like an impenetrable wall, giving him no chance to breathe!

"Bang!"

Seizing the opening, the shadowy figure delivered a straight kick, striking Brother Zhou in the chest.

The powerful, explosive internal force was transmitted through the soft armor, shattering Brother Zhou's heart meridian!

Brother Zhou's gaze gradually became unfocused.

On his deathbed, he asked:

"Let me die knowing why. Who are you?"

The dark figure grinned, revealing its white teeth:

"Haven't you been looking for me?"