"Tell me, describe Boss Yan's identity, martial arts, style of doing things, tell me everything in detail."
Chen Ping sat grandly on the broken wooden pieces of the collapsed incense table, like a general seated in the White Tiger Hall, his gaze calm and unruffled.
The few people saw his demeanor and immediately calmed down.
It was as if the stormy winds and rain hitting them from the front were nothing at all, surprisingly reassuring.
"Boss Yan secretly manages the beggars and vagrants on this street, considered a small leader. Usually, there's not much income, but, bragging as he does, he claims to be an official disciple of burning three sticks of incense, eating free at restaurants..."
"Indeed, I've also heard him say he often drinks with the Chief Constable of Xingqing Prefecture, probably trying to glorify himself, raise his status. But when it comes to collecting the monthly stipend from thirty-two shops on the street, he personally leads people to do it."
"Recently, Incense Master Dong ordered every street to hand over one hundred taels of patterned silver, which he couldn't provide. Hence, he's been crazily squeezing us, trying to extract oil from stone. Previously, we could hide a few coins to occasionally buy a couple of steamed buns, but now, no one dares to do so. That day, that day..."
Little Table glanced at Chen Ping's broken leg and didn't continue.
"..."
The few people talked back and forth, thoroughly exposing all of Boss Yan's background.
After listening for a while, Chen Ping understood who exactly Boss Yan was.
This guy is a big leader under the Cyan Hall of the Seven-Colored Hall. In today's terms, he's the boss of Qilin Street, responsible for collecting protection fees from businesses and controlling the beggar gangs.
Perhaps, he even controls some petty theft for extra income.
Anyway, he's that kind of person who does no good.
Of course, he can't pocket all the street's income; he must also give offerings to the Incense Hall.
Because of this, he crazily exploits his subordinates.
This person deserves to die, but the problem is that killing him invites the Seven-Colored Hall's retaliation, which is the real issue.
...
Zuo Duanshou hunched over, quickly searching Boss Yan and the lanky guy, quite proficiently.
He found some broken silver, totaling about three taels, besides the black iron short spike that the lanky guy was carrying. On Boss Yan, there was also a small bottle of wine, a pink bellyband, and a long strip of yellowish white cloth of unknown purpose.
All these things were piled in front of Chen Ping.
Hua Lian'er squatted on the ground, carefully unwrapping the broken bamboo pole tied to Chen Ping's injured leg, seeing it start bleeding again, murmured something quietly.
Seeing the bottle of wine and long strip of white cloth Zuo Duanshou found, her eyes brightened. She poured some wine on the wound to clean it a bit, then wanted to use the white cloth to wrap the injury.
"You shouldn't use that piece of cloth."
Chen Ping quickly stopped her.
"Oh."
Hua Lian'er looked up confused but didn't insist. Instead, she took the "Mandarin Duck Plays in Water" bellyband to use as a bandage. This silk item was a waste to throw away, and no one really had the face to wear it, so it was used as scrap.
"Tell me about martial arts. I saw Boss Yan has strong power and exceptional skills. What's his secret?"
Chen Ping thought for a moment and asked again.
He didn't want to seem ignorant, but he had no choice. From his previous memories, he knew nothing—not even how he became a beggar or where these people came from.
Moreover, what dynasty is this world in, the level of martial force around him, he was clueless about, and he just killed two people shortly after arriving here, one of whom was a gang leader, so surely this wasn't without consequences.
But there was no choice. If the other didn't die, it would be him who would die.
Having his limbs broken, being able to survive, even Big Fool understood, so these people surely understood too.
No one felt surprised by Chen Ping's question, it seemed they accepted he had a fever that fried his brain, making him forgetful.
Zuo Duanshou, who knew somewhat about martial arts, answered: "In our view, Boss Yan is undoubtedly a formidable expert. Normally, even with ten people attacking, it would be hard to injure him, and they'd probably get beaten to death. But ultimately, he's only an Outer Cultivator, his meridians aren't fully opened, just reaching bone level, considered not even on the ranking."
"Whereas Incense Master Dong, rumors say he has started Cleansing Marrow and Changing Blood, his External Technique cultivated to an extremely profound level. If he troubles us, it's surely a dead end."
"Oh, you can see Boss Yan's martial level?"
"It's not hard. If Boss Yan had Great Success in Tendon Training, the fascia connected in a plane, his back neck wouldn't be so easily pierced by your cheap iron shovel handle, Seventh Brother... At most, it would go half a centimeter into the flesh and get stuck."
Zuo Duanshou replied as a matter of fact.
Chen Ping noticed that this kid started calling him "Seventh Brother" instead of "Cripple Brother," probably because his earlier action of killing Boss Yan gained his recognition.
How realistic.
"So, you're saying, as long as we pass Incense Master Dong's hurdle, we can rest easy?"
"It's not that, Incense Master Dong does great things and doesn't pay attention to us small beggars. Instead, it's the three Vice Incense Masters under him, Fox, Black Wolf, and Leopard, who might intervene. As far as I know, Boss Yat was following Fox, Vice Incense Master Chang Sansi, and since he's dead, Vice Incense Master Chang cannot ignore it."
At this point, Zuo Duanshou frowned deeply and looked out at the darkened sky, anxiety showing on his face.
Chen Ping seemed oblivious to the urgency on Zuo Duanshou's face and didn't mention anything about escaping, pondering, "Chang Sansi, what a good name. Creatures like foxes are always cunning and won't act recklessly. Using it as a nickname suggests he is a cautious man."
He didn't bother to inquire in detail about the true strength of this Vice Incense Master Chang.
In fact, even Boss Yat's true strength far exceeded his current self, let alone the Vice Incense Master.
In this ancient society, especially in the Jianghu gangs, it's rare for the capable to be below and the incompetent above.
Because incompetent people would soon get secretly killed.
Therefore, it can be assumed that Chang Sansi's martial arts are somewhat inferior to Incense Master Dong's Cleansing Marrow and Changing Blood, stronger than Boss Yat's Bone Forging Realm, at least Great Success in Tendon Training. Either way, fighting him is not an option.
Another way must be found to break out of this predicament.
The only consolation was that it was already dark, and from the discussions, there would be a curfew tonight. Normally, Vice Incense Master Chang, someone with high rank and power, would be in a place of comfort and not interested in urgently finding trouble with a few small beggars.
After all, it was just a small gang leader who died, not his father. There was no need to rush to the funeral overnight.
Furthermore, the one who managed to escape likely doesn't have the courage to report to the Vice Incense Master at night, making it difficult to even meet him. Theoretically, the night would be safe.
"If you want to leave, just go. Find a place to hide. When daylight comes, you can figure a way to sneak out of the city. Destiny determines life and death, riches and honors are in heaven, better than waiting here to die."
Chen Ping never considered escaping. With his injured leg, even walking a few steps was difficult. Escaping was a joke. Even if he wasn't cut down in the night as a thief, he'd be too conspicuous at daylight and would be caught easily.
There's another reason: if Black Wolf or Leopard come to 'seek revenge', he has no intention at all.
If it's Fox Chang Sansi, there might be room for negotiation.
The bustling world, all for profit; the clamoring world, all for gain. As long as the right pulse is grasped, the death of Boss Yat and the lanky fellow can be forgotten.
"I'm not leaving. Where Seventh Brother is, I am. Live and die together."
Hua Lian'er raised his head, his big eyes glistening with tears.
Damn, this one's a crybaby.
"We brothers aren't leaving either. That day Brother Tian Qi pulled us out of the sewage, didn't despise us for being eunuchs, and today again fought his way out. No matter what, I'll follow."
Little Stool's face was soft, but an unusual fierceness showed on his pale face, as if he was ready to eat someone.
Little Table didn't speak, just nodded heavily, evidently agreeing with his brother's words.
Zuo Duanshou sighed, eyes showing emotion for the first time: "I don't know how to survive, but since Seventh Brother saved me from the wild dog's mouth and gave me food, how about selling this life to you."
Turns out all these people were saved by my original self.
What a kindhearted person.
No need to ask, Big Fool must have been saved by me too.
Forget about him, that guy's already dead, kicked to death by Boss Yat.
Died like an ant, without any value. Luckily, we avenged him, so he can rest in peace.
"Let me think about it properly."
Chen Ping weakly waved his hand; wanting to take this group of little beggars with him to live seemed quite challenging.
However, he wasn't flustered, and he had his reasons, not just because of courage.
Earlier, when killing Boss Yat, he seemed to see a small transparent light ball heading straight for his brow.
His vision cleared, and the occasionally flickering attribute panel finally became clear.
[Spring and Autumn Silkworm (Second Transformation)]
[Talent: Trace Origin and Steal Fortune, Cocoon Rebirth]
[Innate Talent: 4 (Average Person)]
[Enlightenment: 3 (Ordinary)]
[Tribulation: 2 (Breaking Realm)]
[Fortune: 1 (Change Destiny)]
[Cultivation Technique: Wandering Body Bagua Palm (Mastery), Spring Leg (Proficient)]