Chapter 90

With a single glance, Zhang Jian disarmed the Huilong Sect, then turned his head to look at the Zazi brothers still lying on the ground. Zameng and Zayun, who had been staring at him with wide eyes, immediately stood up at his gaze. Zayun, with his injured leg, limped but managed to stand straight, holding onto his brother.

Zhang Jian spoke to them.

"Clean up."

"Huh? Ah, yes!"

Quickly understanding Zhang Jian's words, Zameng put down his weapon and herded the Huilong Sect members, who were standing awkwardly, to one corner of the inn, starting to tend to the injured Black Blood Sect members. Those who had been knocked unconscious by Zhang Jian's fists, or who had pretended to be, slowly got up and helped as well.

After roughly entrusting the cleanup to them, Zhang Jian approached Wang San, who was lying on the ground, and flipped him over with his foot. The unconscious Wang San lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.

"You didn't use dark arts."

More accurately, he didn't give him the chance, but from the way Wang San couldn't even get the chance, Zhang Jian thought he either hadn't learned dark arts or, like the old Xue Weiliang, might be an outsider. Since he knew about the Green Snake and Black Snake, he probably wasn't completely unrelated.

Zhang Jian looked down at Wang San's face, which was starting to turn red from the hit, and raised his index and middle fingers of his right hand, deeply pressing into his body.

"Damn."

Trying to revive him by pressing a pressure point, Zhang Jian realized the point wasn't holding properly. Wang San's skin was as tough and thick as a bear's or a wild boar's, making it hard to sense the pressure points beneath. After thinking for a moment, Zhang Jian tried pressing the point more deeply but had to give up.

He could have pressed deeper, but that would have been more like poking holes in his body rather than pressing pressure points. Zhang Jian straightened his bent upper body and let out a hollow laugh. Since the pressure points weren't holding properly, he couldn't use the complex technique of breaking bones and separating tendons, which meant he would have to use more traditional methods to interrogate this guy.

Cutting flesh, sprinkling salt, pulling out fingernails, and breaking bones. It was a terrible and tedious task.

While Zhang Jian was thinking about what to do, Zayun limped over and said,

"Sir, some of our brothers are in serious condition... We should probably call a doctor. Is it okay to send someone?"

Zhang Jian waved his hand, indicating it was fine. Zayun bowed deeply and retreated, while Zhang Jian searched Wang San's pockets more carefully, examining his skin.

At first glance, Wang San's skin just looked sunburned and dark. But upon touching it, it felt neither soft like human skin nor hard, but strangely firm and resilient, like that of a different creature.

Zhang Jian tilted his head. Hard, blade-resistant skin, external cultivation. It was a martial art that existed in his mind but not in this world. Zhang Jian had also searched for such techniques and even experimented on himself.

However, changing the texture or strength of skin was far more difficult than he imagined, so he couldn't succeed. Therefore, he thought it might involve using dark arts, like the demons he met the day before, who gained new powers by eating hearts or doing terrible deeds, or perhaps more research was needed.

But this Wang San didn't seem to have awakened dark arts. Since he was unconscious, it wasn't a matter of using any kind of qi technique, which meant he had somehow changed his skin itself.

"Hmm."

After a moment of thought, Zhang Jian checked the money pouch that fell out of Wang San's pocket. It contained a few silver coins, but nothing special. He pocketed the money and examined Wang San's condition, this time focusing on when he might regain consciousness. He slapped Wang San's face, but there was no response.

At that moment, the sound of mud splashing outside the inn caught his attention. It wasn't just one or two people running, but a dozen or so. Soon, a middle-aged man burst into the inn, shouting,

"Everyone, stop! It's the Martial Arts Alliance!"

He was drenched in rain, water dripping from his body, and held up a round Martial Arts Alliance badge, looking like he had rushed to the scene in a hurry.

However, everyone inside the inn just stared at him blankly. Zameng and a few others were tying up the Huilong Sect members, while others were tending to the injured. Zhang Jian let go of Wang San and straightened up.

Seeing the situation inside, the man quietly lowered the badge and said,

"Well... then... fine, I'll arrest all of you."

Behind him, drenched and panting Martial Arts Alliance members entered. Judging by their attire, they were indeed from the Martial Arts Alliance. But the gangsters, who had never seen the Martial Arts Alliance during their fights, just stared at them, speechless.

Zameng, who had somewhat regained his senses, stepped forward and asked,

"Are... are you really from the Martial Arts Alliance?"

"Would I pretend to be a Martial Arts Alliance member? Don't you recognize me?"

"Zhaoyuanshi? You're really Zhaoyuanshi from the Martial Arts Alliance?"

The middle-aged man, called Zhaoyuanshi by Zameng, looked at Zameng's face as if asking who he was to call him that, then wiped the water from his face and looked around the inn.

"Several are already dead. Arrest them all! We'll round up the entire Huilong Sect today!"

At this, Zameng stepped forward again.

"Wait a moment. Hold on. The Huilong Sect members are the ones tied up, and we're not part of their organization!"

"What? What nonsense! If you resist arrest, we'll use force! Everyone, stay still and don't resist!"

"Shit! You've never shown up before, so why now?"

"Why, you bastards! Do you think we didn't know when dozens of you were running around stabbing people to death?"

"You've been pretending not to know until now!"

While Zameng and Zhaoyuanshi were arguing, Zhang Jian, with his fingers on his belt, observed the Martial Arts Alliance members who had entered. Drenched in the steady rain, they were shivering from the cold and tension, watching the argument.

To Zhang Jian, the dozen or so men looked like they were just in their early twenties, with fear in their eyes and trembling hands holding ropes. They looked too pathetic to be the ones who had just stormed in to suppress the gang that was terrorizing Ganshan.

"I'm not part of the Huilong Sect! I'm from the Black Blood Sect!"

"Black Blood Sect? The Black Blood Sect is also a target for arrest! You've caused chaos in Ganshan just like them! What are you doing? Arrest them all! Tie them up!"

Zhaoyuanshi pressed, but the members behind him just hesitated, looking at each other. Frustrated, Zhaoyuanshi approached one of them, took the rope from his hand, and started walking towards Zameng and the other Black Blood Sect members.

"Wh-What? You really plan to arrest all of us?"

Zameng, still feeling the pain from Zhang Jian's kick, slowly backed away. Zhaoyuanshi was a skilled fighter in the Ganshan branch of the Martial Arts Alliance. Even with his healthy brother, it was questionable if they could win, but they couldn't fight like this.

"Wait a moment."

At that moment, Zhang Jian's voice cut in. Zhaoyuanshi, who had been advancing, stopped and turned to look at Zhang Jian, who had caught his attention even amidst the chaos.

"Are you from the Black Blood Sect? There are no exceptions for gangsters or thugs. Come quietly."

"I'm not a member. I came here to deal with some business with these thugs."

"What, shit. Business? I have business with you too! Arresting you! Stop making excuses and put down the knife at your waist!"

As Zhaoyuanshi shouted, Zhang Jian shook his head and rummaged through his pockets. He then took out a small, shiny object and lightly flicked it towards Zhaoyuanshi.

"What's that... No... It's a Martial Arts Alliance badge?"

Zhaoyuanshi reflexively caught it and looked stunned. It was a gold badge shaped like a six-pointed star, with the characters "Wulin" (Martial Arts) engraved in black in the center. It was something he had kept in his pocket, planning to sell it in Ganshan.

Zhang Jian looked at the stunned Zhaoyuanshi and said,

"Handle the arrests, and I'll ask you a few questions."

"Ask... Ask away."

"Why did you suddenly show up when you've never done so before?"

"...That's due to internal matters of our branch. I can't tell you without the branch leader's permission."

He glanced at the badge in his hand and continued,

"Are you a member of the Martial Arts Alliance?"

Zhang Jian shook his head. Seeing this, Zhaoyuanshi looked disappointed, and Zhang Jian approached him, picking up the badge and saying,

"You need the branch leader's permission? Then let's go. I'll help tie up these guys."

Zhaoyuanshi looked at Zhang Jian, stunned again.

* * *

In the still drizzling night, the Huilong Sect and Black Blood Sect members, tied up in a line, were led to the Martial Arts Alliance. Those with serious injuries were left behind to be treated by a doctor before being arrested, and Zhang Jian and Zhaoyuanshi were the only ones leading them.

The Huilong Sect members, who had been knocked out by Zhang Jian with a few punches to their deputy leader, didn't resist. The Black Blood Sect members, who had already been lightly beaten, didn't either.

While other injured were left at the inn, Wang San was specially carried by Zhang Jian. He had a lot to learn once he regained consciousness.

The citizens of Ganshan, seeing this, gathered at the roadside and murmured. Most looked skeptical, while some laughed, thinking the Martial Arts Alliance had finally started doing its job.

In any case, Zhang Jian and Zhaoyuanshi managed to bring the gang members to the Ganshan branch of the Martial Arts Alliance.

The Ganshan branch, fitting for a large city, looked like a wealthy estate. Long walls lined the perimeter, and large buildings were visible beyond them. When Zhaoyuanshi entered, the people inside were startled and rushed out.

Zhaoyuanshi, seeing them, stood proudly and said,

"Hey, hey. What are you doing? Take these guys and lock them up! And tell the branch leader we have a visitor!"

"Is... Is it okay?"

"What's not okay? I'm just doing my job! I have nothing to hide!"

"...Understood."

Zhang Jian, watching from behind, could feel that the branch members, despite capturing the troublemakers, didn't look particularly happy. The unhappy branch members took the ropes from Zhaoyuanshi and started leading the dozens of gang members away.

Among those being led away, the Zazi brothers looked pitifully at Zhang Jian, but he ignored them. Zhaoyuanshi turned to look at him.

"Let's go. The branch leader will be in his office."

Zhang Jian followed Zhaoyuanshi to a large building on one side of the estate. Zhaoyuanshi, standing at the door, took a deep breath and then burst in.

Inside, there were several tables with papers spread out, and a man was standing with his back to them, facing the wall.

"Branch leader, we have a visitor."

"Visitor? Is this a good time for visitors?"

The branch leader, called by Zhaoyuanshi, slowly turned around. He was a middle-aged man, slightly older than Zhaoyuanshi, with a tired face and deep wrinkles, making him look very irritable.

"What were you thinking? Arresting gangsters? And specifically Huilong Sect members?"

"I was just doing my job."

"Why now? You could have dealt with those thugs later! And you only took inexperienced new members with you!"

Zhaoyuanshi, despite the branch leader's shouting, maintained a stern face and replied,

"Are you unaware of how these thugs are affecting Ganshan? Even if your son is in danger, you can't forget your duties as a member of the Martial Arts Alliance!"

At this, the branch leader's face twisted in anger and he looked at Zhang Jian. Zhaoyuanshi, realizing his mistake, covered his mouth.

Zhang Jian, receiving their gazes, scratched his neck with a blank expression.