Chapter 91

The branch manager stared at Zhang Jian with a distorted face and asked, "Who is this person?"

Cho Won-sik, who had covered his mouth after his slip of the tongue, slowly lowered his hand and replied, "He... He has the Wulin Alliance medal... When I arrived at the scene with the information, he had already subdued the Huilong Sect members..."

"Medal? I'm asking who this person is, not about a medal that can be easily forged."

The branch manager kept his eyes on Zhang Jian while reprimanding Cho Won-sik. Cho Won-sik, even after being scolded, merely scratched the back of his head and couldn't come up with a proper answer. In fact, he had brought Zhang Jian here without properly investigating his background, excited by the fact that he had disobeyed the branch manager's orders and captured the gangsters. He decided to keep quiet to avoid further reprimand.

Instead, Zhang Jian spoke up, "I'm Zhang Jian, a wanderer."

"...A wanderer?"

The branch manager's expression changed. Normally, martial artists who carry swords and have learned some martial arts would introduce themselves with fabricated nicknames or boast about their masters and family lineages.

"A wanderer, huh? Given the current situation in Gamsan, such a humble answer can't be taken lightly. You mentioned a medal? I'd like to see it."

Zhang Jian obediently took out the medal and handed it to the branch manager. The branch manager squinted his eyes and carefully examined it, as if looking for flaws.

Zhang Jian, watching this, crossed his arms and slightly lowered his head, asking, "What do you mean by saying my son is in danger?"

The branch manager, who had been examining the medal, stopped turning it and slowly raised his head to meet Zhang Jian's gaze.

"...That is currently a confidential matter of our branch. I can't tell you more as an outsider. However, I will arrange a place for you to stay within the branch for a few days."

The branch manager handed the medal back to Zhang Jian, who put it away and asked again, "Are you detaining me?"

"Don't take it so personally. Everything will be resolved within a few days. I'll give you a generous reward, so just stay here comfortably. Don't think about leaving."

Zhang Jian slowly shook his head. The branch manager, seeing this, furrowed his brows and continued, "...Do you think you're the main hero just because you caught a few gangsters? Those gangsters are nothing. A few senior warriors in our branch could easily handle them. The reason we haven't acted yet is because there's something more important than those scoundrels, not because we can't handle them."

Zhang Jian remained silent, and Cho Won-sik, standing beside him, interjected, "Actually, it wasn't just a few. During the conflict between the Black Blood Sect and the Huilong Sect, he caught over fifty gangsters."

The branch manager, who had been frowning, showed a hint of surprise but quickly hid it.

"Even so, they're still just gangsters. The Huilong Sect accepts anyone, and their numbers have already exceeded a hundred. The real threat is their leader and his brothers. They are the truly dangerous ones."

"...Among those captured, there's also Wang San, the deputy leader of the Huilong Sect."

The branch manager sharply turned to look at Cho Won-sik.

"...Wang San?"

He then turned back to Zhang Jian and asked, "Did you capture Wang San? Along with fifty Huilong Sect members?"

Zhang Jian had personally knocked out Wang San and the Black Blood Sect members, but he had also been involved in their capture. So, he nodded in agreement.

The branch manager fell silent for a moment, then suddenly made a bow to Zhang Jian.

"I am Gan Wuxian, the branch manager of the Wulin Alliance Gamsan Branch. Just call me Manager Gan. It's a pleasure to meet a hero of the Jianghu."

"...Pleased to meet you, Manager Gan."

Zhang Jian, taken aback by the sudden change in attitude, gave a wry smile and returned the bow. It seemed that the branch manager had decided to treat him properly after realizing he was a skilled martial artist.

"You said you're Zhang Jian, a warrior? You don't seem to be from Gamsan. What brings you here?"

"I'm looking for someone."

Manager Gan laughed.

"Did you end up resolving a gang conflict while looking for someone? That's quite a leap. If you tell me who you're looking for, our branch can help."

"Just help?"

"No, you captured Huilong Sect members and Wang San. Consider it a reward."

Zhang Jian, still wearing a wry smile, shook his head.

"I don't think it's necessary. I can get the information from Wang San."

Manager Gan's expression hardened.

"You want to interrogate Wang San yourself?"

"If you wish, you can watch."

"Listen, maintaining order in Gamsan is our responsibility. Do you expect us to just stand by while you interrogate someone?"

Zhang Jian looked at Manager Gan's stern face for a moment, then sighed and said, "Forget about the rules. It seems your son is in danger. This isn't the time to be nitpicking. And the information I need is something you should know as well."

"...Something we should know?"

"Yes. You, the Wulin Alliance."

Manager Gan and Cho Won-sik looked at each other, puzzled.

* * *

The rain that started in the evening showed no signs of stopping. The muddy ground stuck to shoes, and the air, though damp, turned cold. The sky was dark, filled with thick clouds, and the flickering torches could not expand their light in the steady rain.

Zhang Jian, Manager Gan, and Cho Won-sik moved through the dark rain and found a building that seemed to be in turmoil even in the middle of the night. It was the prison of the Wulin Alliance Gamsan Branch.

Manager Gan burst through the door and shouted, "Why is it so chaotic here! Can't you do your jobs properly!"

The Wulin Alliance warriors, who had crammed the gangsters into a narrow cell, immediately bowed at the sudden appearance of the branch manager.

The situation was comical. The prison cell was quite spacious, but the large number of gangsters inside made them look crowded and awkward. The warriors standing outside the cell were taking them out one by one, writing down their information at a desk, and then putting them back in.

Manager Gan, seeing this, let out a light snort and said, "Since they've been caught, thoroughly investigate their crimes. Depending on the severity, they should be sent to a labor camp or executed. Many people died during the conflict, so be thorough."

"Yes, Manager."

"Hmm. And where is Wang San?"

The warrior writing the documents, guessing why the branch manager was looking for him, answered in a low voice, "He's in the underground prison. He was unconscious even while being shackled and put in the cell. Should we call a doctor?"

"I'll check his condition first. If a doctor is needed, we'll call one then. Finish your work."

Manager Gan led the way to the entrance of the underground prison. A warrior at the entrance unlocked the door, and the three of them went down.

Cho Won-sik, holding a torch, said, "If he's unconscious, you can't interrogate him, can you?"

"This isn't the time to be lenient. I need to wake him up and find out where my son is, even if I have to beat him."

The three of them walked down the long corridor of the underground prison and arrived at the deepest cell. Inside, Wang San, who had been knocked out by Zhang Jian, was shackled and leaning against a wall, his legs and wrists bound.

Even as they entered the cell, Wang San remained unconscious. However, the moment Manager Gan stepped inside, he suddenly jumped up, shouting and lunging at the branch manager.

"You bastard! What the—!"

But Manager Gan quickly delivered seven punches to Wang San's face and upper body. Wang San, unable to move freely due to his restraints, fell backward from the rapid blows. Manager Gan immediately approached the fallen Wang San, grabbed him by the collar, and started hitting his face.

"You bastard! Where is my son!"

But Wang San gritted his teeth and struggled, enduring the punches. After a while, Manager Gan, panting, stood up, and Wang San opened his eyes, smiled, and spat on the prison floor.

"Done? Your punches are soft."

"...You bastard."

Manager Gan was about to attack again but was stopped by Cho Won-sik. Wang San, leaning against the prison wall, laughed.

"Wow, why are you looking for your son with me? This situation is quite awkward."

He nodded toward Zhang Jian, who was standing quietly behind them, and continued, "I remember fighting you. Where are we? Why is the Wulin Alliance Gamsan Branch manager here?"

"It's the Gamsan Branch, of course."

Zhang Jian answered nonchalantly and approached Wang San, squatting down in front of him.

"Your skin is really tough. Do you have some secret technique?"

"...Impressive, isn't it? This is the Iron Skin Golden Sinew Technique, perfected over three generations by my master's master. If you want, I can teach you the training method. Of course, you won't be able to master it even if you know it."

Wang San, even in his restrained state, couldn't hide his pride. Zhang Jian, squatting, rubbed his chin and looked at him, then asked, "You can't master it even if you know it... Why?"

"Heh heh... This technique involves tearing your own skin and muscles and applying special medicine to heal them. Only my master knew how to make that medicine."

"Then I should find your master."

"That's impossible. He died by my hand."

Zhang Jian, seeing Wang San casually mention filial impiety with a smile, showed no change in expression. He had been looking at Wang San's body all along, seemingly uninterested in the conversation. At that moment, Manager Gan, who had stepped back, shouted, "Wang San! I know you and your brothers kidnapped my son! Even if you don't tell me now, the Wulin Alliance's secret agents will find where he's hidden! If you want to reduce your punishment, speak now!"

"I don't understand, Manager Gan. Why are you looking for your son with me? Wasn't he just a playboy who relied on his good looks? I think he's probably in some brothel, out of his mind."

"You bastard!"

Manager Gan, distorted by Wang San's sly response, tried to approach him again. But Cho Won-sik stopped him.

"Wait a moment. Zhang Jian wants to interrogate him."

"Ooh? Do you have a question for me? I have a question for you too."

Wang San, hearing Cho Won-sik, turned to Zhang Jian. He looked into Zhang Jian's calm and composed eyes and asked, "Who are you? Why did you get involved in the fight between the Black Blood Sect and us?"

"You were the one who got involved."

"...Ha, right. I did ambush you in the middle. So, who are you?"

"I'm Zhang Jian."

"...Did anyone ask for your name?"

Zhang Jian brought his index and middle fingers together and said, "That's all you need to know about me."

"What...?"

At that moment, Wang San saw a faint, wavy mist emanating from the tips of Zhang Jian's fingers. As he frowned and tried to see it more clearly, Zhang Jian's hand struck his body like lightning.

"Ugh!"

Zhang Jian's strikes didn't stop with just one. From Wang San's perspective, it was impossible to distinguish where and how many times he was struck, as the movements were incredibly fast and precise. Cho Won-sik, watching this, asked Manager Gan, "Is that... the Sealing Meridian Technique?"

"Hmm, it looks like it, but... how can he do that without causing any visible injuries..."

At that moment, Zhang Jian's fingers lightly tapped Wang San's chest and stopped. Despite the Iron Skin Golden Sinew Technique, Wang San felt intense pain with each strike and looked at Zhang Jian in confusion. Zhang Jian, meeting his gaze, removed his fingers and said, "Thank you. Thanks to you, I've practiced the Sword Qi Acupoint Technique using my fingers."

"What? What are you... Ugh!"

Wang San, looking bewildered, soon stiffened and began to tremble. At the same time, his body made sounds of bones breaking and muscles tearing, his eyes rolled back, and white foam dripped from his clenched mouth.

Cho Won-sik and Manager Gan, watching this in the flickering torchlight of the dark prison, took a step back. But Zhang Jian, with a calm expression