Chapter Twenty-Six: Whereabouts

Such a simple line of text, yet it stirred up a storm in Yang Ze's heart. After reading the letter once more, Yang Ze put it away. He could not understand why Yuan Heng had chosen to inform him of this matter, nor did he grasp the reasoning behind the delay of the Wuyang Martial Academy's examination. According to the original schedule, there was less than a month before the academy’s representatives would arrive in Yuyang City.

However, this was not something he had paid much attention to, for, in the end, he didn’t even have the qualification to participate in the examination. No matter how much he cared, it was useless; it was better to focus on improving his own strength.

But now, with Yuan Heng suddenly telling him about this, what was his intention? Was he implying there was still a chance to obtain a spot?

“No matter what you intend, if you want me to seize the Yang family’s quota, you are gravely mistaken.” As he spoke, Yang Ze had already crushed the letter into a ball.

Only he understood that winning the Yang family's spot was impossible now. Yang Yuanzhen’s intentions were all too clear—even after Yang Ze had defeated Yang Hai and achieved such feats in the North City, there was no sign of him relenting.

He could not fathom why Yang Yuanzhen refused to let him have the spot. With his abilities, he would have a far better chance of passing the examination. Yet, since Yang Yuanzhen would not relent, there was nothing to be done. Causing a scene was out of the question; it would only earn him a beating. If Yuan Heng hoped to use this to incite trouble, it was a futile plan.

Regardless, seeing news of the Wuyang Martial Academy once more unsettled his heart. Who wouldn’t yearn to set foot in a larger world?

With a long sigh, Yang Ze heard footsteps outside, and Old Xie entered after knocking. Yang Ze quickly tucked away the crumpled letter in his palm.

Old Xie noticed Yang Ze’s action but did not inquire further. Respectfully, he said, “Second Young Master, the negotiations are over. The shop owners have all signed the agreements; here are the documents, please review them.”

Yang Ze took the documents, glanced over them a few times, but, not understanding much, handed them back to Old Xie.

“These matters are best left to you. I can’t make sense of them anyway—it’s not my area of expertise. As long as the payments are sure to come in, that’s all that matters.” He waved his hand.

“By the way, did you relay my instructions?” Yang Ze asked suddenly.

“Yes, I’ve told them to keep an eye out for any news about martial arts techniques and cultivation methods. If anything surfaces, they’ll report to us immediately,” Old Xie replied.

“But Second Young Master, you shouldn’t lack for cultivation methods. The Sea Heart Technique is far superior to those incomplete methods circulating outside. Why seek those inferior ones?”

Yang Ze’s search for martial techniques Old Xie could understand—after all, Yang Ze only had mastery of the Black Tiger Blade Technique, and with Yang Yuanzhen refusing to teach him the One Qi Finger, he had to find new techniques himself. But as for more cultivation methods, Old Xie was puzzled.

Yang Ze looked deeply at Old Xie and said, “Old Xie, you’ve been with me for years. I know that following me, who holds no favor in the family, hasn’t brought you any benefit. You lack a suitable cultivation method, which is why you’ve devoted yourself to external arts, trying to break through to the high stage of Qi Induction.

But that path is too hard. I cannot pass the Sea Heart Technique on to you, so if we can obtain a method that allows cultivation up to the high stage of Qi Induction, it will be yours.”

These words left Old Xie stunned. No matter how he imagined it, he had not expected Yang Ze’s search to be for his own sake.

He’d been in the Yang family for over a decade, and the family head had never treated him as more than a tool. Only Yang Ze, now, truly regarded him as a person of value.

“Thank you, Second Young Master. If you have any commands, I shall obey without hesitation!” Old Xie bowed deeply, but Yang Ze hastened to help him up.

Was he doing this solely for Old Xie’s sake? Certainly, but not entirely—he had his own motives as well.

Old Xie was just a step away from breaking through to the high stage of Qi Induction. If a suitable method could help him succeed, Yang Ze would then have a high-stage Qi Induction expert at his side, making everything that followed much easier.

Old Xie understood Yang Ze’s intent, but still felt sincere gratitude—at the very least, Yang Ze was giving him a chance.

“Thank you, Second Young Master, for thinking of this servant. I am deeply grateful. However, there is another matter I wish to ask—what should be done about Yan Min?” As he spoke the name, Old Xie’s eyes turned cold.

Owing to the lack of other suitable personnel, Yan Min had been kept on. Fortunately, in recent days, Yan Min had shown no signs of acting out, so they had refrained from taking action.

“We’ll wait a bit longer. Our territory has just expanded, and Yan Min is currently the most suitable person we have. But move quickly to recruit new talent. If that fails, we’ll force the family to send someone over. Within a month, we must deal with Yan Min!”

Yang Ze’s tone was icy. He had not forgotten the things Yan Min and Cheng Fangchao had done when he first arrived—Yan Min had to be eliminated.

After discussing these details, Old Xie departed. Having spent over two months in North City, Yang Ze left all minor affairs to Old Xie, as he had no experience in managing such matters. For him, the most important thing was cultivation.

He was glad to have Old Xie—without him, he would have been overwhelmed by trouble, and there was no telling how much money would have been embezzled from under his nose.

With that settled, Old Xie withdrew, and Yang Ze, with nothing else to occupy his mind, devoted himself to his training, determined to become stronger.

Coincidentally, the two recent battles he’d fought had given him a sense of impending breakthrough—not in cultivation level, but in the Black Tiger Blade Technique.

The Black Tiger Blade Technique truly lived up to its reputation as a purely offensive martial art. Only through constant combat could one make the fastest progress.

His proficiency had already reached the level of mastery; the next step was to achieve the highest state, the Perfection Realm, as inscribed by the Black Stone.

For more than half a month he’d toiled, and though the Black Stone accelerated his progress, the effects were not immediate. Now, with this feeling, he seized the opportunity and began training at once.

With a slap to his back, the broadsword leapt into his hand. Gripping it, Yang Ze slashed forward—a flash of cold steel, the blade’s edge swirling, even the air tinged with a trace of murderous intent.

This blade, forged by the smith Wang of South City, had tasted much blood in Yang Ze’s hand, imbuing it with a unique aura. In motion, it exuded the might of a tiger descending a mountain.

As Yang Ze trained diligently, the shops under his control resumed their orderly operations, everything returning to normal. A month slipped by quietly.

On this day, Yang Ze gripped his sword—first, the Tiger’s Strike, then, with a sweep, the Tiger’s Roar, and finally the Tiger Descends the Mountain. His momentum soared to its peak; with one fierce slash at a willow tree, his entire force converged on the blade, which now shimmered with a faint aura of genuine qi, released in tandem with his attack.

Though the sword had not touched the tree, a sharp force burst from the blade, striking the trunk and leaving a clear gash.

Pale-faced, Yang Ze sheathed his sword, unable to suppress his joy. He had done it—projecting blade energy! After half a year of practice, he had finally reached the Perfection Realm in the Black Tiger Blade Technique.

If Yang Yuanzhen had witnessed this, he might have coughed blood in anger. Where others struggled for years, Yang Ze had succeeded in six months—such comparisons could drive a man mad.

Taking a moment to compose himself, his color returned. By his calculation, he could now unleash the blade’s energy three times before exhaustion claimed him. This would serve as a trump card, not to be used lightly.

Fortunately, his cultivation had also advanced greatly during this period. Though still in the middle stage of Qi Induction, he was much closer to the high stage. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even manage two blade energies before being spent.

“With the Black Tiger Blade Technique at Perfection, and my current strength, even Old Xie should be no match for me. Against high-stage Qi Induction warriors, I should have a fair chance!” Yang Ze mused, roughly estimating his current combat power.

“It seems Constable Yuan did not deceive me. The Wuyang Martial Academy’s people truly have not arrived; otherwise, the city would not be so quiet. I wonder when they will finally come.” Though he was immersed in training, Yang Ze kept a close watch on external news, needing to stay informed about changes in the city.

At that moment, Old Xie brought good news.

“Second Young Master, Xue Lun has sent word—he has found traces of a martial technique and a cultivation method, but he insists on telling you in person.”

Hearing this, a gleam flashed in Yang Ze’s eyes. After waiting a month, news had finally arrived.

“Where is Xue Lun now? Summon him at once,” Yang Ze ordered.

“He is already here. I had him wait in the main hall, and came immediately to report.”

“Good. No more delays—I’ll see him now.” Yang Ze’s heart raced. With the Black Tiger Blade Technique perfected, he desperately needed a new martial art to further enhance his strength.

When he entered the hall, Xue Lun, who had been waiting for some time, rose and greeted him respectfully, “Greetings, Chief Steward!”

“No need for formality. I hear you have news of a martial technique and a cultivation method—speak.”

“It’s like this: three days ago, a team from our alliance was delivering goods outside the city. Passing by Camelback Ridge, they saw many martial artists gathered there. Upon inquiry, they learned that a martial technique had been discovered in the area. News spread, and martial artists from all around flocked there,” Xue Lun explained quickly.

“Is this true?”

“At first, I doubted it, but Boss Yan was among those delivering the goods—he saw it with his own eyes. Afterward, we sent people to investigate, and all information matched. We confirmed it many times before reporting, otherwise we wouldn’t have dared disturb you,” Xue Lun assured him.

“Camelback Ridge? How did a martial technique turn up there? And after so many days, how do you know it hasn’t been taken already?” Yang Ze pressed.

“I heard that a martial artist from another region was wounded, fled to the ridge, and died there. The martial technique was on his body. The person who spread the news was the one who killed him—he wants help finding the body, and whoever finds the martial technique keeps it,” Xue Lun replied.

“Have Yan Min brought here.”

Yang Ze had Old Xie summon Yan Min and question him, receiving the same answers.

Still, Yang Ze was not entirely convinced, so he had Old Xie investigate further. The results were the same—a fierce battle had indeed occurred recently at Camelback Ridge, and the news had spread afterward.

Yang Ze considered. If the martial technique had surfaced within Yuyang City, he might have doubted, but Camelback Ridge was outside the city and quite a distance away. Still, he found it hard to believe.

Yet, in the end, he decided to see for himself. With his current strength, even facing a high-stage Qi Induction expert, he had little to fear—so why hesitate?

Naturally, he would not go alone. He brought Yan Min, since Yan Min had already been to Camelback Ridge—it would be a waste not to take him along.

He also took two bodyguards at the initial stage of Qi Induction from the Yang family, men he could trust.

As for Old Xie, he was left at the Tongyang Moneyhouse; the establishment needed a loyal person on site.

Five riders in all, including a local guide and a map of the roads around Yuyang City, mounted swift horses and set out for the North City gate.

By now, many people would have rushed to Camelback Ridge; he did not want to lose any more time.