Chapter Thirty-Six: Framing (Part One)

Half a month ago, a shipment belonging to the merchants’ guild was coming in from outside the north city gate. Unexpectedly, it encountered members of the Black Tiger Hall on the official road, leading to a violent clash. The merchants’ convoy managed to drive the Black Tiger Hall away, but suffered significant losses to their goods. The two sides became enemies, and over the past two weeks, there have been repeated conflicts on Xiangyun Street.

As for the Iron Hammer Gang, their leader is apparently on the verge of reaching the advanced stage of Qi induction. True to the gang’s arrogant nature, they’ve boasted about this everywhere, growing even more unruly. They’ve been causing trouble all over, and rumors say they recently injured some members of the Venom Gate.

Just now, I saw several Iron Hammer Gang members and Black Tiger Hall members having a shouting match on the street, so I inquired and learned these details,” Old Xie explained everything he knew. Though it was hearsay, his sources were reliable and likely close to the truth.

To his surprise, Yang Ze slapped his thigh with delight and exclaimed, “Wonderful! This is absolutely wonderful. Who would have thought such good fortune would come our way?”

“What is it, Second Young Master?” Old Xie, feeling weary, watched Yang Ze with a mixture of concern and resignation. Yang Ze was always stirring things up, and just when things had settled, he was at it again. Old Xie’s old bones could barely take it.

“The fact that these factions are at odds is the best news. My only worry was that they might be united, making it hard for us to find a weak spot. With their mutual conflicts, we can stir the pot a bit and let them tear themselves apart,” Yang Ze chuckled, clearly plotting something.

“Second Young Master, please stay calm. Now is the perfect moment for us to keep a low profile. We should use this opportunity to grow stronger, and once we’re ready, take action slowly. There’s no need to rush,” Old Xie advised.

“Opportunities are rare, Old Xie. If we miss this chance, there’s no guarantee another will come. Time waits for no one,” Yang Ze replied sternly, his tone brooking no argument.

He knew Old Xie meant well, and his advice was sound. If Yang Ze hadn’t spoken with Yuan Heng, he would have followed it, but now, urgency pressed him forward.

Seeing his advice fall on deaf ears, Old Xie shook his head and said no more.

“Don’t worry. While I prefer to crush my opponents with force, if there’s a safer way to deal with them, I won’t step in personally,” Yang Ze said calmly, already seeing a way forward.

“So you have a plan, Second Young Master?”

“I do. I’ve found a weak spot—Black Tiger Hall!” Yang Ze pointed to the intelligence report, specifically the name Black Tiger.

“Don’t forget, they use the Black Tiger Blade Technique, and so do I. Yet, we’ve had no conflict with the merchants’ guild on Xiangyun Street,” Yang Ze sneered.

“Your plan is clever, Second Young Master. You wish to spark conflict between Black Tiger Hall and the merchants’ guild. But what about the other three factions?” Old Xie asked.

“Are there no tensions between Black Tiger Hall and the rest? Isn’t the Iron Hammer Gang known for its bad temper? Let’s give them a chance to show it off. I want to stage a scene, but it can’t involve only a few players. The other gangs deserve a role too,” Yang Ze mused.

Old Xie’s eyes shone. He had thought Yang Ze only knew brute force, but sometimes, he was quite cunning. At once, the two began drafting a detailed plan in the courtyard.

...

The next night, after the second watchman’s call on Xiangyun Street, Yang Ze, dressed in black for the night, wrapped a dark cloth around his face.

Beside him stood Old Xie, holding a blade, which he handed over.

“Second Young Master, be careful. Don’t let your identity slip,” he urged as Yang Ze strapped the blade to his side.

“Rest assured. This matter is crucial, so I’ll be vigilant. Besides, if my identity is exposed, who on Xiangyun Street could stand against me now? I’ll go ahead. Remember to act in a quarter of an hour,” Yang Ze replied.

Old Xie nodded. Yang Ze, nimble as a cat, vaulted over the wall and disappeared into the night.

Once Yang Ze had gone, Old Xie’s gaze turned cold. He went back into the house, his purpose unknown.

Yang Ze exited from the Tongyang Bank and made his way toward the center of Xiangyun Street. His destination: a large warehouse, the biggest on the street, where the merchants’ guild’s goods were stored—many valuable items among them.

He moved quickly. Within half an hour, he saw the two-story building surrounded by a stone wall, flickering firelight visible beyond.

Surveying the area, Yang Ze noticed the warehouse’s west-side houses and slipped into a narrow alley. The night was deep, and clouds hid the moon, leaving the alley pitch black—almost impossibly so.

His nerves taut, Yang Ze focused intensely. He dared not light a torch, fearing the flame would attract attention. The residents on both sides of the alley were ordinary folk; any commotion could easily alert them.

Stepping lightly, Yang Ze advanced slowly.

Suddenly, as he reached a corner, a side door of a house swung open. Yang Ze froze, pressing himself into the shadows.

Peering out, he saw a faint glow from the doorway and, by its light, a man and a woman—both around thirty, of average looks and flushed cheeks. Yang Ze instantly understood what they were up to.

Yet something felt off. Why open the door so late at night?

Annoyed, Yang Ze hadn’t expected to run into a clandestine affair tonight. Who knew how long their tryst would last—if it delayed his plans, it would be disastrous.

He waited quietly. Fortunately, the couple soon closed the door. But before Yang Ze could rejoice, he heard footsteps approaching.

Cursing silently, he pulled his head back just as the man lit a lamp, its dim glow illuminating the alley.

Yang Ze was truly exasperated. The man’s boldness meant Yang Ze would surely be spotted in the light. If the man had stayed in the dark, Yang Ze might have escaped, but now his presence would be obvious.

Frustrated, Yang Ze decided to retreat, carefully backing away.

But he had barely taken a few steps when the footsteps behind the corner quickened, rushing toward him.

Seeing things turn bad, Yang Ze sped up, running through the darkness. Yet, before he could get far, the man emerged around the corner, the lamp’s light falling directly on Yang Ze.

Realizing he was exposed, Yang Ze charged at the man. Now that he’d been seen, only one solution remained.

By the lamplight, Yang Ze could see clearly. He moved at full speed, closing the distance in a single breath.

“So that’s where the footsteps were coming from—caught in the act! Consider yourself unlucky—” the man whispered excitedly, but his words were cut short as Yang Ze’s blade slit his throat, ending his life instantly.

The body dropped, the lamp went out, and Yang Ze sheathed his blade.

He felt nothing at the man’s death; this wasn’t his first kill. Had the man kept to himself, Yang Ze wouldn’t have attacked, but he’d brought it upon himself.

With the problem dealt with, Yang Ze had no time to dispose of the corpse, so he pressed on, quickly reaching the end of the alley.

Estimating his position, Yang Ze leaped, his feet tapping the wall several times, landing on the roof of a house. He flattened himself, scanning the warehouse below. Most of it was exposed to his view, including the patrols.

He didn’t linger. With a swift roll, he slipped down the far side of the roof, entering the warehouse.

The patrols inside were ordinary men, and Yang Ze’s skill allowed him to infiltrate easily.

He didn’t pause on the first floor, but seized his chance to climb up to the roof, making not a sound.

The real storerooms were heavily guarded; a frontal assault would be impossible to conceal. The rooftop offered the only viable entry.

On the roof, Yang Ze moved cautiously, gently lifting a few tiles to create a gap.

Through this opening, he saw the goods stored on the second floor, his eyes lighting up. As expected, the valuables were kept here—just what he sought.

With his target in sight, Yang Ze took a grappling hook from his coat.