Chapter Twenty: Taken Down Together

The intelligence report Old Xie brought was extremely detailed. It included not only the recent movements of the two gangs but also their specific information, even listing several experts at the Qi Induction level.

After reading it, Yang Ze returned the report to Old Xie and said, “These two gangs are getting ready to make their move. Tell the brothers to be extra cautious these next couple of days, especially keep an eye on the Broken Mountain Gang.”

“Why do you say that, Second Young Master? From what I know, the Furious Stone Gang has been quite active recently. Shouldn’t we be watching them instead?” Old Xie countered.

“That’s not quite right. If you look closely, it’s true the Furious Stone Gang has been making moves, but more often than not, they’re pushing the Broken Mountain Gang to the forefront. I suspect a great show is about to unfold. Old Xie, don’t treat me like the child I once was.” Yang Ze explained.

Old Xie paused, realizing Yang Ze had seen through his probing. Rather than feeling awkward for being exposed, he laughed.

“Second Young Master, why don’t we go out together for a bit? You’ve been cultivating for so long—there are a few new faces you haven’t met yet, and it’s time you did.”

Yang Ze nodded, and the two of them headed out.

After leaving through the main entrance of the Tongyang Exchange, they wandered through the Four Corners Market before making their way to Auspicious Cloud Street, strolling leisurely along.

Yuyang City, situated on the remote outskirts of Quanyang Prefecture, had little interaction with other cities, yet its population was by no means small. With only one city in the surrounding area, many people had no choice but to live within Yuyang, making the city quite bustling.

Normally, the government and the prominent families managed the city together. There were disputes, but rarely any major upheavals, making it a peaceful place.

Walking down Auspicious Cloud Street, this was the first time Yang Ze had taken a stroll like this. Only after traversing the entire street with Old Xie did they return to the Tongyang Exchange.

As he closed the door, Old Xie remarked, “Second Young Master, things were far from peaceful just now. The feeling of being watched is truly unpleasant.”

“Hmph. Only the Furious Stone Gang and the Broken Mountain Gang would do such a thing. It seems they’re losing their patience.”

“With just those few men, there’s no way they’d notice your breakthrough. When they make their move, it’ll actually be a good opportunity for us.”

Yang Ze shot Old Xie a glance; he hadn’t mentioned his breakthrough, nor had he revealed it, and yet Old Xie had already discerned it.

Noticing Yang Ze’s look, Old Xie smiled. “No need to be surprised, Second Young Master. We’re close enough—if I couldn’t see even this much, I’d hardly be worthy. I’ll go make preparations to guard against those two gangs.”

With that, Old Xie departed. Yang Ze watched him go, his expression calm but his heart anything but. He didn’t know why he trusted Old Xie so deeply—it was an instinct left by his predecessor, making him place unconditional faith in the man.

Yet, he could never figure out the reason. There was nothing strange in his memories. Old Xie had served the Yang family for many years, but lacking a proper cultivation technique, his strength had long been stuck at the intermediate Qi Induction stage. Now, Yang Ze hesitated whether to teach Old Xie the third layer of the Heart of the Sea Technique.

He hadn’t taught it lightly—not even the basic Heart of the Sea Technique could be given away to a servant without consequence. If Yang Yuanzhen ever found out, Yang Ze would not be spared.

The Heart of the Sea Technique was the very foundation of the Yang family. Anyone who dared pass it on recklessly would be killed by Yang Yuanzhen without mercy.

Shaking his head, Yang Ze dismissed the matter. Dusk was falling, and it was time to return. He might not be cultivating in seclusion, but each night he still practiced diligently.

As for the day-to-day affairs of the base, Old Xie would manage them. Yang Ze had neither the skill nor the desire to meddle; there was no need.

In the stillness of night, the entire stronghold fell silent. Save for a few guards on patrol, no one wandered about.

The lamp in Yang Ze’s small courtyard had also been extinguished—clearly, it was time to rest.

But just then, black-clad figures appeared atop the surrounding walls, their faces masked—clearly up to no good.

The first black-clad man, ensuring no one was around, flipped nimbly into the compound. He signaled upward, and one after another, more masked figures infiltrated the courtyard.

In less than half a cup of tea’s time, over thirty masked men appeared at all four sides, with more still arriving.

The first intruder had already left his original spot and was moving deeper into the compound, the others following suit, dozens infiltrating from all sides.

But before a full cup of tea had passed, torches suddenly flared around the pitch-dark courtyard. The entire place was abruptly illuminated, startling all the intruders.

One of them shouted, “Retreat, quickly!” and the more than fifty men began to fall back.

“Too late to escape. Block them! Capture them alive if you can—otherwise, kill them on the spot!” Yang Ze, clad in black, emerged with a chilling air.

At his command, the men lurking within the courtyard sprang into action, sealing off every exit. Yang Ze had anticipated the gangs would attack soon, though not quite so soon. Thankfully, he hadn’t been complacent and had prepared in advance, or else who knew what would have happened tonight.

“Break out with all your might!” a tall, thin intruder shouted, launching the assault himself, determined to break free.

He was confronted by two guards, but with a single blow, he sent them flying, coughing up blood—seriously injured in just one strike.

As he made to escape, a figure intercepted him—a punch thrown straight on. The masked man tried to block, but was forced back two steps, while his opponent also retreated a few paces.

Yang Ze withdrew his fist. He’d had his eye on this ringleader and would never let such a big fish escape.

“You must be Fang Li, leader of the Broken Mountain Gang. I didn’t expect you to act so rashly, bringing your men here so soon. It seems the Furious Stone Gang is even more desperate than I thought.

But this Tongyang stronghold is not a place you can come and go as you please,” Yang Ze said with a smile, showing not the slightest fear of this mid-stage Qi Induction master.

Fang Li’s heart sank at Yang Ze’s words. “You’re not just at the early Qi Induction stage—you’re a mid-stage practitioner!”

Too late, Fang Li realized he’d been tricked. He never should have let the Furious Stone Gang goad him into this, but what truly shocked him was that Yang Ze was now mid-stage, not the early stage as rumored.

“Even if you’re mid-stage, you cannot stop me today!” Fang Li, not daring to linger, attacked Yang Ze with all his might.

The Broken Mountain Gang had only two mid-stage Qi Induction fighters—the other was already occupied. Fang Li had to break out quickly; any other grudges could wait.

Under Fang Li’s fierce assault, Yang Ze calmly met his blows with his palms, not rushing but entangling him, refusing to let him escape.

The two exchanged fifty blows, yet Fang Li failed to gain the upper hand. He grew anxious—he was an experienced mid-stage master, so why couldn’t he defeat this young man?

His anxiety made his attacks wilder, his fists pounding relentlessly, trying to crush Yang Ze. But in his desperation, he left an opening.

The ever-composed Yang Ze seized this opportunity. Channeling the true energy of the Heart of the Sea Technique, his palms surged with power as he confronted Fang Li directly.

The impact sent both men stumbling back, blood surging within them. But Yang Ze, with a forceful stomp, summoned his strength, drew the blade from his back, and slashed.

Fang Li, caught off guard by this sudden move, could only try to block, but Yang Ze’s strike was even more terrifying than he’d imagined. The blade fell before Fang Li’s hands could even rise, biting deep into his chest. Blood spurted as he collapsed, convulsed a few times, and then lay still.

Yang Ze gasped for breath. Though he seemed to have won easily, the victory had been hard-fought. Had Fang Li not been careless, had Yang Ze not forced himself to draw on his reserves at the last moment, and had the Black Tiger Blade Technique not reached mastery, he could never have killed Fang Li so swiftly.

Afterward, Yang Ze tore the mask from Fang Li’s face and shouted, “The leader of the Broken Mountain Gang is dead! Surrender and you’ll be spared. Resist, and you die!”

The remaining intruders, hearing this, turned to see their leader truly dead. Their morale plummeted, and some surrendered immediately.

A few still resisted. Yang Ze, with no time to rest, swiftly dispatched those who continued to fight, restoring calm to the courtyard.

In the end, of the more than forty Broken Mountain Gang members who attacked that night, only fifteen survived.

Yang Ze did not let them go. He ordered Old Xie to interrogate them thoroughly and find out exactly what had happened.

Old Xie carried out the orders and returned at dawn, reporting the results: as expected, the Furious Stone Gang had incited Fang Li to launch the night attack.

“Second Young Master, now that the Broken Mountain Gang’s better fighters have either been killed or captured, what should we do with the rest? And since the Furious Stone Gang used its informants to incite Fang Li’s attack, how should we deal with them?” Old Xie asked after reporting.

“The time is right. Since both dared to strike at us, we’ll wipe them out together!” Yang Ze replied coldly.