Free Web NovelChapter 22: Chapter 22: Investigation
That night, in the reef cave.
Liang Cheng used the newly acquired Iron Bone Marrow to prepare an ointment for tempering his bones. As the medicinal power penetrated him, the stinging pain intensified, and his joints let out a faint hum.
Two hours later, he finished.
[Stone Armor Skill (Fragment): Great Success (78/2000)]
’The progress is much more significant. This high-grade Iron Bone Marrow is incredible, just as I expected.’
The next day, Chen Bainian sent another large delivery of resources: ten catties of Iron Bone Marrow, a case of medicinal bath packets, and a note that read:
"Focus on the Martial Dao. Worry about nothing else."
Liang Cheng put the note away and looked toward the lightening eastern sky.
’I have to get stronger. Chen Bainian isn’t investing in me out of the goodness of his heart. He’s placing a heavy bet, gambling on my future.’
...
While Liang Cheng continued to make steady progress, another disciple in the Martial Arts Hall’s front courtyard broke through to Bright Force. He was accepted as a disciple by Yang Wei and moved into the rear courtyard.
It was an old acquaintance: Li Mao.
Now, however, Li Mao didn’t dare show the slightest superiority in front of Liang Cheng. He addressed him as "Senior Brother" with the utmost respect.
When facing Zhao Yuan, however, he no longer acted like the sycophant he once was. In fact, he seemed to take a subtle pleasure in kicking Zhao Yuan while he was down.
This behavior made many people frown privately, but no one said anything. After all, it was confined to his attitude and expressions; he hadn’t taken any actual action.
Zhao Yuan, however, had already curbed his arrogance and didn’t get angry. Seeing this, Zhou Hu nodded to himself in approval.
’One has to experience failure to grow.’
’Losing the grand competition wasn’t a bad thing for Zhao Yuan.’
...
「Night.」
In the reef cave, the Iron Bone Marrow ointment was ready. Liang Cheng removed his shirt and smeared it on. A searing pain bored into his bones, but his expression remained unchanged.
He resumed his striking exercises. The medicinal power frantically seeped into his marrow as the humming from his joints grew louder and louder. A faint luster seemed to emanate from beneath his skin.
An hour later, the medicinal power was completely absorbed.
[Stone Armor Skill (Fragment): Great Success (84/2000)]
’Significant progress, but it’s not enough. The spring hunt at the end of the third month is fast approaching. The more my strength increases, the better my chances will be.’
For the next twenty-odd days, Liang Cheng shut himself off from the world. He practiced the Posture Stance at dawn and dusk, trained his fist techniques during the day, and tempered his bones in the reef cave late at night. Inspired by his dedication, the other disciples at the Martial Arts Hall trained with renewed diligence.
By the middle of the second month, his strength had increased steadily.
[Mixed Element Stance: Great Success (485/1000)]
[Fierce Bull Force: Great Success (320/2000)]
[Stone Armor Skill (Fragment): Great Success (288/2000)]
With abundant resources, Liang Cheng’s cultivation speed accelerated. His current strength was now on par with Zhou Hu, who was on the cusp of reaching Transformation Force.
If he were to face the Three Towns Martial Arts Hall grand competition again, the outcome of a fight against Zheng Biao at his peak would be uncertain.
Just as a motivated Liang Cheng was about to resume his cultivation, Chen Bainian’s old servant, Chen Fu, rushed over in a hurry. "Honored Guest Elder Liang, my master has an urgent matter and implores you to help."
Chen Fu’s expression was grim. "Yesterday, three of our cargo ships set sail from Qingshi Town. Last night, just as they were about to reach the docks in Linhai Town, the ships and their crews vanished."
Chen Fu lowered his voice. "This shipment is for the City Lord’s Mansion. If we can’t get it back, the Chen Family will be in big trouble."
"What does Landlord Chen want me to do?"
"My master has already reported it to the Town Protection Station, but those people are slow to act," Chen Fu said, cupping his hands. "You’re a local. Could you please help investigate?"
Liang Cheng thought for a moment. He’d accepted so much from Chen Bainian; it wouldn’t be right to refuse. "I’ll go make some inquiries."
Liang Cheng gathered his thoughts. First, he’d go to the docks and find Zhang Kui. He was the local kingpin; nothing happened on the docks without him knowing about it.
Inside the Sea Snake Gang’s headquarters, Zhang Kui was listening to a subordinate’s financial report. When he saw Liang Cheng, he greeted him with a smile. "Young Hero Liang, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Gang Leader Zhang, I came today to ask for a favor," Liang Cheng got straight to the point. "Three of Chen’s Trading Company’s cargo ships disappeared yesterday as they were about to reach the docks. Have you heard any whispers?"
Zhang Kui’s expression turned serious. "Something like that happened? I honestly had no idea." He turned to his men. "Have any of you heard anything?"
His men all shook their heads.
"Honored Guest Elder Liang, dozens of ships pass through the Linhai Town docks every day. Although I’m in charge here, I can’t possibly keep track of every vessel," Zhang Kui said with a sincere look. "But since you’re the one asking, I’ll have my brothers make inquiries at once. I’ll inform you the moment we hear anything."
The words were nice, but Liang Cheng could hear the evasion in his tone. Zhang Kui didn’t want to get involved.
"Then I’ll be counting on you."
After leaving the Sea Snake Gang headquarters, Liang Cheng went to the Town Protection Station. His old acquaintance there, Liu Qi, gave a wry smile after hearing why Liang Cheng had come. "Young Hero Liang, it’s not that we aren’t putting in the effort. The station has already dispatched two teams to search, but it’s a tough case."
"I appreciate the effort. When this is all over, I’ll buy you a drink."
As he spoke, Liang Cheng discreetly slipped a silver ingot into Liu Qi’s hand. Liu Qi immediately puffed out his chest, promising he would give the search his all.
But two days passed with no progress.
Chen Bainian came to the Martial Arts Hall to see Liang Cheng personally, his face gaunt. "The cost of those three shipments alone was over ten thousand taels of silver. What’s more, they were tribute for the City Lord’s Mansion. If we can’t recover them, the Chen Family’s business in Lin Wu City will be ruined for the year."
"Does Landlord Chen have any enemies?"
"In the world of business, who doesn’t have a few rivals?" Chen Bainian shook his head. "But I can’t think of anyone who would dare to make a move in Linhai Town."
After seeing Chen Bainian off, Liang Cheng felt bound by his duty to help and went back to the docks to investigate. On the way, he ran into Er Gou, who looked nervous.
"Brother Cheng, I heard something. Last night, Big Head got drunk and was bragging at the dockside tavern. He said something like ’Some money looks too hot to handle, but you gotta take it when you can.’ Someone asked if he’d struck it rich, and he drunkenly said, ’The fortune from three ships, enough to last a lifetime.’"
Liang Cheng’s gaze sharpened. "What else did he say?"
"That’s all. Then he was helped away by someone." Er Gou swallowed. "Brother Cheng, don’t tell anyone I’m the one who told you."
"Right. Don’t worry."
After Er Gou left, Liang Cheng found Big Head in a cluttered courtyard on a backstreet behind the Sea Snake Gang’s area.
Big Head was stunned to see Liang Cheng. "Brother Cheng? What are you doing here?"
"Three of Chen’s Trading Company’s cargo ships have gone missing. Do you have any leads?" Liang Cheng asked directly.
Big Head looked blank. "How would I know? Brother Cheng, I just manage the loading and unloading at the docks now. Ship business isn’t my department."
"I heard you were at the tavern last night talking about the fortune from three ships..."
"Brother Cheng, I absolutely never said that! Is someone spreading rumors? No matter how much of a scoundrel I am, I wouldn’t dare touch the Chen Family’s goods!"
Liang Cheng stared at him. "You really don’t know?"
"I really don’t know!" Big Head looked directly at Liang Cheng. "Brother Cheng, my life is good right now. I can’t afford to get mixed up in that kind of trouble."
With him putting it like that, Liang Cheng didn’t press the issue.
"If you get a lead, tell me."
"Of course."
As Liang Cheng turned to leave, Big Head’s expression turned ugly, his thoughts unreadable.
Liang Cheng didn’t return to the Martial Arts Hall. Instead, he went to a beach not far from the docks. Chen Bainian’s men had found a few fresh fragments of ship planks on the shore.
Following the fragments along the current, he found the wrecks in a hidden inlet. The remains of the three cargo ships had been dragged there and deliberately smashed to make it look like they had run aground on a reef.
The cargo had long been emptied out, leaving only some worthless miscellaneous items.
The culprits had been careful, leaving no clues. But pulling something like this off would have required a lot of manpower.
At this thought, he surveyed his surroundings. The inlet was secluded, but it was only five li from the docks. More importantly, getting here required passing through waters patrolled by the Sea Snake Gang.
’To drag three ships away from right under the Sea Snake Gang’s nose without being discovered...’ He gazed in the direction of the docks. Big Head’s earlier reaction, in particular, was deeply suspicious.
But when he was preparing to tail Big Head, he discovered that Big Head had been sent away by Zhang Kui and was not at home.
’A clumsy cover-up!’
