The constables finally arrived at the scene, led by Head Constable Li Da, who was short and smooth-faced.
Upon seeing Fang Xiong lying unconscious on the ground, Head Constable Li turned pale and immediately looked at the only 'suspect' — Xiao Wuchen.
'You! Who are you? How dare you engage in a fight and injure someone in the market in the capital!" Head Constable Li roared, his voice trembling with fear.
Xiao Wuchen calmly bowed, concealing his identity as an imperial guard.
'Head Constable, this man was inciting a riot and oppressing the people. He was about to kill someone when I stopped him. You can ask the people around here to seek justice for them.'
Seeing that Fang Xiong had been subdued, the people grew bolder and stepped forward to testify about his misdeeds. An old woman selling vegetables cried out and the other vendors joined in, recounting the years of oppression they had suffered at the hands of the Iron Arm Gang.
Head Constable Li wiped the sweat from his brow. He knew Fang Xiong well; he was a local thug who regularly received 'tribute' from the Iron Arm Gang. But now, with Fang Xiong lying on the ground as proof, Head Constable Li couldn't show favouritism.
Xiao Wuchen knew he couldn't stay long. He took a few silver coins out of his sleeve and put them in the old woman's hand as compensation. Then he turned to Fang Xiong's men and said coldly, 'Take your gang leader and get out of here immediately. If you do this again, next time it won't be as simple as manipulating pressure points."
The Iron Arm Gang's henchmen were already terrified of Xiao Wuchen's ghostly methods. Hearing this, they felt as though they had been granted a pardon. They scrambled to their feet, lifted Fang Xiong and fled in a sorry state.
Seeing that the matter had been handled cleanly, Commander Li breathed a sigh of relief, but he stared suspiciously at Xiao Wuchen's retreating figure. Xiao Wuchen didn't give him a chance to ask questions. With a few flashes, he disappeared into the depths of the alley and vanished without a trace.
In the capital city, hidden away in a secluded mansion, there is a secret branch of the "Heavenly Secrets Pavilion", an organisation responsible for gathering intelligence and ranking martial artists.
'Iron Arm Fang Xiong was defeated in a single move by an unknown young man?' The intelligence chief, an elderly man with a goatee beard, held the latest confidential report, his brow furrowed.
The clerk beside him nodded. "Yes, Elder Zhou. According to eyewitnesses, the young man was incredibly fast and his moves were extremely subtle and fluid. He precisely targeted pressure points, directly subduing Fang Xiong, who was known for his hard martial arts. Moreover, Fang Xiong's injuries indicate that the attacker's internal energy was gentle and refined; he was clearly no ordinary external martial arts master."
Elder Zhou stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming. 'Speed with subtlety, gentle internal energy... These martial arts characteristics are indeed rare. Although Fang Xiong is only a low-tier, second-rate fighter, his reputation has been established for a long time. This defeat is enough to shake the region. Such a rising star must be immediately added to the Ranking of Talents.'
The Ranking of Talents is a list of the most promising young martial artists under the age of thirty, compiled by the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. Each appearance on the list signifies a leap in status within the martial arts world.
'Give him a code name. Considering his ability to overcome hardness with softness, let's call him 'Gentle Breeze'." Elder Zhou pondered for a moment, then slammed his pen down heavily on the list.
'His ability to subdue his enemy with a single strike indicates that his internal strength has broken through to the mid-stage of the Qi Refining Realm, and he has considerable combat experience. His status is higher than that of most third-rate martial artists..."
Elder Zhou finally made a decision.
Newcomer on the list: Roufeng (Xiao Wuchen)
Martial arts characteristics: 'Purple Qi' (mid-stage Qi Refining Realm)
Yin-Yang Acupoint Striking
Ranking: 450th
That very evening, the latest issue of the Tianji Pavilion's Weekly Ranking of Talents was delivered by carrier pigeon to martial arts schools, gangs and aristocratic families throughout the capital and the surrounding area.
'Look! The new rankings are out!'
'This time, a newcomer has appeared on the list: Roufeng, ranked 450th!'
When the martial arts world learned that this newcomer, "Roufeng", had single-handedly defeated the arrogant "Iron Arm" Fang Xiong in broad daylight using supremely gentle techniques, the capital's entire martial arts circle was thrown into chaos.
This was Xiao Wuchen's first official rise to fame in the martial arts world under the name 'Roufeng'.
In a distant tavern, Liu Feiyan glanced at the weekly magazine in her hand, smiled slightly and muttered to herself, 'Roufeng... that's fitting.' However, he's no ordinary wandering swordsman. To cultivate such an aura in 'Purple Q,' he must have the Imperial Palace behind him.'
Meanwhile, Xiao Wuchen had already snuck back into the Imperial Palace. Hiding behind an artificial hill in the Imperial Garden, he could feel his internal energy surging as he reached the mid-stage of the Qi Refining Realm. This trip outside the palace had earned him not only merit points, but also a breakthrough in his internal energy cultivation. He had unexpectedly made it onto the Human Ranking.
Everything was just beginning.