I Can Merge Techniques-Chapter 99 - 94: Scouting, an Old Foe at the Fishermen’s Pier
"You’ve been eating well lately. Look at you, you’re a completely different person."
Hong Zhen looked at the transformed Chu Fan. The old arrogance in his eyes was gone, replaced by a fawning eagerness. "Found some way to make money?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
The guy was a classic bully—preying on the weak and fearing the strong—but at least he had some sense.
He had a vague feeling that Chu Fan was no longer the same kid everyone used to push around.
That was why his words carried a hint of caution and flattery.
Chu Fan hadn’t worn his Seven Stars Gang uniform today.
How could Hong Zhen have ever guessed that he had not only joined the Seven Stars Gang, but had even become one of its disciples?
"I’ve joined the Seven Stars Gang."
Chu Fan said calmly, "Do you want to come along?"
Hong Zhen’s eye twitched sharply. He had been standing straight, but in an instant, his back hunched over and he bowed.
’While children from ordinary families aren’t readily sent to join such gangs, anyone who actually manages to get in is definitely not someone to be trifled with!’
’For one thing, you need a certain aptitude for the Martial Dao just to get into a gang, and once you’re in, you get to train.’
’An ordinary person would never dare to provoke someone like that!’
’No wonder even Chu Fan’s whole demeanor has changed...’
Hong Zhen put on a fawning smile and said, "I always knew you were destined for great things. I just never imagined you’d join the Seven Stars Gang..."
As he spoke, his voice began to tremble.
’It isn’t just because Chu Fan is now a disciple of the Seven Stars Gang. It’s because, as a disciple of the Seven Stars Gang, he still dares to show his face here at the Fishery!’
’This is Blood Saber Sect territory!’
’Doesn’t everyone know the Seven Stars Gang and the Blood Saber Sect are mortal enemies?’
’Is he here looking for trouble?’
’Or has he gotten skilled enough in his training to come back and get revenge on the people who used to bully him?’
’But even if Chu Fan’s talent for the Martial Dao is amazing, it’s only been a little over two months. How strong could he possibly have gotten?’
’How could he be so bold?!’
"Is there anything else?"
Just as Hong Zhen was trembling in fear, Chu Fan looked up and asked.
"Oh, oh... N-no, nothing..."
Hong Zhen swallowed hard and said, "Fan, if you ever need any help, just look for me. I... My dad and I have our stall over there!"
With that, he picked up his freshly caught fish and practically fled, quickly vanishing into the noisy crowd at the pier.
Chu Fan retracted his gaze and went back to sipping his tea, keeping an eye on the activity at the ’Little Mountain Village’.
Any minuscule shred of gratitude he might have once felt for the Hong Family had long been worn away by half a year of thankless labor and their indifference, leaving not a single trace.
The din of the pier was unabating, and the reek of fish and sweat assaulted his nose.
Nothing seemed to have changed in the past two years.
However, merely a tea’s time later, a commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance to the fish market in the distance, accompanied by a familiar, agonized scream filled with shock and rage!
The voice sounded like Hong Zhen’s.
Chu Fan looked up and saw Hong Zhen, his face covered in blood, sprawled in the mud.
Beside him stood a burly man in the Blood Saber Sect’s signature dark-red tunic. His face was a mask of brutality as he kicked Hong Zhen viciously and spat, "You dog! You dare take my brother-in-law’s spot? Who the hell do you think you are, setting up your stall here, you worthless piece of trash?!"
Master Hong scrambled over from a nearby stall, his old face a mask of terror and supplication. He looked as if he was about to fall to his knees.
He bowed repeatedly with his hands clasped. "Sir! Sir, please, calm your anger! My son is ignorant and offended you!"
"We’ll move, we’ll move right now! The fish... please take all the fish as a sign of our respect! I’m begging you, be merciful and spare him..."
Hearing this, the Blood Saber Sect man didn’t stop. Instead, he let out a savage laugh and viciously backhanded Master Hong across the face.
Master Hong staggered and fell to the ground, blood immediately trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Old man! Who said you could speak? Today, I’m going to set some rules around here!"
With that, he raised his foot again to kick Hong Zhen, who was still curled up on the ground.
The surrounding crowd instantly fell quiet. It was as if the once-bustling fish market had been seized by the throat.
The nearby fishermen, peddlers, and women buying vegetables all wore expressions of terror and suppressed rage, but not a single one of them dared to make a sound, let alone take a step forward.
This sort of thing happened every day.
The only thing people could do was pray it wouldn’t happen to them.
Everyone lowered their heads or averted their eyes, pretending they hadn’t seen a thing.
The Blood Saber Sect’s brutal reputation had long ago settled over everyone’s hearts like the heavy silt of the Black Water River.
Chu Fan watched the scene unfold in silence, showing no intention of getting up.
Before long, a semblance of calm returned.
The Blood Saber Sect thug had stolen the Hong Family’s entire catch for the day. The father and son were now just sitting on the ground, wiping the blood from their faces.
The Blood Saber Sect man piled the Hong Family’s entire catch onto his brother-in-law’s stall, then swaggered over to the tea stall where Chu Fan was sitting.
"Old Xue, get me a bowl of tea! I’m thirsty!"
He plopped down in the seat next to Chu Fan and bellowed.
"Coming, sir!"
The tea stall’s owner, Old Xue, hurried forward to pour the tea.
The Blood Saber Sect man glanced at Chu Fan, then looked away.
He had just raised the tea bowl to his lips when he suddenly turned his head back. "Hey, aren’t you that kid from the Chu Family?"
"Haven’t seen you in a while. I thought a demon fish must’ve swallowed you whole!"
Chu Fan’s expression was cold. "I remember your name. You’re Qi Shan."
"Two years ago, you stole my catch."
"A year ago, you kicked me."
"You cause trouble in the fish market every single day. You’re always claiming someone bumped into you or splashed you with water, just so you can steal their catch and sell it at your brother-in-law’s stall."
The smile vanished from Qi Shan’s face. He rose slowly to his feet. "You little bastard. It’s been a while, and you’ve..."
BAM!
Before he could finish, Chu Fan’s fist slammed into his stomach, doubling him over like a shrimp.
Chu Fan raised his right hand and slammed Qi Shan’s head straight into the dirt!
BAM!
Mud splattered everywhere!
Old Xue, the tea stall owner, was stunned speechless.
Not far away, the commotion had drawn the attention of many people, and all eyes turned in their direction.
"MPH!"
"MPH!"
With his face pressed into the dirt, Qi Shan could only make muffled groans as he planted his hands on the ground, trying to struggle free.
But the force holding his head down was brutally overwhelming, impossible to resist.
As everyone watched—
Chu Fan smashed his head into the ground two more times, BAM! BAM!, gouging two more holes in the dirt.
The force of the impacts left Qi Shan dazed. Intense pain and a sense of suffocation washed over him.
But Chu Fan didn’t pause for a second. He switched to his left hand, grabbed Qi Shan by the neck, and hauled him up.
Qi Shan was a burly man, yet now Chu Fan held him up by the neck as if he were a baby chick. Everyone nearby stared, dumbfounded...
They watched as Chu Fan balled his right hand into a fist and rained down blows like a pile driver on Qi Shan’s temple, shoulder blade, and the center of his back!
None of the punches were fatal.
But each one shattered several of his bones.
"AH! UGH—!"
The man who had been so arrogant and domineering just moments before was now howling like a pig at the slaughter.
Chu Fan had him completely immobilized, leaving him with no strength to resist.
He could only struggle in vain, his mouth full of foul-smelling mud.
