I Want You to Apologize to Embroiderer!

The Qingshan Town yamen.

"What did you say? Wang Shi is missing?"

When Wang Bo heard the news, he flew into a rage.

"Damn it, that bitch still owes me twenty taels of silver. She must have run away! Go! Find her and bring her back. I'll break her legs!"

Wang Bo was furious. He had sunk twenty taels of silver into her for nothing.

"What's all this shouting about so early in the morning?"

Liao Jun walked in, a trace of impatience on his face.

"Captain Liao, when did you get here?"

A fawning smile appeared on Wang Bo's face.

"Just now. How are Zhang Long and Zhao Hu's injuries? Can their hand tendons be reattached?" Liao Jun asked.

"They've been reattached, but it'll take at least a month to know whether they can recover. Even then, there's only a thirty percent chance."

Wang Bo spoke cautiously, afraid of catching Liao Jun in a bad mood.

"Damn it! That damned little bastard!"

Liao Jun was enraged when he heard this.

Zhang Long and Zhao Hu were both followers he had brought from Qingyang County, part of the trusted team he had cultivated himself. Now that both had been crippled, it was as though his right and left hands had been cut off. How could he swallow this insult?

"Use the best medicine! If they can't be cured, I'll hold you responsible!" Liao Jun roared.

"Yes, yes, yes." Wang Bo nodded like a pestle pounding garlic.

After Wang Bo left, Liao Jun looked in the direction of the Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy, calculating the date in his head.

The eighth day of the first month, the tournament between the two academies. It's nearly time. Pei Heng, you don't have many days left to hop around. When the time comes, I'll show you the price of offending me!

And that Qin Ming too. I'll sever all the tendons in your hands and feet and make you a complete cripple!

Recalling the plan they had discussed earlier, Liao Jun's lips curled into a cold smile.

Soon. Very soon, he would have his revenge and wipe away his hatred!

The Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy.

The inner courtyard.

"Master, have you chosen who will fight in this year's Twin Martial Arts Academies Tournament on the eighth day of the first month?"

Yan Yangtian asked.

By the rules, both new and senior disciples would fight, and they were all selected from the inner courtyard. The outer-courtyard disciples weren't even Martial Artists, so they weren't qualified to participate.

"There are two new disciples who just joined, Ye Wei and Qin Ming. Ye Wei has eighth-grade aptitude and joined earlier. I think he'd be the better choice," Yan Yangtian said.

"I think Junior Brother Qin would be more suitable," Li Shengnan said. "After the fight in the dungeon, he at least has some real combat experience."

Beside them, Lu Liu opened his mouth, only to swallow the words he was about to say.

"Junior Sister probably doesn't know yet, but just now, Ye Wei reached the beginner level in the Eight Trigrams Palm."

"Oh?"

Pei Heng's eyes lit up. "Ye Wei has such talent?

"In that case, let Ye Wei fight."

"Yes, Master. I'll go tell him right away."

Not long afterward, Qin Ming heard the news from Lu Liu.

The so-called tournament between the two academies was really a contest of strength between the two martial arts academies. From top to bottom, Martial Artists at different realms sparred with one another, and in the end, even the academy masters would take the field.

The results would greatly affect their recruitment for the coming year.

The Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy, however, had always lost more often than it won.

"In that case, why take part in the Twin Martial Arts Academies Tournament? Isn't that just asking for trouble?"

Qin Ming was puzzled.

"Master said it was an agreement the two academies made back then. If our Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy were the first to break it, outsiders would only laugh at us."

Lu Liu spread his hands helplessly. This had also led to the Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy attracting fewer and fewer students, until it finally had to lower its apprenticeship fee.

"Not interested."

Qin Ming shook his head.

He had no interest in doing something that took effort but brought no reward. Right now, he was focused on improving his strength and had no time for some arena tournament.

"All right, I just came to let you know. Master and the others have already decided to send Ye Wei into the ring."

After Lu Liu left, Qin Ming drank down the soup made from Qi-Blood Powder in one gulp and resumed his stance training.

Time flew. Seven days passed in the blink of an eye, and before he knew it, the last day of the year had arrived.

During that time, all was calm in Qingshan Town.

Embroiderer's wounds had almost healed, and most of the bandages wrapped around Lu Liu's chest had been removed.

Early that morning, Qin Ming took Embroiderer into town to buy supplies for the New Year.

"Oh, Master Qin! Madam Qin!"

Their former neighbors hurriedly bowed and cupped their hands when they saw the two of them.

"What would you like to buy, Lord Qin? Take your pick. I have everything here."

Everyone was so welcoming that Embroiderer felt a little ill at ease.

Qin Ming picked a shop at random and bought a few things. Not only did the shopkeeper offer him a discount, he also had an assistant put down his work and deliver the purchases to the academy. The shopkeeper then respectfully saw Qin Ming and his wife out.

Everyone in Qingshan Town now knew that Qin Ming had joined the inner courtyard of the Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy and become Pei Heng's disciple. His future prospects were boundless.

At the town's only tailor shop, a well-dressed, shrewd-looking shopkeeper named Li Fugui stood behind the counter.

When he saw someone enter, he glanced over indifferently, then his eyes went round.

"Qin Ming? Oh, no, Master Qin!"

Li Fugui hastily put down what he was holding and hurried over to greet them.

"Shopkeeper, you still remember me?"

Qin Ming raised an eyebrow.

The last time he had come here was before the New Year. The shopkeeper had sold him an old padded coat worth three hundred and fifty copper coins for the inflated price of four hundred, saying it was the price for someone of lowly status.

"I remember, of course I remember. Master Qin, your visit brings light to my humble shop. Xiaohua, quickly, brew a pot of good tea."

Li Fugui's heart jolted, and he carefully welcomed the two inside.

"Shopkeeper, I remember you weren't this welcoming the last time I came. What, aren't you going to the temple on the first and fifteenth of this month to get rid of bad luck?"

Qin Ming spoke with a faint smile, pressing his finger down lightly and leaving a clear fingerprint in the wooden table.

The shopkeeper had said before that the extra fifty copper coins were for incense offerings at the temple, because a pig butcher's money was unclean.

Cold sweat streamed down Li Fugui's forehead. He swallowed discreetly, his mouth bitter, and wished he could slap himself a few times. If he had known Qin Ming would become a Martial Artist, he wouldn't have dared offend him even if he'd had ten times the courage.

"M-Master Qin, I was blind last time. How about this? Please choose a few pieces of clothing from the shop today, as an apology from me. Would that be all right?"

"You said that yourself. I didn't force you. Embroiderer, go pick a few."

"All right."

Embroiderer didn't stand on ceremony with Li Fugui and went straight to choosing three sets of fine padded clothes.

They were gifts she had specifically prepared for Wang Shun's family.

Li Fugui watched from the side, his face aching at the loss, but he didn't dare say anything. After all, he had been the one to look down on Qin Ming like a dog judging people by their station. As long as Qin Ming's anger subsided, he would accept the loss.

Afterward, Embroiderer picked out an outfit for Qin Ming as well.

"This one's nice."

Qin Ming picked up a woman's padded coat the shopkeeper had just finished sewing.

The coat was thick and generously padded, and it was a pale blue. Dye of that color was uncommon in Qingshan Town and could generally only be obtained in Qingyang County.

Qin Ming gave it to Embroiderer to try on. To their surprise, it fit perfectly, and it brought out an air of purity in her.

"Very good. This is the one."

Qin Ming was very pleased. Embroiderer turned around in place, her heart full of delight, unable to bear taking the coat off.

"Not that one," Li Fugui said hastily. "Someone has already placed a verbal order for it. Master Qin, please don't put me in a difficult position."

Hearing this, Embroiderer took off the coat and handed it to Qin Ming, looking a little dejected.

"Brother Qin, why don't we forget it?"

"It was only a verbal order, and no deposit was paid. How about this? Name a price, and I'll buy it."

"One tael of silver would be enough. Master Qin, the person who ordered this coat is also a Martial Artist. Could you perhaps choose another one?"

"No need. This is the one."

Qin Ming tossed him a tael of silver. "By the way, who is it?"

"Qin Ming, put my clothes down!"

Just then, a woman's sharp shout came from outside.

Qin Ming turned and saw a young woman in a short, dark-red padded jacket storming over.

Her hair was tied in a ponytail, her skin was smooth and tender, and her features were delicate. Her almond-shaped eyes were now filled with anger.

"It's you!"

Qin Ming recognized her.

Huo Lan!

The daughter of Huo Zheng, master of the Tiger Martial Arts Academy, at the mid-stage skin-refining realm.

That day, he had already joined the Tiger Martial Arts Academy, but Huo Lan had suddenly appeared and exposed his identity as a pig butcher. After mocking him, she had thrown him out of the academy.

Enemies really did meet on a narrow road!

Qin Ming snorted coldly.

"Miss, she just wore your clothes!"

The maid Yuzhu pointed at Embroiderer.

"Lowly wench!"

Huo Lan was beside herself with rage.

Qin Ming's face abruptly turned cold.

He could let it go when Huo Lan had called him a pig butcher before, but now she dared call Embroiderer a lowly wench right to his face!

"One of you is a pig butcher, the other a lowly wench. You're both the filthiest dregs of society! Pah!"

The moment the words left her mouth, Qin Ming slapped Huo Lan across the face.

Smack—

The slap sent Huo Lan flying out the door. A bright red handprint quickly rose on her fair cheek.

"You dare hit me?"

Huo Lan had never imagined Qin Ming would dare lay a hand on her. The slap had left her somewhat dazed.

When she came to her senses, Huo Lan shrieked, "I'll kill you..."

"Don't move—"

Huo Lan's voice cut off abruptly. She slowly lowered her head. A pig-butchering knife was pressed against her lower abdomen, and even through her thick padded coat, she could still feel the bone-chilling cold of its edge.

"You dare kill me? You're just a newcomer to the inner courtyard of the Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy, and you dare kill me? My father is the master of the Tiger Martial Arts Academy. If I die, he'll definitely chop you into eight pieces, and even Pei Heng won't be able to stop him!"

Huo Lan looked defiant, still shouting threats.

Qin Ming smiled and patted Huo Lan's snow-white cheek with the flat of the butcher knife.

"I won't kill you. I'll just make a few cuts on your face. What do you think?"

Huo Lan's face instantly went bloodless with fear.

She would rather be killed with one stroke than have her face disfigured.

"Go on, shout?"

Qin Ming lightly patted Huo Lan's face with the butcher knife. "Shout some more."

Huo Lan's face flushed red, her body trembling with anger, but she didn't dare provoke Qin Ming, afraid he would cut her face.

"Miss!"

Xiaocui was frantic, but didn't dare rush forward.

"Apologize to Embroiderer."

"What did you say?"

Huo Lan's beautiful eyes widened.

"I want you to apologize to Embroiderer. What, do you have to force me to cut you?"

Qin Ming's face was cold. He flicked the butcher knife lightly, leaving an exceedingly fine cut a finger's length long on Huo Lan's face. Blood slowly welled from the wound.

"Miss, y-your face is cut!"

Xiaocui cried out.

"You lunatic!"

Huo Lan's face went bloodless with fear. She took a deep breath and finally submitted to Qin Ming's intimidation, lowering her head to apologize to Embroiderer. "I'm sorry."

"Too quiet. You don't sound sincere."

"I'm sorry!!!"

Huo Lan clenched her fists and practically roared the words, her voice trembling. In her heart, she wished she could chop Qin Ming into eight pieces.

"That's more like it."

Qin Ming left with Embroiderer. Huo Lan watched their departing backs, her beautiful eyes practically spitting fire.

Huo Lan was right. Qin Ming really didn't dare kill her in public, unless he decided to leave Qingshan Town and run far away with Embroiderer.

The slap and the threats were a lesson for her. If she dared provoke him again, he would turn her into cold points on his panel!

After Qin Ming left, Huo Lan, whose body had gone limp with fright, finally regained a little strength.

"Miss, are you all right?"

Xiaocui hurriedly helped Huo Lan to her feet.

"I won't die!"

Huo Lan took a deep breath, her gaze icy cold. "Let what happened today rot in your stomach. Do you hear me?"

"I heard you, young miss." Xiaocui nodded at once.

Not far away, Li Fugui hurriedly dropped to his knees and swore on the spot that he would not breathe a word of it to anyone.

"If I catch the slightest whisper of this, I'll burn your shop to the ground!"

"I wouldn't dare."

Li Fugui trembled all over with fear.

"Qin Ming, just you wait. Tonight I'll break through to the Late Skin-Refining Realm, and I'll make you repay today's humiliation tenfold!"