The Hall Masters Thank Chu Qing

After watching the show, his Eagle Claw Technique advanced.

Technique: Eagle Claw Technique, Mastery—fifty practices daily, mastery after a thousand days.

Promotion Condition—1: Eat one thousand chicken feet. 2: Imitate eagle claws ten thousand times.

The mysteries of the Eagle Claw Technique surfaced in his mind.

Chu Qing curled his ten fingers like hooks, like claws; vaguely, they even merged with certain moves of the Mantis Fist.

"The Mantis Fist has methods that turn fists into claws. Could the two actually be fused?"

He tried for a while but could not find the way in.

"Forget it. I'll study it later."

At this moment:

Madam Shi rode away in an eight-man sedan chair, attended by dozens of servants before and behind.

Chu Qing then escorted Madam Jin home.

Madam Jin had wanted him to stay for dinner, but Chu Qing kept his measure.

It was still necessary to maintain an appropriate distance from Madam Jin and the others.

"Godmother, I'll stay for lunch tomorrow."

Only then did Madam Jin leave happily.

Humming a little tune, Chu Qing headed straight for the Martial Hall.

As he walked, his ten fingers opened and closed, grinding through the second condition.

"I wonder how many Iron Sinews the Eagle Claw Technique can cultivate."

He still had not forgotten what Zhao Hongxiu had said: during the Martial Academy's Preliminary Exam, veteran students who had cultivated over a hundred Iron Sinews, even Iron Bone, would serve as examiners.

If he neither paid money nor became a servant, then those veteran students would definitely strike hard and refuse to let him pass the assessment.

To enter the Martial Academy, he needed to cultivate at least over a hundred Iron Sinews, perhaps even Iron Bone.

"I need more martial arts and more gold and silver."

"If possible, I'd best get a Stone Pillar Pearl to break the limit of the Mantis Fist or Red Snake Leg."

"Then the power of my fists and kicks will surely become even greater."

As he pondered, he spotted an acquaintance—Shi Tiezhu.

The blacksmith's son was running along, drenched in sweat and looking around in every direction.

"Could someone be chasing him down?"

Chu Qing instinctively wanted to duck into an alley. He did not want to invite trouble.

But Shi Tiezhu saw him and cried excitedly:

"Brother Qing... I've searched so hard for you!"

Chu Qing was speechless.

Well, well. He used to call me Chu Qing, and now he calls me Brother Qing? Did something go wrong with his head?

Seeing Chu Qing again, Shi Tiezhu's feelings were complicated.

Two days ago, he had been Initiated into the Mantis Fist and learned that his family could enter the Martial Academy. He had believed Chu Qing would be beneath him from then on.

But he had never imagined, even in his dreams, that the Hall Master, Senior Sister, and the others had been able to return this time entirely because of Chu Qing.

"What is it?"

Chu Qing spoke calmly.

Shi Tiezhu said awkwardly, "The Hall Master and Senior Sister asked me to invite you to a banquet at Immortal Fate Tower."

"This afternoon, all the Martial Hall disciples have been searching everywhere for you."

"The Hall Master and Senior Sister even rode hard enough to search Stone Rock County several times over."

"Now they're at Immortal Fate Tower, pacing in circles with worry."

Chu Qing understood. In an instant, he realized Zhao Wuji and the others had learned about what happened that morning.

He smiled.

"Tell the Hall Master I'll head straight to Immortal Fate Tower."

Shi Tiezhu said with complicated emotions, "Senior Sister instructed me that once I found you, I had to notify her immediately. She and the Hall Master would personally come receive you."

Chu Qing smiled. "No need. I'll go myself."

Shi Tiezhu said, "I'll go with you."

"Fine."

Immortal Fate Tower was Stone Rock County's largest and most luxurious restaurant.

It was said that Martial Immortal Shiji had once eaten there.

Night fell.

Immortal Fate Tower blazed with lights; Zhao Wuji and the others waited anxiously at the entrance.

Disciples constantly came over to report that they had not found him.

"Keep searching, keep reporting!"

"Yes!"

At this moment, Hall Master Liu arrived with over a dozen Minor Leaders.

When he saw Zhao Wuji and the others, his pupils contracted. He greeted them with a smile that did not reach his eyes.

Zhao Wuji and the others sneered.

Everyone knew that Hall Master Liu had wanted them dead that morning, and they loathed and resented him for it.

Some among them even wanted to kill him, cutting off future trouble at its root.

Hall Master Liu entered the building and sneered. "Arrange the top floor!"

The Minor Leaders behind him secretly groaned.

Over the past few days, they had received quite a bit of silver from Chu Qing. Yet after Hall Master Liu learned of it, he vented his dissatisfaction with Chu Qing on them and made them treat him to a meal.

They did not dare disobey, so they had no choice but to come.

Now Hall Master Liu demanded the top floor the moment he arrived, making the Minor Leaders tremble with rage from head to toe.

"We've followed other Chief Subordinates and you for a year or two, yet all year long we only earn a few taels of loose silver."

"We followed Master Qing for just a few days and got more than ten taels of loose silver."

"As a Hall Master, not only do you refuse to let us make money, you make us pay to treat you, and now you want the most expensive top floor. Are you even human?"

They hated him, but they did not dare say it aloud.

"Hall Master Liu, sorry, but Manager Zhao and the others have reserved the top floor."

Hall Master Liu was displeased, but sneered. "Then the floor below it."

"Right away!"

Hall Master Liu went upstairs, sat beside a window, and secretly watched Zhao Wuji and the others.

"That bunch was released by Chief Constable Shi, and now they're all waiting here for someone. They must be waiting for Chief Constable Shi."

Chief Constable Shi was a towering mountain in Stone Rock County.

He pressed the gangs and Martial Halls down until they trembled.

Countless people wanted him gone.

But although Chief Constable Shi was an Outer Disciple of the Armored Soldier Sect, it was said that his wife's maternal family had connections within the Armored Soldier Sect.

"Why didn't I get such a good wife?"

Hall Master Liu envied Chief Constable Shi and wished he could take his place.

"Our deductions are nearly successful."

"At most, in three to five years, once the Gang Leader and I succeed, Chief Constable Shi... will be nothing much."

Hall Master Liu's mood improved somewhat.

Not long after, he saw a hemp-clothed youth and a Cloth-clothed Youth approach.

Zhao Wuji and the others surged forward, surrounding the hemp-clothed youth as they ushered him into the building.

The Cloth-clothed Youth squatted dejectedly by the roadside.

Clatter!

Hall Master Liu's chopsticks fell to the floor. His good mood was gone; the exquisite food before him instantly lost all flavor.

"Chu Qing..."

He raised his head and heard footsteps from above, as though Chu Qing were stepping on his head.

"Brother Chu, thank you for saving us."

Zhao Wuji led Zhao Hongxiu and the others, together with Hall Masters such as Iron Hand, in bowing to thank Chu Qing.

Chu Qing smiled. "Everyone, please rise quickly!"

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone took their seats.

Before long, delicacies were served, accompanied by young women. Even Zhao Hongxiu had a soft and delicate young woman attending her.

Only Chu Qing had two by his side.

What surprised him was this:

Among the many exquisite dishes was a huge basin of chicken feet.

Zhao Hongxiu said sweetly, "Junior Brother Chu, I went to the Blood River Gang to find you and found Madam Jin instead. She said you loved chicken feet, so..."

Chu Qing nodded to himself.

These people had put thought into it.

The Iron Hand Hall Master, broad and burly, laughed. "Brother Chu, these chicken feet are also called phoenix claws. They say eating them strengthens the body, nourishes the foundation, and consolidates vitality. They're a rare delicacy."

"I never knew before. Only today, thanks to Brother Chu, did I learn. From now on, I'll eat them every day."

Chu Qing sighed inwardly. That flattery was painfully forced.

Zhao Wuji smiled. "Brother Chu, from now on, I'll have the kitchen make phoenix claws for you every day."

The Iron Fist Hall Master was also broad and burly. He said honestly, "Brother Chu, I don't know how to say anything fancy. I'll drink first as a sign of respect."

Everyone burst into laughter.

As cups clinked and wine flowed, Zhao Wuji and the others thanked Chu Qing again and again.

They said outright that without Chu Qing, even if they had not died this time, their families would have been destroyed, their Martial Halls ruined, and the foundations built by their ancestors plundered away.

The sweet, delicate women at his sides used their slender hands to peel boneless claws, smiling as they fed them into his mouth.

Chu Qing swallowed in large bites and occasionally raised his cup, only taking a light sip.

But Zhao Wuji and the others drained their cups every time.

Even Zhao Hongxiu drank several cups.

In the end, her cheeks flushed crimson and her gaze turned hazy.

"A few days ago, I thought he was good for nothing."

"I never expected... my life and my lineage's foundation would be saved by him."

"Fate toys with people."

"If... I had chosen him to enter the Martial Academy with me back then... ah!"