When Heaven Refused to Cooperate, Don't Blame Me

Young Master He Qi was very busy.

As the Martial Academy's Preliminary Exam drew closer and closer, they learned more intelligence concerning the reforms.

They analyzed the intelligence and discussed how to maximize their gains.

At the same time:

The matter of the secret transmission manual had also kept this group of Fortified Village Disciples busy beyond measure.

In the end, they had just received news:

A stonemason had dug up two Stone Bamboo Pearls in one go.

As a result, thanks to the overseer's outrageous maneuvering, the stonemason had fled with the pearls. Even now, they did not know the stonemason's name, or whether he was alive or dead.

There were too many matters to handle. Young Master He Qi and the others did not finish their discussion until late into the night.

After returning to his residence, Young Master He Qi received a secret report from a servant concerning Chu Qing and Madam Jin that afternoon.

Young Master He Qi sneered. "Tomorrow, have the Blood River Gang deliver Chu Qing's head."

"As for Madam Jin... I heard she is rather pretty and has never borne children."

"Send her over tomorrow. I'll work hard and leave her a descendant."

"Yes!"

The servant withdrew, and He Qi let out a strange, sinister chuckle.

Although he had been busy today, he had gained something.

Because he had unexpectedly discovered information about the secret transmission:

"A thug named Liu Hai had contact with that escaped Rebel Army soldier before the latter died. He might have obtained the manual. Although Liu Hai is dead, as long as we keep digging, we will definitely find some clues."

"I killed the only person who knew."

"This secret transmission information—now I am the only one who knows it!"

"The secret transmission belongs to me."

Two or three in the morning:

The guards were dozing off.

The enormous He residence was utterly silent.

Occasionally, servants got up in the night, but they too crept on tiptoe, afraid of making a sound and disturbing Young Master He Qi.

Masked and wearing steel gloves, Chu Qing used Dragonfly Touching Water to leap across the rooftops.

With his Lightness Skill nearing Perfection, he moved through the wind and rain like a ghost, appearing behind the guards.

Crack!

Crack!

His Iron Hand twisted their necks, sending their heads through a full three-hundred-and-sixty-degree turn.

One...

Five...

Ten...

All the guards were dealt with.

Chu Qing strode about openly and began the real operation.

He first went to the servants' quarters to find Daughter of Stonemason Xu. A few minutes later, he bound the unconscious Daughter of Stonemason Xu and hid her inside an artificial rockery.

"Now, the hunt begins!"

He did not know where Head Steward He was, nor did he know whether Head Steward He had any relatives.

"Then... if I clear everyone out, naturally there will be no omissions."

Chu Qing chose the outermost room and began clearing it out.

With the support of over a hundred Iron Sinews and Lightness Skill at Great Completion:

His cleanup operation was fast and efficient.

By the time he reached the core area, he finally saw Head Steward He.

Crack!

With one three-hundred-and-sixty-degree spin, Head Steward He died.

The gloom in Chu Qing's heart dissipated a little.

But it was not enough.

He continued clearing the rooms.

One minute...

Ten minutes...

At last, he stood outside a brightly lit room.

The maidservants outside the door were dozing.

Chu Qing determined that Young Master He Qi was inside.

"If I kill him, all of Stone Rock County will be thrown into unrest. It may even affect the Martial Academy examination."

"But if I do not kill him, my heart will never be at peace."

Head Steward He had been so arrogant because He Qi had backed him.

"I've already slaughtered so many. Killing a few more will not delay me much."

Amid the slanting wind and fine rain, he tapped the ground with his toes and moved like a gust of wind.

Crack!

Crack!

The corpses of four maidservants fell to the ground.

There were three sets of breathing inside the room.

One of them suddenly paused for a moment, then returned to normal.

He pushed the door open!

He shut the door!

More than ten candles as thick as arms were lit inside, and sandalwood incense was burning.

On the bed lay two women and one handsome youth—He Qi.

All three were asleep.

Chu Qing did not step forward. Instead, he stood quietly five meters from the bed.

One second...

Thirty seconds...

One minute...

With a sigh, He Qi sat up. Staring fixedly at Chu Qing, he cupped his fist and said:

"Friend, can we talk?"

Chu Qing was surprised. He had not expected He Qi to refrain from shouting and screaming, remaining so calm instead.

"Although Fortified Village Disciples are arrogant and domineering, their mental fortitude is not bad."

As he thought, he rasped:

"Actually, I did not want to come."

Search by the book title and cannot find it? Try searching for the author instead; perhaps it was simply renamed!

He Qi smiled kindly. "I know."

"Everyone is helpless in this world. You must have your own unavoidable hardships too."

"Well, perhaps you lack money. I can give you ten thousand taels of silver. Perhaps you lack secret medicine. I can help gather it. Perhaps you want martial arts manuals. I can have copies made for you."

"Women, gold, silver, treasures, medicinal herbs."

"Just name it. Whatever I have, I will give you."

Chu Qing let out a long breath and said softly:

"I want your life!"

He Qi's pupils contracted.

The next second:

He slapped the bed, his ten fingers hooked like claws, and pounced at Chu Qing like a great eagle.

The candle flames flickered, and the cry of an eagle rang out.

Eagle Claw Technique at Perfection?

Chu Qing's eyes lit up. He formed claws with both hands and met the attack.

Eagle cry!

Their hands collided!

Crack!

He Qi's ten fingers clasped the steel gloves and creaked.

Chu Qing's ten fingers closed down. The Toad Skill drove his Eagle Claw Technique, and dozens of Iron Sinews erupted.

Squelch!

His ten fingers pierced through flesh and blood.

He Qi screamed.

Iron Fist!

Chu Qing clenched both hands, and the tendons and bones in He Qi's hands shattered, turning to mush!

He Qi screamed and staggered back.

Iron Palm!

Chu Qing pursued with Dragonfly Touching Water, brought his five fingers together, and fiercely struck He Qi's chest.

He Qi's chest and abdomen caved in. His body bent backward into a C-shape as he flew away.

He Qi smashed onto the bed. The two women did not even make a sound before they were crushed to death.

Gurgle!

Gurgle!

Young Master He Qi's hair was disheveled, and bloody foam spilled from his mouth.

He stared at Chu Qing in terror, his mouth open, unable to say a single word.

His heart and lungs had shattered. The flesh of his chest had exploded apart, exposing broken ribs.

He felt that he was about to die.

Step! Step! Step!

Chu Qing shook the flesh and blood from his hands and walked step by step to the bedside.

"Why are you so weak?"

"Didn't you people practice martial arts from childhood in medicinal baths?"

He Qi opened his mouth and coughed up blood.

He wanted to say that it was not that he was weak, but that Chu Qing was too strong.

But when he opened his mouth, even more blood sprayed out.

It frightened him into hurriedly closing his mouth.

Chu Qing sighed.

"Although villains die from talking too much, I still have to say this: I killed you because Head Steward He humiliated me, and humiliated Madam Jin, who helped me."

"You were his backer. Only by killing you can my heart be at peace."

Young Master He Qi's eyes widened. Through his wind-leaking throat, he let out an unwilling cry:

"Damn... Head Steward... ruined me!"

He wiped his hands with fine silks and satins.

He rummaged through chests and cabinets, searching for spoils of war.

A box of Silver Notes.

Unknown secret medicines.

Jewelry.

All sorts of little boudoir toys.

"None of the secret medicines are ones I recognize."

"There are no martial arts manuals either."

Chu Qing was rather disappointed.

He searched the other rooms as well. In the study, he found a small box.

After opening it, he smiled.

Because:

Inside were several medicinal herbs—Nirvana Qi Grass.

Clutching the box, Chu Qing threw back his head and laughed.

"Thank you for nature's gift!"

"With Nirvana Qi Grass... my Secret Transmission Toad Skill can reach Perfection."

After his excitement faded, he found fine silks and satins and packed up the fruits of his labor.

At last, he carried He Qi's corpse to the kitchen.

One minute...

Five minutes...

The sound of chopping meat ceased.

A short while later:

Chu Qing stepped through the wind and rain, carried the unconscious Daughter of Stonemason Xu, and strode away openly.

Before leaving, he even shut the door properly.

Looking back at the silent He Family estate, he sighed.

"I should have given you a chance at Rebirth Through Fire, but alas, Heaven refused to cooperate!"

"Don't blame me!"