Watch Out in Your Next Life

A usury loan of one hundred taels; Liu Hai contributed fifty taels.

That could buy three portions of secret medicine and promote Mantis Fist.

Chu Qing was delighted and quickened his pace to find Senior Disciple Brother.

But then:

The moment he stepped outside, a thug blocked his way.

"Chu Qing, the Chief Subordinate wants you."

Chu Qing's heart stirred. Smiling, he said, "I just came from Hall Master Jin's place. I wonder what the Chief Subordinate wants with me?"

The thug said, "I don't know either."

Chu Qing's smile vanished.

A thug...

A few minutes later:

Chu Qing saw Chief Subordinate Liu Jun, equally broad and burly, his face full of fierce flesh.

A year ago, Liu Jun had become Chief Subordinate on the strength of ten Iron Sinews.

Whenever it came time to cut people down, he charged at the front, ferocious beyond compare.

"Why did you kill Liu Hai?"

Liu Jun growled.

He had been quite close to Liu Hai, and Liu Hai's death was something he could not let go of.

Chu Qing asked in confusion, "What?"

Liu Jun stared straight at him, his face twisted savagely.

"Liu Hai asked you to go cut people down with him, but you didn't go."

"Liu Hai cursed you out and said he would deal with you."

"So you bore a grudge, abandoned all martial virtue, launched a sneak attack on Liu Hai, and chopped him across the face with a saber."

"You killed Liu Hai. Do you admit your guilt?"

Chu Qing said in alarm, "Chief Subordinate, my home has nothing but four bare walls. I can't even afford straw sandals, much less a saber."

"I only wave flags and shout. I've never cut anyone down."

"Look at me, I'm so skinny, while Brother Liu was so strong. He could lift me with one hand."

"Even if you gave me ten thousand times the courage and a hundred sabers, I still wouldn't dare cut down Brother Liu!"

Liu Jun asked again, "Why didn't you go to the dock last night?"

Chu Qing cupped his fist and said, "Hall Master Jin summoned me."

Liu Jun frowned.

He asked several more questions, but Chu Qing muddled through every one of them.

At last, Liu Jun waved a hand. "Get lost!"

I didn't expect Liu Jun to value Liu Hai so highly.

I hope he stops investigating me.

Half an hour later:

Carrying the silver, Chu Qing knocked on Senior Disciple Brother's door again.

"Senior Disciple Brother, three more portions of secret medicine."

Senior Disciple Brother looked at the silver, then at Chu Qing, suspicion rising in his heart.

He was merely linen-clad and barefoot. Where had he gotten so much silver?

"This money of yours..."

Chu Qing cupped his fist. "Senior Disciple Brother, I'm a Blood River Gang lackey. Someone in the gang asked me to buy secret medicine."

Senior Disciple Brother suddenly understood.

Every major gang had people practicing Mantis Fist. Having someone purchase secret medicine was perfectly normal.

After a moment, Senior Disciple Brother brought out three portions of secret medicine.

"How do you feel after taking the secret medicine?"

Chu Qing said excitedly, "At most two days, and I'll enter the gate."

Senior Disciple Brother sighed inwardly.

That Shi Tiezhu would soon enter the gate even without taking secret medicine.

Chu Qing's portion of secret medicine... had been wasted.

What a pity... Shi Tiezhu was unwilling to buy secret medicine.

Otherwise, with his aptitude and diligence, he might have entered the gate in a single day and recreated Zhao Hu's former glory.

At his former body's home:

Chu Qing swallowed three pills of secret medicine.

You have fulfilled the conditions. Mantis Fist has been promoted.

Chu Qing

Realm—Iron Sinew 4/5%

Cultivation Method: Perfected Mantis Fist—With genius aptitude, eighteen hundred portions of secret medicine, and ten years of bitter cultivation, you may break the limit.

Promotion Condition: 1: Fist-kill ten enemies. 2: One Stone Bamboo Pearl.

He had entered the gate yesterday, and today he had reached perfection.

It hadn't been easy!

But after perfection, why was there still another realm?

He only knew that cultivation methods were divided into entering the gate, proficiency, mastery, Great Accomplishment, and perfection.

He had never even heard of breaking the limit.

"It seems I can only learn more martial knowledge after getting into the Martial Academy."

After a moment, he studied the promotion method.

Fist-killing ten enemies would be easy enough.

But one Stone Bamboo Pearl made him knit his brows tightly.

Stone Rock County had many mountains and much bamboo.

When quarry workers mined stone in bamboo-covered mountains, there was a chance they would dig up pearls as smooth as jade and crystal-clear.

Thus, they were called Stone Bamboo Pearls.

These things were worth a fortune. Fortified manors and powerful nobles gathered them up, refusing to let outsiders lay hands on them.

"The final layer, breaking the limit, can't be dealt with anytime soon."

"I'll talk about it when the chance comes."

After a moment:

The secret medicine took effect.

Chu Qing began cultivating.

Pa! Pa! Pa!

Perfected Mantis Fist made the wind whistle from his fists as he shifted and leaped, his fingers hooked like claws; with all five fingers together, they became blades.

If anyone saw him cultivating now, they would feel that he was a giant humanoid mantis.

Iron Sinew +20%

Perfected Mantis Fist had even greater improvement efficiency.

Chu Qing was overjoyed.

Taking advantage of the medicine's effect, he continued cultivating.

Iron Sinew +20%

One round...

Five rounds...

His arms burned hot, and one Iron Sinew was formed.

Continue.

One Iron Sinew was born...

Five...

Ten...

When Mantis Fist had been at Great Accomplishment, one portion of secret medicine had formed four Iron Sinews.

Now, Mantis Fist was perfected.

One portion of secret medicine could actually form six Iron Sinews.

Eighteen...

When the final Iron Sinew was born, Chu Qing let out a low roar, his five fingers pressed together like a long blade.

Crack!

His hand-blade fell.

The only table in the room was split in two by his chop.

The break was flat and smooth.

As though a mighty man had cleaved it apart with one slash.

Chu Qing smiled.

With eighteen Iron Sinews added to his body, his muscles coiled like dragons and his strength surged.

He felt that if he encountered Liu Hai now, one punch would be enough to split open his head.

Unfortunately... Liu Hai was already dead.

"I now have twenty-two Iron Sinews."

"My chances of passing the Preliminary Exam should be even greater now!"

Chu Qing was delighted.

Suddenly, he frowned toward the door.

Through a crack in the door, he saw a panicked face.

"Liu Xiaogou?"

Outside the door, Liu Xiaogou turned and ran.

Chu Qing frowned. Liu Xiaogou was from the same village as Liu Hai, and also from the same village as Liu Jun. They had a good relationship.

"Did Liu Jun send him to investigate me?"

"I can split a table apart. Will he suspect me? Will he kill me?"

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Chu Qing's mind.

At last, one thought surfaced: This brat cannot be allowed to live!

Chu Qing broke into a run after him.

Mantis Fist's shifting and leaping also trained the legs.

Of his twenty-two Iron Sinews, ten were in his legs, while the remaining twelve were distributed through his arms.

His feet skimmed the ground, and Chu Qing chased Liu Xiaogou like a giant mantis.

Thirty meters...

Liu Xiaogou looked back, saw Chu Qing pursuing him, and ran even faster.

Pedestrians on the street cursed at them.

Twenty meters...

Liu Xiaogou gasped for breath, feeling as though his little heart were about to leap out of his throat.

He swore he had never run this fast in his life.

Ten meters...

Liu Xiaogou looked back. When he saw Chu Qing's expressionless face, he wanted to cry.

Why the hell did I have to spy on him practicing?

He's so vicious. Is he going to beat me?

A hundred thoughts spun through his mind.

In his panic, he chose the wrong path and ran into a secluded alley.

Chu Qing flashed after him.

His feet skimmed the ground like a mantis as he caught up behind Liu Xiaogou.

At that moment, Liu Xiaogou looked back again and saw Chu Qing right within arm's reach.

"Brother Chu... I didn't mean to spy on you. I'll definitely be more careful next time."

Chu Qing smiled. "I know."

Liu Xiaogou let out a breath of relief.

He swore that once Chu Qing left, he would tell Liu Jun.

He would say that Chu Qing could split a table apart with one punch.

He would pin Liu Hai's death on Chu Qing.

Who told Chu Qing to scare him?

But the next second, Liu Xiaogou was terrified.

Because Chu Qing raised one hand high, his five fingers pressed together like a blade, aimed at Liu Xiaogou's forehead.

Is he going to chop me apart like that table?

Will my head be split open?

Crack!

With that punch, Liu Xiaogou screamed. The flesh and blood on his face split apart, his facial bones shattered. It was clear he would not survive.

"Next life, don't peep."

Chu Qing wiped his hands.

If you can't find the book by searching its title, try searching for the author—it may simply have been renamed!