"You're saying that Blacksmith Li had a fit of kindness and gave all the Black Rye Mushrooms to Old Man An?"
Within the Yan family's grand and lavish residence, a Young Master clad in brocade robes lounged against a chair. His face was sickly pale and bloodless; one glance was enough to tell that he had indulged himself far too excessively in daily life.
This man was none other than Second Young Master Yan, Yan Gui'an, who had taken a liking to An Xuan!
Before Yan Gui'an, the shifty-eyed Yan San bent deeply at the waist, nodding again and again with utmost respect.
"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes," Yan San said obediently.
Second Young Master Yan narrowed his eyes, tapping the chair's armrest with pale fingers as though deep in thought.
"I heard that the Qi Family's Three Brothers, who used to spend every day stealing chickens and dogs around the market streets, were also taught a lesson by that Blacksmith Li, weren't they?" Yan Gui'an asked.
"That's right. After that Blacksmith Li left the market, the Qi Family's Three Brothers blocked his path. Then he took care of all three by himself," Yan San continued.
Hearing this, Yan Gui'an let out a cold laugh.
"Heh. We gave him a few martial arts manuals back then, and he really managed to make something of them?"
"Uncle Jing, what level do you think that Blacksmith Li might have trained his martial arts to? If he could beat the Qi Family's Three Brothers alone, he should have a few tricks up his sleeve, right?"
At that moment, a burly middle-aged man stepped out from behind Yan Gui'an.
It was difficult to imagine that, in this food-scarce world, someone could still possess such a powerful physique.
Uncle Jing's expression was placid, his tone as still as an ancient well. "Blacksmiths naturally have several degrees more strength than ordinary people. Add a few fist-and-foot techniques, and dealing with a handful of street loafers who can barely fill their bellies is no difficult matter."
"As for his martial arts level, I don't think it can be very high. For those who practice martial arts, if they normally cannot eat meat, it is difficult for their progress to be very fast."
Uncle Jing gave his professional assessment. He was a martial artist who had achieved great mastery in Outer Strength and was about to touch the threshold of Internal Energy, so he naturally understood such matters well.
If Li Qing had not carried so much grain, cured meat, and dried rations out of the military camp, then it truly might have been as Uncle Jing said—his martial arts would have found it difficult to advance even an inch.
"Mm, but that Blacksmith Li's smithing skills are indeed quite good. It would not be wise to easily become enemies with him." Yan Gui'an pondered for a while, then suddenly smiled.
"Yan San, find a way to make the Righteous Gang test that Blacksmith Li's martial skills. Their gang members were beaten up by him; they can't truly swallow their anger and endure it for this long, can they?"
Yan San immediately nodded repeatedly. "Leave it to me, Second Young Master. I'll definitely handle this matter properly and flawlessly for you."
After Yan San left, Uncle Jing spoke up. "Second Young Master, if you want to deal with that Blacksmith Li, just send me. Why go through so many twists and turns, borrowing another's hand and making it so troublesome?"
Yet Yan Gui'an shook his head and said with a smile, "When teaching someone a lesson, it is best not to dirty your own hands if you can avoid it. Besides, I do not want his life."
"Let the Righteous Gang test the depth of the water first. If he truly is just a soft fellow, then let those people from the Righteous Gang dispose of him along the way."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Jing said nothing further and closed his eyes once more.
He thought of the several martial arts manuals he had given Li Qing before: Light Silk Leg, Turtle Breath Technique, and the True Intent of the Fierce Tiger.
None of these three martial arts were particularly superior techniques. How could they be mastered so quickly? Li Qing had probably done no more than get started with Light Silk Leg.
As for the Turtle Breath Technique and the True Intent of the Fierce Tiger, in such a short time, he did not believe Li Qing could have grasped their mysteries.
What threat could a mere blacksmith possibly pose?
After tidying up for a while, Li Qing sorted through the Peerless Hammer and his iron armor. Just as he prepared to travel back to the Feng Kingdom, his movements suddenly stopped.
After entering the ranks of Outer Strength experts, Li Qing's senses had improved considerably. With a mere thought, he could easily hear some movements outside the courtyard from within his room.
For instance, at this very moment, a soft set of footsteps suddenly came from the street outside the courtyard, which ought to have been utterly quiet.
The footsteps were slow and light, making barely any sound. Like a cat's steps, they were nothing like those of an ordinary passerby.
"Have I been robbed? How rare. Someone is actually willing to come to a blacksmith's house like mine and be a gentleman of the rafters?"
"Or has the Yan family made its move so quickly?"
Li Qing smiled. A cold gleam flashed and disappeared in his eyes. Rather than returning to the Feng Kingdom, he sat cross-legged upon the bed, as steady as a mountain, waiting for the thief to enter.
He wanted to see what exactly this thief who had sneaked in was after.
At that moment, inside Li Qing's courtyard, a thin figure dressed in black vaulted over the wall and landed steadily in the yard.
He silently surveyed his surroundings for a while. After confirming there was nothing unusual, he headed toward the house in the courtyard.
The moment he approached the house, he caught a tempting scent.
Gulp~
The thief could not help swallowing the saliva continuously welling up in his mouth. It smelled far too good—it was the scent of meat!
"Damn it, do blacksmiths live this well nowadays? They can actually afford to eat meat. No wonder the gang leader sent me here to steal things."
The scent he had caught truly was that of meat. It was the lingering smell from the meal Li Qing had just finished eating, and unexpectedly, the thief had smelled it.
Naturally, These Words also reached Li Qing's ears upstairs. He raised a brow slightly, somewhat surprised.
So it was not the Yan family?
This fellow had come under the orders of some gang leader? A gang leader? Then it was the Righteous Gang!
Having confirmed the target, Li Qing's face immediately turned cold.
He had not expected that, after so long, the Righteous Gang still had not forgotten how he had taught the Qi Family's Three Brothers a lesson. Only now had they sent someone to retaliate.
Being remembered by someone for so long would leave anyone feeling uncomfortable.
"So it really is the Righteous Gang. They still Dare To send someone to my door."
Muttering softly, Li Qing had already gotten out of bed.
Having practiced Light Silk Leg, he moved with even greater silence. It could be said that his footsteps made less sound than a cat's.
Naturally, the thief downstairs, who was rummaging through things, could not possibly sense him.
After coming downstairs, Li Qing looked at the thief with his back to him, searching for food in the kitchen, a cold smile hanging on his face.
"Damn it, where did this guy hide the meat?" the thief muttered as he searched.
Unable to find it, the skinny thief was about to look elsewhere for something valuable when his entire body suddenly stiffened.
A strong, powerful hand clamped down on the back of his neck.
He could clearly feel that it was a force he could not resist no matter what—a sheer, absolute strength that could easily decide whether he lived or died.
"Sir, I was wrong. Spare... spare me."
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