Bitter Water Inn

In the following days, Qin Shuang devoted himself entirely to the cultivation of "Wind God's Leg" and "Thirty-Six Routes of Heaven-Overturning Marvel."

Unlike traditional martial arts such as "Wind God's Leg," "Thirty-Six Routes of Heaven-Overturning Marvel" was an internal martial art technique unlike any other, ancient or modern. It treated qi as the spirit, intent as the body, and form as its application. It contained thirty-six transformations. Though it had no set moves or forms, once mastered, it could be integrated seamlessly with any weapon, or even with any martial art like punches, palms, claws, or kicks, unleashing astonishing and world-shattering power.

With the "Innate Formless Divine Art" as his foundation, Qin Shuang found cultivating "Thirty-Six Routes of Heaven-Overturning Marvel" to be twice as effective with half the effort. Coupled with his own extraordinary martial arts comprehension, he mastered five of its transformations in just half a month. Calling him a prodigy was no exaggeration.

During this time, Qin Shuang's direct subordinates also saw significant increases in their strength, aided by the Blood Bodhi.

Mu Wan Qing, Huai Mie, Huai Kong, Guo Jing, and Yang Kang successively broke through their bottlenecks and entered the Innate Realm.

Ding Ning, Jiang Xiaoyu, Gao Jian Fei, Heng Feijing, Kou Zhong, and Xu Ziling, though already in the Innate Realm, also used the Blood Bodhi to stabilize their internal energy and solidify their foundations.

Among them, Ding Ning was particularly noteworthy. While investigating a case and apprehending a fugitive, he was ambushed. Facing a life-or-death crisis, he displayed extraordinary courage and exceptional willpower, not only escaping the danger but also breaking through to the Mid-Innate Realm, taking the lead among them.

One day, Qin Shuang was cultivating at home as usual, but Zhong Ling's arrival broke his concentration.

"Brother Shuang!" Zhong Ling was innocent and charming, her smile as bright as the warm sun of spring. The Lightning Vulture perched on her shoulder, its eyes blinking.

"Huh? Why are you here? Is something wrong?" Qin Shuang was quite sensitive to Zhong Ling's arrival, as all the cases in the encampment were currently being handled by Mu Wan Qing and Li Sheng Nan's squads.

"While our squad was investigating a case of feuding martial arts factions in the jianghu, we uncovered a lead involving the grievances between two major factions in Chaoge City: Six-and-a-Half Hall and Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower."

Zhong Ling paused, swallowed, and continued, "Although we've notified Squads Wang and Yang to come reinforce us, Squad Leader Mu is worried that we might not be enough. She specifically sent me to ask for your instruction on whether to request aid from Commander Yang (Military Sima)?"

Qin Shuang pondered for a moment and then decisively said, "No need. I'll go with you!"

Ku Shui Pu, located in the southwestern outskirts of Chaoge City, was originally a settlement for those who couldn't establish themselves in the city but were unwilling to leave. Now, it had become a sea of corpses and blood.

This time, one of Chaoge City's largest factions, Six-and-a-Half Hall, had mobilized almost their entire force. Led by their Hall Master, the Subdued Dragon Di Feijing, they were surrounding and attacking Su Mengzhen, the current Tower Lord of the other major faction, Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower!

The glint of swords and the flash of sabers sparkled under the dim yellow sunlight, and blood bloomed like flowers under the setting sun.

Ambush, slaughter, betrayal, explosion... Ku Shui Pu was now like a living hell.

Corpses lay scattered everywhere, severed limbs and broken arms strewn about. The injured moaned in pain on the ground, their cries echoing in the vast desert, filled with an endless sorrow.

Among them were the elites of Six-and-a-Half Hall and the fierce warriors of Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower, their blood staining the dry earth.

On a certain rooftop in Ku Shui Pu, Qin Shuang, leading a group of Dragon Guards, concealed their presence and watched everything from afar.

Smelling the coppery scent of blood wafting over, Mu Wan Qing suppressed her nausea and asked, "Xiao Shuang, aren't we going to intervene?"

"With our small group, of course, we're not intervening. Let them fight like dogs!" Qin Shuang rubbed his nose and sighed.

"Then why did we come here?"

"When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. After they've both suffered heavy losses, we'll go in and arrest a few people to close the case!"

"..."

"Treacherous!" Mu Wan Qing grumbled.

"What do you know? This is called acting within one's capabilities!" Qin Shuang was unfazed by Mu Wan Qing's disdain. Instead, he unbuckled his twin sabers and handed them over.

"What for?" Mu Wan Qing asked irritably.

"Hold these for me. I need to leave for a bit. You'll be in charge of apprehending people here. Remember not to act rashly; wait for the right moment before bringing the men in!" Qin Shuang said as he took off his combat uniform, reminding her.

"Got it. Go on, then!" Mu Wan Qing rolled her eyes at Qin Shuang as she looked at the clothes in her hands.

In the battle of Ku Shui Pu, Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower was ambushed by Six-and-a-Half Hall. Tower Lord Su Mengzhen was betrayed by his trusted subordinates Hua Wucuo and Yu Wuyu, and suffered heavy losses with generals like Shi Wukui, Cha Hua, and Wo Fuzi falling.

Although they managed to turn defeat into victory with the timely assistance of Bai Choufei and Wang Xiaoshi, it was a pyrrhic victory. Su Mengzhen himself was poisoned and on the verge of death!

As he lay on Wang Xiaoshi's back, Su Mengzhen's mind was filled with a thousand thoughts. Seeing his few remaining confidantes, he transformed his grief and anger into heroic spirit: "Xiao Shi Tou, put me down. I'll fight Di Feijing!"

Wang Xiaoshi remained silent, only rushing towards Chaoge City.

Fight? With what?

Schemes and tricks were useless. Di Feijing, disregarding the consequences, concentrated his remaining strength and relentlessly pursued them.

His posture clearly indicated his intention to finish them off in one decisive blow, vowing to kill Su Mengzhen, dead or alive!

Suddenly, Wang Xiaoshi's eyes flashed with a cold light.

A man in a single garment, with disheveled hair and cloth wrapped around his face, blocked their path.

At this moment, in this situation, he was likely an enemy, not a friend!

Bai Choufei was also well aware of Su Mengzhen's injuries. If they couldn't get him back to Chaoge City quickly, his life would be in grave danger.

"Xiao Shi Tou, you take Big Brother and go. I'll cover your retreat!" Bai Choufei made a swift decision and said loudly.

Wang Xiaoshi nodded fiercely upon hearing this: "Be careful yourself!"

However, just as the two sides were about to clash, the masked man sidestepped, clearing the path, and said in a faint voice, "Go quickly. Leave the people behind me to me!"

Bai Choufei felt that the masked man's voice was somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall who it was for a moment.

But Bai Choufei was clearly not one to hesitate. With the situation critical, he suppressed his surprise and decisively led the others away.

The masked man was Qin Shuang. Originally planning to wait for the opportune moment like a mantis stalking a cicada, with a oriole behind, he naturally couldn't stand by idly after seeing Bai Choufei and Wang Xiaoshi make their move.

This time, he had shed his Dragon Guard uniform, set aside his signature twin sabers, and torn his shirt into strips to bind his face. His intention was to intervene as a friend, to protect Bai Choufei and Wang Xiaoshi from the Six-and-a-Half Hall!

To conceal his identity, Qin Shuang couldn't use the Dream Slaying Saber Technique, Heavenly Frost Fist, Innate Formless Finger Sword, or Body-Shattering Formless Sword Qi this time!

Even the Wind God's Leg had the potential to give him away.

Fortunately, and coincidentally, he had another martial art he could use: the Thirty-Six Routes of Heaven-Overturning? Marvel!