Lying Low V (Thanks to Alliance Master Three Lives' Fate Chu Heavenly Emperor for the support)

Lying Low V (Thanks to Alliance Master Three Lives' Fate Chu Heavenly Emperor for the support)

Lu Sheng studied under Constable Zhang Xun for three days, after which he had completely memorized the Heart Piercing Palm.

Then he went to his second master.

The second master Uncle Zhao had introduced him to was surnamed Du, named Zhen. He had once been one of the top experts in the previous Prefectural Office, a man of the same generation as Constable Zhang Xun.

His Ninety-Nine Eighty-One Swallow Chasing Wind Saber was swift as lightning.

Unfortunately, someone had inexplicably severed the tendons in his hands, leaving him crippled. He too had no children, but that was because he had never married. Introverted and silent, he had left no descendants.

Lu Sheng studied under this master for four days.

In his eyes, the Ninety-Nine Eighty-One Swallow Chasing Wind Saber was actually a notch weaker than the Black Tiger Saber Technique, but one more martial skill was always a good thing.

Afterward, he begged Uncle Zhao to take him one by one to the other renowned experts of Nine Links City, especially the older generation.

After receiving his father Lu Quan'an's approval, he used money to pave the way and learned an Eight Treasures Step and a Double Diamond Saber from two more people.

Both were martial arts a full cut below the Black Tiger Saber Technique.

He understood as well. Uncle Zhao's Black Tiger Saber was among the very best in Nine Links City; how could others so easily reach his level?

For two straight months, Lu Sheng diligently persisted in practicing all kinds of martial arts.

At the same time, he constantly nourished his body, consuming large quantities of yin-nourishing and blood-replenishing medicines.

The cost of the supplements added after he began training in martial arts could reach over a thousand taels a month. To an ordinary family, that was an astronomical sum.

Fortunately, his father Lu Quan'an had approved of it. Otherwise, no matter how wealthy a family's son he was, he could not spend money so recklessly.

In the blink of an eye, summer passed and autumn arrived in September.

Lu Sheng had been in this world for nearly three months.

"Brother Sheng has truly been working hard these days."

Uncle Zhao stroked his beard as he watched Lu Sheng diligently practice the Swallow Chasing Wind Saber on the Training Ground.

Lu Sheng had not used the Modifier on this saber technique. During this period, he had not touched the Modifier again, merely feeling his way forward on his own.

The Modifier was external help in the end. He wanted to test the difference between martial arts gained through hard training and martial arts acquired through modification.

The Swallow Chasing Wind Saber happened to be an easy technique, its moves simple, making it perfect for him to practice slowly.

Swish! Swish, swish, swish! Several crisp sounds rang out in succession, and the straw targets around Lu Sheng were severed by a few slashes in the blink of an eye.

Lu Sheng held a little over a meter-long guandao in one hand, then slowly flipped the blade and rested it against his back. That counted as finishing his practice.

"I started martial arts too late. If I don't work harder, how can I catch up to others?"

Lu Sheng smiled.

"I also have to thank you for all your help these days, Uncle Zhao."

Uncle Zhao waved a hand.

"I know you intend to collect secret manuals and martial arts to strengthen the family, Brother Sheng, but there are only so many people in Nine Links City who might be willing to offer up martial arts. The chances with everyone else are very slim. What are your plans next?"

Lu Sheng pondered for a moment, allowing Xiao Qiao to jog over and wipe his sweat with a wet towel.

"Since Nine Links City—"

"Something's happened! Something's happened!!" A household servant suddenly ran urgently toward the Training Ground, pale-faced and shouting.

"What is it? Why are you yelling like that!?"

An estate guard stepped forward to reprimand him. He pulled the shouting servant aside and questioned him carefully.

Once he had finished asking, the guard's expression changed as well, and he hurried over to Lu Sheng and Uncle Zhao.

"Young Master, Second Miss got into a fight with someone, and now no one can find her!" the guard cried urgently.

"What?!"

Lu Sheng froze.

He knew Lu Qingqing's return would bring trouble, but he had not expected her to cause trouble so quickly.

"Where is she? Who did she fight with?"

Uncle Zhao immediately asked solemnly.

"On Flower Willow Street, with several merchant caravan guards passing through the city!"

"Does Master know about this?"

"I don't know. That servant had only just received the report. Second Miss's personal maid ran over to report it. He came straight to you first, Young Master."

The guard hurriedly explained.

These people had all been orphans Lu Quan'an adopted or bought when they were young, raised and trained from childhood. Their loyalty to the Lu Estate was extremely high.

"Well done. Don't report this to Father yet. I'll go take a look first."

Lu Sheng said gravely.

"Second Miss is investigating the Xu Family massacre. How did she end up fighting merchant caravan guards?" Uncle Zhao asked doubtfully.

"We'll know once we get there."

Lu Sheng's expression remained calm.

He swiftly gathered the estate's servants and guards, picked ten men, and headed straight for Flower Willow Street.

Flower Willow Street was Nine Links City's famous district of brothels and pleasure houses. He had no idea how Lu Qingqing had investigated her way there.

They hurried there without stopping.

By the time Lu Sheng arrived, the street was nothing but a mess. The shopkeepers of two Lu Family stores nearby were leading people in soothing the vendors who had been caught in the crossfire.

"Pay whoever needs compensation, and apologize to whoever needs an apology. Don't let people look down on our Lu Family."

Lu Sheng instructed.

"Yes!"

The ten men dispatched from the Lu Family quickly answered.

Everyone scattered to deal with the aftermath.

Lu Sheng and Uncle Zhao came to the pedestrian path beside the street to inspect the places where traces of fighting remained.

"They only left a short while ago. Qingqing has always had a fiery temper. Getting provoked by a few hooligans in a place like this and starting a fight would be perfectly normal." Lu Sheng carefully examined the bloodstains on the ground.

There was not much blood, so he was not worried that it belonged to Qingqing. With her skills, dealing with two merchant caravan guards would be no trouble at all.

On the grayish-white flagstones lay a pool of dark-red blood, glaringly conspicuous beneath the sunlight.

Lu Sheng crouched down, lightly touched the blood with his finger, then sniffed it. His brows immediately furrowed tightly.

"What is it? Did you find something?" Uncle Zhao came over, dipped a finger into the blood, and smelled it as well.

"Ordinary human blood. Nothing unusual."

"That isn't what puzzles me."

Lu Sheng shook his head.

"What puzzles me is that there was rather a lot of blood. Qingqing may have a bad temper, but she always knows the measure of her strikes.

She normally wouldn't be so rash as to hit this heavily."

Just then, the guards who had gone to handle matters nearby returned.

"Young Master, we have news. Someone saw Second Miss fighting two men with her sword and chasing them all the way out of the city! Someone said those two men being chased were wanted murderers by the authorities, not merchant caravan guards at all!"

"So that's what it was."

Lu Sheng nodded.

"Let's go to the city gate and take a look. The nearest gate is the west gate. They should have gone out that way."

The group, along with Uncle Zhao, hurried toward the western gate.

Around ten minutes later, they reached the west gate. A city guard officer came over and greeted one of the estate guards; clearly, they knew each other.

"Second Miss Lu chased them out toward Black Wind Ridge."

The officer provided this important news.

Lu Sheng was just about to lead his men over when, only a few steps beyond the city gate, he saw Lu Qingqing riding back toward the gate, dragging two bound men behind her horse.

The moment she saw Lu Sheng, a pleased look appeared on Lu Qingqing's face.

"Big Brother, why did you come rushing over? They're just two petty thieves. Don't you trust my abilities?"

She had changed into a white outfit fit for a wandering heroine, a long sword with a silver scabbard in hand and a silver-edged belt tied around her slender waist. Her long hair was tied high, making her look valiant and dashing.

Lu Sheng stood at the gate and waited until Lu Qingqing rode up before him and dismounted. Only then did he let out a breath of relief.

"Don't be so reckless in the future."

Though he was not the original Lu Sheng, Second Mother had cared for him sincerely during this period, and he was not a heartless man. Naturally, he could tell sincere feelings from false ones.

Because of Second Mother, he also felt a measure of concern for Lu Qingqing.

"Don't worry. I don't even put these petty thieves of Nine Links City in my eyes!"

Lu Qingqing said dismissively.

Lu Sheng looked at the two murderers tied up on the ground. Their faces were both pale, seemingly from excessive blood loss. They were unconscious now; he did not know whether they were dead or otherwise.

What was strange, however, was that the corners of both their mouths held a faint curve, as though they were smiling.

Lu Sheng silently took note of it.

Seeing that Lu Qingqing was unharmed, he could not say much more. Perhaps he was simply making a mountain out of a molehill.

After continuing to warn Lu Qingqing a few more times, he and Uncle Zhao returned to the estate with their men.

Life returned to its previous rhythm.

Every day, he rose and trained for three shichen in the morning, practicing saber techniques. After lunch, he began practicing footwork and the Heart Piercing Palm.

At night, he returned to his room to practice the Jade Crane Skill.

As for the Black Fiend Skill, he had still put it aside.

Thus it went on repeatedly. Seeing this, Uncle Zhao advised him to focus on mastering one thing first, but Lu Sheng had his own plans.

After leaving every martial art as an option in the Modifier,

he began raising the Jade Crane Skill's level once more.

In the dead of night.

Lu Sheng lay on his back in bed, slowly opening his eyes.

He sat bolt upright and looked beyond the paper window.

Faint moonlight streamed in through the window, leaving a clear white patch on the bedroom floor.

Outside, he could faintly hear the snores of the guards on night watch.

The wind was strong, making the leaves of the large tree in the courtyard rustle and roar.

Lu Sheng slowly sat cross-legged on the bed.

"This should be about the right time."

He listened carefully to the sounds around him and detected no possible disturbances.

"After so long spent recuperating, my body's essence, vitality, and spirit have all reached their peak. It's time to raise the Jade Crane Skill."

These days, Lu Qingqing had been roaming about upholding justice. She was either catching murderers or beating up thieves and lechers, causing no small commotion.

Yet whenever Lu Sheng watched her, an inexplicable sense of urgency always rose in his heart. Especially some days ago, when he learned from Master Zhang Xun that during his time as a constable, he too had encountered some strange cases. Though they had eventually come to nothing, those cases had all left a deep impression on him.

Gathering his thoughts, Lu Sheng silently called out in his heart.

"Deep Blue."

A pale-blue interface immediately appeared before him.

With practiced ease, he pressed the modify button and focused his mind on the Jade Crane Skill option.

"Raise it by one level!"

The status on the option instantly jumped, easily rising from level one to level two.

A hollowed-out sensation suddenly surged from within his body, as though he had indulged himself excessively many times in an extremely short period.

His vision also began to swim, and that previous sensation of feverish heat welled up again.