Shang Xin Lei

"Five thousand!"

Yan Qing exhaled a long breath, completing five thousand wholehearted punches. He was covered in a light sweat, but felt refreshed.

The benefits brought by the Martial Arts Genius milestone far exceeded expectations. Yan Qing, who initially punched without any technique, gradually mastered the force exertion skills of his hands, arms, shoulders, and waist. Later, his punches even produced a sonic boom. More importantly, he found even such a simple action as punching very interesting, and he still felt unsatisfied after practicing for an entire afternoon.

Friends who have failed to lose weight all know that the most troublesome thing about exercise is that it's 'boring'. Exercises such as running, swimming, and fat-burning training combinations are tiring, but the inability to gain enjoyment from the exercise process is why many people find it difficult to persist. Conversely, many people enjoy team sports such as basketball and badminton, and they don't complain even if they are so tired on hot days that they can't get out of bed the next day, because they are not exercising for the sake of exercise, but simply for fun.

Yan Qing was very sure that he had no interest in exercise in the past, but now he can practice boxing with such enthusiasm, which is obviously thanks to Martial Arts Genius. As the milestone describes, a true Martial Arts Genius is not someone with high Comprehension, but someone who can find joy in hard work.

This is of great significance to Yan Qing—he has finally found a second form of entertainment!

Although he likes playing games very much, playing the same game for so many days without any other entertainment is a bit unbearable even for Yan Qing, who considers himself a hardcore gamer.

Dinner was naturally still prepared by Night Four's private kitchen. As the team leader, he was qualified to have the chef cater to Yan Qing's tastes. As Yan Qing prepared to eat, Jiang Shi and the others in the game happened to arrive at Wandering Star Forest.

At this time, the sky was already dim, but the area around Wandering Star Forest was as bright as day, with burning torches scorching fiery scars into the night. When Jiang Shi peeked out to observe, what appeared before them was a huge camp stretching for dozens of miles, with fences made of pointed stakes extending almost endlessly, as if surrounding the entire forest.

A team of soldiers stood at the entrance, all wearing Bright Light Armor and Purple Gold Boots. Under the light of the torches, their armor appeared spotless. Compared to the Qi Kingdom knights and Zhou Kingdom soldiers, the first impression given by the Liang Kingdom soldiers was 'magnificent'. They did not seem like butcher knives used for dirty work, but more like ceremonial objects appearing in large festivals.

A clerk came to register the visitors' information. Qian Gongyu and the coachman Lin Yuan naturally had no problems, until he saw Jiang Shi appear.

"Qian Family Head, are you saying... she is your bodyguard?"

The clerk's gaze swept back and forth between Qian Gongyu and Jiang Shi, his expression becoming more and more puzzled. Just when Yan Qing thought they wouldn't be able to bluff their way through, the clerk said, "I thought she was your sister or relative, Qian Family Head."

"She's a distant relative," Qian Gongyu said with a smile. "She has now completed her studies and is starting to work for the family."

"As expected of the Qian Family, truly a place where talents emerge in large numbers," the clerk echoed, stepping aside to make way. "Please enter. A Floating Wine Cup Banquet is being held inside. If you haven't had dinner, please do us the honor of joining."

He paused and added, "Many heroes have gathered in Wandering Star Forest this time, including two prodigies from the Shang Family and the Jie Family."

"What? The Shang Family and the Jie Family?"

Qian Gongyu, who had been uninterested, immediately became excited upon hearing this news. "Uncle Lin, let's go in quickly!"

Without Yan Qing even needing to ask, Qian Gongyu excitedly revealed information in the carriage, "Although the Shang Family is only a Noble Class family, the Shang Family Head Shang Xuanwen is the current prime minister, a veritable powerhouse; the Jie Family is even more remarkable, having been a Noble Class family for thousands of years before the establishment of the Liang Kingdom, and one of only three Scholar Clans with purple ribbons after the Liang Kingdom was established."

"I usually don't have the chance to meet these Noble Class children. I didn't expect to encounter them here. As long as I can befriend one or two, this trip to Wandering Star Forest will not have been in vain!"

"Young Miss, you can go to the banquet first. I will take care of the carriage," the coachman Lin Yuan said very considerately.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle Lin!"

Qian Gongyu couldn't wait to pull Jiang Shi out of the carriage. The forest inside was even more lively, with servants and maids running back and forth, and dishes of food being continuously transported out of the kitchen. Even through the screen, Yan Qing could smell the aroma. Guided by the servants, they soon arrived at a huge tent.

Although it was called a tent, its area was no different from a banquet hall. There was even a silk and bamboo orchestra playing inside. The tent roof was hung with huge chandeliers, and the ground was covered with patterned carpets. Men and women in gorgeous clothes were mingling and toasting inside. The tables were filled with delicacies, delicious dishes, and even demon beast meat that Yan Qing had only heard of but never seen.

It should be noted that this is the wilderness, and Wandering Star Forest is only open for less than half a month each year. But even so, these Noble Class children can still enjoy a luxurious life here—of course, this is just the view of the poor ghost Yan Qing. Perhaps in the eyes of these people, the environment here is already very harsh.

The upper class of Jiang Nan Liang Kingdom can be glimpsed from here.

Qian Gongyu's goal was very clear: to get to know the nobles of the Shang Family and the Jie Family. It was also easy to find the targets, because everyone here had the same idea as her. Everyone had already formed two circles around the two nobles, and it would take some effort to squeeze in.

But Yan Qing had no interest in getting to know any nobles, and turned to the table to stock up on food. The demon beast meat was good, the roasted meat looked very crispy, and what, there were even arm-length mantis shrimps? Holy crap, were those ice cream kept cold by ice piles?

Just as Yan Qing was frantically devouring food through the screen, a fierce quarrel suddenly came from the side, and Qian Gongyu's voice was among them.

"Luo Weijin, dare to say that again?" Qian Gongyu said coldly, "Don't think I wouldn't dare—"

"Thought you wouldn't dare bite? Oh, I never thought that." The youth arguing with Qian Gongyu laughed sarcastically, "Your threat is so powerful, I'm very scared."

Yan Qing glanced over; the Identity Wristband of the youth named Luo Weijin was bamboo green, representing that his family belonged to the second tier of the Esteemed Class, one level higher than the Qian Family.

Qian Gongyu's face flushed red with anger at Luo Weijin's words, but she didn't act rashly. Instead, she turned and left directly. Luo Weijin raised his eyebrows at this and said loudly to the people around him, "Don't underestimate the Baiyun Qian Clan. Although they are just blue belts, their family can steadily cultivate Third-Rank Heralds, but they have to pay a price. For example, the previous Qian Family Head—"

"Luo Weijin!" Qian Gongyu pointed outside, "If you want to take revenge on the Qian Family, we can go out and fight now, but you are not allowed to slander my father!"

"As expected of the only remaining bloodline of the Qian Family, so barbaric. Discovering that you can't win with words, you want to solve the problem with violence?" Luo Weijin laughed, "But I'm not taking revenge, just introducing the Qian Family's background to my friends. Surely stating the facts isn't revenge on the Qian Family? That doesn't make sense, does it?"

Qian Gongyu bit her silver teeth, but she didn't dare to leave and let Luo Weijin spout nonsense. She could only stand alone in the crowd, lowering her head to hide her expression, enduring the humiliation of her family by others. She even began to regret why she had come to Wandering Star Forest. Ever since her father died, she had tried to reduce social interactions as much as possible, just to dilute the influence of the past and wait for time to forget the Qian Family's unbearable history.

She shouldn't have come for the Wandering Star Forest's rewards... If she had stayed at home, no one would have remembered the Qian Family, and no one would have humiliated the Qian Family...

I shouldn't have...

"Ah!!"

A scream suddenly rang out in the tent. Qian Gongyu suddenly raised her head and saw Luo Weijin, who had been talking loudly, knocked to the ground, with two teeth knocked out and his mouth full of blood. The crowd scattered like startled fish, except for a sword-wielding girl standing expressionlessly in place. She was like a stone thrown into a lake, carefree, fearless, and ignorant.

It was 'Jiang Shi'!

"He's hitting people! He's hitting people!"

"A mere guard dares to beat a member of the Esteemed Class, what kind of system is this!"

"Wow, that was a hard hit, the teeth even flew out."

"What a pity, such a beautiful guard..."

Qian Gongyu quickly pulled 'Jiang Shi' to the side and said anxiously, "You, how could you hit him? You are just a black belt and he is a green belt. It is already rebellious to offend a superior, let alone offending someone two levels above you... Even my Qian Family can't protect you!"

"Did that relieve your anger?"

"Huh?"

"Young Miss, did that relieve your anger?"

Qian Gongyu was speechless, "Why are you saying this now? What if it relieved my anger... It is very relieving."

"That's good then. You don't have to protect me, consider this punch as my repayment for your travel expenses."

Soldiers poured in from the tent entrance and quickly surrounded 'Jiang Shi'. An old man immediately rushed to Luo Weijin's side, seemingly using a token to heal the latter. He looked at 'Jiang Shi' with very sharp eyes, but the Identity Wristband on his hand was only a black belt, seemingly just a guard of the Luo Family.

'Jiang Shi' pushed Qian Gongyu away, using her left thumb to push the sword hilt out an inch, preparing for a fight.

The food had been scavenged, and this place was very close to the dungeon entrance. Yan Qing wasn't interested in following the local gang's rules, so he would just kill his way out and enter the dungeon.

"Catch her, catch this rebellious commoner!" Luo Weijin cursed, covering his mouth, his speech a little leaky, "Daring to beat a noble, she must be caught and publicly executed as a warning! As expected, the Qian Family is just a bunch of mixed-breed beasts, not qualified to be an Esteemed Class at all!"

"No!"

Qian Gongyu ran in front of 'Jiang Shi', pursed her lips and said, "Our Qian Family can pay compensation and apologize, there's no need—"

"Pay compensation and apologize? What do you take our Yunfu Luo Clan for? A declining household that can be trampled on with a little money?" Luo Weijin was determined to regain his face, "She must die!"

"Hehe, you can also try to protect that commoner, let me see the backbone of your Qian Family—as long as you are not afraid of being expelled from the ranks of the Esteemed Class."

The soldiers drew their weapons, and 'Jiang Shi' had also gripped the sword hilt, reaching out again to push Qian Gongyu away. But this time, Qian Gongyu seemed to have taken root, and 'Jiang Shi' couldn't push her away even with force.

The situation was on the verge of erupting, but just as everyone thought a fight was about to break out, a voice like a silver bell stopped the conflict.

"Stop."

A noble girl dressed in a red dress walked out from the crowd. Her demeanor was elegant, her expression was cold, and although her voice was not loud, it clearly rang in everyone's ears.

"Just give Shang Xin Lei some face, and let this conflict end here."

Chicken Fork has a new book out, go read his book and then give me the monthly ticket!