Qi Yu

Bang!

A heavy punch slammed into the sandbag, but the bag didn't budge. The young man's fist, however, had already turned red.

Bang!!

Another punch. The young man poured all his strength into it, but the sandbag, as if in pity, only swayed slightly. His fist grew redder, a painful sight.

Mount Wei City, Outer City, Spirit Serpent Martial Hall.

Early winter, early morning...

Only two people were present.

The main hall was spacious, sunlight streaming through the carved window lattices, casting patches of light and shadow.

The slender young man's punching figure became part of this interplay of light and shadow.

The hall master watched from not far away.

The young man wore training attire made of top-tier brocade, paired with black cotton lantern pants. The material was superior, and the pant legs were embroidered with exquisite golden cloud patterns – a signature style from the "Heaven Cloud Clothing Shop," the premier fabric store in the inner city. These pants alone were worth nearly half a month's income for an ordinary family. He wore deerskin boots, a golden silk belt around his waist, and hanging from the belt was a small sachet embroidered with a rose pattern. It looked like a token of love from some young lady, and wearing it on his belt served as a reminder to others – this young master was taken, so no vixen from any direction should try to seduce him.

Compared to his luxurious attire, the young man's punches were pathetically weak.

The hall master watched quietly, then suddenly spoke to stop him, saying, "Young Master Qi Yu, haste makes waste. Today is just for stretching your muscles, so let's stop here for now."

The young man let out a low roar from his throat and slammed another punch into the sandbag. Then, he froze, as if turned into a statue, eyes tightly shut, a look of unwillingness still on his lips. He held that powerless pose for several breaths before slowly retracting his fist.

Immediately after, he bent over, gasping for air, and began to cough.

The sun was bright outside this early in the morning.

Outside the window, the hustle and bustle of the city gradually grew louder, and a song sung by a childish voice drifted in.

The voice was ethereal and distant, but the lyrics carried a strange tone:

"When it snows, use a big black umbrella. A weak woman needs a strong man by her side. Don't visit graves in the twelfth lunar month. An eight-bearer sedan chair carries a coffin for the underworld."

Upon hearing the song, the hall master frowned deeply and said, "This Umbrella Sect is wicked. Young Master Qi Yu, it's best to stay away from them."

Qi Yu nodded.

The hall master raised his voice and called out loudly, "Song Xue, bring a blood-activating medicinal pack for Young Master to use for a medicinal bath."

As the words fell, a figure quickly flashed out from the training grounds across the courtyard. The sound of "tap-tap" footsteps grew closer, and soon a spirited young woman in training attire emerged, carrying two medicinal packs. She handed them to Qi Yu, her gaze sweeping over the rose sachet on his waist.

Qi Yu suddenly took off the sachet and looked at the young woman named Song Xue, handing it to her. "Here, take it."

Song Xue was genuinely taken aback.

The hall master was also taken aback.

They couldn't help but be stunned.

Speaking of which, this brings us to the relationship between the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall, the Qi Family, and Qi Yu.

The Qi Family was a prominent family in Mount Wei City, with numerous businesses spanning various industries. They even controlled the Eastern Commandant of the "Wei Mountain Five Directions Commandant" through their influence in "selling official positions," effectively turning the Eastern Commandant's "Poison Water Army" into their private force.

The Spirit Serpent Martial Hall was a respectable martial arts school in the outer city of Mount Wei City. Its master was "Spirit Serpent Vajra" Song Qinghong, a master of the seventh-rank Penetrating Force realm. Experts of this level were few in Mount Wei City, and in the chaotic outer city, it was a force that no one dared to provoke lightly.

Qi Yu and Song Qinghong actually had no direct relationship. The connection was through Qi Yu's father, the third son of the Qi Family, Qi Changshun.

Years ago, when Song Qinghong arrived from afar and wished to settle in Mount Wei City, Qi Changshun had helped him greatly.

The two hit it off, even becoming sworn brothers, and even arranged a childhood engagement.

This engagement was between Qi Yu and Song Xue, Song Qinghong's daughter.

Unfortunately, Qi Yu had been spoiled since childhood and was quite a dandy. He disdained girls who were into fighting and killing. Instead, he became infatuated with a follower of the Umbrella Sect, spending lavishly and pursuing her relentlessly. The sachet with the rose pattern was a token from that follower.

However, the method of obtaining this token was not because she was in love with him, but because he had directly donated one of his properties during a recent Umbrella Sect fundraising event, and only then did he receive it.

At this moment, Qi Yu's action of handing over the sachet truly stunned the father and daughter.

Not just the sachet, but even yesterday, when the Qi Family had suddenly sent a formal invitation stating that Young Master Qi Yu wished to come to the martial hall to train early tomorrow morning, it had left Song Qinghong somewhat bewildered.

Nevertheless, he gave a subtle nod.

Song Xue accepted the sachet.

Qi Yu walked towards the door. As he reached the entrance, he turned back and said, "The scent isn't very pleasant. If you don't like it, just throw it away."

The father and daughter watched Qi Yu walk out.

"Dad, what got into this dandy? A whole mansion for a sachet, and he didn't even meet the person properly. Now he's giving it to me?"

"Perhaps a prodigal son's return," Song Qinghong mused. "I didn't teach him anything today, just tested his resolve. If he comes again tomorrow, then his resolve is genuine."

"But if he's turned over a new leaf, does that mean I have to like him?"

"Let's see. Give him another chance."

"I've seen too much, and been disappointed too many times. In brothels, entertainment districts, and gambling dens. Once, I went to find him, and he was using his lackeys to fight with Young Master Wang. When they were losing, they ran. Seeing me, he even grabbed me to cover his retreat.

He's rotten to the core, Dad... Do you believe he was just prompted by some bad influence, trying to put on an act, using the engagement to sleep with me and experience a different kind of woman? Heh..."

Song Xue casually put the sachet away and turned to leave.

This is where the direct disciples of Father teach, and where inner disciples are guided. The training grounds next door are where everyone else practices.

The coachman driving Qi Yu's carriage is in the Leather Armor Realm.

In the entirety of Mount Wei City.

The seventh rank, Penetrating Force Realm, is the ceiling. Below that is the eighth rank, Bloodburst Realm, and below that is the ninth rank, Leather Armor Realm.

The coachman jumped down from the carriage, solicitously pulled open the curtain for Qi Yu, and then asked with a smile, "Young Master, where are we headed next?"

"Back to the inner city, home."

"This..."

The coachman was stunned for a moment.

Why was the young master returning home so early today?

However, he only managed to stammer out a word and didn't say anything further.

As the carriage wheels turned, Qi Yu felt his aching body and stretched out, lying back on the soft rug. The cold air, carrying the hustle and bustle of the city, entered, along with the aroma of some noodle-based breakfast.

Qi Yu slightly lifted the curtain. The street he saw was still quite prosperous, but in the dark alleys behind the prosperity, and in the maze-like slum settlements behind those dark alleys, lay countless sources of chaos.

"While wine and meat rot in the mansions of the powerful, the frozen bones of the poor lie on the streets."

The carriage made a turn, and the coachman yelled, "Are you blind!"

Qi Yu looked over and saw a pedestrian pushing a wheelbarrow laden with straw mats.

At the turn, the pedestrian had almost collided with him. Now, he moved aside, lowering his head in a fearful apology.

"Forget it."

Qi Yu said.

The coachman then let it go.

Qi Yu asked again, "What is this for?"

The pedestrian quickly replied, "Replying to you, Young Master, someone in the market froze to death. I'm taking the body to be buried simply outside the city. I can earn four copper coins for a round trip."

Qi Yu was silent for a moment and said, "Go on."

He lowered the curtain, and a panel slowly appeared before his eyes.

[Qi Yu]
[Realm: None]
[Skill Points: None]
[Combat Power: 0~1]
[Cultivation Method: None]
[Blessing: None]

Yesterday, he was still a slave to the "996" work schedule, having no time during the day and playing games all night. In the end, his body couldn't take it. While playing a game called [Abandoned World] with cheats enabled, he suddenly lost consciousness.

Then, when he opened his eyes again, he had become the sole son of the third family of the Qi Clan.

And this panel, he was very familiar with.

This was his cheat.

Even the wording in this cheat hadn't changed.

The world's style hadn't changed either.

If this was the case... it meant that beneath this seemingly peaceful surface, terrifying shadows lurked.

Those shadows were step by step, step by step... quietly approaching.

The only thing he could think of was to get stronger with the help of the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall.

The reason he chose the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall was that he could not only see his own combat power but also that of others.

Song Qinghong's combat power is: 55~110.

Very high!