Battle Arts

Before long, the negotiations were settled. The four disciples each found outside posts, with Chu Xiao receiving the best treatment among them.

After everyone had left, only three people remained in the room.

Song Qinghong took a sip of tea and said gently, "Xiao'er, we have your Senior Brother Qi to thank today. Without him smoothing things over, you might not have been able to bring matters with the Wang Family to a proper close."

Chu Xiao understood at once. He hurriedly rose, stepped forward, and bowed to Qi Yu, a smile spreading across his face. "Thank you, Senior Brother Qi."

Qi Yu was not arrogant either. He rose and returned the bow. "Junior Brother, you're too polite. You're Uncle Song's prized disciple, so you're one of us."

Seeing the two getting along harmoniously, Song Qinghong stroked his beard with a smile. Then he said, "Xiao'er, your elder sister will surely be delighted when she hears that you've been hired by Pin Hai Restaurant. Go let her know."

Chu Xiao lowered his head and assented before turning to leave.

After rounding the vermilion-painted doorposts, the smile on his face slowly faded. His fists clenched, and beneath the skin... faint veins began to surface.

Inside the Skill Transmission Chamber, soft sunlight passed through the paper windows and slanted across the floor, creating an atmosphere of peace.

Song Qinghong studied the young man before him and saw that his eyes were bright and his stance upright.

"You've mastered those two forms of the Spirit Serpent Fist?"

"Yes, Uncle Song."

"Perform them for me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Yu rose.

He stepped forward and assumed the posture. Suddenly, it was as though scalding oil had been poured over him. His body coiled, and he abruptly settled into the fist stance of Serpent Coiling Body.

"Beautiful!" Song Qinghong praised.

Immediately afterward, Qi Yu moved again. His body prowled like a serpent, and his five fingers suddenly drew together, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

The two forms looked simple enough, but Song Qinghong's expression gradually grew strange.

He had studied the Spirit Serpent Fist for decades. He could tell at a glance how much fire a disciple had.

Earlier, when Chu Xiao had trained the fist to perfection, he had already been pleasantly surprised. He had never expected Qi Yu to... reach Chu Xiao's level as well!

Song Qinghong asked curiously, "Nephew, how have you been training these past few days? Tell me about it."

Qi Yu recounted everything in detail.

After listening, Song Qinghong muttered to himself, "A crimson Blood Activating Secret Soup? A berry flavor? With a stimulating sensation..."

He wore a thoughtful expression before saying, "It must have used shed Red-Scaled Serpent skin.

"But a secret medicine like this becomes poison if used improperly.

"It seems... this prescription was specially tailored to you."

He pondered for a moment. "A pharmacist."

"No wonder... no wonder..."

Then he sighed with emotion. "To think you could hire a pharmacist to specially prepare secret medicine, and for a martial artist who hasn't even entered the Ninth Rank... Nephew, you must strive hard and not disappoint your parents' expectations.

"There are still more than three months until next year's martial examination. If you train diligently without stopping, you might be able to enter the Eighth Rank and fight for the title of Martial Scholar."

Song Qinghong had originally been puzzled by how Qi Yu had managed to train the two forms of the Spirit Serpent Fist to perfection in less than half a month. Now, he understood.

This was the power of influence and money.

Still, he reminded him, "In martial arts, diligent practice is the foundation and medicine is only an aid. Nephew, remember that."

Then Song Qinghong stood up, shook out his blue robe, and said, "Today, I'll teach you a battle art.

"This battle art is called the Spirit Serpent Skill.

"Once you achieve minor mastery, you'll be able to reach Ninth-Rank perfection.

"If you continue comprehending it and gain experience through practice, you'll have a chance to achieve great mastery and break through to the Eighth Rank. However... that step is not easy. You must often fight others before enlightenment can come."

"The Spirit Serpent Skill consists of two methods and ten forms in total.

"The first is a footwork technique called the Spirit Serpent Pathfinding Step.

"Watch carefully and see how marvelous this footwork is."

As he spoke, Song Qinghong's figure moved, his footsteps becoming light and nimble.

At times, his toes lightly tapped the ground, like a snake's tongue cautiously probing. At others, his heels rotated, resembling a serpent coiling its body. Every step seemed casual, yet each contained the essence of the Spirit Serpent Posture and Spirit Serpent Fist from before.

After finishing the demonstration,

Song Qinghong broke it down and explained, "This footwork consists of twenty-six steps, divided into four routes. Advancing, retreating, attacking, and defending are all contained within it. Watch this step of mine..."

As soon as he finished speaking, his left foot suddenly stepped a short distance forward. His body turned slightly to the side, and his right foot swiftly followed while his center of gravity sank a little.

After taking two steps, he paused and said, "This step looks ordinary, but it is meant to confuse your opponent, making them think you're about to attack so that they focus their attention in response..."

After saying that, he tapped both feet in quick succession. Rather than charging forward, he unexpectedly shifted to the side. At the same time, his palm darted out like lightning, his fingertips slicing through the air with a sound like silk being torn.

"A serpent's body is nimble. It must slither and wait for its opportunity, then seal the enemy's throat with one strike, rather than collide head-on. Do you understand?"

Qi Yu nodded, then honestly added, "I understand the principle, but I don't know the footwork..."

Song Qinghong said, "No matter. I'll break it down and explain it to you slowly later.

"Now, let's discuss the second method.

"This second method is called the Spirit Serpent Hand.

"It consists of thirty-one hand movements in six routes, modeled after the various movements of a hunting snake."

After saying this, he moved both hands, sometimes striking fiercely with his palms and sometimes stabbing viciously with his fingers.

After performing the entire set, Qi Yu was even more confused.

If it was merely a matter of resembling the forms, he could barely perform all thirty-one movements like doing calisthenics. But this did not even qualify as empty showy movements.

Song Qinghong halted his techniques and continued, "Training this skill also requires breathing techniques and skin-tempering techniques.

"The breathing method will keep your breath steady during battle and increase your endurance. It can also briefly boost your qi, strengthening the burst of your next strike. The skin-tempering method is equally particular. This is the core of the Leather Armor Realm.

"However, so-called leather armor does not mean that your entire body becomes as tough as armor. It only hardens the vital areas. My Spirit Serpent Skill focuses on both hands... Later, I'll take you to the courtyard. Skin-tempering requires a sand vat and skin-tempering paste.

"Now, I'll demonstrate the Spirit Serpent Skill once more, this time incorporating the breathing method. Watch closely..."

After saying that, Song Qinghong performed the Spirit Serpent Skill again.

His footwork, fist techniques, and breathing worked together perfectly...

His entire body was like a nimble giant serpent, weaving through the Skill Transmission Chamber.

Song Qinghong spent the entire afternoon patiently teaching Qi Yu.

Time flew. When the sky was about to darken, Song Qinghong took a black-covered copy of a fist manual from the room. He also picked up a small ceramic jar painted with a spirit serpent and handed both to Qi Yu.

He charged no money for these things.

Qi Yu did not mention paying him either.

Free things were the most expensive.

This was also a sign of closeness between the two.

"The jar contains skin-tempering paste. Use it sparingly; it can last a month. Apply it each time after training your hands."

Song Qinghong gave him another instruction, then glanced into the distance and said, "The fog is rising again. The outer city seems unsettled lately. Nephew, hurry back to the inner city."

Qi Yu bowed respectfully. "Thank you for teaching me today, Uncle Song. I'll take my leave first."

At that moment, a beautiful, long-legged young woman entered from outside.

It was Song Xue.

She walked toward Qi Yu with her hands behind her back, then suddenly took out a booklet and held it out.

"For you."

Qi Yu accepted it and flipped through it. The pages were filled with insights into cultivation, written in graceful handwriting, with both illustrations and text.

He had been worrying about whether he could master the Spirit Serpent Skill smoothly. With this booklet, his comprehension would surely proceed much more easily.

"Thank you."

"You gave me a sachet before. Consider this a return gift."

Song Xue looked at him and replied indifferently.

As she spoke, her thoughts drifted back to the past.

Back then, Qi Changshun often brought little Qi Yu to the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall, hoping to find a way to heal his injuries.

Little Qi Yu had met the equally young Song Xue in the martial hall's courtyard.

The two children boasted to each other, but after only a few words... they started fighting.

Little Song Xue was nimble. She raised her hand and punched little Qi Yu until he cried, bringing the elders running at the sound.

Then... from the elders, the two children learned that their families had arranged a betrothal for them.

At the time, they did not understand what a child betrothal was. They only thought it meant they were supposed to be very good friends.

After that, little Qi Yu often brought all kinds of delicious food to the martial hall to see Song Xue. Song Xue would roll up her sleeves, thump her chest, and say, "If anyone bullies you in the future, I'll protect you!"

Unfortunately, Qi Yu stopped coming later on.

Later still, Song Xue grew up and trained a body full of skill. She went looking for Qi Yu, only to find that former little boy in gambling dens and brothels.

Now, seeing Qi Yu turn over a new leaf and train the Spirit Serpent Fist properly, she had carefully organized this cultivation-notes booklet and given it to him.

The booklet contained nearly every problem one might encounter during cultivation, along with details that were easily overlooked.

Today...

Song Qinghong did not see Qi Yu out. Song Xue escorted him in his place.

The two said nothing along the way. When they parted at the entrance, Song Xue said softly, "Take care on the road."

Qi Yu waved goodbye.

Only after the carriage vanished from sight did Song Xue return.

As she passed through the martial hall's courtyard, she heard several disciples discussing something.

"Did you hear? Master said that Young Master Qi's Spirit Serpent Fist has actually reached perfection. He said it's about as good as Junior Brother Chu's!"

"I've seen Junior Brother Chu's Spirit Serpent Fist. It's unbelievably powerful! His attacks are fierce and swift as the wind, and his strength is tremendous. When he hits the wooden training dummy, that sound... tsk, tsk... it's practically like a spearhead striking!"

"Hmph. Master is only giving that rich young master some confidence."

"I heard he used some kind of excellent medicine. He relied on external substances to forcefully improve himself. What use is that? Once he really fights, his flaws will definitely show. It's nothing more than empty showy movements."

"Stop being sour. He's simply rich. What can you do about it?"

Song Xue did not stop walking when she heard those words, but her expression grew complicated.

However... regardless of whether Qi Yu had used excellent medicine, and regardless of whether he had worked so hard at the martial hall to pursue her, her impression of that young man had already changed considerably.

The fog had risen.

It crawled up from every direction.

The carriage traveled through the fog, and the carriage shafts were gradually swallowed.

Soon, the entire carriage body vanished as well.

The fog became a dim, hazy ocean.

Wrapped in the crimson cloak, Qi Yu pulled back the carriage curtain and looked outside.

They had long since left the bustling area of the outer city and reached the wilderness. Tree shadows either stood tall or twisted within the fog, indistinct and resembling rows of ghostly figures.

Suddenly, he saw a data value in the distant fog.

An extremely strange data value: 0~60.

The data drifted like a ghost in the ocean of fog, sinking and floating. Suddenly, it stopped, then abruptly turned and came toward the carriage!

Qi Yu froze for a moment. Then... he felt his heart contract violently, as though an invisible hand had seized it in a crushing grip.

A powerful sense of unease surged into his heart. Without knowing why, he instinctively urged, "Old Gu! Drive faster! I'm exhausted today and just want to get back and rest! Faster!"

Old Gu was holding the reins steadily. Hearing his young master's words, he could not help but freeze.

The young master had never been this anxious before...

Still, he hurriedly raised his whip and cracked it through the air with a sharp snap, shouting, "Giddy-up!"

The horse was startled. It spread all four hooves and began galloping with all its might. The carriage lurched violently, its wheels splashing mud and dust into the fog. The spray flew, fell, and then... sank into silence.

Qi Yu's Adam's apple bobbed as he stared nervously into the distance.

After the carriage accelerated, the strange data that had been gradually approaching actually came to a slow stop. Then it slowly turned and drifted elsewhere, finally vanishing into the boundless fog.

Qi Yu slumped back against the carriage's cold wall.

His mind buzzed, and he repeatedly muttered inwardly, What the hell was that? What the hell was that?

The clothes on his back... were already soaked through with sweat, leaving him chilled to the bone.