Parting Ways

The twilight deepened...

The two groups had already reached the east of the city.

Ahead lay the point where they would part ways.

Song Qinghong solemnly took out a book wrapped in brocade from his embrace.

This book had been kept close to his person, indicating its preciousness.

Song Qinghong looked at it with reluctance before handing it to Qi Yu. "This contains the Fundamental Killing Technique Diagram and the Penetrating Force comprehension method of my Spirit Serpent Martial Hall lineage... This is the original manuscript, obtained from my Sect before I came to Mount Wei City. Today, I entrust it to you."

Seeing Qi Yu about to refuse, he quickly waved his hand. "I have copies of everything. I even personally transcribed a copy of the fundamental diagram, which is more than enough. You keep the original. Brother Changshun did me a great favor, and today, even his son has done me a favor. If you refuse again, nephew, you'll be looking down on me, Song."

With the final battle, Qi Yu had single-handedly restored the reputation of the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall. He had also exposed Zhen Tianshuang's strange methods, revealing that he could control others to a certain extent, and that the disciples of the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall had not attacked him but were merely manipulated...

Martial artists have always lived by the creed that the victor is king and the vanquished is a bandit; their disputes are settled with fists.

Moreover, it wasn't just Chu Xiao facing Zhen Tianshuang. Tan Sheng, the young master of the Guanghe Gang, and Cao Jin before him, along with many others who had been beaten by Zhen Tianshuang, all spoke out in agreement, endorsing Qi Yu's claims.

If Qi Yu hadn't won, no matter how loudly he shouted, he would have been like a stray dog barking in distress, only inviting ridicule.

It could be said that the reputation crisis of the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall had essentially been resolved.

Qi Yu put away the book and said, "Thank you, Uncle Song."

Song Qinghong chuckled, then looked at his daughter behind him and said, "You young people chat. I'll slow my pace, no rush..."

With that, he led the remaining disciples away.

As for Chu Xiao, he had already been sent back to the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall for treatment.

However, Song Qinghong had examined him when he was first injured: his life could be saved, but disability was inevitable. From now on, let alone practicing martial arts, even walking normally would be a problem.

Thinking of this, his heart was filled with mixed emotions, leaving only a light sigh.

On the other side, Madam Liu looked at her son tenderly, her eyes full of relief and pride. "Don't rush, Yu'er. You two chat."

Then she lowered her voice. "Zhen Tianshuang was outmatched and his crippled state is his own doing. You don't need to worry about this matter; your cousin has already gone to handle it."

After speaking, she also led her people away in another direction...

Several miles of street, only the young man and woman stood facing each other.

In the spring breeze, willows swayed gently.

The young woman looked at the spirited young man before her, then suddenly lowered her head, her heart pounding like a deer leaping by a sun-drenched golden lake.

She had never expected Qi Yu to achieve the top rank today.

And this "top rank" was enough to overturn all the negative impressions she had of him. A maiden's heart is that simple.

At dusk, the bustling market was at its liveliest.

Pedestrians flowed on both sides.

But the young man and woman stood facing each other. The young woman looked down at his feet, while the young man gazed at her deeply hidden, shy face. Neither spoke, unsure of what to say.

In the silent atmosphere, a floral fragrance suddenly drifted over.

Mount Wei was near the mountains, and in spring, the wild mountains were filled with blooming flowers, vibrant and radiant.

When the city gates first opened, people had gone outside the city to pick fresh flowers and bring them into the city to sell.

Qi Yu's gaze fell on a flower vendor and he selected a branch of peach blossoms.

Qing Dai, who was not far away, understood and stepped forward to pay two copper coins.

Qi Yu gently plucked the most beautiful blossom from the peach branch – its shape resembled a hairpin – and carefully tucked it into the young woman's hair bun.

He didn't know why he did it.

He just felt that his interactions, stories, and acquaintance with the young woman before him were still too few.

Far too few.

Besides their arranged marriage, he and she had only had a few encounters as children, and that was it.

But now, with their marriage almost certain, it was natural to make up for the "pre-marital courtship."

Song Xue had never had a flower pinned in her hair, nor had she ever done it herself, so she asked, "Is it pretty?"

Qi Yu replied, "The flower isn't pretty. The person is pretty. The person is more beautiful than the flower."

Upon hearing this, Song Xue's mind buzzed like a swarm of bees.

Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She stomped her foot, turned around, not wanting the young man to see her blushing, and then said heartily, waving her hand, "I'm leaving!"

Qi Yu said, "I'll come find you in a few days."

Song Xue cupped her hands around her mouth, warming them before touching her flushed cheeks. She took a deep breath, turned to face the young man, and said earnestly, "Be humble and patient. This is just the beginning. Martial arts value perseverance. You can't slack off just because you got first place!"

Qi Yu chuckled, "Your face is so red?"

Song Xue turned back again and said, "It's not red!"

Qi Yu continued to laugh, "It is."

"You're mistaken!"

Song Xue said as she walked away.

Qi Yu called out from a distance, "Hey, you really don't want me to come find you?"

Song Xue shouted back from afar, "You cultivate, I'll come find you!"

The clouds dyed the sky, the horizon at the end of the road... The clouds were beautiful today.

Two figures gradually walked further and further away...

Freezing into a beautiful picture.

The crowd ebbed and flowed, like waves constantly washing the sides, until the two figures completely disappeared.

It got dark.

Qi Yu got into the carriage, his body also swallowed by the darkness.

He was returning to the manor with his mother.

The Provincial Examination still needed to be tallied, and the results wouldn't be posted until tomorrow's Chen hour.

According to custom, the top five on the list were in one column, but the top three were different.

First Class occupied the top spot, a column to itself, followed by Second and Third Class side-by-side, the hierarchy clearly displayed.

Qi Yu leaned against the carriage wall, closing his eyes and recalling his fight with Zhen Tianshuang.

Although Zhen Tianshuang lost, it was only because the opponent's martial arts foundation was too low and he hadn't adjusted his fighting style. It didn't mean that Zhen Tianshuang's yielding force was defeated.

His method was simple: one force to break all methods.

He could see others' combat power and would gather his own strongest power.

As long as others' combat power was lower than his, he could gather his strongest power in his fist.

Combat power doesn't lie.

As long as their combat power was lower than his.

One punch...

No matter how fancy your moves, you'd lose.

But doing so didn't mean his tactic couldn't be broken.

In the fight with Zhen Tianshuang, it looked like he had crushed him all the way, making Zhen Tianshuang roll and crawl.

But only he knew that he could win because Zhen Tianshuang was too foolish to use his yielding force... otherwise, it would have been a bloody battle.

If Zhen Tianshuang had understood the concept of "deflecting" and used that yielding force, he could have very likely overcome strength with softness, like playing Tai Chi. With a slight pull, Qi Yu's openings would have been exposed.

Once he suffered a setback like that, he wouldn't dare to easily use his previous tactics again...

Dada dada...

The sound of hooves and wheels echoed in the darkness.

Qi Yu was reminiscing.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind from the sensation he felt when Zhen Tianshuang's yielding force entered his body: If he could guide his body with this soft force spontaneously, instead of being controlled by others, with his own spirit as the master and his body as a puppet, then... wouldn't his movement techniques and combat skills reach a higher level?

But the problem arose: how could he obtain this power?

Go to the Golden Wind Jade Dew Pavilion again?

Or, ask his parents?

The secret text baptism seemed to be a form of blessing.

His family was already involved with the Umbrella Sect, and with him achieving first place this time, the Umbrella Sect would definitely not let him go.

Since that was the case, rather than resisting, why not think about how to better obtain the Umbrella Sect's power and make himself stronger?