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"Zhong Qing, this is the place, right?" Wu Cheng asked, looking at the small courtyard ahead.

"Yes... Brother Cheng... please don't be too hard on them." Zhong Qing looked conflicted, as though he had betrayed someone.

I'm doing this for their own good. For their own good. Even without us, someone else would come along. They might have an even worse time then. He tried hard to convince himself, as if it would bring him some comfort.

"That depends on whether your two brothers are willing to show us some respect." Wu Cheng chuckled and led the way toward Chen Qinglin and Qi Hanwen, who stood in front of the courtyard.

Zhong Qing and Xin Shuming exchanged a glance, then hurried after him.

A group of people was coming toward them. Chen Qinglin and Qi Hanwen, who were practicing swordplay in front of the courtyard, naturally couldn't have missed them.

"Is something the matter?" He stopped practicing and asked the newcomers, his expression unchanged.

"Haha, it's nothing much. We often get together for drinks with Brother Shuming and Brother Zhong. Today, the two brothers invited us over as guests." Wu Cheng put on a hearty air as he spoke.

Glancing at Xin Shuming and Zhong Qing at the back of the group, he said indifferently, "So you're friends of Brother Xin and Brother Zhong. Make yourselves at home."

With that, he picked up his Long Sword and left, intending to find somewhere quieter to continue practicing.

Qi Hanwen glanced over, said nothing, and prepared to leave with Chen Qinglin.

"Hold on. Where are you two going?" Wu Cheng was caught off guard.

"The courtyard is cramped, and it wouldn't be convenient for Brother Zhong and the others to host you here. We'll find somewhere else and make room for you."

"No need. The more people, the livelier it is."

"Better not to get in your way. We don't much care for crowds." With that, he turned to leave.

"Brother Chen, that's pretty disrespectful, isn't it?" Wu Cheng's expression darkened. The other ten surrounded them, leaving only Xin Shuming and Zhong Qing standing where they were.

They didn't know whether to step forward or back away.

Wu Cheng's expression turned cold as he glanced at the two.

The two noticed and hesitated for a moment before walking over to Chen Qinglin. "Qinglin... I..."

"Useless. You can't even get the words out." Seeing this, Wu Cheng spoke directly to Chen Qinglin.

"Brother Chen, Brother Qi, we came to invite you two to join our Mutual Aid Society."

"Surely you won't send us back empty-handed, will you?" He fixed his gaze on Chen Qinglin.

According to the information he'd gotten, Chen Qinglin was at the Body Tempering Eighth Level, while Qi Hanwen was at the Body Tempering Seventh Level. Wu Cheng wasn't worried they'd refuse. If they dared to, then perhaps...

"I'm afraid we'll have to disappoint you, brothers. We have no intention of joining any society." Seeing that these people had come with bad intentions, Chen Qinglin dropped the pleasantries.

"Xin Shuming, Zhong Qing, it seems your two brothers aren't very willing to show us respect." Wu Cheng turned and spoke to them.

Then he turned back to Chen Qinglin and Qi Hanwen. "In that case, if you want to focus on your martial arts, that's fine too. But your senior brother here is short on Body Tempering Pills for his daily training. I wonder if you two could spare a few."

"Your senior brother will remember your kindness."

"We don't have enough Body Tempering Pills ourselves. We can't spare any." Qi Hanwen replied coldly and tightened his grip on his Long Sword.

"Hahaha, very good. No one's ever dared refuse to show me respect before."

"Go on, help our two brothers test how their training's been going lately. Don't hurt them too badly." Wu Cheng gritted his teeth and gestured to the people around him.

"Brother Cheng, please..." Zhong Qing and Xin Shuming tried to say something.

"Hm?" Wu Cheng's glare frightened them into silence before they could plead for the two.

On the other side, a group of people had already charged in. They shouted, "You ungrateful fools! Let your senior brothers measure your skills!"

Seeing this, Chen Qinglin stayed perfectly calm and drew his Long Sword.

With a turn of his wrist, he knocked aside the incoming blades and weapons with pinpoint precision. He swept past like a gust of wind, then kicked out like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, sending several men in the front row flying.

His sword flashed, knocking the Long Swords from several men's hands. After a few moves, the rest were beaten to the ground, their bones broken as they howled in pain.

That was only because Qingfeng Mountain forbade disciples from killing one another. Otherwise, he could have spared them the trouble of preparing supper for those men tonight.

"You've got some skill. Let me—" Before he could finish, Chen Qinglin had already raised his sword and charged at him. Wu Cheng could only hurry to meet the attack with his own sword.

When villains came knocking, the only answer was a drawn sword.

Chen Qinglin had mastered Mortal Grade Swordplay to the Perfect Stage. His swordsmanship unleashed several times its usual power, surpassing even Human Grade Low-Rank Swordplay at the Proficient Stage.

High Mountain Falling Rocks!

His first strike was a mighty, heavy blow. Though both men were at the Body Tempering Ninth Level, Wu Cheng couldn't block it at all and was gravely wounded with one hit.

"Ah! Ah!" He fell to the ground and wailed, writhing in agony.

At this point, unless someone had started out with martial arts above the Human Tier and trained them to the Proficient Stage,

they were all practicing Mortal Grade Martial Art. At best, they'd reached Minor Accomplishment. None of them could withstand a single move from him.

"Looks like this brother won't be practicing martial arts for half a month. What? You want to give me some support? How could I accept?" He glanced down at Wu Cheng and crouched beside him.

"Ah! What are you doing?" Wu Cheng cried out.

"Too noisy." Chen Qinglin slapped his head to the side, then began searching him.

"Well, would you look at that? You really did come bearing gifts!" Seeing the five bottles of Body Tempering Pills in Wu Cheng's robes, he added,

"How could I possibly accept these?"

Hearing this, Wu Cheng felt his Blood Qi surge. He spat out a mouthful of blood and passed out.

Chen Qinglin turned to look at the other ten. They hurriedly pulled pills from their robes. "That's right, that's right! Senior Brother Chen is so gifted. How could he be without pills? We specially brought these for you today, Senior Brother Chen."

The men who'd been sent flying earlier forced smiles and offered up their Body Tempering Pills.

Chen Qinglin accepted them and gave the men a look that was neither quite a smile nor a frown. "You brothers are certainly kind."

"All right, you can leave now."

"Of course, if you come to visit next time, bring more Body Tempering Pills. And remember to carry him out." He pointed at Wu Cheng, who was sleeping soundly on the ground.

Young people really had it good. They could fall asleep just like that!

The group limped away, carrying Wu Cheng.

Xin Shuming and Zhong Qing stood where they were, their expressions complicated. "Qinglin, we..."

"Don't say anything. Everyone has their own path to walk. I don't blame you for being forced into it."

"But I hope you two bring fewer people here from now on," Chen Qinglin said calmly.

The two smiled bitterly and nodded, knowing that this was where their relationship ended.

They cupped their hands toward Chen Qinglin and Qi Hanwen, then went after Wu Cheng and the others.

"Thank you, Qing... Brother Chen." After the others had left, Qi Hanwen bowed to Chen Qinglin.

"Don't mention it. Just call me Qinglin." He glanced at Qi Hanwen, who was usually a man of few words.

"Mm." Qi Hanwen nodded, unsure what else to say.

With no desire to practice anymore, Chen Qinglin simply returned to his room.

Outer Sect Disciples at Qingfeng Mountain could claim one Human Grade Low-Rank Martial Art. Chen Qinglin hadn't claimed his yet, intending to wait until he entered the inner sect.

He'd heard that the Outer Sect Competition would be held in half a year, and that both new and old disciples could participate. The three highest-ranked Outer Sect Disciples could enter the inner sect directly, and there were rich rewards such as Qi Gathering Pills.

But Chen Qinglin couldn't wait that long, nor did he plan to participate. By now, he had completely mastered his own Blood Qi.

He would break through tonight!