Hundred Flowers Sword Finger

At dawn.

He Zhi led a troop of men, arriving quickly.

"Lord Ye! Are you alright?"

"Do I look like I'm not?"

Ye Kang stood up, patting the dust off his clothes.

Last night, he had left markers while pursuing the thief, which was how He Zhi was able to find them.

He didn't want to walk these tens of miles back himself.

He mounted his horse, placing the female thief in white onto the saddle.

The female thief had already woken up, but Ye Kang had tied her up securely, sealed her acupoints, rendering her True Qi unusable.

She wanted to curse him, but Ye Kang had also gagged her mouth tightly with a cloth strip, leaving her only able to try and kill Ye Kang with her eyes.

Soon, everyone returned to Jiangping City.

The Prefect and Zhou Ying, who had received the news, were already waiting at the city gate with a squad of soldiers.

Seeing Ye Kang, Prefect Zhou looked excited.

"Lord Ye, did you capture the thief?"

Ye Kang pointed to the female thief in white on his horse.

"I have fulfilled my mission. Lord He, she has a guest pass for the Yunlai Inn. You should go to the inn and search immediately."

He Zhi departed at once, while the others returned to the Prefect's Mansion.

A moment later, He Zhi returned excitedly, holding a brocade box.

"Lord Ye, the item has been found! It was indeed at the Yunlai Inn!"

Ye Kang immediately took the brocade box and opened it. Ten luminous pearls were neatly arranged inside.

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.

Prefect Zhou slumped onto his chair.

"Lord Ye, my heart has been in my throat these past few days, fearing the luminous pearls gifted by Consort Jing would not be recovered. Now I can finally rest easy. Lord Ye, you are young and capable. I will definitely report to Consort Jing and request a commendation for you!"

Ye Kang smiled, not refusing.

At the same time, a system notification sounded.

[Ding]

[Task Complete: Recover Luminous Pearls]

[Reward Host with 2000 Comprehension]

Finally, more Comprehension!

Ye Kang hesitated not at all, immediately beginning to comprehend.

After last night's chase, Ye Kang deeply felt his own lack of strength.

He had already decided which martial arts technique to comprehend.

It had to be the Hundred Flowers Sword Finger!

This was an Innate Martial Arts technique, and its mastery would bring a massive leap in his strength!

He summoned the system and silently recited in his mind, "Comprehend Hundred Flowers Sword Finger."

[Ding]

[Host consumed 2000 Comprehension, Hundred Flowers Sword Finger entered beginner stage]

Instantly, it was as if divine enlightenment descended.

Ye Kang closed his eyes slightly, as if returning to his childhood.

He had roamed among flowers since he was young, plucking petals and leaves, leaving behind traces of affection in the bustling world, winning the favor of beautiful women and the hearts of maidens. Day after day, he finally cultivated a strand of pink sword energy, returning to its origin...

Ye Kang opened his eyes. With a slight movement of his finger, a pink sword energy enveloped his fingertip.

Even without activating it, the powerful sword energy contained within made Ye Kang himself feel a sense of awe.

As expected of an Innate Martial Arts technique!

Its power far surpassed the White Tiger Slaughtering Blade!

However, it was truly expensive. Just reaching the beginner stage had emptied Ye Kang's Comprehension again.

Ye Kang opened his status panel.

[Host: Ye Kang]

[Martial Arts: Hundred Flowers Sword Finger (Beginner), Wood Heart Sutra (Beginner), Flying Swallow Ascending Cloud (Beginner), White Tiger Slaughtering Blade (Grand Completion), Vajra Fury Intent (Grand Completion)]

[Strength: Half-step Innate (Suppressed due to internal energy cultivation level)]

[Remaining Comprehension: 500]

It was suppressed again.

If the Wood Heart Sutra had reached Great Perfection, then I should truly be an Innate master now, not just Half-step Innate.

But there are gains and losses; I can't rush this.

Ye Kang opened his eyes and found everyone staring at him.

Zhou Ying clutched her sword tightly and whispered, "I don't know why, but this guy seems more and more pleasing to the eye..."

It's because of the Hundred Flowers Sword Qi, of course. It naturally attracts beautiful women.

Ye Kang smiled without speaking.

He Zhi reacted quickly and cupped his hands. "Congratulations, Lord Ye, on your further advancement. Your talent truly leaves me in the dust."

He was genuinely envious.

Look at him, breaking through while sipping tea. Now that's a martial arts prodigy!

After a round of congratulations, Ye Kang decided to visit the prison.

Although that Female Thief was violent, her lightness skill was truly astonishing.

No matter what, I must obtain her lightness skill!

Ye Kang and He Zhi arrived at the prison entrance. Seeing that they were alone, He Zhi suddenly leaned closer to Ye Kang.

"Lord Ye, I actually found more than just the Luminous Pearl at the Yunlai Inn earlier."

"Oh? Could there be an unexpected gain?"

Ye Kang's interest was immediately piqued.

He Zhi stealthily pulled out a stack of silver notes from his sleeve.

"Lord, under the Female Thief's bed, there were another five thousand taels of silver notes. I don't know where this ill-gotten gain came from. As a subordinate with low status and little influence, I dare not make a decision on my own. What do you think, Lord? Should these silver notes be reported?"

Ye Kang understood instantly.

Lord He is quite perceptive!

Not taking it out in front of the Prefect, but taking it out when no one else is around – isn't that clearly showing his intentions?

Ye Kang then thought of Zhu Cong after the White Tiger Gang was wiped out. In this regard, I still need to learn from Lord Zhu.

Ye Kang immediately cleared his throat.

"Lord He speaks wisely. I'll take one thousand taels on your behalf first. Lord He, you can keep one thousand taels yourself. As for the remaining three thousand taels, the brothers have all worked hard this time. We can't let them suffer."

He Zhi's eyes lit up as he listened to Ye Kang's distribution.

"Lord Ye, this, this isn't appropriate, is it?"

"What isn't appropriate? I don't know anything. Didn't you only find the Luminous Pearl?"

"Right, right, right! I remembered incorrectly. That Female Thief only had the Luminous Pearl, nothing else!"

"Then that's fine. Don't forget to tell the brothers to return all the stolen items one by one."

"Naturally, I'll go now."

Watching He Zhi's cheerful retreating back, Ye Kang also felt a surge of secret satisfaction.

This money came so satisfyingly.

He arrived at the prison.

The white-clothed Female Thief shouted as soon as she saw Ye Kang.

"Scoundrel! Scoundrel! Scoundrel! What did you do to me!"

"Young lady, this official was ordered to arrest you. What else could I do?"

"Then how did you know I was a young lady!"

"Young lady, don't overthink it. Be careful not to anger yourself."

Ye Kang calmly shook his head.

Seeing this, the Female Thief could only snort coldly.

Ye Kang continued, "Young lady, you will soon return with me to the Imperial City Department. Once you enter the Death Prison, your life and death will no longer be in your hands."

"So what! Since I, Dai Huanhuan, dared to steal the Luminous Pearl, I'm not afraid of the Death Prison!"

"So you are Miss Dai. I observe that Miss Dai's lightness skill is truly excellent. Are you interested in a trade?"

Dai Huanhuan snorted, "Don't bother. I know what you want, but my master said my lightness skill can be taught to anyone, just not to the Imperial Court's dogs! Give up!"

Suddenly being called a dog, Ye Kang was a bit stunned.

But after thinking about it carefully, there was nothing wrong with it.

It can't be helped, I just like being the Imperial Court's dog.

Ye Kang knew he couldn't get any more information and didn't say anything further. Anyway, the person was going to be sent to the Death Prison, and he had plenty of time.