When Li Xuan returned to the martial arts hall, the sky was already bright.
He was covered in blood, and the makeshift cloth bandage wrapped around his left arm was soaked through. Every step he took left a bloody footprint on the ground.
Outer courtyard disciples doing morning exercises glanced sideways at him when they saw him.
"Isn't that Li Xuan? How did he get hurt so badly?"
"I heard the firewood room caught fire last night. He almost burned to death."
"But this injury... doesn't look like it was from a fire."
"Shh, keep your voice down. Senior Brother Zhou is still over there."
Li Xuan raised his head.
In the open space before the martial arts practice hall, Zhou Peng was leading several disciples in sword practice.
Upon seeing Li Xuan, the sword form in his hand visibly paused, and an undisguised flash of astonishment crossed his eyes.
Li Xuan wasn't dead?
How could that be!
With the firewood room burned like that, he actually managed to come out alive?
And these injuries... were clearly saber wounds!
Zhou Peng's face turned gloomy as he pulled his sword back and walked over.
"Li Xuan," he blocked Li Xuan's path, looking him up and down. "What happened to you? The firewood room caught fire last night, you weren't hurt, were you?"
His tone was concerned, but his gaze was ice-cold.
Li Xuan stopped in his tracks. "Thanks to Senior Brother Zhou's blessing, I'm still alive."
"That's good then." Zhou Peng forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Though this injury of yours... doesn't look like it came from a fire. Could it be that you snuck out last night and stirred up some trouble?"
"Senior Brother Zhou is joking," Li Xuan said. "Handymen are not allowed to go out at night; that's the rule of the martial arts hall. I was simply injured by a collapsed roof beam when I got up in the night."
"Is that so?" Zhou Peng stared at the wound on his left arm. "A roof beam can carve out such a neat blade cut?"
The surrounding disciples all looked over.
The atmosphere suddenly tightened.
Just as Li Xuan was about to speak—
"What are you all gathering around here for?"
Steward Zhao walked over with his hands behind his back, his face displeased. "Don't you need to practice your kung fu?"
"Steward Zhao," Zhou Peng interjected first, "Li Xuan has a saber wound on him. I suspect he left without permission last night, violating the martial arts hall's rules."
"A saber wound?" Steward Zhao looked at Li Xuan's left arm. "What's going on?"
"Reporting to the steward, it was scratched by splintered wood when the firewood room collapsed," Li Xuan said without changing expression. "The wood was sharp, making it look like a blade cut."
"Wood?" Zhou Peng sneered. "Then I'd like to see what kind of wood can cut out such a—"
"Enough." Steward Zhao interrupted him. "Li Xuan, go to the medical hall to treat your wounds. Zhou Peng, take your disciples and continue practicing."
"But—"
"But what?" Steward Zhao's gaze turned cold. "Was I not clear enough?"
Zhou Peng gritted his teeth and lowered his head. "Understood."
He shot Li Xuan a fierce glare and turned to leave.
Steward Zhao looked at Li Xuan. "Follow me."
Inside the logistics hall.
Steward Zhao closed the door, turned around, and looked at Li Xuan. "Tell me the truth, where did you go last night?"
"After the firewood room caught fire, I was at the medical hall," Li Xuan said.
"The medical hall?" Steward Zhao walked up to him, suddenly reached out to grab the cloth bandage on his left arm, and yanked hard—
The bandage fell away, revealing the gruesome wound beneath.
The flesh was turned outward, deep to the bone, with clean edges. It was clearly inflicted by a sharp weapon.
"Was this scratched by wood?" Steward Zhao stared at him.
Li Xuan remained silent.
"Li Xuan, I don't care what you went to do," Steward Zhao released his grip, "but remember—the martial arts hall has its rules. Handymen going out at night, once caught, get fifty whip lashes at the lightest, and expulsion from the martial arts hall at the heaviest."
"This disciple understands."
"You understand my ass!" Steward Zhao cursed, taking a bottle of medicinal powder from the cabinet. "This is 'Golden Wound Powder'. Apply it, and the wound must not touch water for three days."
Li Xuan took it. "Many thanks, Steward."
"Don't thank me." Steward Zhao sat down. "You saw the look Zhou Peng gave you just now; he won't let you go. And... the Martial Arts Competition has been brought forward."
"Brought forward?"
"The competition originally scheduled for next month has been moved to three days from now," Steward Zhao said. "The rules have changed this time. Handymen can challenge outer courtyard disciples. Win, and you directly are promoted to an outer courtyard disciple. Lose..."
He didn't finish.
Li Xuan asked, "What happens if I lose?"
"Life and death regardless." Steward Zhao looked at him. "This was proposed by Zhou Peng's uncle, Wu Ming, and the master agreed."
Li Xuan's pupils contracted.
Life and death regardless.
This was meant to openly kill him.
"You can choose not to participate," Steward Zhao said. "Continue being a handyman. Though life is a bit bitter, at least you'll live."
"Will Zhou Peng let me go?" Li Xuan retorted.
Steward Zhao didn't speak.
The answer was obvious.
"I'll participate," Li Xuan said.
"Have you thought it through?" Steward Zhao stared at him. "Zhou Peng will definitely arrange for someone to deal with you, and it will be the most ruthless kind. Once you step onto the arena, it's a battle of life and death. No one can interfere."
"I've thought it through."
Steward Zhao looked at him for a long time, then sighed. "Fine. Since you've decided, I won't stop you. Tend to your injuries well these three days. Whatever medicine you need, come find me."
"Yes."
Li Xuan withdrew from the logistics hall.
The wound on his left arm was still seeping blood, but he gripped the Golden Wound Powder in his hand tightly.
Three days.
He only had three days.
The firewood room had burned down, and the handymen were temporarily assigned to a dilapidated side room in the southwest corner of the martial arts hall. Eight people were squeezed into one room, sharing a common platform where even turning over was difficult.
Li Xuan sat on his bunk in the corner and opened the Golden Wound Powder.
The medicinal powder sprinkled onto the wound, bringing a sharp, intense burning pain. He clenched his teeth and cold sweat broke out on his forehead, but his hand didn't stop moving.
By the time the wound was tended to, he was soaked in sweat.
"Li Xuan," Zhang He edged over, handing him a bowl of water. "Are... are you really going to participate in the competition?"
"Mn."
"But you're hurt like this..." Zhang He looked at his left arm. "In three days, the wound won't even heal."
"Even if it doesn't heal, I still have to fight," Li Xuan took a sip of water. "Zhou Peng won't give me any more time."
"Why not..." Zhang He lowered his voice. "I heard the black market sells 'Muscle-Growing Powder', which can make wounds heal quickly. It's just... a bit expensive."
"How much silver?"
"Ten taels of silver, or thirty Contribution Points."
Li Xuan fell silent.
He only had five contribution point wooden plaques left on his person right now, and as for silver, he didn't have a single coin.
"I'll go ask the other brothers," Zhang He said. "If everyone chips in, we should be able to scrape some together."
"No need," Li Xuan shook his head. "Your contribution points aren't much either."
"But—"
"I have a way," Li Xuan said.
He fished the Vitality Pills given by Ying Qi out of his bosom, poured out two, and swallowed them.
The pills entered his abdomen, turning into a wave of heat that surged toward the wound. A numb, itchy sensation arose, and the wound began to slowly heal.
But it still wasn't enough.
He needed more energy.
Potential Points!
Li Xuan opened the panel.
Potential: 0.12
Killing ordinary people no longer granted potential; only killing Demonic Beasts or stronger martial artists could yield it.
Yet where was he supposed to find a Demonic Beast right now?
Just as he was thinking, footsteps sounded from outside.
"Is Li Xuan here?" An unfamiliar voice called out.
Li Xuan raised his head.
A thin, tall handyman in his twenties stood at the entrance, with a scar on his face.
"I am."
"Someone asked me to pass along a message," the thin, tall man said. "The old spot in the back mountain, someone is waiting for you."
The old spot?
A stir went through Li Xuan's heart.
"Who?"
"Go and you'll know." After saying this, the thin, tall man turned and left.
Li Xuan pondered for a moment, then stood up.
"Li Xuan," Zhang He pulled on his sleeve. "Beware of foul play."
"I know," Li Xuan nodded. "I'll go take a look."
In the back mountain, at the abandoned kiln cave.
When Li Xuan arrived, the old handyman was already waiting inside the cave.
"You're here?" The old handyman was smoking a dry tobacco pipe, smoke swirling around him.
"You were looking for me?"
"I heard you're going to participate in the competition?" The old handyman asked.
"Yes."
"Courting death." The old handyman spat out two words. "The person Zhou Peng arranged is named 'Wang Mang', an outer courtyard disciple at the Body Tempering third layer. But this is only his surface strength. He has taken a 'Mad Blood Pill'."
"Mad Blood Pill?"
"A forbidden drug," the old handyman said. "After taking it, one's strength doubles, lasting for the duration of an incense stick. Zhou Peng bribed Wang Mang with five hundred taels of silver to kill you in the arena."
Strength doubling.
Body Tempering third layer, strength at 1.5, doubling meant 3.0!
This was already approaching the level of the Body Tempering fifth layer.
"Doesn't the master care?" Li Xuan asked.
"He can't manage it," the old handyman shook his head. "Mad Blood Pills are almost untraceable after ingestion, unless caught on the spot. But on the arena, who has evidence?"
Li Xuan fell silent.
"Furthermore," the old handyman looked at him, "your injuries are too severe; three days won't be enough for you to recover at all. Even without Wang Mang, you couldn't beat any outer courtyard disciple."
"Then what do you mean?"
"Give up," the old handyman said. "Leave the martial arts hall and go somewhere else. With your talent, you can make something of yourself anywhere."
Li Xuan shook his head. "I'm not leaving."
"Why?" The old handyman frowned. "As long as the green hills remain, there's no need to worry about firewood. Once you're dead, you have nothing left."
"If I leave, I lose," Li Xuan said. "Besides, if I leave, what will happen to Zhang He, Wang Laoshi, and the others? Will Zhou Peng let them go?"
The old handyman stared at him for a long time, then sighed. "Fine. Since you've decided, I'll give you something."
He pulled a thin booklet from his bosom and tossed it over.
Li Xuan caught it.
The cover of the booklet was blank. Opening it, he found handwritten characters inside.
An incomplete volume of the Blade Breaking Saber Technique.
A mediocre mortal-grade martial art.
"This is the saber technique I used when I was young," the old handyman said. "There are only three stances: Wind Breaking, Stream Severing, and Mountain Splitting. Master the first stance, and you can cut through ordinary blades and swords. Master the second stance, and you can break through defenses below the Body Tempering fourth layer. The third stance... I never managed to master it back then."
Li Xuan gripped the booklet tightly. "Many thanks."
"Don't thank me yet," the old handyman said. "This saber technique values intent over form, focusing on breaking all techniques with a single blade. How much you can comprehend in three days depends on yourself."
Having spoken, he turned to leave.
"Senior," Li Xuan called out to him. "Why are you helping me?"
The old handyman's footsteps paused.
"Because..." He glanced back, his gaze complex. "When I was young, I was just like you. Unwilling to bow my head, unwilling to admit defeat. Later... I lost, lost an arm, and spent ten years sweeping floors at the martial arts hall."
He paused. "I don't want to watch you walk my old path. But if you insist on walking it... then walk it to the very end, and don't look back."
His figure vanished into the cave entrance.
Li Xuan gripped the saber technique booklet tightly, his gaze resolute.
Three days of time passed in the blink of an eye.
These three days, Li Xuan barely closed his eyes.
He applied medicine and tended to his wounds by day, and practiced his saber by night.
The Blade Breaking Saber Technique was indeed difficult to practice. The first stance, "Wind Breaking", demanded strikes swift as the wind, fast and accurate. He practiced it two thousand times before he barely grazed the threshold.
The injury on his left arm wasn't fully healed, and every swing of the blade tugged at the wound, making the cold sweat stream down from the pain.
Not enough.
Far from enough.
Yet he had no time left.
Before you continue