New Skills

"Clang!" The cleaver struck the demonic Lady, scattering a few sparks, but it didn't hurt her in the slightest.

"You lowly piece of food! You're nothing but a Skin Refining Realm martial artist, yet you dare attack me?" The demonic Lady flew into a rage, her face twisting into a terrifying, hideous expression.

She slapped Qi the Third into the wall. The wall behind him shattered into pieces.

The heavy blow left Qi the Third spitting mouthfuls of blood. He lay on the ground, barely clinging to life.

She grabbed Qi the Third by the head and lifted his entire body into the air. Starting with his head, she swallowed him whole.

"Burp." After eating Qi the Third, the Lady let out a satisfied belch and looked at the two people standing in the inner courtyard.

"You two, find someone to bring me that young man he mentioned. He actually dared to kill my 'human Alchemy' and ruin my plans. The only thing left to do is refine him into a 'human Alchemy' myself."

"Also, find someone to clean up the blood and repair the wall that got smashed."

"Yes, my Lady."

After witnessing the horrifying sight of someone being swallowed alive, the two men made their way to the front courtyard, trembling with fear. Mister Li looked at the Steward.

"Old Tang, how many guards are at the manor tonight? What are their strengths? Can they take down Luo Wei's nephew?"

"Reporting to Master, there are eighteen guards at the manor tonight. Three are Skin Refining Martial Artists; the rest are ordinary men with fairly strong builds."

"Since Luo Wei's nephew managed to deal with the Qi Family Brothers, the guards we have at the manor now probably won't be enough to take him down."

After hearing the Steward's report, Mister Li thought for a moment, then said, "Go to the storeroom and take out two hundred and fifty taels of silver. Deliver it to the five masters of the town's martial arts schools and have them make a move."

"Yes, Master!"

With bags and bundles slung around his waist, all his belongings tucked against his chest, and his younger sister Luo Xi by the hand, Luo Yi arrived at the courtyard of Wang Meng's home.

"Knock! Knock! Knock!"

After eating the Tiger Whip Luo Yi had given him over the past two days, Wang Meng felt as though he'd returned to his twenties. He'd brought his wife firmly under his thumb.

Wang Meng was fast asleep, holding his wife, when he heard the knocking outside. He reached beneath his pillow for the cleaver he kept hidden there and cautiously went to the courtyard gate.

"Uncle Wang, it's me, Xiao Yi!"

Hearing the voice outside, Wang Meng peered through the crack in the gate. Luo Yi and Luo Xi were standing there, and Luo Yi was dragging an unknown figure behind him.

He hurriedly opened the gate and ushered them inside.

Seeing Luo Yi with all his belongings strapped to his body and a young man dragging along behind him like a dead dog, Wang Meng hurriedly asked, "Xiao Yi, why aren't you home asleep in the middle of the night? Why are you carrying all these bags? Where are you going? And who's this?"

Worried that danger could come at any moment, Luo Yi briefly told Wang Meng what had happened that night.

After hearing Luo Yi's account, Wang Meng worried that the group's accomplices might return at any moment. He hurriedly led the two siblings into the main room and shut the door.

"Xiao Yi, do you know who the people who attacked you tonight were? Or have you offended anyone lately? Could they be old enemies of your father's, coming to Shangmen to settle a score?"

After Wang Meng finished speaking, Luo Yi shook his head.

"I don't know who they are either. Other than Luo Wei and his people, I haven't offended anyone lately."

"I'm not sure if they were enemies of my father's. I've been home studying for the past while, after all."

After hearing Luo Yi's explanation, Wang Meng went over to Second Qi, who was lying there like a dead dog.

He brushed aside the man's disheveled hair, revealing his face.

Looking at Second Qi's face, Wang Meng felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if he'd seen him somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where.

"Xiao Yi, he still hasn't woken up despite what you did to him. The poison must be very potent. Without a way to find an antidote, he probably won't wake up anytime soon."

After hearing Wang Meng's explanation, Luo Yi nodded.

"Uncle Wang, you've traveled the martial world for years. Do you know what poison he took? Or is there some way to cure him?"

Wang Meng shook his head.

Seeing that Uncle Wang had no way to cure him either, Luo Yi remembered the Introduction to Poisons he'd searched off the man. He opened his hunting backpack, took out the book, and began reading it carefully.

Wang Meng saw the manual Luo Yi had taken out and examined it closely. He realized he couldn't recognize most of the writing inside and shook his head helplessly.

"Xiao Yi, you and Xiao Xi can stay here tonight. If anything happens, call me right away."

After saying that, Wang Meng headed outside to keep his wife company.

"Thank you for taking us in tonight, Uncle Wang."

Wang Meng waved his hand. "Xiao Yi, you've saved my life twice. There's no need to be so polite with me."

After Wang Meng left, Luo Yi comforted his younger sister, who was still terrified.

"Don't worry, Xiao Xi. We're safe for now. Go get some rest."

Then Luo Yi opened the Introduction to Poisons in his hands and began studying it carefully.

As he continued reading the Introduction to Poisons, Luo Yi grew more and more astonished. Though the book was called Introduction to Poisons and seemed to cover only basic knowledge,

the contents were anything but simple.

Besides identifying poisonous herbs and creatures, researching and mixing poisons, and methods of administering them,

it also contained detailed explanations of the medicinal properties of herbs found throughout Great Qi, along with methods for refining medicinal pills that could aid in cultivating the four realms of body refinement.

Just who were these people? They even had something like this?

Unable to guess who they were, Luo Yi focused on reading.

After reading the book from cover to cover, Luo Yi thought to himself:

I wonder if the system's Attribute Panel can record this Introduction to Poisons.

He silently thought, Open the Attribute Panel.

Host: Luo Yi

Age: 16

Realm: Skin Refining (Great Accomplishment)

Skills: Basic Archery (Great Accomplishment 125/400)

Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Great Accomplishment 1/400)

Introduction to Poisons (Uninitiated 1/10)

Traits: None

Looking at the new Introduction to Poisons skill on the panel,

"Huh?" Luo Yi exclaimed in surprise!

Why was the progress needed to upgrade it different from the other skills? It only needed ten points to level up.

Unable to figure out why the required progress was lower,

Luo Yi opened the Introduction to Poisons and started reading from the beginning.

He hadn't even finished reading it once when hurried footsteps and the sound of people whispering came from the alley outside Wang Meng's home.

Hearing so many footsteps outside, he guessed the men who had escaped had returned with their accomplices to take revenge.

He held his breath. After the footsteps faded, Luo Yi cautiously made his way to the room where Wang Meng was staying.

He was about to knock when Wang Meng opened the door from inside.

"Shh!" He gestured for silence.

The two of them cautiously went to the main room and shut the door tight.

"Xiao Yi, you heard the commotion outside too."

Luo Yi nodded.

"Uncle Wang, I think the accomplices of the people who attacked me tonight are here."

"If things go wrong, I'll take Xiao Xi and run out of town before they find this place."

"That way, you, Sister-in-law, and Xiao Yong won't get dragged into this."

"What are you saying, you brat? Do you think I, Wang Meng, am afraid of trouble? Just stay here without worry. No one would dare barge into my home."