Tonight, Be Ruthless and Let Me See? (Please Keep Reading)

Chu Fan sat at the table, savoring the progress of his cultivation over the past few days.

For the past few days, Cao Shi had made them pair off and fight, sparring in actual combat.

Chu Fan discovered that his skills had changed beyond recognition.

His movements were swift, and he could actually keep up with Zhao Tianxing's actions.

If he focused his gaze, his opponent's movements seemed to play out in slow motion before his eyes.

If it came to a life-and-death struggle, one-on-one, among the several hundred miscellaneous workers at this branch, aside from Zhao Tianxing, he could take anyone's life within ten moves!

Only...

Ever since Cao Shi had reprimanded Zhao Tianxing for being too showy that day, Chu Fan had grown even more cautious.

Nine days ago, the day he had arrived at this courtyard, his Twelve Forms Boxing had already broken through to Minor Accomplishment.

Yet even before Cao Shi, he had chosen to conceal it.

During these past few days of sparring, he had held back by another thirty percent.

The scene of Cao Shi angrily berating Zhao Tianxing in the courtyard that night remained vivid in his mind...

"You are still too young, too naive."

"You do not know how treacherous the world is. Acting so willfully could bring a fatal disaster upon you at any moment!"

"Eight Hundred Li Qingyang County is Jianghu, and the Seven Star Gang is Jianghu too."

"Within the Seven Star Gang, factions rise like forests. They deceive and scheme against one another, fighting openly and covertly. On the surface, they call each other brothers, but behind their backs, each harbors ghosts in their hearts. How could it possibly be as simple as you imagine?"

"Ordinary talent would be one thing, but wearing the hat of a 'genius,' letting others know your cultivation and strength, letting them know when you break through—how is that any different from stripping naked and standing before your enemies?"

"From now on, remember to conceal your cultivation and strength. Do not trust anyone lightly... including me!"

"In this world, aside from your parents, no one can be trusted without reservation!"

"Be cautious and wary as though standing at the edge of an abyss; tremble with fear as though walking on thin ice... Only then can you live longer in this dangerous world!"

Cao Shi's words were earnest and heartfelt, every sentence piercing to the bone.

Some of those words also vaguely revealed that he might teach Zhao Tianxing and Chu Fan saber techniques in the future.

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

Chu Fan lightly tapped the tabletop, lost in thought.

He had always been a cautious person.

Having lived two lives, he was long accustomed to enduring in silence.

Concealing his edge and guarding his clumsiness was something he needed no one to remind him of.

So even without anyone's warning, he would never have exposed his true circumstances before others.

Before the great roc could soar ninety thousand li on the wind, it too had to lie low amid the mugwort, pecking at ants as it waited for the right time.

Yet the information Zhao Tianxing had gathered over the past few days was growing increasingly extensive, and Chu Fan had no choice but to begin considering the Seven Star Gang.

Because his Twelve Forms Boxing would reach Major Accomplishment today.

And breaking through to Blood Nourishment was also within reach.

He had to begin thinking about what would come after becoming a disciple of the Seven Star Gang.

Cao Shi's warnings, corroborated by the information Zhao Tianxing had gathered, allowed him to see the dangers within the Seven Star Gang clearly.

This Seven Star Gang...

Factions stood everywhere within the gang.

Enemies surrounded it outside.

With one misstep, fledglings like Zhao Tianxing and him might become cannon fodder in the struggles between forces and the bloodshed between gangs!

Cao Shi was not merely the Chief Instructor.

He was also one of the Seven Star Gang's two Protectors.

In truth, he was the number one expert in the gang!

Unfortunately, after the Old Gang Leader died, the current gang leader and several hall masters had squeezed him out. His authority had been completely hollowed out. Frustrated and unable to realize his ambitions, he had ultimately become an instructor here, drinking himself into a stupor every day.

He had done plenty of hard and exhausting work, yet had not gained the slightest benefit.

And his niece, Li Qingxue, had originally been the Seven Star Gang's greatest genius. She and the Fang Family's Second Miss were known together as the Qingyang Two Fairies.

It was said that she was also the Seven Star Gang's Number One Swift Saber. She had rendered great service to the Seven Star Gang, making members of the Blood Saber Sect and Ironclad Sect tremble at the mere mention of her name.

Yet she too had ended up doing odd jobs here.

It was truly lamentable!

The Cao Clan and Li Family had once possessed considerable influence within the Seven Star Gang.

Unfortunately, after these past few years, they had been completely marginalized.

Cao Shi and the others had family and lineage weighing them down. Bullied to such a state, they could only sigh helplessly.

If it had been Chu Fan, all alone and unburdened, he would either curse, "To hell with you!" then pat his backside and leave.

Or he would secretly muddy the waters and turn the Seven Star Gang upside down!

However...

Chu Fan had not the slightest interest in the Seven Star Gang's intrigues, or the open and covert struggles among the major gangs and families.

He was even less willing to be drawn into such a vortex of conflict for the sake of a few petty benefits.

The Mountains and Rivers Map and time were his most precious wealth.

With the Mountains and Rivers Map, a road leading to the heavens lay before him!

Why should he fight others to the death?

But once a man was in Jianghu, he could not always act as he wished...

Many times, it was not enough for you to avoid trouble. Trouble would still come looking for you.

Chu Fan knew that the moment he accepted Cao Feng's two bowls of medicinal soup, he had already chosen a side!

In this Dragon's Pool and Tiger's Den, he could only be doubly careful.

All fear stemmed from the unknown and insufficient firepower.

Once his strength grew powerful enough, these intrigues and mutual deceptions would become nothing but a joke.

Only by rapidly increasing his strength could he remain undefeated!

After resting a while longer, Chu Fan felt that seventy or eighty percent of the exhaustion from his earlier boxing practice had dissipated. He exhaled a breath of stale air, rose, and went out into the courtyard to stretch his muscles and bones, preparing to practice boxing.

Just then...

Footsteps sounded outside the courtyard, drawing nearer from afar.

"One person's footsteps are light and nimble as a monkey's."

"The other person's aura is steady as a mountain."

"Cao Shi and Tianxing are back..."

Chu Fan listened for a moment and immediately knew who was coming.

Sure enough.

More than ten breaths later...

Cao Feng and Zhao Tianxing entered the courtyard.

"Chu Fan, I condensed my first strand of Qi and Blood Force!"

The moment he entered the courtyard, Zhao Tianxing cried out excitedly.

Smack!

Before his words had even faded, Cao Feng slapped the back of his head. "I've reminded you countless times, yet the moment you make the slightest progress, you still wish the entire world knew about it, is that it?"

"No..." Zhao Tianxing rubbed his head aggrievedly. "I only told Chu Fan. I didn't tell anyone else."

"Hmph!" Cao Feng snorted coldly.

He strode over to the chair beneath the large tree in the courtyard and sat down, unconsciously letting out a whistle.

Only after whistling did he remember that White had already been roasted and eaten by Zhao Tianxing. He was immediately so angry that he wanted to curse his mother.

But on second thought, Zhao Tianxing had successfully condensed his first strand of Qi and Blood Force. His efforts had not been wasted after all, and his mood improved considerably.

Cao Feng merely shot Zhao Tianxing a sidelong glance and said nothing more.

Ever since Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing had given him their "surprise," his spirit seemed to have recovered somewhat. He was no longer as perpetually drunk as before.

"Congratulations." Chu Fan lightly punched Zhao Tianxing in the chest.

This kid's talent truly was astonishing.

Only two days ago, Cao Shi had begun teaching them how to condense Qi and Blood Force. Unexpectedly, in merely two days, he had condensed his first strand.

At this rate, in a few more days, he should be able to break through to Blood Nourishment.

"But I've decided..."

Zhao Tianxing smiled faintly and said mysteriously, "Even if I break through to Blood Nourishment, I won't go register for the time being."

"I'll continue cultivating under Cao Shi. More than twenty days from now, I'll let people know that I've broken through."

"Hmm... It will be enough if I register a few days before Ling Feng does."

"This is called pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger!"

"Very good. You've become smarter." Chu Fan smiled and nodded.

"Thank... Huh?" Zhao Tianxing froze. "Are you saying I used to be stupid? What kind of compliment is that?"

Cao Feng laughed. "A promising child indeed."

"The reason I had you two live here and practice boxing here was precisely because I did not want others to know your strength or when you broke through."

"The reason I taught you methods to conceal your Blood Qi was also so others could not see through your realm of strength."

"Remember, never reveal your trump card to others!"

"Others may think you have just passed the first stage, Blood Nourishment, while in truth you have already broken through the second stage, Blood Refining."

"Others may think you have just passed the second stage, Blood Refining, while in truth you have already broken through the third stage, Tendon Tempering..."

"Cao Shi, you really are sinis... wise!" Chu Fan nearly let the truth slip out.

"Chu Fan, you need not be discouraged either." Cao Feng lightly patted Chu Fan's shoulder. "Your talent in boxing and saber techniques is actually above Tianxing's. Your Qi, blood, muscles, and bones are simply somewhat inferior."

"Tianxing's foundation is stable, and his Blood Qi is abundant. When he first entered the gang, he was already infinitely close to Blood Nourishment... With such a foundation, his speed in breaking through the five stages of Martial Dao Foundation Establishment will naturally be far faster than that of ordinary people."

"I know." Chu Fan nodded with a smile.

A rare smile appeared on Cao Feng's face. "These past few days, I have been busy guiding Tianxing in condensing Qi and Blood Force."

"Now that he has condensed his first strand of Qi and Blood Force, he no longer needs my guidance for the next two strands."

"Starting tomorrow, I will teach you saber techniques: the Ninefold Thunderclap Saber."

"Ninefold Thunderclap Saber?!" Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing's eyes lit up.

Though Twelve Forms Boxing was highly versatile, capable of both attack and defense, and most suitable for breaking through the five stages of Martial Dao Foundation Establishment—

When it came to offense and defense, fists ultimately could not compare with weapons.

When encountering enemies or tigers and leopards, having a saber in hand was always better than fighting barehanded.

If they could learn the Ninefold Thunderclap Saber, there would be few opponents at the same level who could rival them!

Over the past half month, Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing had learned quite a few things from many people.

The Cao Clan's Ninefold Thunderclap Saber.

The Li Family's Seven Stars Bead Cut.

The Blood Saber Sect's Blood Soul Nine Swords...

These were the three strongest saber techniques in Qingyang Ancient City!

For Cao Shi to teach them the Ninefold Thunderclap Saber clearly showed that he truly intended to cultivate them as disciples.

"However..."

Cao Feng narrowed his eyes and continued, "Do you know the four necessary conditions for learning the saber?"

"This... I do not." Chu Fan answered honestly.

Cao Feng said, "Speed, stability, precision, ruthlessness!"

"I have watched you chop firewood. The first three conditions are already beginning to take shape."

"But you still lack ruthlessness!"

Without waiting for Chu Fan to speak, Cao Feng continued, "Tianxing need not be mentioned. Since childhood, he has fought tigers and leopards, and he once battled a Black Bear to the death. He fulfilled the condition of ruthlessness long ago."

"But you..."

"Chu Fan, when I first saw you outside the North Gate of Qingyang Ancient City, I saw a Cleaving Knife tucked into your waist."

"During these past few days walking around the Seven Star Gang, you have also kept that Cleaving Knife on you at all times."

"And you are eager to learn saber techniques..."

"Why is that?"

Zhao Tianxing lowered his head and looked at the Cleaving Knife at Chu Fan's waist.

He had long wanted to ask this.

After a moment of silence, Chu Fan said, "My parents passed away one after the other two years ago, leaving me the Chu Family Ancestral Mansion..."

"A Local Tycoon named Huang Shouliang wanted to seize the ancestral mansion. He had several thugs beat me viciously a few times, which is why I carried a Cleaving Knife with me and was so eager to learn saber techniques."

"Outrageous!" Zhao Tianxing said indignantly. "I'll go help you teach them a lesson!"

"Shut up!" Cao Feng said indifferently. "He will handle his own affairs himself!"

After saying that, he turned to look at Chu Fan. "Tonight, be ruthless once and let me see?"

What?

Chu Fan was stunned.

Then he saw Cao Feng looking half-smilingly at the Cleaving Knife hanging from his waist.

Cao Shi wanted him to kill someone tonight to establish his authority and show his ruthless side?