The Kill

Master Black swallowed, and a gulp sounded in his throat.

"X-Xiang Geng, aren't you going to step in?" he asked, turning his head.

Xiang Geng's expression remained calm, though he was indeed somewhat worried. Just moments ago, he had already been prepared to intervene.

But he hadn't expected Feng Xiu's split-second decision to turn things around.

The process had been less than perfect, though.

In the middle of the fight, after the man fell and stopped moving, Feng Xiu paused and shook his hand with some distaste.

These men weren't like the strange fish man from before. The fish man hadn't yet grown accustomed to a human body's construction, so his attacks had long windups, and he'd died quickly.

But these men were different. They knew how to work together, and they were even better at ambushing people.

That one trick with hidden weapons alone would have killed an ordinary person.

Even now, the three men still hadn't fled. One of them had a look of madness replacing his expression.

The other two hesitated, glancing toward Xiang Geng, whose face remained calm in the distance.

The rich young master was already troublesome enough. There was also an unknown expert over there, while Master Black was just a good-for-nothing.

"What, still not running?"

"If you won't run, then I'm coming for you!"

"Get him! Kill him!" The crazed man gritted his teeth, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

He charged first, but his steps faltered after a few paces.

Seeing this, the other two had no choice but to grit their teeth and slash at Feng Xiu's weak points with every move.

But their strikes lacked the force they'd had before, and they hesitated more.

Feng Xiu seized the opportunity, clamped a hand around one man's wrist, and twisted hard.

Bone fragments instantly pierced the skin, and blood streamed down the man's arm as he screamed.

Feng Xiu joined his fingers like a blade. His taut right arm swept out, and his sharp nails tore open the man's throat.

At the same time, as he swung his arm, the qi and blood in his lower body briefly stalled. He lashed out with a sweeping kick, smashing into the other man's chest with brutal force.

The man's chest caved in, and he stopped breathing.

The crazed man who had charged first paled. As he swung his blade again, he also pulled something from inside his robe and flung it at Feng Xiu's face.

White powder filled the air!

Having passed the hurdle of being surrounded by five men, Feng Xiu's movements had grown increasingly fluid. Faced with a familiar ambush, he stepped back several paces and held his breath.

Those few steps brought a delighted look to the crazed man's face. He turned and ran.

He'd never intended to fight to the death. His desperate, all-or-nothing act had only been for show.

"Now you want to run? Where were you earlier?" Feng Xiu sneered.

He pushed off the ground and caught up in a few strides, then punched the man in the back.

The punch whistled through the air, its force fierce and overwhelming. A series of sharp cracks rang out as the man screamed.

The force of the punch passed through his back and burst out through his chest, tearing open the front of his clothes as he was sent flying several meters.

He tumbled like a rolling gourd, his breath barely there. He tried to struggle to his feet, but his body had no strength left.

His eyes bulged with fury as he watched his own life slowly fade away.

The fighting gradually subsided. Master Black sat on his horse, utterly dumbfounded.

Feng Xiu's sudden display of strength felt like a dream.

He'd learned a few moves himself and knew a little about the martial path.

But it had only been a month, and Feng Xiu was already this strong—he'd practically reached the pinnacle of Body Refining!

Master Black suddenly came to his senses and took a closer look at Feng Xiu.

His face looked much more rugged than before, and his skin was slightly darker, especially his rough hands.

Master Black had thought it was from visiting the farm and getting sunburned. Had it actually been caused by practicing martial arts?!

Just then, Xiang Geng paid no heed to Master Black's shock. He flicked his riding crop and rode over.

He looked at Feng Xiu, who seemed to be lost in thought.

"Young Master, was that your first time killing someone?"

Feng Xiu didn't explain. Xiang Geng assumed he needed some comfort, so he asked gently, "How do you feel, Young Master?"

Feng Xiu sighed. "Not very good."

Real combat and killing Fish Mother were worlds apart from sparring with Han Che and the others.

Perhaps Han Che had been sincere and struck without holding back.

But the other escorts had been more eager to flatter him. They used complicated moves to draw Feng Xiu in, then deliberately lost and praised him as a mighty young master without equal. Xiang Geng had been somewhat inclined to do the same, too.

Compared to today, aside from the moment he'd been caught off guard by the ambush, Feng Xiu felt that fighting in the martial world seemed very simple—so simple that he didn't need many moves from the Five Force Fist.

Xiang Geng nodded. "That's how the martial world is. You'll get used to it." He paused, then added, "At least they didn't use poison. The lime and hidden weapons were nothing much."

Feng Xiu looked at him. "What if they'd mixed in poison?"

"Nothing you can do. You can only tough it out or prepare some antidote pills in advance. But poisons come in all kinds, and antidote pills aren't万能."

"Antidote pills, qi-and-blood pills, wound medicine—when you're traveling, no one can guarantee what you might run into. You have a solid foundation, Young Master, but if your meridians were damaged or your bones broken in a fight, that would be a life-or-death crisis."

Seeing that Feng Xiu seemed to understand, Xiang Geng explained a little more.

"Xiang Geng, what do you think I should train in next? Weapons or lightness skills?" Feng Xiu asked.

Xiang Geng thought for a moment before replying, "Weapon techniques can certainly improve your strength quickly, but since you spend most of your time at home, you won't need them in the short term. In my opinion, you should focus on a heart method."

"A heart method?"

"Yes, a heart method. Your qi and blood are at their peak, and you're strong. Learning a few heart methods would help you make better use of your strengths."

Xiang Geng considered it and offered a measured suggestion.

Feng Xiu nodded. Heart methods were essentially one of the central foundations of the martial path.

It was like the Five Force Fist. If you only learned the framework, you'd have the forms and stances, which trained your muscles, bones, and skin.

But learning the Internal Breath Method made all the difference.

The Five-Strength Internal Breath Method could also be considered a different kind of martial heart method, though it focused on breathing rhythms.

"Sounds good. If you come across a good heart method, keep an eye out for me."

Xiang Geng gave a quiet hum.

As the two were talking, a rustling sound reached their ears.

They turned to look and saw that Master Black had somehow dismounted.

He was crouched beside a corpse, searching through its clothes.

He was quite practiced at it. Rather than starting at the chest, he pulled off the man's boots to check for hidden compartments.

He casually pulled out a money pouch, weighed it in his hand, and grinned from ear to ear.

He didn't even mind the stench of the man's feet. He stuffed the pouch straight into his robes.

Then he moved on to the second corpse, then the third, his movements smooth as flowing water. He was clearly an old hand.

From one man's chest, he even found the two hundred taels in banknotes Feng Xiu had given them earlier.

Xiang Geng's mouth and brows twitched as he looked at Feng Xiu.

Watching Master Black rummage through the pile of corpses, Feng Xiu let out an amused laugh.

The first time he'd met Master Black, Feng Xiu had already thought the man talked a lot of nonsense.

Even though Feng Xiu was a rich young master, Master Black had managed to talk circles around him.

Back then, Feng Xiu had even envied him. He'd only just crossed into this world, and what he lacked most was the ability to deal with people.

Now, watching him pick money off the dead, Feng Xiu wasn't surprised in the slightest.

Then Feng Xiu swung himself onto his horse.

Xiang Geng followed, unable to stop himself from asking in a low voice, "Young Master, aren't you going to stop him?"

Feng Xiu replied coolly, "Things each have their proper place, and people each have their own aspirations. Don't force everyone to be the same. Everyone has their own way of living. Why bother meddling?"

Xiang Geng was taken aback, then nodded and said nothing more.

Master Black finished searching the last corpse and stood up, satisfied. When he looked up, he saw that Feng Xiu and Xiang Geng had already ridden away.

"Hey, hey, wait for me!"

He scrambled onto his horse and hurried after them.

By the time the three of them returned to Green Rock City, night had fallen.

Feng Xiu didn't enter the city. He turned his horse directly toward Dendrobium Village. Riding along behind him, Master Black's eyes shifted, and he suddenly urged his horse forward.

"Young Master Feng, Lord Xiang, I won't be going with you. I'll head back into the city to take care of something first."

Feng Xiu impatiently waved a hand.

"Sure thing~"

Master Black rode a few paces, then looked back at Feng Xiu's retreating figure. He reined in his horse.

"Young Master Feng!"

"What is it now?" Feng Xiu turned around.

Master Black rode back, dismounted, and pulled a gray cloth pouch from inside his robes. He held it out in both hands.

Feng Xiu's eyes swept over it. Through the pouch's not-quite-tied opening, the corners of several banknotes were visible.

A playful smile touched Feng Xiu's lips. "Master Black, what's this about?"

Master Black chuckled, baring several gold teeth. His face wrinkled into a mass of folds.

"Young Master Feng, this is everything I found on those men. Take a look. The two hundred taels are in there, too."

The smile on Feng Xiu's face deepened. He looked up at Master Black again.

Master Black still wore that chubby, smiling face he showed everyone, but his eyes seemed different from before.

"Master Black, have you turned over a new leaf?"

"Young Master Feng, you're joking. I just thought this money was yours to begin with. I couldn't keep it."

Feng Xiu gently stroked his chin, and the scrutiny in his eyes made Master Black feel a chill.

His smile was on the verge of slipping. His mouth had grown stiff, but he still held out the money without pulling his hand back.

Xiang Geng watched from the side, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

After a while, Feng Xiu finally moved. He reached out, took the pile of money, and weighed it in his hand.

"Master Black, when did you learn to think of others?"

Master Black rubbed his hands together. "Young Master Feng, you make me sound terrible. I've always known how to repay kindness, and besides, you saved me."

Feng Xiu laughed at his words.

You, repaying kindness?

How could you say that with a straight face? You've got some nerve.

Feng Xiu casually tossed the gray pouch to Xiang Geng. After the latter caught it, Feng Xiu remembered something and looked back at Master Black.

"By the way, there's something I need you to do for me."

Master Black's eyes lit up. "Just say the word, Young Master Feng. If it's something I can do, I'd climb a mountain of blades or plunge into a sea of flames for you!"

"Find me a top-tier martial arts manual. The better, the better. And don't try to pass off some common trash."

At the end, Feng Xiu drawled out a few more words.

"Preferably, don't make it yourself, either."

The smile froze on Master Black's face.

Xiang Geng couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing.

Master Black cleared his throat. "Young Master Feng, at a time like this, you don't have to expose me."

"A time like this? What time is that? Just tell me whether you can do it."

Hearing that, Master Black thumped his chest and promised, "Done. Don't worry, Young Master Feng. Leave it to me."

Feng Xiu nodded and turned his horse to go.

Behind them, Master Black called out, "Young Master Feng, Lord Xiang, take care! I promise I'll find you a top-tier manual!"

The sound of hoofbeats gradually faded into the distance.

Master Black stood where he was, watching their figures disappear into the night. His smile slowly faded.

After a while, he shook his head and rode toward the city.