Conditions for Exchanging the Eighteen Green Bamboo Forms

When Lu Ming left the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, the night was already deep, but his spirit was extremely excited, with no trace of drowsiness.

At this moment, he carried ten Enlightenment Pills tucked away on his person.

Enlightenment!

This was a state every martial artist dreamed of—once entering an enlightened state, all the puzzling aspects of past martial arts could be instantly understood, greatly boosting the efficiency of training.

For Lu Ming, it would have originally taken three months to train the Cloud-Piercing Finger to minor mastery.

But now, with the Enlightenment Pills, he could potentially break through within a month, completing the goal set by Wei Jinlin.

This thing was of great use to him!

For the Heavenly Secret Pavilion to be able to create such heaven-defying pills, it was no wonder they were a major force with branches in every city.

Of course, the Enlightenment Pill had its drawbacks—taking too many rendered it ineffective.

Enlightenment Pills were divided into three grades: ordinary, premium, and top-grade. What he had were ordinary Enlightenment Pills.

No matter the grade, after taking several dozen or a hundred pills, they would lose their effect, and only higher-grade Enlightenment Pills would work. The exact number before they became ineffective varied from person to person.

But generally, within fifty pills, they wouldn't lose effectiveness, so Lu Ming didn't need to worry about that for now.

This kind of strategic pill was not sold externally by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, so it was completely unavailable outside.

However, as an outer pavilion spy of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Lu Ming could buy them with silver—that was another benefit.

Of course, the ten Enlightenment Pills he had on him now were a gift from Qin Zhonghai, costing him nothing.

Just obtaining the Enlightenment Pills alone made the trip worthwhile, not to mention that the Heavenly Secret Pavilion had also resolved his worries about the future. Lu Ming's heart was brimming with excitement, and as he walked, he felt a sense of vindication.

Now, he could not only freely enter and leave the Military Service Bureau, but also walk the night roads of Red Cloud County without fear of an ambush by Shen Changfeng, standing tall and open!

The fourth floor of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

By the window, an old man in luxurious robes, with a dignified bearing and the aura of a ruler, stood looking out from the fourth floor of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, as if surveying his own domain.

He was Lei Wanchun, the pavilion master of the Red Cloud County Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

At that moment, he watched Lu Ming's figure below disappear into the night shadows, furrowed his brows slightly, and turned to Qin Zhonghai beside him:

"This child's talent is not top-tier. For him, you suppressed Guo Zhengwei—wasn't that going too far?"

Qin Zhonghai was silent for a moment, then said: "At first, I didn't expect Guo Zhengwei to show up. When I invited Lu Ming, I only thought of Shen Changfeng's interception—that was my mistake.

"But later, when I met Lu Ming, he took the initiative to reveal this matter to me, and by then, the arrow was already on the string and had to be loosed.

"So, I suppressed Guo Zhengwei.

"However, I have a faint feeling that Lu Ming still has talents I can't see through. What I did today, I believe was worth it."

Lei Wanchun mused: "Since that's the case, so be it. Since you want to recruit Lu Ming, suppressing Guo Zhengwei was the only way.

"But whether his talent is truly as you say remains to be seen."

Hearing this, Qin Zhonghai showed a faint smile: "Thank you for your support, Pavilion Master. I believe Lu Ming will not disappoint you."

Lei Wanchun made no comment, turning to look out the window at the night.

"That demon seems to be growing stronger. I wonder when it will cause trouble again. For this, our Heavenly Secret Pavilion must prepare early..."

Lu Ming returned from the south of the city to the east, feeling that the night was beautiful tonight.

A crescent moon hung low, its light hazy, while stars shone brightly, illuminating all directions.

The few clouds of gloom in Lu Ming's heart had dissipated. Seeing the new moon in the sky, he felt as if its dark side was clearly visible, his own gaze filling in the light of the moon above.

Along the way, he stepped on the dark gaps in the street, riding the gray wind, his steps light as he drifted toward the Military Service Bureau.

Passing a secluded street, there was a small grove of green bamboo at the corner.

Lu Ming reached this spot and was about to continue forward when he suddenly saw figures moving ahead.

A familiar female figure landed before the green bamboo grove, and then a man of extraordinary bearing, using swift lightness skills, leaped nimbly over the woman's head, landing on the ground to block her.

"Qingzhu, you rarely come home—why leave without saying goodbye?" This man was middle-aged, quite imposing, and after stopping the woman, he asked in a deep voice.

That was Feng Qingzhu!

Lu Ming recognized the woman's face, his heart stirring.

Then, judging by the middle-aged man's tone and the aura he carried, this person was most likely Feng Qingzhu's father.

That is, the leader of the first-rate Green Bamboo Gang, Feng Buping.

He hadn't expected to stumble upon their family matters. Lu Ming shook his head inwardly—he couldn't leave just yet, or someone of Feng Buping's cultivation level might easily detect him.

That would make things awkward.

So he held his breath, concealed his presence, and tried to make no sound.

He heard Feng Qingzhu say expressionlessly: "You've already taken the Red Token. What else do you want from me? You called me back just to take my Red Token, didn't you?"

A trace of embarrassment flickered across Feng Buping's face. He was silent for a moment, then said:

"You know your sister isn't as gifted as you. With some demon meat, she might have a chance to perform well in next year's exams and join the sect..."

Feng Qingzhu's face carried a hint of self-mockery as she said:

"Thank you so much for explaining this time. But after my mother died, I had no family—and likewise, no sister!"

Feng Buping snapped angrily: "Nonsense! Are you denying your own father too?"

Feng Qingzhu replied: "You never acknowledged me before either. Even the Eighteen Green Bamboo Forms—I created them myself by watching the gang disciples practice the Dragon-Snake Staff Technique. Now that I've obtained a Red Token, suddenly you recognize me?"

Feng Buping abruptly raised his hand, ready to strike.

Feng Qingzhu lifted her head, staring at him expressionlessly.

That slap never landed. Looking at Feng Qingzhu's face, so like her late mother's, a flicker of pity stirred in him.

But then he remembered—it was because of Feng Qingzhu's birth that her mother's health had declined, and she died of illness a few years later. Disgust welled up in him again.

His enthusiasm waning, he said:

"I'm just warning you—the situation in the city is complicated now. That Lu Ming may have the help of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's deputy pavilion master, but today's incident has blown up.

"The Shen Family has the full backing of the Lingyun Sect. In terms of real power, a county-level Heavenly Secret Pavilion might not be a match.

"Besides, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion has always favored stability. He may not approve of Pavilion Master Qin's approach.

"So from now on, don't get too close to Lu Ming, or you'll be caught in the fallout."

With that, Feng Buping turned and left quickly without lingering.

Feng Qingzhu stood there for a moment, listening to the wind rustling through the bamboo grove.

Then she turned and walked away slowly.

Watching her retreating figure, Lu Ming suddenly understood—Feng Qingzhu was not favored in the Green Bamboo Gang.

Even the Eighteen Green Bamboo Forms were her own creation!

Her insight was astonishing.

And that meant she had never taken the gang's cultivation elixirs. That was why she had agreed to trade him protection in the Iron Stake Area for ten Qi-Enhancing Pills.

It seemed Feng Qingzhu's talent was even greater than he had imagined, Lu Ming thought to himself. Without cultivation elixirs, with only a self-created technique derived from observing others, she had still reached the Meat Refining Realm by eighteen.

This might make it much easier to trade for the Eighteen Green Bamboo Forms.

After all, it wouldn't involve the gang's core technique, and since Feng Buping had taken her Red Token, she still lacked cultivation resources.

Lu Ming touched the Red Token in his pocket, thinking—if Feng Qingzhu asked to exchange for the Red Token, he naturally couldn't agree.

But if she only asked for half a Red Token, a twentieth of the demon meat, he could barely accept that.

He was confident he could obtain another Red Token later.

For now, his priority was learning a new finger technique, gaining acupoint experience, and evolving the third Acupoint Divine Ability as quickly as possible.

Once Feng Qingzhu had disappeared from sight, Lu Ming changed direction and headed back to the Military Service Bureau.

This time, without incident, he returned safely.

The next day.

After lunch, in the clearing before the woods.

When Lu Ming arrived, Feng Qingzhu was already there, leaning against a massive rock, her head resting on a green bamboo, watching the clouds drift by.

Lu Ming breathed a quiet sigh of relief—at least she hadn't listened to her father and cut ties with him.

He walked over and got straight to the point: "Senior Sister Feng, I want to learn the Eighteen Green Bamboo Forms. Would you teach me? You can name a condition in exchange."

Feng Qingzhu glanced at him:

"You've already learned so many martial arts, and you're still not satisfied? You want the Eighteen Green Bamboo Forms too?"

Lu Ming smiled: "I, Lu Ming, believe in the more the merrier when it comes to martial arts. If you're willing to teach, name your terms now."

Feng Qingzhu was silent for a moment, then looked up at the clouds and said softly:

"Today... can you tell me one more hour of stories?"

Lu Ming had just reached into his pocket for the Red Token, ready to pull it out. Hearing this, his hand froze.

He hadn't expected such a condition.

Her words carried a hint of pleading.

He saw that her face still held a trace of aloof pride, but in his perception, Feng Qingzhu's heart at that moment was like the clouds above—scattered by the slightest wind.