Qin Family Sets an Example

The man wore the sturdy uniform of the guards.

His steps were steady as he walked, clearly marking him as a martial artist who had entered the ranks.

He carried a black-cloth-wrapped object in his hand.

Qin Jiu's gaze fell on it.

His expression shifted slightly.

"Set it in the pavilion for now."

"Huang Jing, you're up next."

He wasn't in a hurry to take the Yin Underworld Soil back. Instead, he turned to Huang Jing beside him.

At this, Huang Jing glanced at Qin Xudong.

"Give it everything you've got."

Qin Xudong seemed to know what he wanted to ask. In a grave voice, he said, "The family head was born with divine strength. If I didn't have such profound inner force, I would've lost the moment we first exchanged blows."

He made no attempt to hide his words.

If Qin Jiu's strength had been lacking, that would have been one thing.

But if they still underestimated him now, they would truly be showing him disrespect.

Huang Jing listened, his expression immediately turning solemn.

"Family head, forgive my offense."

He carried his saber over to Qin Jiu and saluted. Then he drew a deep breath, and the rich blood qi in his body surged. A strange force traveled into his long saber, making the blade ring out with a clear, resonant hum.

Seeing this, Qin Jiu let out a faint breath.

He didn't dare look down on him in the slightest.

Both men were martial artists nearing the peak of the Second Refining. Their inner force was exceptionally profound. Although Qin Xudong had seemed to be on the receiving end earlier, that was only because he hadn't taken Qin Jiu seriously at first and had lost the initiative in their exchange.

But Huang Jing now—

He was like a hungry tiger descending the mountain, his presence turning utterly ferocious.

"Bzz!"

Without the slightest warning,

Huang Jing's long saber suddenly swept out.

Its blade gleamed coldly, striking fear into the heart.

Qin Jiu circulated his blood qi and inner force. His knotted muscles instantly stretched his clothes taut as he met the attack head-on, without the slightest thought of dodging.

"Clang, clang!"

The two exchanged more than ten blows in an instant.

Huang Jing's expression changed drastically.

Even though he'd been mentally prepared, when they collided head-on, the hand gripping his saber still trembled uncontrollably.

It wasn't because inner force had shaken him.

It was an overwhelming, irresistible force.

As Qin Xudong had said, if Huang Jing hadn't possessed such profound inner force, the first clash would have sent his weapon flying from his grasp.

"Wait..."

Huang Jing's eyelid suddenly twitched.

He realized that a faint force was traveling along the blade of Qin Jiu's saber and forcing its way into his wrist.

"Is this... inner force?!"

Huang Jing's pupils contracted sharply.

He hurriedly circulated his inner force to dispel it.

But in that moment of distraction,

Qin Jiu closed in three feet at once. He swung his saber around and struck Huang Jing's wrist with its hilt, while slamming his shoulder into him like an iron mountain. Huang Jing was sent flying backward, and the long saber in his hand was knocked away.

"Seems like I wasn't worth Master Huang's full attention."

Looking at Huang Jing, who had fallen onto the ground, Qin Jiu spoke calmly, his words laced with sarcasm.

At this, Huang Jing's old face turned scarlet with embarrassment.

He hadn't expected Qin Jiu to seize on such a tiny opening and turn it into an opportunity. In less than half a quarter of an hour, he'd been cleanly defeated.

"All right."

"You two come back again tomorrow."

"But I don't want to see this happen again."

Qin Jiu spoke calmly, then turned to Wang Yue. "Uncle Wang, give each of them a bottle of Bone Forging Pills."

"Yes."

Wang Yue took out two bottles of pills.

He gave one to each of them, then first dismissed the two men.

Then he looked at Qin Jiu.

"How do you feel, young master?"

"I can't really say."

Qin Jiu shook his head slightly.

To be honest, his exchanges just now with two Second Refining martial artists hadn't left him with much of an impression. First, neither man had been in good condition, and both had been caught off guard, so it was hard to say how much of their skill they'd shown. Second, with the strength granted by the Snake Demon Python Tendon, moves seemed... less important?

His brows drew together slightly.

Wang Yue smiled at this and said, "Actually, fighting to the death is usually just like what you faced earlier, young master."

"No one can tell how strong the other person is."

"When you strike, all you want is to kill your enemy."

"That's why people in the martial world don't care about rules. As long as it gets the job done, they won't rule out anything, whether it's swarming someone, poisoning them, shooting them with a hidden arrow, or any other underhanded tactic. As for techniques, they're only the greatest deciding factor when martial artists of equal strength meet. Take this old servant, for example. Whether it's those two Huang Jings or a Three Refinements martial master, one punch is enough to kill them."

"No techniques needed."

"In truth, training in martial arts and killing people are two different things."

"Martial techniques are simply methods our predecessors developed for killing. In that regard, young master, you still need to hone yourself with care. Those two men are excellent whetstones. As for real combat, a thousand words can't compare to spilling blood once."

Listening to this,

Qin Jiu nodded thoughtfully.

He understood what Wang Yue meant: there was no need to be confined by techniques. Whether he used overwhelming force to defeat a hundred skills or shot someone in the back with a hidden arrow, the ultimate goal was to take a life.

After all, anything could happen in a fight to the death.

Like Huang Jing getting distracted just now.

He could have used a much simpler method to finish him off...

His eyes gradually brightened.

The Martial Arts Arena at the Qin Mansion.

Qin Xudong returned with a dark expression the whole way.

Huang Jing grimaced and said, "Brother, what's with you? Why are you wearing that sour look?"

"What do you think?"

Qin Xudong ground his teeth. "I explained it all to you so clearly."

"Why did you keep underestimating him?"

"Ah, brother." Huang Jing sighed helplessly. "You really think I didn't take him seriously? Do you know..."

As he spoke, he looked around first, then lowered his voice. "Did you know the family head has already developed inner force and entered the Second Refining? You didn't make that clear beforehand. When I went up against him, I slipped up and was struck by the family head's inner force. I had no choice but to divert my own inner force to neutralize it, and that gave him the opening he needed."

"What?!"

Qin Xudong looked up in shock.

Then a chill ran down his scalp.

He stood there with his mouth open, unable to say a word for a moment.

"Go on and think it over yourself."

Huang Jing patted his shoulder. "I still need to carry out the task the family head gave me a few days ago, so I won't stay here chatting with you."

Having said that, he shook his head and hummed a little tune as he walked out through the gates of the Qin Mansion.

Then he ambled toward the Patrol Office.

The Patrol Office of old—

Its signboard had already been changed.

Huang Jing walked through the entrance and made his way to an office he knew well. Inside, a figure was bent over a desk, recording something.

"Brother Feng Yuan..."

"You're here?"

The man looked up, a warm smile appearing on his face.

He was none other than Feng Yuan, a Scribe of the Demon Suppression Bureau.

"Brother Huang, wait a moment. I'll have someone bring us a pot of hot tea, and then we can have a good chat."

"Forget it. This matter is urgent."

Huang Jing raised a hand to stop him. "The family head is still waiting for a reply."

"That works too."

Feng Yuan gestured for him to take a seat.

Then he took out a document, his expression turning serious.

"Yesterday, after County Magistrate and Commander Fu's team reviewed the matter, the three Qin family martial artists, including Qin Jingming, officially joined the Demon Suppression Bureau. Since the county office recognizes the Qin Family for setting an example in the fight against demons, the Qin Family will no longer be required to provide personnel to our bureau."