A Dark and Stormy Night for Murder, Thief Gang Leader Chen Shuisheng? He's Made It Big!

"In a normal state, circulating my blood-qi can last about 20 seconds. If I erupt with a lethal strike concentrated on a single point, I fear I can only sustain it for one move!"

"Blood-qi... I never expected that merely bringing the Baji Fist Introductory Foundation to the minor completion stage would allow me to temper blood-qi. If this news were to spread, it would surely cause an uproar. I had better wait until the Foundation reaches major completion and the duration is longer before revealing that I have become a Blood-Tempering Realm martial artist."

"Blood-Tempering Realm... it truly is worlds apart from an ordinary person!"

Under the cover of night.

In the backyard.

Shi Wen observed the discarded millstone, now snapped into two pieces, by the dim moonlight.

A strange, indescribable look flashed in his eyes.

No wonder those Inner Courtyard disciples didn't even consider the Outer Courtyard disciples as human beings. With the absurd explosive power one possesses in the Blood-Tempering Realm, how could they possibly view ordinary people as their equals?

He had only just entered the Blood-Tempering Realm, yet he already possessed such destructive power.

What of those martial artists who had been immersed in the Blood-Tempering Realm for years?

And what of those martial artists above the Blood-Tempering Realm? How terrifying must their destructive power be?

I fear calling them human-shaped beasts would not be an exaggeration at all.

"The Foundation that the Extreme Seal helped me break through to is definitely more than just minor completion. It seems to have directly reshaped the technique to fit me perfectly."

Shi Wen closed his eyes to focus, began his stance training, executed the Charging Step, and ran through a full set of moves.

And the moment he began, he realized where the issue lay.

Every move and stance of the Baji Fist Introductory Foundation, along with its various pros and cons, methods for refinement, and optimal paths, appeared clearly in his mind.

He did not need to think; his muscle memory moved subconsciously.

He could execute the most optimal moves!

The stance training, the Charging Step, and the six lethal strikes had all undergone subtle changes, as if this foundation technique had been directly improved into a martial art belonging solely to him, perfectly suited to his cultivation.

For example, before, he had followed the stance training method taught by Yan Kai, which was a method passed down through generations.

The Charging Step and the six lethal strikes were the same.

They were all like this, passed down from ancestors to descendants.

But the problem was that every martial artist had a different height, limb length, and build, so there would inevitably be parts that felt awkward when practicing the fist.

To practice rigidly was merely to force oneself to fit that standard.

Those with insight could integrate and master it, refining it into something suitable for themselves; this was the realm of perfection.

Some people practiced diligently step-by-step, and over time, they could reach major completion, barely achieving perfection.

But Shi Wen felt that the Extreme Seal had directly transformed the fist technique into the shape most suitable for his own practice!

If his previous training was just training, now practicing felt as simple as breathing. Every move and stance was refined to a state of mastery; he had a sense for exactly where he wanted to strike and how much force to exert, as if he had been immersed in this path for many years.

What was even more absurd was that this fist technique felt as if it had been created specifically for his height, build, and limb length—it was incredibly intuitive and fitting!

Furthermore.

He noticed that his previously well-fitting short-sleeved training clothes felt somewhat tight.

With the help of the moonlight, Shi Wen saw that the muscles on his body were toned and solid, his height seemed to have increased slightly, and his frame felt a bit larger as well.

Beyond that, his base strength had also increased significantly.

Previously, lifting a hundred-pound object was a struggle, but now, the half-millstone, weighing about a hundred pounds, felt effortless to lift.

[Extreme Seal]

[Baji Fist Introductory Foundation: Minor Completion (2/100) Trait: Penetrating Momentum]

"Hm? When did a trait appear?"

"Could it be that the reason I was able to break the millstone with one elbow was because of the Penetrating Momentum trait? I wonder if other Inner Courtyard disciples who tempered blood-qi using foundation techniques possess such a trait?"

Shi Wen took a deep breath.

He channeled his blood-qi to his fingertips and exerted force to pierce the broken half of the millstone; a hole immediately appeared in the sandstone.

But this was far more taxing than the eruption of the Heart-Piercing Elbow.

"Now, the roles of hunter and prey have reversed."

Shi Wen thought of San Qingzi's detestable face, and killing intent surged within him.

He did not immediately go to find anyone.

Instead, he silently familiarized himself with the minor completion foundation technique in the backyard, eating Stone Raw Meat and Blood-Nourishing Paste to replenish his stamina.

Dark clouds gathered, obscuring the moonlight.

Creak~

Shi Wen gently closed the door and walked toward the dark alleyway.

The night was pitch black, and a light, drizzling rain began to fall from the sky. Black Cloud County, which thrived by the water, was rainy year-round, which was also the origin of the county's name.

Shi Wen moved rapidly through the streets and alleys, heading toward increasingly remote areas.

The predecessor grew up in Peace Lane and had once, by chance, stumbled upon the hidden residence of San Qingzi within the alleyway alongside a playmate.

As he drew closer, Shi Wen slowed his pace.

The area before his eyes was a cluster of long-neglected alleys; it was rumored that this place was haunted, causing many to move away.

Upon arriving, Shi Wen spotted Dog Laizi, a hoodlum from the Thief Gang, squatting by the roadside on lookout duty. The man was a lackey of San Qingzi, constantly trailing at his side.

Shi Wen crept over on tiptoe, suddenly clamped his hand around Dog Laizi's throat, and channeled his blood energy, crushing the neck with raw force.

Before Dog Laizi could even struggle, his eyes bulged, and he died on the spot!

Not taking any chances, Shi Wen used a rusted blade to slit the man's throat. After confirming there was no reaction, he tossed the body behind a derelict wall and observed the alley.

Perhaps San Qingzi truly had no one else to use.

Aside from this hoodlum on watch, Shi Wen saw no one else.

Shi Wen crept toward the small hut.

He peered through a tattered window, only to see that the person lying on the bed inside was not San Qingzi.

Instead, it was a dark-faced man with a bare torso covered in bandages, sleeping in a delirious state, his complexion looking quite poor.

"Is that the Thief Gang boss, Chen Shuisheng?"

Shi Wen was startled; he had not expected the Thief Gang leader to be hiding here.

However, upon reflection, he found it understandable.

After all, the Robbery Gang had occupied Peace Lane and was surely searching everywhere for Chen Shuisheng. If he were to run about, he would certainly be discovered.

Even if he escaped Peace Lane, he might be captured by another gang and handed over to the Robbery Gang for a reward.

Even his usual lairs and hideouts would likely be turned upside down.

But who would have guessed that Chen Shuisheng would come to hide in his henchman's "safe house"?

This hut was very ordinary, a dilapidated shack sealed with wooden planks. Such structures were everywhere in Peace Lane; even if the Robbery Gang passed by, they would never imagine that the former Thief Gang boss, Chen Shuisheng, would be hiding in such a place.

After a moment of thought, Shi Wen observed the position where Chen Shuisheng was leaning against the wall, and a plan suddenly formed.

Shi Wen crept to the other side of the wooden hut and calmed his mind.

Suddenly, he executed Heavenly Spring Treading, his lower body rooted as if forged from iron. With power rising from his feet, he twisted his waist and hips, instantly channeling his entire strength—and that sliver of blood energy—into his hands. He hooked his fingers like a sharp blade, piercing through the wooden planks. His five fingers, acting like an eagle's claw, tore through flesh and blood. With an explosive burst of strength, he pulled the target toward his chest while simultaneously unleashing a full-force Heart-Piercing Elbow!

BOOM!!

Like a savage beast, he smashed the wooden wall to pieces. The man inside had not even had time to react.

He was grabbed by the throat by Shi Wen and pulled directly into the path of the incoming iron elbow.

This technique was something Shi Wen had heard about while listening to the idle chatter of senior disciples at the Fist Academy.

They said the most explosive killing move of the Heart-Piercing Elbow was not to knock someone flying, but to grab them and pull them into the strike, then condense the force into a short-range burst—not even the King of Hell could save someone from that!

The cost of performing this move was quite high!

Over the past few days, he had practiced this move while sparring with Li Tiezhu.

This method was indeed ruthless!

Pfft!

Chen Shuisheng's throat was pierced first, then his back suffered a heavy blow. Ribs snapped and protruded from his chest, and his internal organs and intestines spilled all over the floor!!

Fearing that this tiger of the Thief Gang might not be dead, Shi Wen used the iron shard to slit the throat again and grabbed a rock to smash the skull.

Only when the headless corpse stopped twitching did Shi Wen finally relax. He quickly took out dried meat and Blood-Nourishing Paste from his tunic to restore his blood energy, then crouched in the shadows, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a fierce glint.

The Thief Gang boss likely never imagined, even in death, that he would fall at the hands of someone who held no grudge against him!

Despite this being his first time killing, he felt no negative effects, save for his body and hands trembling uncontrollably.

Shi Wen suppressed his ragged breathing, brushed the wood splinters from his clothes, and stepped into the hut, where he saw a bundle scattered on the floor.

He went over to open it, his breath hitching.

Three gold leaves—he did not know the exact purchasing power of gold leaves.

But there were five silver notes worth ten taels each, and the remaining loose silver was roughly estimated at over twenty taels, totaling nearly eighty taels of silver!

The purchasing power of silver was quite substantial!

One tael of silver could be exchanged for three strings of coins; eighty taels meant 240 strings of coins. What kind of concept was that?

Ordinary commoners, without being fleeced by corrupt officials or gangs, and without eating or drinking, would have to save for ten or twenty years to accumulate such a sum!

And yet, he had obtained this wealth in mere moments.

And that was not even counting the three gold leaves!

Inside the bundle, besides the money, there was some Golden Wound Medicine, bruise medication, dried beast meat, a thin piece of parchment, and some miscellaneous items.

"As the saying goes, 'murder and arson lead to golden belts'—it is truly so!"

"If a small-time Thief Gang boss can carry this much money while on the run, I dare not imagine how wealthy those towering, unshakable major gangs must be."

"It just so happens I was worried about not having money to buy dried beast meat and blood-nourishing medicine to maintain my body; I'll have to thank San Qingzi later."

Shi Wen roughly scavenged the battlefield.

He then tore a wooden board off a nearby building to block the gap, making the wooden shack look unchanged from a distance.

Afterward.

He hid in a corner.

Waiting for San Qingzi to appear.

The night was pitch black, and the drizzling night rain grew heavier, suppressing the scent of blood while washing away all traces.

Shi Wen was like a beast in the darkness, patient and motionless.

It wasn't until the middle of the night that a sneaky figure emerged from the alley in the distance.

He kept looking back as he walked, as if terrified of being followed.

"Damn it, where did that Dog Laizi run off to again? He's always full of excuses when it's time to work, and now he dares to slack off on guard duty at a critical moment. When Boss Chen finds out, he'll surely cripple you!"

"It's a pity; the Robbery Gang only has one martial artist, and Boss Chen is also a martial artist. If it weren't for the Robbery Gang leader's sneak attack, how could Peace Lane have changed hands?"

"Boss Chen said that once his injuries heal, he'll take back Peace Lane. When that happens, he'll appoint me as deputy gang leader, and I'll be a big shot, second only to one and above ten thousand."

"Better go find the boss and report the situation first."

San Qingzi shook his head, a flash of hatred in his eyes.

Damn it, he had felt that everything had been going wrong ever since he ran into that kid from the Shi Family.

If he didn't have to lay low recently, he would really want to kill that brat!

Suddenly, a gust of wind struck. Before San Qingzi could react, he was dragged forcibly into the darkness like a dog grabbed by the scruff of its neck.

San Qingzi struggled with all his might, but the hand clamped around his throat felt like iron pliers; he couldn't move at all.

At this moment, San Qingzi's face was filled with terror; he knew he had run into a martial artist!

The moon pierced through the dark clouds, revealing just enough light for San Qingzi to catch a glimpse of that familiar face in his peripheral vision. He was instantly horrified, an incredulous feeling rising in his heart.

It's that kid from the Shi Family??

Shi Wen is a martial artist?

How is this possible? Didn't that kid from the Shi Family only start practicing martial arts a short while ago!!!!

In an instant, San Qingzi's guts turned green with regret. If he could do it all over again, he would never dare to provoke this youth!

Snap!!

Muffled thunder rolled through the dark clouds.

In the rainy night, the youth departed rapidly through the deep alley...