Lin Qing saw him charge and immediately hurried into the nearby reed marsh.
A gentle breeze stirred the reeds. Moonlight was sliced apart by their leaves, scattering flecks of light across the muddy ground.
Two figures darted through the reeds.
Zhou Heng moved like the wind, his five fingers curled into claws as he tore through the air with a whistle. Every strike aimed for Lin Qing's throat, heart, and other vital points.
His movements were strange and unpredictable, his experience hard-won.
Clearly, his hands had been stained with countless lives.
Lin Qing had only just entered the Tendon Opening Realm. Though he was no weaker in strength, he still fell slightly short of this old bandit when it came to controlling his power precisely and surviving deadly fights.
Relying on his peerless Wave-Breaking Blade Technique, he fought while retreating, his blade weaving a protective web of light. Even so, those treacherous claws drove him to the brink of danger time and again.
His sleeves were torn in several places, and a burning sting spread along his arms.
"Heh heh, you skulking rat, is that all you've got?"
"Let me rip off your mask and see what sort of big shot you are!"
Zhou Heng gave a hoarse, mocking laugh, his attacks growing even faster.
He meant to throw Lin Qing off with his words.
A glint flashed in Lin Qing's eyes.
He knew that if he kept defending, he would eventually slip up. He had to create an opening for a killing blow.
His thoughts raced. He deliberately showed an opening, letting his blade falter for an instant.
Zhou Heng fell for it, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.
His claws shot out like lightning, reaching straight for Lin Qing's heart!
Just before they struck, Lin Qing changed his footwork and slipped aside like a swimming fish.
At the same time, a packet of powder flew from his sleeve and shot straight at Zhou Heng's face!
It wasn't meant to kill, only to delay him for a moment.
Zhou Heng reflexively turned his head to dodge the packet.
In that split second,
Lin Qing turned without hesitation and sprinted into the depths of the reed marsh.
"Trying to escape from me? Too late!"
Zhou Heng roared and raced after him like a streak of lightning.
One chased the other through the dark reeds, darting at full speed as branches and leaves whipped against them with a rustling sound.
After running for about the time it took an incense stick to burn, Lin Qing reached the riverbank.
Seeing no one around, he came to an abrupt stop and turned, fixing a cold gaze on Zhou Heng as he caught up behind him.
"Can't run any farther, or have you picked out the place you want to die?"
Zhou Heng advanced slowly, his voice dripping with the amusement of a cat toying with a mouse.
Lin Qing didn't answer. He simply tossed his saber to the ground.
He took a deep breath, and the blood and qi within him began to surge faster.
Then he raised his hands and untied the ropes wound around his arms, one after the other!
"Clang!"
The iron rings collided, ringing with a clear, heavy metallic chime.
The sound was especially jarring beside the silent river.
Lin Qing revealed the iron rings around his arms, as if he had cast off an invisible restraint.
He could clearly feel the muscles and sinews in his arms twisting taut in that instant.
Power long stored up surged through his meridians like volcanic lava, yearning to burst forth.
"Then I'll give it everything I've got and put my strength to the test."
Lin Qing murmured.
Since breaking through, he hadn't yet fully tested his strength.
Now, he would use Zhou Heng
as his whetstone!
Zhou Heng stopped in his tracks, his pupils narrowing.
He sensed the other man's aura change abruptly.
The calm restraint from before had become dangerous and unbridled!
"Quit your theatrics. I'll kill you!"
Zhou Heng shouted, suppressing the unease that had inexplicably risen within him. He lunged once more, claws aimed straight at Lin Qing's face.
But this time, Lin Qing didn't retreat.
Boom!
The ground beneath his feet sank slightly. His hips twisted, drawing power up from the ground, through his waist and back, and into both arms!
A basic Hard Bridge crashed forward!
The iron-ringed arms carried immense weight, fierce as wind and thunder!
His fists churned the air, sending out a low rumble.
They no longer seemed like fists of flesh and blood, but siege hammers wrapped in the weight and momentum of eighteen iron rings!
Zhou Heng's claws hadn't even reached Lin Qing
when the concentrated, peerlessly powerful force of his punch struck him, accompanied by a sharp explosive crack.
It was as if a thousand-pound hammer were hurtling straight at him.
Thud!
Fist met claw, yet the impact rang like metal striking metal.
Zhou Heng felt an irresistible force slam along his arm, his five fingers aching as if they were about to split apart.
The iron claws he wore had actually been bent backward by the blow!
His entire arm went numb. His blood and qi roiled wildly, and he staggered backward seven or eight steps before finally stopping against a tree.
His heart shook, his face filled with shock.
Though the other man's moves were still a little rough, every strike drove force through his palms and arms with unyielding, crushing power. It reminded Zhou Heng of a rather famous martial arts school in the city.
"Iron Wire Fist? What are you to that old man Hong?"
Zhou Heng panicked, unable to understand when he had made an enemy of such a powerful martial arts school.
Though Zhou Heng was ruthless, he knew how to pick his targets. He would never casually provoke even a child with a bit of a background.
Lin Qing said nothing. He stepped forward and gave chase.
He clenched his five fingers into a fist and thrust it forward!
A rush of wind burst outward, and the air all around seemed to shudder, letting out an explosive crack.
Iron Wire Fist—Mountain-Breaking Stance!
His fist shot forward like a venomous dragon bursting from its lair, twisting as it bored straight toward Zhou Heng's heart!
Zhou Heng struggled to raise both arms to block.
Crack!
The clear sound of a bone breaking rang out.
Zhou Heng felt a sharp pain in his right arm and let out a scream. His arm hung limp at his side.
"Ah! My arm!"
Yet instinctively, he still whipped a foot up in a flying kick, aiming straight for Lin Qing's groin.
Lin Qing's arm swept across like an iron gate.
An outward forearm block knocked Zhou Heng's kick aside.
Then the blocking arm turned into a chopping strike, powerful as a mountain cleaver.
His right arm crashed down, slamming into Zhou Heng's shoulder blade.
Fierce Tiger Hard-Climbing Mountain!
Pfft!
Zhou Heng felt as if a mountain had come crashing down on him.
The overwhelming force crushed his shoulder, bringing a sharp, unceasing pain. He spat out a mouthful of blood.
His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground. His face was ashen, and fear filled his eyes.
Only now did Zhou Heng finally understand that he had kicked an iron plate.
"Spare me, hero! Please, spare me!"
"I have money, lots of money. I'll give it all to you!"
He collapsed on the ground, sobbing and snot running down his face.
All his earlier arrogance had vanished.
Lin Qing looked down at him, his gaze cold and utterly unmoved.
He thought of the Thousand-Faced Human Trafficker and all the families Zhou Heng had torn apart.
"Some debts can't be repaid with money."
Before his words had faded, Lin Qing drew a breath and let out a shout.
His final straight punch burst forth like an enraged thunderclap!
Crack.
The skull collapsed beneath the blow.
Lin Qing searched the corpse and suddenly felt something thin beneath his hand.
He opened it in the faint moonlight. Three antique characters were written on the title page: Thousand Aspect Technique.
After a brief glance through it, Lin Qing's heart gave a jolt.
This wasn't an ordinary disguise technique, but an exceptionally sophisticated secret art!
Its core lay in controlling the tiny muscles and sinews of the face and even the body, and it could subtly shift the bones as well.
That allowed someone to alter their facial structure and height, completely transforming into another person.
It also contained a method for concealing one's own aura.
No wonder Zhou Heng had escaped the authorities' pursuit time and again.
"Thousand Aspect Technique... So that's how."
Lin Qing carefully put it away.
It was undoubtedly one of tonight's greatest gains.
He stood and drew the saber from his back.
To avoid exposing the characteristics of his fist technique, he had to deal with the scene.
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