The Assignment

Training in the Tendon Opening Realm was different from the straightforward physical conditioning of the Skin Refining Realm.

It involved many intricate methods for circulating the meridians and moving qi and blood, as well as the corresponding medicinal powders.

Without his master, Hong Yuan, guiding him personally, trying to figure it all out on his own would not only produce half the results with twice the effort but also risk misdirecting the meridians and leaving hidden injuries.

He needed Hong Yuan's instruction, and demonstrating the appropriate talent and cultivation level was a prerequisite for receiving it.

Having made up his mind, Lin Qing stopped deliberately suppressing the display of his qi, blood, and strength during the next two days of training.

That day, Hong Yuan stood in the courtyard as usual, his hands behind his back as he watched the disciples practicing.

When his gaze passed over Lin Qing, it lingered for a few moments.

Lin Qing darted and shifted, the iron rings on his arms clanging.

His fists cut through the air with a fierce, domineering force.

With each move, the tendons in his arms, shoulders, back, waist, and legs could be seen tightening and twisting like coiling dragons.

The speed and power his body unleashed far surpassed those of the Skin Refining Realm.

He performed a set of basic Iron Wire Fist with such imposing discipline that it seemed to stir wind and thunder.

Hong Yuan's brows lifted slightly, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

He walked over to Lin Qing and raised a hand to signal him to stop.

"Your breath is steady and deep, and your tendons hum faintly..."

"Looks like you've broken through the Second Barrier Realm?"

Hong Yuan's voice was even, giving little away.

Lin Qing stopped and stood at attention, his breathing steady. He respectfully replied, "Master, a few days ago, I had a sudden insight and was fortunate enough to break through."

Hong Yuan looked him over, his gaze passing over his well-proportioned, sturdy frame. At last, he nodded, his tone tinged with understanding.

"Mm, not bad. Owning a pharmacy certainly gives you an advantage when it comes to resources."

His words sounded casual, but Lin Qing could hear the implication beneath them.

Hong Yuan had evidently attributed Lin Qing's rapid breakthrough to the ample medicinal powders provided by Benevolent World Hall, assuming he had perhaps reached his level by relying on their effects.

After all, disciples who broke through with outside aid often had weaker foundations than those who advanced through steady effort and their own hard training. People would also consider their future potential limited.

Even so, a disciple only eighteen years old

who had entered the Tendon Opening Realm was worth taking seriously, no matter what.

So Hong Yuan no longer looked at Lin Qing as an ordinary outer disciple with a bit of perseverance.

Instead, he had finally brought him into the ranks of disciples he considered worth cultivating.

After a moment's thought, Hong Yuan said to Lin Qing, "Come with me."

He led Lin Qing to a quiet corner and personally explained the key points of practicing Iron Wire Fist in the Tendon Opening Realm.

"In the Tendon Opening Realm, flexibility is what matters most."

"You need to use specific stances to guide your qi and blood, flushing and stretching the major tendons in your body. Pay particular attention to the main tendons in your hands and feet, as well as your waist and back..."

As he spoke, Hong Yuan lightly tapped and pressed several key points along Lin Qing's tendons, letting him directly feel the routes his qi and blood took and how the tendons engaged.

"These are the Eight Tendon Opening Forms. Memorize them carefully."

Then Hong Yuan demonstrated the Eight Tendon Opening Forms several times and taught him the accompanying mnemonic.

About an hour and a half later, Lin Qing had finally mastered them completely.

His Iron Wire Fist experience had also surged by several hundred points.

Seeing Lin Qing perform the forms with some skill, Hong Yuan nodded. He felt that Lin Qing's comprehension was indeed impressive, far better than that of the other disciples.

"Also, external medicines are essential."

Hong Yuan continued, "The Hong Family Martial Arts Hall has a secret medicinal powder called Tendon Clearing Powder. It effectively nourishes the tendons, relieves soreness and fatigue after training, and speeds up their strengthening."

"This medicine is quite expensive, though—more than three times the price of Blood Nourishing Powder. If you have the resources, you should keep taking it. It will greatly benefit your cultivation."

As he spoke, Hong Yuan took out three packets of medicinal powder.

Lin Qing listened intently, committing everything Hong Yuan taught him to memory.

At the same time, he bought three packets of Tendon Clearing Powder. As he smelled them, he analyzed the ingredients and secretly compared them with those in the Tendon Strengthening Powder he was currently using.

He found that Hong Yuan's Tendon Clearing Powder had a similar effect to Tendon Strengthening Powder, but its medicinal properties were gentler, and it was likely less potent and direct than the Tendon Strengthening Powder he had formulated himself.

Yet it cost more than three times as much as the Tendon Strengthening Powder did to make.

Lin Qing put the powder away without showing what he thought and cupped his hands.

"Thank you for your instruction, Master. I'll train hard and live up to your expectations. I'll strive to spread Iron Wire Fist far and wide as soon as possible, bringing glory to our school!"

Lin Qing's voice was full of gratitude.

Hong Yuan gave a slight nod. He neither accepted nor dismissed Lin Qing's polite words, merely waving a hand. "Go. Train well, and if there's anything you don't understand, come ask me."

News of Lin Qing's breakthrough into the Second Barrier Realm soon spread among the disciples he knew.

Before long, many senior brothers and sisters who had previously only recognized him by sight, had never been close to him, or had even kept their distance, came over to congratulate him and strike up a conversation.

Their words were warmer and more respectful, and some even seemed eager to befriend him.

In the martial arts hall, strength reigned supreme.

With each rise in cultivation came a quiet change in status.

Lin Qing could clearly feel the way the people around him looked at him differently.

He responded with modest courtesy, making no show of arrogance.

When Zhang Shun heard the news, he came straight to find him and gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder, his face beaming with genuine delight. "Well done, kid. You really pulled it off—and in such a short time! I knew I was right about you."

"Come on. Your senior brother's treating today. We've got to celebrate properly!"

That evening, after they'd had a few drinks in a private booth at a small tavern on Yongning Street, Zhang Shun's face was flushed. Lowering his voice, he said to Lin Qing:

"Junior Brother Lin, now that you've opened your tendons, you've truly stepped onto the path of martial arts. I happen to have a job here. Any interest?"

Lin Qing's heart stirred. He set down his cup. "Is this job with the Ge Pao Society?"

Zhang Shun nodded, his expression turning more serious. "That's right. But don't worry—this time, we won't be going head-to-head with those local tyrants from the White Horse Gang, and it's not some filthy business robbing merchants."

"Our target is a wealthy landowner outside the city who bullies men and women and terrorizes the countryside. They say he keeps a few armed guards, but they're only Skin Refining Realm at most. The two of us can handle them."

"It's a matter of upholding justice and punishing evil—clean and straightforward, with little risk."

Zhang Shun paused, then added, "And the reward's pretty good. It'll be enough to buy you quite a bit of Tendon Clearing Powder. Don't you also have to do work for the society every month? This would take care of that at the same time."

Lin Qing fell into thought.

He did need real combat to temper his strength in the Tendon Opening Realm, consolidate his cultivation, and build experience fighting different opponents.

Zhang Shun had a touch of the underworld about him, but he still had his principles.

Since he said their target was an evildoer and the risks were manageable, he was probably telling the truth.

Besides, as Zhang Shun had said,

this really was an opportunity to fulfill his monthly assignment for the Ge Lao Society.

Weighing his current strength in the Tendon Opening Realm against his need to gain combat experience, Lin Qing soon made up his mind.

He looked up at Zhang Shun. "Since you've invited me, Senior Brother, and this is about punishing evil and upholding good, I'll come along."

"Good! That's the spirit!"

Zhang Shun was delighted. He raised his cup and said, "Then it's settled. Three days from now, at dusk, meet me at the Land God Temple on Ten Mile Slope outside the city. We'll go over the plan then!"

"Clink."

The two cups tapped lightly together in midair, ringing clear.

And with that, their unknown undertaking three days later was set in motion.