Review

Quicklime generates heat when it meets water.

Using oil to clean it prevents the absorption of moisture from the eyeball, avoids chemical burns, and helps clear away the lime.

Although he could not immediately restore his full vision.

It was enough to let He Xiuyong see a little more clearly.

Though He Xiuyong, who had spent his life in gangs, did not understand the science behind it.

He knew that doing this would help him recover a bit of his sight.

Seeing Li Yun's fist closing in on his face, He Xiuyong gritted his teeth and circulated his blood energy, the veins on his arms bulging as he forced himself to raise his fists to meet the attack.

Bang!

The two fists collided, and both men took a step back.

Although He Xiuyong's arms ached, he felt a sense of relief in his heart.

The opponent was only in the Body Tempering Realm, and his blood energy was not as strong as his own.

"You've got some nerve, daring to target the Mountain Gang?

Back off now, and I can pretend I never saw you. Otherwise, when the higher-ups come looking, there won't be a place for you to hide in all of Crow Mountain County."

Li Yun didn't waste words with He Xiuyong. His offensive didn't falter; he stomped his foot, lunged forward, and aimed his fist straight at He Xiuyong's face.

Fists and feet clashed, producing a series of dull thuds.

With his Tiger Subduing Fist at the minor mastery stage, Li Yun's technique was no longer restricted by rigid forms; his moves were fluid and unpredictable, like an antelope hanging its horns.

Every punch caught He Xiuyong off guard.

Although He Xiuyong had deeper blood energy, most of the punches Li Yun threw were dodged.

As for the occasional punch that did land, Li Yun was already accustomed to it.

After all, the "Flower Protector" types in the inner courtyard who lacked martial ethics often fought this way.

Li Yun pressed the attack relentlessly; He Xiuyong had suffered a hidden loss and was no match for him.

He was determined not to give him any chance to catch his breath.

After a few moves, He Xiuyong realized this as well.

He made a quick judgment:

"If this keeps up, I'm going to be beaten to death!"

Glancing at Qian Qiuqiao on the edge of the bed, a thought immediately sprouted in his mind.

Knowing that a prolonged fight would lead to defeat, a flash of cruelty suddenly crossed He Xiuyong's eyes.

Taking advantage of a gap in Li Yun's punches, he lunged toward the bedside and grabbed Qian Qiuqiao's wrist with a hand like an iron clamp.

Qian Qiuqiao let out a cry of alarm, not even having time to struggle.

Using the momentum of his turn, He Xiuyong shoved her violently toward Li Yun.

Li Yun's punch was already committed. Seeing Qian Qiuqiao collide with him, his brows furrowed, but he only hesitated for a split second before throwing the punch anyway.

Bang.

A dull thud of impact rang out.

Li Yun's punch landed squarely on Qian Qiuqiao's chest.

An ordinary person could not withstand a punch like that from Li Yun.

Her chest caved in on the spot, a mouthful of blood sprayed from her lips, and her body flew backward like a kite with a broken string.

The direction she flew was right toward He Xiuyong, who was preparing to flee.

He Xiuyong hurriedly swung his fists to defend himself.

In that moment of distraction, his guard left wide open.

Li Yun followed like a shadow, closing the distance and raining down punches like a violent storm.

Every blow landed on He Xiuyong's vital points.

He Xiuyong screamed repeatedly, his blood energy in turmoil, unable to fight back at all.

In just a few moments, he collapsed heavily to the ground.

He stopped moving.

"Hoo... hoo~"

After such a high-intensity barrage of punches, even Li Yun couldn't help but pant heavily.

This was the first time Li Yun had engaged in a true, close-quarters life-or-death struggle.

The collision of muscle against muscle made his blood boil.

Li Yun, he even... felt a bit addicted to this sensation.

He shook his head, suppressing this strange thought.

After ensuring He Xiuyong's neck and heart were properly dealt with, Li Yun began to search the bedroom.

Since he was already here.

He couldn't leave empty-handed.

"Sir, Sir~"

Just as he found some silver in the nightstand, he heard a hurried shout.

It was likely a member of the Mountain Gang coming to ask He Xiuyong to take charge.

Having stayed at the Subduing Tiger Martial Hall for so long, Li Yun had learned quite a bit about the Mountain Gang.

This gang was inextricably linked to the four major families of the Inner City.

It was not yet time to expose himself, so he hastily stowed away the silver.

He turned to the back window, moved his body, and nimbly vaulted outside.

He glanced at the burning warehouse, but decided against it; those items couldn't be sold within the city anyway.

If he wanted to take them, in full view of everyone, unless...

He shook his head, then twisted his body to reach the base of the wall and climbed out of the compound.

With a few leaps, he vanished into the darkness, leaving behind only a scene of chaos and the lingering scent of blood.

An hour later, Wushan County came into view in the distance.

"Still not steady enough. Next time I need to settle a score with someone, I should find an open area and use my archery to kite them."

On the road, Li Yun continuously reviewed the battle that had just taken place.

He looked for ways he could have done better.

Upon careful reflection, there were indeed several places where he could have achieved perfection.

For instance, if he had thrown poison powder instead of lime.

Would the battle have ended in a single stroke?

Or, for example, if he had been skilled with weapons during the initial ambush.

Could he have killed He Xiuyong instantly?

Or perhaps...

Just as Li Yun was conducting his post-battle summary, flickering firelight appeared in the distance.

Sounds drifted over intermittently.

Better to avoid trouble than to invite it.

Li Yun didn't pay it much mind.

But the names faintly carried on the wind made Li Yun's brows gradually furrow.

"Wang Xiaofei..."

The image of that thin, frail boy flashed through Li Yun's mind instantly.

Every day, he would bring his own cooked rice bran, paired with rock-hard dried fish, squatting in the corner of the martial hall, shoveling it into his mouth with his fingers.

His legs trembling, he would practice his stance training over and over again.

The image of him gritting his teeth and persisting.

"Sigh~"

Li Yun stood for a moment, but ultimately sighed, turned around, and quietly crept toward the area where the firelight flickered.

Today happened to be the six-month mark since they had joined the martial hall.

Wang Xiaofei still hadn't opened his surface blood-qi channels to enter the Body Tempering Realm.

And he had no money to pay the tuition.

Naturally, he could no longer stay at the Subduing Tiger Martial Hall.

Once he shed the identity of a Subduing Tiger Martial Hall disciple, Wang Xiaofei knew things would go poorly.

He had intended to leave in the middle of the night.

He hadn't expected to be cornered right away.

Upon receiving the news, the Mad Dog Gang had immediately brought men to intercept him.

"Yo, isn't this the Subduing Tiger Martial Hall disciple, Wang Xiaofei?

What are you doing out in the middle of the night?"

The person speaking was the leader of the Mad Dog Gang, Lai Qing.

In this world, small gangs come and go like seasonal crops.

The Mad Dog Gang, however, has managed to endure for quite some time.

Lai Qing has his own set of rules for how things are done.

He specializes in targeting orphans, widows, and anyone weak enough to be bullied.

As for those poor boys hoping to join a martial hall and make something of themselves, he guards against them with extreme prejudice.

Half a year ago, when Wang Xiaofei opportunistically joined the martial hall, Lai Qing had been ready to bolt at a moment's notice.

As the days turned into weeks, Lai Qing eventually set his mind at ease.

He counted the days on his fingers.

Seeing that Wang Xiaofei had not returned to Fish Bay wearing the martial hall's uniform, he knew the boy hadn't succeeded.

Still, to be safe, he decided to let his underlings test the waters first.

As it turned out, from a distance, he saw that Wang Xiaofei had been locked in a standoff with his men for quite a while without being taken down.

That meant he hadn't yet crossed into the Body Tempering Realm.

Only then did he jump out himself.

Compared to the past, Wang Xiaofei's courage had grown significantly.

He shielded his sister firmly behind him.

Staring intently at Lai Qing, he put on a brave front:

"Hmph, Lai Qing, you have some nerve, daring to lay a hand on someone from the Subduing Tiger Martial Hall."