Holding Back

"Guess what kind of sponsorship I managed to secure for you?"

"Guess whether I'm going to guess?"

There was no way Li Yun could have guessed.

Lu Kuan didn't beat around the bush and said directly:

"I secured the status of a top-tier guest elder for you: one three-year Blood Ginseng every six months, three portions of Blood Replenishing Powder every month, and ten taels of silver. How about that? Is your senior brother generous enough?"

"Generous! Did your second uncle and third uncle finally relent?"

Li Yun hadn't expected Lu Kuan to be so lavish; this package even surpassed the benefits offered in the Inner City. This favor had to be remembered.

At the mention of his second and third uncles, a flicker of unease crossed Lu Kuan's face, though he masked it well. As the meat business grew, it naturally brought its fair share of headaches.

"You performed so well today that they naturally recognized your talent. Isn't it only natural that they relented? Besides, I was there to put in a good word for you."

"Many thanks, Senior Brother. Rest assured, I have kept the matter regarding Little Green in mind."

Hour of the Dog.

Subduing Tiger Martial Hall.

The atmosphere inside the hall was heavy.

In today's matches, one disciple had been beaten to death, three were severely injured, and six were lightly injured. The families who received the news had all rushed over. The moment Zhuo Yong's family saw the corpse, they erupted into heart-wrenching wails.

Fu Huaixing remained expressionless. He had someone hand over ten taels of silver before turning to walk toward the backyard. Before leaving, he called Li Yun and the other direct disciples inside.

A short while later.

"I called you all in because there is something I need to tell you."

Fu Huaixing's expression was grave:

"In tomorrow's matches, try to hold back. Do not kill anyone."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhu Daqi couldn't help but ask:

"Why? The Inner City factions are bullying us too much; they even killed one of our martial hall's disciples."

Fu Huaixing raised a hand, signaling for Zhu Daqi to calm down:

"Earlier, news arrived that Green Wind Prefecture had fallen. The county lieutenant sent to provide support has sent no word back, so it is likely he has met a grim fate. Back then, the Inner City factions were already restless, but they maintained a shred of restraint out of fear of the county magistrate, not daring to act too recklessly. Today, they were so unbridled, killing my disciple and injuring so many others, that I sensed something was wrong. As soon as the matches ended, I met with Bai Yu and Hou Wei to inquire carefully. I learned that our county magistrate has 'personally' gone to the Clear Wood Sect to seek reinforcements. He once said that no one should cause trouble during this period, or he would show no mercy. Now that the county magistrate is gone, his words naturally lose their binding force."

Now, with the Crow Mountain City county lieutenant gone and the county magistrate "personally seeking aid," it meant the fragile order was beginning to collapse. At a time like this, whoever had the hardest fist made the rules!

Fu Huaixing clearly did not have high hopes for the Outer City factions, which lacked any real cohesion.

Hearing Fu Huaixing put it this way, Li Yun felt a twinge of worry. Someone capable of being a county magistrate wouldn't be an ordinary person, would they? And at a time like this, he "personally" goes to seek aid? Combining this with the intelligence he had gathered over the past few days, Crow Mountain City might no longer be safe.

Li Yun made up his mind: once the matches concluded, he would immediately find a security firm to affiliate with. He would take on a mission to escort a caravan, head north, and go "train" for a while.

Zhu Daqi, who had been somewhat angry, suddenly became nervous:

"Then Master, what should we do next?"

Fu Huaixing chuckled:

"No need to worry. I have already used the bird left behind by your senior brother to send a letter.

At the latest, we will receive news by tomorrow evening.

We will make our decision then."

Like Li Yun, Zhu Daqi was somewhat curious about this senior brother he had never met.

He couldn't help but ask:

"Senior brother?"

"Hmm, you joined the sect late, so you don't know much about Qi Wenxuan.

Let me tell you about him.

Your senior brother Qi Wenxuan has excellent talent and was recommended by the county magistrate to join the Clear Wood Sect."

Speaking of his eldest disciple, Fu Huaixing was very gratified.

So that was it; no wonder Li Yun had never seen this senior brother.

It turned out he wasn't in Crow Mountain City at all, but far away at the Clear Wood Sect, thousands of miles away.

Hearing this, Li Yun decided he could slow down his plans for training and wait to see what his senior brother had to say before making a final decision.

Fu Huaixing then gave separate instructions to Xiao Shun and Liu Lingyan.

He told them that during the Dark Force competition, they were not to make a move unless the Inner City provoked them first.

The two nodded in agreement.

Afterward, he mentioned a few other precautions.

He then dismissed everyone to go and rest.

Li Yun walked out of the martial arts hall, heading home against the light snow.

The snow fell on him, feeling icy and cool.

Now that Li Yun's blood and energy were full, he no longer feared ordinary cold.

On both sides of the street, a crowd of dark figures huddled together.

Hearing someone walk by, they couldn't help but open their eyes and look at Li Yun.

However, upon seeing Li Yun's clean clothes and sturdy build, they all hurriedly looked away.

In the distance, a few people dressed in white were walking about.

Li Yun ignored them and continued on his way.

The distance of two streets was short, and he reached his doorstep in no time.

On the stone steps at the entrance, a small, dark shadow was curled up.

Hearing footsteps, the shadow looked up and saw Li Yun, then suddenly pushed off the ground, trying to stand up.

But his body swayed, and with a "thud," he fell back onto the stone steps, his bottom hitting the frozen stone. He winced in pain but didn't dare to make a sound.

He raised his head, his small face frozen bright red.

Seeing Li Yun, he grinned, his voice trembling from the cold:

"Hehe, Master, you're back."

Li Yun ignored him, pretending to take a key from his pocket, opened the door, and walked inside.

As he turned to close the door, he saw the little beggar staring at him with burning eyes.

Li Yun frowned slightly; he understood that look.

He paused for two breaths.

Li Yun said nothing and slowly closed the door.

Through the crack in the door, those two little flames dimmed bit by bit.

After entering the courtyard, Li Yun walked along the wall as usual.

Finding nothing unusual, he began to practice the Blood Blade Technique as he always did.

Whoosh~

The wind from the blade swept past, rustling loudly.

Stepping, twisting his waist, and hacking—every move carried a fierce wind, and the short blade seemed to have a life of its own in his hands.

A long while later.

Li Yun sheathed his blade, his chest heaving. His heavy breaths sprayed into the cold air, condensing into white mist, while his body steamed with heat.

After sheathing the blade, Li Yun turned and entered the bedroom.

He took out the prepared Crispy Bone Soup from his storage space and drank it all in one gulp.

Sitting cross-legged, he began to practice the Bone Shifting Technique.

Bones loosened like cotton, qi pulled like thread.

Will sank into the bone marrow, form shifted with every thought.

Bones guarded the vitals, leaving the body without a single opening.

Every inch of his skeleton felt as if countless tiny chisels were gouging into his marrow, or as if steel needles were being driven ruthlessly into the gaps of his joints.

The pain caused his muscles to tense up, and blue veins crawled across his neck like earthworms.

"Urgh~"

A long while later.

After the inhuman torture, Li Yun took out Introduction to Poisons and continued to read.

Although it no longer granted him experience points, his bones ached too much for him to sleep, so he might as well pass the time this way.

The night grew deeper and quieter.

It was so quiet that Li Yun could clearly hear the sound of his own heartbeat.

Thump-thump, thump-thump~

As he gently stroked his palm, he could feel the warm pulsation.

Yet Li Yun felt:

It, was growing colder!