Third Blood Martial Artist Hu Duanzhuo

Chen Jing followed Zhuang Tao's gaze and discovered that the figure emerging from the courtyard was none other than Xiang Lingfei.

"Him?"

Upon recognizing the man as Xiang Lingfei, Chen Jing furrowed his brows slightly, a hint of confusion crossing his face.

Seeing this, Zhuang Tao immediately lowered his voice to explain: "Brother Chen, don't let his age fool you. This Junior Brother Xiang is a genuine genius. He's only been at the martial arts hall for half a month, and he's only been practicing his stance for seven or eight days... yet he's already become a First Blood Martial Artist!"

"Half a month... First Blood?"

Chen Jing was slightly stunned by this news.

He remembered when he first started, he too had fantasized about being some kind of hidden prodigy, capable of breaking through the moment he touched the River-Breaking Fist, achieving Blood Creek in a day and Blood River in three, just like in the legends.

But reality had slapped Chen Jing across the face without mercy, making him realize that he was nothing more than a mortal with an ordinary body.

A genius?

That sort of thing had nothing to do with him.

"After Xiang Lingfei broke through yesterday, I even thought about treating him to a few tables of food at the restaurant to celebrate."

As Zhuang Tao reached this point, his expression darkened, and he added with a touch of irritation: "But look at him—he had the nerve to say, right in front of everyone, that I don't practice my fists every day, that I only know how to mess around, and that I'm wasting money!"

At this, Zhuang Tao couldn't help but clench his fists, his knuckles cracking audibly.

"Tell me, isn't that infuriating?"

"I'm a Blood River practitioner, at the very least, and I've looked after him quite a bit. For a mere newcomer at the Blood Creek stage to make me lose face like that in front of everyone!"

"If it weren't for the fact that others were watching, I would have punched him right then and there!"

Whenever Zhuang Tao brought up what happened yesterday, the anger in his chest seemed to bubble over, uncontrollable.

Chen Jing said softly, "Perhaps Junior Brother Xiang just doesn't understand the ways of the world."

"Doesn't understand the ways of the world?"

Zhuang Tao let out a cold snort and continued: "That's just having a bad brain! If he keeps this attitude up once he's out there, he'll be beaten to death sooner or later. No matter how much of a genius you are, you need to be alive to enjoy it."

Scolding aside, Zhuang Tao hadn't actually made a move yesterday; after all, there were rules in the martial arts hall, and with the master present, he naturally couldn't act recklessly.

But that stifled feeling clearly hadn't dissipated yet.

After a moment of silence, Zhuang Tao suddenly remembered something and asked: "By the way, since you've already broken through, your demand for blood energy is much higher than before. Have you gone to find the master to buy some Blood Energy Powder?"

Chen Jing shook his head: "Not yet."

Zhuang Tao urged him quickly: "You have to hurry! You're a First Blood Martial Artist now. With Blood Energy Powder, you can not only coagulate blood faster every day, but also accelerate your recovery during meditation. One month of use is worth about three months of normal training."

Hearing this, Chen Jing thanked Zhuang Tao and headed toward the front courtyard where Fei Feng was located.

At that moment, Fei Feng was instructing new disciples on their stances. Seeing Chen Jing approach, he withdrew his gaze and asked: "Speak, what is it?"

Chen Jing cupped his hands and explained: "Master, I would like to buy some Blood Energy Powder."

Fei Feng nodded, his voice steady: "Blood Energy Powder is a potent medicine; taking it can temporarily increase the efficiency of your blood energy coagulation. However, one portion only lasts for half a month, and the price is ten taels of silver."

Ten taels.

When Chen Jing heard this number, his heart gave a sharp twitch.

"Scholars are poor, martial artists are rich"—that saying was truly correct.

A single portion of Blood Energy Powder cost half a month's wages, not to mention the cost of meat supplements for daily nourishment.

If it weren't for the eighty taels he had borrowed and the gambling winnings Zhuang Tao had given him earlier, Chen Jing wouldn't have dared to come and buy this powder.

It was no wonder so many First Blood Martial Artists went to work for government offices, merchant firms, or small gangs.

If you don't make money, you simply can't afford to practice martial arts.

Chen Jing took a deep breath, pulled twenty taels of silver from his robes, and handed them to Fei Feng. He said: "Master, I would like two portions."

Fei Feng looked up, eyeing him with slight surprise.

After all, twenty taels of silver was not a small sum for an ordinary disciple.

But he didn't ask any questions. After accepting the silver, he nodded: "Very well. Come to me to collect them tonight before you leave."

Meanwhile.

In a secluded alleyway outside the Hundred Flowers Pavilion on the east side of the Red Rock County outer city.

Hu Duanzhuo stood at the mouth of the alley with his hands behind his back, his brows tightly furrowed and his expression so gloomy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

Beside him, Xie Qiu was clutching his arm tightly, weeping hysterically. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her entire face was a mess of tears and smeared powder.

"Old Hu, you must avenge little Xie Chong!"

Xie Qiu was crying so hard she could barely catch her breath: "He's the only younger brother I have... Mom and Dad left early, and I worked so hard to raise him, how... how could he end up dead like this!"

"I know, I know!"

Hu Duanzhuo shook his arm irritably, his expression filled with violence: "Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on Xie Chong? Look at him now... he's been beaten into such a state... his face is completely smashed in!"

Xie Qiu cried even harder, her voice hoarse: "But Mom and Dad left early, and he's the only brother I have. If I don't cherish him, who will!"

As the two argued, the sound of footsteps echoed from within the alley.

Head Constable Zhao emerged with two bailiffs, the stench of blood from the alley still clinging to his person.

Seeing this, Xie Qiu lunged forward and asked urgently, "Head Constable Zhao! How is it? Can you tell who killed Xie Chong?!"

Head Constable Zhao's collar was pulled askew by her grip, but he maintained his composure and cupped his hands in a salute. "I have already examined the bodies."

Head Constable Zhao spoke, glancing at Hu Duanzhuo and then at Xie Qiu, before saying cautiously, "Both attendants had their necks shattered. The force was short and brutal; I cannot identify the fist technique used. As for Young Master Xie's face... it has been smashed beyond recognition."

Upon hearing that the face was smashed beyond recognition, Xie Qiu nearly collapsed to the ground, only remaining upright because a servant rushed to steady her.

Head Constable Zhao continued, "The only valuable clue is the three severed fingers of Young Master Xie. The wounds are circular and clean... they look exactly like they were pierced off by a sharp weapon, such as a spear."

Hu Duanzhuo's brow twitched violently as he spoke, "A spear?"

Head Constable Zhao nodded and continued, "Young Master Xie was at least a First Blood Martial Artist, and he had two guards with him. To kill all three of them silently in a short time without alerting the neighbors... the culprit is likely a Second Blood Martial Artist."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Qiu grabbed Hu Duanzhuo's sleeve, her voice hoarse and tearful. "A Second Blood Martial Artist! Old Hu, how many spear-wielding Second Blood Martial Artists can there be in Red Rock County? You must investigate! You must find them!"

Hu Duanzhuo remained expressionless upon hearing this, but a raging fire burned in the depths of his eyes.

Although he usually looked down on Xie Chong, he was, after all, his wife's younger brother.

Dying here in Red Rock County was equivalent to a slap in the face for Hu Duanzhuo.

If he didn't tear the murderer to pieces, what would others think of him?

Thinking of this, Hu Duanzhuo raised his head and fixed a sinister gaze on Head Constable Zhao. "Head Constable Zhao, I will give you seven days."

Every word from Hu Duanzhuo carried a cold edge.

"Within seven days, find the culprit for me. If you can't..."

At this point, Hu Duanzhuo took half a step forward, and the aura of a Third Blood Martial Artist exploded outward!

In an instant, a powerful surge of blood energy radiated from Hu Duanzhuo's body. Head Constable Zhao felt his knees go weak, nearly forcing him to his knees, while cold sweat drenched his back.

"I... I..."

Head Constable Zhao gasped with difficulty, as if a stone were pressing against his chest, and hurriedly replied, "I... I should be able to..."

Though he answered with his mouth, he cursed inwardly: Damn it, you want me to find them right now? I'm not a god!

But he dared not utter a single word of opposition.

Because Hu Duanzhuo's eyes told him that if he couldn't find the person in seven days, his tenure as Head Constable would likely come to an end.