Chen Jing followed Zhuang Tao's gaze and saw Xiang Lingfei walking out of the courtyard.
" him?"
Recognizing Xiang Lingfei, Chen Jing furrowed his brow slightly, looking somewhat puzzled.
Seeing this, Zhuang Tao immediately lowered his voice to explain. "Brother Chen, don't let his age fool you. Junior Brother Xiang is a genuine genius. He's only been at the Fist Academy for half a month, and he's been learning the stance for just seven or eight days... yet he's already become a First Blood Martial Artist!"
"Half a month... and he's First Blood?"
Chen Jing was momentarily stunned.
He remembered that when he first joined, he'd also wondered if he might be some kind of hidden genius, able to break through as soon as he began learning the River-Breaking Fist—like the legends, crossing the Blood Creek in a day and reaching the Blood River in three.
But reality had mercilessly slapped Chen Jing in the face and made him understand: he was nothing more than an ordinary mortal.
A genius?
That had nothing to do with him.
"After Xiang Lingfei broke through yesterday, I even thought about treating him to a few tables at a restaurant to celebrate."
At this point, Zhuang Tao's face darkened. With a trace of anger, he said, "But then he went and said in front of everyone that I never practice my boxing, that I only mess around—and that I was wasting money!"
As he spoke, Zhuang Tao couldn't help clenching his fists, his knuckles cracking.
"Can you believe how infuriating that is?"
"I'm a Blood River, for crying out loud. I've always looked after him, too. And this mere Blood Creek who just joined the academy goes and embarrasses me in front of everyone!"
"If there hadn't been other people around, I'd have punched him right then and there!"
The moment Zhuang Tao brought up what had happened yesterday, the anger in his chest seemed to surge out uncontrollably.
Chen Jing said quietly, "Maybe Junior Brother Xiang doesn't really understand social niceties."
"Doesn't understand social niceties?"
Zhuang Tao snorted and continued, "He's just got no brains! With an attitude like that, he'll get beaten to death sooner or later once he's out in the world. No matter how talented he is, he has to live long enough to enjoy it."
Though Zhuang Tao had cursed him out, he hadn't actually done anything yesterday. The Fist Academy had rules, and their master had been there at the time, so he couldn't just act recklessly.
But that resentment clearly hadn't faded.
After a moment of silence, Zhuang Tao suddenly thought of something and asked, "By the way, now that you've broken through, you need a lot more Blood Qi than before. Have you gone to buy Blood Qi Powder from our master?"
Chen Jing shook his head. "Not yet."
Zhuang Tao hurriedly said, "Then you'd better get to it! You're a First Blood Martial Artist now. With Blood Qi Powder, you'll not only condense Blood Qi faster every day, but also recover faster through breathing exercises. A month of training can nearly equal three months under normal circumstances."
Chen Jing thanked Zhuang Tao, then headed toward the front courtyard where Fei Feng was.
Fei Feng was instructing the new disciples in their stances. When Chen Jing approached, he finally turned his attention away and asked, "What is it?"
Chen Jing cupped his fists and explained, "Master, I'd like to buy Blood Qi Powder."
Fei Feng nodded, his voice steady. "Blood Qi Powder is potent medicine. After taking it, your Blood Qi will condense more efficiently for a short time. But one packet only lasts half a month, and costs ten taels of silver."
Ten taels.
When Chen Jing heard the amount, even his heart seemed to clench.
"The poor study, the rich practice martial arts." The saying couldn't have been truer.
One packet of Blood Qi Powder alone would cost him half a month's wages, never mind the meat he needed to replenish himself.
If not for the eighty taels he'd borrowed, and the money Zhuang Tao had given him from their bet, Chen Jing wouldn't have dared to buy the powder.
No wonder so many First Blood Martial Artists took posts with the county office, trading companies, and small gangs.
Without money, you simply couldn'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. "Master, I'll take two packets."
Fei Feng looked up and glanced at him with mild surprise.
After all, twenty taels of silver wasn't a small sum for an ordinary disciple.
But he didn't ask any questions. He accepted the money and nodded. "Good. Come collect them from me before you leave tonight."
Meanwhile.
At a secluded alleyway east of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion in the Outer City of Red Rock County.
Hu Duanzhuo stood at the entrance to the alley with his hands behind his back, his brow knitted and his face so dark it looked as though water might drip from it.
Beside him, Xie Qiu clutched his arm, wailing until she could barely catch her breath. Her eyes were swollen and red, and her face was almost entirely smeared with tears and powder.
"Old Hu, you have to avenge Xiao Chong!"
Xie Qiu was nearly sobbing herself breathless as she spoke. "He was my only younger brother... Our parents died young, and I worked so hard to raise him. How... how could he have died like this?"
"I know, I know!"
Hu Duanzhuo irritably shook his arm, his expression full of violence. "Haven't I always told you to keep an eye on Xie Chong? Look at him now—beaten into this state... His face has been smashed to pieces!"
Xie Qiu sobbed even harder, her voice hoarse. "But our parents died so young, and Xiao Chong was all I had. If I don't love him, who will?"
As they argued, footsteps sounded from inside the alley.
Head Constable Zhao emerged with two constables, the stench of blood still clinging to them.
Xie Qiu immediately rushed over and asked urgently, "Head Constable Zhao! What did you find? Can you tell who killed Xiao Chong?!"
She grabbed him so hard that his collar was pulled askew. Still, he forced himself to remain calm and cupped his hands. "I've examined the bodies."
As he spoke, Head Constable Zhao glanced at Hu Duanzhuo, then at Xie Qiu, before continuing carefully. "Both attendants had their necks broken by a short, brutal blow. I couldn't identify the boxing style. As for Young Master Xie's face... it's been smashed beyond recognition."
When she heard that his face had been beaten so badly that even his features were unrecognizable, Xie Qiu nearly collapsed. A servant hurriedly steadied her before she could fall to her knees.
Head Constable Zhao continued, "The only useful clue is that three of Young Master Xie's fingers were severed. The wounds are round and clean... They look very much like they were cut off by the tip of a spear or some other sharp weapon."
Hu Duanzhuo's brow jumped. "A spear?"
Head Constable Zhao nodded and went on. "Young Master Xie was a First Blood Martial Artist, after all, and he had two guards with him. To kill all three in a short time without alerting the neighbors... the killer was most likely a Second Blood Martial Artist."
The moment he finished speaking, Xie Qiu grabbed Hu Duanzhuo's sleeve. Her voice was hoarse and choked with tears. "A Second Blood Martial Artist! Old Hu, how many Second Blood Martial Artists in Red Rock County use spears? You have to investigate! You have to find out who did this!"
At her words, Hu Duanzhuo's face remained expressionless, but a raging fury surged in his eyes.
He might have looked down on Xie Chong in the past, but Xie Chong was his wife's younger brother.
Now he'd been killed here in Red Rock County. If word got out, it would be tantamount to slapping Hu Duanzhuo in the face.
And if he didn't tear the killer to pieces, what would everyone else think of him?
At that thought, Hu Duanzhuo raised his head and fixed Head Constable Zhao with a sinister stare. "Head Constable Zhao, I'm giving you seven days."
Every word Hu Duanzhuo spoke now seemed edged with cold steel.
"Find the killer within seven days. If you can't..."
Hu Duanzhuo stepped forward half a pace, and the aura of a Third Blood Martial Artist burst forth!
In an instant, powerful Blood Qi radiated from Hu Duanzhuo. Head Constable Zhao's knees went weak, and he nearly fell to the ground. Cold sweat streamed down his back.
"I... I..."
Head Constable Zhao struggled to breathe, as if a stone were pressing down on his chest. He hurriedly replied, "I-I should be able to..."
Though he answered aloud, he cursed inwardly: Damn it, you want me to find him right now? I'm no immortal!
But he didn't dare voice a single objection.
Hu Duanzhuo's gaze told him that if he couldn't find the killer within seven days, his time as a constable might be over.
Before you continue