Chen Jianghe When he pushed open the wooden door of his small courtyard, the sky was completely dark.
He closed the door with his backhand, leaned his back against the door panel, and slowly exhaled a breath.
This day is too long.
From the early morning when Zhou Yong came to report in panic, to the confrontation at the Escort Bureau, and the punching of Chen Wanglong, to the master's solo battle with the five great Hua Jin, and the half-step Gang Jin that shocked the whole city-everything was spinning in his mind like a revolving lantern.
Master's words, "In troubled times, only strength is the real thing", every word is heartfelt.
He walked to the stone table in the courtyard, took off Butchery Blade from his waist, and placed it on the table.
He was under the old locust tree, closing his eyes and concentrating.
During the day, the battle with Chen Wanglong was dismantled, slowed down, and reorganized in my mind, move by move.
Chen Jianghe suddenly opened his eyes.
Hold the right hand emptyly and slowly push out Splitting Fist.
The punches are silent and the strength is inherent.
"Body skills----and boxing strength----"
Chen Jianghe whispered.
Halfway through the punch, the waist and hips suddenly twist, and the foot steps out into the Phantom Shadow Steps starting hand position. The body is like a catkin floating half a foot to the left. The punch path suddenly changes, turning from a chop to a drill, and stabbing diagonally from bottom to top!
"Chi-
The fist wind passed by, and on the trunk of a locust tree three feet away, a dead leaf silently split into two halves.
The fracture is as neat as a knife.
Chen Jianghe closed his fist and frowned.
No.
In that turn just now, although the footwork and boxing skills were coordinated, they were like oil floating on water and failed to blend.
When faced with the pressure of Zhao Kun during the day, on the thin line between life and death, he instinctively pushed Phantom Shadow Steps to the extreme. His body was like a fish swimming against the current, looking for gaps to dodge in the mountainous pressure.
At that time, the footwork and the circulation of Qi and blood are almost integrated into one. Every step taken leads to the natural flow of energy throughout the body.
But if I do it deliberately at this moment, it seems stagnant.
"That's right----" Chen Jianghe murmured, "Master once said that when facing an enemy, the first thing you listen to is". What you listen to is not only your opponent's strength, but also your own strength."
He moved away from Three Body Stance again, but was in no hurry to step out of Phantom Shadow Steps.
The mind sinks into the body and carefully senses the flow path of Qi and blood, the rhythm of muscle expansion and contraction, and the changes in bone load bearing.
Then, he moved.
Step out of the Phantom Shadow Steps starting position with your right foot, point your toes to the ground for a moment, twist your waist and hips naturally, and let your back rise and fall like a dragon.
The right fist was then thrown out, not any Five Elements Fist move, just the simplest straight punch.
The punches are silent.
Three feet away, a shallow pit quietly appeared on the trunk of an old locust tree, with subtle spiral lines on the edge, as if it had been screwed in by a drill.
Chen Jianghe withdrew his fist and saw a flash of understanding in his eyes.
He stepped forward again, his body drifting, slashing with his left fist, collapsing with his right fist, turning around to drill, advancing cannon, Crossing Fist block----
Five Elements Fist rotates through the five postures, gradually matching the footwork.
There is still some stagnation at first, but after three or five times, it gradually becomes smoother.
The fist wind was no longer fierce and violent, but had a strange "stickiness", as if it stirred the surrounding air.
Every time a punch is punched, the force is no longer limited to the point of the punch, but flows with the movement, forming an invisible "momentum" within three feet of the whole body.
[Fate: Heaven Rewards Diligence, you will succeed]
[Current skill: Three-Body Stance (perfect)]
[Progress:1%]
[Current skill: Five Elements Fist (Dacheng)]
[Progress:85%]
[Current skill: Phantom Shadow Steps (entry)]
[Progress:32%]
[Efficacy: Internal strength, penetrating the body and destroying the meridians; body skills first melted, dodge slightly increased]
The work was completed.
Chen Jianghe slowly stopped and stood still in the courtyard.
All that remains is to cultivate to perfection Five Elements Fist, and then you can open the Huajin Pass.
He raised his head and looked in the direction of the martial arts hall.
Master should have taken medicine and fallen asleep at this moment, right?
I'm afraid it will be difficult to recover from that injury within a year and a half.
And this half year——will there be less wind and rain?
Chen Jianghe's eyes grew colder.
He walked to the water tank, scooped up a splash of cold water, and poured it on his face.
Just then--
"Sand----"
An extremely faint sound came from outside the courtyard wall.
Like a night cat stepping on tiles, like a dead branch blown down by the wind.
Chen Jianghe didn't even pause in scooping up water, and he didn't even raise his eyelids.
There was only one sound. It was like someone accidentally stepped on half a piece of dry tile, and then quickly stopped.
Chen Jianghe Continue to scoop water, wash your face, and wipe it with a sweat towel.
The movements are natural, as if you haven't heard them before, but your mind is like a mirror.
Coming.
Faster than he expected.
Li Chengyue pressed Five Great Families with half a step, which was certainly shocking for a moment.
But those established forces that have been entrenched in Yilin County for decades will never be able to completely stop because of a single setback.
Those who are bright will not dare to come, and those who are dark will naturally be there.
Chen Jianghe wiped his face, put the sweat towel on the clothesline, turned around and walked towards the house.
The pace was as usual, even slower than usual.
The moment he reached out and pushed the door open -
From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of an extremely blurry black figure in the shadows at the northeast corner of the courtyard wall.
It only flashed and then disappeared.
It's so fast it's like an illusion.
But Chen Jianghe knows otherwise.
The man's Qinggong was not weak, and he almost merged with the shadow when he was lurking, but just now, for some unknown reason, his aura fluctuated for a moment.
At this moment, he captured it.
Chen Jianghe pushed the door open and entered the house, then closed the door with his backhand.
He didn't light a lamp, but walked to the bed and sat down with the moonlight leaking in through the window lattice.
My ears caught every sound outside the courtyard.
The whine of the wind passing through the alley, the vague sound of the watchman's banging in the distance, the muffled moan of the neighbor's children crying at night——
And, the long and suppressed breath outside the courtyard wall that almost blends into the night.
The man didn't leave.
Still monitoring.
Chen Jianghe lay down slowly and closed his eyes.
Breathing gradually became even, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.
My heart felt cold.
Zhao Family----or, more than Zhao Family.
Today, Master showed half a step of Gang Jin cultivation and seriously injured Zhou Family Ancestor, forcing him to retreat from the five great powers.
This news has probably spread throughout Yilin County at this moment.
How will those forces react?
Awe? Fear? Or - deeper fear and calculation?
If you can recruit a strong person with half-step strength, it will be a huge help.
But if he cannot be recruited and he is an enemy - then the best way is to get rid of him completely before he recovers.
Or, get rid of the people he cares about and mess up his mind.
Chen Jianghe placed his right hand at his side and slowly tightened it.
How long can the master endure the shock that he suffered from serious injuries today?
He doesn't know.
He only knew that he had to become stronger faster.
At the same moment, Inner City Zhao Mansion.
In the deepest secret room, the candlelight flickered, reflecting a gloomy face.
Zhao Wuji is sitting in the main seat. Purple Gold Python Robe is still luxurious, but there is an inconspicuous burnt black mark on his left chest, which is the trace left by Li Chengyue's fist in the daytime.
Although the internal organs were not injured, the spiral force penetrated into the body and has not been completely dissipated. Every breath caused a dull pain.
"Ancestor." A middle-aged steward bowed to report, "There is news from the Zhou Family, Zhou Kun Ancestor is seriously injured, his sternum is shattered, his lungs are displaced, he will need at least three years of rest, and - his cultivation may even fall to the early stage of transformation."
Zhao Wuji's eyes flashed coldly, but he said nothing.
The steward continued, "Qian Family, Sun Family, and Li Family have all sent people here. On the surface, they are asking about the ancestor's injury, but in fact, they are asking about his voice. Qian Family's words seem to be trying to avoid us for the time being----"
"Temporarily avoid the edge?" Zhao Wuji sneered, "Li Chengyue Half a step of strength is true, but now his right arm is broken and his heart is injured. This period is an opportunity!"
"But ancestor," the steward said hesitantly, "Li Chengyue's power today has shocked the whole city. If we move again at this time, I'm afraid----"
"Who said we should move openly?" Zhao Wuji interrupted him with a cold voice, "Li Chengyue, no matter how strong he is, he is only one person. Of his two apprentices, one has to support the escort agency and the other has to guard the martial arts hall. The lack of skills is a flaw."
He paused and said slowly, "Chen Wanglong How is it over there?"
The steward reported, "Zhenlei Martial Arts Hall has been sent back. The old man Chen Family got the news and vomited blood on the spot. Now he has used all Chen Family's financial resources to buy bone replacements everywhere. The muscle-building elixir vows to restore Chen Wanglong's cultivation. Zhenlei Martial Arts Hall is also furious! The disciple he has worked so hard to cultivate is being wasted in front of everyone, and his face is damaged. I'm afraid he won't let it go."
Zhao Wuji nodded, with a trace of sarcasm flashing in his eyes. "The old man Chen Family is willing to give it up. What about Chen Jianghe? Did he even say a word about it?"
The steward shook his head. "We have never. Chen Qingyi From beginning to end, Chen Jianghe has not been mentioned at all, as if----this grandson does not exist at all."
There was silence in the hall for a moment.
After a long time, Zhao Wuji finally said slowly, "The surveillance people have been sent out?"
"According to the ancestor's instructions, three shifts have been rotated, and Xingyi Martial Arts Hall, Su Family Escort Agency, and Su Family Escort Agency have been monitored 24 hours a day, and----
Chen Jianghe That small courtyard."
"Okay." Zhao Wuji picked up the tea cup and slowly rubbed the cold cup wall with his fingertips, a cold light flowing in his eyes, "On the martial arts field, fists and feet have no eyes. When the younger generation competes, even if there are injuries, it is normal."
He paused and drank the cold tea in one gulp. "Tomorrow, in my name, Zhao Family, I will summon all the martial arts gym owners in the city to discuss Yilin Martial Arts Tournament". We must make it happen so that Chen Jianghe and that kid Su Family have to end."
The steward lowered his head and listened quietly, sweat dripping from his forehead.
Zhao Wuji continued, "As for the rules, you have to be more relaxed." If you stick to the rules, you will inevitably be tied up. How can you see the real rules?
It's true that young people are full of energy and can't hold back their hands for a while."
He raised his eyes, his eyes like those of poisonous snakes. "At that time, a mistake in the arena will destroy a person's cultivation, or even leave him with a lifelong disability——Li Chengyue, no matter how domineering, can he tear his face in front of the whole city's martial arts gyms and interfere with the juniors' competition?"
"Ancestor is wise!" The steward understood and hurriedly bowed, "I will take care of it now. I will definitely handle this matter thoroughly and properly, and no one will be able to find fault with it."
"Yes." Zhao Wuji waved his hand, "Go ahead. Remember, your words must be beautiful and your posts must be thoughtful. Especially Xingyi Martial Arts Hall's etiquette needs to be sufficient."
"My subordinate understands."
The steward bowed and left.
Only Zhao Wuji is left in the hall.
He leaned on the Taishi chair, closed his eyes and rested his mind, and unconsciously rubbed the scorched black patch on his chest with his left hand.
He seemed to see Li Chengyue standing with a gun in the daytime, his gaze like a torch, threatening the entire audience.
"Old man," he said to the void, as if he was speaking to the figure who had made him lose all face today and was vaguely frightened, "This little bit of breathing space that you have earned through all your efforts - do you think your two good apprentices can keep it?"
"I want to see how long you can hold on with this tone."
The flickering candlelight illuminated half of his face, and the calculation and ruthlessness deep in his eyes were darker than the night.