First Glimpse of His Edge

Zhao Tieshan's cultivation was roughly at the third level of Qi Condensation.

On the surface, he stood two minor realms above Jiang Yuan, a rookie who had only just crossed the threshold into martial arts.

Seeing Jiang Yuan choose to challenge him, Zhao Tieshan looked somewhat surprised, but he still nodded. "Very well. Since Elder Jiang has such courage, I shall spar with you."

"I won't take advantage of you either. As long as you can last ten exchanges against me, you'll have passed."

"Please."

Jiang Yuan placed one hand behind his back, assuming the bearing of a master.

"Damn, this old Jiang is putting on airs too hard. Old Zhao, don't go easy on him—teach him a brutal lesson!"

The crowd cheered Zhao Tieshan on. They truly could not stand Jiang Yuan, an old man still acting so high and mighty.

They simply did not believe it.

How powerful could an old man possibly be?

A martial artist at such an advanced age, unless he was some grandmaster of martial arts, was surely nothing more than dry bones in a grave.

This world still belonged to the young!

"Elder Jiang, watch out!"

Zhao Tieshan shouted coldly, charging at Jiang Yuan with steady strides and throwing a fierce punch!

The punch was heavy and forceful, with true qi faintly surging in its wake. He clearly had not held back.

Zhao Tieshan held no contempt for Jiang Yuan. On the contrary, he was somewhat wary and curious.

An old man who usually told stories suddenly claimed to be a martial artist?

Who would dare believe that?

There was probably only one explanation: this old man had always been a martial artist and had merely deliberately concealed his strength.

At that moment.

Facing the punch, Jiang Yuan neither dodged nor retreated. He spread his feet slightly, sank his waist, lowered his stance, and sent his fist-force rolling outward!

Five Animal Fist, Bear Form!

Steady as a bear, unmoving as a mountain!

Bang!

In the next instant, Jiang Yuan's fist-force collided with Zhao Tieshan's. It was like mountains roaring and seas crashing, as vast true qi erupted forth!

Such dense true qi!

Zhao Tieshan was greatly alarmed. He tried to pull back, only to discover that his fist had been firmly drawn in and could not be withdrawn at all!

Jiang Yuan's punch appeared less imposing than his, yet it made him feel as though he had struck a bear in the belly, unable to shake his opponent in the slightest!

This was the true essence of the Bear Form within the Five Animal Fist: true qi drawn inward, using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds!

Tiger Form!

Jiang Yuan pulled his fist back, then abruptly thrust it forward again with an even fiercer, more tyrannical momentum!

The tiger's might surged onward without pause!

A force capable of overturning mountains and seas burst from Jiang Yuan's fist. Zhao Tieshan felt his chest tighten, and his entire body was sent flying backward. He crashed heavily to the ground, defeated outright.

"Cough, cough..."

Zhao Tieshan clutched his chest and coughed twice before scrambling awkwardly to his feet, his face filled with shock.

Two moves!

He had lost in merely two moves!

He had even shamelessly declared that Jiang Yuan only needed to endure ten exchanges against him, yet he himself had not even lasted a single exchange!

He had utterly disgraced himself!

In an instant, the entire place fell deathly silent once more.

Jiang Yuan withdrew his stance and looked at Zhao Tieshan. "Chief Zhao, this old man should count as having passed, yes?"

Zhao Tieshan was stunned for quite some time before coming back to his senses. He hurriedly nodded.

"Of course you've passed!"

"Congratulations, Senior Jiang. From today onward, you are a registered martial artist of Jiangning City and may enjoy the treatment afforded to retainers of the City Lord's Manor."

"Starting today, you may collect twenty low-grade spirit stones from the yamen each month, along with certain cultivation resources."

"This is the retainer's token. Please accept it, Senior."

Zhao Tieshan respectfully presented the token. Even the way he addressed Jiang Yuan had changed from Elder Jiang to Senior Jiang.

At this moment, he was certain that Jiang Yuan had to be a peerless expert who had retired from the martial world.

A seventy-year-old man who had practiced martial arts to the first level of Qi Condensation?

Not even a dog would believe it!

That fist technique alone could not possibly be trained to such a level without five or six years of effort. How could an old man who had only just stepped through the martial artist's threshold possibly have mastered it?

Someone like this was absolutely not to be provoked!

"Thank you."

Jiang Yuan accepted the token, feeling its weight in his hand as relief washed over him.

At last, he had a source for spirit stones.

"Not bad, Old Jiang!"

After seeing Jiang Yuan defeat Zhao Tieshan in two moves, Zhang Yong was stunned for a moment, then felt his own hands itch for a fight. He laughed loudly.

"Old Jiang, you old fellow hid yourself well. So you're a true expert who keeps his brilliance hidden!"

"Your Five Animal Fist looks even more practiced than mine!"

"Come on, come on, let's have a match!"

However, Jiang Yuan shook his head. "No more fighting. This old man is tired."

At those words, everyone looked at him with utter disdain.

Was that even something a person could say?

You took care of Zhao Tieshan in one exchange without even turning red or drawing breath, and now you were telling them you were tired?

But Jiang Yuan truly did not wish to fight anymore.

He was over seventy, long past the age of being hot-blooded and showing off. His challenge to Zhao Tieshan had merely been to test his own skills.

He had practiced martial arts for only one month.

The two moves of the Five Animal Fist had already revealed too much.

If someone with ulterior motives set their sights on him, it would inevitably bring unnecessary trouble.

Besides, he had already achieved his main objective.

One should stop while ahead.

"Fine."

Zhang Yong sighed and said with feeling, "Old Jiang, if I'd known you were hiding your true abilities, I would've dragged you into the yamen to work ages ago."

"In your dreams!"

Jiang Yuan snorted disdainfully. "This old man enjoys telling stories in the teahouse. Why would I go with you to do such thankless work at the yamen?"

"Hahaha..."

Zhang Yong laughed heartily, though there was a trace of bitterness in his smile.

Indeed, working at the yamen was no easy job, especially in these troubled times. One careless mistake could cost a person their life.

That night.

In a residence near the teahouse, Zhou Lian listened to a servant's report, and her fair, pretty face grew increasingly unpleasant.

"You mean that old thing went to the yamen today?"

"Absolutely true, Sister-in-law."

The servant lowered his voice. "I personally saw him being invited into the yamen today. Constable Zhang was quite courteous to him as well. It's truly strange."

Zhou Lian clenched her handkerchief, her expression shifting uncertainly.

She had never expected Jiang Yuan, an old storyteller, to have such deep ties with the yamen.

This old fellow seemed far more difficult to deal with than she had imagined.

If Ma Shan had truly been killed by him, this matter would be far more serious than she had anticipated.

"I understand. Keep watching him."

Zhou Lian tossed the servant a silver ingot and waved him away.

She could not act rashly yet.

Given the current situation, she, a mere woman, might not be able to deal with the old man. But things would be different with her younger brother involved.

Though the Zhou family was an ordinary household, it had produced an outstanding son.

That was her younger brother, Zhou Yun.

From a young age, Zhou Yun had displayed remarkable talent for martial arts. At the age of eleven, he had been accepted by the prestigious Azure Profound Sect as a registered disciple.

Seven or eight years had passed since then.

However, not long ago, she had received word from Zhou Yun that he would be returning to Jiangning City.

Upon hearing the news, she had been excited for days.

With her younger brother backing her, dealing with Jiang Yuan, an old man with one foot in the grave, would be easy. Even seizing the Mei family's property and driving out those Mei siblings who had wasted her youth would not be difficult.

Perhaps her younger brother would even take her to the Azure Profound Sect to live a life of comfort!

As expected, a husband could not be relied upon.

It was still better to rely on a good younger brother from one's own family.

At the thought, a smile rose unbidden at the corners of Zhou Lian's lips.

Her days of living as a widow with a husband still alive were finally coming to an end!