Li Qing

In the blink of an eye, another half month had passed.

It was late autumn, and fallen leaves drifted everywhere.

The old locust tree in the Yam Herb Shop's rear courtyard had already turned more than half yellow. Whenever the wind blew, withered leaves spun down, carpeting the ground.

The weather had turned cold. During the morning muster, the guards' breath came out white as they spoke.

Yet over these past half month, Lu Chen had scarcely relaxed at all.

Every day, he rose early to practice stance work, trained his fists in the evening, and after soaking in a medicinal bath at night, he would continue pondering the variations of the Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist and Iron Thread Grappling Hand.

The medicinal baths washed away fatigue, meat nourished his sinews and bones, and Blood-Qi Powder strengthened his qi and blood.

Not a single tael of silver spent on these things had gone to waste.

The qi and blood within him had grown from five strands to eight.

The eight strands of qi and blood circulated through his chest and abdomen. Though they had yet to truly converge into a stream, they were already far more robust than when he had first entered the Blood Moving realm.

Along with that, Lu Chen's strength had risen to over eight hundred jin. A single punch could split an ordinary wooden post on the spot; even raw iron would bear a fist imprint three inches deep.

That afternoon, quite a crowd had gathered at the training ground before the guards' dormitory.

Everyone had rushed over right after lunch.

Because Lu Chen was going to spar with Li Qing.

Li Qing was a top disciple of Thousand Crane Martial Hall, and the martial art he practiced was the Thousand Crane Cloud-Piercing Hand, which was quite renowned within Thousand Crane Martial Hall.

Among the Yam Herb Shop's guards, Li Qing had always been regarded as the strongest man beneath Zhao Yiting.

"Li Qing's really stepping in?"

"Lu Chen's been in the limelight more and more lately. He's fought through the Yam Herb Shop without meeting an opponent. It's time someone took the edge off him."

"I wouldn't be so sure. If Lu Chen wins, the rankings in the rear courtyard will have to change."

Discussion buzzed around the edge of the field.

Qian Ming leaned against a wall, watching the two men at the center of the field as he said lazily, "There'll be a good show today. Azure Dragon Through-the-Arms Fist against Thousand Crane Cloud-Piercing Hand—a dragon fighting a crane. That's something to look forward to."

Just then, Zhou Li squeezed hurriedly through the crowd, carrying a small jar of Qujiang Red he had just bought from Little Prosperity Tower.

"Make way, make way!"

As he pushed through, he shielded the wine jar in his arms, afraid someone might knock it over and shatter it.

"Well? Have they started?"

"Good thing I made it in time!"

Someone laughed and cursed, "Old Zhou, you really know how to enjoy yourself! You even brought a damned jar of wine!"

Zhou Li glared. "What do you know? When masters cross hands, how can there be no good wine to accompany it?"

As he spoke, he squeezed to the very front, swept his gaze between Lu Chen and Li Qing, and lowered his voice. "Who has the better odds?"

"I think it's Li Qing. He broke through into the Blood Moving realm a year ago, and his qi and blood are deeply accumulated. On top of that, his Thousand Crane Cloud-Piercing Hand is full of ever-changing variations. Lu Chen definitely won't get off easily."

Someone analyzed seriously.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Didn't you see Lu Chen practicing in the courtyard yesterday? One punch nearly blasted through the courtyard wall."

"Li Qing wants to overpower Lu Chen with raw strength? Hmph, I don't believe it!"

Someone firmly backed Lu Chen.

Li Qing stood in the center of the training ground. He was tall and slender, with refined features. His fingers were slightly longer than those of ordinary men, and his knuckles were distinct.

He cupped his fist toward Lu Chen. "Lu Chen, I won't go easy on you in this spar."

Lu Chen returned the salute. "Brother Li, feel free to make your move. Fists and feet have no eyes. Even if I get injured, it'll only mean my skills were lacking. I won't blame Brother Li in the slightest."

Li Qing smiled, but his expression turned serious. "Then I won't hold back!"

"Take this!"

Before his words had faded, he tapped off the ground. His entire body swept toward Lu Chen like a white crane gliding across the autumn wind.

Thousand Crane Cloud-Piercing Hand!

His right hand feinted toward Lu Chen's face, five fingers slightly spread like a crane's beak pecking through clouds. Yet his left hand remained hidden beneath his sleeve, silently slicing toward Lu Chen's wrist pulse.

One feint, one real attack—so fast it dazzled the eye.

Lu Chen sank his shoulders and back, his arms lashing out like dragon whiskers, cutting off every one of Li Qing's attacks.

Bang!

Fist and palm collided.

Li Qing's left hand was intercepted. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but he immediately spun, both hands striking out in an unbroken chain.

For a moment, palm shadows whirled through the air.

His footwork was light and agile as he circled Lu Chen, his hands rising and falling, shifting left and right. At times, he feinted at the brow; at times, he cut toward the elbow tendons; at times, he used his palms to guard himself; then he transformed his fingers into straight pecks aimed at the shoulders and neck.

Attack and defense as one, feints and reality interwoven.

This was precisely what made the Thousand Crane Cloud-Piercing Hand so difficult to deal with.

The onlookers could barely take it all in.

"Li Qing truly is a top disciple of Thousand Crane Martial Hall. His strikes are so fast."

In the field, Lu Chen never lost his composure. He did not allow Li Qing to draw him into his rhythm.

Instead, his fists emerged like dragons, every move striking directly at Li Qing's joints, forcing Li Qing to alter his attack paths and even compelling him to defend.

Every time their fists and palms collided, Li Qing felt as though he had struck a heavy ironwood log. The force traveled back along his arm, numbing his knuckles.

Li Qing was secretly shocked when Lu Chen's gaze sharpened.

The eight strands of qi and blood within him churned at once. Force rose from beneath his feet, ran through his waist and back, and surged straight to his shoulders and arms.

Azure Dragon Emerges from the Abyss!

This punch suddenly surged upward, like an azure dragon submerged in a deep pool abruptly raising its head.

The fist wind howled, directly tearing apart the shifting feints between Li Qing's hands.

Li Qing's pupils contracted. He hurriedly withdrew both palms to defend, crossing them before his body.

Bang!

A muffled impact rang out.

Li Qing was jolted back five steps. His feet crushed several dead leaves before he finally managed to steady himself upon crashing into the crowd at the edge of the field.

His arms trembled faintly, qi and blood churning in his chest as his face went pale.

Before he could react, Lu Chen's fist had already pursued him, stopping three inches before his chest.

The field fell silent for a moment.

Then the watching guards erupted into an uproar.

"He won!"

"Lu Chen really beat Li Qing!"

Li Qing lowered his head to look at the fist three inches before his chest. With a bitter smile, he cupped his fist and said, "Lu Chen, I lost."

Lu Chen withdrew his fist and returned the salute. "Brother Li's Thousand Crane Cloud-Piercing Hand is swift and hard to read. If my fist technique hadn't improved somewhat recently, I might not have won."

Li Qing shook his head, yet he accepted it calmly.

"A loss is a loss."

He looked at Lu Chen. There was no resentment in his eyes, only a trace of admiration. "Your punch was powerful and heavy, like a dragon breaking from the abyss. I truly couldn't withstand it."

Zhao Yiting was also standing behind the crowd.

With his arms folded across his chest, he had only come to take a look after hearing that Lu Chen and Li Qing were sparring.

But after truly watching the battle through, the expression on his face changed.

No one knew Li Qing's level better than he did.

Born of Thousand Crane Martial Hall, Li Qing had already achieved minor mastery in the Thousand Crane Cloud-Piercing Hand. His attacks were swift, precise, and ruthless. Among the Yam Herb Shop's guards, he had always been one of the most presentable fighters.

Yet today, Li Qing had lost.

He had practically been crushed by Lu Chen.

Zhao Yiting watched Lu Chen standing in the field with his fist withdrawn, unable to hide the delight rising in his eyes.

"This kid..."

He murmured softly.

How long had Lu Chen been at the Yam Herb Shop?

Just over a month.

In his first few days there, he had beaten Liu Heng flat. Now, he had defeated Li Qing, the number one martial guard.

And judging by the depth of his qi and blood, the solidity beneath his feet, and the excellence of his fist technique, every punch and stance already carried the bearing of a martial arts master.

Zhao Yiting's gaze flickered as thoughts churned in his mind. He looked again toward the alchemy room and muttered to himself, "In a few days, Master Ge Ye will be going to Gaolin County to attend a medicinal gathering, purchase autumn-harvested herbs, and inspect the auction of alchemy formulas."

"I can have this kid make the trip in my stead and broaden his horizons along the way."