Ambush

Hu Gongquan and the others naturally did not want to die, so they could only comply with Xu Qing's demands and hand over every kickback they had taken over the past year.

After that.

Xu Qing briefly looked into Spring Breeze Pavilion's methods of making money. After pondering for a moment, he did not introduce the profit models of high-end clubs from Earth.

The night passed without incident.

The next day.

Morning.

Xu Qing woke early. He had spent the night at Spring Breeze Pavilion, yet had done nothing romantic or indulgent, because the women of the dust there truly did not catch his eye.

Whether it was Lan Xin, Spring Breeze Pavilion's top courtesan, or Zi Yan, who possessed the bearing of a noble lady, Xu Qing had little interest in either of them. He had merely rested peacefully for the night.

"Time to head back."

Xu Qing stretched, ate breakfast at Spring Breeze Pavilion, then left and returned to Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, where he saw Du Cangying again in the Main Courtyard.

Inside a room in the Main Courtyard.

"What is it?"

Du Cangying sized Xu Qing up.

"Master."

Xu Qing took out ten thousand taels' worth of silver notes from his robes and respectfully handed them to Du Cangying. "Last night, this disciple went to Spring Breeze Pavilion and checked the account books. I discovered that Hu Gongquan and the others had falsified the accounts. Over the course of a year, they took a total of one thousand and eighty taels in kickbacks."

"This disciple made them cough it all up last night."

"Please inspect it, Master."

"Oh?"

Du Cangying raised his brows. He accepted the ten thousand taels' worth of silver notes and said, "Xu Qing, I never expected you to have such a talent."

"Not bad, not bad."

Du Cangying nodded. From the ten thousand taels' worth of silver notes, he took out three notes worth one thousand taels each, three thousand taels in total, and handed them to Xu Qing. "These are for you. Take them."

"Thank you, Master."

Delighted, Xu Qing accepted the three thousand taels' worth of silver notes.

"How is your Azure Hawk Force progressing?"

Du Cangying asked.

"Reporting to Master, this disciple has made some progress these past few days."

Xu Qing replied.

"Demonstrate it."

Du Cangying said.

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded respectfully.

Then.

Xu Qing began practicing Azure Hawk Claw Force inside the room. He had already combined Eagle Claw Skill and Azure Hawk Force, forming Azure Hawk Claw Force, which possessed the essence of both combat methods and cultivation methods.

"You..."

With only one look.

Du Cangying had already seen it.

"Huff..."

More than ten minutes later.

Xu Qing finished the entire routine and exhaled a breath of turbid air.

"Good, good, good."

Du Cangying's eyes gleamed faintly, and a look of immense surprise appeared on his face. "Xu Qing, Xu Qing, you have truly exceeded this old man's expectations."

"You actually combined Eagle Claw Skill and Azure Hawk Force."

"Master's eyes are as keen as a torch."

Xu Qing said, "Sure enough, nothing can be hidden from Master."

"Hahaha..."

Du Cangying laughed heartily. "I never expected you to possess such comprehension in martial arts. With your natural physique and such comprehension—genius! A true genius!"

"You flatter me, Master."

Xu Qing said.

"When you reach peak Bright Force, I will personally teach you the methods of Dark Force."

Du Cangying said, "In the future, come directly to me if you need anything."

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded.

"Go."

Du Cangying waved his hand.

"This disciple takes his leave."

Xu Qing departed respectfully.

"I truly never expected this."

Du Cangying watched Xu Qing's departing back, his hands clasped behind him as he vaguely sank into memories. "When I established Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, I upheld the belief that education should know no distinction. I never expected that today, I would accept such a gifted genius disciple."

"Hahaha..."

"Heaven truly has not failed this old man!"

Du Cangying laughed three times.

Morning.

Xu Qing bought three jin of Tai Sui Spirit Meat from Old Man Xiao. The Resource Hall also had other Secret Medicines and nourishing herbs, but Xu Qing did not need them. Three jin of Tai Sui Spirit Meat every day was already enough.

In the blink of an eye.

Xu Qing returned home.

"This time, I revealed my talent before Master again. For now, it brings only benefits and no harm. Instead, it has made Master value me even more."

Xu Qing pondered. "I already have enough money in hand. Coupled with the thirty percent of Spring Breeze Pavilion's profits I can receive each month, it is enough to cover my daily cultivation expenses."

"So."

"Next, there is no need for me to keep making money. I should cultivate in peace for a while first."

Time flashed by.

Evening.

"Huff..."

Xu Qing slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.

With a thought.

Eight Extremities Fist LV6: 115/320.

"Soon."

Xu Qing pondered. "Just a few more days."

Afterward.

Xu Qing finished his practice, pan-fried a piece of Tai Sui Spirit Meat, and ate it. A warm current rose from his abdomen and spread through his entire body as his stamina and energy gradually recovered.

"Master."

A few minutes later.

At six in the evening.

Yu Chen brought Yu Hu to Xu Qing's residence.

"Brother Xu."

Yu Chen cupped his hands.

"You're here."

Xu Qing glanced up, his expression calm.

"Yu Hu, why haven't you greeted your master?"

Yu Chen barked.

"Master."

Yu Hu was somewhat restrained.

"Mm."

Xu Qing nodded.

Next.

Xu Qing began teaching Yu Hu Eight Extremities Fist. Yu Hu had a decent foundation and a sturdy body, while Yu Chen had also fed him quite a few good things.

Besides.

Though Yu Hu was not particularly clever, he was not stupid either.

In the blink of an eye.

An hour later.

The sky had already darkened.

"That's about enough."

Xu Qing stopped and said, "Yu Chen, it's getting late. Take Yu Hu home. Once it gets completely dark, the roads will be unsafe."

"Alright."

Yu Chen nodded. "Sorry to trouble you, Brother Xu."

"Master, this disciple takes his leave."

Yu Hu saluted.

"..."

Xu Qing watched Yu Chen and Yu Hu leave.

"Eight Extremities Fist is only a combat method. After being upgraded by the Omni-Codex, it gradually acquired the essence of a cultivation method. Now, it has become an advanced martial art that merges combat methods with cultivation methods."

Xu Qing pondered inwardly. "The Eight Extremities Fist I taught Yu Hu is not the original version, but LV2 Eight Extremities Fist. Once fully mastered, it can condense Bright Force."

"That is already enough."

"Based on Yu Hu's natural physique and aptitude, with an hour of instruction each day, he should learn LV2 Eight Extremities Fist within about a month. By then, he will not need to come here anymore and can practice martial arts at home."

Eight at night.

The second watch of the night.

Xu Qing received a letter. It had been delivered by a clerk from Spring Breeze Pavilion, and the writer was Hu Gongquan. The letter said that someone had caused trouble at Spring Breeze Pavilion tonight, and Xu Qing was needed to deal with the troublemakers there.

"Causing trouble?"

Xu Qing put away the letter and glanced at the clerk.

"Who is it?"

Xu Qing asked.

"I... I don't know..."

The clerk kept his head lowered, his eyes darting about as though he were hiding something from Xu Qing. Xu Qing frowned, having noticed the clerk's abnormal behavior as well.

"You're lying to me?"

Xu Qing's face darkened.

"N-No..."

The clerk waved his hands. "How would I dare deceive you, sir?"

"Let's go."

After pondering for a moment, Xu Qing still said.

"Yes, yes, yes."

The clerk nodded rapidly.

Second watch.

The sky had already gone dark. There was practically no one on the streets, and the residents were all sleeping soundly in their homes. Xu Qing walked along the road toward Spring Breeze Pavilion.

The Spring Breeze Pavilion clerk walked ahead of him.

Suddenly.

Just as Xu Qing turned a street corner.

The Spring Breeze Pavilion clerk abruptly quickened his pace and rushed ahead.

"You..."

Xu Qing rebuked him.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!!

The next moment.

Three figures tore through the air, charging down from the rooftops in a triangular formation. All of them wore black nightclothes, and they had already surrounded Xu Qing.

"Ah!"

The Spring Breeze Pavilion clerk had run too quickly and was too panicked. He actually tripped over himself and fell to the ground, letting out a miserable cry.

Turning back.

The Spring Breeze Pavilion clerk saw Xu Qing's icy gaze.

"I'm sorry, sir. They captured my parents and my child. I... I had no choice..."

The Spring Breeze Pavilion clerk kept speaking.

Pfft!

The next moment.

A flash of silver streaked through the air. A throwing dart shot out at incredible speed and, in the blink of an eye, pierced through the Spring Breeze Pavilion clerk's throat.

"..."

The Spring Breeze Pavilion waiter opened his mouth, then died with astonishment and unwillingness written across his face.

"Who are you?"

Xu Qing did not care whether the waiter lived or died. Instead, he looked at the three assassins in black nightwear surrounding him.

"I don't think I've offended you, have I?"

"The dead do not need to know too much."

"Do it."

"..."

However.

The three assassins in black nightwear clearly had no desire to chat with Xu Qing.

After dealing with the waiter, the three exchanged glances and immediately charged at Xu Qing from three different directions.

"Serpent Evasion Technique."

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Xu Qing's gaze flickered as he unleashed the Serpent Evasion Technique.

His body moved with supple agility, like a slithering serpent, swiftly evading the attacks of the three assassins.

"What agile footwork."

"You really aren't simple, kid."

"It seems those corpse ghouls may really have been killed by you."

The three assassins said.

"So you are connected to those corpse ghouls."

Xu Qing shouted.

"Die!"

Swish!

The next moment.

The three assassins joined forces, drawing soft swords from their waists.

Their sword light was chilling and incredibly swift, each streak descending upon Xu Qing like a Heavenly Net.

Clang!

A sword cry rang out.

Xu Qing took a step back and reached out with his right hand, gripping the hilt of the iron sword strapped to his back.

An incomparably sharp Sword Qi seemed to radiate from between his brows.

Swish!

Xu Qing had already drawn the iron sword.

At that moment.

The blade of the iron sword reflected streak after streak of keen sword light.

"Thirteen Sword Strikes of Life-Taking!"

Xu Qing gave a soft shout. "First Strike! Sword Out Throat Cut!"

Crack!

Xu Qing thrust out with his sword, carrying an inevitable killing force.

Sword light crisscrossed, crushing all of the enemy's sword light with the force of withered weeds meeting a gale.

Crack! Crack!

Not only that.

All three soft swords in the assassins' hands shattered.

"What?!"

The three assassins were struck dumb with terror.

Spurt! Spurt!

Fresh blood splashed.

Two blood-red flowers bloomed.

One sword.

Just one sword.

Two assassins died on the spot, their throats sealed by a single strike. The remaining assassin clutched his broken sword, terror filling his eyes.