Watching Martial Artists Duel, Asking for the Kestrel Fist Manual

A light screen appeared, inscribed with the following information.

Host: Liu Yunche

Equipped items: None

Another message followed, explaining the purpose of the equipment slot.

Items could be embedded to gain corresponding talents, abilities, or even martial arts.

The corners of Liu Yunche's lips rose, his joy impossible to conceal.

Only after quite some time did he gradually calm down. Deep down, he kept reminding himself to remain steady and composed.

Much later, Liu Yunche finally fell into a deep sleep on his bed.

Several days later, the purple tinge lingering on Liu Yunche's lips had completely faded. He summoned Chunyan and had her support him as he went to sit in the courtyard.

Chunyan draped a fur cloak over him and handed him a cup of ginger tea. "Young Master, the early spring chill is still harsh. Have some ginger tea to warm yourself."

Liu Yunche accepted the tea and glanced at the clear, pale-yellow liquid. In a weak voice, he asked, "Has it been tested?"

"Young Master, these past few days, Master has personally overseen and inspected all your food and drink. Only after confirming that everything is safe is it sent to your courtyard."

Chunyan explained.

Chunyan says Father personally oversees the food and drink. It seems the person who poisoned me still hasn't been found... I wonder how the investigation is going.

These thoughts flashed through his mind.

Liu Yunche nodded before taking a sip. A moment later, warmth rose in his abdomen, and he took several more mouthfuls.

After setting down the ginger tea, he listened to the rustling wind in the courtyard, a sense of tranquil peace rising in his heart.

After a while, Liu Yunche suddenly wanted to take a walk around the Household. "Chunyan, help me outside for a walk."

"Yes, Young Master." Chunyan supported Liu Yunche by the shoulder with her small hand and led him outside.

Leaving the courtyard where Liu Yunche lived—Cloud Perch Courtyard—he walked along the bluestone path.

Along the way, every servant he encountered bowed and greeted him with, "Good day, Young Master," before retreating to the side, not daring to overstep in the slightest.

Chunyan supported him and deliberately chose level, quiet paths, gently reminding him:

"Young Master, walk slowly. You haven't fully recovered yet. Don't tire yourself out."

Liu Yunche nodded slightly. His gaze passed over the blue-brick walls ahead and landed on a group of burly men at the training ground.

"Ha! Hah!"

The sounds of fists and kicks cutting through the air as they practiced martial arts echoed across the training ground.

At that moment, a middle-aged man dressed in a dark-brown fitted outfit was pacing among the trainees.

He shouted, "Keep your stance steady and strike hard."

"If your stance isn't steady, the earth will shake and the mountains will tremble. If your punches aren't hard... hmph!"

After pausing briefly, he joked, though there was not the slightest hint of amusement in his eyes. "Next year, I'll personally burn incense at your graves."

At those words, the burly men on the training ground worked even harder at their stances.

Their bodies, which had been swaying on the verge of collapse, became steady again as they gritted their teeth and persevered.

Liu Yunche watched from outside for a while, his eyes shifting slightly as he inadvertently glanced toward the lower left.

Chunyan asked softly, "Young Master?"

Liu Yunche's gaze fell upon the various weapons displayed on the racks at the training ground. After pondering for a moment, he softly said to Chunyan:

"Help me go inside and take a look."

At his signal, Chunyan slowly helped Liu Yunche inside, where he sat down in a corner of the training ground.

Wan Shan was the middle-aged man in the dark-brown fitted outfit.

Seeing Liu Yunche arrive, he hurried over in a few quick strides. His expression turned solemn as he clasped his fists, his words carrying the upright bearing of a martial artist.

"Greetings, Young Master."

"Haha... Instructor Wan, no need for such courtesy. I was passing by and heard you instructing them in martial arts. On a whim, I came in to take a look." Liu Yunche smiled.

"I hope I haven't disturbed you?"

"Young Master is too polite. It is their honor to have you observe their martial arts."

Liu Yunche smiled, then changed the subject. "May I ask what martial art Instructor Wan is teaching today?"

Wan Shan's gaze fell upon Liu Yunche's pale face. The Liu Household's young master was visibly frail.

"In reply to Young Master, this is the stance training method of Kestrel Fist."

"Kestrel Fist?"

"That's right. This fist art was bestowed by Master. It contains both stance training and combat techniques. The stances nourish the body, while the fist art protects it."

Seeing Liu Yunche's interest, Wan Shan was happy to speak more with him. After all, Liu Wangzhou had only this one son, and this vast Liu Household would sooner or later be passed down to Liu Yunche.

After a brief pause, he continued, "Kestrel Fist is famed for its extreme speed. Its punches are like lightning, yet its momentum is like a clear breeze through a mountain ravine. It is an assassination fist art."

"An assassination fist art..." Hearing those words, Liu Yunche's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Thinking of what had happened recently, he instinctively felt a trace of distaste.

But on second thought, martial arts themselves had no right or wrong, no good or evil. The difference lay only in the person who used them.

Liu Yunche considered it for a moment. "Does this fist art have any weaknesses?"

Wan Shan looked surprised. Most sixteen-year-old youths like Liu Yunche, upon first hearing of a martial art's power, would be overjoyed and eager to train in it. Few would consider its strengths and weaknesses.

He could only say that Liu Yunche was worthy of being the heir raised by a wealthy family.

Wan Shan did not answer immediately. Instead, he turned to look at the burly men who had been secretly watching them.

He snorted. "Lin Liang, Zhao Yong. Step forward!"

The two men who had been called shuddered. Not daring to delay in the slightest, they quickly came before Wan Shan.

"Instructor Wan, Young Master." The two clasped their fists in greeting.

Wan Shan turned and explained to Liu Yunche:

"Young Master, both of them practice Kestrel Fist. Why not let them demonstrate it for you?"

Liu Yunche nodded approvingly.

Only then did Wan Shan shout, "The rest of you, gather around! Watch carefully and learn properly!"

He then fixed Lin Liang and Zhao Yong with a sharp gaze. "Fight well. The winner will receive one Premium Blood-Qi Pill."

The moment the words Premium Blood-Qi Pill were spoken, Lin Liang and Zhao Yong's eyes instantly lit up.

Lin Liang laughed heartily. "Brother Zhao, that Premium Blood-Qi Pill is mine for the taking. Watch out."

Zhao Yong shot back, "Who wins and who loses is still uncertain! Take my punch first!"

Before he had even finished speaking, Zhao Yong threw a punch like lightning straight at Lin Liang's face.

Lin Liang knew Zhao Yong's temperament well. The moment he had uttered those bold words, Lin Liang had already assumed his stance.

He leaned forward slightly, his center of gravity lowered onto the ball of his front foot. His right hand guarded his throat while his left hand extended forward, like a kestrel perched on a branch.

Zhao Yong's punch was blocked by Lin Liang's right hand. At the same time, Lin Liang's left hand shot out like a red kestrel pecking at prey, his reddened fingertips becoming a crimson streak that struck straight for Zhao Yong's throat.

Zhao Yong remained calm in the face of danger. His body suddenly dipped low, gliding like a kestrel's wings as he dodged the strike and used the motion to widen the distance.

Liu Yunche watched intently. The two moved with astonishing speed, covering several yards with a single step and leap. Like birds of prey hunting, they either did not strike at all, or struck to kill.

Neither was willing to yield. They charged at each other again, their fists and palms colliding with little sound.

Wan Shan explained, "Young Master, Lin Liang's posture just now was the stance training of Kestrel Fist—Kestrel Perch Stance. It balances defense with offense, guarding against frontal attacks. It is the opening stance of Kestrel Fist."

Liu Yunche pondered for a moment. "This Kestrel Fist is swift as lightning and emphasizes killing with a single strike. Every move targets a vital point. It truly deserves to be called an assassination fist art."

On the field, Zhao Yong had barely regained his footing when he repeatedly stepped forward and used Kestrel Treads Branches. His body flickered as he closed in on Lin Liang, his right fist suddenly shooting out toward the other's eyes. It was Kestrel Pecking Eyes.

That punch held nothing back. Its force had been driven to the limit, and he had opened with Kestrel Fist's full-power killing move.

Lin Liang narrowly avoided it with a sideways sliding step, then countered with Kestrel Shears Wings, sweeping at Zhao Yong's elbow. It was likewise a full-force strike, with no room for restraint.

After only a few exchanges, their figures crisscrossed and fist shadows flew. Though their attacks still looked swift and vicious, their breathing had gradually become disordered.

Wan Shan answered Liu Yunche's earlier question. "Kestrel Fist is indeed fast, but it lacks sustained power. These two have exchanged only a few times, yet their breathing is already becoming unsteady."

Liu Yunche nodded inwardly, understanding at once.

Assassination required landing a hit in one strike. No matter what, after one attempt, one had to retreat.

The next moment, Wan Shan said, "Of course, part of the reason is that these two have not mastered the fist art completely. But Kestrel Fist itself is not a martial art suited for prolonged combat."

The duel on the field continued.

Lin Liang let out a light breath, a fierce gleam flashing in his eyes. He deliberately revealed an opening to lure Zhao Yong close, then spun and counterattacked with Kestrel Wheeling Return. He immediately followed with Kestrel Breaks the Knee, smashing toward the bend of Zhao Yong's knee.

His moves remained vicious, but his speed had slowed somewhat. He was relying entirely on sheer tenacity to keep going.

With a soft crack, Zhao Yong's knee went numb. He staggered and dropped to one knee, his chest heaving violently as he gulped for breath. More than half his strength had been spent just trying to rise.

Zhao Yong struggled to his feet and exclaimed, "You've reached major mastery of the fist art?"

Though Lin Liang was panting heavily, he looked much better than before. Unable to hide the smile at the corner of his mouth, he clasped his fists and said, "I was fortunate enough to break through a few days ago..."

Zhao Yong pointed at Lin Liang. Though unwilling to accept it, he was still magnanimous. "You sly old Lin. You really knew how to keep it hidden."

The two exchanged a glance and burst into laughter, letting the matter pass.

Wan Shan promptly announced, "Lin Liang wins!"

The surrounding household guards murmured among themselves, discussing the result.

"Lin Liang actually broke through in secret and reached major mastery of the fist art."

Others sighed for Zhao Yong. "What a pity for Zhao Yong."

Once the surrounding household guards had dispersed, Liu Yunche revealed his interest in Kestrel Fist and asked Wan Shan if he could look through the Kestrel Fist manual.

Wan Shan looked at Liu Yunche with a troubled expression. "Young Master, your body has not yet recovered. It would not be suitable for you to practice martial arts."

Liu Yunche explained, "Instructor Wan, don't worry. I am merely bored from lying around and want to look through the manual to pass the time. I won't personally practice it."

He paused. "Instructor Wan, don't worry. I won't make things difficult for you. I will explain the reason to Father."

With things having been said to this extent, Wan Shan had no reason to refuse.

The next moment, Wan Shan took a reddish fist manual from his robes. The three words Kestrel Fist were printed on its cover.

In truth, Wan Shan had agreed the moment Liu Yunche asked to view the manual.

His troubled expression had merely been for Liu Yunche to see, and also to make Liu Yunche remember his favor.

Such was his wisdom for survival.

Liu Yunche accepted the manual and handed it to Chunyan. "Keep it safe for me."

The manual may be valuable, but what he cared about more was whether the hidden hand that had poisoned him would come knocking again.

Liu Yunche rose and slowly walked onward with Chunyan supporting him.

Just as Wan Shan thought Liu Yunche was about to leave, Liu Yunche suddenly asked, "Does Instructor Wan have any martial arts for training with weapons?"

Wan Shan was happy to chat with Liu Yunche and patiently explained, "Other than this fist art, I am also proficient in a saber technique."

He paused. "This saber technique was taught to me by Master. If Young Master wishes to see the saber manual, you can only ask Master."

Liu Yunche nodded, then changed the subject, his tone carrying regret. "I am physically weak now and still cannot personally practice martial arts."

"Watching two martial artists duel today has truly set my blood racing."

Meeting Wan Shan's somewhat grave gaze, Liu Yunche smiled. "Instructor Wan, why not lead me over to touch the various weapons at the training ground? Let me satisfy my craving a little."

Hearing this, Instructor Wan immediately relaxed. He gestured ahead.

"Young Master, this way, please."