Passing the Assessment, Rewarded with a Tiger Blood Pill

The house guards keenly noticed that neither Pang Long nor Luo Tongyun had any confidence in Li Xian. At once, they began discussing among themselves:

"Looks like Li Xian will have a hard time getting past this hurdle."

"Heh, if he can't even pass the newcomer assessment, wouldn't he disgrace all of us by staying on as a house guard?"

"Exactly. If he really is that useless, he might as well go back where he came from."

Luo Tongyun was a Grade-C House Guard. His usual duties were neither especially numerous nor particularly few. But when he thought of Li Xian coming to ask him about martial arts, he felt it would take effort just to brush him off.

Better out of sight, out of mind.

Thus, during this period, he deliberately took on more odd jobs than usual, making himself seem so busy that he was gasping for breath.

That way, he could avoid Li Xian's questions, and he was certain Li Xian would never figure anything out on his own.

After joining the house guards, Li Xian was not exactly withdrawn, but he rarely interacted with others.

Whenever he practiced boxing, he always sought out secluded, quiet places, burying his head in solitary training and immersing himself in his own world.

Very few people paid attention to him, and no one knew how accomplished his boxing truly was. They merely followed the crowd and assumed his boxing skills would have difficulty meeting the standard.

"Brother Luo, please instruct me." Li Xian stepped forward and cupped his fists, speaking calmly.

"Fists and feet show no mercy. If I injure you, I hope you will forgive me."

Luo Tongyun returned the gesture perfunctorily, tucked his left hand behind his back, and said, "I'll face you with one hand. If you can last more than a hundred moves against me, you'll be considered initiated."

He then turned to Pang Long and sought his opinion. "Commander Pang, does that sound acceptable?"

Pang Long nodded. "Whatever. Martial arts are the one thing that cannot be faked. Once hands are exchanged, the truth becomes clear."

"Good!"

Li Xian did not waste words. He assumed a boxing stance and stared straight at Luo Tongyun.

"Come." Luo Tongyun stood tall and proud, brimming with confidence and perfectly composed as he crooked a finger at Li Xian.

Seeing this, Li Xian took two steps forward and threw a straight punch at his face. The punch was utterly ordinary, direct and simple, revealing no true essence of any boxing art.

Sure enough, he hasn't learned anything. Luo Tongyun secretly sneered. He lightly swept out his right hand, intending to casually neutralize the move and display his own skill.

Just as fist and palm were about to collide, Li Xian twisted on the ball of his foot, turning his body slightly with it. That tiny change in posture abruptly shifted the path of his fist. What had been a blow aimed straight at Luo Tongyun's face now slanted toward his lower abdomen.

This was a move from the Four Directions Fist: "Point East, Strike West." Boxing was fundamentally straightforward; feints and real attacks were easy to distinguish.

Especially in basic boxing arts. There were only a few possible punch paths, either false or real, and initiation was not difficult.

Yet once a punch was thrown, strength gathered at the fist's edge. One had to follow that road into darkness until the end. Only truly formidable martial arts masters could "withdraw and release at will," retracting a punch and changing moves at the last moment.

The insidiousness of the Four Directions Fist lay in the fact that its punch paths were straight. Yet by twisting the body, one could divert the path of the punch and achieve the aim of "Point East, Strike West."

When low-level martial artists met in battle, this move was unexpected and difficult to guard against, making it exceedingly useful.

What was more, Li Xian had seized the initiative completely. This was not only Point East, Strike West—it was also "Feign Weakness." This move had never failed him.

Luo Tongyun was deeply versed in the principles of the Four Directions Fist, and his scalp went numb in an instant. This simple punch not only proved that Li Xian had already entered the gate of boxing.

It also proved that... Li Xian's attainments in this area were beginning to approach his own!

He hurriedly drew out his other hand to block, but because he had underestimated Li Xian from the start, it was already too late.

With a bang, his palm went numb and swelled with pain. Luo Tongyun cursed inwardly, This brat really isn't holding back. He's using all his strength!

He was knocked back three to five steps.

His face alternated between green and red, and he could hardly save face. Just moments ago, he had stood with one hand behind his back, graceful and elegant, every inch the expert.

Now he was utterly disheveled, his expression completely out of control.

After swallowing a huge breath, he forced out a magnanimous compliment. "Fine punch! My instruction was not wasted on you! You've already found the way into this Point East, Strike West move..."

Before the word "way" could leave his mouth—

Li Xian sneered. Taking advantage of the gap while Luo Tongyun was speaking, he rushed forward and threw three consecutive punches at his abdomen.

When martial artists fought to the death—

The greatest taboo was letting one's breath leak away!

Shouting out the names of moves could bolster one's momentum and aid the circulation of breath. But if one spoke irrelevant nonsense, one's breath would inevitably scatter.

And that was dangerous.

Luo Tongyun had been far too arrogant. He held his status high above all else and believed he was merely "instructing" Li Xian.

He wanted to offer a few comments and recover some of his dignity. But he did not know that Li Xian was not exactly the sort to repay every slight down to the last drop of blood, yet he did collect every debt owed.

He truly wanted to take this chance to give Luo Tongyun a brutal beating. He would not let any opportunity slip by!

Every punch was thrown with all his strength, aimed squarely at vital points. Luo Tongyun realized something was wrong and retreated again and again, his expression turning incomparably ugly.

At this point, he no longer wished to yield, but he had already lost the initiative. Trying to find an opening for a counterattack amid the other's violent storm was no easy task.

Who would have thought that this skinny little brat possessed such great strength?

"In martial combat, it is life or death, victory or defeat."

"Martial attainment is only one deciding factor. For a martial artist like me, what truly determines victory or defeat is adaptability in the moment, along with initiative and rhythm."

Li Xian pushed the advantage of his initiative to its utmost limit. At the peak of his momentum, he unleashed a strike of Fist Shaking the Four Directions.

This punch was a dangerous move, even more insidious than Point East, Strike West.

Because this move deceived even those who practiced the fist art.

Though the name "Fist Shaking the Four Directions" contained the word "fist," it was actually a leg technique!

A leg technique was hidden within a fist technique. Those who failed to grasp its true meaning would practice it as a punch and never bring out its power.

As that kick lashed out, Luo Tongyun truly had not expected it. In an instant, he was struck in the chest, his chest cavity jolting as blood spilled from his mouth.

He was kicked flying three zhang away.

Unable to steady himself, he hit the ground with a thud and rolled another three times.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded...

What was going on? Wasn't this supposed to be a master going easy on his disciple? How had it become this?

"Good!"

A loud voice rang out in praise.

It came from Pang Long. He rose to his feet, excitement written across his face. "Excellent. Your attainment in boxing exceeds my expectations!"

The moment he saw Li Xian throw that kick, Pang Long began to think highly of him without reservation.

The Four Directions Fist had been created by Madam Zhuang in a moment of leisure. At the time, she had a sudden inspiration and inserted a leg technique into the boxing art to achieve an unexpected effect.

Only Pang Long knew this secret. When he taught the Four Directions Fist to the house guards, he had never deliberately mentioned it.

Until now, Li Xian was the only person who had brought out this leg technique. That alone was enough to make Pang Long look at him in a new light.

"Excellent, Li Xian. You have passed the assessment!"

Pang Long strode over, laughed heartily, and heavily patted Li Xian on the shoulder.

Li Xian smiled but said nothing.

"How did you know that Fist Shaking the Four Directions was actually a leg technique?" Pang Long asked.

"I just kept practicing, and naturally felt that using a kick was more suitable than using a punch," Li Xian replied casually.

"Hahaha. Excellent, excellent. You have a fine instinct." Pang Long said, "This is a Tiger Blood Pill. Take it and consume it. From today onward, you are an official house guard."

"Starting tomorrow, aside from practicing martial arts, you will also need to take part in the house guards' duties. Work hard, and do not neglect your martial arts."

"I will." Li Xian nodded heavily.

With the assessment settled, Luo Tongyun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and walked up to Li Xian. He seemed to want to say something, but his expression shifted again and again—anger, confusion, astonishment, embarrassment...

He seemed to want to preserve a shred of dignity, but in the end, he simply could not swallow his anger.

Finally, he narrowed his eyes, stopped pretending, swept Li Xian with a cold glance, gave a heavy hmph, and left.

"Fourth Brother, congratulations."

Zhao Han and the others came over, all happy for Li Xian.

"Fourth Brother, you've made something of yourself too. Do you know Commander Pang has taken a liking to you?" Wang Chun said.

"Oh?" Li Xian asked. "What do you mean?"

"Tiger Blood Pill... That's a Tiger Blood Pill!" Zhuo Yilie said. "When we passed the newcomer assessment, Commander Pang only rewarded us with Deer Blood Pills. The difference between them and a Tiger Blood Pill is not just a little."

"Fourth Brother." Zhao Han said gravely, "You'd better consume that Tiger Blood Pill as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will surely invite covetous eyes."

As soon as he finished speaking—

A figure blocked the path not far ahead.

It was Jiang Yun, the Grade-B House Guard they had encountered several days ago.

"You are Li Xian?" Jiang Yun strode closer and said flatly, "Are you selling that Tiger Blood Pill or not?"