Deng Qing nodded. "We'll do as you say, Senior Brother. Please come along and help me judge what's worth choosing."
Zhang Yan waved him off. "I'm not coming this time. You're improving so fast it's frightening. Even I'm starting to feel threatened. Since we have no assignments these next few days, I need to buckle down and train too. I won't be coming to see you for a while."
Deng Qing laughed, then tossed Zhang Yan a key. "Perfect timing. There's still time left on the Cultivation Room I just rented. Go ahead and use it."
"Now that's more like it."
Zhang Yan caught it.
After finishing their meal and drinks, the two went their separate ways.
Deng Qing returned to his tent.
Closing the entrance flap, he walked to the center of the tent, sank into a horse stance, and assumed the opening posture of the Tiger-Subduing Fist.
The Skin Tempering Realm techniques had vanished from his panel, and it had been nagging at him. He had to test them himself before he could rest easy.
He threw a punch, and wind whistled at once.
Deng Qing shifted his feet and unfolded the sequence of punches, only withdrawing his stance after executing Tiger-Subduing Mountain Crusher.
After completing the routine, he summoned the panel with a thought. Sure enough, the progress of his Tiger-Subduing Fist appeared.
Deng Qing felt completely reassured. So it had not disappeared; it simply no longer showed up unless needed.
After testing the Tiger-Subduing Fist, Deng Qing went outside, broke off a branch, and practiced the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude. Sure enough, those appeared on the panel too.
This time, however, the longer Deng Qing practiced, the deeper his brow furrowed.
While practicing the Tiger-Subduing Fist earlier, he had vaguely sensed something amiss. Now, as