Remember

The next moment, Deng Qing gave his wrist a light flick, and the Blacksteel Soft Sword seemed to come alive, curling around the edge of the rightmost wooden stake.

A flash of sword light accompanied a crack. The wooden stake remained utterly unscathed, but an empty bowl hidden more than a foot behind it split down the middle and fell to the ground in two halves.

In an instant, a flicker of shock appeared in Deng Qing's eyes.

Before, he could have accomplished this by relying on the soft sword's flexibility, but the sword's momentum would inevitably have slowed, and its force would have scattered.

Now, when he thrust out his sword, his qi and blood gathered from his shoulders and back all the way to the sword tip. Even when the blade bent and curved around, its force remained concentrated without dispersing.

Gather strength into a line; let the sword travel through empty gaps.

Only now did those eight words truly meld into his sword.

Deng Qing moved, and the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude unfolded beneath his feet.

Sword light flickered through the courtyard, now bright, now dim. The Blacksteel Soft Sword was straight one moment and bent the next.

The sword tip was clearly still before him, yet in the next instant, it had already emerged from the other side of a wooden stake.

There was no piercing whistle of wind, nor were there any grand, sweeping sword movements. There were only streaks of cold light, appearing from the hardest angles to guard against.

A moment later, Deng Qing sheathed his sword and stood still. The wooden stakes remained perfectly intact, as though he had struck at nothing.

Then a gust of night wind swept through. With a crack, the wooden stakes split open down the middle, their cuts smooth and even, as though tofu had been sliced by a knife.

Deng Qing stared at the cuts in the wooden stakes, deeply shaken. The Seven Forms of Settling Solitude had risen from 59% to 60%. It seemed like an increase of only 1%, but in truth, it had crossed from Minor Mastery to Grand Mastery—stepping over a heavenly chasm.

At the same time, the simultaneous breakthroughs in Skin Tempering Third Layer and the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude brought a drastic change that was far from as simple as one plus one.

Deng Qing even wanted to find someone and have a fight.

But he ultimately forced down the exhilaration of advancement. He made himself remain home for two days to stabilize his realm before finally heading out.

Deng Qing went straight to Celebration Hall to find Fan Sheng.

When he arrived, Fan Sheng was practicing his saber in the rear courtyard.

Hearing footsteps, Fan Sheng withdrew his stance and turned around. "You're quite the busy man, kid. What brought you here today?"

Deng Qing cupped his hands. "Senior Brother, I've broken through to Skin Tempering Third Layer."

Fan Sheng paused. "Not bad."

He made it sound casual, but he was truly startled inside.

When he had lent Deng Qing thirty taels, he had indeed hoped to help Deng Qing break through sooner.

But how could advancing from Skin Refining Second Layer to Skin Tempering Third Layer be so easy? Even with sufficient resources, one still needed time to refine them into qi and blood.

And yet, in such a short time, Deng Qing had actually broken through.

Deng Qing did not say much about his breakthrough and directly stated his purpose. "Master intends to accept five Initiation disciples. I want to compete for one of the spots."

Fan Sheng frowned. "This won't be easy."

"This time, Master hasn't laid down any specific rules. Who gets chosen will depend entirely on his wishes."

As he spoke, Fan Sheng returned his saber to the weapon rack. "Master has been fighting at Liangshan for some time and isn't very familiar with the situation at Celebration Hall.

"I've mentioned your circumstances to him in passing a few times, but it wouldn't be appropriate to say too much.

"Recently, quite a few veteran Third Layer and Fourth Layer disciples have been visiting Master. He knows them all well.

"Oh, and there's Ding Yuan. He also distinguished himself in the battle at the Mountain God Temple and seized quite a bit of money. He took the opportunity to break through to Skin Tempering Third Layer as well.

"A few days ago, he went to pay Master a visit and displayed his cultivation in person. Master was quite satisfied with him and even praised him a few times.

"In short, five spots may sound like a lot, but even more people have their eyes on them. There will naturally be those with connections among them. If you want one, it'll be extremely difficult."

Deng Qing said in a deep voice, "The less Master knows who I am, the more I need to find a way to get close to him.

"I have to let Master see me first, then find a way to make him remember me. I can't just sit at home and wait empty-handed."

Fan Sheng nodded. "That's true. Don't be impatient yet. I'll ask around for you and see if I can find a suitable opportunity."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

As Deng Qing spoke, he took two banknotes from his robe and placed them on the stone table beside them.

One was for thirty taels, and the other for ten.

Fan Sheng's expression immediately darkened. "What is the meaning of this?"

Deng Qing picked up the thirty-tael note. "This is the money Senior Brother lent me earlier to break through. Now that I've advanced and have some money to spare, I should naturally repay you."

Then he pointed to the other note. "Please take these ten taels as well, Senior Brother. Whether you need to visit someone or treat someone to drinks, I can't have you paying on my behalf."

Fan Sheng's brows rose. "Take them back. Do brothers need to keep accounts this clearly?"

Deng Qing shook his head. "Senior Brother has a whole family to support too. Your silver doesn't fall from the sky.

"When I lacked money, Senior Brother was willing to lend it to me—that was your kindness. Now that I can repay it, if I keep taking it with a clear conscience, then I'd be the one who doesn't know what's good for him."

Fan Sheng opened his mouth, but Deng Qing gave him no chance to speak. "In any case, I can earn money now, and I have some to spare. Taking out these forty taels won't delay my cultivation.

"These thirty taels are repayment of a debt. Senior Brother must accept them.

"As for the remaining ten taels, keep them for when you go around on my behalf. If you don't end up using them, consider them money to buy rouge and cosmetics for Sister-in-law."

"You brat."

Fan Sheng pointed at Deng Qing and laughed as he scolded him. "Fine. I'll go sound out Senior Brother Zhang Yan. He has a good impression of you.

"You know to pay him visits during holidays and festivals too. That bit of goodwill is there."

As he spoke, Fan Sheng picked up his outer robe and left. Deng Qing remained in the courtyard to wait.

Half an hour later, Fan Sheng returned with joy on his face.

Fan Sheng sat down first and took a drink of water. "Five days from now, there will be a banquet in neighboring Dongting County to receive the Pacification Commissioner sent by Yanshan Prefecture.

"Master has newly received the official position of Ninth-Rank Commandant, so he is among those attending the banquet.

"On such an occasion, Master naturally can't go alone. He'll arrange for several disciples to accompany him. Senior Brother Zhang Yan happens to be responsible for drafting the list, and he has agreed to put you on it."

Deng Qing's eyes lit up.

Fan Sheng said, "When the time comes, you'll accompany Master to the banquet. You'll have a chance to show your face.

"But Senior Brother Zhang Yan can only get you before Master. Whether you can make Master remember you will depend on yourself."

Deng Qing solemnly cupped his hands. "Thank you, Senior Brother."

Two days later, Deng Qing visited the Li Family again. When he entered the rear courtyard, Li Cheng was practicing swordsmanship.

He executed the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude one after another, his movements smooth, his advances and retreats carrying a touch of nimbleness.

When he saw Deng Qing enter, Li Cheng's eyes brightened. He called out and immediately thrust his sword forward.

Deng Qing lightly patted his waist, and the Blacksteel Soft Sword dropped into his palm, perfectly blocking the incoming longsword.

Clang!

Li Cheng smoothly changed his move. With a turn of his blade, he delivered several more thrusts in quick succession.

Deng Qing also unfolded the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude and began exchanging moves with him.

The two swords crossed, cold light flashing again and again. The pair advanced and retreated in turns, their bodies constantly shifting through the courtyard.

The longer Li Cheng fought, the more excited he became. He felt that his hard training these past few days had not been in vain. His sword strikes were far smoother than before, and several changes of moves even forced Deng Qing to adjust his sword momentum along with him.

But he did not know that what Deng Qing saw was completely different.