Zhang Yan Reached the Bone-Forging Realm

Half an incense stick later, Deng Qing arrived home. He hurriedly shut the courtyard gate, then carefully checked the grounds.

Only after finding no sign that anyone had entered did he dig an oilcloth bundle out from beneath the eastern corner wall.

He fetched something from behind the house, buried it in the hole, tamped down the loose earth, and covered it with a broken roof tile. Only then did he head straight for Celebration Hall.

Celebration Hall had already closed by the time he arrived. He knocked, announced who he was, and the door opened at once.

He was now a Personal Disciple, a man of high standing. Old Qin, the gatekeeper, warmly found him an empty room, and Deng Qing settled in.

Once he had finished getting himself situated, Deng Qing opened the oilcloth bundle. The Black Jade and the Blood-Burning Pill were both there.

When he had gone to the Martial Arts Hall for his assignment, neither had been convenient to carry, so he had buried them at home.

Now he was thoroughly convinced by Zhang Bo's analysis: Xiong Zhen had very likely come for Zhou Fei's belongings. More precisely, he had come for the Black Jade.

Deng Qing held the Black Jade and examined it closely. The longer he looked, the more it seemed like the root of all his troubles.

He strongly suspected Zhang Bo would set his sights on the Black Jade before long.

His dash to Celebration Hall had also been driven by fear that Zhang Bo would follow him home and launch a surprise attack.

The old bastard had already tricked him once and used him as bait. Deng Qing was deeply wary of him and would not give him another opening.

Deng Qing pushed down his resentment toward Zhang Bo and