Yang Feng's Surprise

Han Tai sat across from him, clutching a roasted chicken leg. He took a huge bite and said through a mouthful of food, "She hasn't left. That old witch still won't give up. She's still looking, but with everyone on alert, she's hiding in the shadows and doesn't dare make another move lightly."

"She clings like a restless ghost." Jiang Baihe sighed, then changed the subject. "Have you found Rong Futong's killer?"

"No. We can't touch Li Ping, and we have no other suspect to arrest." Han Tai grabbed a handful of peanuts and stuffed them into his mouth, eating with reckless abandon.

Jiang Baihe frowned. "We can't just write off those two hundred-odd taels of silver. I think someone might be the killer."

"Who?"

"Lin Qing. He has no small talent for martial arts, and he's Li Ping's neighbor. He had both the motive and the ability to go after Rong Futong!" Jiang Baihe said, narrowing his eyes.

"He's only seventeen or eighteen. Would he have the nerve?" Han Tai asked.

"You can't judge a book by its cover, Brother Han. Lin Qing is no ordinary person. Why not throw him straight into prison and put him to the torture? I doubt he'd keep the truth to himself then." Jiang Baihe lowered his voice.

Han Tai narrowed his eyes. "Brother Jiang, are you trying to kill him with a borrowed blade? Lin Qing ruined your plans and cost you a sum of silver, so you want to use me to cripple him. What a fine scheme you've cooked up."

Jiang Baihe gave a dry laugh. "You misunderstand me, Brother Han. I'm not that kind of man. But Lin Qing really is a suspect."

"Forget it. We can't touch him. I just heard Yang Feng has taken him as a disciple." Han Tai shook his head.

"What?" Astonishment flashed in Jiang Baihe's eyes.

"You'd better worry about yourself. Lin Qing has real talent for martial arts. He might join the Prefectural City Soul-Calming Office next year. If he holds a grudge against you, you'll be in for a hard time." Han Tai sneered, rose, dusted himself off, and strode away.

Jiang Baihe rubbed the wine cup in his hand and watched Han Tai's retreating back, his expression shifting darkly.

Trouble. I can't let that brat join the Prefectural City Soul-Calming Office.

Several days passed. In the Corpse Collectors' courtyard, Lin Qing stood in the Martial Arts Arena with a Broad-Bladed Saber, practicing the basic moves of Lone Swan Reflecting Shadow.

Yu Qiuyu and the other constables were nearby, some chatting idly, others practicing martial arts.

Life as a Corpse Collector really is leisurely. No wonder so many people would fight tooth and nail to get in.

After practicing for a while, Lin Qing sat down on a nearby chair. He looked over the others and could not help marveling at it.

The county town had more than two hundred thousand people, but there were few bodies to deal with each day. They only got a little busy when large groups of refugees passed by outside the city. The rest of the time was like today: they could do whatever they wanted.

The Rebirth Record has finally reached the second tier. It cost me a full one hundred and twenty-five taels of silver.

Lin Qing withdrew his gaze. With a thought, a panel appeared before him, clearly showing that the Rebirth Record was level two.

He could now equip two martial arts, talents, or skills at once, and the time between replacements had shortened to half a day.

His first Equipment Slot currently held the Health-Preserving Five-Animal Fist at Perfect Mastery.

As long as that fist technique remained active, his body received training every moment.

His second Equipment Slot was empty, but he was in no hurry to equip a martial art.

Just then, Yang Feng arrived at the outer courtyard's Martial Arts Arena. Yu Qiuyu and the other constables immediately called out in unison.

"Chief Constable Yang!"

Yang Feng gave a slight nod and went straight to Lin Qing.

"Have you gotten started with Lone Swan Reflecting Shadow?"

Lin Qing casually twirled his saber. "I have."

"Hm? In seven days?" A strange look flashed in Yang Feng's eyes. He found it hard to believe.

It had taken him a full nine months to reach that point, and even that had been considered fast.

Seven days seemed impossible. When Cheng Yannian had set that requirement, Yang Feng had thought it was asking too much. Yet Lin Qing claimed to have done it? Yang Feng did not believe him.

"Words alone prove nothing. I'll be your opponent. Let's exchange a couple of moves."

Yang Feng walked a dozen or so paces away, turned, and drew his saber, its blade pointing diagonally toward Lin Qing.

At the sight, Yu Qiuyu and the others gathered to watch.

"The chief is testing Brother Lin's Saber Art himself? Come on. What could he possibly have learned in seven days?"

"I bet he can barely hold the saber."

"If the chief doesn't hold back, Lin Qing won't last a single move."

Yu Qiuyu and the others traded remarks, their voices rising in lively discussion.

Yang Feng called out, "Lin Qing, I'll keep my Saber Art at the beginner level. Don't worry about hurting me. Come at me with everything you've got."

Lin Qing nodded. "Understood, Master."

With a thought, he placed Lone Swan Reflecting Shadow at Perfect Mastery into his second Equipment Slot.

He closed his eyes slightly. His mind trembled as a flood of techniques and details forced its way into his body. Though he had been through it once before, his body still could not bear it easily. His head swam and throbbed.

It took Lin Qing a good while to fully absorb the information.

At that moment, his mastery of the Saber Art was nearly on par with Old Yang's after eighteen years of hard practice.

"Careful, Master!"

Gripping his saber with both hands, Lin Qing surged forward. In the blink of an eye, he reached Yang Feng. He poured strength into his arms, veins bulging, and drove the blade through a smooth, solitary arc toward Yang Feng's neck with a whistling rush.

This strike was one of Lone Swan Reflecting Shadow's three opening moves: Arc Moon.

Lin Qing's strike was fast, his form textbook-perfect, and the sight breathtaking. From a distance, the successive flashes of his blade flowed together like a folding fan of light and shadow, radiating an intoxicating beauty.

Delight flashed in Yang Feng's eyes as he swung his saber to meet it.

The blades clashed with a clear ring. Tremendous force surged into Lin Qing's arm, knocking the saber from his hand. It traced an arc through the air, then spun down to the ground.

"Excellent!"

"Brother Lin's Arc Moon was beautiful! Better than mine!"

"He's definitely gotten started. That Saber Art was gorgeous!"

"He got there in seven days? Good heavens, that's incredible."

The onlookers burst into cheers, followed by a wave of excited chatter.

Yang Feng lowered his saber, delight flashing in his eyes. That strike had given him the impression of something tempered by a thousand blows and honed to perfection. He could not find a single flaw.

"Have you studied this Saber Art before?"

"No," Lin Qing answered.

"A true martial arts prodigy. Come with me. We're going to see Chief Commissioner Cheng. Show him that strike again." Yang Feng wore a rare smile. He looked forward to seeing Cheng Yannian's reaction.

"Understood."

Lin Qing sheathed his saber and soon followed Yang Feng to the central courtyard of the Soul-Calming Office.

A square lay before its tall Pavilion, with a gazebo beside it. When they arrived, Cheng Yannian was sitting beneath the gazebo, holding a book and reading intently.

"Lord Cheng, you said he had seven days to get started, and if he did, you'd give him a saber. I've brought Lin Qing for the test!" Yang Feng said with a cupped-hands salute.

A smile appeared on Cheng Yannian's face. "Oh? You sound confident. Come, Lin Qing, show me your saber. One strike is enough for me to judge your level."

"Very well!"

Lin Qing did not hesitate. He aimed at a lush green bamboo stalk nearby, drew his saber with a sudden lunge, and slashed out with Arc Moon.

Crack! Amid a skyful of flashing blade light, the bamboo stalk was cut clean through at its middle, leaving a smooth, even surface.