Gold Boats and White Boats, Iron Chains All Over (Part One)

On the first day of April, Awakening of Insects had passed, but Tianjin's weather still carried the bite of a winter reluctant to leave.

In the rear courtyard of the Ye Residence, the morning mist had yet to clear.

Clatter—

Bang!

Heavy iron chains dragged across the ground, followed by a dull blow that set teeth on edge, like a great hammer striking worn leather.

Qin Geng stood bare-chested, his muscles bulging like rock. Sweat ran down the deep groove of his spine and gathered at his waist.

Instead of his usual light boots, he wore a pair of specially made iron shoes. Each weighed a full fifty jin.

Black iron chains were also wrapped around his waist, arms, and legs.

Whatever they were made of, the chains were cold enough to chill the bone and weighed more than three times as much as ordinary wrought iron.

Their other ends were riveted fast to the Mount Tai Stone Guardian that protected the courtyard.

Qin Geng settled into the Three-Body Stance.

He inhaled, his abdomen swelling with a rumble like thunder.

"Hah!"

With a low growl, Qin Geng drove his right foot forward.

On an ordinary day, that single step would have carried him over a zhang, as though he had used Shrink the Earth to an Inch.

Today, the chains snapped taut at once, creaking in protest.

Qin Geng was hauled to a dead stop. He managed only half a step.

Half a step was the limit.

Yet within that half-step, Qin Geng's spine jolted like a startled python twisting over. A savage force surged from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, then blasted out through his right arm.

His fist shot like an arrow, piercing clouds and breaking through the sun.

Before him stood