All of this happened in the blink of an eye. The spear tip pierced the air with a sharp whistling sound. Liaoming was still in the air, not yet on the ground, when the spear tip pierced through his skirt armor, through his abdomen, and out through his back, driving the spear into the trunk of a locust tree behind him with undiminished force!
The gun barrel pierced through Liaoming's body, pinning him firmly to the tree trunk. The butt of the gun was still vibrating violently, emitting a buzzing sound.
Liaoming's eyes widened in horror, blood still gushing from his mask. He was nailed to the tree; his body twitched a few times, then lay still.
Elder of the Mist Hidden Temple, the First Rate master Liaoming, has died!
"..."
The forest was deathly silent.
Both the cavalry on the perimeter and the armored monks were stunned.
This woman who suddenly appeared killed two heavily armored monks in the blink of an eye, defeated Elder Liaoming in a few moves, sent a First Rate expert in infantry armor flying with a single palm strike, and then pinned him to a tree with her spear?
Is your mother even human?!
The morale of the group had already been almost completely worn down by Wu Shuangren, and now it completely collapsed!
It's unclear who was the first to turn their horse around and start fleeing. The sound of hooves filled the air, then came the second, the third...
The cavalrymen scattered and fled, as did the heavily armored monks. But they wore heavy infantry armor, making their running heavy and clumsy, the iron plates rattling as they ran.
Xu Nanzhi raised her eyebrows, not intending to let those who had surrounded and killed her son go. She took a step, leaving a green shadow in the forest, and in the blink of an eye, she covered a distance of more than ten feet and caught up with a warrior monk wearing iron armor.
One sword strike, and he fell to the ground!
Xu Nanzhi turned and chased after the next one.
Including Liaoming, there were a total of twenty skilled fighters wearing armor. Wu Shuangren and Xu Yu joined forces to kill six of them and seriously injure three others.
Xu Nanzhi killed two people as soon as she arrived, and then killed Liaoming.
There are now ten people left, three of whom are seriously injured. Xu Nanzhi caught up with them one by one and killed them!
Each person had their unprotected eye sockets pierced by a sword, even though they knew Xu Nanzhi would stab there, they just couldn't defend themselves!
The woods finally fell silent.
All twenty armored warriors were dead, and the rest of the cavalry had vanished without a trace.
Xu Nanzhi then sheathed her sword, with hot white steam continuously rising from the top of her head.
She turned and walked towards Wu Shuangren, her anger gradually melting away, replaced by heartache.
"Mother."
Wu Shuangren cried out, his face still showing shock.
Xu Nanzhi walked up to Wu Shuangren and carefully examined his injuries.
Are you alright?
Wu Shuangren smiled and shook her head, "Mother, I'm fine. Please check on him for me first."
He pointed to Xu Yu, who was sitting leaning against a locust tree.
Xu Yu's injuries were more severe than Wu Shuangren's. Wu Shuangren had already given him a simple bandage and treatment while Xu Nanzhi was killing someone.
Xu Nanzhi walked over, squatted down to check Xu Yu's injuries, and then took out a small cloth bag from her waist. Inside the bag was a row of silver needles.
She inserted more than a dozen needles into Xu Yu's body, her technique both quick and precise.
Then he turned to Wu Shuangren and said, "Come and sit down too."
Wu Shuangren obediently walked over and sat down, and Xu Nanzhi also inserted acupuncture needles into him.
Immediately afterwards, Xu Nanzhi channeled her qi and blood to her palms, which became scalding hot and red. She used her palms to press on some acupoints on Wu Shuangren and Xu Yu's bodies, while simultaneously circulating qi and blood to clear blockages and prevent any hidden dangers or internal injuries.
"Mother... why are you here?"
The healing process was not easy; the flow of blood and qi would pull on the wound. Wu Shuangren endured the pain and asked.
Xu Nanzhi: "Your birthday is coming soon, I've come to give you a gift."
"Ah?"
"I didn't originally need to deliver it personally, but something happened to the messenger, and your father was worried..."
Xu Nanzhi briefly recounted Sun Yong's story.
"I see..."
Wu Shuangren seemed to be deep in thought.
Now it seems that the letter I received from Liao Yu was probably fake.
Liao Yu was not a scholar, and his handwriting was already terrible, so it wouldn't be difficult for others to imitate him.
For more than a month, there has been no movement from Mist Hidden Temple.
It seems they were preparing this all along.
Find out his own birth date, get Liao Yu's handwriting, and figure out the communication time between Bo County and West River Market. In the end, whether he kills Sun Yong or bribes Sun Yong, he can get the fake letter into his hands.
"Mother."
Wu Shuangren, with her back to Xu Nanzhi, said, "When we get back, don't tell Father I was injured."
Xu Nanzhi paused for a moment, remained silent for a while, and then said softly, "Okay."
She asked, "Why did you suddenly return to Bo County?"
Wu Shuangren initially wanted to make up a reason, but ultimately told the truth, "I wanted to come back and see you all..."
A smile appeared on Xu Nanzhi's face.
Xu Yu, who was standing to the side, watched the two of them and laughed along, but as he laughed, a touch of sadness crept into his eyes...
About fifteen minutes later, Xu Nanzhi stopped moving the qi and blood of the two people and gave them some instructions for the next step.
After she finished giving her instructions, Wu Shuangren finally asked the question she most wanted to know.
"Mother."
He looked into Xu Nanzhi's eyes, his expression serious:
"You wouldn't happen to be a legendary Great Grandmaster, would you?"
109 Heavenly Cycle Breathing, Thunder Sound Arises Naturally.
"Mother, you wouldn't happen to be the legendary Great Grandmaster, would you?"
Wu Shuangren's question startled Xu Nanzhi.
She gently shook her head. "No."
Wu Shuangren pressed further, "Then you are First Rank master?"
Xu Nanzhi was silent for a moment, then nodded.
Wu Shuangren recalled the scene of Xu Nanzhi's attack just now—that speed, that power... The image of killing Liaoming in seven or eight moves and sending him flying with a single palm strike was still swirling in his mind.
Of the two First Rate masters he had fought, Kongzheng and Liaoming, Kongzheng Second Rank martial artist with higher Internal Skill than Liaoming. Although Liaoming's Internal Skill had only reached around the Third Rank, his martial arts skills were stronger than Kongzheng's. In Wu Shuangren's view, there was no fundamental difference in strength between the two.
But Xu Nanzhi just displayed was a power on a completely different level!
That's why he suspected his mother was a legendary Great Grandmaster.
"Mother."
Wu Shuangren voiced his confusion, "Is there a significant difference between First Rank martial artist and those of Second Rank and Third Rank?"
Xu Nanzhi removed the needles from their bodies, she said, "The First Rank is indeed a watershed moment."
Her voice remained as gentle as ever.
"Upon reaching the First Rank, there will be a significant qualitative change. The first is the breathing technique. To activate Internal Skill, one must maintain a state of breathing technique, but ordinary martial artists cannot maintain this technique continuously, especially during intense battles. Their breathing rhythm will become disordered, leading to errors in Internal Skill and making it impossible to consistently exert full power. Below the First Rank, no one is an exception."
Wu Shuangren seemed to be deep in thought. He realized that he didn't seem to have this problem, because when he was wearing the Traits, his breathing technique never went wrong, and his use and exertion of Internal Skill energy were close to the limit of his current state.
But thinking about it carefully, no one can be perfect forever, and no one can stay at their peak forever. Fluctuations in performance during battle are normal; it's actually abnormal that I'm like a "cheater"...
"But the First Rank is different."
Xu Nanzhi, unaware of her son's thoughts, removed the needles from both of them and continued, "Upon reaching the First Rank, the breathing technique will enter a perfect cyclical state. Even without conscious effort, the body will instinctively inhale and exhale, the qi and blood circulating automatically, endlessly, forming a complete cycle. Martial artists call this state ' Heavenly Cycle Breathing ' (Circulation Breathing)."
"Heavenly Cycle Breathing?"
"Right."
Xu Nanzhi gestured for Wu Shuangren to extend his hand so she could take his pulse. "Even without activating Internal Skill, First Rank master can remain in a state of breathing technique. This state is not as intense as when activating Internal Skill, but it will still have an effect on the body. Over time, a martial artist's physique will undergo a transformation."
The muscles, bones, and internal organs are reborn, having been tempered anew from the inside out. When tempered to a certain degree, a deep, muffled sound will emanate from the body when exerting force, like thunder rolling through the clouds—this is the Thunder Sound Arises Naturally.
As she spoke, without any apparent movement, a deep, rumbling sound suddenly emanated from her body.
The sound is very similar to the purring of a feline, and it really does sound like thunder.
"This is Thunder Sound?"
Wu Shuangren looked surprised.
Xu Nanzhi withdrew her hand from taking his pulse, then gestured for Xu Yu, who was equally stunned, to extend his hand as well. She continued to take Xu Yu's pulse, "That's right, this is Thunder Sound. Heavenly Cycle Breathing and Thunder Sound Arises Naturally naturally—this is the mark of First Rank martial artist. Compared to the various tests of the imperial martial arts examinations, this mark is more recognized in the martial arts world."
"So you asked what the difference is between First Rank, second-rank, and Third Rank. First Rank masters have stronger physiques than other martial artists, the most obvious being that they can sustain Internal Skill for a longer period of time."
After processing these words, Wu Shuangren thought for a moment and asked, "Mother, are there also different ranks among first- First Rank martial artists?"
Xu Nanzhi nodded. "You could say that. Because people's physiques are different, even if they both practice ' Heavenly Cycle Breathing, Thunder Sound Arises Naturally,' the degree of improvement they gain will be different. Some people will gain more, and some will gain less. Moreover, realm is just a realm. As for who is stronger, we will only know after we fight."
Wu Shuangren looked at her and smiled, "Mother, you must be First Rank the most outstanding first-rank martial artists!"
Xu Nanzhi smiled, neither admitting nor denying it.
Wu Shuangren couldn't help but sigh. He had once asked the other party if he was a master, and the other party said he wouldn't consider himself a master.
Later, through the enhanced feedback from [Match for One Person], Wu Shuangren truly believed this.
Now it seems my mother is truly cunning; I wonder what methods she used to even cause my Traits to be misjudged?
In their eyes, only Great Grandmaster could be considered true masters!
After taking the pulse, Xu Nanzhi stood up and looked around. Corpses lay scattered haphazardly in the forest. Her gaze swept over the bodies of the heavily armored monks, then over the scattered arrows, and finally settled on Wu Shuangren.
"How many people did Mist Hidden Temple use in today's battle? Did you only have two people on your side?"
She asked.
Wu Shuangren briefly recounted what had happened that day.
After listening, Xu Nanzhi remained silent for a long time, her eyes filled with heartache and lingering fear as she looked at Wu Shuangren.
"Even First Rank martial artist would likely die if caught in this deadly trap!"
Xu Nanzhi said this, then looked at Wu Shuangren, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Shuangren, do you resent your mother?"
Wu Shuangren was taken aback. "Why complain?"
Xu Nanzhi looked intently into his eyes.
A man had narrowly escaped death and was almost surrounded and killed in this forest, while his mother, who was clearly First Rank fighter, had not offered any help to him. Anyone in his shoes would feel some resentment.
But Wu Shuangren's eyes were very calm, and this calmness was not feigned.
Xu Nanzhi felt both gratified and heartbroken, and also deeply guilty.
"Mother clearly has such skills."
She said slowly, "I didn't help you before. You were fighting desperately with the Xie Clan West River Market and the people of Mist Hidden Temple in West River Gang, while I was getting medicine for people in Bo County. If Sun Yong hadn't gotten into trouble today, I might still be seeing patients at the clinic."
After listening, Wu Shuangren's expression remained calm, as if he were listening to something perfectly natural.
"Mother, you and Father have raised me to adulthood, and you have already fulfilled your responsibilities as parents." (Note 1)
Wu Shuangren said calmly, "Once children grow up, they should walk their own path. No matter how much hardship or suffering they endure, they can't blame anyone else."
Opening Fist Academy in West River Market was my own choice. Dealing with the West River Gang and taking action against the Xie Clan family were also my own choices. Every step I took was my own decision, and I should bear the consequences myself. Why would I blame you?
After he finished speaking, he added, "Besides, you and Father have already done so much for me. Father taught me to ride horses and helped me train the militia. You taught me Internal Skill and footwork—without these foundations, I wouldn't be alive today."
This is the truth.
In his previous life, Wu Shuangren was abandoned by his grandfather when he was two years old. The first thing he learned after he became sensible was that he had to rely on himself for everything.