Chapter 65 The Dragon Appreciation Feast, Choosing Martial Arts Again

Red Candle Inn.

Li Haitang cursed, "That villain has committed many evils, but he's incredibly lucky and managed to escape again."

"Those guards were completely useless. Alas, they even made Senior Li Bohou owe them a favor for nothing," Yang Huayu said.

"After this incident, that villain will definitely not dare to stay in Qingning County any longer. If we want to find his whereabouts again, we will inevitably have to go through a lot of trouble," Liu Xian said.

Yunfei asked, "What should we do now?"

Li Haitang paced back and forth, pondered for a moment, and then said:

"Regardless of the outcome."

"We should all go to Yihe Manor to pay our respects to that Lady Broken Sword and express our sincere gratitude."

Liu Xian, Yun Fei, Yang Huayu and the others nodded in unison, "That's the only way. We still need to show some courtesy."

It was already late, so everyone rested for the night.

Early the next morning.

Li Xian led the way, with the surviving guards following behind. They felt the cold wind was particularly biting, and an endless chill permeated the world.

Then, about ten feet further back.

Four handsome horses galloped through the snow, carrying Li Haitang and his companions.

After about half an hour, they finally returned to the manor. The four went to the reception hall to pay their respects to the lady, while Li Xian and the others could rest for half a day to recuperate.

"call……"

This matter is now closed.

Li Xian breathed a sigh of relief. He wouldn't go to "broaden his horizons" again if such a dangerous situation occurred next time.

The guards who swaggered around the manor were pitifully weak when they actually faced ruthless gangsters from the martial arts world.

"Strength... Only by increasing strength can we truly prioritize this!"

Li Xian clenched his fist.

Although he never slacked off, the fire in his heart burned even more fiercely after he clearly realized his own insignificance.

Now that the Four Directions Fist has reached perfection, the next step would be to reach the pinnacle and the limit of a martial art.

The Qingfeng Leg technique has reached near mastery.

[Azure Palm] is still at the beginner stage.

"The next top priority."

"It is the mastery of the Qingfeng Leg technique."

"Furthermore, master the Azure Palm technique completely!"

Li Xian secretly devised a plan in his mind.

"If all goes well, I will soon be close to achieving the circulation of Qi throughout the body."

The internal energy in the dantian is already quite abundant. It condenses into threads that flow around the various acupoints. Even at the 289th acupoint, the energy threads can still be maintained without dissipating.

The distance to the 361 acupoints, where the Qi threads circulate throughout the body and completely lock in the Qi and blood, is no longer far away.

"Although it's true that you can't bite off more than you can chew."

"But if I could learn one more martial art, it would be even more helpful for my Qi circulation."

"I am now a Class B guard. I wonder if I could receive another basic martial arts manual?"

An ordinary guard who completes a full year of service can receive one basic martial arts skill. A veteran guard with eight or nine years of service can master seven or eight martial arts skills.

Their strength and foundation are both superior to those of the new guards.

However, Li Xian's rapid advancement of several ranks was clearly illogical. Logically speaking, advancing from [Grade C] to [Grade B] should have required him to learn an additional basic martial art.

However, since Li Xian had already entered the Leisure Martial Pavilion and received the "Azure Palm," Pang Long did not mention this matter and did not believe that Li Xian would need basic martial arts in the short term.

"Let's find an opportunity to talk to Commander Pang tomorrow."

...

...

Welcome Hall.

Li Haitang, Liu Xian, Yun Fei, and Yang Huayu met with Madam Wen Caitang and briefly recounted what had happened.

Madam Wen was not surprised upon hearing this, but said with a hint of regret, "What a pity, I have heard a thing or two about that little thief in the jar."

"Having mastered the [Flying Swallow Step], one's lightness skill is quite commendable."

Li Haitang said, "I will inform my father about Madam's help this time, and he will express his gratitude to you."

Madam Wen smiled gently and said, "Nephew, you are being too polite. There is no need for thanks. It's nothing at all."

"These four young heroes, so young yet so daring to roam the martial world, are truly enviable."

"Please sit down."

With a wave of her hand, a gust of wind from her sleeve blew out, carrying the four people to their seats.

All four were shocked; this person's strength was formidable.

"Is this the young master of Yangjia Village?"

"I've long heard of the two heroes of Yangjiazhuang. Seeing them today, I see you have the same charisma as your father."

"These two... judging from their appearance, they must be from the prefectural city. Just now, your steps were steady, and your heels seemed to be touching the ground, but in fact they didn't touch the ground."

"It resembles the graceful movements of the Liu family of the prefectural city, which captures the essence of the art and is truly astonishing."

"This man's Qi flows like an ox, powerful and profound. He must have mastered the Yun Family's Three Hands, a family martial art passed down in the city. I am too inexperienced to comment. If I am wrong, please do not laugh at me, young heroes."

Her voice was calm, and her words seemed to praise the three of them highly. In reality, however, her intention was to show off her own talent and experience.

He could see through the opponent's martial arts skills at a glance.

The three men who were mentioned were all startled and speechless for a moment. They were also secretly terrified. This woman spoke softly, but she was indeed a ruthless person. Could it be that she was blaming them for not giving their names, implying disrespect?

Li Haitang said, "Madam is very learned; she saw through our background at a glance."

"Yes, Madam doesn't seem to be from Qiongtian Prefecture, so why do you know so much about the power dynamics here?"

The Yang family, the Liu family, and the Yun family were all powerful local families, quite famous in the area, but their reputations were not widespread. Once they left the impoverished Sichuan province, few people paid them any attention.

Madam Wen smiled and said, "How could I not understand the local power structure when I set up my manor here? After all... even a martial artist who has undergone a complete transformation can capsize in a ditch if he is careless."

“That’s absolutely right,” Li Haitang agreed wholeheartedly.

Madam Wen glanced at Li Haitang and saw that she had a charming face, was young, had fair skin, and had already grown into a beauty.

Seemingly remembering something, he casually offered a suggestion:

“My dear nephew, you should be even more careful as a woman roaming the world.”

"We mustn't let ourselves be targeted by any evil forces, or that would be troublesome."

The meaning being referred to is naturally "the Flower Cage Gate".

This sect specializes in targeting women, employing insidious methods. Many female heroes and martial arts practitioners have fallen victim to this sect.

"yes."

Li Haitang could only listen to the reprimand.

“Perhaps… your father and I will meet soon,” Wen Caitang said casually.

Li Haitang's pupils contracted, and she said, "You...you mean the Dragon Appreciation Banquet?"

Wen Caitang smiled without saying a word. Li Haitang muttered to herself, "If it's a dragon-appreciation banquet, that's fine, but if it's a dragon-slaying banquet..."

...

...

[You have diligently practiced leg techniques and mastered the spinning force; proficiency +4]

Inside the compound of the manor.

Li Xian took an iron basin and filled it with water. He kicked it, and the basin remained still, but the water swirled and formed a small whirlpool.

This is a technique for regulating Qi and strength that one comprehends after practicing Qingfeng Leg to a certain level.

Leg power is like an evil wind, penetrating everywhere. Once inside the body, the leg power lingers, pulling and stretching the tendons, bones, meridians, muscles, and blood vessels.

Those who are slightly weaker will be paralyzed on the ground after just one kick, unable to muster any strength.

[Qingfeng Leg]

[Proficiency: 1090/1500 Minor Mastery]

[Azure Palm]

[Proficiency: 569/800 (Beginner)]

Yesterday's events are completely over. Li Haitang and the others all rode away from the manor early this morning.

Li Haitang, Yunfei, and Yang Huayu continued their pursuit of the Immortal in the Altar. Liu Xian, seemingly preoccupied, returned to the prefectural city first.

Those who participate in the siege of the immortal in the altar will each receive a reward of five hundred coins and a deer blood pill.

The reward for risking one's life is far too meager.

But in the lady's eyes, a life seemed to be... worth only this much.

"call."

Master Li exhaled a breath of stale air.

"We should ask Commander Pang if we can choose another martial art."

"And... I don't know when the matter of the medicinal bath will be resolved."

(End of this chapter)