Chapter 106 Great Victory, Commander, Blood Palm Emerges from Seclusion
On the arena.
"Good lad, you've only been in the manor for a few months. If it weren't for Pang Long's care, no matter how great your abilities are, how could you have achieved your current status?"
"You are so arrogant and ignorant, you've become so cocky. You want to challenge my authority? Fine, today I'll let you taste my power."
Hua Hanying frowned, cursing inwardly. He was determined not only to win, but to win spectacularly. He knew Li Xian was skilled in the "Four Directions Fist," and only by using his own weakness to defeat his opponent's strength could he achieve a truly impressive victory.
He immediately launched a move called "East to West".
This move, with both fists striking simultaneously, is like two dragons exploring the sea. The transition between reality and illusion is smooth and natural. Grabbing the left and holding the right, attacking the right and capturing the left, the two hands and two fists can achieve the wonderful effect of four hands and four fists.
Li Xian chuckled, finding Hua Hanying's boxing style crude and unappealing. Although it was performed with great flair, it was mostly impractical.
He was well-versed in the Four Directions Boxing style, knowing its advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses, and the loopholes in each move.
This move, "East to West," targets both the left and right sides. It appears to be a two-pronged attack, combining offense and defense. When fighting head-on, it can also protect the front if the opponent attacks.
In reality, the central gate is completely empty.
Li Xian took a step back, skillfully dodging the punch. Then, he slapped his right hand on the scabbard, and the narrow blade sprang out of the scabbard, the hilt striking straight at Hua Hanying's center.
Hua Hanying didn't take it seriously and was about to reach for the hilt of the knife. He intended to seize the knife and then use his "Chain Wind Blade" to secure victory in one fell swoop.
Just as he was about to move, he felt his hands become unresponsive. Caught in a dilemma, he frantically tried to move, but couldn't avoid the central opening…
With a thud, the hilt of the knife struck Hua Hanying in the chest. He was sent crashing off the stage, landing hard.
Winter had passed, and there was no longer a blanket of snow on the ground. The ground in the village was mostly paved with blue bricks, but there were always some places with yellow clay soil.
Hua Hanying landed squarely on the muddy ground. Though it didn't hurt, it was extremely humiliating, and his commander's uniform was instantly soiled.
Li Xian sheathed his dagger, his blade snapping back, and bowed, saying, "Li Xian, a fourth-class guard, is too kind." Feeling unsatisfied, he turned to leave.
Hua Hanying quickly stood up, his face covered in mud, filled with shame and indignation. He immediately glanced at the guards, seeing that they were initially stunned and incredulous, then their expressions became a fascinating mix of schadenfreude and gloating, as if they wanted to say something but couldn't.
He had deliberately built up momentum, but the crucial moment ended in a crushing defeat. Though no one dared to speak, they were undoubtedly laughing inwardly.
Thinking of this, Hua Hanying, both proud and self-conscious, could not tolerate it. He felt his blood rush to his head and knew he had to get revenge immediately.
"Again!"
Hua Hanying leaped onto the arena, soaring two zhang high like a hawk. In an instant, he unleashed the "Fire Eagle Claw" technique, a powerful "Falcon Pounces on Tiger."
Li Xian turned around to avoid him and asked with a smile, "Commander Hua, didn't you lose?"
"Losing my ass, it doesn't count! Defeat my Fire Eagle Claw first before we talk about winning or losing!" Hua Han's Fire Eagle Claw was powerful and fierce, disregarding everything else. Every claw strike was delivered with full force, producing a "tearing" sound.
"What happened to your promise of keeping your word?" Li Xian retorted, but calmly avoided the question.
Hua Hanying felt deeply humiliated and simply remained silent, instead aiming his claws at Li Xian's head. This move, called "Mad Eagle Skull Crusher," was truly a vicious and deadly attack.
Instead of retreating, Li Xian moved closer, his body as swift as a breeze, deftly gliding past the claw strikes, infiltrating Hua Hanying's inner circle, and bumping into him with his shoulder.
With a loud thud, Hua Hanying shuddered, feeling as if he were about to vomit blood. The impact had caused a complete shift in their internal energies, as if heaven and earth had separated them.
The difference in strength between the two was too great, which was one reason; in his anger, Hua Hanying only cared about attacking wildly, but did not know how to defend, which was another reason; at this time, even a three-year-old child could see that the defeat was inevitable.
Li Xian kicked Hua Hanying away and drew his sword in the process. The Great Luo Blade swept in with wide, sweeping movements, like a whirlwind.
In an instant, he unleashed twenty-one strikes, each hitting a vital point.
But it only penetrated three-tenths of the skin.
Three breaths later, Li Xian sheathed his sword, turned and walked out of the courtyard.
Hua Hanying stood there dumbfounded, feeling perfectly fine. He said, "Playing tricks? I haven't lost yet. Watch me..." He circulated his inner energy.
At that moment, blood gushed out, breaking through his skin, and in an instant he became a blood-soaked figure. Upon closer inspection, his body was covered in knife wounds; any cut a fraction deeper would have been fatal.
But...
Every strike was precise, stopping short of killing. It hit the face, but didn't take a life.
"Twenty-one times..."
"He has already killed me twenty-one times over!"
Hua Hanying felt a sudden chill run through his body and stood there dumbfounded.
The guards were terrified, as if they had encountered a ghost or a god. Zhao Han and the others were even more astonished.
"How come this Great Luo Blade Technique becomes so miraculous in his hands?" A second-class guard who also practiced the Great Luo Blade Technique was completely baffled.
...
...
We left the village.
On the way back to Heihe Village, Li Xian reflected on the fight he had just fought and summarized his experience.
"Hua Hanying's Fire Eagle Claws are indeed formidable. His aerial strikes are extremely powerful. When he swung his claws just now, it felt like a raging fire was spreading across my face, unbearably hot. The eagle's attack on my face was incredibly swift and fierce."
"It's just that he lost his composure and was too eager to win. In my eyes, there were naturally many flaws. I only need to seize one of them, and even if the Great Luo Blade is only 'proficient', it will be enough to win."
Li Xian practiced martial arts for several months.
Life-or-death battles, arena fights… all were present. I increasingly felt the importance of applying martial arts. The guards of Yihe Manor applied martial arts with meticulous precision.
The differences are related to individual aptitude and whether or not one has a good mentor.
Li Xian left the village and walked to a mountainside, where he looked back.
The scenery between heaven and earth is vastly different; a silver blanket transforms into a green carpet, a gentle breeze blows, and moisture spreads across the face. Rivers are wide, and mountains rise high.
It was early morning.
The distant sunset glowed with countless rays of light, a breathtaking sight. Having seen so many snowscapes, witnessing this vibrant scene now evoked a completely different feeling.
Looking out over the Blackwater River…
Li Xian inexplicably recalled the scene of the "initial realm," and although he was curious, he had no intention of exploring it.
"I now have some martial arts training."
"Dealing with people like Hua Hanying is a piece of cake. However, the people I saw earlier, such as 'Li Haitang,' 'Fox-fur Girl,' and 'Yang Huayu,' are about the same age as me, but they have already 'consumed essence.'"
"Compared to them, their strength is far inferior."
Li Xian gazed at the lush greenery along the way. Birds were building nests with wood, yet no one was chasing them away; they were much more carefree and at ease than people.
"The village has a strict hierarchy. If you have the strength, it's better to venture out on your own, even if it's a bit dangerous."
"But once I leave the manor, it will be difficult to acquire martial arts skills. How can I possibly understand the intricacies of martial arts?"
"I will first cultivate in the village. I have enough martial arts to practice for a year and a half. I will make further plans then."
Li Xian weighed the pros and cons, but felt that the road ahead was very narrow. He didn't have many choices left; the martial world was a cannibalistic world, and so was Zhuangzi.
Heihe Village is located in a remote area nestled among mountains. If it weren't for the harassment of mountain bandits, it would truly be a sacred place for spiritual practice.
Back in the village.
Li Xian breathed a long sigh of relief, then slaughtered the tiger to make soup, enjoying the delicacies of the mountains and fields. Suddenly, he noticed the "Deer-Shooting Bow" hanging in the room, which had been used frequently lately, causing a slight crack in the bow.
"The deer-hunting bow is a hunting bow, and it is gradually becoming unsuitable for me now."
“It just so happens that I saw a yellow willow tree when I went into the mountains last time. Why don’t I make a new bow and bury my old friend here?”
Li Xian gently stroked the bow.
The feelings here are hard for outsiders to understand, but as times change, clinging to the past is not advisable.
That afternoon, the yellow willow wood was felled. Yellow willow wood is a rare and valuable timber. It is tough, lightweight, and has excellent resilience.
They also enjoy "absorbing oil." Inhaling animal oil increases the bow's toughness and elasticity. Li Xian often went hunting in the mountains and had plenty of animal oil.
Apply it again and again, let it ferment and dry...
Then use the "Golden Leopard Tendon" as the string.
After a period of time, the Deer-Shooting Bow was transformed into the "Golden Leopard Bow," with its feel and power increasing several times over.
Li Xian transferred the animal hair and bone ornaments from the Deer-Shooting Bow to the Golden Leopard Bow. By imbuing it with his own aura, he established a mysterious connection with the bow.
Life in the mountains was monotonous yet fulfilling; there's not much to say about it.
He remained steadfast in his beliefs, secluded himself in the mountains to cultivate his skills, and as the saying goes, Heaven rewards diligence, leading to daily progress.
Meanwhile, in that village, the situation was constantly changing and unpredictable.
...
...
Time flies like an arrow, and the days pass like a shuttle.
It's already mid-May.
Blackwater Port, Blackwater River.
The river glistens in the sunlight, dotted with boats of all sizes.
At the alley entrance, a human sail fluttered in the wind, accompanied by cries and screams.
"Damn it, this woman is really useless, she's already dead and stinking."
A member of the Blackwater Gang, stepping on people's faces and grabbing their hair, climbed to the top of the "flesh sail." Holding his nose, he untied a disheveled woman who was already lifeless.
They pulled out the black club with severed hands and feet and threw the corpse into the river.
The group climbed down the sail and, passing by a spot, suddenly grinned and said, "Yang, the flag bearer, long time no see! I used to work for you. I wonder if you still recognize me?"
"Hello, I didn't expect you to be promoted so quickly."
His words were full of pride.
"Kill...kill me..." Yang Cheng's skin was dark, and the wounds on his limbs had scabbed over, becoming one with the black stick, making him extremely terrifying.
"Kill you? Dream on." The gang member slapped him twice. "You're the one who should be slapping me."
Climb down the human sail.
The gang brought over a bucket of yellow liquid. It was made from fish scraps, boiled over a high fire, and had an indescribable stench.
"Meatballs, time to eat!"
"Catch it with your mouth."
With a forceful splash, it splattered onto the human sail. Most of the people inside had already resigned themselves to death, but were starving, and instinctively opened their mouths to receive it. Despite their reluctance, they barely managed to survive on the filth.
"Hey, Yang, don't say I've treated you badly. Come on, open your mouth, I'll give you an extra bite," the gang laughed.
Yang Cheng opened his mouth blankly, and the foul-smelling substance was splattered on his face. He ate and drank, feeling humiliated and numb.
He fainted, and after an unknown amount of time, his eyes trembled as he opened them, looking at another large ship...
In view, the large ship was filled with the gang's main force.
The twelve flag bearers of the gang and Zheng Xuezhang's six sons gathered on the deck.
Zheng Xuezhang's fifth son, named Zheng Lüxiu, asked, "Third brother, do you think Father really will emerge from seclusion today?"
Zheng Xuezhang's third son, Zheng Ziqi.
After returning from Yihe Manor, he took over the management of the gang's affairs. Zheng Xuezhang, due to serious injuries, focused on recuperating and had not shown his face for a long time.
He usually only contacts Zheng Ziqi.
“That should be true,” Zheng Ziqi said.
"Third Brother, why do you think Father doesn't stay in the main hall to recover from his injuries, but insists on staying on the boat?" Zheng Lüxiu asked.
“I don’t know either.” Zheng Ziqi pondered for a moment and said, “I heard my father say that the vile woman’s skill is extremely profound. The qi in her palm remains in her body and cannot be expelled. She needs to use the damp qi in the river to feel better.”
The two were talking when they suddenly heard footsteps. Zheng Ziqi pressed her right hand down, and immediately fell silent.
Zheng Xuezhang slowly walked out, the sunlight shining obliquely, revealing his true appearance. His cheeks were sunken, his eye sockets were protruding, and he was thin and bony.
His former imposing stature is nowhere to be seen.
“Father, you…” Zheng Luxiu could not believe it.
“I am fine now…” Zheng Xuezhang’s palm was as thin as skin and bones, but his voice was full of energy. “Let’s talk about it when we get back to the hall.”
...
...
Zheng Xuezhang emerged from seclusion severely injured, his vital energy greatly depleted. He had lost three layers of skin and a lot of flesh, but he had managed to survive by sheer luck.
After washing up, I changed into a new outfit. The clothes that used to feel too tight now seemed loose.
"Father, how should we settle the score for Seventh Brother's revenge?" Zheng Ziqi asked. "Yi Yi has been in seclusion for a while, and I dare not make a decision."
"Why don't we call on our gang members and storm that manor together? We outnumber them, form a battle formation, and fight to the death. I don't believe we can't take down that woman!"
Zheng Xuezhang pressed down lightly with his right hand.
Zheng Ziqi immediately fell silent. Zheng Xuezhang said with lingering fear, "That woman is too powerful; she's not someone we can easily mess with. We've already made compensation for the disturbance at the casino and things have calmed down."
"The revenge for killing Qi'er must be taken. This time, we will prepare gifts and send them over. The main purpose will be negotiation. We will use silver to buy the life of that villain. We must not resort to force."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
