At the headquarters of the Golden Saber Sect.
When news arrived that ten Golden Saber Sect members from the branch—including two entry-level Martial Artists—had died, Sect Leader Zhao Jinsong could no longer sit still.
He fiercely cursed at the several Hall Masters seated below him, "A bunch of good-for-nothings! You’re more of a hindrance than a help! Hurry up and investigate this. No matter who it is, I will have them suffer the death of a thousand cuts!"
The Hall Masters acknowledged the order and withdrew, grumbling inwardly.
Another scout came to report that the ten corpses had been piled together and burned. They were charred beyond recognition, leaving no clues to be found.
But if there was anyone worth suspecting, it was the Black Dragon Gang. They had both the strength and sufficient motive to kill them.
After waving everyone away, Zhao Jinsong walked toward his backyard, cursing the whole way. He pushed open a hidden compartment, revealing a deep, dark tunnel that led straight to an underground secret room. Taking a deep breath, he slowly walked down.
The secret room was not large, lit by the flickering glow of a fire. Right in the middle stood a Pill Furnace. Beside the Pill Furnace sat a figure with a pale face and a gloomy, sinister gaze.
A faint stench of blood lingered in the air. Looking toward the corner, one could see several pale corpses that appeared to have been completely drained of blood.
"Did you find the item?" the man asked in a hoarse voice, not even raising his head.
Zhao Jinsong bowed slightly, his voice bitter. "My lord, it is my incompetence. The item was not found, and we lost several brothers. Two Skin-refining Martial Artists died." For a gang like the Golden Saber Sect, entry-level Martial Artists were already their core strength.
The man furrowed his brows and said coldly, "If you can’t find it, keep looking. He’s gravely injured and at death’s door; he couldn’t have run far."
Zhao Jinsong nodded repeatedly. The man continued, "The deaths of two useless trash are nothing. Hurry up and get another batch of human subjects and medicinal herbs over here."
Zhao Jinsong felt troubled. His Golden Saber Sect was merely a small-to-medium gang; killing a few people was already their limit. If they dared to make any more moves and caught the eye of the Government Office, they would be in deep trouble. As for the medicinal herbs, the gang’s coffers had already been emptied a few days ago to train entry-level Martial Artists. They truly couldn’t scrape together much money.
Yet, he could only agree. "Understood, I will get it done as soon as possible."
Chen Yuan opened his eyes and stretched comfortably. With the trouble resolved, he had slept incredibly well. Glancing at his panel, he saw that the system hadn’t penalized him for violating the principles of keeping a low profile; he still received his usual +4.
It seemed his actions yesterday had been flawless. Probably no one would ever suspect that a mere Martial Artist who hadn’t even reached Minor Achievement in Skin-refining could single-handedly wipe out ten people.
[Comprehension: 27]
[Root Bone: 53]
[Cultivation: Skin-refining; Manifest Force]
[Cultivation Technique]
[Rocky Pile Skill (Minor Achievement): 197/1000]
[Xin Yi Liu He Fist (Minor Achievement): 76/1000]
[Low-key Points: 5]
[Evaluation: Keeping a low profile, not making enemies, and understanding the philosophy of biding your time. You have grasped the basics of the low-key path. Daily Low-key Points +4.]
Over the past month or so, his Rocky Pile Skill had improved quite quickly because he had been practicing it constantly. The higher its progress, the faster he could nourish his qi and blood, and the faster he could temper his skin. He also practiced the Xin Yi Liu He Fist regularly, ensuring it wouldn’t be neglected. As his Comprehension increased, so did his efficiency. Previously, a full day’s practice only yielded two progress points, but now he could earn two points in just half a day. He still needed to keep working hard!
Thinking about what happened yesterday, Chen Yuan still felt a lingering fear. He had thought the strength of an entry-level Martial Artist would be enough to deter the local gangs, but he never expected the Golden Saber Sect to disregard that entirely. They had almost snatched Yu away.
To prevent such a thing from happening again, he had to become stronger. If he stepped into the Jade Marrow stage and attained Projected Force Mastery, who in Qingyuan County would dare provoke him?
It was a bit too early to talk about that now. The most pressing matter was to improve his strength as quickly as possible, just in case the Golden Saber Sect made a comeback.
After washing up, he pushed the door open and stepped outside. He saw his neighbors gathered in groups of twos and threes, clapping their hands in delight as they talked about how those thugs from the Golden Saber Sect had been wiped out.
"It’s true karma! I wonder which great hero lent a helping hand. If it was the Black Dragon Gang, then they’ve finally done something worthwhile for once."
"They deserved to die! If they were still alive, who knows what kind of suffering we would be subjected to."
"My daughter said the hero’s eyes were incredibly handsome, just like the stars in the sky. She even wants to pledge her life to him. If the hero is willing, I’d be more than happy to give my blessing."
Chen Yuan couldn’t help but laugh. He had gone on a killing spree last night, and the corners of his eyes had been covered in blood. To think they would be described as stars in the sky—were they red giants?
His aunt and uncle were among the crowd, thoroughly enjoying the gossip. His uncle was carrying a yoke and had originally planned to head to the morning market, but now he couldn’t tear himself away. He was beaming with joy, his spirits high, and the wound near his eye didn’t even hurt anymore.
Seeing her nephew come out, Huang Juan jogged over to share the good news. "Yuan, all those people from the Golden Saber Sect died last night! We don’t have to pay the two taels of silver today."
Chen Yuan smiled and nodded. "That’s wonderful. When Yu wakes up and hears the news, she’ll be thrilled." He knew the little girl probably hadn’t slept well last night.
The crow’s feet at the corners of his aunt’s eyes smoothed out in a smile. "Yes, the poor girl was even crying in her sleep..."
After chatting for a bit, Chen Yuan headed in the direction of the Huo Courtyard. But before he had taken many steps, a voice called out to stop him.
Turning his head, he realized it was Wang Po calling him. He walked over with a faint smile. "What’s wrong, Wang Po? Is there anything you need help with?"
Looking left and right, Wang Po mysteriously pulled him into her dilapidated house and lowered her voice. "Child, you are a good boy. Granny has something for you."
Chen Yuan smiled and waved his hand. "There’s no need, Wang Po. I earn quite a bit of silver a month now. You should keep it for yourself." He assumed she was going to give him some food. She was already struggling financially, so how could he accept it?
"Sigh, I have no use for this thing anyway. You’re a martial artist, so it’s perfect for you." Ignoring his refusal, Wang Po bent down and pulled a thin, thread-bound booklet from under the bed. She patted the dust off and handed it to Chen Yuan.
Chen Yuan’s eyes flickered. He took it and saw five faint characters on the cover, seemingly weathered by the ravages of time. Looking closer, he read: Dragon Elephant Prison-Suppression Body! His pupils instantly contracted. The name alone sounded extraordinary. Suppressing his voice, he asked, "Wang Po, where did you get this?"
Wang Po sighed and replied,
"A few nights ago, a young lad knocked on my door. He asked if I could take him in and give him some food. Seeing how pitiful he looked, I agreed.
"He was heavily injured. The wound on his waist had already festered, and medicine was of no use. After staying for a few days, he left.
"Before he left, he handed me this booklet and told me to find a trustworthy martial artist to give it to as a reward for taking him in. But he warned me to keep it strictly confidential, or it would bring about a fatal disaster."
As a result, she thought of Chen Yuan.
Chen Yuan opened to the first page and saw fresh handwriting:
"I obtained this in a tomb but was hunted down by an enemy. Knowing my days are numbered, I have no choice but to leave it to someone destined. I hope whoever receives this technique will avenge me. My enemy is Sun Xie, a Demon Cultivator. He is the mastermind behind the Golden Saber Sect, possessing the strength of Marrow-refining and Hidden Force. He is currently heavily injured. Please take care."
At a glance, Chen Yuan instantly connected many dots. The recent surge in the Golden Saber Sect’s strength and their sudden crop of entry-level Martial Artists were likely tied to this Sun Xie. Their frantic search yesterday was probably because they had found some clue and were trying to track this person down. They hadn’t expected the target to have already fled, ultimately leaving them empty-handed. And the fact that this person had left behind this Cultivation Technique meant it was likely incredibly valuable. His purpose was also obvious: first, to repay a debt of gratitude, and second, to seek revenge.
Chen Yuan closed the booklet, his expression solemn. "Wang Po, you must remember never to speak of this to outsiders, not even your son. Otherwise, it will bring you fatal disaster."
Wang Po nodded. "Child, I understand. Rest assured and take it." She hadn’t lived to this age for nothing. Not long after that lad left, the Golden Saber Sect had come knocking, searching house by house. Naturally, she had noticed something was amiss.
Chen Yuan tucked the booklet into his clothes and cupped his hands in gratitude. "Thank you, Wang Po. If you ever have any trouble in the future, just come find me."
"Go on, go on. I’ve already troubled you enough." Wang Po waved her hand with an amiable smile.
Chen Yuan walked along the bluestone path in a rather good mood. Who said good deeds went unrewarded? The key was that you had to be good to the right people.