Chapter 48: 10 Years of Infamy Unquestioned, Turns Out the World Is Full of Mediocrities; Lion, Leopard, Eagle, and Falcon, Your Bone Tempering Is Inferior to Mine
Chapter 48: Chapter 48: 10 Years of Infamy Unquestioned, Turns Out the World Is Full of Mediocrities; Lion, Leopard, Eagle, and Falcon, Your Bone Tempering Is Inferior to Mine
"Lion, Leopard, Eagle, and Falcon... Bone Tempering ’Experts’..."
Watching Zhang Shiyao, who looked as polite as a servant from his own Chai Market as he presented the invitation, Xuu Heng felt the veins on his forehead pop. He nearly ground his molars to dust.
’This invitation of yours...’
’I don’t dare accept it!’
"The three of you, there’s no need to attend the banquet."
"The ’Mountain Delicacies Feast’ our three families have prepared today is right here. The spread is top-notch. If you’re willing, we can add three more seats. How about we just make some friends?"
Xuu Heng stood by the curtained doorway.
He had just extended an arm in a welcoming gesture.
But Zhang Shiyao from the Tiger and Leopard Hall walked forward, his eyes sincere.
"As expected of the Young Master of the Chai Market, who handles things like black market medicinal ingredients, the trade of mountain delicacies, and Mountain Dao transactions. You certainly have the silver taels and the ability!"
"This spread must have cost a pretty penny. I can tell you’ve spared no expense."
"But we’re used to training hard and being poor. We’re more comfortable eating with our brothers and friends."
He grabbed Xuu Heng’s arm and shook out his sleeve. He was so close that Xuu Heng’s ears started ringing, and he could almost hear the man’s bone marrow vibrating.
For a moment, Xuu Heng’s breathing grew heavy, the hair on his arms stood on end. Beneath his brocade sleeve, the thick tendons on his powerful arm tensed with a CRACKLE as he prepared to use his Force to break free!
But Zhang Shiyao of the Tiger and Leopard Hall had him pinned with his large hand... No matter how red Xuu Heng’s face became with effort, he couldn’t move an inch!
"Seeing all of you today is perfect. I have many brothers who are eager to witness the grace of the Young Master and the Vice Hall Master of the Wind and Cloud Association."
"Why not condescend to join me?"
He flashed a brilliant white smile, about to say more...
"Let him go!"
A sharp shout suddenly rang out. Lu Yu’s back straightened like a drawn bowstring. He took a step, about to tear his arm away, which made Zhang Shiyao’s eyes narrow.
"Oh?"
"And who is this..."
"A fellow practitioner of our generation!"
"Young Master Lu from the Fire Kiln?"
"To have broken through your tendons and reached Bone Tempering at such a young age, what talent!"
"Come, come, please follow me. The Dragon Heads of our three factions would be delighted to meet a young prodigy like you!"
He laughed heartily, but didn’t retreat an inch. Instead, the force in his hand tightened!
Instantly, Xuu Heng’s eyes bulged, he clenched his jaw, and sweat poured down like rain. His arm trembled like a leaf in the wind!
BANG!
And behind him,
Chen Zhao of the Lion Hall threw a Beng Fist, intercepting Lu Yu on the spot. A series of crisp cracks echoed as plates and bowls shattered!
A sharp piece of a shattered bowl went flying with a WHOOSH. It shot out like a spark, nearly grazing Wei Zhi’s cheek.
However, Ji Xiu reached out just in time and caught it between his fingers.
Wei Zhi narrowed her eyes, a fierce look rising in her elegant brows.
She gave Ji Xiu a slight nod. As a lock of hair fell beside her temple, the short Embroidery Saber at her waist began to slide from its sheath, inch by inch, all on its own...
However.
"Young Lady, if that saber leaves its sheath, the nature of this situation will change."
Qiuu Zhen, the skinny man from the Eagle Falcon Gang who had been silent until now, had appeared in front of Wei Zhi at some unknown moment.
Just as her brows knitted tightly—
He placed two fingers on her scabbard and pressed down, and the hilt wouldn’t budge in the slightest!
Qiuu Zhen smiled faintly, appearing calm and nonchalant.
But the ten toes of his feet gripped the ground tightly, as if he were an old pine tree that could not be toppled, with a continuous stream of strength rising from his Lower Body.
In this silent contest of strength, he completely suppressed Wei Zhi, who was only at the stage of forging tendons and ligaments, pinning her to her chair.
In the end, with fine beads of sweat appearing on her neck, unable to break free, she could only curl her pretty lips into a sarcastic smile, her face filled with helplessness.
"Nice technique."
In response, Qiuu Zhen let out a chuckle and said, "You flatter me." Seeing the fine sweat on her neck, he went to pull up his sleeve, making a show of wanting to wipe it for her.
"Don’t tire yourself out, Young Lady. Let me help you..."
Before he could finish, he suddenly felt a bone-chilling cold run down his spine.
He spun around abruptly.
He was met with the sight of the black-clothed youth, whose gaze was now so intense it felt tangible, fixed upon his chest and throat. Qiuu Zhen couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.
"You..."
BANG!
But before he could even get the word out,
Ji Xiu had already shot forward like a cannonball, the tendons in his long legs taut as bowstrings as he launched himself!
Seeing the large black shadow rushing toward him, Qiuu Zhen was stunned.
"These other two, the Young Master and Young Lady, are at least at the Perfection of Tendons and Ligaments, on the Bone Tempering Threshold. But you, a little punk who hasn’t even figured out how to refine your tendons and only got your position through flattery..."
As he spoke, he kept one hand pressing on Wei Zhi’s scabbard while clenching his other hand into a fist, planning to teach this kid a lesson with the ferocious force of his resonating tendons and bones.
In an instant, their fists collided!
’I may have only recently entered the Bone Tempering Realm. I’ve only finished the Quenching of my Spinal Dragon and haven’t extended it to my limbs to achieve Iron Bone, nor has my Force penetrated my marrow. But this kid...’
’How can someone who’s only forging his tendons and ligaments dare to trade blows with me?’
However!
The instant their forces collided, a vigorous and unendingly heavy Qi and Blood, as fierce as a dragon and tiger, surged toward him inch by inch, like a Wild Flood Dragon!
It made Qiuu Zhen’s bones creak, and his expression changed drastically!
He immediately stopped suppressing Wei Zhi and smashed out with his other hand as well!
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!
A series of explosive sounds erupted as muscle and flesh collided.
The two figures exchanged blows for only a few breaths’ time!
Qiuu Zhen, the Bone Tempering Expert from the Eagle Falcon Gang, was already being hammered back by Ji Xiu, his face flushed red as he retreated again and again!
One step, two steps, three steps!
DRIP. DRIP.
He looked at his own pair of quenched Iron Fists, which were now gushing blood, and his eyes began to twitch.
’Wasn’t this Medicine Hall Master of the Wind and Cloud Association said to have not even succeeded in forging his tendons and ligaments?’
’How are his polished flesh and great tendons so much stronger than mine, like a ferocious Tiger, Leopard, or Flood Dragon!’
’Even after Bone Tempering, my whole body transformed, and my Power Dao and blood force doubled, but still...’
His expression froze. The thought had barely flashed through his mind.
Suddenly, a sharp pain twisted in his gut. He looked down.
It turned out the youth had taken advantage of his lapse in concentration and had already smashed a fist into his chest!
With that one blow, the flesh of his chest split open, bleeding profusely.
Even some of his initially Quenched bones... were shattered!
It made him clutch his chest and collapse limply, despite having bones like Steel Bars and iron.
Watching this scene unfold,
Wei Zhi covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes wide with astonishment. The Jade Treasure Bracelet on her wrist jingled. Without realizing it, she had already drawn her Embroidery Saber...
But before she even had a chance to swing it, the fight was already over.
"Ji Xiu, you...?"
Her face was a mask of shock.
Meanwhile, Ji Xiu had already strode forward.
Just as Zhang Shiyao released the half-paralyzed Xuu Heng and joined Chen Zhao of the Lion Hall in pressing Lu Yu—landing a punch on his shoulder blade that made his face turn pale—
Ji Xiu threw back his wide sleeve.
Revealing muscles underneath that had transformed, seeming to glow with a golden, jade-like luster!
For a moment, Wei Zhi caught a glimpse like a flash of Jing Hong, her beautiful eyes shrinking in utter shock.
"This is...!"
PAK!
The next moment,
Ji Xiu’s hand was already clamped firmly on Zhang Shiyao’s shoulder.
"We’re not going to that banquet today. That’s final."
"I’m taking them with me. Are you..."
"...going to stop me?"
A sudden chill washed over him as a hand landed on his right shoulder. Zhang Shiyao of the Tiger and Leopard Hall frowned.
’Why is this technique the same one I used on that Young Master from the Chai Market?’
He glanced to the side and saw Qiuu Zhen’s condition, and his heart skipped a beat.
Maintaining a calm expression, he slowly raised his other hand toward his right shoulder.
"You have impressive methods, Your Excellency, but..."
His entire arm suddenly rippled, thick tendons twisting like ropes over bones as hard as iron and stone. He braced himself to withstand Ji Xiu’s large hand, intending to remain unmoved!
Meanwhile, his other hand snaked out, aiming to grab Ji Xiu’s wrist.
However,
just as a faint golden glow appeared on Ji Xiu’s palm, and just as he exerted his strength, revealing the hazy outlines of what looked like translucent jade-colored veins,
Zhang Shiyao’s other hand, which had already passed his neck and was only about four or five inches away, froze in mid-air.
At that moment,
he felt the large hand on his shoulder suddenly grow heavier. It gave him an illusion—that if this man had any more strength left in his muscles, his own carelessness would have cost him the use of half his body’s tendons and bones.
At this thought, sweat dripped from Zhang Shiyao’s forehead.
"I won’t stop you."
"This... was just an invitation. If the guests do not wish to go, then they don’t have to."
Ji Xiu smiled. He poured all his strength into his five fingers, enough to pierce tendons and break bones, and pressed down even harder.
"Remember to pay for the damages."
"It’s not easy for them to run a business."
"You!"
Chen Zhao of the Lion Hall exploded with anger at the sight.
The pale-faced Lu Yu moved to intervene.
"Stop!"
Zhang Shiyao, his neck stiff, forcefully swung his other arm to block his companion.
At the same time, his legs buckled, and he bit his lip against the pain, sweat pouring down like rain.
"Fine!"
Just as his vision swam and he was about to faint...
he suddenly felt the pressure on his right shoulder release. He was free. He began gasping for breath.
「After a long moment.」
When Zhang Shiyao of the Tiger and Leopard Hall came to his senses, he found that, aside from the utter mess...
the Young Master and Young Lady of the Wind and Cloud Association, as well as that ’Medicine Hall Master’, were already gone.
"Brother Yao, that man?"
Chen Zhao of the Lion Hall wore a look of horror, as if he had just witnessed something unbelievable.
Nearby, a trembling Qiuu Zhen leaned against the wall, his fists and chest still bleeding profusely.
Zhang Shiyao looked at the clear handprint on his right shoulder. His tendons and bones had even been squeezed purple and were misshapen.
He was silent for a long while before speaking:
"It’s a good thing... We should be thankful that this happened here in Anning County, in plain sight, and not out on the five-hundred-li Mountain Dao."
A jolt went through Chen Zhao’s mind.
"Otherwise..."
"...we’d be buried by now."
"Golden Muscle and Jade Veins... Golden Muscle and Jade Veins..."
Zhang Shiyao muttered for a moment, then suddenly shook his head and laughed bitterly.
"Medicine Hall Master? The former Groom who relied on flattery and bootlicking to climb the ranks of the Wind and Cloud Association?"
"I spit on that!"
"To not recognize a true hero when you see one... No wonder they’re so arrogant, trying to claim the seat of ’Anning’s Number One Power’!"
"As if we’re worthy!?"
"Don’t be hasty."
"Once we report the situation with this... person... to the three Dragon Heads, and when the top three of this ’Wind and Cloud Association’ come looking to settle this score, we can still let them know..."
"...just whose fist is bigger!"
"Overall, our objective has been achieved."
Zhang Shiyao suddenly regained his tough demeanor.
But then he looked at his own shoulder, then at Qiuu Zhen’s state, and hissed in pain.
"But we really did take a loss on this one."
"If the three Dragon Heads take a liking to that kid, then even if the Anning Branch of the Wind and Cloud Association falls, he won’t."
"Sigh..."
A bitter smile couldn’t help but appear on his face.