"When you get there, give the madam, Miss Feng, my name. Tell her you’re practicing the [Iron Bull Skill], and she’ll naturally take you for some hands-on practice."
At these words, Wang Ping was utterly astounded.
’Does this mean... I can get it for free?’
Although Liu Ye had spoken cryptically, Wang Ping had no trouble understanding him. There was no doubt about it—this Master Liu must have a stake in the Danfeng Building. Otherwise, how could he make such an offer?
At this thought, Wang Ping immediately cupped his hands and said, "Many thanks, Master Liu!"
"And the five hundred taels...?"
"That was merely a jest!"
Liu Ye finally nodded in satisfaction. He wasn’t worried about Wang Ping going back on his word in the future. After all, it was a low-tier martial art. Even if Wang Ping failed, Liu Ye would be at no loss.
But if he succeeded, the payoff would be enormous!
After all, from what he knew, his own Lord Chen’s family heirloom cultivation technique had been brought out from the Divine Capture Sect’s Headquarter in the Capital City. The technique had a very impressive origin!
........
Although he had been given the opportunity for a freebie, Wang Ping didn’t set out immediately.
It came back to the same point: he was not a lecherous man. His only reason for cultivating the [Iron Bull Skill] and the [Lust Realm Innate Technique] was purely for the sake of a better future.
’The [Iron Bull Skill] is a minor thing; I can practice it with my own two hands. It would be a waste to use the ’live combat’ for that. Even if I master it, so what? The main event comes later!’
The [Lust Realm Innate Technique].
This Immortal Cultivation Secret Technique was the one that truly demanded a huge amount of practical experience. To put it bluntly, mastering this technique could very well bankrupt an entire brothel.
’Liu Ye made it sound nice and all, but if I really used his free offer to cultivate the [Lust Realm Innate Technique], the cost would be so high he’d immediately take it back. All my efforts would be wasted... So, the best way is to first quietly practice the [Iron Bull Skill] until I reach the Great Perfection Realm.’
’Once I have the "Golden Spear Never Falls" boon to back me up, *then* I’ll go take him up on his offer.’
’Before he has a chance to realize what’s happening, I’ll go all out and master the [Lust Realm Innate Technique] in one go. By then, he’ll just have to swallow the loss.’
For that to happen, he needed to be patient for now.
Of course, if he could just afford to pay, none of this would be an issue.
At that thought, Wang Ping, who had just returned home, couldn’t help but rummage through his belongings. He carefully tallied up all his savings, then shook his head decisively.
"Whether I pay or not isn’t really important."
"When it comes down to it, it’s a matter of personal integrity. I am a virtuous man, not some lecher. How could I possibly go to such a sordid place for no reason and degrade myself?"
With that said, Wang Ping closed his door and windows, and took out a pack of tissues.
The night was long. He prepared to take matters into his own hands and practice the [Iron Bull Skill] all night long, right until the sun was high in the sky. He would master this cultivation technique as fast as humanly possible!
......
A moonless, windy night—the perfect time for a killing.
The night wind howled. The sun was long gone, and three bright moons hung high in the sky, but their light was obscured by dark clouds, casting only deep, immeasurable shadows below.
"Who’s there!"
A patrolling constable inside the Longxing County Magistrate’s Office shouted, raising the lantern in his hand to peer into a shadowy corner. But the lamplight revealed nothing.
"What’s wrong?" another constable asked.
"Nothing. I must’ve seen things."
The constable with the lantern gave a wry smile. "You know how it is. These haven’t been peaceful years. I’m getting jumpy, seeing rebels in every shadow."
The others could only offer wry smiles in response.
It wasn’t just Longxing County. Throughout all of Changle County, and even the vast Jizhou province, rebel factions were springing up like mushrooms after a rain. The world had long since fallen into chaos.
"Alright, don’t overthink it."
"We’re just going through the motions. If a real expert were to sneak in, we wouldn’t spot them anyway. Our superiors would be the ones to handle the pursuit."
"That’s true..."
As they spoke, the patrol of constables moved further and further away. None of them noticed that a figure had silently appeared behind them.
This person was Xie Shi.
Unlike an ordinary person, however, the Senior Brother of the White Lotus Sect’s breathing, heartbeat, and even footsteps were all rendered nearly silent.
This was clearly a specialized martial art. He followed the patrol in complete silence, his figure hidden in the darkness. He walked from outside the County Magistrate’s Office to within its walls, passing several other patrols along the way, yet not a single person noticed his presence. It was as if he was completely invisible to them.
It wasn’t until he neared the Inner Yamen that he ducked away.
The slight gust of wind from his movement blended perfectly with the night breeze, arousing no suspicion. Just like that, he stepped into the Inner Yamen.
Before him was a main hall.
Inside the hall, dozens of weapons of all sizes were on display—sabers, spears, staffs, and clubs. Each had once been a famed weapon in its own right.
Xie Shi’s eyes immediately locked onto the center of the main hall.
There, on the largest display table, rested an exquisite, shimmering silver dagger. A gleam flowed across its edge like moonlight, radiating a bone-chilling cold.
The [Lotus Saber]!
’I’ve found it...’
Xie Shi clenched his jaw. Though the goal of his mission was just a single step away, he didn’t dare move forward. He didn’t even dare to step into the hall.
To his eyes, the pitch-black hall with its wide-open doors had transformed into a monstrous beast with a gaping, bloody maw, waiting for him to walk right into its trap.
’That old bastard is just using me to test the waters.’
’He and Chief Constable Chen of the County Magistrate’s Office have a tacit understanding. They’re both Inner Strength Martial Artists on the verge of earning a title. Their Magical Combat is not something I can get involved in...’
At this thought, Xie Shi was immediately overcome with the urge to retreat.
’Finding the location of the [Lotus Saber] is enough to report back to Shouchong. I don’t get paid enough to risk my life for this.’
But just as Xie Shi was backing away from the Inner Yamen, step by step...
"Leaving so soon?"
A calm voice drifted in on the evening wind. From the shadows of the weapon-filled hall, a cold-faced man slowly walked out.
"Chen Haoyan... This is bad!"
In an instant, Xie Shi’s expression changed dramatically. He didn’t dare to answer Chen Haoyan. Instead, he stomped his foot down hard, shattering the ground beneath it.
A terrifying tremor spread out from him in all directions, as if an earthquake was tearing through the County Magistrate’s Office. Xie Shi himself used the massive recoil from the stomp to vanish, transforming in the blink of an eye into a black shadow that shot toward the outer walls.
The sheer force of his escape was astonishing.
But in the next second, a resonant, hearty laugh overpowered all other noise. Like a pillar calming a stormy sea, it instantly quelled the chaos.
"External arts at Perfection? That old bastard really knows how to teach his disciples."
"But if he wants the [Lotus Saber] back, he should come and get it himself."
Inside the hall, Chen Haoyan held a large bow in his right hand and gripped a long arrow in his left. An endless stream of light flowed from his palm, converging on the arrowhead.
Xie Shi sensed something and glanced back, his blood running cold at the sight.
’Master said this fiend was from the Capital City’s Divine Capture Sect. Not only is his foundation built upon the sect’s True Inheritance, but the Inner Strength he has cultivated is far beyond the reach of any ordinary person...’
’I’m doomed!’
BOOM!
The next second, with a deafening roar, Chen Haoyan drew his bow to its limit. The arrow shot forth, tearing through the air as a visible shockwave erupted from the depths of the County Magistrate’s Office.
Immediately after, a streak of white light tore through the night sky.
Like a thunderbolt shattering the darkness—the roar of thunder came first, followed by a flash of light. In a single, fleeting instant, it struck the fleeing Xie Shi and knocked him out of the sky.
"Aaargh!"
With a piercing shriek, a spray of crimson blood erupted. Xie Shi’s body plummeted straight down into the county town, vanishing into the deep shadows of the night.
SHING!
Having shot down Xie Shi with a single arrow, Chen Haoyan stood tall, bow in hand. He then drew his Ox-tail Saber and pointed it to the sky, his powerful voice echoing in the night:
"White Lotus Thieves have attacked the County Magistrate’s Office in the dead of night! For this act of rebellion, they are to be killed on sight!"
"Relay my orders! Lock down and search the entire city! Anyone who provides a clue to this thief’s whereabouts will be rewarded with ten taels of silver! Anyone who kills this thief will be rewarded with a hundred taels! And anyone who dares to harbor him will have their entire clan exterminated!"