Zhu Lingxue kindly consoled, "Being unable to cultivate Inner Qi isn’t that bad. As long as you diligently cultivate, you can still reach the Postnatal Peak. That’s considered a third-rate expert, more than enough to walk the Jianghu."
What they call the Postnatal Peak is the Sixth Grade of Bone Marrow Cutting in the Transforming Body, Yijin, and Bone Marrow Cleansing.
Although Chen Tang has already cultivated to the Fourth Grade Awakening and has opened the Four Apertures,
due to his Horizontal Body Training and Inner Strength of the Viscera, outwardly, he didn’t show the characteristics of a Martial Artist in the Opening Acupoints Realm.
In normal cultivation, often stimulating the major acupoints of the head with Inner Qi causes it to surge up, accumulating in the head, and over ti, the temples will slightly bulge. This is the most obvious trait of a Fourth Grade Awakening Martial Artist.
When they first boarded the ship, Ah Li’s temples were still slightly swollen.
But before disembarking, Chen Tang noticed that Ah Li’s temples had returned to normal.
He didn’t ask aloud.
But he speculated that Ah Li had likely stepped into the Third Grade.
However, in the eyes of i Zhenyu and the others, Ah Li looked even more ordinary.
The three of them chatted a bit more.
Chen Tang didn’t directly say he wished to go to the Shen Family in Langya Pavilion; he rely said he planned to go to the Capital City.
Langya Pavilion is just outside the Great Xia Capital City.
This ti, i Zhenyu and the others traveled out and were preparing to return to their sect, which was also in the Capital City’s direction, making it convenient to travel together.
Near the port, there were vendors selling all sorts of things.
To make the journey easier, Chen Tang bought two horses and set off towards the Capital City with i Zhenyu and the others.
Traveling with i Zhenyu and the others, there were indeed fewer troubles along the way.
Even entering so commanderies, when i Zhenyu ntioned their sect’s na, the gate guards no longer blocked them and waved them through.
Four of them walked on the official road, with i Zhenyu and the other leading the way.
Chen Tang and Ah Li rode side by side, following behind.
Just when buying horses near the port, Chen Tang couldn’t help but think of the Thunder Leopard.
In the battle against the Flood Dragon years ago, he was saved by the Thunder Leopard sacrificing its life, rushing all the way, leaping off a cliff, and falling into the East Sea, causing a battle between two Exotic Beasts, which barely saved his life.
He wondered if the Thunder Leopard had managed to escape, and how it was doing now.
Horses can swim, after all.
Being an anomaly among horses, the Thunder Leopard should be able to escape safely.
Chen Tang consoled himself with this thought.
"Senior Brother, what do you think my Jianghu moniker should be in the future?"
"Jianghu monikers are generally given by people of the Jianghu, sotis out of one’s control."
i Zhenyu and the others whispered ahead.
Chen Tang, having opened his Ear Aperture, though not intentionally, heard it clearly.
Moreover, he deeply agreed.
His two Jianghu monikers weren’t of his choosing either.
Zhu Lingxue said, "My surna is Zhu, so in the future, I might be called the ’Bamboo Horse Heroine’."
"This girl’s nickna-making skills aren’t great. It sounds even more awkward than my ’Young Hero Tiger Subduing’ or ’Panda Blade Master’."
Chen Tang pursed his lips, muttering in his heart, caught off guard and unable to respond.
i Zhenyu laughed, "That’s just perfect; we can travel the Jianghu as a duo, just like ’Green Plum Bamboo Horse’..."
Chen Tang: "???"
Caught off guard, he was stuffed full of dog food, quite filled.
The four walked on the official road for a while. Chen Tang’s ears moved, and he glanced sideways.
He saw a figure covered in blood stumble out of the distant dense forest, looking panicked.
Behind him, a masked man holding a blade chased out of the woods, exuding killing intent.
Just as he was about to catch up, the person in front reached into his bosom and threw sothing back-handed.
Swoosh!
A large cloud of sand exploded between them.
The masked Blade Master had been prepared, pausing his steps to cover his face in advance.
Both parties distanced themselves again.
Chen Tang saw clearly that the person in front was none other than Wei Kai, the ’Desert Swordsman,’ whom they had t at the port’s teahouse earlier.
i Zhenyu also recognized him, his expression changing. He swiftly dismounted, brandishing his Long Sword, and rushed toward Wei Kai.
The masked Blade Master extended his arm, aiming at Wei Kai’s back, and flicked his wrist.
Swoosh!
A Sleeve Arrow shot out, instantly embedding itself into Wei Kai’s back.
Chen Tang was too far from there, hundreds of feet away. Even if he had a bow and arrow, he couldn’t intervene in ti to save him.
Wei Kai shuddered all over, stumbled forward a few more steps, and then fell to the ground.
Seeing this, the masked Blade Master quickly retreated back into the forest, disappearing from sight.
Chen Tang and Ah Li also dismounted, heading in that direction.
"Brother Wei!"
i Zhenyu dashed to Wei Kai’s side, propping him up, and swiftly pressed several major acupoints on Wei Kai’s back while infusing a strand of Inner Qi to barely protect his Heart ridian.
At the sa ti, i Zhenyu sensed Wei Kai’s physical condition.
His body was covered in multiple knife wounds. Besides having the vital spot on his back hit by a Sleeve Arrow, there were severe injuries under his ribs and abdon, with blood flowing incessantly. He was already beyond saving.
"i, Young Hero i..."
Receiving i Zhenyu’s Inner Qi to sustain his life, Wei Kai reopened his eyes, speaking weakly.
"Brother Wei, what happened? Who is the assailant?"
i Zhenyu frowned deeply, his face showing anger.
"Quick, quickly go save Luo..."
Wei Kai opened his mouth, struggling to raise his arm to point towards the forest, but before he could finish, he couldn’t muster another breath.
Wei Kai’s eyes widened; unwillingly, his head tilted, and he breathed his last.
"Ah!"
Zhu Lingxue gasped softly, her face pale.
This was her first ti traveling the Jianghu with her senior brother in the past six months.
Although they had faced so skirmishes and fights, they were mostly against so insignificant petty thieves, which her senior brother only needed to provide guidance, and she could handle it.
During this ti, there had never been a death.
But today, soone who was alive just a mont ago had suddenly died in front of her, giving her quite a shock!
It was the first ti she felt the dangers within the Jianghu.
i Zhenyu’s expression was grave as he gently laid down Wei Kai’s body, his gaze fixed on the dark and enigmatic forest ahead, sword in hand, ready to rush over.
"Senior Brother!"
Zhu Lingxue’s heart trembled, instinctively grabbing i Zhenyu’s arm, her expression worried.
"Senior Brother, he’s already dead. We should leave."
Despite her fears, Zhu Lingxue’s voice carried a trace of trembling.
i Zhenyu rely gently patted the back of Zhu Lingxue’s hand, his eyes softening considerably, speaking softly, "Junior Sister, just wait here. I’ll go check it out."
Wei Kai hadn’t finished speaking, but i Zhenyu heard it clearly; Wei Kai wanted him to go save soone.
That Luo was very likely Luo Shixian!
Zhu Lingxue bit her lip gently, her voice hesitant, "Senior Brother, Master once said there are many taboos in the Jianghu, and one should avoid entering the forest. We should, we should..."
"If I hadn’t encountered this, it would be one thing, but since I have, I can’t just sit back and do nothing."
i Zhenyu voiced firmly, "Junior Sister, stay here and protect Brother Chen and the others. If the situation turns dire, mount the horses and flee imdiately."
"On the official road, even a first-rate expert might not catch up to a fast horse."
With that, i Zhenyu leaped away, vanishing into the forest with a few quick and nimble movents.
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