Chapter 35: The Great Demon Rabbit Meat Feast! No Interest

"I take my leave."

Ignoring Wu Zheng's self-satisfied expression, Zhang Lingshan cupped his hands and departed with Tie Feng.

On the way, Tie Feng said, "Senior Brother Shan, if you need a sparring partner, I can be yours."

"Sure. In exchange, I'll give you pointers on the Hunyuan Zhengyang Stance," Zhang Lingshan replied with a smile.

Tie Feng was overjoyed.

Thus, for the next two days, while Zhang Lingshan systematically accumulated energy, he also practiced the Wind-Settling Stance with Tie Feng.

It had to be said that the Wind-Settling Stance was indeed quite difficult.

However, compared to the Mountain-Splitting Axe Technique, the Wind-Settling Stance was child's play.

Among the martial arts Zhang Lingshan had currently mastered, the Hunyuan Zhengyang Stance had reached perfection and could no longer be improved.

The Red Line Fist had only just reached the stage of minor proficiency, and he wouldn't be able to make much progress with it in a short time.

That left the Wind-Settling Stance, which was still in its beginner stages and the easiest to practice; every session brought new insights, which he expected would reduce the energy points required for a breakthrough later on.

Even a mosquito is still meat; every little bit saved counts.

"Senior Brother Shan, I've mastered the Hunyuan Zhenyang Stance! Hahaha!"

On this day, Tie Feng shouted in wild ecstasy, jumping excitedly in the courtyard.

Zhang Lingshan said, "Perfect. My Red Line Fist has also reached a certain level of proficiency, and I need to go see Master Hong. Come with me to visit him."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Shan."

Soon, the two arrived at Hong Zhengdao's main residence.

Unfortunately, Hong Zhengdao was still not present. The housekeeper granted Zhang Lingshan the authority to act on his master's behalf to accept disciples and teach Tie Feng the Red Line Fist.

'Why hasn't Master Hong returned yet? This trip was truly a long one,' Zhang Lingshan complained inwardly.

He had originally intended to demonstrate to Master Hong that he had practiced the Red Line Fist up to his elbows, and then test the waters to see if the Master had any other martial arts he could learn.

But with Master Hong away, he had to abandon that plan.

Fortunately, when one door closes, another opens.

While he couldn't see Master Hong here, good news came from Feng Shaolong's side.

The demon rabbit meat feast was ready to be enjoyed!

Thus, without delay, Zhang Lingshan rushed to the Feng residence and arrived at the courtyard used by the herb-gathering guards.

He saw that Uncle Tie and the others were already seated around a large round table.

Zhang Lingshan looked closely and saw they were all acquaintances from the previous demon rabbit siege: Feng Shaolong, A Lei, Yu Mengyuan, and Uncle Tie—all of them were unscathed.

The remaining few had varying degrees of injuries, but none were bone-deep.

As for the one who had run around in terror back then, he was nowhere to be seen; it was unclear whether Feng Shaolong had dealt with him or if he was simply too ashamed to show his face.

As for the poor souls with severed limbs, they had not joined the table. It seemed their paths in martial arts had been severed; there was no point in eating demon rabbit meat for them, so they might as well take some money and leave.

Zhang Lingshan couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy.

It was a good thing he had practiced the Hunyuan Zhengyang Stance to perfection; otherwise, he wouldn't even have a seat at this feast.

He finally understood deeply what it meant to be a martial artist.

Martial artists were beings who licked blood from the edge of a blade.

If you weren't careful while licking, you'd lose your tongue, and perhaps your head as well...

"Our great hero has arrived!"

Seeing Zhang Lingshan enter, Feng Shaolong immediately shouted loudly and personally invited him to the seat of honor.

"Haha, if the great hero doesn't sit, no one else is qualified to eat. Come, please, great hero, take your seat."

As he spoke, he forcibly pressed Zhang Lingshan down into the chair.

Then, he personally took a rabbit leg and placed it on the plate in front of Zhang Lingshan, chanting, "A hop of the rabbit leg, and your strength doubles! I wish Junior Brother Shan success in his cultivation and a swift breakthrough to the Flesh Refining stage!"

"Senior Brother Feng, you are too kind," Zhang Lingshan said, waving his hands dismissively.

Yu Mengyuan and the others immediately stood up to toast him. "Junior Brother Shan, if it weren't for you that day, some of us might have ended up missing limbs. I'll drink this whole cup; you can just take a sip!"

"You're too kind, truly too kind," Zhang Lingshan replied perfunctorily, while cursing inwardly. Uncle Tie was the only honest person here; he showed his gratitude with real gold and silver and even gifted three moves of the Mountain-Splitting Axe Technique.

You people were so quick to mock Uncle Tie normally, but as human beings, you aren't worth even a single hair of his. You only know how to say polite platitudes. Trash!

"Uncle Tie, I'll drink with you!"

At the table, Zhang Lingshan raised him up. "If Uncle Tie hadn't drawn the demon rabbit's attention away from me, I fear I would have been ambushed at the very start. My respects to Uncle Tie!"

"Not at all, not at all, it was just a coincidence, a mere coincidence," Uncle Tie said, waving his hands hurriedly, his face flushing with embarrassment.

Everyone was startled; they hadn't realized there was such a story—that Uncle Tie had actually saved Zhang Lingshan.

Seeing that Zhang Lingshan wasn't joking, everyone quickly toasted Uncle Tie as well.

Uncle Tie had never received such treatment before; he was both nervous and excited, his eyes filled with profound emotion as he looked at Zhang Lingshan.

His savior had not only saved his life but had also brought him great honor in front of these people.

A benefactor indeed.

"Everyone, eat as much demon rabbit meat as you like; if there isn't enough, there will be more. Besides that, everyone contributed to the hunt this time. The family will reward everyone according to their merit, giving each person twenty taels of silver. However, I felt that was too little, so I fought for it and secured forty taels for everyone!" Feng Shaolong delivered his speech.

Yu Mengyuan and the others immediately complimented him loudly, "The Sixth Young Master is mighty!"

"It's all thanks to everyone's hard work," Feng Shaolong nodded with a smile, adding, "A Lei and Junior Brother Shan contributed the most. They will each receive eighty taels. Does anyone have an objection?"

"No objection!"

"It is only right!"

The crowd shouted in unison.

"Then I shall distribute the red envelopes to everyone, haha!" Feng Shaolong handed them out one by one.

When Zhang Lingshan received the eighty-tael banknote, he was extremely happy.

With these eighty taels, he could go directly to Wu Zheng to fully learn the leg techniques.

He would still have fifty taels left over, which could be used to buy medicinal herbs to accumulate energy.

He hadn't expected two demon rabbits to be so valuable. Including the twenty taels Feng Shaolong had given him previously, that made one hundred taels—equivalent to five months of his salary as a herb-gathering guard.

Beyond that, the energy provided by the demon rabbit meat also tempted him.

If he could eat demon rabbit meat every day, what would he worry about regarding energy points for upgrades?

"Senior Brother Feng, is this demon rabbit meat sold at the Feng Clan Pharmacy?" Zhang Lingshan couldn't help but ask.

Feng Shaolong gave a mysterious smile, pulled Zhang Lingshan aside, and said, "Junior Brother Shan has keen perception; you noticed the extraordinary nature of the demon beast meat immediately. This stuff is priceless and hard to find on the market. However, if you want to buy it, I have a way."

"What way?" Zhang Lingshan followed up.

Feng Shaolong said, "There is a rule in the martial world: only those who hunt demon beasts are qualified to eat their meat. So, if Junior Brother Shan wants to eat demon beast meat every day, you can join our Feng Clan Pharmacy's hunting team. If you have the interest, I will petition my father and try to get his approval."

"I see."

Zhang Lingshan realized the truth.

He finally understood why Feng Shaolong had been so accommodating to his every request; he had been waiting for this moment.

Thus, he nodded and said, "I'm sorry, but I'm not interested. It's too dangerous; it's not suitable for me."