Chapter 17: Minor Success (Please keep reading)

Chapter 17: Minor Success (Please keep reading~)

"Ping'an, Dashan, are they gone!"

Hou Tou held his saber, maintaining an air of iron-blooded severity. To be fair, Hou Tou actually possessed a certain presence when acting this way.

"They're gone."

Watching the figures disappear in the distance, Chen Ping'an spoke indifferently.

Hearing Chen Ping'an's words, Hou Tou instantly collapsed. He hunched over, resting one hand on his knee, breathing heavily.

"Whew! Whew! Whew! They're finally gone! If they hadn't left, I wouldn't have been able to hold on much longer!"

At this moment, Hou Tou's face was filled with lingering fear; there was none of his previous arrogance or severity left.

"Ping'an, let me tell you. My legs were almost shaking just now. Those were thugs from the Tiger Head Gang; I can't afford to mess with a guy like Hou Tou. I was just thinking, what if he didn't back down and wanted to fight? If a real fight broke out, the three of us really wouldn't be their match!"

Looking at the disheveled and rambling Hou Tou, Chen Ping'an felt a warmth in his heart.

This version of Hou Tou was much more real.

"Hou Tou, there were four of them and three of us. If I take on two and you two each take on one, it's not like we definitely couldn't win!"

Dashan spoke in a muffled tone, appearing quite confident.

"Are you stupid, Dashan?! Don't you know who that thug was just now!?"

"Who?"

"Liu Zi from the Tiger Head Gang! He's Little Tiger Lord's confidant and a minor leader of the gang. I heard he's already stepped onto the path of martial cultivation, at the first level of Blood Qi. Don't let your big, burly frame fool you; if you actually fought, you really wouldn't be his match!"

"Even if you have a bit of strength and could manage a draw, Ping'an and I wouldn't be able to beat the three of them."

"So that's how it is!"

Dashan looked shocked. Then, he turned his head and showed a hint of admiration.

"Hou Tou, you were really impressive just now."

Hearing this, Hou Tou's legs straightened and his back stiffened. He laughed triumphantly.

"Right? Impressive, isn't it!"

"Yeah, very impressive! I was actually startled when you drew your saber just now," Dashan confessed honestly.

"Of course! No matter what, I, Hou Tou, am an old hand in the Nanquan Alley Town Guard. I've seen scenes like this plenty of times! One strike of my blade, and who would dare not submit!"

Hou Tou's face flushed with pride. Looking at him now, one wouldn't know he was the same person who was terrified just moments ago.

"Ping'an, I was impressive just now, wasn't I?"

As if thinking of something, Hou Tou sought confirmation from Chen Ping'an again.

Fearing he might receive an unfavorable answer, he added at the end: "Ping'an, I was standing up for you just now!"

"Mhm, impressive. Extremely impressive," Chen Ping'an said.

Having received Chen Ping'an's affirmation, Hou Tou felt as if he had received some official certification, and his spirits soared. He sheathed his saber and, imitating his earlier actions, drew it once more.

"What Chen family kid! Call me Master Chen!"

"Hehe~"

Hou Tou laughed mischievously.

"Sweet! So sweet!"

After practicing the gesture twice and enjoying the thrill for a moment, Hou Tou suddenly became a bit dejected.

"Sigh, if only I were a formal officer! There would be no need to draw a saber just now. As soon as I appeared, they would have stopped once they saw me coming!"

"A formal officer..."

Hou Tou sighed toward the sky.

Indeed, a formal officer would be at least at the peak of the first level of Blood Qi. Whether in terms of status or martial cultivation, they would be enough to intimidate these petty thugs.

And that was just an officer; if a Head Guard arrived, these thugs would likely be smiling and flattering him, or even kneeling to beg for mercy.

When in the wrong, even the Tiger Head Gang leader, Lord Tiger, would not be willing to fall out with a Town Guard Head over them.

"Alright, Hou Tou. Let's continue the patrol."

Chen Ping'an patted Hou Tou on the shoulder.

"Right, patrol!"

Hou Tou's spirit jolted, and he immediately regained his energy.

"Oh, right, Ping'an, what about that debt Liu Zi mentioned just now?"

Hou Tou remembered the thug's words and looked at Chen Ping'an in confusion.

"It's nothing, everything is prepared," Chen Ping'an said indifferently, effectively brushing the topic aside.

"Mhm, that's good then. Let's go."

By now, there was no trace of the curled-up figure in the corner. He had quietly slipped away as soon as the thugs left.

The others didn't pay it any mind.

Situations like the one just now happened both openly and secretly in Hupao Alley. They had simply happened to encounter it and stepped in to help as part of their duty.

As for what happened next, it could only depend on his own fate.

Today's encounter was the result of his own previous choices. Since it was his choice, he had to bear the consequences, whether he could or not.

As the saying goes, every peck and every drink is predestined!

After the incident, the rest of the day's patrol went smoothly without any special occurrences. However, they had less time to slack off today, resting for less than half an hour.

As the shift was nearing its end, Chen Ping'an ran into an acquaintance in Hupao Alley.

Old Uncle Gao from the southeast corner!

When he saw him, the man was excitedly preparing to enter a gambling den. Judging by its scale, it was quite high-end.

"Old Uncle Gao, are you..."

Chen Ping'an called out.

"It's young Master Chen."

Old Uncle Gao was lean but had a ruddy complexion. He recognized Chen Ping'an.

"I'm here to have a little fun."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Old Uncle Gao scurried into the gambling den.

In the small courtyard, Chen Ping'an practiced the Iron Cloth technique continuously.

As he practiced, he felt his Blood Qi begin to surge, flowing through various parts of his body. As the number of repetitions increased, he became increasingly proficient.

Chen Erya sat on a wooden stool with her chin in her hands, watching her brother quietly.

For a time, there was no sound in the small courtyard except for Chen Ping'an's heavy breathing and the sound of friction.

Time passed, and finally, accompanied by the appearance of a "+1 Experience" symbol, Chen Ping'an stopped his movements.

Name: Chen Ping'an Realm: First Level of Blood Qi Martial Art: Iron Cloth (Entry Level) (15/15)

"I have enough experience!"

Chen Ping'an was incredibly excited.

He had been waiting for this moment for seven days.

Without any hesitation, he focused his mind and tapped the faintly visible plus sign.

*Whoosh~*

The experience points transformed into specks of starlight, flowing into Chen Ping'an's brow.

As the starlight entered his body, strands of incredibly complex information emerged in his mind.

Among this information were scenes of his hard training of the Iron Cloth, his insights and reflections after practice, and scenarios for practical application...

Everything in the information revolved around the Iron Cloth martial technique.

Chen Ping'an closed his eyes and carefully absorbed it.

At this moment, he was receiving not just information, but also the surging Blood Qi.

It was not a forced infusion; everything felt as if it were the result of years of his own hard cultivation.

Name: Chen Ping'an Realm: Peak of the First Level of Blood Qi Martial Art: Iron Cloth (Minor Success) (0/40)

At this moment, he had achieved Minor Success in the Iron Cloth!

For someone of average talent, it would take years of hard work to reach such a level!

Yet, to reach this step, Chen Ping'an had spent less than ten days.

"This is only the beginning..."

Feeling the immense power surging within his body, Chen Ping'an felt invigorated, his heart filled with anticipation for the future.

***

PS: The new book has been in the library for two days. If the reading numbers are high enough, it can get a trial recommendation. Brothers, please keep reading!!!

(End of Chapter)