Chapter 48: Superior

The backyard.

As soon as he stepped into the backyard, a thick, pungent medicinal odor rushed toward him.

Chen Qing walked to the outside of the training room and cupped his hands. "Master."

"Come in."

Zhou Liang's voice drifted from inside.

Answering the call, Chen Qing pushed the door open. Inside the training room were various pieces of equipment, sandbags, and weapon racks.

Zhou Liang, dressed in white short-sleeved martial attire, was using a towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

He looked at Chen Qing, his eyes filled with approval. "Not bad. To achieve the rank of Martial Xiucai in your first attempt at the martial examinations this year—your Tongbei Quan has already reached the Great Completion stage, hasn't it?"

Chen Qing cupped his fists. "Master is perceptive. Your disciple indeed broke through to Great Completion a few days ago."

"Good."

Zhou Liang nodded with satisfaction.

Although this disciple's physical constitution was somewhat mediocre, his comprehension was far beyond that of an ordinary person.

Subsequently, he checked Chen Qing's progress in tempering his Hidden Strength (An Jin).

Zhou Liang said in a heavy voice, "There is still a year and a half before the Martial Imperial Examination. Next, you must polish your Qi and Blood to ensure your Hidden Strength flows through your entire body. Pay special attention to the Baihui and Yongquan acupoints; these two are the most difficult to penetrate. The sooner you reach the perfection of Hidden Strength, the easier it will be to merge the Manifest (Ming Jin) and Hidden (An Jin) strengths into one, and it will also increase your chances of breaking through to Transformation (Hua Jin)."

At this point, Zhou Liang spoke with earnest gravity, "The essence of my Tongbei Quan lies in the Manifest, Hidden, and Transformation strengths, and it is this Transformation strength that is the most difficult."

Manifest strength was considered the entry point into the martial arts; one could secure a livelihood within a county with it.

Hidden strength, however, was already extraordinary. In certain major factions, one could serve as a minor leader, and in the eyes of ordinary people, such a person was already high and mighty.

As for Transformation strength, one could be called a top-tier expert of Gaolin County. Even powers such as the five great clans or the two major gangs would treat such a person as an honored guest and strive to recruit them.

Seizing the opportunity, Chen Qing asked, "Master, your disciple is dull-witted. I do not understand how the Manifest and Hidden strengths merge. What exactly is the wonder of the Transformation strength?"

This was the perfect moment; he naturally voiced the confusion in his heart.

To learn an art is to take the initiative to learn.

One must realize that many others resorted to stealing knowledge.

"Manifest strength is fierce and powerful, its momentum captivating; Hidden strength is soft and supple, yet capable of piercing straight into the internal organs. Transformation strength takes their essence and integrates them, emphasizing seamless unity, where the release and retraction of power are governed entirely by the heart."

Zhou Liang took a deep breath, his gaze suddenly turning sharp. "Watch closely!"

Before his voice had even faded, his wrist rotated slightly, and he threw a punch through the air toward a wooden stake a few feet away.

The punch was silent, yet it caused Chen Qing's hair to stand on end instantly, a piercing chill penetrating straight to his marrow.

The surface of the wooden stake appeared perfectly intact, yet its interior had shattered inch by inch, turning into fine powder.

Shattering wood through the air!

Chen Qing's pupils constricted, his heart filled with shock.

Such a method was indeed far more sophisticated than the ferocity of Manifest strength or the insidious nature of Hidden strength.

"Transformation strength is complex, filled with many subtleties. If you have the chance to reach the Transformation stage, you will understand it yourself."

Zhou Liang glanced at Chen Qing and reminded him, "Your most urgent task right now is to temper your Hidden strength to perfection."

"Yes, your disciple will keep this in mind," Chen Qing responded solemnly.

Zhou Liang turned around, took a dark-colored cowhide scroll from a nearby cabinet, and handed it over. "Keep this well. If you encounter any difficulties, you may come to ask me at any time."

"This is...?" Chen Qing took it with both hands, feeling its slight weight.

"The Fundamental Map of Tongbei Quan's Strength."

Zhou Liang said slowly, "It details the fundamental circulation and changes of the fist technique's strength, as well as the unique secrets for tempering that strength."

Chen Qing's heart stirred upon hearing this.

Zhou Liang did not say much, but Chen Qing understood perfectly the importance of this Fundamental Map of Strength.

The map recorded the essence of strength transformation between moves, which offered unimaginable benefits for practical combat.

The several moves that had seemed incomprehensible during his previous practice were, upon reflection, closely related to this Fundamental Map.

As expected!

Chen Qing had anticipated this; Zhou Liang certainly had some secret treasures kept under wraps.

Could one really learn the true legacy just by paying a few taels of silver in monthly tuition?

"By contemplating this map, although my Tongbei Quan is not a supreme ultimate art, it is sufficient to rank among the middle-tier martial arts," Zhou Liang said, his tone carrying a hint of pride.

Chen Qing took the opportunity to press further, "May I ask Master, what constitutes a supreme ultimate martial art?"

"Supreme martial arts..."

Zhou Liang's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a sense of longing. "Their principles are extremely precise and subtle, their power is extraordinary, and they involve the path of 'Internal Cultivation'—the arts beyond the Transformation stage. Unless an ordinary person has a family legacy, the only way to learn the methods of Internal Cultivation is to pass the Martial Imperial Examination and enter a major sect."

Mentioning the words "Internal Cultivation," Zhou Liang's expression became complex and hard to read.

Pass the Martial Imperial Examination and enter a sect!?

Chen Qing felt a surge of heat in his heart upon hearing this.

He had heard a bit about this concept of Internal Cultivation; it was mysterious and profound, capable of nourishing the body and extending life, representing the true mystery of the martial path.

"Master, Master Sima from the Qingnang Hall has arrived."

Just as Chen Qing was about to ask more about Internal Cultivation, the voice of his fellow disciple, Sun Shun, rang out from outside the door.

Zhou Liang waved his hand and said, "Go back for now and study this Fundamental Map. The sooner you reach the perfection of Hidden strength, the greater your chance at the third breakthrough."

Chen Qing cupped his hands and took his leave.

As he exited the room, he saw Sun Shun leading an elderly man wearing a black robe and carrying a sandalwood medicine box into the backyard. Zhou Liang had already stepped forward to meet them, respectfully inviting them into the room.

Qingnang Hall?

The premier medicinal hall in Gaolin County.

It seemed that in order to treat Qin烈, Master was truly sparing no expense.

Chen Qing returned to the front courtyard expressionless and continued his training.

He wanted to seize every possible moment to cultivate, to reach the Transformation stage as early as possible.

***

Evening.

The disciples in the courtyard gradually dispersed.

Wiping the sweat from his body, Chen Qing walked out of the Zhou Family Martial Academy and headed toward the River Magistrate's office.

The River Magistrate's office was desolate, with very few people around.

"Old Li, what happened?"

Chen Qing stopped the hurrying Old Li.

"Sigh, with the martial examinations happening these few days, something big has happened!"

Old Li looked left and right, lowering his voice. "Ning Shi, the leader of the Chai Gang, died suddenly! The Wangyuan Escort Agency's heavy convoy was also intercepted; there were heavy casualties, and they've suffered a massive blow to their vitality!"

He leaned closer, his voice barely audible, "Before the Commandant returned wounded, Leader Ning and Chief Escort Liu of the Wangyuan Agency were among the most attentive..."

The Commandant was injured, and then the forces under his command were purged.

The connection was glaringly obvious.

Of all the people in Gaolin County, only a handful possessed such a chain-linked, lightning-fast method of operation.

"Let them fight. As long as it doesn't affect me," Chen Qing thought to himself, then turned to ask, "Where is the Chief?"

"Chief Cheng?"

Old Li shook his head. "I haven't seen him for several days. I don't know what he's busy with."

***

Inside the side room.

The heavy medicinal scent was almost tangible, stinging and unbearable.

Qin烈 lay on the bed, his face as pale as paper, with dark red spots seeping through the bandages wrapped around his body.

Zhou Liang pushed the door open and said in a heavy voice, "Master Sima has left. He prescribed a formula and said there is hope..."

"Hope?"

Qin烈 tried to push himself up in excitement, but a surge of intense pain struck him, instantly covering his forehead in cold sweat. He endured it, his hands gripping Zhou Liang's sleeve tightly. "Master! I want to get better! I want to stand up! I want to practice martial arts again! Master, you must have a way, you must find a way! I can't be crippled, I can't!"

"Your injuries are too severe; you must rest and recover first."

Zhou Liang pressed him down and said solemnly, "Take your medicine on time. The chance of recovery... is not low."

"A chance?"

Qin烈's eyes were bloodshot, his voice breaking with a sob. "Master, look at me! Look at this ghost of a man I've become! A useless piece of trash just lying here waiting to die!"

He stared fixedly at Zhou Liang, as if grasping at the last straw. "Master, I am your hope for glory! I am your only hope! I beg you to save me! Use any method! Spend any amount of money! Find anyone! As long as I can get better, as long as I can clench my fists again, I am willing to do anything! Master... I beg you!!"

These blood-soaked, heart-wrenching pleas hit Zhou Liang's heart like heavy hammers, making it difficult for him to breathe.

"Don't worry!"

Zhou Liang gripped Qin烈's hand firmly, his eyes resolute. "Your master will certainly do his utmost. This medicine is that lifeline; even if it is only a sliver, I will never give up."

Looking at the determination in his master's eyes, Qin烈 nodded heavily. "Good, Master. I will drink it! I will definitely get better... I definitely will!"

(End of Chapter)