39: Reopening the Technique

Chen Linsheng left the Water Patrol Division Yamen, which was permeated with a tense atmosphere.

Sunlight spilled onto the street, warm and pleasant, yet it could not dispel the heaviness in his heart.

The Bandit Suppression Operation three days later was now exponentially more dangerous since the plan was known to have been leaked. He had to increase his strength as much as possible before then.

Returning to the residence in the west of the city, Su Wan was hanging clothes in the courtyard. Seeing him return, a gentle smile appeared on her face. Chen Linsheng walked up and briefly said, "Wan'er, I have some matters at the Martial Hall, so I need to go into the mountains. I'll be back in one day at the earliest, or two days at the latest."

Su Wan was now accustomed to him frequently going out to Cultivate. Although concern remained in her eyes, she simply advised softly, "Be careful in everything, and come back soon."

"Don't worry." Chen Linsheng gently squeezed her hand, giving her a reassuring look.

He did not linger. He returned to his room, shouldered his Two-Stone Strong Bow and quiver, picked up the Solid Iron Long Spear, and hung a leather pouch filled with medium-sized, sharp-edged stones at his waist.

After checking everything, he went out again, heading straight for the Qinghe Pier.

Boats still came and went at the pier, and the sound of people was noisy.

Chen Linsheng found a boatman and rented a sturdy fishing boat, stating clearly that he intended to go near Xiaohe Village downstream.

After paying the fare, he punted the boat away from the shore and steered downstream along the murky yellow river water.

Initially, the boat swayed somewhat in the rushing current, but Chen Linsheng had the Way of Balance, making his lower body as steady as a rock, and he quickly adapted.

Holding the oars with both hands, he felt the power and direction of the current, continuously adjusting the angle and force of his strokes, allowing the boat to steadily cut through the water.

Unconsciously, his rowing motions became increasingly coordinated, and his control over the boat grew more proficient.

The spirit book in his mind slightly vibrated, and new characters appeared:

[Skill: Boating (Initiate)]

[Progress: (0/100)]

[Divine Effect: Steady Sailing, Steering by the Wind. Able to skillfully control a boat in calm waters and knows how to utilize wind power.]

Almost simultaneously, he looked up at the gathering and dispersing clouds on the horizon, sensed the subtle changes in wind direction, and combined this with his usual observations. He suddenly had a vague premonition about the weather in the coming hours, and instinctively judged several areas ahead that looked calm but actually concealed dangerous whirlpools.

[Skill: Celestial Phenomena (Initiate)]

[Progress: (0/100)]

[Divine Effect: Reading Clouds to Know the Sky, Avoiding Danger and Seeking Fortune. Able to predict short-term weather through clouds, wind direction, etc., and knows how to avoid obviously dangerous waterways.]

"I didn't expect that sailing also involves learning."

Chen Linsheng felt a slight joy in his heart. Although these two newly acquired Skills did not directly increase his combat power, they would undoubtedly provide tremendous help in the current bandit suppression trip and any future water-based operations.

He carefully controlled the fishing boat, avoiding dangerous spots. Utilizing the water current and the occasional gust of wind, his speed was significantly faster than that of an ordinary fishing boat.

After arriving at the riverbank near Xiaohe Village, he properly concealed the fishing boat in a patch of reeds, then leaped up, plunging into the vast mountain forest like a Spirit Ape.

Entering the familiar mountain forest, Chen Linsheng was like a Flood Dragon entering the sea.

He no longer deliberately searched for herbs, instead dedicating his entire focus to honing his Throwing and Archery Skills.

His figure rapidly darted through the woods. Everything within his sight—flying birds, running beasts, and even branches swaying in the wind—became his targets for practice.

Stones whistled out from his hand. Initially, he still needed to aim, but later, it was almost as if a thought occurred, and the stone had already accurately hit the target. Whether it was a rapidly fleeing wild rabbit or a wild fruit hanging on a branch a hundred paces away, none missed.

His Throwing techniques also became increasingly varied: arcs, deflections, rapid succession... all executed with ease.

The same was true for Archery. He continuously drew the bow, feeling the vibration of the bowstring and the trajectory of the arrow piercing the air, integrating the subtle control over his body provided by the Cleaver Technique, adjusting his breathing, posture, and force application.

Thirsty, he drank mountain spring water; hungry, he ate wild game. He practiced tirelessly, completely immersed in the process.

When night fell, he found a dry mountain cave, lit a bonfire, and the firelight illuminated his focused face.

After nearly a full day of relentless practice, he felt that the Bottlenecks for Throwing and Archery had loosened.

He sat cross-legged, sinking his mind into his Sea of Consciousness, concentrating his intent. That layer of obstruction was instantly pierced like thin paper!

The spirit book in his mind shone brightly, and the characters transformed:

[Skill: Throwing (Perfection)]

[Divine Effect: Stones Never Miss, A Stone Weighs a Thousand Jun, All Things Are Stones. Has completely grasped the ultimate truth of Throwing regarding "line," "point," and "force." Every throw hits, and every hit is effective. Falling flowers and plucked leaves can injure people, and even a mud pellet can exert power comparable to a strong bow and crossbow in his hands.]

[Skill: Archery (Perfection)]

[Divine Effect: Qi-Breaking Strike, Arrow Rain Meteor, Immovable as a Mountain. Concentrates the entire body's essence, Qi, and spirit into a single arrow, initially grasping the method of "Condensing Strength." The arrow carries a faint Qi force and can break internal martial arts defenses. His mentality is steady as a rock, and his spiritual will has been greatly tempered.]

Feeling the new insights and power brought by the two Great Perfection Skills, a surge of heroism rose in Chen Linsheng's heart.

With this reliance, his methods—whether for long-range sniping or mid-range suppression—would become far more unpredictable.

Suppressing his excitement, he did not rest. Instead, he used the open space outside the cave to practice the Eight Steps Catching Cicada and the Startled Swan Spear once more.

The Qi and blood within his body surged even more due to the newly acquired Divine Effects, and his spirit became incredibly focused under the tempering of Archery Perfection.

Cultivating Martial Skills at this moment yielded twice the results with half the effort.

The movement technique of Eight Steps Catching Cicada became increasingly refined under his feet. Within eight steps, his figure was as fast as a meteor, yet his steps were as light as a swan feather, almost silent.

The spear techniques of the Startled Swan Spear were even more fierce. The Solid Iron Long Spear transformed into streaks of fleeting light and passing shadows in his hands—stabbing, lifting, sweeping, smashing—the changes between substance and illusion were dazzling. The spear wind whipped around, causing the bonfire inside the cave to flicker erratically.

He Cultivated tirelessly like this until the eastern sky turned the color of a fish belly.

When the first ray of dawn broke through the leaves of the mountain forest, Chen Linsheng retracted his spear and stood still, slowly exhaling a long, turbid breath.

The sharp light in his eyes was restrained, but his aura became increasingly composed.

On the spirit book, two lines of characters updated again:

[Martial Skill: Eight Steps Catching Cicada (Minor Achievement)]

[Progress: (0/800)]

[Divine Effect: Eight Steps Meteor, Silent Footwork. Within eight steps, the movement technique is as fast as a meteor, with extremely strong explosive power. At the same time, the footsteps are light, making very little noise during high-speed movement.]

[Martial Skill: Startled Swan Spear (Minor Achievement)]

[Progress: (0/1200)]

[Divine Effect: Fleeting Light and Passing Shadow, Interplay of Illusion and Substance. Movement speed is greatly enhanced, creating streaks of afterimages when moving, interfering with the opponent's judgment. Spear moves can be illusory or real, allowing for instantaneous changes during a rapid thrust, making the truth difficult to discern.]

"Good!" Chen Linsheng couldn't help but roar softly, gripping the spear shaft tightly, feeling reassured.

The results of this day and night of arduous Cultivation far exceeded expectations; his strength could be said to have advanced by leaps and bounds. With this reliance, he had greater confidence in dealing with the upcoming Bandit Suppression Operation.

No longer lingering, he tidied his gear, identified the direction, and swept down the mountain like the wind.

Arriving at the patch of reeds where the fishing boat was hidden, he untied the rope and boarded. The Boating Skill was naturally applied, and the small boat steadily left the shore, heading against the current toward Qinghe County City.

It was already afternoon when he returned home.

As soon as he stepped through the courtyard gate, Su Wan, who had been waiting in the yard, rushed over, her tone carrying a hint of urgency: "A Sheng, you're finally back! Senior Brother came looking for you this morning. Seeing you weren't here, he asked me to tell you to go find him at the Water Patrol Division immediately if you returned, saying it was urgent."

Hearing this, Chen Linsheng's heart tightened.

Senior Brother was looking for him so urgently—could the bandit suppression plan have changed?

Or had there been a breakthrough regarding the internal spy?

"I understand. I'll go now."

He nodded to Su Wan, signaling her to rest assured, then turned and hurried non-stop toward the Water Patrol Division Yamen at the East City Pier once more.