10: Chapter 10 Second Life, First Glimpse into Martial Arts (Part 9)

The two disciples guarding outside the courtyard immediately walked in and bowed to receive orders.

"Drag this idiot away, keep him under strict guard, and deal with him according to the sect rules later. Also, immediately go and invite External Affairs Manager Zhou Meng and Internal Affairs Manager Wu Feng over to discuss matters."

"Yes." The two disciples immediately hauled up the paralyzed Liu Quan from the ground and walked out quickly.

Soon, Zhou Meng and Wu Feng rushed over, bowed slightly to Lin Shi, and said in unison, "Manager Lin."

"Sit." Lin Shi waved his hand slightly, signaling them not to stand on ceremony, and recounted the sequence of events to them.

(PS: The setting here is that the Logistics Department has three managers: the Chief Manager is Lin Shi, and the two deputy managers are Zhou Meng and Wu Feng.)

"What do you mean?" Zhou Meng asked first, and Wu Feng also looked at Lin Shi.

Lin Shi explained his deductions to the two of them and arranged, "Zhou Meng, take twenty skilled men and depart immediately for Luanshi Ravine.

Upon arrival, secure the scene immediately. You are to personally examine it to determine the opponent's martial arts style and the direction they fled.

Remember, I want to see a person if they are alive, or a corpse if they are dead!"

"This subordinate obeys." Zhou Meng cupped his fists and replied in a deep voice.

"Wu Feng, after you return, immediately gather your men to search for clues and conduct a detailed audit of all personnel in this transport team.

Find out if these people had any unusual behavior before departing and if they had any private contact with outsiders.

Also, send someone to notify the hunting ground disciples to confirm if there have been any unusual circumstances in the hunting grounds recently."

Wu Feng also immediately replied, "This subordinate obeys."

Lin Shi nodded slightly, his cold, sharp gaze sweeping over the two, his tone brooking no doubt.

"Go do it now! Notify me the moment you have any clues.

This matter is definitely not as simple as just losing a shipment.

Anyone daring to openly rob and kill our transport team on the territory of our Houshan Martial Arts Hall must be after some massive profit."

The two replied in unison, "Yes!"

Lin Shi waved his hand, and the two immediately turned and walked away quickly.

The room instantly became empty. Lin Shi tidied up and walked out, preparing to find his master, Instructor Wang Zhong.

Soon, Lin Shi walked to the outside of the Instruction Courtyard and gently pushed the door open to enter.

"Master." Lin Shi bowed slightly to Instructor Wang Zhong, who was drinking tea in the courtyard.

More than twenty years had passed, and Instructor Wang Zhong was already over seventy years old, yet his body remained robust. Although a Stone Skin Realm martial artist is still a mortal, their lifespan can still reach one hundred and twenty years.

"Ah, it's Shi. Didn't you just come by a couple of days ago? Seeing you in such a rush, what happened?"

Instructor Wang Zhong raised his head slightly, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Lin Shi shook his head, "It's not a huge matter, but I feel it might have something to do with you.

The hunting ground transport team was robbed and killed over at Luanshi Ravine. You know, they transport once a week, and they don't carry anything valuable.

They always have a group of skilled men with them; those in town capable of making a move don't look down on it, and those incapable can't touch it. I suspect they might have discovered something extraordinary this time..."

Instructor Wang Zhong stood up abruptly, his eyes eager, his tone filled with uncertainty and surprise, "Are you saying, the 'iron thread vine'?"

"That's right, it should be that thing.

I suspect it might not have fully matured yet. The transport team accidentally discovered the anomaly while passing by, and were silenced by someone who disguised it as a robbery-murder."

Lin Shi spoke with a firm tone, filled with absolute confidence.

"What a pity. It's been three days now; who knows if it's still there." Instructor Wang Zhong sat back down, his tone filled with regret.

The scene fell silent for a moment. Just then, rapid footsteps came from outside the courtyard door.

A disciple ran in with an anxious expression, bowed and cupped his fists, "Instructor Wang, Manager Lin, there is an urgent report from Manager Zhou!"

Lin Shi's expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Speak."

"Manager Zhou took men to Luanshi Ravine and, after personally and carefully examining it, noticed that the perpetrators used common, widely-seen martial arts.

But the clues left at the scene vaguely point in the direction of Liegu Martial Arts Hall."

As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Shi's eyes instantly turned cold. His hand resting on the chair tightened quietly, leaving several deep marks on the chair.

Instructor Wang Zhong's previously grave expression also added a touch of severity. His hand on the table paused abruptly, and the porcelain cup let out a soft "thud," splashing tea out.

Before the two could speak, another disciple rushed in from outside the courtyard door. He was a trusted subordinate of Wu Feng. Upon entering, he immediately bowed and then said anxiously, "Manager Lin, Instructor Wang, Manager Wu has news to report."

"Speak."

"Manager Wu led men to thoroughly investigate the background of all personnel in the transport team. They found that one of the guard disciples accompanying this trip had secretly had contact with people from Liegu Martial Arts Hall before departure, acting suspiciously.

Furthermore, the hunting grounds have also replied. They said that in the last week, people from Liegu Martial Arts Hall have been frequently mobilizing personnel at the boundary of the hunting grounds. While on guard, they had asked the transport team to carry a message for instructions upon their return, and emphasized that the people from Liegu Martial Arts Hall have not yet dispersed."

The two pieces of news arrived one after another, verifying each other, undoubtedly confirming the previous speculation instantly.

Lin Shi sneered, "A fine Liegu Martial Arts Hall indeed! Small frictions and petty quarrels at the border are one thing, but this time they actually dared to directly rob and kill our transport team, silencing witnesses. They really have guts!"

And in Instructor Wang Zhong's eyes, which had been full of regret, a hot flame suddenly ignited, as if from anger or excitement.

He stood up with a start, his voice carrying irrepressible urgency, "Shi, you just said this happened three days ago?"

Lin Shi was stunned, then immediately reacted, "Yes, the hunting grounds are not very far from town. Usually, they return the same day. According to the timeline, today is exactly the third day."

"Since the people from Liegu Martial Arts Hall haven't dispersed, it is very likely that they haven't had time to send that thing back to town yet." Instructor Wang Zhong's breathing became a bit heavier, and the light in his eyes grew brighter.

Lin Shi also came to his senses instantly, and his previously gloomy expression added a touch of excitement.

He knew the value of this 'iron thread vine'.

A mature 'iron thread vine,' combined with the corresponding auxiliary materials, can produce three full portions of medicinal paste.

This medicinal paste can not only increase the body's temporary affinity for metal energy when breaking through realms at the Stone Skin Realm, increasing the breakthrough probability by a full twenty percent, but it is also an excellent elixir for Iron Skin Realm martial artists to advance their cultivation.

You must know, the Stone Skin Realm and the Iron Skin Realm seem to be only one realm apart, but in reality, it is a difference of a major realm—a world of difference.

Only upon reaching the Iron Skin Realm can one be considered to have officially stepped into the extraordinary, becoming a true martial artist.

However, breaking through to the Iron Skin Realm is exceptionally difficult. This is not just a breakthrough in realm, but a leap in life form—evolving from a carbon-based life form into a carbon-metal composite life form. The difficulty is imaginable; it requires extremely strong willpower, physique, and cellular affinity for metal energy.

The previous realms—Standing Posture Qi Sensing, Tree Skin, Ox Skin, and Stone Skin Realm—were all preparatory steps for this leap in life.

Instructor Wang Zhong had been stuck at the peak of the Stone Skin Realm for over a dozen years. He was seventy-three this year, and his vitality had not yet begun to decline.

If he could obtain this 'iron thread vine,' he reckoned he could get one portion of the medicinal paste. Combined with the foundation he had accumulated over these years, his probability of breaking through to the Iron Skin Realm would be at least sixty percent.

This was enough to take a gamble. Once successful, not only would his status and position improve, but his lifespan could also increase significantly, reaching up to three sixty-year cycles.

Such an opportunity was no less than changing one's destiny against the heavens.

"Master is right."

Lin Shi immediately composed himself, "Liegu Martial Arts Hall acted secretly this time, killing to silence witnesses, because they didn't want the news to spread, which would give people leverage and give us a chance to make trouble.

After all, the county town above has main halls for each family. Once the item is transported back to town, it will be too late even if we know. Now, we still have a chance."

Instructor Wang Zhong nodded heavily, raised his hand to pat Lin Shi's shoulder, his tone carrying a rare urgency and determination.

"Let's go! This matter is not for you or me to decide; we will go see the Hall Master immediately! This iron thread vine must absolutely not fall into the hands of Liegu Martial Arts Hall.

It is a rare opportunity for our entire martial arts hall!"

Lin Shi did not hesitate in the slightest and immediately replied, "Yes, Master! Let's go right now!"