59: Even without wind or rain, we must kill the enemy
Chu Qing tapped his toes on the ground, leaped over the Martial Arts Institute's wall, and bounded across rooftops like a dragonfly, heading straight for the Jin Residence.
Just as he left the Martial Arts Institute, a watchful person, who had been observing the Stone Tower, saw him.
This person immediately released a carrier pigeon to relay the message.
Soon after:
Certain individuals in Shiji County began to take action.
"There are so few Inner Courtyard slots... the Aristocratic Descendants from the Prefecture City took them, and we tolerated it."
"How dare a Mud Leg, born and raised here, occupy a slot?"
"This is too much!"
"Arrange for someone to kill him."
Someone timidly said:
"But, Madam Shi seems to favor Chu Qing!"
That person sneered, "He must be killed regardless!"
"A Mud Leg should remain a Mud Leg his entire life. What right does he have to soar to the heavens?"
In the darkness, they began to move.
About ten minutes later:
Chu Qing saw the Jin Residence.
To his surprise:
Although it was the middle of the night, the Jin Residence was brightly lit.
Whoosh!
He quietly landed on the courtyard wall, seeing the servants yawning repeatedly, and also spotted Madam Shi's servants.
"Madam Shi is here too?"
Lost in thought, he leaped down.
He knocked on the door.
Xiao Tao Hong opened the door and was immediately stunned.
Chu Qing smiled.
Xiao Tao Hong carefully scrutinized him, and her face suddenly turned crimson.
"Xiao Tao Hong, who is it outside?"
From inside the house, Madam Jin's lazy, tired voice drifted out.
"It's... Young Master Chu!"
"What?"
Inside, Madam Jin exclaimed in surprise.
She glanced at Madam Shi, who was sitting beside her with her eyes closed in meditation, then hurried to the door and froze.
There was a young man, with a handsome face and a ponytail; dressed in a gold and red Gold Robe, a sachet hanging from his waist, and deerskin boots.
He was truly a dashing and handsome young man.
In an instant, Madam Jin panicked.
She leaned one hand on the doorframe, and gently extended the other. Just as her fingertips were about to touch, the image of the barefoot young man in coarse linen in her mind finally overlapped with the dashing young man in brocade robes.
"Qing'er..."
"Godmother..."
"You... are truly amazing!"
Madam Jin was emotional.
Her adopted son, without relying on anyone, entered the Martial Arts Institute alone, and even defeated all the Powerful and Wubao Disciples in Shiji County, becoming an Inner Disciple.
He truly was... incredibly remarkable.
She was so moved that tears of joy streamed down her face.
Chu Qing wiped her tears, continuously comforting her, "Don't cry! Don't cry!"
However, Madam Jin embraced him, and even more tears flowed.
Chu Qing... It took several minutes for Madam Jin to compose herself.
She pulled Chu Qing inside:
"Madam Shi said you would definitely return tonight!"
"And you did!"
Chu Qing looked inside the room.
Madam Shi, in her opera costume, was sitting with her eyes closed in meditation.
On a nearby table, his longsword and a package were placed.
Click!
Xiao Tao Hong closed the door.
Inside, only three people remained.
Madam Shi stood up and said expressionlessly, "Groom... even if you become an Inner Courtyard student, you are still my Groom!"
Chu Qing was speechless, rolling his eyes.
This Madam Shi... truly... was too deeply immersed in her role!
Madam Shi raised her chin and said:
"I'm going to sing an opera now."
Chu Qing pulled Madam Jin to sit beside him; Madam Jin's small hand gripped his tightly, refusing to let go.
As if, if she let go, he would disappear.
Madam Shi cast a disdainful glance at Madam Jin, then stood up and began to sing.
Initially, she sang 'Tears of Longing Fall Like Rain of Longing'; later, she sang 'When One's Name Appears on the Imperial Examination Roster'.
After two songs, Chu Qing was about to follow the old routine.
However, Madam Shi wanted to sing more.
But, as soon as she opened her mouth, it was a song of 'wolf smoke rising everywhere, battle flags sweeping across the land'.
Chu Qing's heart stirred, and with a clang, he drew his Double-Handed Mantis Sword, placing them across his lap.
His fingers plucked at them, creating a resonant sound, like the clatter of weapons and the thundering of warhorses.
This last song lasted for a full five minutes.
When the song ended.
Chu Qing's face was filled with joy.
Because:
【You have completed the first condition for Mantis Sword】
【All conditions have been met!】
【Mantis Sword promotion successful!】
【Cultivation Technique: Double-Handed Mantis Sword Proficiency — One thousand refinements daily, Major Achievement in three hundred days.】
【Promotion Conditions: 1: Pluck the sword a million times, 2: Maintain the longsword a thousand times, 3: Bathe the sword in blood a hundred times】
The Swordplay had been promoted.
Chu Qing could clearly feel that he was more familiar with the longsword.
Numerous mysteries regarding the Double-Handed Mantis Sword surfaced in his mind.
At this moment:
He felt that with any casual swing of his sword, he could mobilize about half of his Iron Tendons to augment his Swordplay.
"No wonder weapon techniques are also strictly controlled; it turns out that these weapon techniques are similar to Secret Inheritance, and can also mobilize the Iron Tendons from other Cultivation Techniques."
Then: if Swordplay reaches Perfection or even surpasses its limits, would it be more Powerful than Secret Inheritance?
"No, if weapon techniques were more Powerful than Secret Inheritance, then... learning weapon techniques would be even more difficult."
"There are other secrets hidden within Secret Inheritance Cultivation Techniques."
His thoughts raced.
When he came back to his senses, he found Madam Shi sitting beside him with a solemn expression.
Chu Qing put away his longsword and stared at her.
Madam Shi said seriously, "You've encountered trouble!"
"Someone wants to kill you!"
Chu Qing smiled, "Many people want to kill me!"
"But, I've killed them all!"
He thought of the Blood River Gang guys.
Those people wanted to kill him, but they all failed.
Madam Shi slowly exhaled a warm breath, and said coldly, "Despicable Groom... if you are afraid of death, then at dawn, drive the carriage for me to the Martial Arts Institute."
"If you are not afraid of death... leave now."
Chu Qing's heart stirred, and he asked, "What do you mean?"
Madam Shi said coldly, "All the Powerful and Wubao Disciples did not get into the Inner Courtyard, and they are unwilling; moreover, this year's Inner Courtyard only has nine people, but the resources are for a hundred people."
"Do you think they would be willing?"
"They dare not kill people inside the Martial Arts Institute; but... outside... even a Martial Instructor could be killed."
Chu Qing was silent.
He didn't want to take risks and wanted Madam Shi to escort him back.
But... he would need to drive the carriage himself.
At that time... even without a contractual obligation, he would be treated as a Groom.
How would the Martial Arts Institute view him?
How would those Prodigies and noble ladies from the Prefecture view him?
Did he still want his Lead Big Brother status?
So... "Groom, you must take this matter seriously!"
Chu Qing... nodded.
It was a matter of life and death, so he naturally had to be serious.
At this moment:
Madam Shi stood up, and said haughtily, "I hope you can survive."
After speaking, she walked away with her chin raised, like a noble white swan.
Chu Qing... Madam Jin stood up, ignoring the previous scene, and said worriedly:
"How about you leave after dawn?"
Chu Qing... shook his head.
"I'm leaving now!"
If there are enemies blocking him, then he would kill them.
Otherwise... what kind of Lead Big Brother would he be? How could he get by in the Martial Arts Institute?
Madam Jin took out two specially made luminous pearls for him.
【Top-grade Secretly Crafted Luminous Pearl!】
【Top-grade Secretly Crafted Luminous Pearl!】
Two top-grade items.
Chu Qing's eyes lit up. These treasures could cultivate six Golden Tendons.
Now, a little more strength would be excellent.
Chu Qing eagerly swallowed them.
However, this time he did not choose Mantis Fist's Golden Tendons, but rather the Secret Toad Skill.
One minute... five minutes... as the croaking sound disappeared, Chu Qing's chest and back gained six Golden Tendons.
"I'm leaving. If you need anything, write to me anytime."
"I'll receive it immediately."
Madam Jin nodded.
"I'm in the Inner Courtyard, and I'm the Lead Big Brother now; those people all listen to me; if you have any problems, call me. What you consider as difficult as ascending to the heavens, might be as easy as flipping a hand in my eyes."
Madam Jin was happy, her eyes curving as she nodded.
Although Chu Qing said he was leaving, he still held Madam Jin's hand and talked to her for a long time.
It wasn't until past four in the morning that Chu Qing finally got up to leave.
Before leaving, he gave Madam Jin two more luminous pearls.
"Once they are secretly crafted, you can eat one."
Madam Jin initially wanted to refuse, but when she saw Chu Qing's serious and earnest gaze, she nodded vigorously.
Afterward, Chu Qing asked Madam Jin for some small items:
An iron whistle, silver needles, etc.
A few minutes later:
Madam Jin, leaning against the doorframe, watched Chu Qing's retreating figure with tearful eyes:
The young man in the gold and red Gold Robe, carrying his package and holding his great Double-Handed Mantis Sword, walked out of the brightly lit Jin Residence, step by step, into the dark night.