25: I ran into Gao Qiang by chance!

At the crack of dawn, Li Qing climbed out of bed, the power within his body increasing slightly once more.

It was all thanks to the ferocious beast essence blood from last night.

Li Qing discovered that his generals could also consume the ferocious beast essence blood.

It would increase their blood qi.

Once it reached a certain amount, they could level up.

Last night's harvest from his Clones had put him in a great mood, so he rewarded them with a bit of ferocious beast essence blood.

If you want the horse to run, you have to give it some grass.

Often, combining the stick and the carrot leads to unexpected gains!

"Li Qing, I've noticed you're always the first one awake."

Hou San rubbed his eyes; for the past few days, every time he opened them, Li Qing was already up.

"Haha, Brother Three, early bird gets the worm."

Li Qing gave a casual laugh and quickly finished washing up.

Ever since his Clones evolved, his spirit had been getting better day by day.

In the dining hall, he wolfed down his breakfast, but his stomach was still hungry.

The changes in his body were making his appetite larger and larger; would this lead to abnormal development?

"Li Qing, come with me to the Inner City in a bit."

Chen Meng suddenly walked over.

She needed to go to the Inner City in advance to buy some things to prepare for the night hunt in three days.

"Alright, Senior Sister."

Li Qing's heart stirred.

The Inner City?

The core area of Jinling City, where all sorts of precious Cultivation resources could be found.

Since arriving a few days ago, he had actually gone there every day.

This was Chen Meng's first time going out.

The two of them packed up and left the martial arts hall, heading toward the Inner City.

The Inner City was bustling.

On both sides of the wide stone-paved road, restaurants and teahouses stood in rows, and signs for various rare treasures glittered.

The pedestrians on the street were dressed luxuriously, and every gesture they made exuded an air of wealth.

"Wow, so this is the Inner City!"

It was also Chen Meng's first time here, and her eyes were full of novelty.

"What do you want to buy, Senior Sister?"

"I want to buy a piece of protective soft armor and some Medicinal Pills."

Chen Meng lowered her voice.

"I heard that although things in the Inner City are expensive, the quality is very good."

The two of them browsed a few shops, and Chen Meng picked out a piece of thin soft armor and several Qi-Supplementing Pills.

The price made her heart ache, but thinking of the upcoming night hunt, she gritted her teeth and bought them.

"Li Qing, aren't you going to buy anything?"

Li Qing waved his hand.

I'm just a follower, where would I get so much silver?

"No, Senior Sister."

As they were talking, a sudden commotion broke out ahead.

"Make way! Make way!"

Several Guards dressed in brocade cleared the path, followed by a tall, middle-aged man walking with large strides.

Li Qing froze instantly.

Gao Qiang!

He would never forget that face.

Although he had only seen him once, that fierce aura was unforgettable.

Gao Qiang was wearing a black martial suit, with a broad-bladed saber hanging at his waist.

His eyes under thick eyebrows were as sharp as a hawk's, scanning both sides of the street.

"What's wrong?"

Chen Meng noticed Li Qing's abnormality.

"No, it's nothing."

Li Qing hurriedly lowered his head, pretending to look at the ground.

Unfortunately, it was already too late.

Gao Qiang's gaze happened to sweep over, and when he saw Li Qing's face, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Wait."

Gao Qiang raised his hand to stop the Guards and walked toward them.

Li Qing's heart pounded like a drum as his mind raced to think of a countermeasure.

Run?

In a place like the Inner City, there was no way to escape.

Besides, why should he run?

Running would only confirm his guilt!

Face him head-on?

Although his strength had increased greatly and he shared many talents with his Clones,

He couldn't expose himself yet.

A kid from the Slum suddenly becoming highly powerful—

He would definitely be targeted.

He'd be finished if he were treated like a lab rat.

"Kid, don't you look a bit familiar?"

Gao Qiang walked up to Li Qing, looking down at him with scrutiny.

"You must be joking, My Lord. I am just a follower, how could I possibly know someone of your stature?"

Li Qing tried his best to make his voice sound humble and respectful.

His height had changed drastically; before, he was only 1.4 meters tall.

The evolution of his Clones had brought about a qualitative change.

Not only had his height increased by twenty centimeters,

But because he spent money in the Inner City every day,

With his diet keeping up, he was no longer so thin and small.

Gao Qiang narrowed his eyes, carefully sizing up Li Qing's face.

"Where have I seen you? The Slum!"

"Right! You're that little brat!"

He suddenly clapped his hands, a look of realization appearing on his face.

Li Qing's heart sank halfway.

"My Lord, you have the wrong person."

"Wrong person?"

Gao Qiang sneered.

"The kid changed this much?"

On the night Zhao Si died, this kid had been ruled out as a suspect.

Now it seemed that this kid actually had the greatest suspicion!

He had been blind to what was right under his nose!

"Now that I've seen you, let's go. Come with me!"

He wanted to interrogate him thoroughly!

Chen Meng looked at Li Qing in surprise.

"Li Qing, what does this lord mean?"

Chen Meng had seen this local tyrant of the Slum before.

She heard from her father that Gao Qiang was a Martial Artist at the Early Stage of the Condensing Essence Realm.

She was only at the Late Stage of the Body Tempering Realm.

The gap was still very large.

Of course, with the Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall backing her,

She naturally didn't fear a Gao Qiang.

At this moment, she wanted to understand the situation first.

Otherwise, if she acted without a proper reason, she was worried she would be scolded by the martial arts hall.

Cold sweat broke out on Li Qing's forehead. Young Miss, help me block him.

He didn't want to expose his strength yet!

"Senior Sister, I don't know what this lord is talking about either."

"Hmph!"

Gao Qiang took a step forward, reaching out to grab Li Qing's collar.

Just then, the sound of horse hooves came from the other end of the street.

"Brother Gao! What a coincidence!"

A hearty voice rang out.

Gao Qiang's movement paused as he turned to look.

He saw a young man in purple robes riding a horse, followed by several attendants.

"So it's Young Master Lin."

Gao Qiang withdrew his hand, a smile forced onto his face.

The newcomer was Lin Haoran, a Young Master of the Lin Family in the Inner City. His cultivation was impressive, and his family background was prominent.

He was also a newly promoted Personal Disciple of the Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall.

Even Gao Qiang didn't dare to be presumptuous in front of him.

"What is Brother Gao doing? Why are you bothering two juniors?"

Lin Haoran dismounted and asked curiously.

He looked at Chen Meng's Inner Sect Disciple clothing.

As their Senior Brother, he naturally had to see what this Gao Qiang wanted to do!

"Greetings, Senior Brother!" Chen Meng and Li Qing hurriedly bowed.

The rules of the Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall were strict: Outer Sect Disciples wore white, Inner Sect Disciples wore green, and Personal Disciples wore purple.

Chen Meng's recent goal was to become a Personal Disciple.

"It's nothing, I just thought this kid looked a bit familiar."

Gao Qiang explained reluctantly.

Lin Haoran looked at Chen Meng and smiled, "Junior Sister, Gao Qiang didn't bully you, did he?"

As for the one in gray miscellaneous robes next to her, a mere follower,

He naturally didn't catch his eye.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother, he didn't bully me."

"Brother Gao, I advise you not to have any designs on my martial arts hall's Disciples."

"Otherwise, my Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall isn't afraid of whoever is behind you!"

Gao Qiang's expression changed slightly.

Chen Liefeng was indeed not someone to be trifled with. Although he was conceited, he wasn't stupid enough to go after a Disciple of the Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall.

He had only made a move because he saw Li Qing wearing a servant's outfit.

He hadn't expected to run into Lin Haoran.

"Young Master Lin is right, it was my blunder."

Gao Qiang gave Li Qing a deep look.

"Kid, you'd better pray you're truly innocent."

With that, he turned and left with his Guards.

Lin Haoran smiled; just a clown!

"Alright, Junior Sister, I'll be going now."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Chen Meng hurriedly bowed.

"It's just a small matter, no need to be polite."

Lin Haoran waved his hand.

Watching Lin Haoran leave, Li Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Haoran gave him the feeling of being very strong.

As expected of a Personal Disciple!

What he had said just now—

The person behind Gao Qiang?

Who was it?

It seemed the water here was quite deep.

"Li Qing, why did that man just now look for trouble with you?"

Chen Meng asked.

"Maybe he had the wrong person."

Li Qing gave a bitter smile.

"Senior Sister, we should head back quickly."

Chen Meng shook her head; this Li Qing had become her follower and was causing trouble everywhere.

She had to tell her father when she got back.

She wasn't afraid of trouble, but she didn't want to be used as a tool!

The two of them hurriedly left the Inner City.

On the way, Li Qing's mood was heavy.

Gao Qiang was indeed still investigating Zhao Si's death.

Although he had escaped by luck this time, the other party clearly already suspected him.

It seemed a variable had arrived.

Fortunately, his current strength was not what it used to be.

Gao Qiang, you have already found your way to death!

In this world where the strong prey on the weak, if you don't kill others, you will be killed by others.

Since Gao Qiang refused to let him go, then don't blame him for being unkind.

Li Qing clenched his fists, a cold light flashing in his eyes.