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"That's true." Lu Sheng touched his tiger mask, his senses sharpening. "Does Wan'er have a way?"
"Wan'er can get her hands on a few internal arts manuals for you, young master. But I don't know what you can offer in exchange." Duanmu Wan said softly.
Such a bold claim. Find some? Even the prefect in the city wouldn’t dare say that.
Lu Sheng’s vigilance deepened. "What does Miss Wan'er want in exchange? Silver, gold?"
"Just like the price of the Black Fiend Art today, how about that?" Duanmu Wan smiled.
"If Miss Wan'er can really get the secret manual, that would be fine." Lu Sheng said seriously, his eyes studying her intently.
Unfazed, Duanmu Wan returned the smile. "Don't worry, you don’t have to be concerned. Wan'er just thinks you’re a handsome man with extraordinary bearing and wanted to offer you a good deal upfront."
Lu Sheng was certain she must be some kind of spirit.
The carriage moved forward slowly and soon entered the city, stopping quickly at the entrance of Wanfu Inn.
Duanmu Wan and the guards stepped down, walking toward the inn under the warm welcome of the inn’s servants.
Lu Sheng stayed seated in the carriage, watching their backs disappear quietly inside. His face was unreadable—his thoughts unknown.
"Let's go. Go back." he ordered.
The driver snapped out of a daze, hastily wiping saliva from the corner of his mouth before coming to and urging the horses onward.
Even the three guards showed a trace of disappointment as Duanmu Wan left.
..............
Back at the mansion early the next morning, Zheng Xiangui came to visit in person.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgnmmpAF9Z
It was clear he had come to apologize for what happened yesterday.
The two sat in the small garden in the backyard. On the stone table lay small wine pots and side dishes— a plate of peanuts and a plate of cold pickled radish.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtk6q0pOA1
The weather was hot, and such simple food felt refreshing.
"I must drink this glass of wine!" Zheng Xiangui said earnestly, raising his glass. "I didn’t take good care of you yesterday. When I heard the news, I was terrified. You said that if anything happened to you, I—Zheng Xiangui—would be sorry for the Lu family even if it cost me my life."
Lu Sheng shook his head calmly. "It’s none of your concern. I insisted on having you arrange it." He argued lightly.
Zheng Xiangui drained the glass in one gulp and slammed it down on the table. Pah. The glass made a sharp sound.
"Brother Sheng, let’s not dwell on that. I was worried before. How could you suddenly take on such a heavy burden and dare to buy things from the underworld? So it turns out you’ve been hiding your true skills, huh? Still, getting into direct fights like this—best not make a habit of it. Even if the Zhang Family is involved, your Lu Clan dominates Jiulian City. Do you really think they’d dare reach into our territory? But if anything were to happen to you..."
Lu Sheng smiled. " The truth is, I've been passionate about martial arts since I was young. However, I remained silent about it as I hadn't achieved any notable results until now. Having attained some modest skill, I couldn't resist testing it at the Black Auction gathering."
Zheng Xiangui was speechless. " That wasn't 'practice'—you killed someone!" Zheng Xiangui said flatly. "You need to inform Uncle Lu about this. If the Zhang Family comes demanding answers, he should at least be prepared."
"I know that." Lu Sheng nodded. "By the way, do you know anything more about Duanmu Wan?"
"Duanmu Wan... I don’t know much about her. But I can check for you," Zheng Xiangui hesitated. His Zheng family had many connections and was more informed than the Lu family—that was their advantage in matters like this.
"Okay."
Lu Sheng poured himself a glass of wine and took a sip. The wine here was very light, almost like fruit juice.
"What? Duanmu Wan contacted you?" Zheng Xiangui asked, eyes narrowing.
Lu Sheng was about to answer when suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from the garden’s archway.
A young girl in a yellow short-sleeved shirt hurried inside. She had an oval face and a slender waist—so thin it seemed a gentle squeeze might break her.
The front of her dress was open slightly, revealing a pure white lining that hugged her full, rounded chest tightly. Because of her ample curves, she swayed noticeably as she walked.
"Brother! Brother Sheng! I knew I'd find you hiding here!" The moment she spotted Lu Sheng and Zheng Xiangui, she rushed over angrily and grabbed Zheng Xiangui’s arm.
"Let’s go, brother! You dared to stand me up and made me wait two whole hours at home!"
"Yu'er, long time no see. You don’t look very happy," Lu Sheng smiled warmly.
"Brother, you promised to take me to see the opera troupe in the north of the city. They’re leaving this afternoon. If I don’t go now, it’ll be too late. I waited a long time, but no one came."
Zheng Yu’er was Zheng Xiangui’s biological sister.
The two had been close since childhood. Thanks to the friendship between Lu Sheng and Zheng Xiangui, Zheng Yu’er had always been especially fond of Lu Sheng as well.
"Yu’er, it’s my fault..." Zheng Xiangui apologized with a bitter face.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQP2soYRLaa
"I’ll make it up to you, I promise! Whatever you want, I’ll buy it for you right away!"
As the second son who managed part of the family business, Zheng Xiangui had access to considerable funds and pocket money—far more than his younger sister could ever hope to match.
"I want a purple pen, three blocks of Su ink from Suzhou, ten boxes of Redmoon-scented powder, five 'Pink Needle' buns daily, and one coral blossom each day..."
Zheng Yu’er rattled off her list rapidly. It was clear she had prepared her demands in advance.
But midway through her recitation, she suddenly remembered Lu Sheng was sitting right beside her. Her face flushed red, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTid7TFfFqb
Then she stomped hard on Zheng Xiangui’s foot.
"Ouch!" Zheng Xiangui yelped.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob2DPhD6nb
"Good sister, good sister! Let’s go home! We can talk more about it there!"
Not long after, Lu Sheng watched, amused, as Zheng Xiangui was dragged off by the ear by Zheng Yu’er.
Left alone, Lu Sheng sat quietly on the stone bench while the servants bustled about, cleaning up the wine and dishes.
"The Black Fiend Art... it boosts physical strength, but the technique is incomplete... and it doesn’t quite suit me. Unfortunately... I don’t have many choices right now."
He closed his eyes and began to trace the route described in the Black Fiend Art. In his mind, he visualized a thread of breath rising slowly from the soles of his feet, converging in his lower abdomen, then spreading outward through his limbs and bones.
This was the first layer—the foundational entry method of the Black Fiend Art.
The method was simple, yet it was the part that tested one's aptitude the most. According to the classics, it usually took anywhere from several days to a full month to sense qi and officially get started.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0s3yl1AnV
That wasn't too long—but it still required time and patience.
Lu Sheng had no choice but to go through this step. Only after successfully laying the foundation could he find the corresponding technique in the modifier and begin adjusting it.
So, he focused.
"Young Master."5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsPQw1NPyX
Xiaoqiao stepped quietly out of the room and called to him gently.
"What is it?" Lu Sheng replied without opening his eyes.
Xiaoqiao glanced at him, her eyes full of concern. Lately, she had sensed something was off—her young master seemed distracted and distant, but she couldn’t understand why.
"Young Master, is something troubling you?" she asked softly, always careful to tread gently.
"Don’t overthink it. It’s my own problem."
Lu Sheng sat on the stool, eyes closed, body gently swaying with his breath.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dRkNnCH2W
The dark blue editor interface silently appeared before his mind’s eye.
He scanned it from top to bottom. In the first row of blanks, one line stood out: Black Tiger Saber Technique – Fourth Level.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eH4a1Jxlt
But the Black Fiend Art hadn’t appeared yet—there was no trace of it.
Sighing inwardly, Lu Sheng dismissed the editor interface and stood from the stone bench.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCH9N8G8pf7
Now that he had the Black Fiend Art in hand, he had no intention of giving up. As long as there was even the faintest chance of progress, his effort would not be in vain.
Over the next few days, Lu Sheng remained at Lu Mansion, devoting himself to his training.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGUXkjtaGt
Since his Black Tiger Saber Technique had already been exposed, there was no need to hide it anymore—it wasn’t anything serious.
He even began to ask Uncle Zhao for advice on combination techniques and practical combat experience, subtly implying that he had learned parts of the Black Tiger Saber Technique on his own.
Although Lu Sheng had already grasped the fundamentals of the saber technique, actual combat was a different matter. Knowing when to draw the blade, which opponent to use certain moves against, and how to adapt mid-fight—these were all matters of experience. They required precise guidance.
Taking advantage of this period of focused training, Lu Sheng also let word spread throughout the Lu Mansion that he had been secretly practicing martial arts for some time.
Three days later...
Ding! Ding ding ding!
The crisp sound of blades clashing rang out across the training ground.
Lu Sheng and Uncle Zhao were locked in a rapid exchange, sabers flashing like streaks of silver as they collided again and again. Their weapons clashed in flurries of motion, the two of them moving like a pair of silver whirlwinds.
Suddenly, Uncle Zhao shifted his stance and darted out of the blur of blade light.
5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQxGpkIRtS
Uncle Zhao’s expression turned serious. His beard and hair fluttered in the wind as his eyes suddenly snapped open.
"Tiger’s Wrath!"
Huh!
A fierce gust burst forth with the roar of a tiger embedded in the wind. Uncle Zhao’s blade flashed like a meteor, slicing down toward Lu Sheng’s wrist.
"Tiger’s Wrath!"
At almost the exact same moment, Lu Sheng shouted back, mirroring the same move.
The two had been sparring for some time. Lu Sheng, playing along, deliberately hesitated for a beat before launching his counter. His timing was just a shade late—just enough to make it look like he was struggling to keep up.
Clang!
The sabers collided with a sharp metallic crash.
Both men sprang apart, breathing heavily, eyes locked in focused silence.
Lu Sheng glanced down. A piece of fabric had been cleanly sliced from the cuff of his right sleeve. He quickly put on an expression of admiration.
"As expected of Uncle Zhao!" he said with a respectful smile, sheathing his blade and standing upright.
"That was already outstanding—truly impressive," Uncle Zhao said between breaths. "To be able to use Tiger’s Wrath in such a short time... Even if you’ve been secretly training for a while, how long have you really been learning saber techniques? Given time, Young Master, I believe you’ll surpass old men like me. You might even rank in the top five of Jiulian City one day."
He let out a sigh and added, "It’s funny. I thought you’d given up on martial arts long ago. I never expected this..."
"Uncle Zhao flatters me," Lu Sheng replied with a modest smile. "You’re one of the Four Masters of Jiulian City. How could I surpass you just because I want to?"
"I don’t deserve such praise—I’m not the fighter I used to be," Uncle Zhao said, waving his hands humbly. "But you, Young Master, are truly talented. To master the first move of the Black Tiger Saber Technique so quickly... perhaps it’s time to consider learning a few more techniques."
"A few more techniques?" Lu Sheng raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, Uncle Zhao?"
Uncle Zhao smiled knowingly.
"I still have some reputation in Jiulian City. And your Lu family certainly isn’t lacking in wealth or influence. If the two are combined, persuading a few of the old masters to pass on their hidden skills shouldn't be too difficult."
He lowered his voice slightly and added, "To be honest, those so-called 'secret arts'—many of them are just third-rate techniques. But most aren’t inferior to the Black Tiger Saber. If you’re interested, I can make some introductions."
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