Chapter 10, where small skills reveal true mastery

Nonsense! That said, I have taken a few shadowless needles and concealed them in my belt, and I have also taken some medicinal powder and tucked it into my bosom

A strange character, indulging in all vices such as drinking, gambling, and visiting brothels, was driven out of his home by his father. He relied on the support of women from the brothels to sustain his life. After the death of his parents, he shed not a single tear, proving to be utterly useless and devoid of conscience.

Jin then rushed to the top of the temple, sat down by himself, his face neither flushed nor out of breath: "I just ran such a long distance, let me rest for a while before continuing to fight, so that if I win, others won't say I took advantage."

Darkness is usually difficult to associate with the word lively; it is quite contradictory. Jin not only enjoys liveliness but also darkness. The nights in Jinyuan are often pitch black, devoid of any light

Although today's appointment with him seems to be without malice, merely seeking a sparring partner, that Jiang Xiaohu is somewhat peculiar, possessing profound internal strength and martial skills that are difficult to assess, making it uncertain whether he is friend or foe. Going unarmed would be too risky; to hell with such despicable tactics! Playing with poison is hardly a lowly act, as if everyone can engage in it. The use of poison is originally a method of the Thousand Hands Sect, and our sect primarily carries it as a precaution, because I cannot afford to be in danger.

Jin remained silent.

Jiang Xiaohu glared at him for a while, feeling deflated: "I dare not."

Qiu Lingling remained silent, quietly watching him prepare his things

This battle lasted for a full two hours, and in the end, no one cared about any rules, all were solely focused on achieving victory. With a palm in the left hand and a sword in the right, various hidden weapons were employed, as white and black shadows leaped up and down, each displaying their unique skills, resulting in a chaotic melee.

Jin was still shocked; the Gathering Water Sword was in this person's hands. Could it be that this is the legendary Heavenly Water Sword Technique? Indeed, it lives up to its reputation. No wonder the mysterious Heavenly Water City was able to rise rapidly within a year. The city lord, Shui Fengqing, single-handedly challenged the 'Ten Demons of Kunshan' in one night, gaining fame throughout the world. No one has seen his true face. Such a legendary figure turns out to be the most useless Jiang Xiaohu, which is truly hard to believe. However, what does 'guessing half right' mean?

Who would have thought he would suddenly take action, catching Jin off guard. Fortunately, his lightness skill was exceptional; with a push of his hands, his body shot straight up, narrowly avoiding the sword's edge. It was the first time he had witnessed such speed and accuracy in a strike, and he was immediately drenched in cold sweat.

Jin hesitated again, looking closely for a while, and suddenly jumped up, both shocked and excited: "Gathering Water Sword, are you Shui Fengqing?"

Tomorrow night at the fourth watch, at the Land God Temple in the west of the city

At last, Jiang Xiaohu was cornered by him.

Jiang Xiaohu angrily said: "How could a dignified leader resort to poison, despicable!"

Jiang Xiaohu was quite pleased with himself

"Grandpa Hua?" Jiang Xiaohu, unable to suppress his itch, coldly laughed, "Even the illustrious Golden Master of the Thousand-Hand Sect would resort to impersonation?"

When the leader of this sect is that pretty boy protector? Jin couldn't help but chuckle to himself and nodded: "You guessed half right"

The person was kicked over and rolled onto the ground, crying out in pain.

Originally eager to meet the courtesan, the mood was inexplicably spoiled. Jin was greatly angered and, without a second thought, kicked out.

Jin glared: "Damn, I should have known you would trick me." He sighed

First, release the acupoints

Jin responded with a soft "en," lowering her head to fasten the gold-inlaid jade belt. She had originally planned to wait until the little girl fell asleep before going out, but unexpectedly, the little girl seemed to have a sense of awareness and refused to sleep even in the middle of the night

Performing a play? Jin still sneers coldly, are there still such masters in the martial world?

What kind of enemy would cause a master to endure to such an extent? The gold comes in time to be collected, leaving one to ponder.

Jin raised an eyebrow: "Yes."

This statement sounds quite agreeable: "Finally, someone has spoken the truth. In the world, it is often said that poison is unbearable, yet what they do not realize is that for a person to wield poison, they must endure countless hardships and invest significant effort. How else could one create such a potent poison? Look, right now it is merely itching, but in another hour, the entire body will begin to turn blue, and after a day, it will start to rot..." You see, right now it is merely itching, but in another hour, the entire body will begin to turn blue, and after a day, it will start to rot...

Before the words had left his mouth, a dazzling arc of light swept across, and a powerful aura of killing intent surged forth, as the sword came slicing through the air.

Jin squinted his eyes, sizing him up, and his gaze quickly fell upon the sword, frowning: "I did not expect such a heavy killing intent to be contained within its sheath; this sword must be extraordinary"

With both hands casually resting behind the back, holding a sword, the posture is graceful, dressed in white as pure as snow. Although appearing somewhat lonely, there is not a trace of the arrogance of self-appreciation, giving off a very approachable vibe

The force with which he was kicked out was as if a stone had sunk into the sea, seemingly without effect. The act of falling resembled a calculated maneuver, as if the moment the foot made contact, he simply fell in accordance with the force. This kick felt like it was aimed at thin air. If an ordinary person were to do this, it would undoubtedly be noticed. However, this individual had an exceptionally skillful grasp of timing; one could say he did not take the hit, yet he still absorbed a portion of the force. Conversely, one could argue he was hit, but not so severely as to injure himself. The situation was a blend of truth and deception, difficult to detect. Even a top-tier expert would surely be deceived by him.

Under the lamp, Jin furrowed his brow and adjusted his clothing

To the east, the waning moon hangs like a hook. Beneath the moon, there stands a dilapidated earth temple, with a person standing atop the crumbling roof.

Jin still does not like white, but does not harbor any dislike for such easygoing individuals, thus quietly gliding away, the black cloak spread wide, without a sound

With this thought in mind, Jin began to show no mercy, applying greater force with each step, pressing closer and closer.

Jin felt a slight stir in his heart, disregarding the crowd, he walked over and grabbed him, sneering: "Kid, it's good that you know the power of your elder. I'll let you off this time, but if I catch you again next time, I'll skin you alive!"

It is a pity that he encountered Jin Huanlai

It is rare to encounter such an opponent; Master Jin will test your true skills

Jiang Xiaohu, filled with anger, did not say a word and lunged forward with his sword.

The situation has eased, and Jin laughs heartily: "You can launch a sneak attack, but can’t I play dirty?"

Jin was momentarily taken aback and said in a harsh tone: "Do as you wish, but if you are scared, you are not allowed to cry"

Jin raised his eyes: "Do you know who I am again?"

Jiang Xiaohu laughed heartily, casually wielding his sword, as several streaks of silver light flashed by: "I cannot compare to Hua Hufa; I am just a useless kid. How can I win? If you are ready, I may not have the confidence to win. After enduring so many kicks yesterday, if I do not seek retribution today, it would not be something that Jiang Ye would do!"

Seeing that he wanted to search, Jin smiled and said: "You need not search, this sect leader is full of poison, and there is no antidote. If you accidentally encounter other poisons, it could be disastrous. I might as well tell you the method to resolve it."

Jiang Xiaohu clearly realized his situation. As he saw the deadly kick coming towards him, he suddenly lifted his face. His originally vacant eyes instantly became sharp and bright, within them something happened. A fleeting expression of bitter endurance passed through, a sorrow of knowing he was about to fail, a look of unwillingness yet helplessness, but there was absolutely no plea.

Will you come back when the day breaks

Alright! Young man, let's have some fun and see whether Master Jin's footwork is more impressive or if you are better at acting

Qiu Lingling let out a soft "oh" and lowered her head, saying, "Then you take care, I don't need anyone to accompany me, I will wait for you"

Indeed, the Jiang Xiaohu on the ground was kicked aside, crying out in pain.

Feeling the concerned gaze, Jin became somewhat irritated and said with a stern face: "Do not move around recklessly, do not run about, and do not leave this garden, do you understand?"

"Moreover, it is a newly concocted poison; apart from me, no one has the antidote," Jin laughed happily, "I should have known you deliberately exposed a flaw to provoke me into action. Are you feeling quite itchy? Don't worry, it won't stop. Don't scratch with your hands, like a monkey. Hurry up and unlock your Master Hua's acupoints."

Jiang Xiaohu said: "You have lost"

Finally, Jin seized a flaw, lightning-fast, gripping his right hand that held the sword, and laughed heartily: "You ... ... "

Jiang Xiaohu raised his sword: "You probably wouldn't recognize it either"

Jin raised his eyebrows, young man, you either strike back or you can only wait for death

"Please spare my life, sir!" Jiang Xiaohu resumed his useless demeanor, kowtowing and pleading for mercy, trembling uncontrollably

However, this person is indeed a master in their own right

Jiang Xiaohu said: "Do you know who I am?"

Jiang Xiaohu smiled, his eyes sparkling: "The Thousand Hands Sect is renowned for its lightness skill and hidden weapons. Such exceptional lightness skill is unmatched in the martial world. I have long heard of the names of the four protectors of the Thousand Hands Sect, and among them, the one with the best lightness skill is undoubtedly Protector Yu, Hua Yunfeng."

Jiang Xiaohu looked at his left hand, smiling contentedly: "Grandpa Jiang's acupoint striking technique with his left hand is quite good, very precise"

Qiu Lingling did not answer, but softly asked: "Are you going out to steal again?"

Jiang Xiaohu sheathed his sword: "Are you in a hurry to go back?"

However, Jin arrived only to hear a faint yet clear sound

Jin then lightly remarked: "Don't you also possess nearly thirty years of internal energy?"

In his twenties, he appeared somewhat shabby in his clothing, yet his face was remarkably handsome, with a straight nose, well-defined eyebrows, and fair skin. At this moment, he was clutching his calf, which had been kicked, and was crying out in apparent agony.

After several rounds, Jin couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It seems that the information gathered by the Four Great Protectors is accurate; someone is secretly monitoring him. This must be related to that treasure which, if obtained, could allow one to "hunt the deer in the martial world." This young man is not foolish; he is aware of being watched, so he deliberately pretends to be inept in order to conceal his martial skills. Over the years, being able to evade everyone's scrutiny, solely based on this level of patience, is already quite remarkable.

As the hour of the rabbit approaches, the gold cannot help but feel anxious, it is necessary to return before dawn, and it is better to determine the outcome early.

In the next moment, he could no longer move

Gold still raises its eyebrows: "How do you know?"

Seeing him act as if nothing had happened, Jiang Xiaohu was at a loss, but soon his expression changed dramatically, and he shouted: "You bastard, you poisoned me!"

Jin was momentarily taken aback, and then his face revealed a look of astonishment as he scrutinized him closely

The challenges are becoming increasingly arduous, and Jin finally couldn't help but exclaim: "If you don't stop now, don't blame your Uncle Hua for being merciless!"

Jiang Xiaohu wore a苦 face, hanging his head and not daring to move

The sword light is dense like a net, each move pressing tightly, with no flaws to exploit

Say

Jin is quite thick-skinned, but I never expected that there are even thicker-skinned individuals in this world who can say such things with such confidence, leaving me momentarily speechless

But tonight, he made an exception and lit about 10 large candles, illuminating the room as if it were broad daylight

Jin Huanlai lazily said: "You lost, so go guard the door for me"

Under the moonlight, with a straight nose and elegant brows, a pair of eyes shines like stars, sharp yet faintly carrying a hint of provocative amusement, how could this resemble the useless Jiang Xiaohu who mingled in the streets!

Having completed his attire, he began to retrieve his concealed weapons: "Keep this candle burning, and wait for me to bring someone to keep you company."

Guessing half right

As soon as one sword narrowly evades, the next sword has already struck.

The gold seems to smile yet not smile: "Nonsense, if the Thousand-Hand Sect does not use poison, what else would they use? Using poison is not despicable; do you dare to show me?"

Jin remained calm and composed, lifting his foot to kick again.

He became increasingly interested, unceremoniously lifting his foot and kicking repeatedly, forgetting that he had come here for pleasure, not to fight

Jin Huanlai felt even more certain in his heart, for this kick was different from the previous ones; it was infused with internal energy. Since Jin had passed on his skills, Jin Huanlai possessed nearly forty years of internal energy within him. Even if he only exerted one-third of it, an ordinary person struck by such a kick would likely have several ribs broken. Yet this young man showed no signs of having broken any bones!

Jin felt anxious and quickly stepped aside, but did not expect that the person was about to fall to the ground. In a moment of panic, he waved his hands and grabbed the person's arm, shaking it several times before stabilizing his footing

About two zhang away, the person in white on the temple roof also noticed that the opponent had arrived and turned their face.

Qiu Lingling sat on the bed, blinking as she looked at him: "Jin Huanlai, are you going out?"

In a duel between masters, seizing the initiative is crucial. Jin, caught off guard, finds himself somewhat flustered under such exquisite swordsmanship, and angrily exclaims: "Useless brat, do you even understand the rules!"

Jiang Xiaohu gritted his teeth: "Where is the antidote?"

The movements may appear chaotic, yet each step conceals a subtle variation. Regardless of how swift or skillful he is, Jiang Xiaohu always manages to grasp the precise measure of the situation, feigning a hit while merely dodging. In front of so many people, he seems deliberately intent on concealing his martial arts skills, unwilling to reveal any flaws. As a result, he finds himself in quite a predicament, knocking over several tables and chairs, occasionally rolling under the tables, continuously pleading for mercy. To the onlookers, he appears extremely disheveled, merely taking blows, unaware that both of his opponents are serious about their martial arts.

Ah, useless Jiang Xiaohu? Jin unexpectedly came, and I began to find it interesting

Damn it, you little brat! Jin sneered coldly, and as he turned to evade, he flicked his fingers, sending several shadowless needles flying out.

Jiang Xiaohu pays no attention, only focuses on fighting

Jin still comes to laugh: "Oh."

At the same time, he was somewhat astonished, realizing that his own profound internal energy was due to the transmission method of the Thousand-Hand Sect, while Jiang Xiaohu, who appeared to be no more than twenty years old, surprisingly possessed internal energy equivalent to at least thirty years. How could this be possible

The madam got up, rubbing her lower back, and angrily shouted: "Jiang Xiaohu, you little brat, can't you see? What are you blindly barging in for? You didn't even avoid your mother's old back!"

Perhaps due to the same sense of urgency, Jiang Xiaohu's originally meticulous and composed swordsmanship began to grow restless, occasionally revealing minor flaws.

However, Jin returned only to find something amiss.

Fortunately, Jiang Xiaohu is skilled; upon discovering it, he hurriedly drew his sword and scolded, "Using hidden weapons to harm others, do you dare to resort to such underhanded tactics?"

Jiang Xiaohu said without any politeness: "You lost, you need to help me make two masks"

Jiang Xiaohu coldly remarked: "Such exquisite hidden weapons and lightness skills cannot possibly be wielded by a mere protector. Moreover, I have heard that Hua Yunfeng is not yet thirty years old; how could he possess such profound internal strength? It is well known that the Thousand-Hand Sect has a secret transmission method known only to the successive leaders. Who else, besides the renowned Golden Leader, could possess nearly forty years of internal strength at such a young age?"

Although this person is the most useless individual, at least their existence provides some entertainment value and can serve as a negative example for educating children. Moreover, aside from their love for gambling and visiting brothels, they have not committed any other wrongdoings. At this moment, as they are being beaten, the onlookers cannot bear to watch and are coming forward to intervene.