Stranger Danger

Break Through was an offensive fist technique that focused on intent and dominance. Its best trait was its ability to pierce through tough defenses. Like a cavalry charge cutting through a military formation, the punch would never stop until its strength had faded, or the enemy was broken.

Just now, Ye Qing had tried to hit Gu Suitang with a Break Through, but the Deputy Chief had easily sent him flying. Gu Suitang had kept his power on the same level as a late-stage Astral Refiner and used the exact same technique, but the outcome was so one-sided it was like a child trying to outpunch an adult.

“The fuck are you waiting for? Get back on your feet and punch me again, trash!”

Gu Suitang yelled, “Remember what I said and try again!”

Ye Qing’s spine cracked and popped ominously as he leaped back to his feet. Then, he charged toward Gu Suitang like a lone cavalry facing down an entire army, despairing yet fearless, hopeless yet unwavering. When he reached the Deputy Chief, he threw his punch and unleashed his intent, qi, and power at once in a single point not unlike a cavalry troop targeting a weak point of a formation. A terrifying amount of fist intent immediately filled the air.

Gu Suitang hid a smile and met Ye Qing’s attack head on. Again, he was using Break Through.

Gu Suitang’s Break Through was a lot more reticent than Ye Qing’s fist and completely soundless until the moment it was unleashed. But when it did, it was like a storm that would end the world itself.

BOOM!

Fist met fist, and Ye Qing’s fist intent was destroyed like it was made of rotten wood. Unstoppable force poured into his body and destroyed his astral qi and force as well. He flew back like a rag doll and hit a plum blossom pile, shattering it into smithereens.

Break Through could have easily punched him through the next couple plum blossom piles behind him and even the wall at the far end should he allow it to happen, but Ye Qing’s Divide eventually neutralized the attack and caused it to swerve to the side instead. Not only that, it cut off the stream of force and caused it to surge back to its user.

While riding on the coattail of Gu Suitang’s force, Ye Qing charged toward the Deputy Chief and unleashed a second Break Through. This time though, it was soundless and reticent just like the Deputy Chief’s. Its flow wasn’t impeded, however. It was like a powerful air current with no shape, an inferno with no smoke, or a running river that made no sound. Silence was the norm when one’s fist had reached the peak.

When his fist landed on its target, his power, qi, and intent exploded at the same time and poured a tidal wave of force into Gu Suitang’s body.

Ye Qing wasn’t done yet, however. He unleashed a third Break Through with his left fist, and this punch was even more unstoppable than the first. His intent was taller than the sky and wider than the sea, and it even pulled Gu Suitang’s fist force unto its own fist force before striking Gu Suitang with twice as much power as before.

The Deputy Chief let out a dull grunt and staggered back two steps. Each time he took a step, his stomach would rumble like a drumbeat, and his complexion would flicker between blue and red. It took him a few breaths before he finally returned to normal.

“So, you can adapt after all. I guess you’re not too stupid.” Gu Suitang snorted.

“You flatter me, chief. It’s because you’re a good teacher.” Ye Qing withdrew his fists and grinned widely.

He was speaking from the heart. It wasn’t like he hadn’t unleashed a similar punch in the past, but it had never been this smooth or full of heart.

Ye Qing’s grin was so punchable that Gu Suitang couldn’t help but rebuke him, “Hmph! You’ve only been learning Divide and Break Through for two days, and you think you’re hot shit already? You still have a long way to go, brat!”

Despite his remark, Gu Suitang was pretty satisfied with Ye Qing’s performance. He was old enough to have witnessed many geniuses in his life, and a plethora of them were more gifted, talented, or in possession of a firmer foundation than Ye Qing. However, few possessed the young man’s mental toughness.

His teaching method didn’t fit everyone as a matter of course. In fact, few people could have their muscles pummeled to bits, and every bone in their body broken every day. It was little different from torture. Few people could endure this for an hour, much less two whole weeks.

But not only did Ye Qing persist, he actually listened to the knowledge contained within his fists and his slurs. Moreover, he wasn’t stuck in a box and could improvise when necessary. These were rare traits that most people didn’t possess.

That said, this brat was so wild that he needed a beating once in a while. If not, he might wake up and find a hole in the sky one day.

“Hehe. You’re right, chief. I still have a long way to go,” Ye Qing said with a salute.

Satisfied with Ye Qing’s response, Gu Suitang continued, “Why do we stick the word ‘art’ behind fist? That’s because the Way of the Fist possesses limitless variations. It could be big or small, active or immobile, hard or soft. But no matter how it changes, it will always have its roots in theory and intent.”

“If your theory is good, then your fists will flow smoothly, and your mind will never be clouded. If your intent is high, then your fist will be high enough to surpass the heavens themselves. Only with good theory and intent can your fist art enter the annals of history and be remembered for eternity.”

“I understand, chief. I will engrave your teachings to my heart. Thank you so much for everything you’ve taught me,” Ye Qing replied sincerely and gratefully.

Gu Suitang was a master of the Way of the Fist, and yet he had freely shared his theories and techniques with Ye Qing. Generally speaking, only direct disciples or descendants were granted such honor, which meant that Gu Suitang truly thought of him as his disciple. How could he not be grateful?

“It’s one thing to engrave something to your heart, and another thing to carry it out for real. If you’re all talk and no action, then you’ll still lose everything you’ve learned today.”

Gu Suitang gave him one last piece of advice before saying, “Alright. We can end things here.”

“Huh? It’s still early. Did something happen?” Ye Qing asked, puzzled. Previously, Gu Suitang hadn’t stopped even after he had punched the daylights out of him. The Deputy Chief of Bureau was surprisingly punctual considering his behavior.

Gu Suitang grinned. “Oh? Did you like getting beaten up so much? I can fulfill your wish if that’s what you want.”

Ye Qing hurriedly waved his hands. “Nonono, I was just saying.” He could endure a punishment or ten if there was something to be gained from it, but he absolutely wasn’t a masochist like a certain late-stage Astral Refiner.

“I’m letting you go because I’ve already taught you everything you need to know. It’s up to you how you’re going to walk your path and how far you can go now.”

Gu Suitang smiled and waved him off. “Now get lost. You’ve rested long enough. Skip another day of work, and I will skin you alive myself.”

“At once, deputy chief. I hope to learn from you again when I’m free,” Ye Qing replied brightly. Honestly, he wanted to study under Gu Suitang a little longer, but he was still the Patrolman of the Luo Shui Pacification Bureau. While his department could handle itself quite well, that was no excuse to be derelict in his duties.

Ye Qing saluted Gu Suitang and got ready to leave. He had just reached the exit when Gu Suitang suddenly called out, “Oh right. Watch your back when you’re out there, Joyless.”

“Watch my back? But why?” Ye Qing looked back in confusion.

Gu Suitang merely smiled mysteriously and replied, “You’ll find out very soon.”

“...” The fuck does that mean?

Unfortunately, the Deputy Chief of Bureau wasn’t going to give him an answer. He had already turned his back on him and ignored his follow-up questions.

“Bah, whatever.”

Seeing that he wasn’t going to get an answer, Ye Qing rubbed his nose and left just like that.

After Ye Qing was gone, Chu Nianjiu, Lin Yuhuai and Wei Yueshan appeared in the compound and asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to tell Joyless what’s going on out there, chief?”

Gu Suitang grunted. “And what would be the point? He’s going to find out himself very soon.”

Lin Yuhuai looked worried. “But a lot of jianghu warriors have entered Luo Shui, and most of them harbor malicious designs. If they attack Joyless before he realizes the truth…”

Gu Suitang scoffed. “He will be fine. I tutored him for two weeks straight. If he couldn’t even handle something so minor, then he deserves what he gets.”

Chu Nianjiu took a sip of wine and asked, “Are we just going to ignore this then?”

Gu Suitang answered, “Yep. For now at least. We won’t be able to catch the big fish if we join the fray too soon. Just keep watch and let Joyless handle this.”

“Oh right, have we caught the rest of the Way of Taiping yet?”

Lin Yuhuai shook his head. “No. But assuming that our intel is reliable, the only ones who are still at large are Dog King, Paper Celestial, Husband and Wife; the remnants of the Twelve Fiends of Taiping.”

Gu Suitang thought for a moment before replying, “It’s fine. We’ll catch them eventually. In fact, we can let Jiang Muyang and Xue Beikun handle this. We’ve already earned quite the merit anyway, we might as well share them the leftovers. Otherwise, they might be tempted to cause some unnecessary waves.”

Jiang Muyang was the commandery governor of Luo Shui, and Xue Beikun was the commander of the Black Feathers Guard.

“Got it, chief.” Lin Yuhuai and Chu Nianjiu nodded in understanding. Wei Yueshan was the only one who looked as clueless as ever.

“For fuck’s sake, why did I ever recruit an idiot like you?”

Gu Suitang knew immediately from Wei Yueshan’s stupid expression that his disciple hadn’t understood the conversation at all. When he recalled how quickly Ye Qing had grasped Divide and Break Through in the past two days, he grew annoyed and slapped Wei Yueshan on the back of his head.

Wei Yueshan: “...” What did I do? I didn’t even say anything!

Gu Suitang grew even more annoyed and yelled at his disciple, “Don’t tell anyone you’re my disciple from now on! It embarrasses me!”

“Now get lost! The two of you may take your leave as well!”

“As you command.” All three Peacemakers saluted Gu Suitang before taking their leave.

……

“Look! It’s Lord Ye!”

“Yeah. He’s the guy who slayed the cultists hiding in Luo Shui, ruined the Way of Taiping’s conspiracy, and saved Luo Shui from disaster.”

“I heard that Lord Ye singlehandedly killed twelve cultists on his own. All twelve cultists were immensely powerful, but Lord Ye courageously fought them for three hundred rounds and ultimately defeated them all. What a hero!”

“Twelve people? I heard that there were thirty three people, and they were called the Thirty Three Ghost God Generals of Taiping or something. He didn’t fight them for three hundred rounds though. Lord Ye had beheaded them in a single slash.”

“Bullshit! It was ninety nine cultists, and they were called the Ninety Nine Killers of Taiping! Lord Ye blew them all apart with a single breath!”

Ye Qing: “...”

What the fuck’s going on? Why did everyone and their mother know about what I did at Sky Gate? And what the hell are these rumors? Thirty Three Ghost God Generals? Ninety Nine Killers of Taiping? And I killed them all with a single breath? Who the fuck do they think I am, the One Puff Man?

“I thought for sure that the man who could slay the Taiping cultists in one puff would have three heads, six arms, eight mouths and ten tongues, but… huh. He’s a pretty handsome lad, isn’t he?”

“Oh yes! He’s very young too!”

“What a cute boy. I want to have his babies…”

Ye Qing: “......”

Sis, is there anyone in the entire world who has three heads, six arms, eight mouths and ten tongues? Like can you show me a photo?

And you, auntie, can you please take a look in the mirror before you think about babies? Heck, you’re almost old enough to be my grandma!

It’s true that I’m young and handsome though. I have zero qualms with gossiping when it is the truth!

Of course, the women wasn’t openly gossiping about Ye Qing. He only overheard their conversation because he was a warrior, and he had sharper ears and most.