Free Web NovelChapter 38: Chapter 38: Clue
Liang Cheng leaned down to inspect the Ghost-faced Man’s corpse and found a heavy Profound Iron Token. It felt cool in his hand. The front was engraved with the two words "Military Preparation," while the back read "Xuan Three."
Liang Cheng’s pupils contracted. He recalled the two men he’d killed in connection with the Chen Bainian affair, and the memory of the Martial Preparation Hall’s Treasurer, Wu Zhenshan, with his thin, gloomy face on the viewing platform, resurfaced. His heart sank.
"Someone from the Martial Preparation Hall?" Zhou Hu leaned in for a closer look and gasped. "Wu Tianxiong was actually colluding with them!"
Liang Cheng silently pocketed the Token. ’It looks like I’ve been dragged into this vortex against my will,’ he thought. ’At this point, the only way to be fearless is to become stronger.’
He then found a thin manual. The cover read *Gale Saber Technique*. A quick look revealed it to be a common Martial Technique, but now that his main Cultivation Technique had reached the Perfection realm, he could afford to practice it. Besides that, there were a few silver banknotes, some broken silver, and a vial of Healing Medicine. There was nothing else.
Liang Cheng turned and walked over to Wu Tianxiong’s corpse. From an inner pocket, he pulled out a small, oil-paper-wrapped packet. He unfolded it to find a yellowed, secret recipe: the *Refining Method for Soul-Chasing Incense*.
He also found a palm-sized copper censer. Its body was decorated with openwork, and some dark red ash, still warm to the touch, remained inside. It was the special Incense Burner designed for the Soul-Chasing Incense.
Liang Cheng finally understood. ’No wonder Wu Tianxiong was able to track me,’ he realized. ’It seems Wu Xiao and his men were marked with Soul-Chasing Incense back then.’
Next, his fingers brushed against a sheet of cowhide paper. His heart skipped a beat, but he kept his expression neutral. He also found a few more silver banknotes and some broken silver, but nothing else of value.
"Senior Brother, we can’t linger here. We have to go, now."
The two of them quickly cleaned up the scene. Liang Cheng used his Fierce Bull Force to shatter the ground and dig a deep pit. He buried both corpses along with the Token and other items, then kicked fallen leaves over the fresh earth to conceal it.
By the time they finished, night had completely fallen.
"Let’s head to the post ahead."
Liang Cheng helped Zhou Hu onto his horse.
...
「Old Sang Post, guest room.」
The candlelight flickered.
Zhou Hu, having crudely bandaged his wounds, sat off to the side, looking at Liang Cheng as if he wanted to say something but was holding back.
"Senior Brother, just say what’s on your mind."
"Junior Brother Liang," Zhou Hu’s voice was hoarse, "when did you break through to the Transformation Force realm? I didn’t notice a thing. And the power you just displayed... it was far beyond what someone who has just entered that realm should be capable of."
Liang Cheng smiled. "I had a fortunate breakthrough not long after returning from the spring hunt. As for my strength, it’s probably because I cultivate Hard Skills as well."
He said it casually, but Zhou Hu knew it couldn’t be summed up with the word ’fortunate.’ A seventeen-year-old at the Transformation Force realm was nothing short of astonishing.
And that wasn’t even mentioning how he had killed a veteran Transformation Force Middle Stage master in a direct confrontation. Looking across all of Lin Wu City, there was likely no one in the younger generation who could compare to that kind of combat prowess.
Zhou Hu opened his mouth, but all that came out was a wry laugh. "I trained bitterly for years and endured countless hardships just to break through to the Transformation Force realm. Junior Brother Liang, the Martial Arts Academy is where you truly belong."
Liang Cheng shook his head. "I wouldn’t have made it this far without the support of you and Master."
A warmth spread through Zhou Hu’s chest. He knew Liang Cheng wasn’t just being polite. He stopped dwelling on the matter and changed the subject. "That Martial Preparation Hall Token..."
"What Token?"
Zhou Hu froze for a second, then burst out laughing. Besides the two of them, no one knew what had happened. Even if the Martial Preparation Hall wanted to cause trouble, they’d need a legitimate reason to do so.
That night, Zhou Hu tossed and turned, unable to sleep. His mind was filled with the image of Liang Cheng’s overwhelmingly powerful fists. Liang Cheng, on the other hand, slept soundly, ready to search for clues about the Stone Armor Skill the next day.
The next morning, the two of them set off. Zhou Hu had dark circles under his eyes, but he was in good spirits. They rode hard, arriving in Qingshi Town by noon.
Qingshi Town was far more prosperous than the small town by the sea. The roads were paved with bluestone, and the buildings were well-kept. Cyan Mountain Martial Arts Hall was situated in the eastern part of town, distinguished by its black-lacquered main gate and a simple, traditional plaque.
After they were announced, a Disciple led them inside.
The hall master, Han Yue, was a strapping man of about fifty. His eyes were sharp and bright, his temples bulged slightly, and his Hard Skills Cultivation had clearly reached the Great Success realm.
He knew Liang Cheng was a Disciple with a direct recommendation to the Martial Arts Academy, so his attitude was quite courteous.
When Liang Cheng explained his reason for visiting and asked if Han Yue knew any clues about the rest of the Stone Armor Skill, Han Yue stroked his beard and laughed heartily.
"So that’s what this is about," he said cheerfully. "I won’t hide the truth from you two. As for the clues to the rest of the Stone Armor Skill Fragment, young friend, you’ll have to investigate that yourself at the Martial Arts Academy’s Martial Arts Storage Tower."
Liang Cheng and Zhou Hu exchanged a look. "I hope Senior can offer some guidance. This junior would be most grateful."
Han Yue explained, "To be honest, back when I was training at the Martial Arts Academy, I was only an Outer Disciple. I only managed to learn the Iron Bone Skill.
"However, I’ve heard that the complete manual for the *Stone Armor Skill* is on the second floor of the Martial Arts Storage Tower. If you wish to find the complete technique, young friend, the Academy’s Martial Arts Storage Tower is likely your only option.
"If you can successfully enter the Martial Arts Academy and become an Inner Sect Disciple, it won’t be difficult to borrow the complete Stone Armor Skill, provided you have enough Merit points."
’So that’s how it is,’ Liang Cheng thought. ’This was surprisingly easy.’
His mind now at ease, Liang Cheng stood and clasped his fist. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior."
Han Yue waved his hand dismissively. "It was nothing. If you happen to meet any Disciples from my Cyan Mountain Martial Arts Hall in the future, I hope you’ll look out for them."
Liang Cheng nodded at once and then took his leave. With May just around the corner, he had to prepare for his journey to Lin Wu City to take the Martial Arts Academy’s entrance examination.
Han Yue didn’t try to detain him. "In that case, I wish you a safe journey."
"Thank you, Senior."
The journey back was uneventful.
...
「One day later, in the study of the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall.」
After listening to Zhou Hu and Liang Cheng’s report, Yang Wei remained silent for a long time. The study was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"A seventeen-year-old at the Transformation Force realm," Yang Wei finally said, his gaze complex as he looked at Liang Cheng. "When I first met you, I saw your Root Bone was damaged. I never imagined you would come this far."
He stood, walked over to Liang Cheng, and clapped him firmly on the shoulder. "I misjudged you. Good, good, good!"
He said the word "good" three times, his eyes filled with relief and pride.
"As for Wu Tianxiong, he had it coming. What’s done is done. Regarding the Martial Preparation Hall, just act like you know nothing. As long as you don’t provoke them, they won’t dare to openly move against a Disciple of the Martial Arts Academy."
Yang Wei sat back down in his chair, his calm demeanor returning. "Since the clue to the Stone Armor Skill is in the Academy’s Martial Arts Storage Tower, then that is the best place for you to go."
He looked at Liang Cheng, his expression growing serious. "Liang Cheng, you’re a seventeen-year-old genius who has reached the Transformation Force realm, and you hold a direct recommendation. You will certainly get into the Martial Arts Academy.
"But within the Academy, geniuses are as common as clouds, and the competition is ruthless. Remember this: stay true to yourself and never cease your diligent cultivation. One day, you might even break through to the True Qi Realm and achieve greatness on the Martial Dao."
"I will not disappoint you, Master," Liang Cheng said, bowing solemnly.
Yang Wei nodded, a flicker of light in his eyes.
’A seventeen-year-old at the Transformation Force realm,’ he thought. ’I’ll likely never see another Disciple like him in my lifetime.’
...
That evening, Liang Cheng took out the sheet of cowhide paper and tried to piece it together with the other fragments. Unfortunately, he still couldn’t make anything out of it; the map was still more than half missing. He had no choice but to carefully put it away again.
The next day, Liang Cheng settled his mind. In between spending time with his mother, he began practicing the Gale Saber Technique. It never hurt to have an extra skill.
[Gale Saber Technique: Beginner Level (1/200)]
Before he knew it, the end of April arrived. One day, Chen Bainian showed up at his door, his face alight with excitement.
’A direct recommendation to the Martial Arts Academy!’ he thought. ’My investment has paid off spectacularly!’
"Liang Keqing, my apologies for the late congratulations. Please don’t hold it against me. I’ve just returned from a trip and came to see you at the first opportunity."
Chen Bainian presented a gift box, which Liang Cheng accepted with thanks. After they had chatted for a while, Liang Cheng suddenly spoke up.
"Landlord Chen, I was wondering if you could do me a favor?"
"Please, ask away."
Liang Cheng whispered something in his ear. Chen Bainian nodded repeatedly. "A trivial matter. I’ll send someone to take care of it."
"Good. I’ll give you the silver for it."
"Liang Keqing, there’s no need for such formalities. For a small matter like this, you don’t have to be so polite."
"In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony."
...
「The small village by the sea.」
When Chen the Fourth got home, he saw his wife sidle up to him conspiratorially. "Big Head’s father," she whispered, "Big Head sent a letter through Landlord Chen! He says everything’s going well, and look, this is the pay he sent back."
Five taels of silver.
Chen the Fourth’s hands trembled as he quickly put it away, warning her not to tell anyone.
It was the same at Er Gou’s family’s home.
’Our son has really made something of himself!’
’I just wonder when he’ll have time to come home for a visit.’
