Translator: AnubisTL
"Fierce Tiger?"
Li Qing shook his head with a faint smile and shifted the topic.
"What is your relationship with Gu Tianxing?"
At these words, Gu Yu's expression changed repeatedly, and he stared at Li Qing with a wary gaze, even more tense than when he had just learned that the other party was Fierce Tiger.
"He is my father."
In the end, Gu Yu acknowledged the relationship.
"Whew!"
Li Qing let out a long breath, then took out a thick ancient book from his pocket and said, "Speaking of which, I should call you Senior Brother."
Thud!
As the words fell, the martial arts manual "Ancient Mystic Hammer Art" landed on the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
Gu Yu's eyes widened, momentarily unable to react and failing to catch the ancient book.
He stared at the book on the ground, both familiar and unfamiliar, and for a long while, he was at a loss for words, standing there in a daze.
It was Li Qing who broke the awkward silence:
"Master Gu was my Master. He taught me blacksmithing and martial arts. Now, it's time for this martial art to return to its rightful owner."
Gu Yu trembled as he crouched down. His usually steady hands were now shaking.
"Over a decade ago, my father had just joined the Wu Li Army when the authorities sent word of his death. Didn't he pass away long ago?"
These words left Li Qing stunned for a long time before he finally reacted, and anger surged across his face.
Creak!
Li Qing clenched his fists, as if a flame was burning inside him.
Indeed, after Master Gu's death, he left behind not even a single copper coin, completely penniless.
At the time, Li Qing had thought that Master Gu must have sent all his military pay home.
Master Gu did have a salary; Li Qing was certain of that.
But now, seeing that his descendants still lived in such a shabby and dilapidated alley, Li Qing was puzzled, thinking that Master Gu's descendants were spendthrifts.
But now, it was clear that this was not the case!
Someone had fabricated Master Gu's death and embezzled the silver he sent home every year!
"Master Gu passed away last year and was buried outside Wangyuan City," Li Qing said, trying to keep his voice calm, though the anger in his heart was fiercer than the blazing forge.
"Senior Brother, have you not received a single penny all these years?"
Gu Yu knelt on the ground, facing the "Ancient Mystic Hammer Art," and slowly shook his head. "No, not a single coin."
There are parasites here!
How dare they embezzle such money! They deserve to die a thousand deaths!
Li Qing thought to himself, his tightly clenched fists finally loosening.
"Sigh, Senior Brother, pack up and leave Chongning, leave Qingzhou, and come with me to Shengtian."
After all, he was Master Gu's son; it was only right to call him Senior Brother.
Thud!
Gu Yu kowtowed heavily on the ground before the "Ancient Mystic Hammer Art."
"Father! Your son is unfilial!"
Two days later, at the gates of Chongning County.
Two carriages, one after the other, left the dilapidated county town. Master Gu's descendants had agreed without hesitation to follow Li Qing to Shengtian.
"Sigh, why is it that the poorer the place, the more corrupt officials there are?"
Inside the carriage, Li Qing stroked the soft fur of the tiger cub and couldn't help but sigh.
Even daring to embezzle the wages of the Wu Li Army, it was beyond audacious.
Li Qing had no immediate plans to expose this parasite. His current strength was insufficient, and even if he wanted to avenge Master Gu, he was powerless.
As for the Gu Yu family's move to Shengtian, he had already made proper arrangements.
He planned to buy them a house on Chiming Street and open a blacksmith shop there, as Chiming Street was in need of a blacksmith to forge everyday iron tools.
Finally, he would leave the family of three with enough silver for their daily expenses and ask Boss Fang of Chiming Street to look after them.
This was already the utmost he could do in terms of benevolence.
Master Gu had taught him the craft of blacksmithing and the Ancient Mystic Hammer Art, undoubtedly a significant guide in his life.
The journey back to Shengtian was surprisingly uneventful.
Because the entire martial world of Qingzhou was focused on Sun Qi.
The method to become an Immortal!
Although it was unclear whether Immortals truly existed in this world, these four words alone were enough to drive ordinary martial artists to madness.
Just a few days after Li Qing left Chongning, the leader of the Black Demon Gang and a top Inner Strength expert from the Lei Family joined forces, bringing many people to search for and hunt down Sun Qi.
This was absolutely shocking, and even Li Qing was quite taken aback.
Previously in Jingyang City, these two factions had been sworn enemies, yet now they had formed an alliance.
People speculated about what kind of agreement they had reached to set aside such deep-seated hatred and unite.
Not long after, Sun Qi's whereabouts were finally revealed.
In the Xiaocang Mountains of Qingzhou, Sun Qi had built a hut and was practicing his sword skills in seclusion.
The Lei Family Head and the Black Demon Gang Leader immediately set out for the Xiaocang Mountains.
That day, in the forests of the Xiaocang Mountains, Sun Qi was surrounded by the two factions and engaged in a fierce battle with two Inner Strength experts.
In the end, Sun Qi proved why he was the Number One Sword of Qingzhou, breaking through the encirclement and killing dozens of skilled fighters from the Lei Family and the Black Demon Gang.
The entire martial world was in an uproar, stunned by Sun Qi's profound sword techniques.
A few more days passed, and Sun Qi's whereabouts were exposed again.
He was recuperating at the Dragon Gate Inn in Changshui County, Qingzhou. That night, several martial arts experts staying at the inn launched a coordinated attack on Sun Qi.
Unfortunately, the attackers were only External Strength experts. Despite his injuries, Sun Qi still managed to kill them all and left with ease.
Such combat prowess left many in awe and further fueled the greed of many martial artists.
Was the treasure Sun Qi obtained truly the method to become an Immortal?
Sun Qi never clarified or defended himself on this matter.
The allied Lei Family and Black Demon Gang also remained tight-lipped, always evasive whenever the topic was brought up.
There was definitely something fishy going on!
Thus, martial arts experts across Maple Country began to itch with curiosity and started plotting against Sun Qi.
For example, in the capital of Maple Country, the imperial city, Shengtian!
The recently established Maple Guard, led by an Inner Strength commander accompanied by several External Strength Experts, was making its way towards Qingzhou.
The commander leading the group to join the excitement was none other than Commander Zheng Shu.
"I want to see just how sharp the swordsmanship of Sun Qi from Qingzhou really is!"
At Prince Yu's Mansion, a burly figure clad in a Python Robe summoned a secret guard from the mansion.
"The Maple Guard has also mobilized? Go to Qingzhou and investigate the situation for me."
A figure hidden in the shadows knelt down and replied in a clear voice, "Yes!"
South of Shengtian, at Small Jade Ridge.
In a hidden tomb within the mountains, the Star-Stealing Divine Thief, Ning Yuan, emerged from the tomb cave, stretching lazily in the morning sun.
"Qingzhou is so lively now? I guess Prince Yu's Mansion can't sit still either. It's time to find an opportunity to take a look."
Ning Yuan yawned and then added, "Xiao Qi, I'm about to embark on a long journey and probably won't be back for a while. I can't help you with your path anymore, so take care of yourself."
"I hope to see you again someday!"
With that, Ning Yuan's figure drifted away, disappearing into the mountains in an instant.
Inside the tomb, a slender figure knelt at the entrance of the tomb cave, as if using all his strength to bow deeply in the direction Ning Yuan had departed.
(End of the Chapter)
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