Afternoon.
After finishing lunch, Jiang Ning left his home and headed alone to the martial arts hall.
Wang Jin was his master, and after his sudden disappearance for over ten days, it was only proper for Jiang Ning to visit the martial arts hall first upon his return.
This was a matter of respect!
Wang Jin's actions up to this point had lived up to the title of "master," and he deserved Jiang Ning's respect.
Moreover, the resources Wang Jin had left for him to aid his martial arts training were still at the martial arts hall.
Apart from the wild ginseng he had taken earlier, there were still some wild ginseng left in the room he had previously occupied, as well as unused Qi and Blood Pills.
In the path of martial arts, strengthening the body and nurturing Qi and blood were essential.
The growth of Qi and blood was a lifelong pursuit for any martial artist.
At the beginning of martial arts training, one must achieve perfect Qi and blood circulation throughout the body.
Only then can one begin to temper the skin membrane and step into the ninth rank of martial arts.
Every subsequent advancement requires the growth of Qi and blood, meeting certain prerequisites to achieve further breakthroughs in martial arts.
For example, now that Jiang Ning had tempered his skin membrane, if he wanted it to further transform and reach the minor success stage, it would be closely related to the strength of his Qi and blood.
If his Qi and blood did not grow, it would be impossible for his skin membrane to transform and reach the minor success stage, where it would become as hard as stone.
Therefore, as martial artists age and their Qi and blood decline, they lose the possibility of further advancement.
Thus, even though Jiang Ning had now stepped into the ninth rank of martial arts, he could not neglect the growth of his Qi and blood.
Those Qi and Blood Pills were still extremely important.
Moreover, digesting the medicinal effects of the Qi and Blood Pills could also provide additional boosts to his Source Energy points.
After entering the inner city, Jiang Ning took a carriage.
Canglang Martial Arts Hall.
Jiang Ning paid the fare and got out of the carriage.
As for the money, it was the two taels of silver he had kept on him.
As soon as Jiang Ning stepped off the carriage, the two disciples guarding the martial arts hall's entrance were momentarily stunned.
Then they immediately clasped their fists in salute.
"Senior Brother Jiang!!"
"Greetings, Senior Brother Jiang!!"
Jiang Ning smiled, greeted them, and then walked toward the martial arts hall's entrance.
As soon as he stepped inside, many disciples saw him, and their faces lit up with joy.
"Senior Brother Jiang!"
"Greetings, Senior Brother Jiang!!"
"Where have you been, Senior Brother Jiang!!!"
"..."
Everyone showed extreme friendliness toward Jiang Ning.
This was because Jiang Ning's presence was directly related to their interests.
Previously, observing Jiang Ning's live fist practice for several days had greatly helped their fist techniques.
After Jiang Ning's sudden disappearance, their progress in the Five Animals Fist had reverted to its previous state.
Now that Jiang Ning had returned, it meant they could once again enjoy the rapid progress they had experienced before. How could they not be delighted?
Jiang Ning smiled at everyone and said, "Fellow disciples, please carry on with your tasks. I need to visit Master Wang in the backyard first."
"Senior Brother Jiang, please go ahead. This is only proper!" someone said.
Everyone expressed their understanding, especially a few who were well-informed and looked at Jiang Ning with deep respect.
Jiang Ning's safe return naturally indicated something significant.
Soon, Jiang Ning arrived at the backyard gate.
Knock
Knock
Knock
He knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Wang Jin's voice came from the backyard, loud and clear.
"Master, it's me," Jiang Ning replied.
Hearing this, the other side of the door fell silent.
Then Wang Jin's voice sounded again, slightly softer.
"Zhou Xing, open the door."
Zhou Xing's voice followed, "Yes, Master!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ning's face showed a trace of surprise.
Zhou Xing was here too?
What a coincidence!
A few moments later.
Creak
The backyard gate opened.
"Junior Brother Jiang!" Zhou Xing greeted Jiang Ning, his eyes flashing with a complex emotion.
A hint of regret also surfaced in his heart.
On the first day Jiang Ning joined the martial arts hall, Zhou Xing noticed that Jiang Ning had some talent.
He sighed inwardly.
He had underestimated this junior brother.
These thoughts flashed through his mind, and then he put on a warm smile.
"Junior Brother Jiang, please come in." As he spoke, he stepped aside to make room for Jiang Ning to pass.
"Senior Brother Zhou, good afternoon!" Jiang Ning smiled.
He then entered the backyard and saw Wang Jin, shirtless, wiping sweat from his body.
"Master, your disciple has returned!" Jiang Ning clasped his fists and bowed.
Wang Jin looked Jiang Ning up and down, then nodded slowly, "Good, you're safe and sound!"
He then asked, "Did you encounter Hong Chengtao?"
Jiang Ning replied, "I did."
Hearing Jiang Ning's affirmative answer, a glint of light flashed in Wang Jin's eyes.
He looked Jiang Ning up and down again, then laughed heartily.
"Good lad, well done!!"
"To turn the tables on Hong Chengtao and come back unscathed is beyond my expectations!"
Zhou Xing, standing nearby, felt a storm of shock surge in his heart.
As a native of Luoshui County, how could he not have heard of Hong Chengtao's name?
Hong Chengtao was a somewhat legendary figure even in the entire Luoshui County.
From an ordinary commoner, he had become the deputy leader of the Green Snake Gang, a name that struck fear into the hearts of ordinary people.
His Iron Sand Palm, capable of breaking metal, was also renowned.
Who would have thought that such a figure, well-known throughout Luoshui County, would fall at the hands of a junior like Jiang Ning?
"How did he do it?" Zhou Xing wondered, looking at Jiang Ning's calm face.
Jiang Ning asked, "Master, you already know?"
Wang Jin smiled and nodded, "How could I not? This matter is probably known to all the major factions in Luoshui County. Now that you've returned safely, I'm sure they all know about it."
At this point, Wang Jin said with interest, "I'm quite curious about what Cao Bin will choose to do. With Cao Rong gone, the strongest person in the Cao family is now his third uncle, Cao Guangyan."
"Cao Guangyan, at the seventh rank of martial arts, has achieved major success in tendon tempering, but he's old and frail, far inferior to me!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ning understood the underlying message in Wang Jin's words.
By mentioning Cao Guangyan, the strongest in the Cao family, and saying that he was old and frail, Wang Jin was telling Jiang Ning that if the Cao family took action, he would intervene.
Understanding this, Jiang Ning immediately bowed deeply and said solemnly, "Thank you, Master!!"
Wang Jin laughed heartily.
"Since I've taken you as my disciple, how could I allow them to bully you?"
Zhou Xing, standing to the side, couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.
Jiang Ning had only been at the martial arts hall for less than two months, yet he had earned such high regard from Wang Jin.
"This is the power of talent!" Zhou Xing sighed inwardly.
He had always treated Wang Jin with respect.
Even though he had long since stepped into the ninth rank of martial arts and established himself, he still made it a point to visit the martial arts hall every few days or at least once every ten days to pay his respects to Wang Jin.
Moreover, he was theoretically the senior brother of the martial arts hall.
But the way Wang Jin treated him compared to Jiang Ning was vastly different.
Thinking of this, Zhou Xing couldn't help but feel a sour taste in his heart.
At this moment, Wang Jin, knowing that Hong Chengtao and Xu Yunfeng had been killed by Jiang Ning, did not press for further details.
A trump card.
Once exposed, its effectiveness would inevitably diminish.
As a master, how could he not understand this principle?
In his eyes, there was no such thing as absolute secrecy in this world.
True secrets were those known by no one else.
Then, Wang Jin changed the subject, "Since you killed Hong Chengtao, why did you stay outside the city for so long? Did you have other matters to attend to?"
Jiang Ning replied, "Disciple wanted to observe the habits and fighting techniques of tigers, bears, apes, and other animals in the mountains to gain insights into the essence of the Five Animals Fist. That's why I stayed for over ten days."
"I see!" Wang Jin nodded, then asked, "Did you gain anything?"
Jiang Ning nodded confidently, "A little."
"Oh?" Hearing this, Wang Jin's eyes lit up again.
He looked at Jiang Ning with a calm expression, "It seems you did gain something."
Although Wang Jin appeared calm, he was inwardly astonished.
He hadn't forgotten that his disciple's Five Animals Fist had already reached the level of great mastery, with all five forms mastered.
Now, Jiang Ning was saying he had gained a little.
From his interactions with Jiang Ning over this period, Wang Jin knew that Jiang Ning tended to understate his achievements.
If he said he had gained a little, it likely meant he had made significant progress.
To make significant progress from the level of great mastery meant that Jiang Ning had likely reached perfection.
It was this realization that shocked Wang Jin.
If it were anyone else, he wouldn't have thought of this, but Jiang Ning was different.
He knew that this disciple of his had already achieved initial mastery in the Canglang Saber Technique in just over ten days.
In terms of difficulty, mastering the Canglang Saber Technique was even harder than breaking through to perfection in the Five Animals Fist.
If Jiang Ning could master the Canglang Saber Technique in such a short time, then he could achieve perfection in the Five Animals Fist in the over ten days he had been away.
Thinking of this, Wang Jin turned to Zhou Xing, "Zhou Xing!"
"Disciple is here!" Zhou Xing immediately snapped out of his thoughts and clasped his fists.
"Go back first! Go and digest the insights I taught you today, and carefully recall the feeling of the force flowing through your body when the five animals merge into one," Wang Jin said, then added, "I need to test your junior brother's fist techniques."
Zhou Xing understood.
Wang Jin wanted him to leave for now.
He clasped his fists again, "Then I'll take my leave! I'll report my progress to you another day."
"Good," Wang Jin nodded slightly.
Then, Zhou Xing glanced at Jiang Ning once more, his gaze lingering for less than a breath before he turned and left the backyard.
After the backyard gate closed, Wang Jin looked at Jiang Ning seriously.
"Kid, when you said you gained something earlier, did you achieve perfection in the Five Animals Fist?"
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