"Brain matter mixed with blood flowed on the ground; Nan Batian and Liu Laoguai exchanged glances, both feeling profound regret."
"Had they acted with a bit more decisiveness a moment earlier, the old beggar wouldn’t have died, and they wouldn’t have lost their chance to extract the secret of the Seventeen Dragon Capturing Palms."
"They searched the old beggar’s body but found nothing. It seemed the secret manual wasn’t on him—after all, such a valuable text wouldn’t be carried around."
"Nan Batian and Liu Laoguai looked at Qimu Ge with a slight sense of disappointment."
"Qimu Ge, too, lamented as he looked at the corpse on the ground, ’What a pity, the strike was decisive.’
"Nan Batian said, ’Indeed, this stubborn old man... By the way, Commander Qimu Ge, where are the other Beggar Sect disciples?’
"Upon hearing this, Qimu Ge ordered, ’Bring them over!’
"With that command, a group of Beggar Sect Disciples was immediately brought over, led by none other than the Beggar Sect’s Iron Beggar Zhou Peng."
"While Nan Batian and Liu Laoguai were fighting the old beggar, Qimu Ge wasn’t idle either; he led fifty members of the Black Cavalry to block the retreat of the Beggar Sect disciples and took control of them by force."
"Nan Batian and Liu Laoguai exchanged glances as Qimu Ge said, ’I’ll take these men back for interrogation. As for the Beggar Sect’s territory, you can split it between yourselves.’
"Upon hearing this, Nan Batian and Liu Laoguai were about to speak when Qimu Ge interjected with a smile, ’Don’t worry, the two Gang Leaders. My Lord has said that if we manage to extract the secret of the Seventeen Dragon Capturing Palms, we will copy it and share a version with each of you. You needn’t worry.’
"After hearing this, the two exchanged glances and then bowed in unison, ’We thank the Lord on our behalf.’
"Qimu Ge declared, ’Let’s move, take all the prisoners back, and prepare the severe punishment.’
"The Black Cavalry swiftly departed, and Nan Batian and Liu Laoguai hurried off as well, leaving only the body of the suicide behind."
"Pitiful was the character from among the Thirteen Grand Protectors, who met such a tragic death outside Mianshui County."
"An hour later, another group passed through the area."
"This was two carriages accompanied by three fine horses, followed by a group of subordinates—it was the people from White Tiger Hall preparing to return to the city."
"As the group arrived at the edge of the forest, a subordinate noticed something amiss.
"’Hall Master, there’s a body up ahead!’
"The subordinate who was scouting ahead immediately came forward to report."
"Hearing this, Peng Shizhong lifted the curtain of his sedan chair and poked his head out, saying, ’Jiu Si, take some people and check it out.’
"Chen Jie responded and motioned for Zhou Chu to follow him. They rushed toward the direction of the corpse. Upon approaching, they were momentarily stunned; despite the head being smashed beyond recognition, they could still identify the body—it was the old beggar!
"’Jiu Si, it’s the old beggar from the Beggar Sect!’
"Zhou Chu was quite astonished. The Thirteen Grand Protectors had been dominating Mianshui County for over a decade; the death of one was no small matter!
"Chen Jie’s expression also grew serious as he too was surprised by the death of the old beggar.
"After all, this was a ruthless character capable of inflicting wounds on Peng Shizhong with a single palm strike. With this thought, Chen Jie turned and said, ’Old Zhou, notify my foster father.’
"Zhou Chu immediately ran to the carriage, and as soon as he mentioned that it was the old beggar who had died, Peng Shizhong was also taken aback.
"’What! The old beggar is dead?’
"Thinking thus, he no longer remained seated in the carriage. He flung the curtain aside, and with Peng Fu’s assistance, he approached the old beggar’s corpse."
"At that time, Chen Jie was examining the old beggar’s body.
"He found that the old beggar must have been through a fierce battle, as his body bore the marks of Flame Palm Force.
"Moreover, at the severed arm, there were traces of freezing; the arm was likely grabbed and subjected to Cold Ice Power, freezing the muscles and tendons, and ultimately being snapped off by force.
"The wound was still emitting a bone-chilling cold."
"Looking up, Chen Jie noticed many broad horseshoe prints not far off, and these hoof marks were uniform, clearly belonging to an organized cavalry unit."
"There could only be one cavalry force in the entire Mianshui County with such a signature—the Black Cavalry from Darugachi Mansion!
"It seemed that Darugachi Mansion was involved in this affair."
"While engrossed in thought, Peng Shizhong approached, and upon seeing the corpse of the old beggar on the ground, his eyebrows furrowed, and then he said, ’Let’s go, Jiu Si, into the forest to take a look.’
"Chen Jie assisted Peng Shizhong as they walked into the forest, with the rest following behind. At this time, the three individuals inside the carriage recuperating from their injuries pulled aside the curtains, watching Chen Jie support Peng Shizhong."
"Zheng Chuan said, ’Hey, boss, you see...’
"Feng Xuan glanced over and said with a chuckle, ’Heh, we’re gravely wounded. Our foster father is relying on Fifth Brother, what’s the big deal?’
"Zheng Chuan laughed, though the laughter was strained."
"Feng Xuan also watched the two heading into the forest, a father’s tenderness and a son’s filial piety on display, but such a sight was sorely grating in his eyes."
"Only Lu Rong appeared indifferent.
"No matter who ended up with White Tiger Hall in the future, it wouldn’t be him; he was very calm about it."
"At this time, Peng Shizhong, with Chen Jie by his side, entered the forest. They saw dozens of large trees fallen, and upon these trees were various remnants of combat: traces of ice, hints of flames that had scorched the bark.
"And there were marks where trees had been forcibly smashed apart."
"This was the power of a Martial Artist who had mastered Energy Transformation.
"At the level of Energy Transformation, a martial artist can release their Inner Strength, creating changes in their attributes, forming different types of Gang Qi."
"What is Inner Strength, what is Gang Qi?
"It is Inner Strength when it’s contained within and not released; emitting it externally becomes Gang Qi."
"Plainly speaking, this is actually one and the same thing, with no difference in superiority."
"It is simply a type of power that the human body can harness."