"Indeed so." Lu Sheng stroked his tiger mask. Wariness rose instead. "Could Wan'er happen to have means finding more for this young noble?"

"As for inner force manuals, Wan'er does have channels obtaining some for young sir. Just unsure what can be offered in exchange?" Lady Duan voiced tenderly.

Quite the imposing tone!

Finding some? Not even the county magistrate would dare spout this arrogantly!

Lu Sheng grew increasingly vigilant.

"What exchange does young miss Duan have in mind? Silver? Gold?"

"How about the price bidden for that Black Evil Skill today?" Lady Duan smiled asking.

"If young miss Duan can truly procure the manuals, acceptable."

Lu Sheng seriously replied while closely inspecting this woman.

Lady Duan seemed unaffected, simply smiling in response.

"Young noble need not be anxious. Wan'er only glimpsed your exceptional talent and poise, hoping to sell you a favor."

Lu Sheng would believe her words when pigs fly!

The carriage rumbled on slowly. Very quickly entering the county where it soon pulled up before Wan Fu inn.

Lady Duan and attendant alighted, welcomed passionately by inn workers as they headed inside.

Seated within, Lu Sheng placidly watched their backs disappear into the inn, his complexion betraying nothing about his inner thoughts.

"Let's go. Back home."

He directed. Only now did the carriage driver shake awake from his smitten entrancement, hastily wiping the drool from his mouth corner before setting off.

Even the three escorts leaked traces of regret when Lady Duan departed.

...

Returning to the estate, early next morning, Zheng Xian Gu personally came visiting.

Clearly to apologize for yesterday's affairs.

The two were seated amidst the rear garden's tiny floral enclosure. Atop the stony table laid small wine jugs and appetizers. Peanuts and chilled shredded radish salad.

Sweltering weather. These best whetted appetites.

"I must down this one!"

Zheng Xian Gu raised his wine cup solemnly.

"Yesterday, I was utterly negligent. Nearly scared my guts out getting the news! Say, if any mishaps befell you bro Sheng, I, Zheng Xian Gu, would be hard pressed facing the Lu clan even slicing my own flesh off!"

Lu Sheng shook his head smiling. "None of your affair. I insisted you arrange it myself."

"Can't call that mere testing!" Zheng Xian Gu was rendered speechless. "Killing someone even! Notify uncle Lu about this. In case the Zhangs come investigating, preparations are necessary."

"I know that much." Lu Sheng nodded. "Speaking of, know more background on that Duan Wan?"

"Duan Wan...really unclear. Want me to probe?" Zheng Xian Gu hesitated asking. Due to his family's entanglements, their intelligence surpassed Lu manor's substantially in such affairs. An advantage for them.

"Go ahead then."

Lu Sheng also downed a cup himself. The liquors here were exceptionally light. Nearly indistinguishable from fruit juices.

"What's up? Had dealings with Duan Wan?" Zheng asked.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Just as Lu Sheng prepared answering, hurried footsteps echoed abruptly from the garden entrance.

A seductive young beauty in yellow shorts strode up the path.

An exquisite oval visage. Lissome waist slim as a tender branch, seemingly snapable by a gentle clasp.

Her attire had an open chest, revealing the pure white underlayer binding ample bosom within.

Sashaying noticeably due to her front heaviness.

"Bro Sheng, bro Sheng! I knew you two would be hiding here!"

Instantly fuming at sighting Lu Sheng and fatty Zheng idling, she dashed over and seized Zheng Xian Gu.

"Let's go, let's go! Wretched brother! How dare you stand me up! Kept me waiting two whole hours!"

"Yu'er, been awhile. You seem rather unhappy?"

Lu Sheng smiled a greeting.

"Of course I'm unhappy! We promised to visit that northern opera troupe in the county, but they are leaving today! Yet after awaiting forever, nobody arrived!"

Zheng Yu Er was fatty Zheng's little sister. Biological sibling at that. Extremely close since childhood. Her friendship with Lu Sheng stemmed from Zheng Xian Gu's ties.

"My mistake Yu'er..."

Zheng Xian Gu hastily apologized.

"I'll compensate you. Anything you want, I'll buy immediately!"

As overseer of some family businesses, Zheng Xian Gu's capital and allowance substantially exceeded his sister's.

"I want that Zi Lü brush. Three cakes of Su ink. Ten boxes of Xiang Xiang Hong Yue brand powder. Five steamed powder stuffed buns daily. One coral flower daily...."

Zheng Yu Er swiftly listed conditions. Clearly prepared in advance before coming.

Just a few demands in however, she suddenly recalled Lu Sheng's presence. Her petite face blushed scarlet as she shyly lowered her head.

Then stomped heavily on Zheng Xiang Gu's foot!

Ow!

Zheng Xian Gu yelped painfully.

"My dearest sister! Let's just head home! Discuss at home!"

Before long, Lu Sheng watched amusedly as Zheng Yu Er dragged her brother off by the earlobes.

Alone now, he sat upon the stone bench observing the servants clear up the refreshments.

"The Black Evil Skill...able to enhance physique, but incomplete methods...not too suitable for my cultivation. Pity...currently, I've no alternatives."

Eyes shut, he began following the Black Evil manual's guided paths. Mentally visualizing strands of qi essence welling from beneath his feet, congregating at his abdomen before diffusing throughout the body.

This constituted the introductory first level.

Very simple, yet also exceptionally demanding on aptitude. Supposedly spanning anywhere from ten days to a month just manifesting hints of qi as per the manuals.

Not too lengthy actually.

He firstly needed to successfully access this method before locating it on his modifier interface for tampering. An unavoidable step.

Hence he would persevere regardless the strenuousness. Provided just the slimmest chances of entry.

Subsequent days...

Lu Sheng neither went anywhere nor met anyone. Just earnestly cultivated painstakingly in Lu manor.

Exposed Black Tiger blade techniques no longer warranted hiding either. Nothing that earth shattering anyway.

Lu Sheng also began consulting uncle Zhao for certain practical combative tricks and experience. Mainly under pretext of inadvertently picking up some Black Tiger blade comprehension through self study.

While blade method already fully grasped, actual application still required guidance. Knowing when to attack under what circumstances against which adversaries using what moves etc. All depended on experience and meticulous pointing out.

Utilizing this chance, he also spread the tale of his secret martial arts training throughout Lu manor.

...

Three days later...

Cheng cheng cheng!!

Lu Sheng and Zhao Da Hu each held sabers facing one another within the drill grounds. Exchanging swift flurrying blows continuously.

Sparks sprayed occasionally amidst rolling saber radiance. Like twin quicksilver orbs.

Zhao Da Hu abruptly lunged sideways, body flickering free from the encirclement. Staring solemnly as his fluttering whiskers and brows shot up fiercely!

"Tiger Death!"

Whoosh—

Echoes akin to tiger roars accompanied the slicing winds his extended saber churned resembling meteorites hurtling ruthlessly towards Lu Sheng's wrist!

"Tiger Death!"

Practically simultaneously, Lu Sheng also bellowed lowly reciprocating in kind!

The two deadlocked intensely for some time before Lu Sheng deliberately faked just reacting by 'forcing' his own accumulated strength into matching that Tiger Death!

Obviously over a beat slower.

Clang!

Both blade edges collided heavily against each other.

The two separated wide apart, mutually gasping and watching the other.

Glancing down, Lu Sheng noticed his right sleeve trimmed by a section, immediately sighing in admiration. "As expected of uncle Zhao!"

Sheathing his weapon smiling, "Already so incredible! So incredible...! Grasping Tiger Death in such fleeting days. Even if young master secretly trained previously, brief mentoring since obtaining this blade method, yet developing so swiftly...

Given time, young master will undoubtedly surpass even this old man! Potential easily ranking top five of all Jiu Lian Cheng!"

Zhao Da Hu exclaimed feelingly.

"Funny how I assumed young master had given up training. Never expected things to unfold thus..."

Lu Sheng chuckled. "Uncle Zhao jokes. You are acclaimed among the four great experts of Jiu Lian Cheng. Where could random me ever catch up!"

"Nonsense, nonsense! Just aged old bones bereft of former glory now."

Zhao Da Hu declined repeatedly.

"However, young master's outstanding talent mastering the Black Tiger's inaugural technique so quickly can consider studying some additional methods. Building wider foundations."

"More arts? Uncle Zhao means...?"

Lu Sheng quirked his brows intrigued.

Zhao Da Hu beamed. "This old Zhao still commands modest fame in Jiu Lian Cheng. Young master's illustrious household can certainly persuade some old fellows into imparting heirloom arts sealed away. Pass on to you.

Frankly, many such 'supreme arts' can compare third-rate consummate mastery! Mostly beneath Black Tiger blade.

If inclined, I can smoothly introduce and recommend some."