"So urgent?"

Lu Sheng took the bundle. Softly asking.

"Shouldn't delay this. The sooner you go the better. The city may see some chaos after a period. But don't worry, I already arranged everything."

Lu Quan An revealed a look to Lu Sheng reassuring him.

Lu Sheng nodded, didn't needlessly chatter. He packed some clothes with Xiao Qiao then quietly slipped out the side gate onto a carriage departing.

Inside, Lu Sheng peered through a gap in the curtains, watching the Lu manor gradually disappearing. A strange sensation of burdening pressed in his heart.

"Young Master, we're really going to Cliff City? So far. When can we come back?" Xiao Qiao worriedly asked.

Lu Sheng just smiled without answering.

The black carriage was similar to others on the streets. Looking somewhat dilapidated from its age. No marks indicated it belonged to the Lu manor either.

Leaving the central region headed for the main gate. Midway it was halted several times by patrolling troops questioning for a bit before letting them through.

Lu Sheng lifted the curtain taking a glance outside. He saw large numbers of city garrison troops organized into small formations. Even incorporating some hastily assembled peasant militia squads to patrol the streets everywhere.

He swept his gaze over a pointy building they passed.

Slap.

Lu Sheng suddenly clapped his hand. The carriage abruptly careened left into a relatively narrow side street. Speed dropping substantially before soon stopping.

Lu Sheng held onto Xiao Qiao to exit the carriage while lifting the curtains.

"Young Master, I waited long for you!"

Zheng Xian Guai's plump face appeared before them.

"Huh?!"

Xiao Qiao was shocked speechless.

"Let's go. Not suitable talking here. I prepared the place you wanted."

Zheng Xian Guai said softly.

The carriage once more slowly exited the small street.

Lu Sheng and Xiao Qiao swapped vehicles on that small street before slowly heading citywards again.

Outside the city, at the foot of a craggy hill still about two miles from Black Wind Ridge.

Amid some verdant woods with flowing stream inside.

The carriage halted before this patch of trees.

Zheng Xian Guai alighted first, looking left and right.

"We're here. My secret base from when I was little that I spent money on. I'll lend it to you first."

Lu Sheng and Xiao Qiao disembarked.

"Thanks fatty."

"We're sworn brothers. What's with the formalities?"

Zheng Xian Guai said solemnly.

"I troubled you this time. Hurry back to your matters."

Lu Sheng nodded.

Zheng Xian Guai also rushed off swiftly with his entourage.

Lu Sheng started directing Xiao Qiao tidying up the little log cabin.

It already had provisions of grains, cured meats and some fresh vegetables and fruits left inside too. Clearly recent drops.

"Young Master, are we to live here from now on? Not going to Cliff City anymore?"

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Xiao Qiao still felt puzzled.

"Still going eventually. But first staying here awhile currently."

Lu Sheng casually answered.

The two spent until afternoon cleaning when the darkening sky forced Xiao Qiao lighting oil lamps.

Wan yellow illumination swayed inside the pitch black cabin. Seeming desolate and dim.

Lu Sheng stood in the yard gazing at the skies.

Gloomy overcast above without a hint of moon or stars visible.

Some yellowish rays from the indoor lamps leaked out faintly onto the yard.

Making this the brightest spot across the whole woods now.

Lu Sheng stood amidst the yard peering outward past the enclosing fences.

Sheer darkness with occasional inexplicable sounds of movements fading in and out.

Lu Sheng's hand reflexively grasped his waist saber.

Zheng Xian Guai offered arranging guards. Rejected by him.

The fewer who knew of his stay here the better.

Eyeing the invisible beyond the yard's confines, Lu Sheng shut the wooden gates before turning to close the cabin windows.

It had double paned windows. Inner paper windows along with outer solid wooden shutters as additional insulation.

Lu Sheng shut the wooden exterior leaving just faint streams of light permeating out the cracks.

He entered the room.

Xiao Qiao busied with preparing the bed.

Just one large bed inside. Laid with plenty of wooden planks and dry grains straw. Mat and quilt above.

"Young Master..."

Xiao Qiao's eyes brimmed with tears. Cheeks blushing red.

"If you wish to rest I can warm the quilt first."

"..." Lu Sheng was speechless. "There's a smaller bed behind. Go sleep yourself."

Xiao Qiao looked barely over 12-13. Truly eliciting criminal sensations from him.

"Oh...alright." Xiao Qiao instantly reddened with embarrassment.

Out here in the boonies with just the two of them. And such a cramped cabin!

Avoiding the other while changing or bathing seemed impossible!

If something occurred it would be expected.

What a pity the young master still lacked such thoughts it seemed.

After separately cleaning up, Xiao Qiao hit the hay early under Lu Sheng's urging.

The so-called smaller bed was simply some boards sectioning off part of the interior. Just a palm's width of wooden wall dividing the large and small beds. A small door with a cloth drape linked both.

If anything happened it would be but an instant's matter.

But Lu Sheng's mind hadn't strayed there now.

He retired early. Focusing to practice Dark Destruction Skill a while more before sleeping.

Next morning Xiao Qiao went out taking the delivered food box by the yard gates.

After breakfast Lu Sheng practiced a round of Cracking Heart Palm before resuming Dark Destruction Skill.

Aside from Xiao Qiao occasionally wandering the yard, silence permeated the early morning. Lu Sheng devoted it completely toward Dark Destruction Skill.

Come noon after the meal, it was Black Tiger Saber Technique practice.

Before dark he checked the slips bundled with the provisions. With no particular news he slept very early. Still cultivating Dark Destruction Skill another two hours more pre-slumber.

Repeating this cycle.

And so Lu Sheng and Xiao Qiao dwelled in the woods already half a month.

Yet Dark Destruction Skill still lacked the slightest sign.

Theoretically, based on classical records and actual martial common sense, no qi presence even after half a month would prompt most people abandoning it already.

After all, a personally suitable internal method could yield sensations within mere days.

But Lu Sheng understood Dark Destruction Skill was likely a lost legacy lacking its original master illustration. Just as Duan Mu Wan mentioned before too.

Hence why he persisted for so long. Unexpectedly still nothing.

Right as Lu Sheng considered practically giving up.

A trace of peculiar qi feeling finally emerged during one Dark Destruction Skill session!

...

Gloomy overcast skies.

Despite noontime, a hint of chill pervaded the air.

The woods were dim. Usual avian calls also lacked vigor. Just the occasional chirp or two sometimes.

Lu Sheng wielded a long saber slowly running through Swallow Chasing Blade stances in the yard.

Neither rapidly. Just honing technique precision.

Superficially he seemed practicing saberwork. But his prime attention actually still dwelled on Dark Destruction Skill.

Swish swish swish!

After three consecutive diagonal saber sweeps, Lu Sheng sheathed his blade about to clean up for lunch as usual.

Unexpectedly right after that last slash.

A scalding hot qi strand flashed fleetingly at his back's kidney regions.

Lu Sheng's motions abruptly froze as he cautiously probed again.

He slowly cycled Dark Destruction Skill's inner cultivation route.

Promptly that scalding sensation flashed again in the same spots by his kidneys!

"This is... qi presence!!"

Lu Sheng was overjoyed inside.

After miserably cultivating fruitlessly for so long, he even wondered whether the obtained Dark Destruction Skill was actually real or not!

He never expected such hard won results. This qi arousal finally allowed him to feel as if a huge rock heavily dropped from his heart!

"Quick, raise it while the sensations persists!"

Lu Sheng instantly seized the hot iron while it was hot!

"Navy blue."

He recited inwardly.

The navy modification box swiftly floated into view before his eyes.

Pressing the modify button made the box fiercely flash once.

This time's box was indeed different from before. At the bottom of listed martial arts, Dark Destruction Skill's title newly emerged.

'Dark Destruction Skill: Uninitiated'

Just a few simple words. But seeing this, Lu Sheng could barely restrain the delight in his heart!

When he could barely find better methods for improving himself presently, Dark Destruction Skill was practically his sole hope.

Otherwise he truly wouldn't know how to confront the exterior world's unknown anomalies and threats.

"Modify Dark Destruction Skill. Raise one level!"

The instant his thoughts transmitted out.

Dark Destruction Skill's Uninitiated status vigorously leapt. Changing into Initiated.

Boom!!!

Nearly simultaneously, the moment Lu Sheng witnessed the shifting status, his internal five organs and six entrails abruptly erupted burning hot!

An enormous fiery torrent emerged from nothingness inside him. Rampagingly rushing through a dozen profound passageways!

The scorching current rolled and seared about. Like a flame wantonly scouring through Lu Sheng's body.

Standing in place, his complexion swiftly flushed crimson. Skin all over reddening too as if boiled shelled shrimp!

Copious sweat instantly gushed from every pore. Then transforming into wispy steam slowly evaporating upwards.