The Three Kingdoms.

Dragonheart Mansion.

David, clad in a simple training uniform, exhaled sharply as he completed a series of intricate forms. His forearms, flushed red and corded with muscles, strained with each movement.

"Ha!" he cried, launching a forceful attack. His palm, a blur of motion, struck the wooden training post with a resounding thud, leaving a shallow mark on the pristine surface.

Piaomiao Mu, her beauty accentuated by a touch of surprise, watched from the sidelines. "Such rapid progress," she murmured, a hint of awe creeping into her voice.

Yue Gui, ever attentive, rushed forward with a silk cloth to wipe the sweat from David's brow. "Master Mu," David threw away his handkerchief and asked casually. "how fares my palm technique?"

Piaomiao Mu took a measured breath. "Mastah Dragonheart," her eyes sparkled with intrigue, "your talent surpasses all expectations. You've begun to sense the flow of energy within you, haven't you? At this rate, complete mastery of qi and blood is just a month away, granting you access to the first transformation level."

"That's good." David smiled.

He had determined that practicing Qi and Blood Martial Arts in the Southern Wilderness magic world was very beneficial, and the speed of practice was at least three or four times that of here!

Could the difference in mana energy be the reason for his accelerated growth? The thought sparked a flicker of understanding in his mind.

"Upon achieving this qi and blood transformation," Piaomiao Mu continued, her voice turning serious, "you'll officially become a disciple of our Baiyun Martial Arts School. This grants access to advanced training techniques, secret medicines, and the knowledge of the second and third transformation levels."

David nodded respectfully. "My appreciations, Master Mu," he gestured Yue Gui, who stepped forward and presented a gift. A piece of jade, carved into a delicate bamboo leaf, gleamed in Piaomiao Mu's hand.

Piaomiao Mu's eyes widened as she took the gift. The jade radiated a subtle, calming energy, and its flawless craftsmanship spoke of considerable value – likely dozens of taels of silver, a fortune for a Black Rock City middle-class family. A warmth spread through her, not just from the jade's energy, but also from the unexpected generosity. Perhaps, she could foster a closer bond with this new student, she mused, maybe David wouldn't hesitate to offer financial assistance if she needed.

"Please, Master Mu," David urged with a genuine smile. "It's a mere token, a lucky leaf I stumbled upon." David was speaking the truth. It was indeed a leaf fell from the Jade Bamboo canopy in his Southern Wilderness rice field.

Later that afternoon, Lei Shen arrived, and David repeated the offering. This time, however, a flicker of something cold and calculating crossed the warrior's eyes as he received the jade leaf. David, with senses far beyond those of a mortal thanks to his magic training, couldn't help noticing. Every emotion Lei Shen tried to mask was laid bare before him.

"Thank you, sir, for the gift!" Lei Shen beamed, his grip tightening around the jade bamboo leaf with unconcealed delight. "Congratulations, young mastah, on your impressive progress. With your continued dedication, I have no doubt you'll soon develop true power, reaching the level of a martial arts mastah!"

David raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. "True power, you say? Beyond the three qi and blood transformations?"

Truth be told, even a warrior at the third qi and blood transformation level was insignificant to a mage like David. But a martial arts master – that was a different story altogether.

Lei Shen was simply indulging in flattery. He chuckled inwardly at David's naivety. "Indeed!" he boomed, a hint of mockery glinting in his eyes.

There were things Lei Shen wouldn't utter aloud. The three qi and blood transformations were a treacherous path, each step a steeper climb than the last. While the first transformation was attainable by most with enough resources and effort, the second demanded genuine talent. As for the third transformation? A pipe dream for most in Black Rock City. Even in the entire martial arts world, young disciples reaching that level were as rare as phoenix feathers.

The realm of a martial arts master was an entirely different beast, a cruel joke played on those who believed that mere effort could overcome the limitations of their birthright.

"Forget fortuitous encounters", Lei Shen scoffed internally. "Even I, crippled by injury in my prime, could only become a teacher here in the Red Snake Martial Arts Gym." These were all bitter truths Lei Shen kept buried.

A sly smile spread across Lei Shen's face as he addressed David. "Naturally, martial arts masters possess immense poweh," he said, his voice dripping with feigned enthusiasm. "But to unlock true poweh, you must join the martial arts hall and become a core disciple. Only then will you gain access to the coveted 'Essence Script' – the key to integrating qi and blood into true power..." He paused, stroking his beard thoughtfully, a glint of avarice in his eyes.

The bait was cast. If David took it and joined the gym, wouldn't that ensure his continued flattery and extravagant gifts?

Meanwhile, David felt a spark of intrigue. "Essence Script?" His eyes gleamed with a predatory light. "Is it for sale?"

Lei Shen blinked, momentarily thrown off balance by David's abrupt question. "The Essence Script? It's a closely guarded secret... not something one can simply buy."

"One thousand taels of silver!" David countered with a surprising offer.

Lei Shen's breath hitched, his eyes widening with a mixture of greed and apprehension. "Mastah Lu, it's not disloyalty! He's just offering too much..." He thought to himself.

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Seeing the man's internal struggle, David pressed his advantage. "Two thousand taels, then? And I can go even further."

Lei Shen stammered, "This... I need time to consider."

As the warrior practically stumbled away, a playful smirk tugged at David's lips. "Essence Script" was likely the foundation for every martial arts school. He wasn't desperate; he knew persistence would grant access once he reached the third transformation. His outrageous offer was a calculated jab, a way to inflame the greed already simmering within Lei Shen.

"Dragonheart Mansion needs a foothold in Black Rock City," David thought, reaching into his pocket. The comforting weight of the "Little Thunder Scroll," "Sunfire Ward Scroll," and "Ice Scroll" bolstered his confidence. "As long as I don't get close to them, there is no risk even against a third transformation warrior. Only the martial arts masters give me pause."

A flicker of curiosity crossed David's mind. "What separates these masters from a Forging warrior?" The answer, while intriguing, was certainly not worth risking his life to uncover.

Night.

David reclined on a bamboo chair in the courtyard, savoring an ice cream that defied the summer heat. Yue Gui, his ever-attentive maid, watched him from the doorway, a hint of amusement in her eyes. She wondered why the young master preferred the natural breeze to the cool air of the mansion's interior. Perhaps, she mused, a chilled lotus seed soup would be a welcome treat for him tomorrow.

Just as the idea formed in her mind, a sigh escaped David's lips. "He finally decided to come."

A figure in black, eyes gleaming like a rodent's, face hidden behind a veil, scaled the mansion wall with the agility of a spider. He clutched a compact pouch, its contents a potent soporific incense.

"Damn those upstarts," he hissed, his voice barely a whisper in the night air. "Flaunting their wealth while I scrape by on meager tuition fees. A fortune lies within those walls, ripe for the taking.”

Lei Shen, familiar with the mansion's layout, crept towards the warehouse, his heart pounding with a mixture of greed and resentment. He fumbled with the incense pouch, intending to lull any unsuspecting guards into unconsciousness.

Whoosh!

The courtyard erupted in a blaze of light. Torches flared to life, casting long, dancing shadows across the manicured lawns.

"What the...?" Lei Shen whirled around, his eyes widening in shock as a circle of burly guards, armed with imposing staffs, closed in on him. Piaomiao Mu stood at their center, her face a mask of fury.

"Shen Lei!" she spat, her voice dripping with contempt. "You dare to betray your employer? Your actions bring shame upon all martial arts schools in Black Rock City!”

Lei Shen, caught red-handed, coughed nervously. "I'm Ma Wei," he stammered, his voice barely audible. "I don't know any Shen Lei.” Classic thief logic – maintain the facade, deny everything. Like a caught adulterer, as long as the mask stays on, innocence is presumed. The same principle applies to pants, apparently.

Lei Shen's agility was undeniable. He darted past two guards, a blur of black, sending them reeling with a single, powerful shove.

"Halt!" Piaomiao Mu's voice boomed, her figure a whirlwind of white as she unleashed a ferocious White Cloud Palm attack. Her hand, shimmering a sickly gray and reeking of fish, struck with the full force of her training.

"Hmph," he scoffed, "child's play." Yet, he didn't want to expose the Red Snake Legs technique. With a swift, fluid movement, Lei Shen dodged, leaving Piaomiao Mu grasping at air.

The chase was on. Piaomiao Mu surged after him, while the guards managed to momentarily hinder Lei Shen's escape.

The inevitable clash arrived. Lei Shen, cornered, unleashed a furious roar. His legs whipped out, a blur of deadly strikes mirroring the movements of a serpent.

A resounding boom echoed as leg met palm. Piaomiao Mu stumbled back, a pained grunt escaping her lips. Lei Shen's brute strength and experience gave him the upper hand, but victory was not without cost. A piece of cloth fluttered to the ground, revealing three distinct gray fingerprints on his leg – the mark of Piaomiao Mu's poisoned palm.

A grimace twisted Lei Shen's face. "Poison, is it?" he hissed, the pain fueling his rage. "This changes nothing!”

With a burst of adrenaline, he broke free from the encircling guards, his Red Snake Legs propelling him into the darkness.

The Red Snake Legs were exposed, but denial remained his strategy. After all, the Red Snake Martial Arts School had plenty of apprentices to deflect suspicion.

Just as Lei Shen prepared to make his escape, a voice dripping with amusement cut through the tension. David sauntered out from the shadows, shaking his head. "Old Shen," he drawled, "such a lack of manners. Reporting you to the officials is the least I can do.”

Lei Shen snarled, his eyes hardening into slits. "Enough charades," he hissed. "Consider this a lesson, one you won't soon forget.”

Despite the poisoned palm, Lei Shen's agility remained undiminished. He weaved through the guards with lightning speed, closing the distance between himself and David in the blink of an eye.

"Master Shen," David greeted calmly, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes, "why the rush?”

A tall figure emerged from the shadows behind David. A flicker of recognition sparked in Lei Shen's mind, but it was too late.

With a casual flick of his wrist, the figure sent a wave of force rippling through the air. A sickening crack echoed through the night as Lei Shen's legs buckled beneath him. He was flung backward, his body slamming against the cold stone wall before crumpling to the ground, a broken puppet.

"You…" he rasped, his voice barely a whisper, the pain mingling with the cold dread of recognition. "Mu Canglong! Masteh of the Baiyun Martial Arts School!”

"Indeed," boomed a powerful voice. Canglong Mu, a man in his fifties with a weathered face and a calm yet imposing presence, stepped into the moonlight. "You dared to harm my daughter and target my esteemed client. Such insolence will not be tolerated.”

Confusion and fear warred in Lei Shen's eyes. "Here? Why are you here?”

David, ever the pragmatist, interjected. "Five hundred taels of silver secured his presence." He paused, a sly smile playing on his lips. "After all, Master Mu, wouldn't you agree that some lessons are best learned firsthand?”

Mu Canglong nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Indeed," he said, his voice a low rumble. "And this lesson, Masteh Shen, will be one you won't soon forget.”

David had no qualms about outsourcing the task. Why risk himself when he could witness true martial arts mastery for a few hundred taels? Money, it seemed, could indeed buy solutions.

The demonstration was proving to be quite the eye-opener. Observing Canglong Mu's effortless takedown, David's mind raced with calculations.

"A warrior at the third qi and blood transformation is a mere child before a martial arts master," he concluded. "The difference is a qualitative leap in power."

While Lei Shen possessed superior speed, strength, and resilience, against a master, they were meaningless.

"Master... master is akin to a top level Forging warrior's strength and constitution, wouldn't you say?" The realization was exhilarating.

After all, body forging required not only skill but also resources, measured in mana crystals—a currency David lacked. But in the Three Kingdoms, silver could buy those same resources. A clever exchange, he thought, a way to bridge the gap between worlds and elevate his own power.

"Mastah Dragonheart," Canglong Mu inquired, his gaze fixed on the incapacitated Lei Shen, "how do you propose we handle this trespasser?"

David considered for a moment. "While I have no desire for further conflict with the Red Snake Martial Arts Hall,” he began, his voice measured and calm, "alerting the authorities seems unnecessary at this point." He sighed, "Let's bring him before the Red Snake Hall owner for a discussion. Perhaps we can resolve this matter amicably.”

Canglong Mu nodded, a flicker of approval in his eyes. He admired David's level-headedness and his willingness to seek a peaceful resolution.

Then he heard David continue to say: "Master Mu, please bear witness tomorrow.”

A steely glint entered Canglong Mu's eyes. "Of course," he replied, his voice a low rumble. "For the sake of my daughter, my client, and the reputation of all martial arts schools, I will not let this transgression go unpunished.”