Translator: AnubisTL
Having caused such a commotion in Shengtian, Li Qing naturally did not dare to underestimate the martial prowess of the Star-Stealing Divine Thief. Conservatively estimating, the thief must at least be at the level of an Inner Strength expert.
Throughout their drinking session, Li Qing remained calm and vigilant. After each sip of wine, he used his inner strength to cleanse his body, expelling the alcohol to ensure it did not affect his reflexes.
"Brother Li, you just came from Shengtian? Can you tell me what the situation is like there now?" Ning Yuan asked with a playful tone.
"The Nine Lotus Sect has withdrawn from the capital, and various martial artists have begun vying for territory with the three major martial arts schools. To maintain order, the court has recalled the Wu Li Army to the capital," Li Qing answered truthfully.
Ning Yuan picked up the wine jug again, took a leisurely sip, and squinted his eyes in contentment.
"Just as I expected. The commander of the Wu Li Army is no ordinary man—he's a Grandmaster of the Martial Path!"
Indeed!
Ning Yuan's words confirmed the suspicions of Li Qing and many others in the martial world. That General Lu truly had reached the realm of a Grandmaster! After answering Ning Yuan's question, Li Qing asked in return, "I'd like to know what exactly you did to the Prince's Mansion that made Prince Yu issue a bounty of hundreds of thousands of taels of silver."
At this, Ning Yuan let out a dry laugh. "Hahaha, there are too many things I've done to earn the hatred of Prince Yu's Mansion. For example, that Old Mountain Ginseng from the Quanshan Medicine Hall, and the Brilliant Night Pearls hanging on the walls—they were all taken from the Prince's Mansion."
As he spoke, Ning Yuan showed not the slightest hint of shame but instead seemed quite proud.
"But if you really want to know why the bounty is so high, there is indeed a special reason."
Ning Yuan's eyes narrowed, and his smile grew even more mischievous.
"While Prince Yu led his men to Small Jade Ridge, I took the seal of a certain damned painter and sneaked into the mansion. I left a mark on the First Rank Princess Consort's... derrière."
"Hermit Zhu Liu, hahahaha!"
After saying this, Ning Yuan burst into unrestrained laughter, slapping his thigh repeatedly, tears streaming from the corners of his eyes.
Meanwhile, Li Qing's eyes widened, filled with utter disbelief.
Leaving a painter's seal on the Princess Consort's body... This man was truly audacious to the extreme! What kind of grudge could this be? Without even seeing it, Li Qing could imagine the scene: fair, delicate skin marked with a crimson seal bearing the name of that unfortunate painter. No wonder the Prince's Mansion had executed that elderly painter immediately after issuing the arrest warrant.
At the time, Li Qing had been puzzled, wondering why a painter would be involved in the case of the Star-Stealing Divine Thief.
After a long while, Li Qing finally managed to compose himself, shaking his head as he silently drank his wine.
The Star-Stealing Divine Thief was indeed an unrestrained individual, his thoughts so erratic that even Li Qing, who had been tempered by modern thinking, found it hard to keep up.
It would be best to avoid contact with such a person in the future, lest he get dragged into trouble.
"The Princess Consort's... taste was truly something," Ning Yuan said, still squinting as if savoring the memory.
Li Qing: "..."
"It's my turn to ask you. Why are you here at Small Jade Ridge at this hour? Don't tell me it's for Lin Yi's martial inheritance," Ning Yuan asked Li Qing with a sidelong glance.
"Although that inheritance is tempting, martial arts is just a passing hobby for me. I don't want to be hunted down by the entire martial world."
"I heard there's a ferocious tiger on the mountain. I'm just here for a hunt."
Ning Yuan glanced at the barbed iron armor Li Qing was wearing and the hunting broadsword hanging at his waist, and he believed Li Qing's words.
"You're very wise, much more sensible than those martial artists who act on hearsay," Ning Yuan said with a sigh as he drank. "Although I obtained Lin Yi's martial inheritance, I haven't practiced it."
This piqued Li Qing's interest. He asked, "Oh? Why is that? Does the martial art have significant restrictions?"
Suddenly, he recalled a famous saying.
To practice this art, one must first castrate oneself!
Could Lin Yi's martial inheritance be the same? However, Ning Yuan's next words made Li Qing's heart skip a beat. Ning Yuan sneered, "Heh, it's more than just restrictions. It's an evil art that shortens one's life!"
"The martial art is called the Life Sapping Art, an internal family skill. But this internal family skill is very special. Once practiced, one's lifespan rapidly diminishes. The higher the cultivation, the faster the lifespan diminishes!"
"And if one wants to curb this decay, the only way is to devour the internal energy of others to enhance one's own martial cultivation!"
"That's why once this martial art is practiced, one's martial cultivation grows at an astonishing rate."
What a bizarre and sinister art! Li Qing's pupils constricted as he was shocked by this so-called Life Sapping Art.
But at the same time, he couldn't help feeling a bit excited inside, though he didn't show it on the surface.
"That so-called martial genius Lin Yi from the previous dynasty actually had a very poor foundation. But he still managed to break through and reach the Grandmaster realm in his later years. Later, knowing his time was short, he buried himself at Small Jade Ridge."
"Once this evil art is practiced, there's no turning back. Lifespan continuously diminishes, and the only way to temporarily curb it is to devour the internal energy of others."
"Once the time passes, due to the increase in cultivation, the rate of decay becomes even more exaggerated. One must continuously devour to enhance their martial cultivation, until there's nothing left to devour, and they watch their lifespan come to an end."
"Whew!" Li Qing let out a long breath. He downed the wine in his cup and sighed, "It's like a wild horse galloping towards a cliff, with no way to turn back."
"Yes, a wild horse out of control."
As he said this, Li Qing didn't notice that in a dark corner of the tomb, Qi Kang's expression suddenly darkened.
This trip to the tomb had revealed many secrets of the martial world to Li Qing, and he had gained a lot.
Although he was very interested in the Life Sapping Art, he also knew he couldn't ask Ning Yuan for it.
He didn't want to expose his secret of immortality, which was a secret more significant than anything else.
In the end, he bid farewell to the Star-Stealing Divine Thief.
Li Qing clasped his fists and said, "Brother Ning, it's time for me to leave. Otherwise, the old hunter traveling with me will start to worry."
"You can rest assured, I will never tell anyone about your presence at Small Jade Ridge."
Ning Yuan smiled and said with pride, "Even if you did, it wouldn't matter. My lightness skill may not be the best in the world, but it's certainly among the top three!"
Soon after, Qi Kang also stood up and walked over, looking at Li Qing with reluctance, "Master... are you leaving already?"
Looking at the young man he had brought to Shengtian, Li Qing didn't know what to say. He sighed, "Ah, I understand your aspirations, your desire to practice martial arts and wander the rivers and lakes."
"Everyone has their own path, and I won't try to dissuade you. But if you ever grow tired and wish to return to the blacksmith's shop, you're always welcome."
After saying this, Li Qing solemnly patted Qi Kang's still thin and frail shoulders, then turned away.
"Master..."
Qi Kang watched as his master, who had taught him the craft of blacksmithing, resolutely walked away, tears welling up in his eyes.
However, Li Qing did not see this. As he left, he couldn't help but mutter to himself:
"Why insist on practicing martial arts and wandering the rivers and lakes? It's so much better to be a blacksmith, peaceful and carefree."
"Young people these days, they just won't listen to advice!"
(End of the Chapter)
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