Chapter 53: with translation of chapter title

Night had deepened, snores rose and fell throughout the Siheyuan. Li Ping'an latched the door, a thought stirred, and he entered his own little world.

After a day of toil, having just escaped a calamity, he needed to replenish his strength and calm his spirit. He cut a piece of fatty and lean pork from the supplies, plucked a few scallions, and with Spirit Spring Water simply stir-fried scallion-fried pork. In the space there was no cooking fumes, only the meat aroma spreading. He ate heartily, feeling the satisfaction from the oil and meat, then gulped several mouthfuls of sweet Spirit Spring Water; a warm, moist energy quickly nourished his whole body, dispelling fatigue.

Having eaten and drunk his fill, his energy was even fuller. Yet the frustration and hatred from nearly being killed by Miyamoto Musashi grew clearer as his abilities improved. And there was Gangcun Ningci, who held sway over North China with hands stained in blood… This grudge must be avenged!

Knowing Miyamoto Musashi was a master, hard clashes were unlikely to win, but he had to try, even if just to disgust the opponent, even if only to plant a seed of revenge. After tempering his body, he had fought a few fierce bouts, yearning to gauge his own strength and, more so, to fathom the enemy's depths.

He donned the pitch-black Night Cloak and fastened the blue-faced, fanged Evil Ghost mask. The icy iron mask pressed against his skin, calming his mind and reining in his killing intent. Ready, he slipped out the window like a ghost, melting into the deep night.

In Beiping's dead of night, it was eerily quiet, yet a tension lay beneath. The Patrol Squad's footsteps and searchlights were thicker than usual. Li Ping'an pushed Carefree Step to the limit, relying on the alertness of a hidden-realm expert, always slipping past all eyes and ears at critical moments, like a true wisp of a ghost, silently creeping toward South Riverbank Street.

Gangcun Ningci's residence was guarded like an iron barrel, with multiple layers of open posts and Secret Sentries, yet under Li Ping'an's mental sweep these arrangements were meaningless. His attention was quickly drawn to a furnace-like, scorching, solid, vast aura deep within the estate—Miyamoto Musashi! He was indeed there, and as if deep in meditation, his breath was long and steady, as though he had merged with the whole compound.

Storming in to kill Gangcun Ningci was impossible. Li Ping'an's eyes turned cold; he instantly changed his mind. He took out several small paper packets from his space, containing the deadly poison powder he had prepared according to the Essentials of Poison Classics—colorless and tasteless, yet able to seep in slowly through breath and skin, rotting the five viscera, causing a gradual weakening unto death.

He moved like a gecko along the high walls of the residence, picked an upwind spot, flicked his fingertips, and silently scattered the almost invisible poison powder into the courtyard. The powder drifted downwind, mingling with night dew and dust. He hoped this slow poison would eventually take Gangcun Ningci's life, and even if it didn't kill Miyamoto Musashi, it would at least make him suffer.

Just as he finished scattering the last packet of poison powder, about to withdraw—

Deep within the residence, that vast aura shuddered violently, like a sleeping lion suddenly awakening! An incredibly sharp will instantly locked onto Li Ping'an's position!

"Bah! What rat!"

A low growl laden with anger thundered like a clap of thunder in Li Ping'an's ears! Miyamoto Musashi was so perceptive that he even detected this covert poisoning!

Li Ping'an's scalp exploded; without thinking, he unleashed Carefree Step at full blast, his body shooting backward like a wisp of smoke.

Almost simultaneously, a black shadow shot up from the courtyard like a cannonball, too fast for the naked eye to catch—it was Miyamoto Musashi! Without even going through the door, he smashed through a window of the estate wall, lunging toward Li Ping'an in midair; before his body arrived, the dreadful pressure of a master pressed down like a mountain.

"Again you, this head‑hiding, tail‑showing Evil Ghost!" Miyamoto Musashi obviously recognized the attire and aura; old and new grudges surged, his killing intent grew stronger.

Li Ping'an knew running might not outpace this master, yet a fierce resolve rose as well. After tempering his body, he had never gone all‑out in a fight! Tonight he would test just how great the gap was between the hidden realm and a master.

He slammed on the brakes, turned, planted his feet low and firm; the yin‑cold, yang‑hot inner energy within him surged violently, and a fierce, domineering fist intent shot up to the heavens.

"Eight Extremities! Crown‑Heart Elbow!"

He gave a low shout, not retreating but advancing, his whole body like an arrow released from a taut strong bow, driving an elbow straight into Miyamoto Musashi's chest! The move was simple to the extreme, yet it condensed all his strength, speed, and the explosive power from tempering his body.

Miyamoto Musashi's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise; he clearly felt that in this exchange, the strength, speed, and even aura of this 'Evil Ghost' before him had greatly surpassed the last encounter—his progress was too fast!

"The strength of an ant!" Miyamoto Musashi barked coldly, not dodging but instead extending his fingers like a blade; a knife‑hand strike whistled as it split the air, precisely aiming at Li Ping'an's elbow joint—he actually intended to meet force with force, directly crippling his arm.

Fist and palm collided!

Bang!

A thunderous boom like a muffled thunder exploded in the silent night! Visible shockwaves surged outward from the point of contact, blowing dust and dirt into the air.

Li Ping'an felt an unstoppable huge force rush up his arm, his entire forearm instantly going numb and painful, his qi and blood surging, a sweetness rising in his throat! He grunted, borrowing the force to flip backward and fly out; landing, he staggered seven or eight steps before barely standing, the blue bricks under his feet already cracked.

What terrifying force! Is this what a master is like? Even after tempering my body and greatly increasing my strength, I am still no match!

Miyamoto Musashi's body only swayed slightly before he stood firm; his surprise turned into intense killing intent: "Excellent! Last time I didn't kill you, leaving you to become a scourge! Tonight I will surely take your dog's life!"

He held nothing back, his form surging forward again; karate techniques unfolded like a violent storm, each strike carrying the terrifying power to split stone and crack rock, his speed so fast only a blur remained.

Li Ping'an pushed Carefree Step to its peak, combining it with the hard‑resisting force of Eight Extremities Fist, fighting while retreating. He was like a tiny boat in a raging tempest, seeing danger all around, yet always dodging lethal attacks by a hair's breadth at the crucial moment, and his occasional counterpunches of one or two blows forced Miyamoto Musashi to fall back on defense.

In the arena, fist winds howled, figures flew back and forth, bricks and stones continually shattered, the commotion was terrifying!

Miyamoto Musashi fought on, growing more astonished; this kid not only had increasing strength, his footwork was uncanny and hard to predict, tenacious to the point of being deadly! Though clearly far weaker, he clung like a piece of cowhide glue, impossible to take down quickly. He must not be allowed to grow further!

"Evil Ghost! Do you only know how to flee like a rat? To call yourself an Evil Ghost is a misnomer—you're just greedy for life and afraid of death!" Miyamoto Musashi, unable to break through after prolonged attack, tried to provoke him with words, hoping to throw him off balance.

The corner of Li Ping'an's mouth twitched beneath the mask, utterly unbothered. In a life‑or‑death battle, survival is the truth! He fought while retreating, slowly drawing the battlefield toward the familiar, tangled alleys.

As he neared a corner, Li Ping'an deliberately feigned an opening, hard‑blocking Miyamoto Musashi's side kick, using the recoil to spit out a small mouthful of blood (mostly expelled bruised blood), his body tumbling like a broken‑string kite into the dark ground beyond the corner.

"Where do you think you're going!" Miyamoto Musashi, suspecting no deceit, roared and chased after him.

Just as he rushed past the corner, his line of sight briefly lost Li Ping'an's trace—

Li Ping'an's thoughts turned sharply: "Enter!"

The person instantly vanished from the spot, leaving no trace!

Miyamoto Musashi rushed past the corner, only to find an empty, dead‑end alley—no trace of a person, just a few fresh bloodstains on the wall.

"Bah ya road!!!"

Miyamoto Musashi's furious roar echoed in the dead‑end alley, filled with disbelief and extreme anger! He let this guy escape again! Over and over! This vanishing act is downright sinister!

He went mad, searching everywhere, even blasting walls and ground with palm strikes, yet found nothing! At that moment, shouts and clamor came from the residence—clearly, Gangcun Ningci's poisoning had been discovered!

Miyamoto Musashi's face turned iron‑blue; he slammed a hard fist into the wall, leaving a deep imprint. He had to abandon the search, gritting his teeth as he bellowed, his form flashing like electricity back toward the residence.

By the time he returned, Gangcun Ningci's face was bluish, his breathing ragged, already half‑unconscious. The military medic was helpless, unable to identify the poison, with no antidote to administer, and could only watch helplessly as the situation worsened.

Miyamoto Musashi stood by the bedside, gazing at Gangcun Ningci's wretched state, then thinking of that 'Evil Ghost' who repeatedly slipped from his grasp and left behind such vicious methods—his face darkened to the point of seeming able to wring out water. He clenched his fists, the joints whitening from strain.

If this scourge is not eradicated, it will surely become a great calamity!

Meanwhile, Li Ping'an had long slipped out of his space unnoticed, made a huge detour to ensure no one was tailing him, then, like a true ghost, silently returned to the Siheyuan, climbed through the window, as if he had never left.

He removed the Evil Ghost mask, wiped the blood from his mouth's corner, felt the somewhat turbulent but not seriously impaired inner energy within, and his eyes shone brightly, startlingly so.

A master… indeed formidable. But he is not uncatchable! Though defeated tonight, he truly sensed the gap and also saw hope.

More importantly, the poison he had planted was enough for those Japanese Soldiers to drink a pot!

The night grew deeper; this silent contest was far from over.