Chapter 554: Success (A tribute to the Alliance Leader Wuwei Wuxin Wushen!)

"Dead... they're all dead..."

Inside Qingshan Martial Arts Hall.

Li Qinglan looked somewhat dazed.

Ever since the Great Senior Brother took ten fellow Disciples to the battlefield, the situation seemed to have taken a sharp turn for the worse.

First came the bad news: the government troops were completely wiped out, and Master seemed to have aged ten years in that instant.

Not long after, the rebel troops besieged the city.

Si Niangzi no longer showed her usual flirtatious and bold demeanor, leaving only the pitiful helplessness of a fragile woman: "There are... corpses in the room, I'm scared..."

Aaron took the secret manual and turned to run!

"Sigh... Junior Brother, wait, you still haven't told me where we'll trade later!"

She mustered her remaining courage and killed the Martial Master in front of her with a palm strike, but another Martial Master walked over unhurriedly:

"Old ghost!" Zhang Yong simply pulled off his hood, revealing a face Aaron found somewhat familiar: "You hold onto the Medicine Sand Secret Recipe and refuse to lower the price even as we beg bitterly... In the entire Wuguan, you only treat Ding Shan as your own disciple! The rest of us are just wild ones... Our martial path progresses slowly, with no hope of a breakthrough, and you simply don't care!"

Skirting past the corpses of several Disciples, he crawled onto the wall and saw Xue Qingshan, looking like an old farmer, being besieged by several unfamiliar Martial Masters in the Inner Courtyard Training Ground!

'Dark Energy Experts all have their own inheritances and look down on Black Sand Palm; the highest level of Martial Master coming here is only at Great Success of Bright Energy!'

Countless iron beads flew in all directions, mixed with Dark Energy, their power not much different from an old-fashioned shotgun.

As Aaron was deep in thought, he heard an arrogant laugh ring out: "You old immortal, so you have a day like this too?"

A Martial Master needs to refine Qi and Blood into internal force; even Dark Energy must be emitted from the bone marrow.

As both sides' internal force was rapidly consumed, cold sweat gradually seeped from Li Qinglan's forehead.

Zhang Yong stepped back a few more paces, guarding against Xue Qingshan's hidden weapons.

"Yes... I am about to die..."

But at such close range, the Dark Energy in Xue Qingshan's palm erupted, like countless Flying Needles piercing and killing.

While deep in thought, Aaron felt someone hugging him from behind, two soft mounds rubbing against his back, and a voice breathed like an orchid in his ear: "Yu... I'm scared!"

He saw groups of Yellow Ant Army soldiers of varying heights, with different weapons and scattered formations... but they were very spirited, patrolling the streets in groups, occasionally grabbing wandering thugs and beheading them.

"Dead... dead? This kind of scattered-energy death... is something that cannot be faked, haha... haha..."

"What a pity..."

Aaron was not one to stand on ceremony; he turned and scooped Si Niang up, pressing her against the door panel.

Xue Qingshan turned around and looked at Zhang Yong, who had also been struck with blood holes but not in vital spots, and was now too scared to step forward after seeing him kill three people in a row; a trace of regret appeared on his face.

"It's still a bit chaotic outside right now, you all hide in the room first..."

"Your true skills, as well as the Medicine Sand Secret Recipe, must still have a copy in their hands... We have also sent people to chase them," Lin Jiu said with a chuckle.

He was familiar with Qingshan Martial Arts Hall, so he went straight to the Inner Courtyard and heard the commotion at the Training Ground.

His palm turned dark green, leaving a clear palm print on the wall.

"Are you here to pick up scraps too?"

Li Qinglan cursed.

But Xue Qingshan's breath leaked out, and he could no longer speak; fine, dense beads of blood seeped from his pores, turning him into a blood-covered man.

A voice full of vigor came from the direction of the government office, sounding like muffled thunder, audible across half the city...

Aaron was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke: "How about this... you leave the Medicine Sand Secret Recipe and give me the manual... I will escort you out... When it is safe later, we will conduct the exchange... This way, you and I both have leverage over each other, so there's no need to worry about betrayal. What do you think?"

He said this, and noticing Si Niangzi was still trembling, he couldn't help but ask: "What's wrong?"

"I'll send you down first, then I'll send that old ghost down."

Tap, tap!

Whoosh, whoosh!

Li Qinglan opened her eyes and saw a masked man standing before her.

"Heh... I paid money to learn martial arts, but that old ghost hoarded the prescription, charging me ten taels for one portion of Medicine Sand... If the Medicine Sand could be supplied infinitely, I might have reached Dark Energy long ago; why would I have wasted time until now?"

Bang!

This Dark Energy is actually a type of Penetrating Force, capable of injuring people from a distance, though it has a range limit.

"What do I need Medicine Sand for? I'll just use my life to 'grind' it!"

After the large-scale rampage of the chaotic soldiers, they finally began to take on the responsibility of maintaining order.

"Haha... easy to say, easy to say." Zhang Yong's eyes darted around, listening to the clamor outside gradually drawing closer, and a trace of anxiety appeared on his face: "But I am injured and really cannot trust Junior Brother. What if you get the manual and then take my life? What should I do?"

"We're already going too far, what can you, a dead person, do about it?"

Aaron analyzed.

After obtaining what he needed, Aaron was not greedy at all, nor did he care about the wealth accumulated by the Wuguan, and left Qingshan Martial Arts Hall directly.

"Ah... you... Bright Energy Great Success?"

Anyway, he wasn't a government official!

The elderly Dark Energy Martial Master had osteoporosis and could no longer fight!

Xue Qingshan panted heavily, his skin flushed red, as if blood beads were about to seep out... this was a sign that he could no longer control his entire body's Qi and Blood.

Once the storm passed, he could naturally walk out openly.

Aaron spoke: "It's okay, come out!"

"Those who loot and steal will be punished!"

Those fellow Disciples she was usually close to had all suffered heavy casualties.

On the way back, the streets were even more chaotic than before.

And then tonight, the city suddenly fell, and a large number of unknown black-clad Martial Masters attacked Qingshan Martial Arts Hall.

……

The last Martial Master, whom Aaron did not recognize, shouted arrogantly.

"Me!"

For the sake of a sliver of hope for the descendants, this secret manual must be left behind!

"Li Qinglan, why throw your life away for Xue? Help me kill him, and I will share a portion of the medicine recipe with you!"

Xue Qingshan had blood spilling from the corner of his mouth and recognized the three who had come: "Good... you truly are my good Apprentices!"

The four Martial Masters immediately surrounded him, each throwing out their palms.

Zhang Yong looked at Aaron's back as he walked away without looking back, then looked at the 'Medicine Sand Secret Recipe' in his hand, and suddenly felt a sense of confusion in the wind:

"Who is this person?"

Her physical strength began to fail.

"I naturally understand this."

After waiting for a moment, Si Niang finally gripped a dagger tightly and crawled out of the cellar in a disheveled state with Nannan.

A night watchman from before was forced by blades and spears to start walking along the street, beating a gong and shouting: "The Divine General's Order to Pacify the People!"

But at this time, the Yellow Ant Thieves must have guarded all the main roads out of the city; it was still not very convenient to leave, so it would be better to wait for a while longer.

Xue Qingshan's expression changed: "According to the rules of the Jianghu, trouble should not reach one's family; you all... have crossed the line!"

'However, whether this secret manual is given to you, or ends up in the library of the Cao or Liu clans, is hard to say...'

……

Xue Qingshan's face was ashen, and he panted heavily; he was already very old, and after unleashing Dark Energy a few times, he had little strength left.

'Psychopath, doesn't even know how to say thank you.'

Xia He immediately shouted: "Don't get entangled with this old ghost... take him down first, we can just copy the secret manual!"

They were easy to distinguish; they all had a piece of yellow cloth wrapped around their heads, which was likely the origin of the name Yellow Ant Thieves.

By the time he regained his senses, he saw Xue Qingshan had already lunged in front of him and pressed a palm onto his arm.

"Actually, what this old ghost loves most is his own children," said Xia He, a middle-aged man with a cold expression. "As soon as the news of Ding Shan's death arrived, he immediately arranged for his children and grandchildren to flee the city!"

Aaron closed the main gate and moved the millstone away.

Outside.

"Hmm, it went smoothly enough; I may need to stay here for a while."

Aaron did not feel embarrassed; it was a chaotic time of war, and if there were no man to head the household, Si Niangzi would instead be terrified.

As for whether to wait a month or several months, Aaron was in no hurry at all.

"That's true... you all wait, I'll go outside and throw it away directly..."

"Those who kill shall die!"

That tall, thin Martial Master set up his boxing stance, and it was shockingly the Black Sand Palm as well!

'Besides, the prefectural city is so chaotic, and there are things going on... even if one really wanted to rob, one should rob a bank! Those who could be attracted here might all be former Apprentices!'

"Depends on the situation. If they still have the mindset of a Refugee Army, grabbing what they can and leaving, then robbery is normal... If they want to change from wandering bandits to settled bandits, or even formally contend for the world, they cannot follow the old ways... I don't think that Song Shentong is brainless, so it shouldn't be much of a problem."

Of course, Si Niangzi's cousin and her husband could not be left behind; they were placed directly in the guest room, prepared to be buried in two thin coffins later.

"You old immortal, you dare?"

Xue Qingshan laughed loudly, seemingly wanting to tear up the secret manual in his hand.

But the four Martial Masters at the Great Success of External Energy who were besieging him did not rush forward; a dying tiger still has its might! Not to mention, Xue Qingshan was only old, not yet dead!

Before he died, he could definitely unleash one more burst of Dark Energy to take a Martial Master with him to the grave!

"Zhang Yong, Xia He, Lin Jiu?"

He looked at the sky and found it was already early morning, and dawn was breaking.

Pfft! Pfft!

Xia He hurriedly stretched out his arms to protect his head, face, and other vital areas, feeling a sour numbness in his hand, followed immediately by sharp pain, as if he had been stung several times by wasps.

Bang!

After another clash of palms, she fell to the ground, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.

"Haha!"

Behind Aaron, footsteps sounded; it was Si Niangzi.

In the distance, there were even sounds of troops passing by.

……

The next moment, her mouth was covered.

"Master Yu can do as he pleases." Sure enough, Si Niangzi breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest: "There is rice and flour in the house... it's just that, if these chaotic troops plunder, I don't know what to do?"

Zhang Yong looked at the masked man and shouted.

That thin, tall Martial Master let out a miserable cry, and then there was no more.

The one who spoke most arrogantly and Lin Jiu had rushed too far forward and were directly beaten into a honeycomb.

When he climbed over the wall to leave, he saw flames rising from the Wuguan and could not help but fall silent.

Still the same point: as long as the other side did not intend to massacre the city, Aaron could just find any civilian house to hide in, and it would not be a big deal.

Si Niang was immediately scared pale, while Aaron made a gesture for silence, leaned against the door panel, and looked at the street through the crack in the door.

Bang!

Xue Qingshan's feint to tear the manual just now was only a bluff; after all, he knew that after today, the Qingshan Martial Arts Hall would inevitably cease to exist.

Anyway, it was a total mess outside now; these bandit corpses could just be thrown to the side of the road, and someone would naturally clean them up.

Aaron stood out from the darkness, calculating the difficulty of taking the other side down: 'All are at the Great Success of External Energy, and he is injured... there is a chance, but I must also be careful that he doesn't destroy the secret manual... Sigh, what a pity, if he hadn't discovered me just now, I would have directly ambushed and killed him!'

Li Qinglan also defended with the Black Sand Palm, palm shadows fluttering; for a moment, it actually made Li Qinglan somewhat dazed, thinking it was still a fellow sect member sparring and exchanging blows.

His palms trembled as he reached into his bosom and pulled out a handwritten copy: "The Six-fold Black Sand Palm Method, along with the Medicine Sand Secret Recipe, are all in this book... but there is only one copy, who should this old man give it to?"

She washed her face clean, the look of panic having diminished quite a bit, and said softly: "Nannan is already asleep... Master Yu, what exactly is going on outside?"

For any Secret Transmission martial art, the accompanying training medicinal recipe is something even more precious than the martial arts manual itself!

Zhang Yong did not suspect anything; he flipped the manual to the last few pages, tore off the paper containing the 'Medicine Sand Secret Recipe', and tossed the handwritten copy to Aaron: "Good, Junior Brother is straightforward, let's do it this way!"

Zhang Yong said with great apprehension.

The tall and thin Martial Master stepped forward, and Li Qinglan closed her eyes in despair.

He felt that to be able to come up with such a proper method so quickly, this Junior Brother was indeed a talent!

"Many thanks!"

The tall and thin Martial Master cursed: "This is all that old ghost's fault!"

Private residence.

Xia He had no time to react before his face was smashed in directly, and he fell to the ground and died.

"All I want is the Dark Energy manual!"

Zhang Yong was overjoyed, stepped forward to grab the manual, and began to flip through it with great delight: "It's real... this old immortal's martial arts have finally all been obtained by me! Hmm? Who is it?"

Just at this moment, a gust of wind rose suddenly by her ear.

"There was likely an inside man last night, and then the city fell..." Aaron briefly explained the situation: "Now this Taize Prefecture City is under the control of the Yellow Ant Thieves, uh, I'm just saying it like that, you should call them the righteous army when you go out later... otherwise, I'm afraid there will be trouble."

Aaron did not say much more and directly struck the wall beside him with a palm.

This old man had always kept a trick up his sleeve; no one knew about this hidden weapon skill.

"You recognize me, so you really were someone who came to learn boxing before! Traitor!"

The room was filled with the atmosphere of spring.

A voice immediately came from inside: "Who is it?"

If he destroyed the manual, those with insatiable desires would surely spend their entire lives hunting down his children and descendants.

He died...

Aaron turned and left.

"You don't need to know, you only need to know that I also want the manual in your hands..." Aaron replied in a hoarse voice: "Make a copy for me, and I will turn and leave! Everything here will be yours."

Si Niangzi smiled, her beautiful eyes darting, and asked again: "Has Master Yu's business been taken care of?"

Aaron went back and forth a few times, cleaned up the corpse, then closed the door, and prepared to stay here for a few days.

"Heh heh... dog eat dog..." she sneered disdainfully: "Kill or carve me as you please, but don't even think about making me betray my sect!"

"Don't, don't..."

Facing the siege, Xue Qingshan threw away the manual directly, and iron marbles flew out from between his hands!

Hidden weapon!

After all, he was a Ming Jin Martial Master; after the surprise, his ears twitched, and he looked at Aaron who was approaching.

'What a pity...'

"The shop will open as usual!"

"Old thing... you can actually still fire two shots of Dark Energy?"

Si Niang said, both shy and anxious: "Nannan... Nannan is still... there is someone outside!"

"Black Sand Palm? Ming Jin Great Success? Which Junior Brother is this?"

At this time, a large number of footsteps suddenly came from the street.

He lunged forward, his palms striking out in succession.

"The prefecture office has fallen, the Prefecture Master is dead, will you not surrender yet?"

"Everyone, live your lives in peace!"

(End of this chapter)