Chapter 17: Sparring

Tingyu Study.

Listening to Yin Chengtao's account, Yin Xuan was shocked, furious, and fearful.

The Caohe Gang was clearly determined to fight the Yin family to the death.

According to Yin Chengtao, they were ambushed by bandits on their way to Hangzhou. It was obvious they were Caohe Gang members in disguise, but the gang had not expected Master Chen to be guarding the caravan.

Despite there being over fifty of them, Master Chen had beaten them all to the ground.

If not for Yin Chengtao's instructions, these people would likely have all died. It was also Yin Chengtao's first time witnessing the power of a martial artist.

He had thought that after this incident, the Caohe Gang would know to retreat.

But who would have thought that on the return journey, they would encounter another ambush? This time there were over two hundred people, all wielding axes or broadswords, which nearly scared Yin Chengtao to death.

In the end, it was Master Chen who turned the tide. He had Yin Chengtao and the others retreat to high ground, while he stood alone with a long staff, holding the pass against ten thousand, single-handedly crushing the siege of over two hundred men.

Even so, quite a few people were killed, and even more were injured.

Overall, it was a narrow escape.

A fierce look flashed in Yin Xuan's eyes as he said in a deep voice, "Father, this matter absolutely cannot be left at that."

Yin Chengtao nodded and said coldly, "Of course, this cannot be left at that. I have a close friend from my school days who is currently serving in the Ministry of Personnel in the capital. I originally didn't want to disturb him, but I already wrote to him while in Hangzhou. As long as he sends a letter, the Prefect will not dare to ignore it."

Serving in the Ministry of Personnel—even if it were just a minor official, the local Prefect would not dare to offend them.

No matter how powerful the Caohe Gang was, as long as the Prefect took action, they would be wiped out in an instant.

Unless they dared to rebel.

But a mere gang, how could they have the heart to rebel?

Yin Xuan suppressed his anger and said calmly, "From Hangzhou to the capital, it will take at least a month and a half to go back and forth. Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. Father, what should we do next?"

"Talk!"

Yin Chengtao said in a deep voice, "Send someone to the Caohe Gang with an invitation. I want to host a banquet for him at the Li Family Building."

"Talk!?"

Yin Xuan was startled and puzzled.

The Caohe Gang had already torn off the mask with the Yin family, it was a fight to the death, and the Yin family had already prepared a backup plan to eradicate them. Why talk now?

Yin Chengtao looked at Yin Xuan calmly and taught him patiently, "Just as you said, distant water cannot save us from immediate fire, so we need to stall. First, drag the Caohe Gang along while paralyzing them. With Master Chen here, we are not without the strength to fight the Caohe Gang. If water transport doesn't work in the future, we can just take the land route. This is our bargaining chip for negotiations with the Caohe Gang."

Yin Xuan was secretly shocked and had to admire Yin Chengtao's shrewdness.

The Yin family had a large business and didn't need to show off temporary courage; the one who laughs last is the winner.

"Alright Father, I will go handle it later."

After discussing business, Yin Chengtao turned to ask, "By the way, while I was away, how has that little beast been?"

Yin Xuan smiled and said, "Father, Second Brother has truly become a different person. These days he has been practicing martial arts in the courtyard. According to the servants, one can even hear him practicing at night."

"Is that so!"

Yin Chengtao was surprised, but more than that, he was happy.

Although his youngest son was good-for-nothing, he was his son after all; how could he not care?

He thought for a moment and said, "Since he has been very well-behaved during this time, then end his confinement. By the way, I have an appointment with Lv Xianba tonight; let him go too, to see the world. In the future, he should start getting involved in the family business. Also, call Master Chen."

………

Before Master Chen even approached the courtyard, he keenly heard the sound of air exploding from within.

A bright light flashed in his eyes, and he couldn't help but quicken his pace.

Before long, he arrived at the courtyard gate and saw a nimble figure practicing punches. The technique was fierce and sharp; every time he threw a punch, it made a popping sound, which was astonishing.

"Bright Jin!"

"How is this possible!?"

Master Chen was shocked. He had only been gone for a few days, yet Yin Qi had actually mastered Bright Jin.

Don't look at Bright Jin as just the first realm of martial arts; in reality, if one out of ten martial practitioners can master it, it is already remarkable, and all of them require years of hard training.

Even those with exceptional talent need at least a month or two.

But Yin Qi? It had only been ten days.

Ten days to Bright Jin—if this were to spread, the entire martial arts world would likely be shaken.

Suddenly, Master Chen felt a desire to cherish talent.

After finishing the fist technique once more, Yin Qi's blood was boiling and his breathing was rapid. His face was flushed red, and his forehead was covered in dense, tiny beads of sweat.

"Hoo... hoo..."

Yin Qi exhaled a long breath of turbid air and heard the sound of clapping from the courtyard gate.

He turned his head and saw Master Chen walking over, clapping his hands, praising, "Second Young Master, you truly surprise this old man. In a mere eight days, you have already mastered Bright Jin. Such speed, if not unprecedented, is at least unheard of."

"It is all thanks to Master Chen's good teaching!"

Yin Qi smiled gently, not becoming arrogant.

He knew his own situation; he might have good talent for martial arts, but without the Peiyuan Pill and the medicinal bath, it would have taken him at least half a year to reach Bright Jin.

Master Chen smiled and didn't take Yin Qi's flattery to heart.

He said, "Second Young Master, although you have mastered Bright Jin, you lack practical combat experience. Martial arts cannot be practiced behind closed doors. How about this, let's spar."

"Alright, then please give me your guidance, Master Chen!"

Yin Qi's spirit was stirred, eager to try.

Master Chen said, "You attack!"

Yin Qi nodded. He let out a low shout, his feet stomping hard on the ground like drills, and he pounced out like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, arriving in front of Master Chen in an instant, striking out with an elbow strike.

Master Chen stepped back slightly, just enough to avoid the elbow, causing Yin Qi's attack to miss.

Although it was only a difference of half an inch, that half-inch was indeed a chasm.

"When facing an enemy, do not exhaust your strength. As the saying goes, the force of a strong crossbow cannot penetrate thin silk. That is your situation right now. There is no need to fight force with force; just by opening up the distance, no matter how fierce your strength is, it is in vain."

While dodging, Master Chen did not forget to instruct Yin Qi.

Yin Qi was thoughtful. He changed his move again, his body coiled like a bow and his punch shot out like an arrow. Because he was worried about Master Chen opening the distance again, he advanced sharply, leaving only half a meter between them.

At such a short distance, Master Chen's retreating speed was definitely not as fast as his punching speed.

A look of appreciation flashed in Master Chen's eyes. This time he did not retreat, but swung his right arm violently, brushing across Yin Qi's face, his five fingers forming a claw. Once touched, his eyes would be clawed blind.

Yin Qi was shocked and hurriedly withdrew his move to retreat.

Master Chen did not pursue, letting Yin Qi attack again, continuously feeding him moves, as if he wanted to show Yin Qi every situation encountered in combat one by one.

Yin Qi naturally understood Master Chen's intention. He frantically thought of ways to attack, quickly absorbing the lessons.

With each attack, his moves became sharper and tighter, from being forced back by one move at the beginning to being able to trade a dozen moves with Master Chen in the end.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 18 =====