Becoming a Saint Starts with Copying Martial Arts

Chapter 23 The Gift of the Sword

Cheng Yannian's eyes lit up, and he clapped repeatedly: "Excellent! This strike is completely unlike what a novice who has only learned the sword technique for seven days could produce. Even I can't find a single flaw. Have you ever encountered this sword technique before?"

Lin Qing sheathed his sword: "Never."

"That's purely based on talent. Not bad, a promising young man. Work hard today and try to pass the re-examination in six months." Cheng Yannian said, turning to instruct his attendant, "Go to my study and fetch the Cold Shadow Blade hanging on the wall."

"Yes, sir!"

The attendant acted quickly, retrieving the knife in about ten breaths.

"This knife is one of my favorites from when I was young. It can cut through iron like mud. Take it, but don't disgrace it." Cheng Yannian said, tossing it over his shoulder. Lin Qing reached out and caught the knife firmly in his palm.

With a clang, Lin Qing pulled half of the blade out, revealing pale gold patterns engraved on it. In the sunlight, the blade gleamed with a cold light, incredibly sharp.

"A fine blade!" Lin Qing sheathed his sword. "Rest assured, Lord Cheng, I will certainly not let you down."

Cheng Yannian nodded slightly: "Yang Feng, come with me!"

"Yes, sir!"

The two walked into the attic one after the other. Lin Qing turned and walked towards the corpse collector's courtyard. Halfway there, a figure suddenly appeared from the side.

"Lin Qing, Lord Pang invites you to come with me." The man who came was an old man dressed in a gray-blue outfit.

"Okay." Lin Qing's heart stirred slightly, but he didn't dare to refuse. After all, Pang Tong was the director of the Night Patrol Division, and he couldn't refuse him for both reason and emotion.

The two arrived at a courtyard one after the other, in the northeast corner of the corpse collector's courtyard, about a few hundred steps away. The environment inside was quiet and secluded, with a pond and a rockery next to it.

Lin Qing entered the courtyard and saw Pang Tong with his back to him, his head slightly tilted back, seemingly gazing at something.

"My lord, Lin Qing has arrived," the old man said in a low voice.

"Go down."

"Yes."

After the old man left, Pang Tong turned around, and a surging aura rushed towards him, like a fierce tiger in the mountains.

Lin Qing's heart stirred slightly. If a Dark Force martial artist was already this powerful, he wondered how strong a Transformation Force martial artist would be.

These past few days, he's spent his free time chatting with Yu Qiuyu, which has given him a better understanding of martial arts. Ming Jin, An Jin, and Hua Jin are the first three stages of martial arts.

For example, Yang Feng and Jiang Baihe are both at the peak of Ming Jin (manifest strength), while the three giants, Pang Tong, are all at the level of An Jin (hidden strength), and Cheng Yannian is at the level of Hua Jin (transformation strength).

Of course, all this information came from Yu Qiuyu, and Lin Qing had no way to verify its authenticity; he could only take it as a reference.

"Lin Qing, I heard that Yang Feng has taken you as his disciple?" Pang Tong looked him over for a while and then said in a deep voice.

His voice was loud and clear, and coupled with his fierce eyes and violent temperament, ordinary people would be unsteady on their feet if they stood in front of him. Fortunately, Lin Qing had a good mental fortitude and was not affected in any way. He simply cupped his hands slightly and said, "I just performed the apprenticeship ceremony a few days ago."

"That's right, but what Yang Feng can give you, I can give you too, and even double it. Are you willing to work for me?" Pang Tong suddenly said.

"Sir, I don't understand what you mean?" Lin Qing asked, looking puzzled.

"Working for me and following Yang Feng are two different things. I think you're a talented person, but following Yang Feng won't lead to anything. If you follow me, I guarantee you'll be rich and worry-free." Pang Tong said, sitting down on a large golden nanmu chair next to him.

"I am deeply grateful for your high regard, but I have only just become your disciple. If word gets out that I will be ridiculed by others," Lin Qing said, looking troubled.

"This is easy. You can continue to be Yang Feng's apprentice, but work for me behind the scenes. In return, I'll give you whatever you want: silver, tonics, martial arts skills." Pang Tong stared intently at Lin Qing.

Lin Qing hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "My lord, please allow me to go back and consider this for three days before making a decision."

"At such a young age, you can't even make this much of a decision? Fine, go back and think it over carefully." Pang Tong waved his hand, a hint of impatience on his face.

Lin Qing bowed and left. Stepping out of the courtyard, he took a deep breath and decided to immediately seek advice from Yang Feng.

He had long known that the infighting within the Soul Suppression Division was intense, but he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.

He was determined not to betray Yang Feng. First, Pang Tong and Jiang Baihe were of the same ilk, and he was destined not to associate with Jiang Baihe. Second, in life, one should act with integrity and honesty. To become an apprentice one day and then betray him the next was too dishonest, and he couldn't do it.

...

In a short while.

The compound of corpse collectors.

Inside the inner courtyard, in the east wing room.

When Lin Qing met Yang Feng, he quickly recounted what had just happened.

Upon hearing this, Yang Feng frowned slightly and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"That old dog Pang Tong, he's really despicable!"

Lin Qing didn't dare to respond. He really didn't want to get involved and just wanted to practice martial arts quietly.

"Lin Qing, this matter involves the struggle for power in the Soul Suppression Division and even the entire Jiangyin County. Pang Tong is backed by the Han family, while I am backed by Chief Envoy Cheng, who is from the Zhenhun Division of the prefecture."

"This matter is complicated, but don't worry, even if you refuse, Pang Tong won't dare to do anything to you. With Chief Envoy Cheng above him, he won't be allowed to act recklessly," Yang Feng said coldly.

"Understood, Master," Lin Qingying replied.

"Alright, you can go now. Pang Tong will send someone to find you again in a few days. Just refuse them," Yang Feng instructed.

"Alright, then this disciple will take his leave." Lin Qing turned and left, feeling very uneasy.

He just wanted to quietly collect the corpses and practice martial arts, but the tree wanted to be still while the wind kept blowing. Who knew if the turmoil caused by the factional struggle would affect him?

"Strength is fundamental; I must improve my strength as soon as possible," Lin Qing thought to himself.

in the room.

Yang Feng gazed at Lin Qing's retreating figure through the window and murmured, "I knew I hadn't misjudged him."

...

A few days later, Pang Tong didn't send anyone over again, but new troubles came knocking.

On this day, he was practicing the Eight Strikes of the Serpent in the training ground.

Halfway through the practice, suddenly, a beautiful figure appeared at the gate; it was none other than Yu Muqing, the director of the Yin-Yang Division.

Everyone looked fearful, stopped what they were doing, and greeted him in unison, "Greetings, Lord Yu!"

Lin Qing felt the same way. He recalled Yu Qiuyu's evaluation of Mu Qing a few days ago, saying that she was an extremely cold-blooded person who never smiled, and who acted swiftly and ruthlessly.

As he was pondering this, he suddenly noticed that Yu Muqing's gaze had fallen on him, her eyes filled with extreme indifference.

"Your name is Lin Qing?"

"Yes."

Lin Qing replied that when he was face to face with Yu Muqing, he could also feel a sense of oppression. However, Yu Muqing's temperament was different from Pang Tong's. Pang Tong was ruthless, while Yu Muqing was chillingly cold.

"Lin Qing, someone reported to the Yin-Yang Bureau that you have an eight-armed wooden statue. Is this true or false?" Yu Muqing asked coldly.

"My lord, I have never seen such a wooden statue before. Please investigate thoroughly." Lin Qing's heart skipped a beat, but he did not panic. Unless there was irrefutable evidence, he could not admit it. Moreover, he could tell from Yu Muqing's tone that he was not sure, which meant that it was just a guess.

"Yes and no, it's no use what you say, come with me!" Yu Muqing reached out to grab Lin Qing's shoulder.

Lin Qing's heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself that this was troublesome. If Yu Muqing took him away, there would probably be big problems later.

Just then, another person appeared at the courtyard gate; it was Shen Cheng.

"Master Yu, why target a newcomer? The wooden statue isn't in his hands; you should look for someone else."