Chapter 79 : Chapter 79
Chapter 79. Tieyi Gong Achieved!
At dusk that day,
inside the quiet room, Xu Yuan stood bare-chested. Qi and blood coursed faintly through his body, and his skin carried an extremely faint bronze sheen.
With a low shout, he circulated the technique into his back and swung his arm, forcibly smashing the ironwood stake before him in two!
Clang!
The sound was sharp, like metal striking stone!
[Skills: Taiji Fist Exercises (Perfection 100%), Yutai Stance Art (Entry 63%), Benlei Fist (Major Mastery 27%), Youlong Step (Minor Mastery 4%), Tieyi Gong (Minor Mastery 1%)]
[Aptitude: 23 (Promising Talent, Uncut Jade)]
“It’s done!”
A sharp gleam flashed through Xu Yuan’s eyes. Tieyi Gong had finally reached Minor Mastery, bringing him yet another 1-point increase in aptitude!
With his defense greatly strengthened, ordinary blunt attacks could hardly injure him at all now.
Xu Yuan picked up a long blade and dragged it across his body, leaving behind only a faint white mark. Unless sufficient qi, blood, and force were infused into the weapon, it would be difficult to easily break through his skin and flesh.
At this moment, he had Minor Mastery force for offense, Tieyi Gong for defense, and Youlong Step for advancing, retreating, shifting, and evading.
Though his cultivation was still at the Fourth Meridian, his overall combat strength had already far surpassed others of the same realm. It could be called a comprehensive improvement in every aspect.
…
Meanwhile, on Fu’an Street,
the atmosphere in the Street Guard courtyard was somewhat oppressive.
After several days of recuperation, Xu Tianlong’s injuries were no longer a serious issue, though his movements still carried a slight stiffness when he walked.
But compared with his injuries, the frustration in his heart was even more unbearable.
He had turned down all social engagements and resolved to shut himself away behind closed doors.
Yet that afternoon, an uninvited guest arrived.
A Street Guard from a neighboring street was hosting a small gathering and had invited several familiar acquaintances, specially sending someone to bring Xu Tianlong as well.
Xu Tianlong had not wanted to go, but the messenger spoke with great sincerity and said that several old friends would also be there. After hesitating again and again, he ultimately changed clothes and went out.
The banquet was set in a private room at Drunken Immortal Tower.
By the time he arrived, five or six familiar Street Guards were already there. Seeing Xu Tianlong enter, they all rose to greet him, though each of them carried a somewhat strange look in their eyes.
Xu Tianlong forced himself to remain composed, exchanged pleasantries, and took his seat.
After three rounds of wine, the atmosphere gradually warmed.
Everyone deliberately avoided the topic of Changning Street and spoke only of idle pleasures and trivial affairs, so the scene remained fairly harmonious on the surface.
Xu Tianlong’s mood improved quite a bit. He picked up a piece of fish and tasted it, then frowned. “Who cooked this fish? Why is the meat so fishy?”
“What fishy? Looks to me like this fish is lame—and it even made itself lame!”
At that moment, a somewhat frivolous laugh came from outside. The curtain was lifted, and another person walked in.
This man looked to be a little over thirty, tall and thin, with a slight flush of wine on his face, though his eyes were quite lively.
Hearing the undisguised mockery, Xu Tianlong slammed down his chopsticks and looked at the newcomer with a dark expression. “Yang Feng, what exactly do you mean by that?”
This man was named Yang Feng, Street Guard of Fufeng Street. What he was most famous for was his Gale Step. Among martial artists of the same realm, his movement speed was considered outstanding.
“I don’t mean anything.”
Yang Feng strode in carelessly. Without waiting for anyone to greet him, he found an empty seat and sat down on his own. His gaze circled Xu Tianlong’s face once before he suddenly let out a sneer.
“I heard that a few days ago, Boss Xu exchanged blows with that Xu Yuan, only to get dragged around in circles like a dog a few times before being knocked flat with a single punch?”
At this point, his voice suddenly rose:
“You’ve been in the Fourth Meridian for years, yet you got beaten so badly by some yellow-haired brat that you were crawling all over the ground looking for your teeth. You’ve really brought great honor to our Bai family!”
His words were not loud, but they were more than enough for everyone at the table to hear clearly.
The private room instantly fell silent.
Several of the Street Guards looked embarrassed and only lowered their heads to drink.
Xu Tianlong’s grip on his wine cup tightened abruptly, his knuckles turning white. His face flushed red with startling speed, yet he did not know how to respond.
After all, he really had lost badly that day.
“Yang Feng, you’ve had too much to drink!” the middle-aged Street Guard hosting the banquet said with a frown.
“This is nothing yet.” Yang Feng was completely unconcerned. He kept staring at Xu Tianlong, his eyes full of ridicule.
“I’m saying, Xu Tianlong, it’s one thing that you’ve been stuck at the Fourth Meridian for so long that your qi and blood have started declining, but how did you still end up beaten into this state even while wearing treasure armor?”
“And now, when we stand in front of those Street Guards from the Shangyang family, it’s like we’re a head shorter for no reason.”
“Yang Feng!” Xu Tianlong slammed his wine cup onto the table, splashing wine everywhere, and suddenly stood up in a fury. “Are your hands itching? You want to trade a few moves with me?”
“What, did I hit a sore spot?” Yang Feng also stood up, refusing to back down in the slightest.
“If you’ve got no ability, you’re not even letting others say it? If you really had the guts, go find that Xu Yuan right now and win back your face. What kind of skill is it to roar at me?”
“You think you could do anything to him?” Xu Tianlong was so furious he laughed instead. A malicious fire surged in his heart, and he deliberately provoked him:
“Yes, that’s right. That brat is only relying on his slick movement technique and Minor Mastery fist force. Aren’t you, Yang Feng, always boasting about your movement skill?”
“If you’ve got the guts, go try him. Don’t end up like me and get played around like a monkey too. If that happens, the name of your Gale Step will become a complete joke!”
“Bullshit!”
Yang Feng’s temperament was always erratic. Hearing this, he flew into a rage. “His lousy little Youlong Step is only enough to deal with fools like you!”
“I’ll go to Changning Street tomorrow and show you what real movement technique looks like. If I don’t beat him until he kneels and begs for mercy, then from now on I’ll take your surname!”
“Good! You said that yourself!”
Xu Tianlong sneered inwardly, though outwardly he put on the look of someone whose provocation had succeeded. “Tomorrow at noon, I’ll be waiting on Fu’an Street to hear your good news. Don’t lose your nerve.”
“Whoever loses his nerve is a damned grandson!” Yang Feng threw down the harsh words. He did not even stay to drink, instead storming out in anger and slamming the door behind him.
Seeing the atmosphere in the private room become even more awkward, the hosting Street Guard shook his head repeatedly. “Brother Xu, you know perfectly well that Yang Feng is a strange one by nature. He can’t stand even the slightest provocation.”
Xu Tianlong ignored him. He picked up his wine cup and drained it in one go, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone present.
“I imagine all of you think the same—that I, Xu Tianlong, am incompetent?”
The other Street Guards’ eyes flickered, but none answered. They neither agreed nor denied it.
“Good.” Xu Tianlong let out a cold laugh, his voice strangely calm. “Then tomorrow, all of you can go and see for yourselves. You can even try him yourselves if you want.”
“Let’s see whether I, Xu Tianlong, am truly just that useless—or whether that Xu Yuan really does have some skill!”
The Street Guard hosting the banquet pointed at him and sighed, shaking his head. “You, honestly…”
“What of it? If Yang Feng hadn’t deliberately come to needle me, why would I have bothered provoking him?” Xu Tianlong said with a gloomy face.
But even as he spoke, a trace of satisfaction flickered deep in his eyes.
Yang Feng might be arrogant and conceited, but his movement technique truly was impressive. Rumor had it that his Gale Step was already close to Minor Mastery, making him extremely fast.
If he went to trouble Xu Yuan, then no matter who won or lost, it would not be bad for Xu Tianlong.
If Xu Yuan lost, then Xu Tianlong would get to vent some of his anger. If Yang Feng lost… that would be even more delightful to watch.
Yet in the depths of his heart, he still vaguely felt that Yang Feng might not necessarily come away with the advantage.
He had personally experienced how slippery and tenacious that brat Xu Yuan was. He was absolutely not someone easy to deal with.
“Enough, enough. Don’t let this little matter ruin everyone’s mood. It’s rare that we’ve all managed to gather together—come on, let’s keep drinking!”
Seeing the atmosphere turn cold, the hosting Street Guard quickly called everyone back to their seats.
Naturally, no one would reject him outright. They all raised their cups, and the scene once more resumed its lively appearance of shared wine and cheerful talk. Only, every now and then, when their eyes swept over Xu Tianlong, they still carried traces of doubt and contempt.
…