Chapter 64: The Chu Family’s Inheritance
Hearing this, Tang Chuxia said coldly, "Tang Mu is a member of my Tang Family. So what if I protect him? If you have a problem with it, then let’s fight."
"Heh. I’ve long heard that you, Tang Chuxia, are a Martial Dao expert. But poison is your real specialty. Without it, you’re no match for me. If you want a fight, bring it on," Zhao Qinghan said icily.
"Is that so? Then let’s see about that." Unwilling to back down, Tang Chuxia drew a whip from her waist in a flash.
"Sword!" Zhao Qinghan said to Zhao Quan.
"Sister Qinghan, catch!" Zhao Quan drew a sword and tossed it to Zhao Qinghan.
The Tang Family was backed by the Qing Gang and famous for its poisons; they were considered slightly weaker in the Martial Dao. It was surprising that Tang Chuxia was confident enough to challenge Zhao Qinghan.
As she caught the sword thrown by Zhao Quan, Zhao Qinghan seemed to transform completely.
Her entire aura shifted. She was like a goddess of war, her beautiful eyes radiating a chilling killing intent.
Seeing Zhao Qinghan with sword in hand, Tang Chuxia advanced, swinging her whip and lashing out at her opponent.
In response, Zhao Qinghan slashed out with her longsword.
CLANG!
The sword and whip crashed together, letting out a sharp ring like clashing steel and sending sparks flying.
From the very first exchange, both women went all out, not daring to be the least bit careless.
Zhao Qinghan stabbed, then flicked her longsword upward. The whistling gleam of the blade was so sharp it could make one’s face ache.
Although Tang Chuxia’s long whip gave her a longer reach than Zhao Qinghan, for Zhao Qinghan, the extended range was no cause for fear.
Her longsword moved like a roaming dragon, its strikes unpredictable. Every attack left Tang Chuxia scrambling.
"Tang Chuxia, if this is all you’ve got, you’re no match for me," Zhao Qinghan sneered.
Not long after the fight began, the outcome was already clear.
Although Tang Chuxia was a powerful combatant, she was ultimately outmatched when facing Zhao Qinghan.
"Hmph!" Tang Chuxia’s expression was grim. Still unyielding, she snorted coldly and swung her whip at Zhao Qinghan again.
CRACK!
The whip lashed out. Zhao Qinghan dodged, and it struck the ground with a thunderous sound.
The expensive marble tiles on the floor shattered on impact.
But as the whip fell, Zhao Qinghan used an uncanny Step Skill to charge straight toward Tang Chuxia.
SHIING!
The razor-sharp longsword whistled as it sliced through the air.
In a flash, the flat of the blade was pressed against Tang Chuxia’s neck.
With the slightest movement from Zhao Qinghan, blood would gush from Tang Chuxia’s neck.
Tang Chuxia’s face was deathly pale, her eyes filled with indignation.
"I lost," she said with a sigh.
Zhao Qinghan withdrew her longsword. "Your loss was inevitable," she said lightly. "Without using poison, you’re simply not my opponent."
The Tang Family was a Sect known for its skill with poisons. When it came to the Martial Dao, they weren’t particularly impressive.
’If I were to kill Tang Chuxia, I’d have to pay a price myself.’
This was why many Sects in the Martial Arts World held the Tang Family in contempt.
"Thank you. I’ll go back and handle the matter with Tang Mu." Tang Chuxia gave Zhao Qinghan one last deep look before leaving.
Zhao Quan, standing to the side, looked completely baffled. He couldn’t understand why Zhao Qinghan hadn’t killed Tang Chuxia.
"Sister Qinghan, why didn’t you take that chance to finish her off?" Zhao Quan asked.
"What do you know? I had her suppressed, and she would have died with a single move, but she still had tricks she hadn’t used. Even if I had killed her, it would have been a huge hassle for me. All that matters is that we achieved our goal. Her going back to warn Tang Mu is enough. If this happens again, I won’t be so soft-hearted," Zhao Qinghan said.
Anyone from a Martial Arts Clan understood the importance of being decisive.
It was simply a matter of not having the right opportunity. If one presented itself, the fight between them would surely be to the death.
"Sister Qinghan, we brought antidotes for all of the Tang Family’s poisons before we came out. What the hell is there to be afraid of?" Zhao Quan said, vexed. ’That was a perfect opportunity.’
"There’s no rush. The Martial Arts Grand Ceremony is next year. We’ll settle all our old and new scores then!" Zhao Qinghan said.
After all, the Qing Gang backing the Tang Family hadn’t just offended the Zhao Family. The Chu Family and Sword King Valley also held deep-seated grudges against them.
"Sigh, to miss such a good opportunity," Zhao Quan gritted his teeth in frustration.
’But there’s nothing to be done. Even if I had killed Tang Chuxia, so what? It would only intensify the conflict between the Zhao and Tang Families. It might even push them into an all-out war.’
「Elsewhere」
Chu Feng got home from work and brought up the matter of the Chu Family’s secret manuals with Chu Yuntian.
Chu Yuntian didn’t hesitate, simply handing a wooden box to Chu Feng.
"Everything in here belonged to your grandfather. There was originally a fine sword, too. It hasn’t rusted in decades and is still incredibly sharp, but I couldn’t get it through the security check, so I didn’t bring it," Chu Yuntian said.
Chu Feng was surprised to hear this.
"I’ll make a trip back home when I have time. For now, I’ll take these and have a look."
"Alright. Now that they’re in your hands, cherish them. Learn what you can from them. After all, it’s always good to know some martial arts for self-defense," Chu Yuntian said with a nod.
These could be considered the only things Chu Feng’s grandfather had left behind.
Even when Chu Yuntian had injured his leg years ago and had no money for treatment, he had never considered selling them.
After all, if sold to a knowledgeable buyer, these items would undoubtedly fetch a high price.
Carrying the wooden box, Chu Feng returned to his room.
When Su Miaoke saw Chu Feng carrying the wooden box, her eyes lit up. "Is that it?" she asked.
"Yes," Chu Feng nodded.
Chu Feng then placed the box on the bed and opened it.
Inside the box was a piece of yellow cloth. Lifting it away revealed several yellowed books.
*Taiqing True Scripture*
*Taiqing Palm Skill*
*Taiqing Sword Technique*
There were three books in total. The first was a true scripture for Cultivation; breakthroughs in the Martial Dao realms all depended on this book.
It could be said that every Martial Arts Clan had its own unique cultivation true scripture.
The true scripture was the very foundation of a Martial Arts Clan.
The second, needless to say, was a Palm Skill, suitable for both men and women.
The third was a Sword Technique. Unfortunately, Chu Feng didn’t have a sword at the moment. It, too, could be cultivated by both men and women.
The books didn’t look particularly impressive; in fact, they seemed quite plain and unremarkable. But one glance was enough to tell they were ancient.
An uninformed person would likely assume they were complete fabrications.
"This is great! Does this mean I can cultivate these Cultivation Techniques too?" Su Miaoke said excitedly.