Chapter 52: Life 58, Age 60, Martial Grandmaster 5
The leader screamed as he ran at me.
He activated some type of earth qi technique, but I didn’t stand around and wait for it this time. I used a Master-level movement technique to blink forward right in front of him. I simply tapped his fist and the gathered qi dispersed. Then, I slapped him hard enough to make him fly to the side and fall to the ground, though I had to use a little energy to stabilize his body so his neck didn’t just snap.
The facts were simple. Martial Disciples cannot fight a Grandmaster. Ignoring everything else, a meridian-strengthened body can handle anything an average disciple can throw out.
I walked to where the leader was lying on the ground. He was big and burly, but he couldn’t have been older than eighteen or nineteen. I did my best to loom over him.
“Are you ready to talk now?” I asked.
“You better pay the toll and compensate us for our injuries!” he shouted. “You don’t know what you’ve done. We are Boss Hong’s men. If you touch us, Boss Hong will make you regret it.”
“And who is Boss Hong?” I asked.
“Hah! What are you, a bumpkin? Boss Hong is the master of this territory. He is a Martial Disciple 9! You might have been able to defeat me, but you’ll never be able to touch Boss Hong. Kowtow and admit your mistakes or Boss Hong will teach you what it means to be mortal.” The boy’s face showed a confidence I couldn’t understand. He was lying in the dirt, covered in wounds, and he was still threatening me.
I wanted to use these kids to show me exactly where to find the technique hall and other hidden caches of knowledge, but since Boss Hong was their leader, he should know more.