Chapter 238

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Chapter 238: Heavenly Dragon Eight Steps

Cold, damp.

The cold fish were slapped randomly on his face.

When Qiao Mu regained consciousness, this was his first feeling.

He opened his eyes and felt surrounded by darkness. He was in a big water tank, and the top seemed to be covered by something with no light coming through.

"Not dead?"

Qiao Mu checked his body and felt a dull tearing pain inside. His ears were buzzing, but the surface of his body seemed to have some kind of healing medicine on it, giving a cool sensation. There was also a strong medicinal smell in his nose.

He didn’t move, but instead, he first recalled his memories before death… no, it was before he lost consciousness.

In his memory, after killing Dao Xu and the Taoist soldier Iron Wolf, he fell into a coma due to injuries from the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method, loss of blood from the Red Moon Burning Blood Technique and Blood Sword Technique.

As for Qiao Xiaoming… Qiao Xiaoming’s body was destroyed by Dao Xu, and Qiao Mu also lost his connection to Qiao Xiaoming, now it seems nonexistent.

Since he’s still alive, he must have fallen into the hands of the wealthy magnate Li Gongde from Zhong Province.

But why does he still have healing supplies? Qiao Mu frowned, immediately thinking of the ruthless Wang Songhe who had saved his life multiple times in the past.

"Wait, this is too strange. If he wanted to save people, why am I in a big water tank, with so many live fish inside?" Qiao Mu closed his eyes, grabbing a fish that was flopping on his face, looking a bit puzzled.

He calmed his mind, trying to ignore the pain all over his body, carefully feeling the movements outside…

This big water tank wasn’t still, at this moment he should be on a large carriage, he could feel the slight bumps of the carriage and faint sounds of horse hooves outside.

He remained silent, as an immortal, he naturally remained unfazed by sudden changes.

At that moment, he didn’t want to alert anyone, but instead sat quietly in a large tub, focusing his mind to slowly heal his wounds by guiding his body to move gently.

Last time when he killed the Copper Body Arhat, Qiao Mu used the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method with just three layers of Wave Strength, so the fight ended quickly and his internal injuries were not too severe.

If he had sought treatment at a regular clinic, it would have taken several years to heal the internal injuries.

With his Shape Changing Skill, it took him about six to seven days.

This time, his injuries were clearly more severe, and healing in six to seven days would not be enough. Although most of the skin injuries on his body had already healed, it appeared that he had received timely treatment after falling unconscious, and the healing medicine used seemed to be quite expensive.

Qiao Mu sat quietly, continuing to heal through his Shape Changing Skill, adapting to changing circumstances.

After about fifteen minutes, the carriage finally came to a stop.

Qiao Mu could faintly hear the sound of rushing water.

It seemed like the carriage had stopped by a big river.

"We finally arrived."

"Master Li has done a lot of good deeds this time." Some people chatted as they unloaded items from the carriage. It was clear that there was more than one water tank on the carriage that Qiao Mu was in.

"This water tank is quite heavy."

"Don’t say unnecessary words, just do as the master instructed."

Before long, Qiao Mu felt the water tank he was in being lifted, and taken about five or six steps away.

Afterwards, the lid of the water tank was opened, allowing light to shine in from above.

Qiao Mu opened his eyes and looked up.

He saw a strong and muscular man standing next to the water tank, staring at him without speaking.

"What a big fish, releasing it this time is another good deed." The man blinked, then lifted the water tank and poured it out.

Qiao Mu: ?

He momentarily stopped struggling, as the big water tank toppled over. Some clear water and fish from the tank spilled out, falling into the rushing river.

Once in the river, the fish around him, struggling for breath, all started swimming. Only he was in the river, eyes open, sinking down.

He felt a bit puzzled… Was he just released like this?

He thought that no matter what Li Gongde wanted to do, they would at least meet face to face, and then he could decide what to do.

Unexpectedly, he didn’t even see Li Gongde’s face, like being released along with the fish from the water tank?

In the midst of confusion, he heard a conversation from a few Li family workers on the river bank:

"Hey, that fishing guy is here again."

"Is he really taking advantage of our Master Li? He always comes here to fish whenever we release the fish?"

"They don’t even bother to cover this up? How dare they come in front of us like this? Isn’t this bullying honest people?"

"Stop talking, let’s go back to the mansion."

"………"

People’s voices faded away, replaced by the sound of horses neighing and wheels creaking.

The carriage went far away, but a person in a straw raincoat appeared on the riverbank, holding a fishing rod, and tossed it into the river.

The fish hook was thrown accurately, piercing through the scattered fish around, and landing right next to Qiao Mu in the water.

Qiao Mu looked closely and saw that the fish hook was straight and had no bait attached.

"Anyone taking the bait?"

He stayed silent in the water for a while, reached out to grab the straight hook, and pondered for a moment.

As expected, in the next moment, there was a huge force on the fishing hook, forcefully pulling him out of the river and onto the surface.

Qiao Mu moved slightly and landed lightly on both feet, looking around.

At this moment, he found himself in the mountains and forests, with no one around except for the fisherman in straw hat. The only traces left by the river were the imprints of wagon wheels, with no sight of the wagon itself.

"Elder Lao is indeed old but spirited. After slaying the Iron Bone Taoist soldier and the inhuman from the Immortal Gate all night, he could still go out for a swim the next day."

The fisherman took off his straw hat, revealing a familiar face.

Qiao Mu was slightly surprised as he had seen this person a few times in the Imperial Capital before – he was the former number one warrior, Condor Wei En.

Known as the "Black Winged Bat King," in the current martial world after the death of the Martial Saint, Condor Wei En ranked first in the lightness skill list on the Martial Arts Ranking List of the Tide Listening Building, being unparalleled in lightness skill.

However, he had disappeared without a trace afterwards, and it was unexpected to meet him in the Great Qin Prefecture today.

"It seems that Elder Lao recognizes Wei En’s face, so there’s no need for me to say much." Wei En keenly noticed Qiao Mu’s expression change and calmly said:

"In the past, I had dealings with Qiao Zhong and Qiao Shuanglin… Of course, that was a few months ago."

A few months ago, when Qiao Mu was still Qiao Shuanglin, the Martial Arts League began to shine in the Imperial Capital, attracting a wave of Spirit Refining martial artists to join.

As the top bounty hunter in the world, Wei En had noticed the existence of the Martial Arts League early on.

So, relying on his excellent light skills, he secretly tracked and investigated the Martial Arts League…

Wei En recalled, "I initially thought the Martial Arts League was just a group of fame-seeking petty thieves, but little did I know that when I went there, I almost didn’t come back after poking the hornet’s nest."

It was only then that Qiao Mu had some recollection.

At the beginning of the rise of the Martial Arts League, they relied on the reputation of Spirit Refining martial artists to make a name for themselves.

Condor Wei En was well-known for his agility and interrogation skills, but his skills in direct combat were lacking, so he became a stepping stone for the Martial Arts League’s fame.

"Are you and Li Gongde working together?" Qiao Mu twisted the water stains on his clothes, then used the Shape Changing Skill to control a slight tremor throughout his skin, causing water droplets on the surface of his skin to splash out.

Li Gongde had just released someone, then Wei En came pretending to be a fisherman. Qiao Mu didn’t believe there was no connection between them.

"That’s not true. I don’t really know Li Gongde," Wei En shook his head.

"As for why I’m here, it’s simply because…"

Just mentioning this topic made Wei En’ expression subtly change.

"I, too, was released by Li Gongde before."

Qiao Mu: Huh?

Wei En didn’t explain much, just stood up, took off his outer and inner garments to reveal his clean but broad back.

On his back was a shocking long scar, located near his spine.

"Months ago, when I was investigating the Martial Arts League, I was defeated by a martial artist and almost died there. I barely escaped using my light skills."

"Later on, being able to survive was also thanks to Li Gongde’s help."

"The reason I came to the Great Qin Prefecture was half to investigate the Martial Arts League, and half to investigate Li Gongde."

Wei En almost died at the hands of the Martial Arts League, and the fact that they even trampled on the reputation of the world’s best martial artist weighed heavily on his mind.

"Elder Lao, please come with me. I have a residence in the mountains with some medicine for healing, to help Elder Lao rest and recover."

Wei En dressed and walked with Qiao Mu, weaving through the mountain paths.

"So, what did you find in your investigation? Do you know what the Martial Arts League is? And who is this Li Gongde?" Qiao Mu asked eagerly.

"Those who combine martial arts and philosophy become Taoist soldiers. Heh."

Wei En shook his head with a bitter smile.

People thought he lost his skills after being injured by the Martial Arts League, but they didn’t know he had been hiding his identity and secretly investigating the League all along.

"Behind the Martial Arts League is the Great Dao Sect. The name of this organization is a joke. Some people in the martial arts world mistakenly believe that King Qin of the Martial Arts League is a great figure in martial arts."

"As for Li Gongde… he is very wealthy."

"Rich, and then what? Who doesn’t know that he is rich?" Qiao Mu was puzzled.

"Does Elder Lao know about the master of the Wan family, Wan Ronghua, in the Imperial Capital back then? In this world, if merchants want to become extremely rich, they must deal with the government and the Immortal Gate."

"Wan Ronghua is like this, and so is Li Gongde."

"As wealthy tycoons in the Imperial Capital holding vast amounts of wealth, no one can stay out of trouble. Instead of just being a wealthy man who keeps to himself, they must take sides."

"What do you want to say?" Qiao Mu asked.

"Li Gongde is known for his kind heart and generosity, he likes to spend money and make friends widely," Wei En said.

"Elder Lao, think about it. If there really is a wealthy person in this world who is kind-hearted and helps the poor, how long do you think he can survive in today’s society?"

Qiao Mu remained speechless.

"If one has good intentions but lacks sharpness, no matter how successful one’s business is or how much wealth one possesses, they will only be seen as a fat pig in the eyes of others."

"Leaving out the Immortal Gate, leaving out the Great Yan Imperial Court… Remember Wan Ronghua, who was once one of the four richest in the Imperial Capital, but the Qiao family member didn’t hesitate to take him down, right?"

In front of true powerful individuals and true big forces, a rich person with lots of money actually doesn’t hold much value.

Their wealth may be impressive to these big forces, but they can’t compete with them on an equal footing.

"I have already told you the reason why I am here," Wei En said honestly.

"So, why did Elder Lao come to Great Qin Prefecture?"

"Do you need a reason to come and kill Dao Xu?" Qiao Mu asked in return.

Wei En hesitated for a moment, then smiled.

He was a famous detective who hated evil, but he was not very powerful. When Dao Xu caused the Inhuman Disaster at the market, he was badly injured and never fully recovered, so he naturally didn’t have a good impression of Dao Xu.

"Elder Lao coming to Great Qin Prefecture probably has more reasons than just that. Dao Xu from the Great Dao Sect has already killed, does that mean they also want to keep King Qin alive?" said Wei En.

Qiao Mu squinted his eyes.

The character of the Qiao family member has been well established, so Wei En didn’t need to guess. He already knew his target.

But that’s not important.

"Elder Lao, I advise you, assassinating King Qin is a serious matter," said Wei En.

"One month ago, the truth about the Inhuman War came out. Three hundred old soldiers and half the city’s women and children emerged from the desert… such a big event is a huge scandal for the Great Dao Sect Immortal Gate. Why did the Great Dao Sect react so calmly?"

"Because the Immortal Gate has always been arrogant?" said Qiao Mu.

"No, it’s because of King Qin’s presence," said Wei En.

"Hmm? King Qin is just a Taoist soldier after all, no matter how strong he is, he can’t compare to a true Great Dao Sect cultivator… Why is he so important?" Qiao Mu didn’t believe it.

"King Qin is an important piece of the Great Dao Sect, a puppet of the Immortal Gate," Wei En shook his head.

"For months, the Great Dao Sect has been paving the way for King Qin, building his reputation."

"As a result, the Immortal Gate has lost its honor and reputation? This can be used to boost King Qin’s reputation at the expense of the Immortal Gate and gradually push them out of the spotlight."

"King Qin acts as a buffer between the immortal realm and the mortal world. As long as King Qin is alive, the Immortal Gate will stay in the shadows and only pull the strings from behind the scenes."

"So, if King Qin dies… Elder Lao and the whole Zhong Province will face the wrath of the Great Dao Sect."

"If King Qin dies, Zhong Province will descend into chaos!"

Qiao Mu squinted his eyes.

"Are you suggesting that I should back off? Not kill King Qin?"

His expression turned cold, showing he was now more wary of Wei En.

Unexpectedly, Wei En shook his head again.

"Elder Lao knew that in the Martial Arts League, besides a King named Qin, there were eight other Martial Arts Kings who were not as famous as King Qin yet."

The other eight Martial Arts Kings were not in Zhong Province, but their status in the Martial Arts League was similar to King Qin, suggesting they might also represent the Eight Immortal Gates. Wei En shrugged:

"The Great Dao Sect appointed King Qin as the king in Zhong Province."

"The other Eight Immortal Gates are unlikely to be left behind, so if King Qin remains alive and the Great Dao Sect’s plan proceeds as usual, there may be nine kings in Jiu Province, leading to unrest in the world."

"By then, even the Great Yan Imperial Court may face decline."

Qiao Mu silently watched Wei En.

"You’ve explained the downsides of both sides, what are you trying to say?"

"Does Elder Lao still not understand?" Wei En paused for a moment, looking tired.

"The Great Yan Imperial Court is at a critical moment, every step forward or backward is a dangerous path. The brief peace of the forty years after the Inhuman War is like walking on thin ice after bowing in submission. Our future path has never been easy."

"I just want to remind Elder Lao…"

"If we want to kill King Qin, we must be prepared for the storm that will follow."

"There is no peace to be found, no matter which way we turn."

With that said.

Wei En and Qiao Mu arrived at a simple wooden hut in the mountains.

The hut was near a majestic waterfall towering a hundred meters high, cascading down like a silver galaxy hanging in the sky, with a thunderous roar.

Wei En led Qiao Mu into the hut and heated water to make tea for him at the table.

"Lately, there has actually been something strange."

"It’s the Wuji Association," said Wei En softly.

"Since the Martial Saint passed away, the Wuji Association has been hiding in the shadows, keeping low-profile. But recently, it seems to be gaining momentum again, I wonder why."

"There are many things you know…" remarked Qiao Mu.

Once again, the Wuji Association and the Martial Arts League were mentioned, followed by a brief analysis of the overall situation in Jiu Province.

"Not all martial artists can use martial arts to defeat immortals. If your fists are not strong enough, you have to rely on your wits," Wei En said with a bitter smile.

He had already reached the 1st rank of the Spiritual Refining Period, specializing in lightness skills. Despite being known as the best in the world, he knew he couldn’t compare to cultivators.

"No matter how skilled you are in lightness skills and how sharpened your spiritual intuition is, you can only evade a cultivator’s techniques, not confront them head-on."

"Cultivators can control flying objects, making it extremely difficult for martial artists to challenge them in the air."

Qiao Mu nodded in agreement.

He used Qiao Xiaoming as a stepping stone, succeeding in killing Dao Xu. However, he also destroyed his own body in the process.

Wei En looked deep in thought and said, "Having good evasion skills is useful against cultivators, but it’s not enough to resist them."

"There’s a famous light-foot technique called ‘Chasing Cicadas in Eight Steps’, which claims that one can catch up to a flying cicada within eight steps once mastered."

"Chasing cicadas is one thing, but trying to catch up with a cultivator is just wishful thinking."

With that, Wei En searched around the wooden house and found a bound book, which he presented to Qiao Mu.

The four words written on it read, "Heavenly Dragon Eight Steps".

"There are very few martial artists in the world who dare to challenge immortals. This ‘Heavenly Dragon Eight Steps’ isn’t about chasing cicadas; it’s about transforming like a carp into a dragon and ascending to the heavens."

"If martial artists continue to stay complacent in these troubled times, it’s likely that in decades, there will be no more tough martial artists left."

Wei En softly said, pushing the secret manual in his hand forward.