Chapter 36

"Who would have thought that I would actually... really master the 'Nine Provinces Smooth Flow Step'! Does that mean that the basic mental techniques of the Hundred Flowers Confusion Spear are now fully accomplished? Can I start the next stage of spear training?"

Although the Hundred Flowers Confusion Spear is called a spear technique, it actually includes a complete set of mental training methods. According to Qin Yu's modern logical perspective, its system is as complete as the teachings of his master Zhang Xun, and in some ways, even surpasses them.

After all, he hasn't yet witnessed the power of the Celestial Master's Decree. Although the "Jade Sword Heart Sutra" and the "Stone Guardian" mental techniques are profound, they always lack a sense of completeness.

Just the basic internal mental technique—the Half-Step Breathing Technique—Qin Yu has practiced for six years and still feels there is room for improvement. Mastering the Nine Provinces Smooth Flow Step is merely a milestone indicating that his mental cultivation has reached a certain stage.

He feels it's time to thoroughly study the intermediate content of the Hundred Flowers Confusion Spear.

Unlike the "Jade Sword Heart Sutra," which enlightens through reading, although Qin Yu can recite the "Hundred Flowers Confusion Spear" by heart, he has never really thought about carefully studying its contents.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he felt a chill: "This is really strange. Why don't I feel the same when reading the Hundred Flowers Confusion Spear as I do when reading the Jade Sword Heart Sutra? Could the Hundred Flowers Confusion Spear be far inferior to the Jade Sword Heart Sutra?"

This possibility is not entirely out of the question. Master Zhang Xun is a master of the realm of transformation and the leader of the Celestial Master Sect, while the origin of the Hundred Flowers Confusion Spear is unknown to Qin Yu.

However, considering the complete system and strong inclusiveness of the Hundred Flowers Confusion Spear's mental techniques, Qin Yu doesn't think it should be so inferior.

His mind felt a bit confused, and his steps slowed down involuntarily.

Zhang Ren thought he was a bit tired and said, "Second Master, shall we take a break?"

"No, I'm fine!" Qin Yu replied, not stopping his steps. He raised his head to the sky and shouted, "Master, just give me an hour, no, half an hour is enough, to let me wait quietly for the dawn!"

He decided to take advantage of this dark, starless night with cold winds to carefully ponder the next stage of the Hundred Flowers Confusion Spear. Having just mastered the Nine Provinces Smooth Flow Step, he needed to practice and consolidate his realm.

Achoo!

Suddenly, he sneezed.

It seemed that his master was unwilling to grant his request. Qin Yu thought angrily, "I was just pondering the family spear technique, and you're jealous of that?"

From a distance, someone said calmly, "It's late at night, and you're not sleeping. Shouting and disturbing people's dreams, young man, don't you think that's very impolite?"

Qin Yu had to stop. It wasn't a good idea to perform the Nine Provinces Smooth Flow Step in public.

He widened his eyes, thinking, "Damn, is Master's perception so accurate? Is this troublemaker here already?"

He sensed that the person was older and had a personality that didn't quite match his. The tone of voice was full of condescension.

Zhang Ren was already annoyed. "How dare you teach my Second Master manners?" He laughed and retorted, "Come over here, and I'll teach you what manners are."

"Bold!" Another person with a rough voice shouted, "Rural boys, you're asking for death, daring to be impolite to my master!"

Zhang Ren sneered, "Your master? I have nothing to fear." Influenced by his surroundings, he was now even better at verbal sparring than his Second Master.

The rough man was so angry that he yelled.

Qin Yu put his hand to his forehead. "Little Brother, you're a troublemaker!" He sighed, "It seems tonight won't be peaceful."

The two brothers looked at each other, put down their thin blankets, and slowly walked to the main road, looking in the direction of the sound.

At the north end of the village, a carriage slowly approached. It was a four-horse carriage, with tall, strong horses that were not afraid of the cold, their hooves firm, looking like specially trained horses from the Guandong region.

The so-called "nu horses" are not of poor quality but are professional carriage horses, very steady, able to start and stop at will. Training such a nu horse is no cheaper than training a warhorse.

The carriage driver was a towering man with deep-set eyes, a high nose, a black face, and curly beard, not resembling a Han person. Even sitting, he was about 1.67 meters tall. The most peculiar thing was the long-handled large cleaver lying across his straight knees, with a blade four feet long and a thick wooden handle also four feet long, very eye-catching.

Qin Yu took a half-step back. If this man stood up, he would be over two meters tall.

People in the late Eastern Han dynasty generally suffered from malnutrition and were not very tall, mostly under 1.8 meters. Those over two meters tall and not weak and sickly were few and far between.

What a towering man!

The man shouted, "My master is here. You two impolite boys, why don't you come over and pay your respects?"

Zhang Ren's eyes were sharp, secretly observing the carriage and forming a mental image of the person inside based on the sounds. If they engaged in combat, he could strike through the carriage and deliver a fatal blow.

"You, the carriage driver, are really talking nonsense! I was just chatting at my own doorstep. Your master came over to join in the conversation and now accuses us of being impolite? Driver, you should see a doctor; you're really sick!"

The carriage driver's eyes suddenly focused, emitting a sharp light, staring at Zhang Ren.

Zhang Ren felt a chill in his heart, and his body suddenly felt cold, causing him to take two steps back.

The man sneered and was about to make a move. Suddenly, a young face appeared before him.

Qin Yu raised his blood qi from his dantian, and his internal breath automatically circulated, filling his Ren Meridian with abundant blood qi, very smoothly.

His eyes also focused on the man, emitting a subtle light, unafraid of the other's oppressive aura.

The man was surprised. This boy is strange. Although he only has the strength of the Bright Realm, he can resist his pressure without being at a disadvantage.

Qin Yu was also amazed. This big man has such heavy killing intent!

"Servant..." someone in the carriage suddenly spoke softly.

The man listened for a moment, nodded, turned to Qin Yu, and said, "At your age, to have such a mental state is quite good. My master wants to be friends with you. Are you willing?"

Qin Yu immediately shook his head and politely declined, "My family has high hopes for me, always hoping I can revitalize our family and bring glory to our ancestors. Your master looks like someone who causes trouble everywhere. I can't match up to him. If I become friends with your master, I'll probably be chased and killed every day."

The man grunted in anger, and the long whip in his hand immediately lashed out.

"Boy, how dare you!"

The whip was like a sudden thunderclap in the clear sky.

Whoosh! Bang!

Zhang Ren heard the loud whistling of the whip, his brain buzzed, and he instinctively covered his ears, his eyes showing pain.

The whip grazed past his ear and then attacked Qin Yu.

The black-faced man intended to resolve both of these insolent boys in one move.

——

PS: I wanted to finish chapters 29 and 30 in one day, but I feel the pressure from behind... Brothers, give me some support!