Chapter 38

With his first move, Cheng Shaojiu used all the strength of his Stone Skin.

Under the surge of his qi and blood, the muscles on his body slightly swelled, and his fists turned a light gray. As he moved, his steps stirred the wind, and his arms shot out like powerful crossbows.

Pang, pang!

Both punches were blocked.

Wei He was often the one to sneak attack others, so he was very familiar with the signs and techniques of a sneak attack.

Seeing Cheng Shaojiu's stance, which seemed a bit exaggerated, he immediately became alert. Upon closer inspection, he indeed found the punch aimed at his abdomen.

After blocking Cheng Shaojiu's punches, he resisted the urge to throw a handful of lime. He raised his knee and delivered a knee strike.

The main reason was that Cheng Shaojiu's posture after being blocked was too open, making him an easy target.

However, he still remembered that this was a sparring session and resisted the impulse. Wei He then began to engage in combat seriously.

Similarly, his qi and blood surged, and his fists also turned a light gray.

Under the moonlight, the two engaged in intense combat. The collision of their Stone Skin levels was far beyond what ordinary people could handle.

The sound of their fists meeting was like the beating of a drum.

Dust and sand frequently splashed around them, and as the dust rose, it gradually became difficult to see their figures.

Cheng Shaojiu was increasingly alarmed.

Not long ago, he had fought Wei He and could easily suppress him.

But now, he couldn't even control his qi and blood, and in terms of techniques and experience, he was also struggling to keep up with Wei He's counterattacks.

After all, he had practiced martial arts for many years before Wei He, yet the gap between them had narrowed to such a small degree.

The dull sounds of their strikes echoed continuously on the training ground.

Cheng Shaojiu occasionally let out a shout, while Wei He remained silent.

Their fighting styles were completely different.

After a while, there was a dull thud.

Wei He staggered out of the dust cloud, taking several steps back before stabilizing himself.

He panted heavily and looked at the gray fist mark on his chest.

"Truly worthy of Brother Cheng, I still lost."

As the dust settled, Cheng Shaojiu's figure was revealed standing in place.

He smiled.

"You've become very strong. To have this level of strength right after breaking through shows that your foundation is very solid. No wonder Master Zheng values you so much."

"Brother Cheng, you're too kind. I've never thought that the final combination of moves could be used like that. I learned a lot from you this time." Wei He was still pondering where he had lost.

He had put in his all, but was still defeated by Cheng Shaojiu.

Clearly, even after breaking through his qi and blood, he was still far behind Brother Cheng.

Moreover, although both were at the Stone Skin level, there was still a significant difference in the strength of their qi and blood. Cheng Shaojiu, at the perfected level, was far superior to Wei He, who had just broken through.

After the intense exchange, Wei He felt a slight pain in his fists and was extremely exhausted. After a dozen consecutive exchanges, he finally lost due to his lack of stamina.

"Alright, it's getting late. I'll have Old Huang send you back," Cheng Shaojiu said.

"No rush. I'll savor this for a while and go back on my own. It wouldn't be safe for Old Huang to return alone so late," Wei He waved his hand.

"Alright, be careful," Cheng Shaojiu nodded.

He turned and walked out of the training ground.

He walked to a dark corner where the light couldn't reach, then raised his hand to look at his slightly red fists, a complex expression in his eyes.

If he hadn't used a killing move designed by his uncle in time, he might not have been able to defeat Wei He.

The gap between them was now very small. Wei He's moves were cautious and efficient, never wasting any strength.

Unlike him.

Without the killing move, if they had continued to fight, it would have been uncertain who would win.

Unconsciously, the little junior brother who could be easily defeated by him had gradually become a formidable opponent.

Reflecting on the wasted time over the years, Cheng Shaojiu suddenly felt an urge to focus on his martial arts training.

"Starting tomorrow! Practice when I say to practice!" He made up his mind and left the training ground, disappearing into the inner room.

On the other side, Wei He was pondering the final move Cheng Shaojiu had used.

That move involved a series of punches, but it wasn't a regular combination. It had a completely different and bizarre trajectory.

It looked like it was aimed at the ear and shoulder, but it would change direction mid-way, using an elbow to deflect the opponent's guard, followed by a powerful punch to the chest.

While practicing, he suddenly noticed someone standing quietly by the training ground, watching him.

The training ground was often visited by guards, and people who stopped to watch would usually leave quickly.

But this person had been watching him for a long time.

Noticing that Wei He had spotted him, the person approached.

Under the moonlight, the figure quickly became clear—it was Cheng Qing.

This time, she was dressed more normally, wearing a gray and white martial outfit, long boots, and tight black pants. She also had two sheathed short knives tied to the outside of her thighs.

Her backpack, which she carried on her back, clearly indicated that she had just returned from a mission.

As she approached, Cheng Qing looked at Wei He with a complex expression.

For a moment, she didn't speak, just staring at him. Her face showed a mix of envy, shock, and complexity.

"You...?" Wei He blinked, unsure what she was up to.

Swish!

Suddenly, Cheng Qing lunged forward, lifting her right leg for a side kick, attacking fiercely.

"What are you doing?!" Wei He, caught off guard, raised his hand to block.

Before breaking through his qi and blood, he might not have been able to block such a sudden attack, as his reaction time wasn't that fast.

But now, at the Stone Skin level, his qi and blood enhanced his senses and body reactions, making his reaction speed, strength, burst power, and nerve response much stronger than Cheng Qing's.

So, even with the surprise attack, he easily blocked the kick.

However, being blocked only seemed to fuel Cheng Qing's emotions.

Her face flushed, and she gritted her teeth, delivering one kick after another, continuously attacking Wei He.

Pang, pang, pang!!

The two exchanged blows, moving around the training ground.

Cheng Qing launched a series of twelve kicks in quick succession.

All of them were blocked by Wei He without a single gap.

"Enough yet?" Wei He growled.

"Not enough!" Cheng Qing took a step back and delivered a powerful flying kick.

This time, she was emotionally charged and didn't hold back.

In general, during sparring, it was rare for someone to use full strength without holding back.

Because combat also involved counter-recoil. Using full strength without reserve often led to self-injury, even if the opponent was hit.

Moreover, without holding back, it was easy to cause accidental injuries.

But at this moment, Cheng Qing didn't care.

She aimed a powerful kick at Wei He's abdomen, her eyes red, and a trail of wind following her kick.

"You've had enough!" Wei He was also angered.

He shifted his feet, dodged the kick from the side, grabbed Cheng Qing's high ponytail, and slammed her to the ground.

Pang!

Caught off guard, Cheng Qing was pulled down by her hair.

Wei He pounced and delivered a series of punches.

Pang, pang, pang, pang, pang, pang!!

After a moment,

The two sat side by side on the edge of the training ground, looking up at the crescent moon, silent.

Cheng Qing's originally delicate and beautiful face was now swollen and bruised, and she had several other injuries.

Fortunately, Wei He knew the difference between men and women and didn't hit sensitive areas.

Still, she had a clear understanding of the gap between her and a second-level qi and blood practitioner.

Wei He, who had just broken through, could easily overpower her. Not to mention other seasoned practitioners who had broken through long ago.

"What happened on your mission?" Wei He asked.

"......" Cheng Qing remained silent, just staring at the moon with her swollen face.

"Do your feet still stink?" Wei He asked.

"Ah!!" Cheng Qing punched Wei He, who countered with a punch to her cheek.

Pang.

She fell again.

"Do you think you can change your temper? Who will dare to marry you in the future?" Wei He stood up, sighing. This woman was crazy.

Lying on the ground, Cheng Qing stared at him and suddenly burst into tears.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she cried so hard that her whole body trembled, as if she was trying to release all her strength.

"Why are you crying?" Wei He was speechless. "Who asked you to sneak attack me first?"

He didn't want to deal with this lunatic anymore and turned to leave the training ground.

"Do you think I want to cry? Do you think I'm crying because I can't beat you?!"

Suddenly, Cheng Qing's wailing echoed behind him.

"If I don't break through soon, I'll have to get married! Do you think I want to? Do you think... I've suffered for so many years. Why? Do you know how miserable I am?!"

Cheng Shaojiu fell silent.

His steps, which were heading out, stopped, and he turned back to Cheng Qing.

Walking to her side,

"Are you here for comfort?" Cheng Qing looked at him.

Cheng Shaojiu punched her.

Pang!

"I'm here to make you face reality."

After the punch, he felt relieved and turned to leave.

"No one in this world will indulge you. You think you're miserable? There are many who are worse off. At least your parents are still alive. What are you complaining about?"

Putting on his coat, Wei He suddenly felt much less depressed and worried.

Leaving Cheng Qing lying on the ground with one eye almost swollen shut,

"Hit my face again?!"

She wanted to cry even more.

The mission had been full of dangers. Although they didn't encounter the same madman as before, they did run into bandits twice. The goods they were escorting were reduced by half before they safely arrived.

Fortunately, this was within the agreed range, and the customer, though disappointed, understood.

But upon returning, she received news of her mother's serious illness, and Wei He, who was once inferior to her, had suddenly broken through and surpassed her.

Added to that was the increasing pressure on the guard agency.

Under these multiple pressures, her emotions finally broke.

Lying on the ground, Cheng Qing thought about the fight with Wei He. No matter how she attacked, she couldn't break through his defense.

That sense of helplessness was like the fate she was facing.

"I'll remember this! Wait and see, Wei He, I'll get my revenge!"

She made up her mind to change her fate, starting with curing her foot odor!