Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 53 - 52 Calm and Tranquil

"Already in the Qi Cultivation Realm." Ouyang Tiezhu said with a hint of envy.

"And you, senior brother?"

"I..." Ouyang Tiezhu said, "I just finished Bone Forging and am working towards Skin Forging. The master said if I can't complete Skin Forging by the age of thirty-five, it will be nearly impossible to cultivate Qi power afterward."

"Why?"

"The master mentioned that once a person hits thirty, their Qi-Blood starts to decline, with merely a five-year window period. After that, it's beyond help. If you can't cultivate power when your blood is strong, you definitely won't when it's weak." Ouyang Tiezhu sighed at this point, "I'm already twenty-five this year."

Shen Qing acknowledged inwardly.

In his past life, he was already aware of the saying that one should stand firm by thirty, and in the workplace, there was the notion of a thirty-five-year threshold, which wasn't baseless.

"Let's not talk about this anymore." Ouyang Tiezhu patted Shen Qing's shoulder and said, "By the way, I don't even know how old you are today, junior brother."

Poor families aren't too concerned about this; most of them muddle through life without paying special attention to birthdays and age.

Shen Qing thought for a while before calculating his age, "I should be fifteen after the Li Chun (the beginning of spring)."

Fifteen?!

Ouyang Tiezhu couldn't help but show a bit of a smile, as if this age made him feel much better inside, "Junior, to be honest, you're a bit old for this. In another year, your muscles and bones will fuse, and the difficulty of cultivating the Second Great Realm will increase significantly. If you want to make progress in Martial Arts, you need to put more effort into it."

Shen Qing was suddenly taken aback.

Does that mean he needed to complete the entire Second Realm within the next year?

It seemed like there was... still a bit of time left?

Shen Qing was a bit uncertain.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior brother." Shen Qing glanced at the sun hanging high in the sky, clasped his hands, and said, "Senior brother, I wonder if you have time now, could you teach me the movement technique of the three sticks and five sticks Wooden Dummy?"

Ouyang Tiezhu laughed, "Of course, I can practice them once, just watch."

After saying this, Ouyang Tiezhu walked up to a Three Sticks Wooden Dummy, took a deep breath, and gave a light shout.

He lightly tapped the ground with his toes, his hands weaving through the three sticks of the Wooden Dummy.

Ouyang Tiezhu's hands alternated between forming palms and fists, moving fluently and powerfully, each strike precisely hitting a different part of the wooden post, making a thumping sound.

Throughout the process, his figure was extremely agile, and the three protruding sticks couldn't even touch his upper arm.

With a bang, Ouyang Tiezhu halted the Wooden Dummy and asked Shen Qing, "How was it? Did you remember it?"

Equipped with the "Never Forget" ability, Shen Qing had watched carefully, slightly recalling to find all the details neatly memorized, he said, "Senior brother, I've remembered everything."

Ouyang Tiezhu frowned slightly but seeing Shen Qing so assertive, he didn't say much.

"Then I'll practice the five sticks once more."

Ouyang Tiezhu walked to a Wooden Dummy filled with complexly interlaced long sticks, closed his eyes, concentrated, and started the movement technique.

With a sudden widening of his eyes, his agile body began to move through the form.

The movement technique Ouyang Tiezhu displayed at this time was more complex, involving the hands, feet, waist, knees, and legs.

The skills used were on a whole different level from those used in two sticks and three sticks.

His figure moved like a fish through a coral reef, not only skillfully avoiding the long sticks that assaulted from both sides of the stake but also, in a flash, precisely hitting the intended target with fists, elbows, knees, and feet, each crisp strike followed by a subtle sound of the Wooden Dummy being jostled.

Forceful and heavy.

While striking, he explained the key points, greatly benefiting Shen Qing.

After completing the Five Sticks technique, beads of sweat slid down his neck, gradually soaking the back of Ouyang Tiezhu's shirt.

"Junior brother, the Five Sticks movement technique is relatively complex, you don't need to force yourself too much, just understand the key points. When you practice the Three Sticks, some deliberate practice will also be beneficial."

"Alright." Shen Qing clasped his hands and saluted, "Thank you for your hard work today, senior brother."

"It was my duty." Ouyang Tiezhu patted the Wooden Dummy and said, "Let's wrap up for today, I have other matters to attend to. I'll come find you when I have more time later."

"Alright. It's a bit far from Hongshan Village too, after I practice a little longer, I'll also head back."

"Junior, are you still living in Hongshan Village?"

"Yeah, the family is over there."

Ouyang Tiezhu tilted his head suggestively, "Once you've learned some skills, I've got connections. You can work for some 'local tyrant' in the Outer City for a punch protection fee, save some money, and it might be more convenient to move to the city; you won't have to commute back and forth like this."

"Senior brother has connections in the Outer City?"

"Sigh... I have an unaccomplished brother working under a local guy named Wang Mazi, so there are some connections." Saying this, Ouyang Tiezhu seemed to have a hint of resentment for being unable to help his brother succeed, he waved his hand and said, "I have to go."

"Take care, senior brother."

Watching Ouyang Tiezhu's back as he disappeared into the inner courtyard, Shen Qing withdrew his gaze and walked to the Three Sticks Wooden Dummy where Ouyang Tiezhu had demonstrated the movement technique, striking it with a palm.

The Three Sticks rapidly rolled into motion.

"Pop!"

...

Shen Qing practiced in Linfeng Hall until the Shen Hour that afternoon before stopping.

Since his aunt wasn't around in the hall, he didn't intend to stay longer.

After taking today's portion of the Shiquan Dabu Decoction, Shen Qing left Linfeng Hall with Shen Xiaohu, purchased supplies, exchanged some change, and headed straight for the rendezvous location with Tian Xiaohu.

After meeting up as scheduled, the three of them sat on the cart, heading toward the west side of the city.

As Shen Qing expected, the journey was smooth.

The deaths of the entire Wang Qiyao family in the vast Ping'an City hadn't stirred even a ripple.

The three safely reached the West City Gate, swaying as they headed towards the shanty town.

Sitting on the cart, Tian Xiaohu seemed to have a heavy burden lifted from his heart, letting out a long sigh of relief.

There were many people leaving the city in the afternoon, Mingling into the crowd, Shen Qing pulled the cart deeper into the shanty area.

Tian Xiaohu moved closer to Shen Qing and tugged at his sleeve.

"What's up? Is there something?"

Tian Xiaohu lowered his voice, "I went to Pinghe Square for a stroll today; there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?" Shen Qing's face remained calm.

Tian Xiaohu continued in a low voice, "With Wang Qiyao's entire family dead, without any heirs, their relatives are fighting over his estate, causing a huge ruckus."

"The shopkeeper of Fengwei Restaurant just checked in briefly and left, and the government office seems to have categorized the matter as bandit theft; it's been closed. Additionally, Wang Qiyao's father-in-law, unsatisfied, wanted to provide clues, and ended up being accused of provoking trouble and was beaten to death on the spot by the county government."

Tian Xiaohu relayed everything he knew in one go.

"So when we sell mountain goods later, we'll have to report to a different manager?"

"Supposedly, it's changed to someone named Cai, I'll find out when I have time."

Shen Qing tugged on the reins and acknowledged, "Alright."

As for the deaths of Wang Qiyao's family, they tacitly avoided further mention.

"Giddy up!"

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