Scourge Messenger

Chapter 287 Beaten to Tears
The pharmacist was taken aback, while Shang Xinlei ate shrimp balls in big mouthfuls.

“I can find a way to deal with the secret realm. Even if I don’t get the third stage, I can get the second stage. Anyway, there will definitely be plenty of places to train.” Yan Qing sat down and said, “It’s better than you living in fear every day in Zhou Kingdom.”

Both morally and logically, Yan Qing couldn't stand idly by. Yao Shiyuan's ordeal was entirely due to rescuing the Bunny Girl. If the Bunny Girl hadn't been rescued, Master Suolong would never have suspected her. After all, the Bunny Girl only had two connections: Huang Quan and Yao Shiyuan. If Huang Quan couldn't be caught, she would definitely keep an eye on Yao Shiyuan.

He faced molten lava, broke through golden locks, and endured suspicion. For the sake of Bunny Girl, the Pharmacist risked his life at least three times. Sometimes Yan Qing felt that their sacrifices for Bunny Girl far exceeded the value of the character herself.

"...The Duke of Jin has defected to Zhou. My arrest warrants must be plastered all over the three kingdoms of the Central Plains. The risk of being exposed is extremely high." The Pharmacist asked, "Are you willing to risk your men with me?"

"Give it up."

"Why? Actually, I'm not in much danger in Zhou Kingdom. Even the Dragon-Locking Bodhisattva doesn't suspect me anymore, as long as I'm careful—"

"Because I need you."

The pharmacist looked up at Yan Qing, his eyes filled with an indistinct mist.

"Your role in the Thieves' Clan is irreplaceable, especially after the arrival of the Dragon-Snake Seven Kills. To keep you as a teammate, I have nothing to regret," Yan Qing said slowly. "If you want to thank me, then don't make me take action in future missions."

"There's no time to lose. You'd better not go back. Stay at the thieves' house and wait until I've settled things over there before you go straight there—"

“No, you can’t.” The pharmacist shook his head. “If I leave, Wu Qiu and Shi Dong will really be doomed. I can’t abandon them.”

The thief's house fell silent. Shang Xinlei said quietly, "The food is getting cold."

There wasn't a single shrimp ball on the plate in her hand.

"Let's eat." The pharmacist tried to cheer himself up: "We still have training later. It's been six days, and I just hope you haven't regressed."

……

...

Today's training is ground combat.

Ground combat refers to how to fight back or even counter the enemy after being knocked down and being suppressed by them, similar to grappling techniques in judo.

This is a crucial combat technique that doesn't exist in games but is extremely important in reality. Unless a character is knocked down by the system, they can stand up on their toes after being knocked down, but a living person obviously can't do that. Moreover, game characters don't get stunned by attacks, but a living person who gets hit by a stick might lose their sense of direction and is very likely to fall down in combat.

During training, the defensive barrier cannot be activated, so both sides engage in hand-to-hand combat on the ground, aiming to completely suppress the enemy. At first glance, the training scene is somewhat glamorous, after all, Shang Xinlei and Yaoshiyuan are both stunning beauties, their legs coiling around each other like pythons, either pinning them down or pinning them down, making the viewer's blood boil. In a game, it would be a bonus episode that would make Yan Qing say, "I'll give you fifty bucks to act in an episode."

Unfortunately, in reality, a fight really does happen.

When it really starts to fight, there's no room for hesitation or distraction. Not to mention Yaoshi Yuan, every move she makes is powerful and heavy. If Yan Qing isn't careful, she might even gouge out his eyes. Just guarding against her underhanded tricks makes Yan Qing sweat profusely. As for Shang Xinlei, for some reason, she's particularly fierce today. Yan Qing was scratched many times by her without her noticing, and she even bites him. This isn't a human; she's clearly a venomous snake.

However, Yaoshi Yuan repeatedly praised Shang Xinlei, arguing that being dragged into ground combat was already undignified, signifying a grave mistake and a loss of the right to stand as a human being. Therefore, she should become a ruthless beast, devoid of any sense of shame; only those who survive deserve to stand again. But there were some benefits. When Yan Qing retreated to the side to rest, watching Shang Xinlei and Yaoshi Yuan fight, their long legs moving back and forth, their beautiful figures undulating… it was quite interesting!
Then Yan Qing suffered a terrible fate—when it was his turn to go on stage, Shang Xinlei tore his clothes to shreds with one claw, and also left three bloody scratches on his chest.

Yan Qing glanced at her clothes, now torn to shreds, then at Shang Xinlei. "No, I accept that you accidentally ripped my clothes, but why did you have to grab them and tear them all apart? You're making me so confused. Who's the 'pretty girl' between us?"

Shang Xinlei felt a little embarrassed by the stares, turned her head away, pursed her lips, and said, "I'll just buy you a new set of clothes."

"Not really..."

"I'll come get it for you now!"

Watching Shang Xinlei run away, Yan Qing scratched his head. "Weren't you in the military town? Why are you talking like you're in a tailor shop, able to buy a set of clothes right away?"

"Would you like to come again?" the pharmacist asked.

"Come on." Yan Qing took a blood-replenishing pill, touched his chest, and the bleeding had stopped. "Actually..."

"what?"

“If you want to take Wuqiu and Shidong with you, that’s fine,” Yan Qing said, looking at her. “You will all temporarily join the [Natural Calamity] and leave one by one over three days. Many people may be watching you, but no one will care if the maids disappear for two days.”

The pharmacist extended his right hand, his expression calm: "We'll talk after the training."

Yan Qing also extended his right hand, crossed his two hands together, and then charged forward at the same time, trying to pin the other person to the ground!

The apothecary wished for even greater strength, and Yan Qing's back slammed heavily onto the hard floor of the thieves' hall. Then, the two spun and grappled like rollers, each movement a counterattack. Yan Qing caught sight of the stone chair out of the corner of her eye, and with a sudden, powerful jerk, slammed her against its leg!

But the pharmacist instantly grabbed his right hand, attempting to lock him in an armbar! Yan Qing immediately pressed down to break her armbar; up to this point, it was all normal training, but the next second, Yan Qing's expression changed drastically: the pharmacist used a hand chop!
In ground combat, since weapons cannot be used, everyone is unarmed. However, there are differences between unarmed combat. Yan Qing and Yao Shiyuan both specialize in spears and swords. Compared to fists, palm strikes can undoubtedly make better use of their strengths and have greater destructive power. With the blood and qi of a third-level messenger, it is no problem for them to use palm strikes as weapons!
The pharmacist is going to take this seriously!
Yan Qing was hit several times, and the injured areas were burning with pain. She was even stabbed by the pharmacist and bled. Her hands were like two short guns! He was also enraged by the blows. He turned his fists into palms, and the two sparred at close range, creating a dazzling display of sword light.

A sharp pain shot through his shoulder as Yaoshi Yuan's right hand pierced through his tight defenses, striking his shoulder blade. The Secret Technique: Flowing Circulation—Yan Qing had seen Yaoshi Yuan use this technique before, but only as an enemy could he truly grasp its extraordinary nature—the attack trajectory suddenly halted or even reversed, making it impossible to react even with complete focus. It was perfectly suited for a messenger like Yaoshi Yuan, who could decide victory with a single move.

But when it comes to secret techniques, I won't lose!

Yan Qing's hands transformed into afterimages, slashing at Yakushi Yuan's tiger's mouth, elbow, and lower back. The Secret Technique: Naraku Curse is a technique specifically designed to attack joints, using offense as defense, which has a great advantage in ground combat. However, Yan Qing felt that it was too overpowered and would reduce the effectiveness of his training, so he didn't use it.

If the pharmacist is like a rabid wolf with sharp teeth and claws, then he is a butcher who skins and dismembers his prey!

Yakushi was forced to retreat steadily. She knew Yan Qing possessed true damage and was also vulnerable to the Naraku Curse's weakness; her hands quickly became weak. Just when Yan Qing thought victory was assured, Yakushi suddenly grabbed his neck and slammed her forehead into his!
Playing this big?!
Despite his dizziness, Yan Qing instinctively pressed his arm firmly against Yao Shiyuan's neck. In ground combat, suppressing the neck is the key to complete victory, just like how Ying Rushi subdued Yan Shiyi with a sword.

"I won!" Yan Qing exhaled a breath of stale air. If Yao Shiyuan hadn't suddenly unleashed his full power, he might not have been able to defeat him in a normal sparring match. "You—"

He looked down and saw two streams of tears streaming down Yaoshiyuan's face, mingling with the blood on her forehead. She bit her lower lip tightly, staring blankly at the ceiling.

(End of this chapter)