The 18th year of the Da Yong reign: The beginning of the story involves rescuing revolutionaries.

Is the cicada moving?

It turned out to be the Cicada's Movement, one of the Six Wonders of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion.

Wang Zhi's mind raced. Ji Dinggang was right. The Heavenly Sword Pavilion had six unique skills, all of which were supreme martial arts techniques. Even the lowest quality of these skills was a gold-grade martial art.

However, even within the inner sect of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, very few people cultivate the "Cicada Movement" technique.

The reason is that the "Cicada's Movement" has an extremely demanding requirement: to cultivate this sword technique, one must use internal strength and blood to cultivate a trace of cicada energy in the dantian. Suppressed by this cicada energy, the cultivator's cultivation level will always be one level lower. For example, a fourth-level martial artist can only exert the strength of the third level.

Furthermore, this sword technique must not be used before one has perfected one's cultivation. Once it is used, all previous efforts will be wasted, the Cicada Force will vanish, all previous achievements will be lost, and one will have to start all over again.

Once perfected, the smooth and perfect cicada energy no longer suppresses one's realm. Moreover, when a sword is swung, it can unleash power that is a realm higher than one's own!

Moreover, if you don't use this sword technique, no one will know that you have practiced "Cicada Movement".

Before the autumn wind stirs, the cicada senses it; its silent descent into death goes unnoticed. This is what is meant by the cicada's movement.

Therefore, even within the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, disciples who cultivate the Cicada Movement technique are a secret of the sect, and they would never reveal their sect affiliation.

Given this, it's perfectly normal that Ji Dinggang didn't know who the disciple practicing the Cicada Movement was.

Ji Dinggang may not know, but how could Wang Zhi not know? Of the people still alive in Tianjian Pavilion today, only three have cultivated the "Cicada Movement".

At this level and at this age, the only person who could rival Ji Dinggang or even slightly surpass him is that one person.

He was forced to unleash the "Cicada Movement" by Ji Dinggang, rendering all his previous cultivation of the Cicada Force futile. This was a blood feud.

He was determined to fight Ji Dinggang to the death, so it's no wonder that Ji Dinggang was also going to great lengths to kill this disciple in Liuzhou.

Ji Dinggang might not know who practiced "Cicada Movement," but how could he not know the intricacies of "Cicada Movement"?

Knowing the implications, Ji Dinggang woke up feeling unlucky. He had thought that randomly grabbing two suspicious martial artists might lead to them being linked to the rebels, but little did he know that this person was cultivating the "Cicada Movement".

This person first beat Chen Shi so badly that he had no chance to fight back. Then, when Chen Shi rushed up to defend him, this person suddenly unleashed a sword strike called "Cicada's Movement," releasing his suppressed power. Chen Shi was caught off guard and injured.

This single sword strike, even just the aftershock of its energy, left Chen Shi looking like a dead dog, his life hanging in the balance on his bed.

After a few more exchanges, the disciple's inner strength was gone, and he felt as if his heart was being torn apart. In his rage, he unleashed his full power with his sword. As expected of a sect skilled in offensive combat, the Heavenly Sword Pavilion defeated him, knocking him unconscious on the spot.

Of course, the two were not in good shape either. The male disciple was also seriously injured and was carried by his junior sister to escape to Liuzhou County.

At this moment, Wang Zhi couldn't help but ask with concern, "Brother Ji, how are your injuries from being ambushed by 'Cicada's Movement'?"

When asked about his injuries, Ji Dinggang subconsciously touched his chest, then quickly lowered his hand and said, "Hmph, just a young disciple of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion. A few minor injuries are nothing to worry about. He will recover in a few days. Once his whereabouts are discovered in the city, I will personally capture him. He was severely injured by me, and without medicine, he will not recover easily."

"I will surely execute him in Liuzhou."

Ji Dinggang spoke with absolute certainty, but Wang Zhi didn't take it to heart at all. Judging from Ji's appearance, he knew that Ji must be seriously injured and difficult to heal.

The fact that they were able to wake up so quickly is all thanks to the excellent medical skills of that Dr. Jiang.

Of course, he still flattered her, saying, "Brother Ji's martial arts are extraordinary; capturing the villains of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion is a piece of cake for him."

After Wang Zhi finished investigating the matter, he planned to return to the Daxing Gang, as these were truly turbulent times.

We just got rid of the rebels, and now so many other messy things have gotten involved.

Just as he was about to get up and take his leave, he heard Lord Ji say softly, "My dear brother, with the status of the Duke's adopted son, how can you be confined to the position of a mere county gang leader? Have you never thought about embarking on an official career? If you are willing, when you return to the provincial capital this time, I will subtly ask the Duke for permission. If the Duke grants your request, a position as a county magistrate will be a piece of cake."

That's the truth. The resources a gang leader in a county town can obtain are ultimately limited. Once he enters officialdom, it's different. He can obtain various rewards from the imperial court, such as martial arts techniques, secret manuals, great medicines, and blood food.

Otherwise, how could Ji Dinggang have cultivated to the fourth level of martial arts? His own talent was the main factor, and the resources of the imperial court were the secondary factor, which enabled him to go further.

Those outside the officialdom, like the likes of Zhang Henhu with his iron fist and Zhang Mo with his iron legs who floated on the water on the cargo ship, would probably only reach the level of a commoner in their entire lives without some extraordinary encounters.

Nowadays, there are many ways to enter officialdom, and one of them is through hereditary privilege. With the power of a nobleman, arranging a position like a county magistrate is indeed a piece of cake.

However, Wang Zhi had other ideas about the position of county magistrate.

He replied, "Thank you for your concern, Brother Ji, but I'm used to a leisurely life and I'm not suited for this kind of official position."

Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in Ji Dinggang's eyes, but he quickly concealed it and laughed, "Very well, everyone has their own ambitions. I was just mentioning it casually."

At this point, the conversation stalled, and Wang Zhi stood up at the opportune moment: "I won't keep Brother Ji from resting any longer. I still have some mundane matters to attend to at my sect, so I'll take my leave now."

"Alright." Ji Dinggang nodded with a smile and escorted Wang Zhi to the study door.

After watching the other person walk away, he pondered for a moment. He never expected that the other person had no interest in an official career, and he wondered what the Duke was thinking when he solemnly adopted the other person as his godson.

He didn't think it was just because the other party had escorted his daughter home and done him a favor.

Turning around, he suddenly frowned, clutched his chest, and pulled open his robe, revealing a deep sword wound on his chest beneath his white undergarment, from which blood began to seep: "Hiss, the swords of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion are truly sharp."

After leaving the county government office, Wang Zhi rode his horse towards the traditional Chinese medicine clinic in the city.

On the street facing Kouzi Street stands a small tile-roofed house with a narrow facade, about ten feet wide. Above the door hangs an old plaque, its paint peeling but the characters still clearly legible: "Caoqianzi Medical Clinic".

Several government officials and yamen runners stood guard near the clinic, keeping a close watch on people coming and going.

Upon seeing a fast horse approaching the clinic, the group's eyes lit up, and they drew their knives to rush forward. However, after clearly seeing that it was Chief Wang sitting on the horse, they quickly disappeared into a corner.

What a joke! Even Director Zhou can't afford to offend such a ruthless person. How could a few lowly soldiers like them dare to question him?

Do you know how famous the name "Zhou An with the severed finger" has become lately?

Wang Zhi ignored the officials and tied his horse to a long pillar at the entrance, then walked straight into the fully open wooden door.

The first thing you see is a peeling elm wood table with a grand armchair behind it. Next to the armchair stands a medicine cabinet about half a person's height, with yellowed paper labels pasted on the outside of the hundred drawers, with words like "dried tangerine peel," "Pinellia ternata," and "Poria cocos" written in ink.

The old man sitting in the chair opened one eye, and upon seeing the person entering the room, he instantly stood up straight and walked around the table: "This old man greets Chief Wang."

The old man was Xue Dingqi, the owner of the clinic. He was actually not yet sixty, but he was a little hunchbacked.

"Hmm, how are my men?" Wang Zhi asked as he walked towards the backyard.

"His injuries have improved considerably," said the old doctor Xue, following behind Wang Zhi.

The two arrived at the house in the backyard one after the other. They pushed open the door and saw two apprentice doctors tending the charcoal fire and decocting medicine.

On the large communal bed to the right, the skinny Liu Fugui lay asleep, his body wrapped in bandages, breathing steadily.

Wang Zhi examined his condition and felt much relieved: "Don't skimp on the medicine, make sure he gets better. I want him to be full of life again."

"I will do my best to treat him," Doctor Xue said, bowing slightly.

"Okay." Wang Zhi nodded and walked out. It seemed that it wouldn't be long before he could take the skinny monkey back.

Just as the two reached the door, they heard a familiar male voice coming from the lobby: "Is anyone here to get medicine?!"