Set a goal, and the system takes over the body.

Qi Qingshan glanced at Qi Xiuyuan and gave him a look, indicating that he wanted to go inside and hide.

Qi Xiuyuan shook his head.

Totally unnecessary.

He sent Shen Feiyi back to Qingshan Pharmacy and even went to Baqiang Martial Arts School to deliver the news. These details could be easily found out with a little inquiry.

If we deliberately avoid Lin Lang now, it will only arouse suspicion if he notices.

Qi Qingshan quickly composed himself.

"Come in."

Lin Lang pushed open the door and walked in. He immediately saw Qi Xiuyuan there as well. His eyes narrowed for a moment, and a hint of panic flashed across his face, but he quickly returned to normal.

"Greetings, Master! Eldest Brother, you're here too."

He bowed respectfully, his tone very natural.

Qi Xiuyuan nodded and reminded him, "Junior Brother Lin, please tell the other junior brothers that things are not peaceful outside recently. Try not to leave the city these days. The people from the Baqiang Martial Arts School had an accident when they went into the mountains. I went into the mountains to collect herbs yesterday and also encountered bandits. I barely managed to escape."

Lin Lang nodded quickly: "Yes, Senior Brother, I will definitely tell everyone."

After chatting about everyday matters for a few more minutes, Lin Lang took his leave and left.

Qi Xiuyuan also returned to his side courtyard.

The air in the courtyard was cool and refreshing, with a pleasant scent. Taking a deep breath, I felt quite comfortable.

Qi Xiuyuan did not delay. He took a Qi and Blood Pill, set a cultivation goal in his mind, let the system take over his body, and focused on cultivating the Five Elements Stance Technique.

As the sun began to set, the shadows of the trees stretched long across the ground.

When I regained control of my body, the panel had already refreshed.

[Cultivation Level: Qi and Blood Realm (Mid-stage, 159/300)]

【Five Elements Stance Exercise (Mastery, 249/332)】

"The Five Elements Stance Technique has finally broken through to the Proficiency Realm. It should be the same as the Five Animal Fist breaking through to the Proficiency Realm. From now on, the progress of each training session will be faster."

Qi Xiuyuan stretched his back and spine, and his bones cracked all over.

The system manages the cultivation of the Five Elements Stance Technique at the Proficiency Realm, allowing one to gain four cultivation points per hour.

If you maintain six hours of cultivation a day, that's 24 points. With the extra two points provided by the Qi and Blood Pill, you'll have a solid 26 points a day.

So, it only takes a few days to break through to the late stage of the Qi and Blood Realm.

"I originally thought there was no chance to break through to the Inner Strength Realm before the Tianfu Martial Arts Tournament, but now it seems that there is a real chance, but cultivation alone is not enough."

Qi Xiuyuan looked at the system panel.

"The three martial arts, Five Elements Stance, Five Animal Fist, and Divine Finger, are all at the proficiency level, but none of them have reached the mastery level. If they really encounter a tough opponent of the same level, it will be easy for them to find their weaknesses."

"And that book, 'White Tiger Shines with Golden Knife,' I also need to find time to let the system practice it and see if it can corroborate the tiger form."

After dinner, the last vestiges of orange sunset faded completely into the distance.

Tianfu City remained unchanged, with bright lights illuminating the main streets and the sounds of taverns, teahouses, and carriages mingling together in a lively atmosphere.

But if you turn into a quiet alley, the lights will be off early, and it will be very deserted.

Under the cover of night, Qi Xiuyuan and Qi Qingshan quietly made their way to the old house in the third alley behind the martial arts school.

The bodies of Wang Heihu and others have not yet been discovered.

The weather is neither too hot nor too cold right now, so it will take about two days before a noticeable stench develops. Only then will the nearby residents notice something amiss and report it to the authorities.

"Xiuyuan, since we're going back here anyway, we should deal with these corpses as soon as possible."

As Qi Qingshan spoke, he pulled a cloth bag from his pocket, opened it, and found it full of quicklime.

He brought this especially for this purpose.

Qi Xiuyuan smiled and said, "I'm inexperienced. I'll be more careful next time."

"Come and lend a hand."

Qi Qingshan called out.

The father and son moved very quietly, without making a sound, and carried all the dozen or so corpses to a corner of the inner room, then sprinkled lime on them.

Looking into the house from the front, you can't see a trace of it at all.

Qi Qingshan cautioned, "Watch your step. Try not to step on areas where lime has been scattered, so as not to leave footprints and cause trouble for the government officials when they investigate."

Qi Xiuyuan nodded, then couldn't help asking, "Dad, this isn't the first time you've done this, is it?"

Qi Qingshan raised his head, frowned, and said with a hint of vicissitude in his voice, "In the martial world, one is often not in control of one's own destiny. Sometimes you don't want to kill, but others want to kill you. When it comes to that, do you choose to kill, or do you choose to be killed?"

Qi Xiuyuan nodded slightly: "Understood."

He always felt that his father was a man with a story, but his father never told him.

Fine, since they don't want to talk about it, I won't ask any more questions.

After tidying up, the two returned to the front room, closed the door, and left only an oil lamp on the table, its flame flickering.

As the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) drew ever closer, Qi Qingshan's heart pounded higher and higher. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the corner of the table, and he repeatedly hoped that Lin Lang would not come.

He still clung to a last shred of hope.

I hope Wang Heihu is lying, and I hope the disciple I taught isn't so incompetent.

but.

Just as the hour of Hai (9-11 PM) arrived, his and Qi Xiuyuan's eyes simultaneously sharpened.

Footsteps could be heard outside.

It's very light.

But it couldn't escape their ears.

"Bang...bang...bang...bang bang bang bang bang bang bang."

Three long knocks followed by seven short ones.

Qi Qingshan's heart sank suddenly, and disappointment and anger surged up at the same time, making his face look rather ugly.

Qi Xiuyuan stood up and walked towards the gate.

With a creak, the door opened.

Eyes facing each other.

Lin Lang, who was standing outside the door, had been looking a little anxious, but when he saw that it was Qi Xiuyuan who opened the door, his eyes widened instantly, his whole body stiffened, and his heart jumped into his throat.

"Big...Senior Brother?!"

His gaze unconsciously swept into the room, but he didn't see Wang Heihu and the others. Instead, he saw Qi Qingshan sitting at the table with an angry expression.

"Master?!"

"Junior Brother Lin, my father and I really didn't want to see you here, but you still came." Qi Xiuyuan's tone was as calm as still water, revealing no emotion.

But Lin Lang panicked.

"Senior Brother, you...you all, let me explain..."

As Lin Lang spoke, his eyes suddenly hardened, and he lunged out, his hands turning into claws, then turning his pounce into a grab, aiming straight for Qi Xiuyuan's throat and arms. Clearly, he intended to use Qi Xiuyuan as a hostage to force Qi Qingshan not to make a move.

His move is a variation of the "Tiger Pouncing on Its Prey" move from the Five Animal Frolics style, a sudden attack at close range that often catches the opponent off guard.

pity.

Qi Xiuyuan was prepared.

The instant Lin Lang made his move, he reacted even faster, dodging and shifting his stance. With a move of "Ape Plucking Stars" in his right hand, he easily avoided the opponent's grasp and then seized Lin Lang's throat with a counter-attack.

"What?!"

Lin Lang was shocked and stared at Qi Xiuyuan in astonishment, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

He never expected that Qi Xiuyuan was so strong.

His heart trembled greatly.

Qi Xiuyuan pulled him into the house with a forceful tug, threw him on the ground, closed the door, and locked it.

Inside the room, the dim light of the oil lamp shone on the three people, casting flickering shadows.

The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive, like a heavy stone pressing on one's chest.

Lin Lang knelt on the ground, head down, fingers digging tightly into the earth.

"Master...Master...I..."