Martial arts mastery? But I'm just a spoiled brat!

Once Yan Qing is dead, they can start to manipulate many things and take the opportunity to muddy the waters.

Shanxi Province may seem calm on the surface, but undercurrents are surging beneath. It's just a spark away from igniting an explosion that could ignite Shanxi Province and even several surrounding provinces.

Only through complete chaos can Japan take advantage of the situation and establish its own puppet regime. At that time, they can not only control the mineral resources but also establish a foothold in the Central Plains to prepare for future conquests.

……

In just half a day, thanks to Lan Yue's instigation, Yan Qing, the third young master of the Yan family, said that "the Yan family will never be traitors." This statement began to spread like wildfire in the city and was also spreading to the surrounding cities at an extremely fast pace.

Even the story of Yan Qing confronting the Japanese in the governor's mansion has many widely circulated versions.

Yan Qing and that little dog had only a simple exchange, and they parted on bad terms after exchanging only a few words.

However, when the story circulated among the common people, it became a vehement condemnation of the Japanese envoy by Yan Qing, who firmly declared that the Yan family would never be traitors.

Even the saying, "Can't a lecherous playboy love his country?" has become widely circulated.

Originally, Yan Qing only had a good reputation among ordinary martial artists, and was still somewhat distant from the common people.

But now things are completely different. Ordinary people suddenly feel that Yan Qing is not so far removed from them, since Yan Qing has never oppressed the people.

Some even said that if they had the power of the Third Young Master, they would definitely be even more lecherous than him.

As a result, Yan Qing, the third young master of the Yan family, gained immense fame in Shanxi Province and surrounding provinces, and officially came into the view of many people.

However, as Yan Qing's reputation grew, the most distressed were not the Japanese, but the Cao family, who had originally been eyeing Shanxi Province.

In the past, the struggles between warlords were purely about interests, so morality could be disregarded. After all, the victor is king, and no one would say much.

However, Yan Qing's propaganda has placed him on a moral high ground. If the Cao family were to launch a war at this time, especially a surprise attack, their reputation would be completely ruined if it were publicized.

If other warlords benefited, it wouldn't matter if their reputations were damaged; the advantages would outweigh the disadvantages.

But the Cao family is different. Cao Kun is currently occupying the capital of the Celestial Empire and has plans to become the president of the Celestial Empire.

If his reputation were to suffer such a fatal stain at this time, his presidential plans could be ruined.

The Imperial City of the Celestial Empire, the Cao Family

"The plan must not be shelved. The Yan family's army has finally been tied down in the south, and our troops are almost fully mobilized. We cannot let such a golden opportunity slip by! That old fellow Yan Fengqi is too cautious; who knows if we'll have another chance like this!"

News of the Shanxi Provincial Military Governor's Office spread quickly. Cao Kun, who had been paying close attention to the situation, received the news that evening. He even suspected that the matter would be reported in the newspapers the next morning, but he was unwilling to give up now.

"Actually... it's not entirely without a chance!"

One of the men sitting to Cao Kun suddenly spoke up, and seeing Cao Kun looking over, he continued slowly:

"In fact, in this situation, all we need is a suitable pretext for war, as long as that pretext can silence public opinion."

"What excuse?"

Cao Kun naturally understood what his subordinates meant, but he couldn't think of any excuse that could make it legitimate.

"I heard from my subordinates that the young marshal who was assigned to Pucheng did not seem to stay in Pucheng, but instead set off directly into Shanxi Province. Judging by the days, he should be arriving soon."

"Pucheng? Shaolin?"

As soon as his subordinate spoke, Cao Kun understood what he meant. Considering his nephew's personality, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

"Then let Shaolin cause some trouble over there. Keep a close eye on the situation and be ready to send the army into Jin Province at any time! He's my brother's only son; we can't afford any accidents!"

"I will arrange for more martial artists to protect the young marshal."

……

"Slap slap slap!!!"

The next morning, a series of crisp snapping sounds came from the cultivation room in Yan Qing's courtyard of the Yan family.

At this moment, Yan Qing was shirtless, covered in fine beads of sweat, his whole body flushed, and he kept patting the iron man stake.

Not only his palms, but also the backs of his hands, forearms, shoulders, and even his back, Yan Qing constantly collided with the iron stake with his body.

A crisp sound rang out, and with each exertion, Yan Qing's bones and muscles tensed and contracted, while his internal energy continuously collided with the iron man's stake.

Even though the collision was very light, it caused the iron mannequin made of pig iron to shake uncontrollably.

The originally dark iron man stake has become incredibly smooth.

Yan Qing was trying to make other parts of his body also release internal energy.

After a day of practice, I can now apply internal force to the Iron Man Pole when I exert force with my limbs.

Although it's impossible to unleash all the hidden power from parts other than the palms at once, this is already a huge improvement.

Baguazhang: Hidden Strength 1911/2500

"Sure enough, after switching to the new method of cultivating internal energy, my cultivation speed has increased again."

Yan Qing smiled as he looked at the words that reappeared before his eyes.

A few days ago, his speed decreased significantly during sparring with the two women. Now, after changing his training method, his speed has increased again. Yan Qing has a premonition that he will be able to achieve the perfection of Dark Strength in just one week.

"Young Master, it's time to rest!"

Lan Yue had already prepared the medicinal wine, and she would use it to massage Yan Qing as soon as he finished.

"Um!"

Looking down at her already reddened body, Yan Qing nodded, wiped herself with a towel, and then lay down on the recliner, ready to enjoy Lan Yue's massage.

This method of cultivation is indeed faster, but it also causes considerable damage to the body. The blood stasis must be massaged away with medicinal wine as soon as possible to prevent any hidden injuries.

"Xiao Qing! Xiao Qing!!!"

Just as Yan Qing was lying down enjoying Lan Yue's massage, Yan Yanyan jogged into the cultivation room from outside, carrying a newspaper in her hand.

"Xiaoqing, you're in the newspaper!"

Yan Yanyan was slightly taken aback when she saw Yan Qing lying naked. Then she waved the newspaper in her hand and spoke, but as she spoke, her gaze couldn't help but fall on Yan Qing's chest and abdomen.

He had just finished cultivating, and the continuous burst of internal energy caused him to sweat profusely after resting, making his muscular body even more alluring.

"It's not surprising that it was reported; I was the one who had it posted."

Yan Qing didn't even lift his eyelids, completely unconcerned.

"But this is a national newspaper, and it's on the front page! You'll be famous nationwide now."