Physical enlightenment begins with Xingyi Quan

When Chen Jianghe stepped into the courtyard, all eyes turned to him.

He was dressed in a tight-fitting indigo outfit—the very attire issued by the security company—with the butcher's knife that had been with him for many years hanging at his waist, and his steps were steady.

Su Derong suddenly opened his eyes, saw Chen Jianghe, was startled at first, then his expression changed: "Jianghe? What are you doing here? Go back!"

Chen Jianghe ignored him and walked straight to the open space in the courtyard, stopping five steps in front of Zhao Mingyuan.

He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhao Mingyuan and said calmly, "Instructor Zhao."

Zhao Mingyuan frowned almost imperceptibly.

He recognized Chen Jianghe; he had met him once at Zuichunlou that day. Chen was his master's newly accepted junior brother, who was said to have some talent.

But no matter how talented he is, he's just a disciple of a dilapidated martial arts school. What kind of trouble can he cause in this situation?

Li Tian scoffed, "Oh, isn't this Junior Brother Chen? What, here to see your Third Senior Brother off?"

Chen Jianghe ignored him.

Zhao Mingyuan spoke slowly, his voice carrying an air of condescending indifference: "Chen Jianghe? This is none of your business."

"Yes." Chen Jianghe took out the coarse cloth bundle from his pocket and untied it.

He placed the bundle on the ground and pushed it forward half a step: "Here are two hundred taels of gold notes and forty-two taels of loose silver."

The courtyard suddenly fell silent.

Even the sound of the wind blowing through the flags could be clearly heard.

Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, Zhao Tieshan, and the others stared wide-eyed at the pile of money on the ground in disbelief.

Su Derong was visibly shaken, snapped his folding fan shut, and stared intently at Chen Jianghe.

Li Tian was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled, "Oh, Junior Brother Chen, you're quite generous! You just take these gold notes like that? Did you steal them?"

Chen Jianghe looked up at him, his voice still steady: "If you don't believe me, you can check it on the spot. The gold note is from 'Tongbao Bank,' and we're honest with everyone."

The attendant behind Zhao Mingyuan quickly stepped forward, squatted down to examine it carefully, and after a moment looked up with a look of surprise on his face: "Instructor Zhao, it is indeed true."

Zhao Mingyuan stared at Chen Jianghe, his gaze hardening: "Where did you get so much money?"

Chen Jianghe's lips curved slightly, revealing an almost mocking smile: "Why should I explain the source of my private assets to Instructor Zhao?"

Zhao Mingyuan narrowed his eyes, stopped asking questions, and turned to look at Su Derong: "Four hundred taels of principal, all set."

Su Derong was just about to breathe a sigh of relief—

"What about the interest?" Zhao Mingyuan said calmly, "It's clearly written on the IOU: rounding down the difference, I'll charge you one hundred taels of gold."

"One hundred taels?!" Zhou Yong couldn't help but shout, "What kind of money exchange would dare to calculate it like that?!"

Li Tian sneered, "It's all in black and white, Su Jingming personally signed it. What, trying to renege on the agreement?"

Chen Jianghe remained silent, but he understood perfectly.

In chaotic times, the strong call the shots.

The Zhao family is determined to take over the Su family's escort agency today, so naturally they won't just accept the initial investment of four hundred taels.

He slowly exhaled: "So, Instructor Zhao means that another one hundred taels of gold are needed?"

Zhao Mingyuan spoke, his voice cold: "Paying back debts is a matter of course. It's written in black and white, and there's no denying it."

He couldn't produce one hundred taels of gold.

unless……

He subconsciously touched the "Phantom Step" manual in his pocket.

If this manual were pawned, it could be worth several hundred taels of gold.

But this belongs to the Azure Dragon Guard. If it leaks out, and the Azure Dragon Gang finds out about it...

He was hesitating—

"What's wrong, can't you collect them all?"

A soft snort rang out.

Chen Wanglong stepped out from beside Zhao Mingyuan, dressed in a brocade robe and jade belt, his face cold and stern.

He slowly walked up to Chen Jianghe and looked down at this half-brother who he had never taken seriously.

He spoke slowly, his tone mocking: "Who do we have here? It's that illegitimate cousin from Mudskipper Bay."

He paused, his tone growing increasingly dismissive: "It's quite remarkable that a son of a concubine has managed to get to where he is today. Unfortunately, he shouldn't meddle in things he shouldn't, and he shouldn't flaunt his abilities."

Chen Jianghe remained silent.

Seeing his appearance, Chen Wanglong felt even more inexplicably irritated.

This illegitimate cousin, who had been neglected by his family and trampled underfoot since childhood, dared to stand here and look at him with such calm eyes.

On what grounds?

He suddenly recalled the disdainful look on his grandfather Chen Qingyi's face when he mentioned Chen Jianghe in the main hall of the Chen family a few months ago: "What future can a son of a concubine have? Wanglong, you are the future of the Chen family."

But now, this "good-for-nothing" illegitimate son has actually produced a full two hundred taels of gold!

A sinister glint flashed in Chen Wanglong's eyes.

He wouldn't allow it.

He would not allow a son born out of wedlock to display such a "calm and composed" demeanor in front of him.

His voice suddenly rose: "Chen Jianghe, do you know that in the face of a true genius, your meager skills are nothing more than an ant trying to shake a tree?"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly made his move!

There was no warning, no build-up.

His right fist struck straight at Chen Jianghe's vitals!

This punch was extremely vicious, clearly intended to cripple his cultivation and sever his martial arts foundation!

Everyone around was startled.

No one expected Chen Wanglong to make a sudden move, let alone such a ruthless killing move!

Su Derong's expression changed drastically, and he shouted angrily, "How dare you!"

Zhao Mingyuan frowned, but did not speak up to stop him.

Li Tian grinned, his eyes filled with glee—that brat Chen Jianghe is doomed today!

In a flash, Chen Jianghe made a move.

He didn't retreat, didn't dodge, and didn't even assume a fighting stance.

He simply lowered his waist and hips slightly, raised his right fist, and delivered a level punch to meet Chen Wanglong's vicious punch.

The punch was delivered silently, without wind, and without force.

It was as if he had just casually raised his hand.

Their fists met.

"Bang--!"

A dull thud echoed through the courtyard, like the beating of a heavy drum!

Chen Wanglong's cold smile suddenly froze.

He felt an overwhelming, gentle force penetrate from Chen Jianghe's fist and run straight into the tendons of his arm!

Wherever that force passed, the muscles and tendons felt sore and numb, the blood and qi stagnated, and the entire right arm instantly lost sensation!

An even more hidden force, like a venomous snake, pierced straight into his dantian, causing his blood and qi to surge and a sweet taste to rise in his throat!

"Thump, thump, thump!"

Chen Wanglong took three steps back, each step leaving a deep footprint on the blue bricks. On the third step, he finally lost his balance and knelt on one knee!

He abruptly looked up, staring intently at Chen Jianghe, his eyes filled with horror and disbelief: "You...you also possess hidden strength?!"

The entire venue was deathly silent.

All eyes were fixed on Chen Jianghe.

Those gazes held shock, bewilderment... ultimately coalescing into an almost absurd disbelief.

Hidden strength?

This boy, who looks no more than eighteen or nineteen years old, comes from a commoner family in Mudfish Bay, and learns martial arts at a dilapidated martial arts school... is actually a master of internal strength?!

Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, Zhao Tieshan... all the Su family bodyguards were dumbfounded, as if they were seeing the person in front of them for the first time.

The smile on Li Tian's face froze completely.

Even Zhao Mingyuan, who had maintained a cold expression, suddenly had his pupils shrink.

Chen Jianghe slowly withdrew his fist and stood up straight.

He looked calmly at Chen Wanglong kneeling on the ground, his voice still indifferent: "Cousin, you flatter me."

"You...you..." Chen Wanglong trembled all over, whether from anger or injury, it was hard to tell. "You've been hiding this for so long!"

Chen Jianghe didn't reply, but turned to Zhao Mingyuan and handed over the bundle again: "Instructor Zhao, four hundred taels of gold, repay the principal first. The Su family will definitely raise the remaining interest within three months. Please return the IOU."

Zhao Mingyuan stared at him for a full three breaths.

Then, he suddenly laughed.

The smile was cold, carrying a condescending scrutiny and amusement: "Chen Jianghe... I underestimated you. An eighteen-year-old with hidden strength is considered genius even in the inner city. What a pity—"

He paused, then his voice turned stern: "Even geniuses need to know the rules!"

"Rules?" Chen Jianghe raised his eyes. "Paying back debts is the most important rule. But if you want to force someone to go bankrupt by exorbitant interest rates... that rule is probably untenable."

Zhao Mingyuan snorted coldly: "Sharp tongue. I can accept the money. I can return the IOU. But—"

His gaze swept over Chen Wanglong, who was kneeling on the ground, before returning to Chen Jianghe: "You injured someone from my Zhao family. How do you intend to settle this score?"

Su Derong, unable to contain himself any longer, stepped forward: "Zhao Mingyuan! It was clearly Chen Wanglong who launched the sneak attack first; Jiang He was merely acting in self-defense! So many eyes were watching; are you trying to twist the truth?!"

"Self-defense?" Zhao Mingyuan said calmly. "Chen Wanglong is a highly skilled disciple of Zhenlei Martial Arts School and an honored guest of the Zhao family. What's wrong with him teaching his unworthy disciple a lesson? It's your junior brother who has been disrespectful and ruthless... If we don't teach him a lesson today, what face will the Zhao family have left?"

Before he finished speaking, the seven or eight Zhao family guards behind him stepped forward in unison, their auras locking onto Chen Jianghe.

Li Tian grinned maliciously and drew his longsword: "Senior Brother, why waste words with this brat! Cripple his cultivation, and see if he dares to be arrogant again!"

Chen Jianghe's eyes grew cold.

His right hand slowly drooped to his waist, his fingertips touching the knife hilt, while his left hand quietly reached for the bag of lime powder in his pocket.

Although it has limited effectiveness against masters of internal strength, it can always create some opportunities in the midst of a chaotic battle.

Just as tensions were about to rise—

"What, two Zhao family dogs, trying to bully the weak with numbers?"

Su Derong's voice suddenly rang out, and he unfolded his folding fan with a "whoosh," taking a step in front of Chen Jianghe and shielding him behind him.

The moon-white silk robe fluttered slightly in the wind, and the face that always wore a carefree smile was expressionless at this moment.

"Su Derong," Zhao Mingyuan narrowed his eyes, "you want to interfere?"

"He's my junior brother," Su Derong said casually, fanning himself. "To harm him is to harm me. Your Zhao family wants to bully the weak with numbers... fine, you'll have to step over my dead body first."

"Young Master!" Zhou Yong, Wang Gui, and the others, their eyes reddening, stepped forward with their knives, standing shoulder to shoulder with Su Derong.

The Zhao family guards paused and looked at Zhao Mingyuan.

Zhao Mingyuan stared at Su Derong, then suddenly laughed: "Good, what a touching display of brotherly affection. Since that's the case..."

He slowly drew the long sword from his waist.

"I will grant your wish."

The blade was dark and dull, faintly gleaming with a bloody light.

The atmosphere suddenly became extremely tense!

However, just as Zhao Mingyuan was about to wave his hand to give the order—

Chen Wanglong, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly let out a low growl like a wild beast!

He abruptly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at Chen Jianghe, and hissed, "Chen Jianghe... I want you dead!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly sprang into action!

This time, he held nothing back, unleashing his full hidden strength, his blood and qi surging, his fist tearing through the air with a fierce, suicidal aura as he charged straight at Chen Jianghe!

This punch embodied all his resentment, humiliation, and unwillingness!

He wanted to completely crush this illegitimate cousin in front of him!

.......

Little Lightning kneels in gratitude to all the godfathers for their monthly tickets and donations!!!

Dear readers, please rest assured that once the book is released, I will definitely update it at a breakneck pace (I'll go all out!). During this new book season, I still hope you will all lend a hand and read it to help the book secure a place on the bestseller list!