From a country cook to a master chef

"Master, Fourth Junior Brother... he... is... dead!"

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became oppressive, the air seemed to freeze, and Liu Yue's expression turned cold as he asked in a deep voice, "What exactly happened?"

"My fourth junior brother collapsed at the entrance of the martial arts school, all his tendons and veins severed. When his fellow disciples found him, he only managed to utter the word 'Master' before..."

"This is outrageous!"

Liu Yue gave a cold shout, his face instantly turning bright red, and flung his hand towards the door.

Sun Guo glanced back at his junior brother and hurriedly followed.

……

Inside the Martial Arts Hall, Liu Yue's expression calmed down, but it was still extremely ugly. His fourth disciple, Chen Meng, lay stiffly in front of him, his hands and feet broken, his meridians shattered by a powerful palm strike, his internal organs displaced, and his life force cut off.

Beside him, the eldest disciple, Wang Lingzhi, sat in a wheelchair in agony, his expression ferocious, his fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands, his nails digging deep into his palms, from which bright red blood flowed.

"This disciple can conclude that the injuries on Fourth Junior Brother's body were entirely caused by the masked man who attacked this disciple that day. He used the Heart-Shattering Palm and the Heart-Severing Kick, both techniques of a martial artist at the Divine Power Realm."

Blood slowly slid down his wrist, splattering into tiny blood flowers. Wang Lingzhi's chest heaved violently, wishing that the person lying there wasn't him.

The next second, he was so enraged that his blood rushed to his head, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood with a sweet taste in his throat, immediately fainting.

Liu Ruyan hurriedly fed him a calming pill and then pushed the wheelchair away from Shangwu Hall.

Outside on the martial arts field, Lin Jue and Liu Ruyan met and greeted each other with clasped hands.

"Greetings, Senior Sister Ruyan. Senior Brother..."

"Senior Brother Wang is alright, but Fourth Junior Brother has fallen victim to a villain's attack..." Liu Ruyan's lips trembled slightly, her voice choked with barely concealed sobs. She paused, her eyes reddening, and murmured softly, "The martial arts school is in dire straits right now. I know Father's temper best. It won't be long before the school has to move away from Yucheng. If you want to stay, be very careful of the people from Qingshan Martial Arts School."

Lin Jue was slightly taken aback, then bowed and said goodbye, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister Ruyan. I will remember it."

Watching Liu Ruyan's retreating figure and recalling what she had just said, Lin Jue's heart stirred, and he hurriedly walked towards Shangwu Hall. Although the name of Sixiang Martial Arts School could not be said to be famous far and wide, it must have its own unique characteristics to survive in Yucheng, where many martial arts schools once stood.

It's unbelievable that even a martial arts school like this has fallen to such a state. Its disciples were killed, and instead of seeking revenge, they want to escape their enemies and hide elsewhere. It's truly laughable and lamentable.

In times of famine, the idea of ​​relying on a martial arts school to strengthen oneself through martial arts training was perhaps flawed from the start.

With a sigh, Lin Jue arrived outside the Martial Arts Hall and heard his master Liu Yue's decision inside, which was exactly the same as what Liu Ruyan had said.

"Master, this matter is definitely related to Qingshan Martial Arts School. Continuing to tolerate it will only make them think we're weak and easily bullied. We can't tolerate it any longer; we must make them pay the price!"

"Qingshan Martial Arts School is going too far. Master, Sixth Senior Brother is right. We must retaliate in kind and avenge our Eldest Senior Brother and Senior Brother Chen."

"Have you said enough? Revenge? What are you going to use to take revenge? Your lives?" Liu Yue slammed his hand on the table, trying his best to calm his inner turmoil. He said helplessly, "Li Dakang's strength has improved a lot in recent years. When he visited the school last time, he was already on par with me. Besides, they have the Gao family behind them."

The Gao family!

When Liu Yue uttered those two words, everyone looked dejected and fell silent.

The Gao family of Yucheng wields immense power and influence. Not only do some of their members serve as officials in the Great Wu Dynasty, but their direct descendants have also joined the Qi Refining Immortal Sect, making them a renowned cultivation family. The Gao family's businesses are spread throughout Yucheng, and their connections are extensive and intertwined, extending to both the legitimate and underworld. With a single word from the Gao family head, certain individuals and forces can vanish from Yucheng.

Inside and outside Yucheng, in every market town, big or small, the Gao family's influence is felt in about three out of ten.

Lin Jue looked at the martial arts school members who had fallen silent, feeling helpless. The problems facing the martial arts school came from the suppression of the Qingshan Martial Arts School and the powerful Gao family, not from financial difficulties.

If it's only the latter, then it's easier to say.

The atmosphere in the hall was heavy. Everyone lowered their heads. The Gao family was like a mountain, pressing down on them and making it hard for them to breathe.

"First, bury Chen Meng. As for revenge, let's not discuss it again." Liu Yue took a deep breath and said with a dejected expression, "You all pack your belongings. We will leave Yucheng on a chosen day and head to Xiaoyao Mansion. If anyone wants to stay, I will not stop them, but there is one condition: you must not use the name of the Four Symbols Martial Arts School to provoke those people."

Sun Guo suddenly took a step forward, his eyes fixed on his master Liu Yue. His lips were slightly parted, as if he wanted to say something, but in an instant, something flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but close his eyes tightly, take a deep breath, and hold back.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, watching his fellow disciples packing their luggage, Lin Jue walked solemnly toward the back of the martial arts school. Just now, his senior brother Sun had come to inform him that their master wanted to see him alone.

The heavy snow continued to fall without any sign of stopping.

In the backyard of the martial arts school, in less than two hours, the mound of earth with paper offerings stuck in it was completely covered by ice and snow, making it impossible to tell that it was a new grave.

Liu Yue stood alone in front of the grave, surrounded by a vast expanse of white. His blue robe fluttered in the cold wind, and snowflakes kept falling on his shoulders and hair ornament, piling up like a mountain, but he was completely unaware.

His eyes were vacant, filled with confusion, staring straight ahead.

"Disciple Lin Jue greets Master."

Lin Jue's voice rang out behind Liu Yue, but he seemed not to hear it and remained standing motionless.

"I have thought it over, and I will continue to stay in Yucheng."

Taking a deep breath, Lin Jue slowly revealed his thoughts.

Yucheng is a large city, and he doesn't believe he won't have a place to stay.

The Four Symbols Martial Arts School is famous for its boxing techniques. Lin Jue has already mastered the method of practicing Pine Crane Long Fist. He only needs to integrate the boxing routines with the Eight Paths and Seventy-Two Gates Stance Exercises to develop Pine Crane Long Fist on his own. There is really no need for him to continue following the martial arts school.

Firstly, he is not short of money.

Secondly, having learned the Pine Crane Long Fist, he already possesses a certain degree of self-defense ability. After learning the Zhao Family Blood Saber in the future, his strength will advance by leaps and bounds, and he will no longer need to rely on the prestige of others.

Lin Jue clearly remembered that Zhao Xiaoyao had said that Liu Yue of the Four Symbols Martial Arts School was her uncle, so he did not want her to know the secret that he possessed the Zhao family's blood blade.

Lin Jue's words made Liu Yue tremble slightly. He was worried about how to subtly get Lin Jue to suggest staying in Yucheng. At this moment, he slowly turned around and said unhurriedly, "In that case, I have something to give you."

Lin Jue was secretly surprised. When his gaze fell on what Liu Yue had taken out, he was stunned and couldn't help but exclaim.

"The Zhao Family's Bloodstained Blade!"

"That's right, the Zhao family's blood blade. I already knew about the Zhao family from Xiao Yao. Before she went to the Yanxia Sect, she specifically asked me to take care of you. When we first met and I learned your name, I knew it was you."

"Seeing you secretly practicing the Blood Blade technique later confirmed my suspicions about your identity. You saved Xiao Yao, and you can cultivate the Zhao Family Blood Blade."

Patting Lin Jue on the shoulder, Liu Yue said earnestly, "The Zhao family's affairs involve many people. Behind Pan Mang is actually the Gao family of Yucheng."

"It's laughable, but I was the one who pushed Xiao Yao into the fire, making him a cultivation partner of the Gao family. The martial arts school's fate is truly my own fault."

After saying this, Liu Yue burst into laughter, then turned and silently left.

Lin Jue bowed to Liu Yue's back, quickly packed his things, and led the wolf cub back to Jiming Lane.

Today, the wind and snow in the city are more intense than usual. There are few pedestrians on the streets, and you can occasionally see two or three men sweeping snow. The roadsides are piled with snow mixed with fallen leaves and mud.

If things are as Liu Yue said, then the Gao family is most likely behind the scenes plotting against the Zhao family.

Their purpose is very likely to be that magical book!