From a country cook to a master chef

Of all the techniques of boxing, the eyes are paramount.

Since becoming Liu Yue's disciple, Lin Jue has practiced the most martial arts, besides the Songhe Changquan Eight Routes and Seventy-Two Gates Stance Skill, the eye skills in body techniques, hand techniques, eye techniques, and footwork.

Having cultivated to this point, if he so desired, he could scare away ordinary people who knew no martial arts with just his eyes.

Master Liu once said that mastering the art of eye contact can give one the upper hand in defeating an enemy, and this is not an unfounded claim.

If an ordinary person encounters a large tiger in the mountains, they will be terrified and want to retreat at the mere sight of it.

According to Master Liu, cultivating eyesight is crucial and indispensable in the process of martial arts training. He speculated that by cultivating it to the highest level, one could become like a god or Buddha in the heavens, opening the martial arts heavenly eye and the Buddhist wisdom eye.

Looking at the golden pages in his hand, Lin Jue suddenly had a flash of inspiration and immediately began to concentrate on observing the dense, strange patterns on the back.

To hone one's eyesight, one must not only be able to see in all directions with an imposing presence, but also be able to see the smallest details in the dark and perceive the big picture from the small.

With his gaze fixed on the patterns on the pages, Lin Jue was surprised to discover that the strange patterns on the back of the pages were actually extremely fine characters, including many unfamiliar ones.

Lin Jue immediately found a pen and ink, and copied all the unfamiliar characters onto a piece of paper to ask Yuan Rou for help.

I secretly thought that I should take the time to systematically learn the written language of this world, otherwise I might suffer from my lack of education someday.

Yuan Rou's voice was clear and gentle, like flowing water. When she spoke, her tone was soothing and orderly, making Lin Jue wonder if she was the daughter of some impoverished wealthy family.

After explaining the meaning of the hundred or so characters on the paper, Yuan Rou busied herself with greeting a few scattered guests.

Lin Jue nodded with a smile, and after the other person left, he focused intently on deciphering the contents recorded in tiny characters on the golden pages.

Tianwu Mountain, established by the order of the Martial Emperor and in accordance with the needs of the people, is a sacred martial arts site jointly created by the Grand Preceptor and the Grand General of the Great Wu Dynasty. It is open to all martial artists within the Great Wu territory, but those with talent can enter Tianwu Mountain to cultivate martial arts...

His gaze slowly swept across the pages, settling on the last line. In an instant, Lin Jue's pupils contracted, and his body stiffened abruptly.

"Anyone who possesses the golden pages of the elixir can become a Yellow-Rank disciple of Tianwu Mountain without taking the examination!"

Lin Jue's eyes were filled with disbelief. He clasped his hands together, holding the golden pages tightly, as if afraid that this immense wealth would slip through his fingers.

According to the description on the golden page, the disciples of Tianwu Mountain are divided into four levels: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. The Heaven level has the fewest disciples, while the Yellow level has the most and is the most common.

Even so, passing the test to become a Yellow-rank disciple of Tianwu Mountain is extremely difficult.

Every Yellow-rank disciple of Tianwu Mountain is one in a hundred in the world of martial arts cultivation.

It is precisely because of the existence of Tianwu Mountain that the balance of power between the immortal cultivation forces and the martial arts of mortals in the Great Wu Kingdom has been achieved.

"Unfortunately, Tianwu Mountain only accepts disciples in the twelfth lunar month each year, which is still almost six months away, so there's still plenty of time."

With a sigh of relief, Lin Jue carefully placed the golden pages of the cinnabar book into his storage bag, then looked through the window at Qin Kuai, the young leader of the Black Bamboo Gang, who was tied up in the courtyard.

Tianwu Mountain is of great significance, and now that he has the imperial edict and golden pages in hand, he has no reason not to go.

He didn't leave Yucheng before because he was worried that going to Xiaoyao Mansion would get him involved in more complex power struggles.

But times have changed. With the golden book in hand, he will no longer be a headless fly bumping into walls everywhere.

However, before that, he needs to deal with the immediate troubles.

Lin Jue recalled the look of utter disdain in Qin Kuai's eyes when he saw Xiang Ping's corpse.

This matter must be related to the Black Bamboo Gang.

Thinking of this, Lin Jue slowly walked out of the room and approached Qin Kuai, who seemed to be fast asleep.

"What, now you want to release your Master Qin?"

Qin Kuai opened his eyes with a sinister grin, staring intently at Lin Jue: "If only you had known this would happen, you wouldn't have done it in the first place. Now, it's too late."

Licking the snowflakes off his lips, Qin Kuai said with burning eyes, "Of course, if you obediently send that girl to my bed for my enjoyment, I might be happy and consider letting you live."

The thought of Yuan Rou made Qin Kuai feel extremely hot despite the freezing weather, and he couldn't help but let his mind wander.

Lin Jue looked down at him with a cold gaze, then suddenly kicked him in the groin. In an instant, a pig-like scream echoed through the courtyard.

"You surnamed Lin, I'll fuck your grandpa."

"what!"

Lin Jue remained silent, only kicking his feet repeatedly.

The Great Wu Laws stipulate that masters can beat their servants at will, as long as they do not kill them.

With the heavy snow causing disasters, many of the court's laws and regulations have become mere formalities. Hundreds of people are dying every day in Yucheng for various reasons. Lin Jue is not worried that Qin Kuai's cries will attract attention.

The Black Bamboo Gang was located far away in the center of Xiayuanfang, nearly a kilometer away from Qinghe Tavern. Lin Jue did not believe that the Black Bamboo Gang would send people everywhere to search for Qin Kuai if he did not see him for a day.

And just as Lin Jue had thought, Qin Chi, the leader of the Black Bamboo Gang, still thought that Qin Kuai was lying in the arms of a courtesan, indulging in pleasure.

As for the guests in the tavern, they completely ignored the shouts coming from the courtyard.

After giving Qin Kuai a severe beating, Lin Jue dragged him into the woodshed.

The soundproofing here is good, so there are some things that are best left unsaid.

"Mr. Qin, are you still interested in having a proper conversation with me?"

Lin Jue sat on the pile of firewood, looking down at the fire, holding a fire poker as thick as his wrist.

"Manager Lin, Master Lin, what are you joking about? I was blinded by lust and bewitched you." Qin Kuai knelt on the ground, clutching his lower body, and murmured with a pained expression, "Master Lin, please forgive my mistake and don't play tricks on me!"

Lin Jue jumped off the firewood and had just arrived in front of Qin Kuai when the latter immediately covered his crotch and hid in a corner in fright.

Seeing this, Lin Jue smiled slightly and tempted, "If you answer a few questions for me, I will let you leave."

Upon hearing this, Qin Kuai was overjoyed, secretly thinking that as soon as he returned to the Black Bamboo Gang, he would lead his men to destroy the entire Qinghe Tavern.

While secretly overjoyed, Qin Kuai immediately feigned excitement, as if he had been granted a pardon, and said, "Master Lin, please ask. As long as it's something I know, I will tell you everything without reservation."

"Um."

Lin Jue smiled and nodded with satisfaction, saying, "I don't know much, just two questions."

First, what are your father Qin Chi's usual hobbies, such as what he likes to eat and where he likes to go?

Secondly, which forces does the Black Bamboo Gang cooperate with, or does the Black Bamboo Gang have any powerful backers?

Lin Jue frowned, lowered his head, and pondered for a while before pressing for an answer: "One last thing, who are the strongest members of the Black Bamboo Gang?"

Upon hearing these questions, Qin Kuai's expression immediately became uncertain, showing both suspicion and fear.

Anyone with a normal mind could tell that the other party was trying to find out their background in order to deal with the Black Bamboo Gang.

Seeing that Qin Kuai did not speak for a long time, Lin Jue pretended to be impatient, picked up the fire poker and examined it carefully, occasionally kicking his feet.

Qin Kuai, who was originally in a dilemma, was so frightened that he immediately swallowed and said tremblingly, "Master Lin, you don't know, my father likes wine, especially the aged daughter's red wine from the Honghualou in the medicine shop. He always sets aside an hour every day at noon to satisfy his craving."

"As for the forces behind the Black Bamboo Gang, there are none. Otherwise, they wouldn't be forced to retreat to Xiayuanfang and have to be extremely cautious if they want to expand their influence."

"Besides my father, who is a martial artist at the Divine Power Realm, the two strongest members of the gang are the Deadly Scholar..."

After speaking cautiously, Qin Kuai looked at Lin Jue with anticipation, "Master Lin, I swear to God that everything I have said is true. If there is a single lie, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death."

"Yes, that's right! Wouldn't it be better if everyone cooperated well?"

Lin Jue nodded in satisfaction, resting his chin on his right hand and twirling the fire poker in his left. "By the way, do you know how Xiang Ping died?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Kuai's face changed drastically in fright. Lin Jue's words were earth-shattering. Having witnessed him push Xiang Ping outside the city to be buried, Qin Kuai was convinced that the two must have a very close relationship.

If he were to reveal that he was the one who sent people to kill Xiang Ping, he would have no chance of survival today.

"I don't know. I wasn't very familiar with him, how would I know the cause of his death? I know nothing about it."

Whether you know it or not, whether you recognize it or not, it doesn't matter.

Lin Jue sighed and raised the fire poker in his hand.

Judging from Qin Kuai's reaction alone, he had already gotten the answer he wanted.

A cold wind blew in through the window, turning Qin Kuai's face deathly pale: "Damn it! Are you really going to fight the Black Bamboo Gang to the death?"

Lin Jue did not answer, but swung the fire poker in his hand with all his might, his face full of mockery.

Qin Kuai's pupils shrank sharply, his eyes filled with resentment and fear. The whistling sound of the stick cutting through the air reached his ears, and his mind went blank.

Bang!

A few dark red spots suddenly appeared on the dry pile of firewood.

Figures moved about in the woodshed, carrying long strips of scarlet straw mats that were casually tossed onto a cart.

Lin Jue breathed a sigh of relief after doing all this, his expression calm.

……