Shooting the Eagle: Starting from Iron Palm Peak

Qiu Qianren has been in seclusion for more than two months.

After returning to Iron Palm Peak, Lin Qi lived even more cautiously than before he left. Han Duanyue's men did not let him off the hook because of his "disappearance," but instead intensified their harassment. Having his medicinal herbs confiscated, being made difficult for his duties, and being pointed at and gossiped about on the street were all commonplace for him.

Lin Qi ignored him. He devoted all his time to practicing his skills. The power of the snake blood was still being absorbed, and his Iron Bone Technique was steadily at the middle of the second level. He combined the Quanzhen Sect's "Complete True Dao Song" with the Iron Bone Technique, practicing fierce techniques in the morning and gentle, nourishing techniques in the evening, making his internal energy purer day by day. He had already mastered the first four postures of the Iron Palm Technique, and although Qiu Qianren had not yet taught him the fifth posture, "Breaking Army Posture," he had figured out some of the tricks on his own. He dared not practice it haphazardly, but instead repeatedly refined the variations of the first four postures.

The first person Han Duanyue sent to test the waters was a steward surnamed Wu, around forty years old, who had practiced Iron Sand Palm for over twenty years. He came to the side courtyard to find Lin Qi, saying he wanted to "spar." Lin Qi didn't refuse, and the two began to fight in the open space. Steward Wu's Iron Sand Palm was highly skilled, the wind from his palms whistling. Lin Qi didn't take it head-on; instead, he used his Swift Body Step, circling Wu twice, finding an opening in Wu's power, and struck Wu's shoulder with a palm. The force wasn't great, only enough to knock Wu back three steps. Steward Wu's face turned ashen, he clasped his hands in a fist salute, and turned to leave.

The second time, Han Biao came in person. He brought seven or eight disciples and blocked Lin Qi's way to the Stone Tower, saying he wanted to "settle the score"—claiming that Lin Qi had injured him first and hadn't even apologized. Lin Qi glanced at him and only said, "How do you want to settle this?" Han Biao hadn't expected Lin Qi to be so assertive. He paused for a moment, about to lash out, but Lin Qi had already walked past him. Han Biao reached out to grab Lin Qi's shoulder, but Lin Qi's shoulder sank, and Han Biao grabbed nothing, stumbling forward and almost falling. Lin Qi didn't turn around and continued walking. Han Biao stood behind, his face flushed, but ultimately didn't chase after him.

Having failed to gain any advantage in his two attempts, Han Duanyue could no longer sit still.

That evening, Lin Qi was returning to his side courtyard from the stone building, passing through a secluded mountain path. As dusk settled, the pine trees lining the path rustled in the wind. Lin Qi had walked a few steps when he suddenly stopped.

There was a person standing in front of me.

He stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in black robes, his face sinister, like a piece of dead wood stuck in the middle of the road.

Han Duanyue.

Lin Qi's heart tightened, and he slightly opened his palm, his inner strength already circulating. He didn't retreat or panic, but simply stood still, looking at Han Duanyue.

"Vice Hall Master Han."

Han Duanyue turned around, looked him up and down, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"Lin Qi, this isn't over yet that you injured my nephew."

"Han Biao forcibly abducted a woman, and the disciple intervened to stop him. According to the gang rules, that's acceptable." Lin Qi said neither humbly nor arrogantly. "If Vice Hall Master Han is still dissatisfied, he can go to the Department of Criminal Law for a judgment."

"The Ministry of Justice?" Han Duanyue sneered. "That bookworm Zhou Mingyuan, what can he do to me?"

He took a step forward.

A wave of pressure washed over him, like a boulder pressing on his chest. Lin Qi did not retreat. He took a deep breath, channeling his inner energy to its limit. The inner energy of the second level of the Iron Bone Technique surged through his meridians, forcefully resisting the pressure.

A hint of surprise flashed in Han Duanyue's eyes. He hadn't expected Lin Qi's internal strength to have reached this level.

"No wonder you dared to talk back to me." Han Duanyue snorted. "Then let me see just how much skill the tutor has taught you."

Before he finished speaking, he struck out with his palm.

The power of a fully-developed Iron Sand Palm was fierce and powerful, the wind from which swept across Lin Qi's face carrying a pungent, metallic scent. Lin Qi did not take it head-on; instead, he used his elusive footwork, his body gliding past Han Duan Yue's palm like a fallen leaf blown by the wind. Han Duan Yue's palm missed its mark, but he quickly changed his move, his left palm following up, sweeping across Lin Qi's ribs.

Instead of retreating, Lin Qi advanced, extending his right palm in the first stance of the Iron Palm Technique, "Pushing the Mountain." His palm heel pressed against Han Duan Yue's left palm, and with a twist of his wrist, a spiraling force erupted. The two palms collided with a muffled thud. Lin Qi retreated five steps, while Han Duan Yue only retreated one.

But Han Duanyue's expression changed.

His left palm burned; the sharp force of the Iron Palm technique was like a thin knife, cutting through the calluses on his palm. It caused a slight stinging pain in the meridians of his hands and his internal organs.

Although he wasn't injured, this palm strike made him realize that Lin Qi's martial arts skills were no longer those of the easily defeated third-generation disciple he had been three months ago.

The Iron Palm technique is incredibly sharp!

"Alright." Han Duanyue gritted his teeth and unleashed both palms simultaneously, the wind from his palms surging like a tide.

Lin Qi knew his internal strength was inferior to Han Duanyue's, and he would surely lose if he fought head-on. He pushed his Swift Body Steps to the limit, weaving through Han Duanyue's palm shadows, dodging whenever possible, using the force of Han's attacks to deflect them when he couldn't, and only taking the blows head-on when he couldn't deflect them. The two exchanged blows on the narrow mountain path, exchanging seventy or eighty moves in the blink of an eye.

Although Lin Qi was at a disadvantage, he held his ground very firmly. His Iron Palm technique was exquisite, and combined with his agile movement, he repeatedly neutralized Han Duan Yue's fierce palm strikes. As the fight progressed, Lin Qi actually felt more at ease—he secretly estimated that with his current skill, Han Duan Yue would be unable to defeat him within two hundred moves.

Han Duanyue grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. He had expected to defeat this junior within ten moves, but after seventy or eighty moves, Lin Qi showed no signs of defeat and instead became more and more composed. Although his Iron Sand Palm was powerful and fierce, Lin Qi's Iron Palm technique was unpredictable, with each strike carrying a spiraling force that made Han Duanyue's palms numb.

The commotion on the mountain path alerted the people nearby. Several disciples passing by saw Han Duanyue fighting Lin Qi from afar and were initially shocked—how could a third-generation disciple be fighting on equal terms with the deputy hall master of the Iron Palm Hall? They rubbed their eyes to make sure they weren't seeing things, and quickly turned around and ran to report the news.

Before long, Zhou Mingyuan, Qian Sihai, and Mei Ruolan arrived. The three stood at opposite ends of the mountain path, watching the fight unfold. Their expressions varied, but all their eyes held undisguised shock. Zhou Mingyuan frowned, Qian Sihai squinted, and Mei Ruolan slightly opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something but remained silent.

Some disciples who had received the news also rushed over, standing at a distance to watch and whisper among themselves.

"That's Lin Qi? He actually managed to fight Vice Hall Master Han for so long?"

"Hasn't he only been an apprentice for a few months?"

"His martial arts skills have improved way too fast..."

Han Duanyue sensed the gazes around him and intensified his palm strike. Lin Qi gritted his teeth and took the blow head-on. He was shaken and his blood surged, but he quickly regained his balance and maintained his defensive posture with a calm expression.

That's enough.

Zhou Mingyuan's voice wasn't loud, but everyone present could hear it clearly. He was the head of the Criminal Law Department, the third most important figure in the gang, and in terms of status, he was no less than Han Duanyue.

Han Duanyue withdrew his palm, turned around, and said with a gloomy face, "Zhou Mingyuan, what do you mean?"

"What do you mean?" Zhou Mingyuan glanced at him. "Vice Hall Master Han, you, a vice hall master of the Iron Palm Hall, are attacking a junior on a key part of the gang's territory. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"

"He injured my nephew, so I gave him a few words of reprimand. What's wrong with that?"

"A lesson?" Zhou Mingyuan sneered. "Who in the gang doesn't know about your nephew forcibly taking a woman? Lin Qi intervened to uphold gang rules. And you, instead of thanking him for disciplining your nephew, you bully the weak. Vice Hall Master Han, aren't you afraid the gang leader will be displeased?"

Han Duanyue's expression changed. Although Qiu Qianren was in seclusion, he would emerge sooner or later. If Qiu Qianren found out about this, his situation would be very precarious.

Qian Sihai spoke up at this moment, smiling but with a firm tone: "Vice Hall Master Han, Lin Qi is the gang leader's personal disciple. It won't look good if word gets out that you've fought him. Even if you don't care, the Iron Palm Gang still has a reputation to maintain."

Mei Ruolan didn't speak, but her position blocked Han Duanyue's retreat. Her meaning was clear—this matter couldn't be left like this.

Han Duanyue looked around, his face ashen. The simultaneous appearance of Zhou Mingyuan, Qian Sihai, and Mei Ruolan, the three heads of the three departments, was no coincidence. They weren't helping Lin Qi; they were making a statement—they had chosen to stand with Qiu Qianren and Lin Qi.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and gave Lin Qi a cold look.

"Alright. I'll give the three chief officials face today." He flicked his sleeve, turned around, and left.

The mountain road became quiet.

Lin Qi leaned against a pine tree, panting heavily, but his expression remained calm. He clasped his hands in a respectful bow to Zhou Mingyuan, Qian Sihai, and Mei Ruolan, saying, "Thank you, the three masters."

Zhou Mingyuan waved his hand: "No need to thank us. We all saw your martial arts just now. To be able to hold your own against Han Duanyue for seventy or eighty moves without being at a disadvantage, you are the first among the third-generation disciples of the gang."

Qian Sihai said with a smile, "Lin Qi, you should practice your skills diligently; your future is limitless. If you need any help, just come to me."

Mei Ruolan simply nodded, then turned and left.

Lin Qi knew that from today onwards, his status in the gang was different. Before, he was just "Qiu Qianren's personal disciple," an empty title, and no one really took him seriously. Now, he had proven himself with his martial arts skills—being able to withstand seventy or eighty moves from Han Duan Yue without being at a disadvantage—this level of strength already made him a notable figure in the gang.

More importantly, the simultaneous appearance of the three department heads is tantamount to a public declaration of support for him. Han Duanyue will have to think twice before trying to harm him again.

Lin Qi straightened up and slowly walked back to the side courtyard.

He didn't rush to rest, but instead sat down to regulate his internal energy. Although Han Duanyue's palm strike was fierce, his internal strength was profound, and taking that blow only caused his blood and qi to surge, without any serious harm. The internal energy of the Iron Bone Technique flowed slowly through his meridians, and after several cycles, the surging blood and qi calmed down.

He opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

Han Duanyue took action personally. This shows he's in a hurry. The involvement of the three department heads indicates a shift in the power structure within the gang. Qiu Qianren hasn't even emerged from seclusion yet, but the winds of change within the gang are already blowing.

Lin Qi clenched his fist. His martial arts skills were still insufficient, but he was no longer the third-generation disciple who could be slaughtered at will. He had the ability to protect himself, a powerful backer, and the capital to establish himself in the gang.

The moon outside the window was very bright, shining on the open ground of the side courtyard, like a layer of frost.

Lin Qi closed the window, lay back on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.