Gou Zai Wudao Shi Lian Shen

Deep in the snowstorm, Qiu Heixiong retreated all the way to the snow slope outside Donglin.

There, the remaining bandits of Black Wind Stronghold were gathering in a sorry state.

The shouts of battle from the north slope had gradually subsided, and several corpses lay scattered across the snow, some belonging to snow wolves, others to the Black Wind Stronghold bandits. The firelight flickered through the snow, casting a grim, ashen glow on everyone's faces.

Before long, the second brother Zhao Xiao and the third brother Xue Sangui also led their men back.

Zhao Xiao carried a bloodstained machete, its blade still smeared with bits of flesh and slush. A fresh gash on his face indicated he had just been through a fierce battle.

Seeing Qiu Heixiong's gloomy face and noticing that one of his men was missing, he frowned and asked, "Big brother, where's fourth brother?"

Qiu Heixiong did not answer immediately.

He simply raised his hand.

The two bandits behind him, their faces pale, struggled to drag a corpse out of the snow.

The corpse's chest was caved in, and its face was covered in blood; it was none other than Sun Liancheng, the Twin-Sword Demon.

Zhao Xiao's pupils suddenly contracted.

"The fourth one?"

He rushed forward, squatted down, and grabbed Sun Liancheng's shoulder, only to find it was ice-cold.

"Is the fourth brother dead?"

Xue Sangui's expression also changed, and he took two steps closer, clutching his left shoulder.

"How could this happen?"

Zhao Xiao suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with shock and anger: "Who could have killed him? Wasn't Wang Zhong being held captive on the north slope by us? Fourth Brother's agility is so good, and he's especially skilled at ambushes, how could he be dead?"

Qiu Heixiong's face was so gloomy it looked like it was about to drip water.

The wind and snow fell on his beard, quickly forming a layer of white frost.

"It's that young martial artist who was recruited by Wang Ji from another county."

His voice was deep, "It seems his surname is Qi."

Zhao Xiao was taken aback: "The one surnamed Qi?"

Qiu Heixiong nodded, his eyes filled with suppressed anger and a hint of fear.

"The information provided by the Huang family is incorrect."

"That guy surnamed Qi is definitely more than just a master of boxing."

"His boxing skills... have reached a state of perfection."

"Perfect realm?" Zhao Xiao's expression changed immediately.

Beginner and minor mastery of boxing techniques simply means being proficient in the moves and knowing when to punch and how to generate power.

Only when you reach mastery can you truly understand and integrate the techniques. You don't need to consciously think about the moves; your body will react naturally when you encounter an enemy, and your power generation, changes of moves, advances and retreats will all become one.

If one goes a step further and reaches perfection, then the fist technique penetrates to the bone, and the power changes.

At this stage, boxing is no longer just about moves; it's about a unique power that originates from the body's vital energy, blood, muscles, and bones. It can be fierce, gentle, subtle, or domineering, and its variations are unpredictable.

Martial artists who cultivate such special strength are among the best even among those who have mastered the Blood Refining Technique.

Qiu Heixiong looked at his arms.

Although it had been bandaged and treated with wound medicine, blood still seeped from the bandage, dripping down the wrist and into the snow.

"That guy surnamed Qi developed a special kind of fist power, which is surging and powerful."

"The fourth brother didn't know this, and when he was ambushed at close range, he seized the opportunity and punched his chest into a hole."

"I also fought him for more than ten rounds."

"It ended in a draw."

Zhao Xiao also looked at Qiu Heixiong's arms, and his grip on the axe handle tightened suddenly.

He knew all too well Qiu Heixiong's strength.

Of the four brothers, Qiu Heixiong is the strongest, with abundant blood and energy, and has one foot in the Great Perfection of Blood Transformation. His Wild Bear Mountain-Slamming Technique has given him a body of unyielding strength, and his Heart-Shattering Force is ruthless and difficult to defend against. Among martial artists who have reached the Lesser Perfection of Blood Transformation, he is almost invincible.

Even Qiu Heixiong could only manage a draw, so that person might indeed have developed a special kind of fist power.

But Zhao Xiao quickly realized something, and his expression suddenly turned strange.

"wrong!"

Qiu Heixiong frowned: "What's wrong?"

Zhao Xiao suddenly turned his head, looking towards the north slope, and then towards the third brother, Xue Sangui.

"Isn't that guy surnamed Qi on the north slope?"

Qiu Heixiong's gaze sharpened: "What did you say?"

Zhao Xiao said in a deep voice, "Brother, the one surnamed Qi is on the north slope!"

"Just now, we lured the wolves to rush through the gate as planned, and the third brother led his men to charge into the enemy lines. Wang Zhong was already being held back by our men. But just when we were about to break through the gate, that guy surnamed Qi suddenly appeared from the side."

As he spoke, he pointed at Xue Sangui, "Third Brother was injured by that Qi fellow's sneak attack!"

Xue Sangui, his face pale, stepped forward, clutching his left shoulder.

His left shoulder was visibly dented, and his thick fur coat was soaked with blood. With each step he took, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"It's him."

Xue Sangui gritted his teeth and said, "We used the Heavy Cannon Fist from the Huang family's intelligence."

He emerged from the shadows and punched me in the shoulder.

Xue Sangui looked down at his left shoulder, his voice icy, "My shoulder bone is completely shattered."

The area behind the snow slope fell silent for a moment.

Only the wind howled, like the wailing of ghosts.

Qiu Heixiong's expression changed drastically: "The one surnamed Qi is with you... then who was I fighting?"

These words sent a chill down everyone's spine.

Zhao Xiao was also stunned.

On the north slope lived a martial artist surnamed Qi who had mastered the art of boxing.

There is also a master of boxing in the East Gate who can kill Sun Liancheng with one punch and hold his own against Qiu Heixiong.

Wang Ji actually hid two secret tokens for minor blood transfusions in the herb garden!

Moreover, the one at the East Gate is even more troublesome than the one surnamed Qi.

"Damn it!" Zhao Xiao cursed. "They only found one person in the Huang family, and missed that master of perfect boxing."

"It killed the fourth brother!"

Qiu Heixiong also looked furious.

Based on the intelligence provided by the Huang family, they planned for a long time and went to great lengths to lure a pack of snow wolves from the deep mountains.

As a result, they not only failed to capture the herb garden, but also suffered one death and one injury.

Qiu Heixiong's angry eyes flashed with Lu Chen's unfamiliar face. He then thought back carefully and realized that Lu Chen was indeed different from the portrait in the intelligence provided by the Huang family.

The expert from another county, surnamed Qi, was around thirty years old, with a square face and a short beard.

Lu Chen, who fought Qiu Heixiong, still looked somewhat like a teenager, not at all like someone who was thirty years old.

"Where did this kid come from? I've never heard of such a young martial arts master in Chixia County..."

Qiu Heixiong was filled with doubt.

Looking at the fourth brother's corpse, Zhao Xiao felt a surge of resentment towards the Huang family.

Wang Ji's medicinal herb garden on Chixia Mountain was inherently easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Although Black Wind Stronghold coveted the opportunity, they were not the kind of rookie bandits who acted without considering the risks.

If the Huang family hadn't provided them with solid intelligence, they wouldn't have come here to take this risk.

Unexpectedly, the intelligence was wrong, and not only did they gain nothing, but they also lost their fourth brother.

"The Huang family must give an explanation for the fourth brother's life!"

They had occupied Chixia Mountain for many years and had dealt with various groups. The Huang family provided them with intelligence about Wangji and encouraged them to attack Wangji's medicinal garden, but they didn't have good intentions.

They simply wanted to see Black Wind Stronghold and Wang's Clan fight to the bitter end so they could reap the benefits.

The allure of Wang's Herbal Garden was indeed too great. If they could take it, their Black Wind Stronghold would definitely see a significant increase in strength, and they wouldn't even need to risk robbing caravans anymore. They could abandon their bandit identity and switch to selling medicinal herbs.

Now that the intelligence was wrong and one of their leaders had died, Black Wind Stronghold would not suffer in silence and would definitely demand an explanation and compensation from the Huang family.