Chaotic Times and Disasters: I Hunt Down Martial Arts Masters and Become a God

Fu Qing looked at the knife in his hand.

"Those at the Qi Refining Realm are still human, just one realm higher than me. I don't believe your Qi Refining power is inexhaustible!"

He recalled the key points taught by the martial arts master while adjusting the angle of his grip on the knife and his breathing rhythm.

The body's Qi and blood surge through the meridians with each breath, starting from the Dantian and flowing along the twelve regular meridians to the arms, and then flowing along the arms to the blade.

Another slash came down, but still no success.

Another stab...

When the thirty-seventh strike landed, the protective aura around Qu Zhengyang's neck noticeably dimmed, and Qu Zhengyang's expression tightened.

With the fifty-second strike, a crack appeared in the protective aura, and Qu Zhengyang's eyes twitched a few times.

On the sixty-eighth cut, the crack widened, and Qu Zhengyang began to bleed from the corner of his mouth. His internal organs had been injured by the repeated shocks to his internal energy.

Fu Qing stopped, leaning on his sword to catch his breath; the arrow wound on his right side had been torn open by the continuous slashing.

He looked down at his hands—the web between his thumb and forefinger was cracked, but his grip on the knife was firmer than ever.

He could feel that with each swing of his sword, the flow of qi and blood in his body was smoother than the last.

The basic skills become more proficient through this repeated chopping, each strike is heavier, more accurate, and sharper than the last, and more qi and blood are mobilized.

The seventy-third cut.

Fu Qing slashed down with his sword, and this time the blade did not bounce back, but instead pierced into the thin layer of golden light.

With a crisp "crack," the protective energy shattered, turning into a shower of light and dissipating.

The golden light on Qu Zhengyang's neck disappeared, and the blade cut into his flesh, leaving a shallow line of blood on his neck.

"What?!"

Qu Zhengyang's eyes widened. "Impossible! Impossible! How could someone at the Meridian Opening Realm break through the protective qi?!"

"There are many things you haven't seen."

Fu Qing's lips curled up, he drew his sword and slashed horizontally with a backhand, a head rolled to the ground, rolled a few times and stopped beside the stone steps.

Kill Qu Zhengyang (Level 1 Qi Refining), plunder points...

Fu Qing didn't look at the numbers that popped up on the system panel. He sheathed his sword, stood up, closed his eyes, and suppressed the surging blood and qi within his body.

The heat in his dantian surged through his meridians like boiling water, and the bottleneck of the seventh level of meridian opening was broken in that instant.

He opened his eyes, wiped the blood off the knife onto Qu Zhengyang's shroud, and sheathed the knife.

Yang Xu stood by and witnessed the entire process from beginning to end. At this moment, he was wide-eyed, stunned, dumbfounded, and confused.

He had seen Qi Condensation Realm cultivators be defeated and killed by opponents of higher realms, but he had never seen a Meridian Opening Realm cultivator shatter Qi Condensation Realm cultivators through brute force.

Every strike lands in the same spot, each strike heavier than the last—this is sharpening a knife at the cost of someone else's life.

He silently took half a step back, scratching his large head. "Damn it, he won't stop until he kills the qi-wielding opponent. He's so ruthless, and so petty!"

...

When Fu Qing returned to the Jun family with his troops, it was already dark. Five hundred elite soldiers lined up outside the Jun family mansion, their torches whistling in the night wind.

The fire at the Qu family mansion was still burning, billowing thick smoke. Fu Qing dismounted, hung the cold iron sword on the saddle, and pushed open the vermilion gate of the Jun family mansion.

Jun Tianhao was still standing in the courtyard. This two-hundred-year-old Golden Body Realm elder leaned on a dragon-headed cane, his figure still as straight as a javelin.

The Jun family members standing behind him had stopped shouting during the day. Jun Tianxiao leaned against a pillar with a pale face, Jun Wuyou gripped the hilt of his sword with an ashen face, and several members of the collateral branches huddled in a corner, not daring to raise their heads.

The entire courtyard was so quiet that only the crackling sound of the burning torches could be heard.

Upon seeing Fu Qing enter, Jun Tianhao nodded slightly. "General Fu, has Qu Zhengyang been executed?"

"The entire Qu family was executed; Qu Zhengyang was beheaded, and Qu Ming died from a hail of arrows."

Fu Qing stood in the center of the courtyard, took the gold medal out of his pocket, and placed it face up on the stone table.

"This seal was secretly stored in the royal family's treasury by you. According to the law, the royal family bears joint responsibility for harboring stolen royal treasures. According to the Yasukuni Law, the family should be confiscated and the entire family should be exterminated."

A collective gasp of surprise rippled through the courtyard.

A woman from a collateral branch of the Jun family suddenly collapsed to the ground due to her weak legs, and the servants beside her quickly helped her up.

Jun Tianhao remained silent for a moment, then said, "I understand. The Jun family cannot escape the crime of harboring stolen goods, but this matter..."

He looked up at Fu Qing, his cloudy old eyes showing neither pleading nor fear, only a resigned calm.

"I will bear this alone. If I die, can the Jun family be absolved of their crimes?"

Fu Qing looked at him and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"I have lived for two hundred years, cultivated all the way to the Golden Body Realm, experienced three generations of emperors of the Jing Kingdom, and witnessed the rise and fall of several generations of the Quzhou Jianghu..."

"The Jun family started as a small security escort agency and has now taken over half of Quzhou. The hard work of several generations is all here."

He slammed his dragon-headed cane heavily on the ground, then slowly released it, and the cane fell to the ground.

"Jun Tianxiao is a filial son, but not someone who can support the Jun family. Jun Wuyou is talented, but he needs time. The rest of the Jun family—are innocent."

"I received the imperial seal, and I take responsibility for it. General Fu, if I die, can the Jun family be absolved of their crimes?"

"I will report to His Majesty truthfully."

Every word Fu Qing uttered was clearly heard by everyone in the courtyard.

"The Jun family will hand over the imperial seal to cooperate with the investigation. The old master will take full responsibility. As for the rest of the clansmen, I, Fu, will not pursue the matter."

Jun Tianhao nodded, turned around and walked to the center of the courtyard, looking up at the eaves of the Jun family mansion.

A string of copper bells hung from the eaves, and the moonlight shone on the bluestone ground, making it appear pale.

He turned back to Jun Tianxiao and said, "Take good care of the Jun family," then glanced at Jun Wuyou before turning to look at Ling Moxie.

Ling Moxie stood at the back of the crowd, with Qingluan standing beside him.

She didn't say a word from beginning to end, she just watched it all quietly.

Jun Tianhao slowly bent his knees, knelt on the cold bluestone slab, and kowtowed to Ling Moxie.

Boom!

The bluestone slab cracked into four pieces.

"Princess, the Jun family owes your mother, and I have repaid that debt today."

Ling Moxie remained silent, only staring at him, her body trembling slightly as she huddled in her sleeves.

Jun Tianhao raised his head and slapped his crown with his palm. Even if he were to commit suicide, a palm strike from a Golden Body Realm body would require him to exert all his strength.

The palm strike pierced through the skull, and the golden light protecting the Golden Body Realm shone brightly for a moment before suddenly extinguishing.

His body slowly fell down, his cloudy old eyes staring at the night sky, his pupils already dilated.

"Father!"

Jun Tianxiao let out a hoarse cry and collapsed onto his father. Jun Wuyou gritted his teeth and turned his face away. Several collateral relatives knelt down and kowtowed, their cries echoing throughout the courtyard.

Ling Moxie didn't say a word from beginning to end. She turned around and walked out of the Jun family mansion without looking back.

...

When Fu Qing followed her out, he saw her standing next to the carriage, looking up at the night sky over Quzhou.

Her eyes were slightly red, but she didn't shed a single tear.

"Today, my mother's spirit can finally rest in peace. I will remember this favor. If you ever need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."

"You're too kind, Princess."

Ling Moxie nodded, turned around, and got into the carriage. Qingluan lowered the curtain.

After Fu Qing returned to his camp, he sent men to seal off the Iron Sword Sect. The Iron Crown Taoist signed his confession, admitting to the entire process of helping the Qu family transport the stolen royal treasures.

The Heavenly Sword Sect was officially recognized by the imperial court as the leader of the martial arts world in Quzhou.

Jian Wuchen accepted the document with both hands, a rare smile appearing on his thin face. Then, in front of all the disciples, he bowed deeply to Fu Qing.

"The entire Heavenly Sword Sect will forever remember this kindness."

Fu Qing helped him up and said with a smile, "Sword Sect Master, there's no need for such formalities. Managing the martial arts world of Quzhou well is the best way to thank him. His Majesty doesn't want any trouble, nor does he want to see any disobedient forces."

At that moment, Helian burst through the door, shouting loudly as soon as he entered.

"General Fu! The Qu family has fallen, the Iron Sword Sect has fallen, so wouldn't my Helian Gang be considered a 'disobedient force'?"

Fu Qing turned to look at him.

"The Helian Gang has never robbed royal treasures or killed court officials. At most, they've been involved in fights and brawls, which the court doesn't interfere with. They just need to be more restrained in the future."

Helian grinned, his face flushed, "Control yourself! Definitely control yourself! Whatever General Fu says goes!"

...

Upon returning to Jingjing, Fu Qing presented the imperial seal and the confession of the Iron-Crowned Taoist to the Imperial Study.

Ling Yushu held the precious seal, examining it from all angles for a long time, then put it down and praised it with a smile.

"You handled this trip to Quzhou cleanly and efficiently. You didn't condemn the Jun family for possessing contraband, and you showed no mercy when the evidence against the Qu family was conclusive. You handled the situation very well."

Fu Qing reported on Jun Tianhao's suicide, the destruction of the Qu family, and the closure of the Iron Sword Sect.

Ling Yushu nodded. "The Jun family has handed over the imperial seal to cooperate with the investigation, and the old master will take full responsibility. You have given the Jun family a way out, and I have also given them face."

Ling Yushu picked up the bronze seal of the Imperial Physician from the table and placed it in Fu Qing's hand.

"Fu Qing retrieved the imperial treasure and pacified the Jianghu in Quzhou. He accumulated military merits and was promoted to Lieutenant General. He was granted the Lieutenant General's bronze seal and the expansion of his residence in Jingjing."

Fu Qing accepted the bronze seal and expressed his gratitude.

Ling Yushu smiled gently again and patted his shoulder. "I remember the matter of the Medicine God Immortal's heart remains. If you perform another meritorious service, I will have a reason to bestow it upon you."

Fu Qing tucked the bronze seal into his robes, walked out of the imperial study, and felt a pang of emotion.

The emperor is quite good, really quite good.

...

Back home, Fu Qinggang hung the Cold Iron Blade on the door frame. The little girl climbed up from the threshold, opened her two small arms, and stumbled towards him, calling out the indistinct "Diedie".

"My precious Yaya!"

Fu Qing laughed heartily, bent down, picked up his daughter, and lifted her above his head. The little girl giggled in mid-air.

The son sat quietly in the cradle, holding a cloth tiger in his hand. When he saw Fu Qing come in, his dark eyes turned and stared at him for a while before he reached out his little hand and grabbed at him.

Fu Qing put her daughter down, walked to the cradle, squatted down, and held out her fingers for her son to hold.

The little guy gripped his fingers even tighter than last time.

Song Nini ran over, her eyes crinkling with joy, "Brother-in-law, you're back!"

Fu Qing picked her up with one hand and spun her around twice, then pinched her bottom.

"Did you miss me?"

Song Nini blushed deeply, "What are you doing, brother-in-law? In broad daylight..."

Fu Qing hadn't originally been in the mood, but suddenly became interested. He immediately hoisted her onto his shoulder, tucked the girl under his arm, picked up his son, and walked into the house.

"What's wrong with me during the day? I'm really angry right now!"