I was told I'd be a late bloomer, but I was born with the potential to achieve great things!

[Golden Robe Skill (Complete 368/1000): Practice 100 times daily, mastery can be achieved in ten years]

Inside the room, Zhou An took deep breaths, exhaling slowly, his face flushed red.

Seeing his fists clenched tightly, he spread them out to the sides like wings, his originally high chest gradually caved in, and his shoulders were opened up.

"Clap clap clap..."

In an instant, a series of rapid striking sounds erupted from under Zhou An's skin.

Those were streams of hidden energy driving the powerful blood and qi to forge the skin membrane.

The sound was deep and resonant, like the sound of rain pattering on banana leaves at night, but it was veiled by a layer of oilcloth, and a hazy, hot mist began to blur the surrounding space over time.

"This technique is no longer difficult for me; the only thing I lack is the tempering and refinement through water."

"You can speed things up, but you'll need more blood-replenishing powder."

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Zhou An's speed in refining the skin membrane began to slow down, but the progress of the Golden Robe Technique continued to increase.

A high degree of control over the cultivation technique allows Zhou An to achieve better tempering effects with minimal energy and blood, resulting in higher cultivation efficiency.

But if you want to go further, you can't rely on just one leg.

make money.

We still need to keep making money.

In the days that followed, Zhou An patrolled the streets with even greater diligence, while waiting for news from the Seven Mysteries Sect.

Three days later!

"Brother Zhou, what do you think?"

The two had just passed a fragrant fried tofu stall when Liu Shuqing's eyes suddenly lit up. She raised her hand and pointed towards the street corner, looking surprised.

"It's Shen Qiu! He was released so quickly?"

Zhou An looked in the direction of the sound.

They saw that Shen Qiu, who had looked ashen-faced in front of the constables the day before, had not only been released, but also looked at them with a defiant expression when he saw them.

"Isn't that the scum from the Seven Mysteries Sect? What are they doing patrolling the streets again!"

"Officer Wang..."

Zhou An raised an eyebrow and looked behind Shen Qiu, his attitude becoming extremely flattering.

Shen Qiu's pupils contracted, and his burly body suddenly hunched over as he cautiously looked behind him.

Upon seeing this, his body immediately stiffened, and his face turned bright red at a visible speed.

Catch fast?

Behind him, apart from the passing pedestrians, there was no sign of any constables.

"you……"

Shen Qiu turned around abruptly, but what greeted him was a brownish-red wooden sword that rapidly magnified before his eyes.

fast.

too fast.

In the blink of an eye, the wooden sword tip stopped in front of his brow.

It was clearly a wooden sword, yet it possessed an eerie, sharp aura.

Shen Qiu felt the hairs on his body stand on end, and his forehead felt as if it had been sliced ​​open by a sharp blade. He instinctively retreated.

He had initially thought his defeat that day was due to a sneak attack, but now…

"I still prefer your arrogant demeanor from just now, rather than your current state where you're frozen in place, terrified by a wooden sword that can't kill, and hesitant to move forward."

Zhou An sheathed his sword and stood there, his eyes filled with regret and disappointment.

"Pfft."

Liu Shuqing couldn't help but burst out laughing, clutching her stomach with both hands.

"you……"

Seeing his defeated opponent so arrogant, Shen Qiu was furious, but before he could utter a single word, a soft utterance came from Zhou An's mouth.

"Get lost."

"What did you say?"

"Your master might bail you out once, but not a second time, or... do you think you were released so quickly because the authorities couldn't do anything to you?"

Zhou An quickly scanned the street, his gaze landing on the second floor of an inn on the left.

A window was slightly ajar, and as he looked over, a dark shadow quickly shrunk back.

"Utterly boring."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou An and Liu Shuqing walked past Shen Qiu, seemingly without any suspicion.

Shen Qiu trembled all over, his eyes changing repeatedly, but he ultimately didn't dare to make a move until the two left.

"It's a pity it actually has a brain."

Zhou An was very disappointed. His lighthearted words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back, causing Shen Qiu's trembling shoulders to collapse completely.

"waste!"

On the second floor of the inn, Feng Hui looked at Shen Qiu, who was standing motionless on the street, smashed a table and chair with his fist, his eyes filled with resentment.

He originally thought that after spending money to get Shen Qiu out, he could use the same methods that the Seven Mysteries Sect disciples had used to frame them.

But at the crucial moment, Shen Qiu suddenly failed.

What is he afraid of?

"Senior Brother Feng, Shen Qiu helped us make a lot of money before, he's not such a spineless person."

"Indeed, it seems something must have happened to him in prison these past two days."

"That was before; he's useless now."

Feng Hui took a deep breath, his brows furrowed.

Although he appears arrogant and domineering to outsiders, he is neither a fool nor blind.

"Shen Qiu can handle ordinary people or those without power or influence, but what about those stronger than him..."

Feng Hui didn't say anything more, but the three people behind him understood that Shen Qiu on the street had completely lost his value.

"So, should we still deal with Zhou An?"

"If we were to personally intervene, given this person's sharp tongue, we fear that the Seven Mysteries Sect would come to hate our Bajiquan Martial Arts School."

"We can take money from the Black Tiger Gang to have Shen Qiu, a former disciple of the Bajiquan Martial Arts School, act as a 'black glove,' but we can't personally get involved."

Feng Hui shook his head, remaining calm despite his resentment.

"The Black Tiger Gang didn't offer enough money. As for this man... he's bound to make a mistake eventually, so there's no need to rush."

……

"Brother Zhou, I truly admire you."

Aren't you even a little bit afraid that Shen Qiu might suddenly attack you from behind?

On the street, Liu Shuqing looked at Shen Qiu, who left dejectedly without looking back, with surprise in her eyes.

"Because Brother Liu is always ready, I am not flustered at all."

Zhou An responded with a smile.

He knew that Liu Shuqing had been diligently cultivating these past two days, wanting to avenge the day he was almost crippled.

"That Feng Hui is notorious for being vengeful; if he doesn't get away with it this time, he'll definitely do it again."

Even if he can't find an opportunity to act within the city, he will look for one outside the city.

Liu Shuqing looked up at the closed second-floor window, her tone grave.

Before news of the Seven Mysteries Sect could even get back, the Eight Extremes Martial Arts School had already made another move. This was not a good sign.

Does he usually carry money with him when he goes out?

"Well?"

Liu Shuqing looked surprised.

"It's nothing, just asking casually. After all, Shen Qiu came out so quickly, I think he must have a lot of money on him."

Zhou An explained casually.

"Speaking of money, I am a little worried about Brother Sun."

Liu Shuqing didn't seem to care too much, but when she mentioned Sun Wenhao, her face showed obvious worry.

"He hasn't recovered since he was scolded two days ago, and I'm worried that Sun's Trading Company might cancel our affiliation."

After all, Wang Yi and Qian Youde were beaten so badly; it was clearly a serious dereliction of duty.

"No way, isn't he a member of the Sun family?"

Zhou An's expression changed, and he became somewhat flustered.

Canceling the affiliation will mean losing a significant portion of your earnings.

He has an older brother.

Liu Shuqing sighed.

"..."

Zhou An didn't know what to say, but the words "struggle for the crown prince" came to mind, making him feel somewhat listless.

"I'll have to ask them when I get back. If all else fails, I'll have no choice but to take action myself."

"We can't afford to lose this money before we even start working on it."

As evening approached, the sky was ablaze with crimson clouds.

Before Zhou An could even approach Sun Wenhao upon his return, he saw Manager Li of the pharmacy already waiting there.

"Zhou An, news has come from inside the gate."

"But is there a plan to deal with the Black Tiger Gang?"

Seeing the somber look on Steward Li's face, Zhou An's expression also became serious.

"It's not the Black Tiger Gang, it's the Bajiquan Martial Arts School."

Meeting Zhou An's gaze, Steward Li spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Given that shops and businesses that have been on good terms with the sect have been targeted recently, the sect leader has decided to make an example of them."

They set up a challenge at the Bajiquan Martial Arts Academy to warn any forces considering cooperating with the Black Tiger Gang.

"That's a good thing, but..."

Zhou An was halfway through his speech when he suddenly noticed that Steward Li's gaze towards him was a little strange.

"Manager Li, you're not planning to send a disciple like me, who hasn't even mastered internal energy for long, to fight against the entire Bajiquan Martial Arts School, are you?"

……