"Do you know why you're so weak? Because your hatred isn't deep enough."
A sharp burst of light shredded Qin Yueshi's outer garment. Le Yu grabbed her throat, pinned her against the wall, causing a resounding thud. She let out a muffled groan, and the Desolate Bite's light burst that almost could have hit Le Yu's face vanished just before his nose.
Before Third Sister could regain her breath, Le Yu slammed an elbow into her abdomen, causing her to nearly regurgitate the pickled breakfast she had just eaten. Le Yu turned his head slightly, narrowly dodging her Death Speech spray.
"That's enough; these are just injuries you can heal on your own, no need to waste money on a medical officer." Le Yu turned around and clapped his hands, leaving Third Sister lying on the wooden floor like a pile of mud, while he picked up the towel from the rack beside him to wipe his sweat.
Getting a bit of sweat early in the morning is refreshing... especially when the sweat isn't on the bed.
On the other side of the training arena, Qin Yueyang was also sitting against the wall, breathing quickly in small gulps. Although he was much stronger than his sister, he still had no power in the face of the enhanced version of his brother.
Yes, the enhanced version. Although Le Yu hasn't fully mastered the legacy of Qin Leyin, the commonly used skills of Qin Leyin are about the same as his. He easily reached 90% of Qin Leyin's level.
Coupled with the assistance of the 'Ice Blood Physique', and Le Yu's inherent Formless Battle Technique, Le Yu estimates he's now equivalent to 120% of Qin Leyin. Once he fully exploits Qin Leyin and masters the essence of Blood Drink Eight Rice Flow, he should be able to reach 140% of Qin Leyin!
"Has it stirred your determination as youth perspiring with your brothers after so long?" Le Yu sat cross-legged and smiled, asking. Ever since Jing Zhengwu died, Qin Yueshi was under house arrest, naturally unable to participate in Qin Family's weekly test.
Qin Yueshi panted for over ten seconds before slowly sitting up, clutching her torn clothes, and asked angrily, "Why did you rip my clothes?!"
"Why so anxious? This is just a minor tear, not even a medium one. If I gave you a major tear, wouldn't you want to commit suicide out of shame?" Le Yu shrugged, "As for why... of course, it's because your brother is a pervert, taking the chance of martial practice to humiliate you thoroughly."
"...Or perhaps he believes he can use a sense of shame to cause a disruption in your spirit, making the Desolate Bite's light burst, which almost reached his face, dissipate."
"Which version do you want to believe? Why did your fist stop before my eyes?"
Qin Yueshi glared at him with wide eyes and, after a moment of silence, said, "My arms aren't long enough."
"Not long enough, why not kick? My hand was holding your throat, why didn't you bite?"
Le Yu spread his hands, "Shame, compassion, fear of pain, rigid adherence... None of these are reasons for you to stop your fist and disperse the light burst. After all, there are only two people under heaven who are your brothers, and one is considered a pervert by you."
"I don't care if you're cultivating Combat Techniques for self-protection or to launch a glorious revenge on your brother, but if next week you still stop your fist because of short arms or torn clothes, I advise you to marry a decent man as a live-in son-in-law, and I'll pay the expenses."
Le 'Afraid of pain and death' Yu, relying on Ice Blood Physique to automatically fight, never having cultivated, spoke airily.
Qin Yueshi retorted, "If you want to teach me, just teach me directly, is this necessary?"
"Because your brother is indeed a pervert, it's up to you what kind of pervert you guess he is." Le Yu flicked his red hair, noticing its roots were a bit shiny black and thought, it's time to dye it: "Martial practice is over, and the mistakes I pointed out this week, don't make them again next week."
Suddenly, Qin Yueshi said, "I need money."
"Hmm—can you tell your dear brother what the money is for? Of course, I'll give it even if you don't say, seeing as my sister has grown up and is a widow..."
"I want to join the martial arts society." Qin Yueshi decisively said, "Networking, buying clothes, society entry fees, all need money."
Martial arts society, martial arts hall, Le Yu isn't unfamiliar with them either. Simply put, they're places where groups engage in combat and sparring. A lot of hot-blooded young people in the army can engage in passionate clashes, upgrading Combat Technique realms through battle experience, hence army Martial Artists often being stronger than city Martial Artists. However, many Martial Artists cannot join the army due to various restrictions, thus organizations like martial arts halls and societies emerge.
Both Star Engraving County and Xuanzhu County have martial arts halls, but Le Yu has never been to one. Martial artists like him who follow the Feng Ling Moon Shadow Flow don't need to go to such places, but those with ambition nearly all participate in martial arts halls for skill honing.
However, martial arts halls are typically high-end clubs only qualified intermediate Martial Artists can establish, and the service items are not limited to sparring, but also include esteemed teachers for teaching and mentoring.
But in Yanjing, it's a bit different, as the students of the Royal Academy are all heaven's pride, with quite a few reaching integration and mastery at a very young age, and some martial arts hall owners not even matching them.
However, peak of perfection Martial Artists won't run martial arts halls, and even if they do, they wouldn't personally teach. They might at most put up a sign, with service items being the same but prices skyrocketing, akin to 'South Pole People' and 'supreme' in Shining Brilliance.
Thus students created martial arts societies on their own, fighting with peers to not only gain experience but also deepen friendships, and it doesn't require a mentor—some martial arts halls require mentorship, effectively adding another father.
There are many martial arts societies in Yanjing, both century-old shops with deep-rooted traditions and new rookie guilds created by first-year students, but without exception, they all require money—combat needs a venue, needs medical officer treatment, needs food and nutrition, no money, no PvP.
"Ah, ah, if Third Sister had been this ambitious before, I'd probably have nephews by now." Le Yu sarcastically lamented, noticing Qin Yueshi's fists finally hardened before saying slowly, "Ask Second Brother for money later, but Second Brother should also monitor Sister's exact expenses. If he finds she's raising a gigolo, let me know, and we'll pool money for a one-time settlement..."
Qin Yueshi walked out of the dojo without turning back. Suddenly, Le Yu remembered something and said, "So, you're going to wander Yanjing alone? No entourage, no Second Brother?"
"...I also have things to attend to," Qin Yueyang said.
"Of course." Qin Yueshi said, "I'll return before dark; if I don't, just consider me dead, it'll save you the worry."
"It's too dangerous for a girl to travel alone," Le Yu sighed, "Please visit my bedroom."
Qin Yueshi looked at Le Yu with surprise.
"There's a map of Yanjing on my desk, but it's very rough. When you go out, mark the food shops, battle card shops, and various landmarks on the map." Seeing Qin Yueshi about to speak, Le Yu quickly interjected, "No work, no pocket money."
Qin Yueshi reluctantly shut her mouth, glared at Le Yu with hate, stamped her foot heavily, and left the dojo without looking back.
"Isn't this the kind of thing that servants can handle?" Qin Yueyang said, "The third sister will intentionally mark the wrong location."
Without any questioning tone, it was a direct affirmation; he knew Qin Yueshi quite well.
"Bullying her like this every day, we have to give her a chance to retaliate. Martial artists holding onto resentment can damage their health, and besides, it helps her quickly get familiar with Yanjing." Le Yu said, "You should make another map, more comprehensive, marking all the famous snack shops in the city. Also, keep an eye out for the latest issue of 'Youth Daily'."
"Understood."
Le Yu stood up, "Then I'll go find Feng boy. I wonder if his hemorrhoids can be cured overnight..."
Le Yu wiped his sweat, changed his clothes, and went out. Qin Yueyang was sunbathing in the courtyard to maintain his body, and soon Qin Yueshi came over after bathing, spread out her hands, and asked, "Where is he?"
"He went out to find Shi Huaifeng." Qin Yueyang took out a prepared pouch of money.
"Always so secretive..." Qin Yueshi asked, "Do you know what organization they actually belong to? I always feel they have a big background, but they don't have much influence in Dongyang district..."
"I don't know."
Qin Yueshi weighed the pouch and confirmed that her second brother hadn't shortchanged her, and her expression eased slightly.
After all, she was just dissatisfied with Qin Le Yin; she still had familial affection for Qin Yueyang. In fact, after seeing Zhengwei's body, she wasn't as angry with her older brother. But Qin Le Yin has been so infuriating these days, making her furious.
Although Qin Le Yin was also annoying before, it was through intellectual crushing, forceful suppression, and the power's majesty, as if all things were under control, making Qin Yueshi respect and fear him. Now all she feels is fear, devoid of respect.
Thinking about this, Qin Yueshi couldn't help but ask, "Second Brother, have you noticed something particularly strange about him these days?"
"It's as if he's become a different person."
Bathed in the morning light, Qin Yueyang opened his eyes.
Half of his face was covered with light, the other half shrouded in shadow.
"Is that so?"
"Yes." Qin Yueshi pondered, "To be precise, ever since he woke up on the ship, I've felt something was off—I've heard you guys say he went to the deck to watch the sea."
"This kind of frivolous spending of time, I can't imagine it's something he'd do."
"He just killed Zhengwei, and Zhengwei was one of his few friends." Qin Yueyang calmly said, "It's normal for him to undergo a major change in temperament."
"I used to think so too, but his actions and words these past few days can't be explained by just a change of temperament." Qin Yueshi frowned, "From childhood to adulthood, he always wore a sarcastic smile, always thinking things through before saying or doing anything. Old fox seems to be the perfect description for him."
"I used to repeatedly chew over his words, sometimes suddenly understanding their meaning in the middle of the night."
"But now he seems..." Qin Yueshi thought for a long time, "...very free."
"Second Brother, you're the person who knows him best. His changes are so noticeable that even I can see them. Don't you find it strange?"
"I don't find it strange." Qin Yueyang said casually, "Maybe it's because he killed a friend with his own hands, maybe it's because he's unfamiliar with the environment, maybe he's preparing for future plans... Since he hasn't mentioned it, we don't need to worry."
"Worry? I'm not worried about him!" Qin Yueshi snorted, pacing back and forth, suddenly saying, "Speaking of Zhengwei, I suddenly remembered something."
"According to Zhengwu's investigation, Zhengwei used to be a violent and brutal pervert, and no girl bought from Xiangxue Sea ever escaped his clutches, which is why Zhengwu never regarded his older brother—just a beast in human clothing."
"But everything changed after Zhengwei bought Qing Lan. He broke away from his usual clever scheming, became arrogant at the Jing Family's internal banquet, and actively proposed establishing a newspaper. We know what happened thereafter—he provided various conveniences to the Workers' Union, using Linhai Army to overthrow Silver Blood Association."
"He practically transformed from a villain into a saint."
"Though they say circumstances create heroes, Zhengwei's drastic transformation puzzled both me and Zhengwu. But since Zhengwei didn't have friends or family, we couldn't uncover his true nature, and could only assume he was always disguising himself."
"Looking at it now, Zhengwei is indeed similar to him, both undergoing sudden changes without warning, transformations that even we relatives find abrupt. Could it be..."
Smack.
Qin Yueshi turned around, realizing her second brother had come up behind her at some point, gently placing his hand on her shoulder, looking calmly into her eyes.
"Could it be what?" he asked.
"Although I also find it unlikely, it's the only reason I can think of..." Qin Yueshi said heavily, "I think he might have..."
"...found someone he truly likes."
After a brief silence, Qin Yueyang pulled out another small pouch and handed it to Qin Yueshi.
"Third sister, you're overthinking."