27: Seventh-grade secret book

Liu Shijie nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the doorway. A burly, black-robed man with a ferocious tattooed face strode in, his single eye gleaming with ferocity. It was Black Whirlwind, the Grand Chieftain of Black Wind Stronghold.

"Young Master Liu, you invited me late at night; may I ask what your business is?" Black Whirlwind clasped his fists, his voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing.

A cold smile played on Liu Shijie's lips as he motioned for his guards to withdraw. After the door closed, he slowly began, "I heard Grand Chieftain Black has been looking for two people recently?"

Black Whirlwind's single eye narrowed, and a fierce aura suddenly erupted from his body: "Young Master Liu's information is quite well-informed."

"Coincidentally," Liu Shijie took out a portrait from his sleeve and spread it on the table, "I'm also looking for these two people."

The portrait clearly depicted the appearances of Wu Guohua and Wu Wenwu; though the brushwork was simple, their essence was captured.

Upon seeing the portrait, Black Whirlwind's fists clenched tightly, and the wooden table groaned under the strain.

"These two little beasts killed my second brother!" Black Whirlwind gritted his teeth, "What grudge does Young Master Liu have with them?"

Liu Shijie lightly stroked the sword at his waist, a hint of grimness flashing in his eyes: "They ruined my plans."

He paused, "I bribed someone from the Zhou Family to find out that these two are from Qinglin County, and their family grows a type of purple potato that is said to increase cultivation."

"Potatoes that increase cultivation?" Black Whirlwind was startled, then suddenly understood, "No wonder that kid has an Eighth-Grade Cultivation at such a young age!"

The candlelight flickered in the private room, casting the two men's shadows on the wall, twisted like specters.

Liu Shijie picked up his wine cup and took a sip: "If the Grand Chieftain can capture these two alive and bring them to the county city, I am willing to offer five hundred taels of silver."

"Five hundred taels?" Black Whirlwind sneered, "Is my second brother's life only worth that much?"

"Eight hundred taels," Liu Shijie said without changing his expression, "plus a Seventh-Grade Cultivation Technique Secret Manual."

This condition clearly moved Black Whirlwind. A sharp glint flickered in his single eye, and after a moment of contemplation, he extended his rough hand: "Deal! But what about the Wu Family's purple potatoes…"

"To each his own ability." Liu Shijie clasped hands with him as a vow, a meaningful smile on his lips.

Just as the two were conspiring, in the pavilion of the Zhou Family's backyard, Zhou Qinghan was lost in thought, gazing at the jade pendant in her hand.

Moonlight streamed through the clouds, casting a silver veil over her, accentuating her skin like congealed fat and her picturesque features.

"Young Miss, it's late," her personal maid softly reminded her.

Zhou Qinghan shook her head, putting the jade pendant into her sleeve: "Xiao Cui, has the guard who left the manor today been identified?"

"Replying to Young Miss, that person is named Zhou Da, he is from the Second Branch," the maid Xiao Cui whispered, "He secretly went to see the Liu Family steward this afternoon and just returned."

A hint of coldness flashed in Zhou Qinghan's eyes: "As expected…" She rose and walked towards the study, "Prepare the brush and ink, I need to write a letter to father."

The maid spread out the Xuan paper, and Zhou Qinghan dipped her brush in ink, her delicate handwriting flowing onto the paper.

Halfway through, she suddenly stopped writing, looked out at the dark night sky, and murmured softly: "I hope they arrive home safely…"

The night wind blew, carrying the sound of the distant watchman's clapper. It was the third watch; the county city gradually fell into slumber, but the conspiracies in the shadows quietly grew like venomous snakes.

Three days later, in the evening, Wu Guohua and Third Uncle finally saw Wu Family Village. Since the Zhao Family was imprisoned, their village had been renamed Wu Family Village.

"Guohua is back!" Someone shouted from afar upon seeing them, and then joyful laughter echoed through the village.

Wu Guohua spurred his horse ahead, and as soon as he reached the village entrance, he saw his grandfather leading the entire family out to greet them.

Although it had only been a few days, his grandfather's complexion was even better, his back was ramrod straight, and his eyes contained a restrained gleam, clearly indicating further progress in the Martial Dao.

"It's good that you're back!" Grandfather patted his grandson's shoulder and then nodded to Third Uncle.

Father and Second Uncle took the goods from the carriage, while Mother and the aunts busied themselves with welcoming the two to wash and rest.

Wu Guohua noticed that the family's training ground had been expanded considerably, and several wooden dummies and stone locks had been added, indicating that the family had not neglected their Cultivation.

After dinner, Wu Guohua distributed the purchased Cultivation Techniques to his family one by one.

The "Falling Snow Sword Art" and "Soft Water Sword Art" were given to his grandmother and mother, the "Tidal Surge Palm" was passed on to his grandfather, father, and second uncle, and the "Iron Bone Skill" could be Cultivated by all the men in the family.

As for the two Seventh-Grade Secret Manuals, he temporarily kept them, intending to teach them after his family had laid a solid foundation.

"Was your trip to the county city smooth?" Grandfather asked in a deep voice, puffing on his pipe.

Wu Guohua and Third Uncle exchanged glances, then briefly recounted their encounter with Black Wind Stronghold ambushing the Zhou Family's caravan, and their subsequent conflict with Liu Shijie in the county city.

Hearing that they had offended the Liu Family and Black Wind Stronghold, Grandfather's brow furrowed into a knot.

"This is troublesome," Grandfather exhaled a smoke ring, "The Liu Family is powerful. If they join forces with Black Wind Stronghold…"

"We'll meet force with force." Third Uncle gripped his bronze staff, "We now have two Eighth-Grade and seven Ninth-Grade Martial Artists. Are we still afraid of them?"

"Even if Black Wind Stronghold wants to seek revenge, it will take some time. Now that we have new Secret Manuals, let everyone work hard to Cultivate. Strengthening our own power is the hard truth," Wu Guohua said.

The winter sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on the ground of the training ground.

Wu Guohua stood shirtless, his skin gleaming like metal in the sunlight, sweat trickling down the contours of his muscles, forming dark little dots on the bluestone slab.

"Haa!"

With a low shout, Wu Guohua's palms struck the ironwood stake before him like crashing waves, hitting it hard.

With a crisp "crack," the ironwood stake, as thick as a bowl, snapped in two, wood chips flying from the break.

Wu Guohua let out a long breath and stood still, having completed his stance. Ever since he obtained the "Iron Bone Skill" and "Tidal Surge Palm," these two Eighth-Grade Cultivation Techniques, his Cultivation speed could be described as advancing by leaps and bounds.

Combined with the abundant Spiritual Qi provided by the Spirit Potato, he had broken through to the Early Stage of Eighth-Grade in just a few days, several times faster than ordinary Martial Artists.

"Not bad!" Third Uncle Wu Wenwu's voice came from behind, "The force of this palm strike is already close to the Middle Stage of Eighth-Grade."

Wu Guohua turned around, only to see Third Uncle also shirtless, his bronze skin glowing with a faint golden light, clearly indicating that his "Iron Bone Skill" had also reached Minor Achievement.

Even more surprising was that the tempered bronze staff Third Uncle held was slightly bent—a mark left from sparring with Father.

"Third Uncle's progress is even faster," Wu Guohua praised sincerely, "I think it won't be long before he breaks through to the Middle Stage of Eighth-Grade."

Third Uncle shook his head, his eyes gleaming with excitement: "Can't compare to your dad. That guy is truly a monster; he just broke through to Eighth-Grade yesterday, and today he can fight me to a draw."

Just as they were speaking, there was a rush of footsteps from outside the courtyard.

Ten-year-old Wu Guoqiang ran in, panting, his small face flushed red: "Big Brother! Third Uncle! Uncle Wang at the village entrance said he saw two strangers acting suspiciously in the back mountain!"

Wu Guohua and Third Uncle exchanged glances, tensing their bodies simultaneously. Ever since they learned that Black Wind Stronghold was inquiring about the Wu Family, the entire family had been on high alert.