I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: The Art of Balance

Luan Bao suddenly leaped over the tea table before him, his right foot tapping the ground lightly as he landed. His body tilted and soared again, like a great bird taking flight, delivering a palm strike from mid-air straight towards Duan Rong’s face!

”Such speed!”

Duan Rong felt a chill in his heart when he saw Luan Bao leap up. This was not lightweight skill; it was sheer speed born from real power, with no embellishments!

Duan Rong could not avoid it in time. If he merely turned his body, he would leave his back wide open for Luan Bao to strike!

But he wasn’t confident in taking on Luan Bao’s palm strike head-on either!

Just as Luan Bao’s palm was about to descend in mid-air, Duan Rong suddenly shrank his head, lowered his body, and rolled on the ground right under Luan Bao’s crotch!

Luan Jingfu, upon seeing Duan Rong’s actions, immediately cursed angrily!

”Street rascal!”

Luan Bao landed with both feet, his palm striking empty air. Suddenly, he felt the air move at the back of his head; Duan Rong was coming at him with a palm blade strike!

Luan Bao was shocked, immediately sidestepping to avoid it, and flipped his palm to counterattack!

Duan Rong’s sudden roll on the ground took everyone in the hall by surprise; Luan Jingfu rebuked him, and even Xiao Zongting felt embarrassed!

But just after Duan Rong rolled under Luan Bao’s crotch, he suddenly jumped up, delivering a palm blade towards the back of Luan Bao’s head!

The saber technique and palm technique stem from the same principles.

Duan Rong’s palm blade was an adaptation of a move from the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber—Black Tiger Ascending Mountain!

However, using this move here was not only effective but also extremely ingenious!

It was fierce and clever, unfathomable!

Moreover, it complemented his previous roll on the ground perfectly, seamlessly integrating together, as if the Black Tiger Ascending Mountain was meant to follow the roll and strike out as it did.

But the three in the room knew it wasn’t so; this was an impromptu adaptation by Duan Rong!

Setting aside inner strength, solely discussing the mastery of these martial arts, though Duan Rong was just an Apprentice Escort Master, he remained unflustered in situations, crafting his solutions.

He demonstrated remarkable talent in creatively adapting the learned techniques!

Luan Bao twisted his waist and hips, stepping aside with his right leg, evading Duan Rong’s palm blade, and with his body turning, delivered a palm strike towards Duan Rong’s chest!

Their forms intersected, almost at arm’s length.

Yet Duan Rong’s move had exhausted, while Luan Bao’s palm force released anew!

Duan Rong felt a heaviness in his heart; this palm strike he could not dodge!

Luan Bao’s palm cut through the air, and if it landed squarely on his chest, it was bound to inflict more than a mere light injury!

Duan Rong’s eyes were fierce, his teeth clenched tightly. Suddenly, he followed the exhausted chopping motion of the Black Tiger Ascending Mountain palm blade, moving diagonally downward!

With a downward swing of his forearm, and a forceful lift of the upper arm, he used his shoulder to lead his hip into an elbow strike, colliding directly into Luan Bao’s palm center!

As they connected, Luan Bao stood firm as a mountain, unmoved!

But Duan Rong staggered back several steps, his legs weakening until he barely managed to stand!

His face was as pale as death, extremely unpleasant to behold!

Luan Bao’s Inner Breath was dense and potent; the clash instantly scattered Duan Rong’s Inner Breath, shaking his organs till they quivered and his throat tasted sweet, nearly causing him to vomit!

Luan Bao stood in place, deeply shocked. He had thought Duan Rong would be sent flying!

Originally, he hadn’t intended to slap Duan Rong to death with a single palm, so he restrained his Inner Breath at the Second Level!

If he had unleashed the full power of the Third Level of Inner Breath, it would have shattered Duan Rong’s organs instantly, killing him in the hall!

But doing so would publicly embarrass Ruan Fengshan!

Of course, he could not kill Duan Rong, but since he had already made a move, he couldn’t allow Duan Rong to retreat unscathed either. That would also be a slap in the face for him and his father!

Duan Rong barely suppressed the urge to vomit and saw Luan Bao charging at him again!

By now, his Qi was in chaos, and his Inner Breath scattered—how could he possibly have the strength to continue the fight!

Without delay, Duan Rong rushed to hide behind Xiao Zongting, grasping the crossbeam of the Grandmaster’s Chair back with both hands, putting on a bullied look, and shouted, ”I give up! I surrender!”

”You... come out!” Luan Bao was taken aback, angrily glaring at Duan Rong’s rascal display.

”You were just supposed to test me! I didn’t ask you to kill me! Why are you chasing relentlessly?”

”You...” Duan Rong’s words left Luan Bao momentarily speechless.

”Bao’er, return!”

Luan Jingfu suddenly commanded, his face dark as a poisonous snake.

Luan Bao glared at Duan Rong, retreating behind Luan Jingfu with a face full of shame.

Luan Jingfu, as the Chief Leader of Yuan Shun Escort Agency, along with his son, was usually feared by everyone within the agency.

But who would have thought today, his only son would be humiliated in Juyi Hall by an Apprentice Escort Master through cunning and roguish tactics; one can only imagine the rage brewing within him!

Luan Jingfu was always known for his narrow-mindedness and vengefulness, and now his gaze towards Duan Rong was so venomous, as if he wanted to tear him apart!

Duan Rong felt a pang of unease at Luan Jingfu’s glare.

He didn’t wish to stir trouble, but today, it was Luan’s family who instigated the ordeal. Surely he couldn’t have let Luan Bao injure him seriously.

It seemed that Yuan Shun Escort Agency was not a place of benevolence! Luan Jingfu found fault without reason, crafting accusations; there had to be a motive behind it!

Now that Luan Bao had retreated, Duan Rong released his grip and stood uprightly behind Xiao Zongting!

The three in the hall had observed keenly; Luan Bao’s previous palm, with its speed and palm force, was clearly infused with the Inner Breath Second Level’s power!

Yet Duan Rong, having taken the palm strike head-on, only retreated a few steps!

He neither spat blood nor was sent flying out!

Evidently, even though Duan Rong had only recently practiced the Second Level, his Inner Breath already had considerable combat strength!

Bear in mind, he had been an Apprentice Escort Master for less than a month.

Such progress was indeed prodigious!

Those words of praise from Xiao Zongting earlier, upon reflection, seemed rather modest now!

Truly as everyone in the hall witnessed, Duan Rong’s Inner Breath Second Level already wielded a certain battle prowess!

The Inner Breath in his Dantian had coiled like a small snake, able to connect head and tail. Otherwise, he couldn’t have absorbed Luan Bao’s palm strike unharmed!

At this moment, Xiao Zongting couldn’t hide a slight smile, saying, ”I initially wanted to apply for some funds from the Chief Accountant for Duan Rong’s cultivation. But that old fellow Xu Shouxian is notoriously stingy...”

”No worries, I’ll discuss it with old Xu.” Ruan Fengshan smiled lightly and said, ”Talents are hard to come by! However, old Xu, you know. Sometimes, my words might not have much sway with him, so I can’t guarantee how much I can secure!”

Ruan Fengshan smiled, looking at Duan Rong, becoming increasingly fond of him.

”As for this lad selling paintings on the street, since he is your apprentice under the Chief Tutor, you decide for yourself. For certain talents, perhaps teaching according to their strengths could work? Being too rigid with old rules would just cling to outdated notions!”

These few words from Ruan Fengshan made it clear he sided with Xiao Zongting and Duan Rong.

After all, Duan Rong’s talent was evident to all. Once he matures, he would surely become a great asset to Yuan Shun Escort Agency.

Moreover, he trained and learned here; isn’t the sentiment reason enough?

Duan Rong, who had been anxious about his situation today, finally felt at ease upon hearing this.

Standing behind Xiao Zongting, he suddenly understood some subtleties within the Escort Agency!

Although Luan Jingfu held the position of Chief Leader, overseeing the overall operations of the Escort Agency, three out of the six leaders were Xiao Zongting’s old subordinates, and another two leaders were personally trained by him as Chief Tutor!

This position almost mirrored Old Chiang’s principal role at Huangpu Military Academy!

Could Luan Jingfu not feel threatened?

This situation was likely orchestrated by none other than Ruan Fengshan, seated in the tall, broad chair!

By balancing Xiao Zongting and Luan Jingfu against each other, coupled with control over financial authority through Chief Accountant Xu Shouxian, Ruan Fengshan could rest easy and maintain his tranquil stronghold!

This, so-called, balance of power!

Ruan Fengshan, although coming from an illustrious background and first-rate resources, was limited by his martial arts talent, still only at the Fourth Level of the Inner Breath Realm.

It seemed that in this lifetime, breaking through to the True Qi Realm was beyond reach!

Nevertheless, with his strategic acumen, over two decades, Yuan Shun Escort Agency not only thrived but also remained firmly in his grip without the slightest slip, deserving the title of a scheming hero!