I Grind to Martial Saint

”What? You slaughtered that whole group of thugs?”

”Didn’t we agree you’d just teach them a lesson?”

Inside the storeroom, Wang Changbai’s eyes went wide with shock after hearing Han Yuan’s words.

”Doesn’t ’teaching them a lesson’ mean killing them?”

Han Yuan was also taken aback for a moment.

”Er...”

”Forget it... They’re just a few thugs anyway. It’s no big deal.”

”You didn’t leave any traces, I hope.”

Wang Changbai was only surprised by the change in Han Yuan; he couldn’t care less about the deaths of a few thugs.

The saying ”human lives are as worthless as weeds” wasn’t just an empty phrase.

”I burned the house down.”

”There won’t be any traces left.”

Han Yuan said with a smile.

”Good.”

”I’ll go get the money from Shopkeeper Li tomorrow.”

Wang Changbai nodded.

”Could I trouble you to take those three taels of silver to the apothecary for me? Get some herbs to brew into medicinal wine.”

Han Yuan said with a grin.

”Sure, I’ll make the trip for you.”

Wang Changbai didn’t refuse.

”My thanks.” Han Yuan cupped his fist in gratitude.

”It’s what I owe your brother.”

”No need to thank me.”

Wang Changbai waved his hand dismissively.

”Old Wang, what exactly did my brother do to help you?”

Han Yuan asked curiously.

In the body’s original memories, Han Jiudao and Wang Changbai didn’t seem to have much interaction.

”That’s an old story now.”

”Back when your brother had just become a constable, my wife fell ill. She needed a fresh tiger’s gallbladder as a medicinal catalyst.”

”A drunkard like me heading into the mountains to find that Evil Tiger would have been a suicide mission.”

”When your brother found out, he went into the mountains in the middle of the night without a second thought and brought back a tiger’s gallbladder for me.”

”Even though my wife didn’t make it... I’ve never forgotten that kindness.”

Wang Changbai’s tone was filled with sorrow as he reminisced.

”My brother was that formidable?”

Han Yuan said in surprise.

Even though Han Jiudao was a Gathering Power Martial Artist, fighting a fierce tiger in the mountains at midnight was still an extremely dangerous affair.

”Of course... Your brother’s personality was too upright. He must have offended countless people.”

”The fact that he could keep his job meant he had real skill.”

Wang Changbai said with a laugh.

”Old Wang... do you have any information about the night my brother pursued Blood Eagle?”

Han Yuan asked seriously.

Blood Eagle was a bandit from the Martial World, a villain who had committed numerous massacres.

He had drifted into Qingshui County and was about to commit a crime when he was discovered by Han Jiudao, who was on night duty.

After a brief clash with Han Jiudao, Blood Eagle used his Lightweight Skill to escape.

Han Jiudao pursued him relentlessly, chasing him out of the city, and then vanished without a trace.

He was never seen again, dead or alive.

The body’s original owner had also searched for a long time in the city’s outskirts, asking around in many villages, but found no news and was eventually forced to give up.

”No... After your brother chased Blood Eagle out of the city.”

”Not only did your brother disappear, but Blood Eagle vanished as well.”

”I know because I’ve been keeping an eye out for news of Blood Eagle... He hasn’t committed any crimes since that night.”

”The whole thing is very strange.”

Wang Changbai said.

’Blood Eagle disappeared too...’

Han Yuan frowned.

The case of Han Jiudao’s disappearance was truly shrouded in mystery, making it impossible to see the truth.

”Don’t overthink it.”

”Focus on surviving first.”

”I’ll keep an ear out for any news about your brother.”

Wang Changbai said.

He knew Han Yuan had been training his Blade Technique diligently these days and didn’t want him to be distracted.

In reality, so much time had passed without any sign of Han Jiudao; the hope of him being alive was incredibly slim.

Han Yuan thanked him again.

***

The deaths of Zhao Qiang and the other thugs didn’t cause any waves.

Only Shopkeeper Li of Changyun Restaurant might have guessed something.

But of course, he wouldn’t say a word, and the three taels of silver were quickly handed over to Wang Changbai.

Using the silver, Wang Changbai brewed another jar of medicinal wine for Han Yuan, enough to last him more than half a month.

In the days that followed, Han Yuan remained hidden inside the County Yamen, just as before, feverishly grinding his Thousand Falcons Blade Technique.

He would only sneak out to earn some silver when Wang Changbai found a job for him.

Wang Changbai didn’t take on any major jobs, mostly just minor gigs that were well within Han Yuan’s capabilities.

After becoming proficient with the Thousand Falcons Blade Technique, Han Yuan’s physique had also improved significantly, allowing him to endure longer periods of Cultivation.

Combined with the effects of the medicinal wine, he could grind through about twenty-seven repetitions a day.

「Twenty days later.」

That night, in the storeroom.

Han Yuan practiced the Thousand Falcons Blade Technique. As the blade whistled through the air, the faint sound of birds chirping could be heard.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH~~

The flashing blade grew faster and faster, like a flock of birds flitting past, dense and swift.

This kind of offense required immense arm strength, wrist strength, and muscle control to execute.

Of course... the stamina consumption was also huge.

WHOOSH~

After finishing this session of Cultivation for the Thousand Falcons Blade Technique, Han Yuan violently stabbed his long saber into the dirt floor, his expression twisting into a ferocious grimace.

Beads of sweat the size of peas dripped from him like rain.

He felt every muscle in his body swelling and cramping, especially in his arms.

They had suddenly grown a size larger, the muscles gnarled and bulging with an extraordinary sense of power.

An excruciating pain shot through his fingers.

It felt as if bone spurs were growing from his finger bones.

The pain was so intense that Han Yuan nearly passed out.

He forced himself to endure it with sheer willpower.

Only after the pain subsided did he collapse onto the ground, gasping for breath.

A full hour later, Han Yuan finally stood up.

”This is the Gathering Power Realm?”

Han Yuan muttered to himself.

After breaking through, his strength had naturally increased a great deal.

In addition, his palms had grown slightly larger, and his grip was stronger.

The most marvelous change was the sense of control he now had over the power of all the muscles in his body.

He pulled out his long saber, gripping it with both hands.

After adjusting his stance for a few seconds, he swung the saber down with explosive force.

SLASH!

The blade descended like a bolt of white light.

It was so fast that even Han Yuan, the one who made the slash, was slightly terrified.

”So this is the Gathering Power Realm...”

”Such formidable explosive power... But the strain on my muscles is immense.”

Just from that single slash, Han Yuan could feel his muscles pulling and aching.

Of course, it was also possible he just hadn’t adapted to it yet.

Host: Han Yuan.

Thousand Falcons Blade Technique: Mastery (0/800)

’The proficiency requirement has increased to 800...’

’At this rate, it’ll take over a month...’

’I can’t wait that long.’

A cold glint appeared in Han Yuan’s eyes.

Being forced to hide in the County Yamen all this time had left him feeling deeply aggrieved.

Now, it was time to step out.

However, Han Yuan suppressed the impulse. He stayed in the County Yamen for another three days to familiarize himself with the power of the Gathering Power Realm before finally bringing the matter up with Wang Changbai.

”You want to go back home to live?” Wang Changbai asked with a frown.

”Yes... It’s been a long time.”

”There’s been no news at all from Guo Oldhei’s side.”

”I think things have probably blown over.”

Han Yuan said softly.

Wang Changbai thought for a moment and agreed. Han Yuan had been hiding in the County Yamen’s storeroom for so long that there likely wouldn’t be any problems.

Besides, he couldn’t hide here forever.

”Alright, then.”

”We’ll switch.”

”You take the day shift today.”

”Then you can slip back home at night.”

Wang Changbai said.