Chapter 102: Chaotic Situation

Lu Qing’s sudden slash caught Xiao Tian completely off guard. He had never imagined—never even considered—that Lu Qing would strike him without warning in this very place.

Yet the killing intent in that blade was unmistakably real. It sent a wave of icy dread through Xiao Tian’s body. There was no doubt in his mind: had he not dodged, Lu Qing would have cleaved him in two.

In that split second, the image of Lu Qing’s merciless slaughter in Kuai Hua Village flashed through his mind. Terror surged through him, overwhelming and absolute. With life and death hanging in the balance, there was no time for thought—only instinct. He threw himself backward with every ounce of strength he had, his entire being focused on his legs, willing them to move faster, to save him.

In that moment of total concentration, something extraordinary stirred within him—a hidden reserve of power he hadn’t known existed. Without hesitation, he poured it into his legs.

Boom!

Just as Lu Qing’s War Blade swept toward him, Xiao Tian finally managed to retreat, crashing into the wooden fence behind him and tumbling into the vegetable patch.

Lu Qing’s blade missed. But instead of pursuing, he calmly sheathed his weapon, smiling as he watched Xiao Tian sprawled on the ground.

"Not bad," he said, amusement in his voice. "Not bad at all for a reaction."

"Lu Xiao Langjun," Xiao Tian gasped, scrambling up, his voice trembling with fear. "What have I done to offend you? I don’t understand—why would you attack me like this?"

"You didn’t offend me," Lu Qing replied. "Now, feel your body. What’s different about your internal energy compared to before?"

"Internal energy?" Xiao Tian blinked, instantly focusing inward.

The earlier burst had drained him completely. His legs ached from overexertion, muscles screaming in protest. But beneath the pain, something else stirred—something alive, vibrant, and responsive. He could feel every thread of his Qi, commanding it at will, gathering it, dispersing it, shaping it with ease.

The truth struck him like lightning.

He had finally unlocked the secret of Qi Xue Jing—the long-sought realm he had yearned for, fought for, and nearly given up on.

"Thank you, Lu Xiao Langjun! I owe you my life!" Xiao Tian fell to his knees, bowing deeply.

He had spent years striving to break through. No matter how hard he trained, no matter how many pills he consumed, he could never quite cross the threshold. Even after taking that Blood Nourishing and Qi Invigorating Pill, he’d felt the power surge—and then fade, with no breakthrough in sight. He’d almost resigned himself to failure.

And now, all it took was one blade, one moment of life-or-death terror, to push him over the edge.

He finally understood: Lu Qing’s killing intent wasn’t real. It was a test—a deliberate provocation to awaken his hidden potential. Otherwise, with Lu Qing’s strength, a single stroke would have ended him without warning.

Now, Xiao Tian’s heart burned with gratitude.

"Enough," Lu Qing chuckled. "No need for such formalities. You’ve earned this. If your foundation weren’t already strong, and you weren’t so close to Qi Xue Jing, even I couldn’t have helped."

Xiao Tian bowed three more times—each a sharp, hollow thud on the ground—before rising.

"No matter what, you are my savior," he said, voice thick with emotion. "I will never forget this debt for as long as I live."

Lu Qing waved it off with a smile, about to speak—when a furious shout cut through the air.

"Hey! You little rascal! What’s going on? You’ve destroyed my fence and trampled my vegetable patch!"

Lu Qing turned. Next door, Zhang Da Ye’s second son stood fuming, glaring at the wreckage of his garden.

It was Xiao Tian’s fault—fleeing in panic from Lu Qing’s attack, he’d crashed into the fence and flattened two rows of crops.

Xiao Tian’s face turned crimson. He looked down, mortified.

"Zhang Er Shu, it’s me—A Qing!" Lu Qing called out, stepping forward.

"A Qing?" Zhang Er Shu blinked, finally recognizing him. His anger melted instantly. "You did this?"

"Sorry, Zhang Er Shu," Lu Qing said, sincere. "I was sparring with a friend. I didn’t mean to cause damage. I’ll fix it myself."

"Ah, no problem! I thought it was some prankster!" Zhang Er Shu waved it off, grinning. "It’s fine—just let me patch it up later. No need to trouble you."

He noticed Xiao Tian then—the man in the ragged, muddy clothes, covered in dirt and vegetable juice, clearly the victim of a brutal one-sided fight. Meanwhile, Lu Qing stood pristine, untouched.

Zhang Er Shu silently shook his head. This wasn’t a spar. This was a beating.

Xiao Tian, unable to bear the shame, fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a coin pouch. He dumped a piece of silver into Zhang Er Shu’s hand.

"Sir, I broke your fence and ruined your crops. This is my compensation."

Then he bowed deeply to Lu Qing.

"Lu Xiao Langjun, I must return to the Big Market now. If you ever need anything, just say the word—I’ll do my best to help!"

With that, he turned and fled toward the village outskirts, face burning.

Zhang Er Shu stared at the silver. It weighed nearly half a tael.

"Hey, kid! Two rows of vegetables aren’t worth that much!"

But Xiao Tian kept walking, faster and faster, not looking back.

Lu Qing chuckled. "Take it, Zhang Er Shu. It’s his way of making amends."

Xiao Tian was one of Ma Gu’s most trusted aides, now in charge of the Big Market. Money wasn’t an issue for him. Half a tael meant nothing to him.

"Still," Zhang Er Shu muttered, "this is too much. I’ll just rebuild the fence and replant the seeds. No need for this."

But Lu Qing wasn’t listening. He chatted with Zhang Er Shu for a few moments, then turned and walked into the courtyard.

Inside, his expression darkened instantly.

Xiao Tian’s message had stirred deep concern.

The city was in turmoil. A flood of martial artists had gathered—powerful, restless, and hungry. A great battle loomed, and soon.

Jiu Li Village was far away. Normally, such chaos wouldn’t reach them.

But what if the county government collapsed? What if the martial artists went rogue, spreading violence across the countryside?

No risk could be ignored.

"Hope the Wei Family can hold things together," Lu Qing murmured.

Then, a question formed in his mind.

Did the Wei Family’s Xian Tian ancestor really die?

According to Ma Gu’s letter, a mysterious group had openly declared the death of the Wei Family’s ancient ancestor in the city square. That was a bold move—publicly announcing the fall of a Xian Tian-level master.

But something felt… off.

If the ancestor had been assassinated, then whoever killed him should have finished off the Wei Family entirely. Why leave them standing?

If it was an accident, how did the strangers know?

And why had the news spread so fast? Now, it seemed everyone in the city knew.

But Xian Tian masters were supposed to be elusive—like ghosts, never seen, never heard from. For one to die and the news to echo across the city like this? That was unnatural.

Lu Qing sensed a deeper hand at work—someone pulling strings, orchestrating a grand design.

Could the Wei Family be hiding something valuable? Something worth risking a war over?

And why not just seize it directly? Why the games? Are they afraid? Or are they testing something?

He remembered when Ma Gu had mentioned that the Wei Family’s patriarch had remained in the city’s ancestral residence—unusual for a noble house. Back then, Lu Qing had suspected a secret.

Now, he was certain.

The question was: could the Wei Family still protect it?

Unfortunately, the pieces were too few to draw conclusions.

"Still," Lu Qing sighed, "even if there’s a mastermind behind this, it’s far beyond my reach. I’m just a Qi Xue Jing cultivator. There are dozens—hundreds—of warriors in the city who could crush me without effort."

He shook his head. There was no point in overthinking it.

For now, he’d stay out of the storm, watch from the sidelines, and pray for the Wei Family’s survival.

But he knew one thing: his master needed to be warned.

The city was now a powder keg. With Xian Tian-level battles possibly unfolding, even his master—though already at Half Step Xian Tian—wasn’t safe.

"Better not let him come into the city," Lu Qing decided.

He locked the door behind him and made his way to the Half Mountain Small Courtyard.

As he approached, he heard laughter—Xiao Yan’s familiar, bright voice.

Stepping into the courtyard, he found his master, Old Doctor, sitting at a stone table with Xiao Yan and Xiao Li, sipping tea. Old Doctor was drinking, while the two girls were nibbling on tea snacks.

"Brother!" Xiao Yan turned and waved, her eyes lighting up.

"Ah," Lu Qing replied, walking over.

Old Doctor turned, surprise flickering in his eyes.

"You’ve broken through?"

"Yes. Just now."

Lu Qing knew his master’s cultivation was nearing the stage where he would awaken spiritual force. He couldn’t hide his progress.

"You’re moving faster than I ever imagined," Old Doctor said, awed. "From the day you first came to me… now you’ve reached the peak of Qi Xue Jing. Even in my travels across the province, I’ve never heard of a cultivator progressing this fast."

"Only because of your guidance, Master," Lu Qing said, as always, humble.

"Stop flattering me," Old Doctor laughed. "All I taught you was Nourish Body Fist and a few pills. You’re the one who trained relentlessly."

He shook his head, half-exasperated, half-proud. "You’re the only one I’ve ever taught who never once believed he was a genius. No matter how fast you progress, you never get carried away. It’s… admirable."

"Master, Ma Ye sent a message through his aide. There’s something important I think you should know," Lu Qing said, his tone serious.

"Oh? What is it?" Old Doctor’s expression tightened. He knew his student had ties to Ma Gu.

"Here," Lu Qing handed him the letter.

Old Doctor took it, broke the seal, and began to read. His expression grew darker with each line.

"Impossible. In just a few days, the city has turned into this?"

He looked up, shaken.

"Master," Lu Qing said, "the city is now a maelstrom. I strongly advise you not to go there."

He knew his master occasionally traveled to the city to deliver medicine. But now, with martial artists flooding in and chaos spreading, he feared for his master’s safety.

"Good idea," Old Doctor mused. "I wasn’t planning to go anyway. If the city’s become a battlefield, I’ll stay put."

He wasn’t foolish. Though a healer by heart, he wasn’t blind to danger. A city full of Xian Tian-level schemers wasn’t a place for a man of his age.

Seeing his master agree, Lu Qing exhaled in relief.

He’d feared his master would insist on helping the sick, no matter the risk.

But Old Doctor was still sharp—he understood the stakes.

"Still, A Qing," his master added, "be careful. The letter mentioned the Black Wolf Gang stirring again. You’ve made enemies there. They might come after you."

"I’ll be cautious, Master."

For the next few days, Lu Qing returned to his routine—training, meditating, living simply. But he stayed alert, especially when stepping outside.

He occasionally visited the Big Market, seeking news from Xiao Tian.

And what he learned was alarming.

The city was descending into chaos.

With so many martial artists flooding in, tensions boiled over. Fights broke out on the streets over nothing—blood splattered the cobblestones. Some warriors began seizing local gangs, forcing them to serve their whims. Refuse, and they were wiped out. Submit, and they rose rapidly in power, becoming major forces in the city.

The Black Wolf Gang was the most prominent example.

Their leader, Black Wolf, had somehow recruited several powerful martial artists—some even at the Nei Fu Jing level. This gave them immense strength, making them one of the city’s most dominant factions. Their arrogance was unmatched.

In short: the city was a mess. People died daily.

Only the county magistrate’s edict—prohibiting attacks on civilians—kept things from collapsing entirely.

The county court represented the capital’s authority. Even the most ruthless martial artists dared not openly defy it.

Still, many ordinary people fled the city, seeking refuge elsewhere, waiting for the storm to pass.

Yet, surprisingly, the Wei Family Residence remained untouched.

Despite the chaos, no one dared attack it.

Both sides seemed to be holding back—waiting. Observing. As if something deeper was at play.

Lu Qing caught a whiff of something unnatural.

Something was coming.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end