Chapter 91: Danger Approaches
Chapter 91: Danger Approaches (Seeking Monthly Votes)
10:00 PM
After dinner, Mom and Dad watched videos in the living room while Lin Qi trained the Harmony Stance in his bedroom.
"Whoosh... whoosh..."
White vapor rose from his body in the cold room.
His face flushed red, sweat dripping down his cheeks and soaking his clothes. Vital Energy surged through him like tiny snakes slithering into every muscle, refining even the smallest fibers.
His eyes remained locked on the Status Panel:
[Name: Lin Qi (17)]
[Profession: Martial Artist]
[Template: Erlang Shen Yang Jian]
[Fusion Rate: 9.99%]
[Innate Talents: Stomach Reinforcement, Dragon Vigor Tiger Might]
[Martial Arts: Harmony Stance, Five Elements Boxing (Co-cultivated), Fundamental Spear Manual, Mountain-Shattering Spear Method, Dripping Water Spear Art, Rock Solid Spear Techniques]
[Vital Energy Stat: 9.98]
[Fist Techniques: Second Stage 28%]
[Spear Techniques: Second Stage 16%]
[Body Techniques: Second Stage 4%]
Though he'd focused on reaching Moon Rank recently, his Vital Energy Stat hadn't suffered. At 9.98, breaking into the Second Realm was imminent. The Five Elements Boxing had thoroughly conditioned his muscles—progress wouldn't stall long. Before school resumed, he'd definitely ascend.
His gaze settled on the Template Fusion Rate: 9.9%. Just a hair’s breadth from 10%. The breakthrough would come within days.
"Huff..."
Lin Qi steadied his breath, pouring himself into stance training. Every second counted. This winter break would bring him massive strength gains.
*
An hour later...
[You completed a Harmony Stance session. Vital Energy Stat increased. +0.01]
[Vital Energy Stat: 9.98 → 9.99]
*
Lin Qi exhaled thick, cloudy breath, ignoring his sweat-soaked body as he slowly stood.
After changing into clean clothes and stepping out of the bathroom minutes later, sudden explosions shattered the night.
Boom!
Crackle!
Bang!
Fireworks lit the sky in dazzling patterns. His father, Lin Zhen, grinned while handing him a red envelope. "Little Qi, Happy New Year!"
His mother, Fang Huiyi, carried in a pot of pork trotters stewed with lotus roots.
Warmth surged in Lin Qi's chest. This—this was the life he craved. Parents alive, family united. He already had more happiness than most.
*
After midnight snacks, his parents retired.
Back in his room, Lin Qi lay on the bed scrolling through his new smartphone—a recent upgrade from his old budget model to a premium thousand-dollar device.
Wechat buzzed. Group chats overflowed with red envelopes. In the Second High School Elite Class group, Zhang Cheng sent thousands in cash, followed by teacher Yan Hong. Even Principal Jiang Zhiguang joined, dropping a 10,000-point envelope that flooded the chat with blessings.
Personal greetings poured in too:
"Brother Qi, Happy New Year!" —Jiang Tao
"Lin Qi big brother, New Year blessings!" —Jiang Miaoyin
Lin Qi replied with red envelopes and New Year greetings. Yue Feng even sent a message, which surprised him.
He didn't fall asleep until nearly 1:00 AM.
*
Meanwhile, atop Building 3...
Fireworks still bloomed across the sky as icy wind howled around two figures cloaked in black.
"This human celebration... beautiful", rasped the shorter figure, voice like grinding metal.
"But not for us", the taller one replied, tone as unyielding as stone. "Only now do they loosen their guard. Our chance arrives."
"Two days hence. The three S-Rank prodigies must die." The shorter clenched a dark, leathery fist, ominous pressure radiating.
"Understood."
*
Martial Dao Calendar 2046, January 15th – Morning
Lin Qi rose at 4:00 AM, resuming Harmony Stance and Fist Techniques training.
Breakfast with his parents began at 7:00.
In the storeroom, two black lacquered ancestral tablets stood. Incense coils burned, weaving fragrant trails into the air.
He bowed deeply. Happy New Year, Grandpa and Grandma.
In the early Martial Arts Epoch, disaster beasts ravaged humanity. Martial Arts had barely emerged then—guns and bullets were their only defense. When ammunition ran dry, humans became helpless prey. His grandparents fell during that darkness. Many families shared similar losses. This was the harsh truth of the Martial Arts Epoch.
"Time to visit your uncle's", Lin Zhen announced after the ceremony.
*
Rongshan Residential District, Building 4...
Boom!
A crimson luxury sedan with sleek curves drew stares as it halted.
"Whoa! Abyssal Maw Martial Arts Gym's Star Guardian flagship—half a million Crimson Heaven Points!"
Out stepped a glamorous woman in a fur coat, sunglasses shielding her face. Beside her, a sharp-suited young man exited.
"Yingzi back?"
"Xiaoheng too?"
A neighborly aunt waved.
Yan Ying arched her chin. "Auntie Huang, it's Yan Ying. Full name, please."
"Of course, Yingzi!"
Yan Ying grimaced.
"Here to visit Old An again?" another aunt asked.
"Announcing good news this time", Yan Ying smiled. "Xiaoheng ranked #20 citywide, #102 in all Tianhai!"
An Zhiheng puffed his chest, mirroring her arrogant posture.
"Amazing!"
Spotting Lin Qi's family descending, Yan Ying's smile widened.
"Huiyi!" she waved.
Lin Zhen and Fang Huiyi exchanged glances, then smiled tightly.
"Yingjie back?"
"Afraid so. Brought good news for Old An. Xiaoheng..." She repeated the achievements.
"Long time no see, Lin Qi!" An Zhiheng extended his hand warmly.
"You too, An Zhiheng." Lin Qi shook it—
*
Snap! Crunch!
An Zhiheng froze.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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