Honey, you didn't really drugged me, did you?

Chapter 82: Chapter 77 What Treasure Did Ni Wenjun Hide

So that’s how it is.

Chen Jie always felt that his practice of the Yang Chun Skill was different from others. Hearing Ni Wenjun’s explanation, he gained some understanding.

“Chang Chun Skill, Four Seasons Celestial Phenomenon Technique, huh?”

Chen Jie murmured and looked at Ni Wenjun, “Brother Ni, thank you for clearing my doubts.”

Ni Wenjun waved his hand, “It’s nothing, really nothing. But I must say, brother, you are quite fortunate to have encountered such a divine technique, and even more so to have met me.”

While speaking, Ni Wenjun took out a blood-stained secret manual from his clothes.

...

“Hehe, take a look!”

Chen Jie took the secret manual and started reading. It was titled in three large characters: Water Manipulation Palm!

Twenty-four Water Manipulation Palm Styles!!

Chen Jie’s eyes lit up with surprise as he looked at Ni Wenjun, who laughed, “Ding Shun died at my hands, and naturally, I had to search his belongings!”

“Brother, with this hand technique, your Chang Chun Skill can be considered half complete at two out of six!”

“Especially since the most important internal cultivation method, the Lichun Technique, is in your possession. Once your skill reaches great success, you should be able to exhibit at least sixty percent of the power of the Chang Chun Skill!”

Ni Wenjun was correct.

The core of the Chang Chun Skill was its internal cultivation methods, the backbone that runs through the entire set of martial arts. Then there are the other five techniques, which are moves, such as Rain Water, corresponding to the Water Manipulation Palm.

The other techniques corresponding to Jingzhe, Spring Equinox, Qingming, and Grain Rain respectively made up the rest of the set.

The combination of these six made up the complete Chang Chun Skill.

However, now that Chen Jie had mastered the Lichun Technique for Li Chun, which corresponded to the Yang Chun Skill, and Rain Water for Water Manipulation Palm, he could use them directly.

Just as Ni Wenjun said, if Ding Shun had the corresponding inner strength for the Water Manipulation Palm, he would have been difficult to deal with.

At this point, Ni Wenjun looked at Chen Jie, who held the Water Manipulation Palm like a treasure, and advised, “Jiu Si, let me give you a heads up. Jianghu is perilous. With a divine technique in your possession, don’t flaunt it lightly. If anyone asks, do not reveal your Yang Chun Skill.”

“Remember, moves are easy to come by, but internal cultivation methods are hard to find. Keep that in mind.”

Ni Wenjun entrusted this to Chen Jie, who nodded with gratitude, “Thank you, big brother.”

“Sure,” Ni Wenjun said. “Also, you can’t use the Twenty-four Water Manipulation Palm Styles so openly. After all, it’s Ding Shun’s martial arts. Sometimes it can be recognized by the watchful. Practice this too.”

With those words, Ni Wenjun gave Chen Jie another secret manual.

Chen Jie looked over it and saw the title: Surging Wave Palm!

Ni Wenjun explained, “On my way to Mianshui County, I encountered water bandits with decent martial power, one of whom had dark force strength. After I killed them, I discovered this Surging Wave Palm manual.”

“I skimmed through it, and some of the moves are quite similar to the Twenty-four Water Manipulation Palm Styles. Usually, you can show the Surging Wave Palm to others and secretly incorporate a few moves from the Water Manipulation Palm. No one will notice. Once your strength increases, and you no longer fear external threats, you can use the Water Manipulation Palm openly.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie immediately clasped his fists, “Thank you, big brother. You’ve thought of everything.”

“It’s not about being thorough, just common Jianghu knowledge,”

Chen Jie then thought of a question, “Big brother, you just mentioned that the Yang Chun Skill is an internal cultivation method, and the Water Manipulation Palm is a martial arts move. Does practicing martial arts always require a matching mental method?”

Chen Jie was curious. He had only practiced Grand Ancestor Long Fist, but he still successfully advanced to Skin Buff Martial Artist.

Ni Wenjun replied, “It should be said that cultivation techniques are divided into internal and external. External skills are also known as cross training, focusing on the physical body. In martial arts terms, everything before reaching dark force is considered cross training, which can be broken through with external skills alone.”

“But when you reach the peak of skin and flesh and begin to temper your sinews and bones, you need the support of internal strength to progress rapidly.”

“Of course, if you have the support of internal cultivation methods at the Ming Jin stage, your improvement will be even faster, but that is mostly the privilege of sect disciples. For poor martial artists like us, it’s too luxurious.”

“The path for poor martial artists usually involves learning an external skill, breaking through the two barriers of skin and flesh, and then looking to join a sect or family to receive their internal cultivation methods in order to continue practicing!”

Chen Jie understood Ni Wenjun’s words; it was a monopoly.

Yes, a monopoly. External skills could drift outside, which could be used to select those with martial arts talent.

For those with martial arts talent who wanted to climb higher, they needed internal cultivation methods. The powers that be—major forces, families, government—strictly controlled these mental methods. If you wanted to learn, you had to pledge your loyalty to them.

Except for a few who were fortunate enough to obtain internal cultivation methods through special means.

The majority had no choice but to find a major force to align with and serve that power.

Understanding this, Chen Jie had a deep comprehension of the martial arts ways of this world.

Seeing that it was getting late, Chen Jie pondered and asked, “Big brother, can you move now?”

Ni Wenjun replied, “As long as I don’t engage in intense fights, normal walking is no problem.”

Chen Jie then said, “Well, big brother, follow me.”

The source of this c𝓸ntent is freewebnøvel.coɱ.

Saying this, Chen Jie took Ni Wenjun with him. The back mountain was no longer safe; although they had fooled the Thirteen Grand Protectors earlier, they were not fools. Once they realized the deception, they would surely comb the mountain.

In a large-scale search, how could this small cave remain hidden?

Therefore, they had to relocate.

Chen Jie took Ni Wenjun down the mountain on a small path, heading straight for the fishery. Once there, Chen Jie found a small boat and with Ni Wenjun, headed to the small island in the Reed Marsh they had discovered during the day.

Surrounded by dense reed marshes, the location was hard to access by fishing boats, and fishermen did not come here; it was almost an abandoned area, perfect for hiding.

Ni Wenjun said that he needed at most two days of rest to recover his strength, and then he would have to leave.

With an official dead in Huangzhou Prefecture, they were likely to intensify the manhunt for him.

This place was not good for an extended stay!

After learning what had transpired, Chen Jie became curious and asked, “Big brother, why are they relentless in pursuing you? What exactly did you do? Was it just killing an officiartment?”

Ni Wenjun’s lips curled up slightly upon hearing this, “Brother, if you’re going to ask that, I might have to ask you for a favor.”

“What is it?” asked Chen Jie, curious.

“Do you know about the abandoned house in Upper Peach Village?” said Ni Wenjun.

“I do!”

“Good, when you have some time, bring some food over. I’ve thrown someone in there.”

“What?”

Chen Jie looked at Ni Wenjun in surprise. After a moment’s thought, Ni Wenjun gently tugged at his face, and the human skin with a scarred face was pulled right off!

Holy shit~

In the instant the skin mask fell, a very handsome face was revealed.

He certainly didn’t look like a Jianghu guest, more like the son of a wealthy landlord.

“This?”

Ni Wenjun laughed, “Hehe, the Disguise Technique, just a little trick. Are you surprised by my true looks?”

Chen Jie nodded, “Yes.”

Ni Wenjun laughed again, “That’s right; outsiders all call me Ni Manzi. A barbarian should have this fierce and threatening look. If I were to look like I do now, I doubt anyone would believe it.”

Chen Jie nodded.

“This is what’s called ‘hidden in plain sight,’” Ni Wenjun continued.

“About the one I threw into the rundown house, he’s a tough case. When you go there to feed him, just provide some food and drink, no need for idle chatter. Just bring my mask, and yes, change your clothes.”

Chen Jie nodded, then said to Ni Wenjun, “Brother Ni, actually, looking as you do now, no one would recognize you anyway. Why not go into town and open an inn, for some good rest and recuperation?”

Ni Wenjun shook his head, “I can change my face, but these injuries can’t be swapped out so easily. The slightest slip-up could be very dangerous for me.”

Chen Jie fell silent, then nodded and left the Reed Marsh.

…

Meanwhile, at the top of the mountain behind and before the grey fog, stood the officials from Huangzhou Prefecture, the arrest officer Zhang Liye, Ghost Hand Gu Qingfeng, and the fisherman Peng Shizhong.

They all stood before the grey fog, deep in thought.

The trail ended here; it seemed to suggest that the person had run into the fog.

But Ni Manzi, had he grown tired of living to dare to enter this grey fog? Was he not afraid to die?

The men stood still before the fog, while the Blood-seeking Bee, frightened, spun around in place, also not daring to enter the fog.

They hesitated for a long time.

Zhang Liye said, “Gentlemen, this matter is steeped in oddity. From what I know of Ni Manzi, he wouldn’t rush blindly into this fog. He would rather wait to be discovered by us and then strike fiercely, taking a few of us with him in the process!”

“Rather than going into this fog.”

Upon hearing this, Ghost Hand Gu Qingfeng next to him said, “Could it be possible that he didn’t venture far in? If he just lingered on the outskirts, with his strength, it might not be too dangerous.”

“No, no, don’t forget, he has serious injuries on him, and the blood scent is so strong even the Blood-seeking Bee can smell it, let alone the monsters within the fog. Even if he’s hovering on the outskirts, the monsters drawn by the smell of blood will pounce on him. Even the perimeter isn’t safe!”

“He wouldn’t be unaware of this,” added Zhang Liye.

Peng Shizhong also expressed his opinion.

Then the officer from Huangzhou Prefecture said, “This means that this scoundrel has likely led us on a wild goose chase, deliberately drawing us here to think he’s gone into the fog?”

Zhang Liye nodded, “Most likely, he’s hidden somewhere in this mountain.”

The officer’s face turned cold when he heard this and said, “At all costs, we must catch this scoundrel!”

“Master Gu, Master Peng!” he called out to the two local leaders, “Notify all disciples of the Fishing Guild and Guild Cao in Xiantao Town immediately. Conduct a thorough search of the mountain tonight, without fail!”

“Yes,” they both replied.

Seeing the murderously intent officer from Huangzhou Prefecture, the two Hall Masters exchanged a glance and agreed to the request before descending the mountain together, while Zhang Liye stayed with the officer to search the surroundings.

As they went down the mountain, Gu Qingfeng said, “Old Peng, what’s gotten into that officer, insisting on a search tonight? There are so many rebels out there, but I’ve never seen someone so dedicated!”

Peng Shizhong replied, “Isn’t it obvious? That officer, Fan Jiangchun Ding Shun, died at the hands of Ni Manzi. He can’t go back without capturing Ni Manzi, can he?”

Gu Qingfeng shook his head, “I think there’s more to it. Right from the start, something felt off. They clearly could have cornered Ni Wenjun at his home, but they just had to see where he went.”

“Old Peng, do you think Ni Manzi might have stolen some treasure from the Huangzhou Prefecture government office?”

“It’s their coming here this time that’s false; they actually want to snatch the treasure from Ni Manzi’s hands.”

“Can’t be, can it?”

Peng Shizhong narrowed his eyes, although his expression relaxed, clearly also somewhat moved by the possibility.

Gu Qingfeng continued, “Anyway, I feel their intent is not pure this time. And have you thought about it? During the ambush on Ni Manzi, the two officers emphasized multiple times that it was better to capture him alive. If he’s just a rebel, does it really matter whether he’s dead or alive?”

Peng Shizhong thought for a moment and said, “Lao Gu, you’re right, they did emphasize more than once that they must capture him alive. This clearly is to extract a confession!”

“Ni Wenjun’s rebellion was a spur-of-the-moment decision, and he likely doesn’t have any accomplices. The significance of capturing him alive must be to trace the whereabouts of something. What on earth could it be that makes these officers from Huangzhou Prefecture so attentive?”

“I don’t know, but it must be no ordinary item. Its value is even more important than the life of a county official!”

Discussing among themselves, the two then descended the mountain!