Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint-Chapter 115 - 93: Spear Technique

Wu Manqing readily agreed.

The two chatted for a while longer about happenings in the Prefecture City, and the atmosphere was pleasant.

Through her words and mannerisms, Chen Qing could sense Wu Manqing’s ambition.

In this day and age, it was truly extraordinary for a woman to build a small family from Gaolin County to such a scale.

After the banquet, Chen Qing took his leave.

Leaving Wangjiang Tower, Chen Qing didn’t return to his small courtyard in the Cyan Wood Institute. Instead, he headed for the Tingchao Armory once more.

With the ten thousand taels of silver notes he had just received, his objective was clear: the Kun Earth Institute’s *Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear*.

After paying the exorbitant Engraving Fee of five thousand taels of silver, he finally had the Parchment Scroll detailing the Spear Technique in his hands.

He returned to the Quiet Chamber in his small courtyard and eagerly unrolled the scroll to study it.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence. Success is Inevitable.]

[Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear, entry-level (1/100)]

’It really works!’

’I can cultivate the core Martial Arts from a different institute!’

Both the *Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear* and the *Floating Light and Shadow Hand* were Upper-Grade Martial Arts, divided into four realms: entry-level, Minor Achievement, Great Perfection, and the Extreme Realm.

After a short rest, Chen Qing went to a blacksmith’s shop and purchased a heavy Fine Iron Long Spear.

He returned to his small courtyard, and the shadow of the spear immediately began to dance!

The art of the spear emphasizes unpredictability and infinite transformations.

Its advance is sharp, its retreat is swift, its momentum is perilous, and its rhythm is short. Immovable as a mountain, it strikes like a thunderclap. Thus, the spear is called the "rogue of a hundred weapons."

The spear is highly aggressive, with immense killing power and a vast array of techniques.

Most spear variations are based on blocking and thrusting, supplemented by other moves like piercing, parrying, sheltering, coiling, circling, intercepting, capturing, pouncing, pointing, drawing, and flourishing.

Therefore, a spear wielder wouldn’t be at a disadvantage against most other Weapons.

This was also why the Spear Technique was difficult to master, and precisely why Chen Qing chose to cultivate it.

As the saying goes, "an inch longer, an inch stronger."

Longer was definitely better.

In the following days, Chen Qing’s life became exceptionally regular and fulfilling.

He spent most of the daytime in the Quiet Chamber, diligently cultivating the first layer of the *Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique*, refining his True Qi, and trying to break through the bottleneck to the Embracing Pill Force realm.

At the same time, he cultivated the *Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear*. His Spear Momentum grew heavier and more focused, and each move faintly exuded the weight of a mountain and the might of a thunderbolt.

At night, he would temper his *Eight Extremes Vajra Body*, conditioning his muscles and bones, and use any spare time to practice the Hidden Weapons techniques of the *Floating Light and Shadow Hand*.

Thanks to Chen Qing’s status as an Inner Courtyard Disciple of the Wutai Sect, the Wu Family’s trade routes had been peaceful for the past two months. The petty Water Bandits who used to cause trouble had all vanished without a trace.

Time flew by amidst his monotonous yet efficient Cultivation.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence. Success is Inevitable.]

[Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique, First Layer (198/1000)]

[Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear, Minor Achievement (16/1000)]

[Floating Light and Shadow Hand, Minor Achievement (598/1000)]

[Eight Extremes Vajra Body, Steel Bone (789/1000)]

When his Spear Technique broke through to Minor Achievement, Chen Qing could clearly feel the long spear in his hand become an extension of his own body. Every move now contained greater explosive power and more refined control.

Spear Technique and Fist Technique shared many similarities.

In fact, many mid- to Lower-Grade Fist Techniques were essentially Spear Techniques adapted for unarmed combat.

Moreover, as his progress in the *Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique* increased,

the Fire Seed within him grew stronger, as if it could ignite into a brilliant light at any moment.

One early morning, as Chen Qing was focused on his spear practice in the courtyard, a series of urgent, frantic knocks rattled the gate.

"Tributor Chen! Tributor Chen! This is bad! Something terrible has happened!"

A panicked, tearful female voice came from outside the gate.

Chen Qing opened the gate to find one of Wu Manqing’s maids, a girl named Xiaohuan.

Xiaohuan’s face was pale, and she was gasping for breath. Seeing Chen Qing was like grasping at a lifeline. "Tributor Chen! It’s terrible! The Wu Family’s large cargo ship, the one heading to Linjiang Prefecture, was... was hijacked by the Five River-Flipping Flood Dragons in the Black Flood Dragon Beach waters! They’ve seized the entire ship! Elder Zhong... Elder Zhong was... beaten to death by them!"

By the end, Xiaohuan was sobbing uncontrollably.

"The Five River-Flipping Flood Dragons?"

Chen Qing’s gaze sharpened.

Although he was a new Tributor, he had done some research on the powers operating on the waterways of Yunlin Prefecture.

These "Five River-Flipping Flood Dragons" were five brothers entrenched in the Black Flood Dragon Beach area. Their leader was nicknamed the "Sea-Raging Flood Dragon," Jiang Baoqing. All five leaders had Transmutation Force Cultivation. Relying on their expert swimming skills and the complex terrain of that waterway, they typically engaged in robbing small boats and collecting protection fees. They usually acted with some restraint and didn’t dare to provoke well-connected merchant ships like those of the Wu Family.

’But this time they dared to seize an entire ship and even kill a Wu Family Steward?’

"What is the value of the cargo on board? What are their demands?" Chen Qing asked in a low voice.

"On the ship... there are twenty-three two-year-old Treasure Fish! And other valuable medicinal herbs, silks... The total value is probably no less than one hundred fifty thousand taels of silver!"

Xiaohuan’s voice trembled. "Those damn Water Bandits are making an outrageous demand! They want a ransom of one hundred thousand taels to release the ship and the people! The Madam... the Madam is frantic!"

’One hundred fifty thousand taels worth of goods, and a ransom of one hundred thousand taels?’

’This isn’t extortion anymore; it’s outright robbery!’

’And by killing Wu Zhong, they’ve made a powerful enemy.’

Chen Qing understood that this matter was far from simple.

"I understand. Go back and tell the Madam to remain calm. I will handle this," Chen Qing said gravely.

Looking into Chen Qing’s steady eyes, Xiaohuan’s frantic heart seemed to calm a little. She nodded quickly. "Yes, yes! I will report back to the Madam immediately!"

With that, she hurried away.

.....

「Yunlin Prefecture City, the new Wu Family residence.」

This was a new estate that Wu Manqing had recently acquired in the Prefecture City.

Inside the main hall, Wu Manqing’s brow was tightly furrowed. Her usual composure and elegance had vanished, replaced by deep anxiety.

With the Wu Family’s shipping business becoming more frequent, it was only a matter of time before they were targeted by Water Bandits.

But she had never expected the Five River-Flipping Flood Dragons to be so ruthless, demanding a "toll" of one hundred thousand taels of silver right from the start and even killing the Wu Family’s old steward, Wu Zhong.

Across from her, Gu Ruo Hua and Li Wan also wore grave expressions.

"Manqing, I told you that you shouldn’t have been so hasty!"

Gu Ruo Hua had a fiery temper and couldn’t hold back. "That Chen Qing is just a Named Disciple from the Cyan Wood Institute with only a Transmutation Force Cultivation! He doesn’t even have a reputation in the Prefecture City! You made him a Tributor? Who could he possibly intimidate? And look what happened! Now even second-rate Water Bandits like the Five River-Flipping Flood Dragons dare to walk all over the Wu Family! They even killed old Steward Wu Zhong! The loss... more than twenty Treasure Fish!"

The more she spoke, the angrier she became, as if it were her own money that had been lost.

Li Wan was calmer by comparison, but her brow was also furrowed. "Manqing, Ruo Hua’s words may be harsh, but she’s not wrong. For a Tributor, reputation and strength are both indispensable. Chen Qing is indeed too young and inexperienced. The Five River-Flipping Flood Dragons are so brazen probably because they’ve determined your new Tributor doesn’t have enough weight to keep them in line. They might even have someone backing them."

She was a smart woman and saw the key issue at a glance.

The rivers and tributaries of Qianchuan Marsh were home to dozens of Water Bandit gangs, who had always stirred up trouble at the borders of the Yunlin, Changle, and Bai Feng prefectures.

Recently, there had been rumors that the Fuhai Stockade and Nine Waves Island in Qianchuan Marsh intended to unite the various Water Bandit factions, and their growing influence was attracting attention.

These Five River-Flipping Flood Dragons had probably already pledged allegiance to one of these powers, which would explain why they dared to act so lawlessly.

Wu Manqing took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart. "I’ve already sent someone to inform Chen Qing."

"What’s the use of informing him?"

Gu Ruo Hua interrupted bluntly, "He’s just one person at the Transmutation Force realm. Does he plan to take on the Five River-Flipping Flood Dragons’ Water Stockade all by himself? That’s five leaders at the Transmutation Force realm! On the water, even an expert at the Early Stage of Embracing Pill Force might not come out on top! If he goes, he’s just going to his death!"

Li Wan sighed and took Wu Manqing’s cold hand. "Manqing, the urgent task is to resolve this crisis. One hundred thousand taels is too large a sum for the Wu Family to gather on short notice. And even if you could gather it and pay them, what would be left of the Wu Family’s reputation? How would you maintain your footing in the business world in the future?"

She paused and lowered her voice. "If there’s no other way, you just have to ask. My Gu Family or the Li Family can intervene. But you know that if our families get involved, the interests become complicated. You would probably have to cede a portion of the profits from the Gaolin County trade route..."

’Cede a share of the trade route?’

That would be like carving a piece of flesh from Wu Manqing’s heart!

This was the foundation she had poured her heart and soul into building!

"Let’s wait a little longer."

Wu Manqing took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Chen Qing said he would handle it. I believe him... Perhaps he has a way."

Even as she said it, she could feel her own confidence wavering.

’She was up against five fierce and cunning Water Bandits, all at the Transmutation Force realm!’

’No matter how astonishing Chen Qing was, he had not yet reached the Embracing Pill realm.’

Gu Ruo Hua and Li Wan exchanged a look, both shaking their heads secretly.

’Even at a time like this, how could Wu Manqing still hold out hope for that boy?’

.....