I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.
Snow Moon Pavilion.
Second floor.
Zhou Chen, carefree and unrestrained, draped his arm around Red Sister Hong’s ample waist and swaggered to sit boldly opposite the man in white, as if unaware that this stranger was a terrifyingly powerful figure he had never encountered before.
“Brother, you don’t look like a local. Are you just passing through or here on business?”
Zhou Chen sized up the man in white, attended by two beautiful women on either side. His fair, slender hands were restless, showing none of the aura of a true master.
“How do you figure that?”
The man in white smiled faintly and gestured for the woman sitting on his lap to pour wine for Zhou Chen.
Qiu Xiang lifted the wine pot gracefully and poured a cup for Zhou Chen.
“Brother, your bearing is extraordinary. It’s obvious you’re no ordinary man. Though I’ve only recently arrived in Qinghe City, a man like you surely must be well known!”
Zhou Chen lifted the cup but did not drink; he toyed with it in his hand and continued,
“Moreover, it’s clear you frequent the brothels. I’ve been here every day except yesterday, yet I’ve never seen you before!”
“So, you’re most likely not from Qinghe City!”
“Exactly!”
The man in white chuckled, “My surname is Li. I’m just passing through, here to experience the local customs of Qinghe City. I happened to hear of your romantic exploits, young brother, and couldn’t resist inviting you for a chat!”
“Ah, Brother Li.”
Zhou Chen’s suspicion was confirmed. This man was most likely Li Changfeng, the Peak Master of the Divine Archery Peak.
“Looks like Brother Li is a kindred spirit!”
Zhou Chen laughed heartily, his generosity flowing freely:
“Fate brings us together. Since Brother Li is here, I shall play the host. Enjoy yourself—consider it on me!”
As he spoke, Zhou Chen produced a silver ingot and slipped it into Red Sister Hong’s bosom:
“Remember, I’m footing the bill. If it’s not enough, come ask me!”
“Rest assured, Master Zhou, I will treat Master Li well!”
Red Sister Hong’s smile deepened as she patted her full chest and replied promptly.
“Master, you’re here!”
Miao Tong and Miao Yu arrived together, and Red Sister Hong took the opportunity to slip away from Zhou Chen’s embrace. The two women seated themselves on either side of Zhou Chen, warm and charming.
“Brother Zhou is truly generous—what a treat!”
Li Changfeng looked at Zhou Chen with a meaningful glance, secretly wondering if Zhou Chen had recognized him. But it didn’t quite seem so.
“Brother Li, you flatter me. Gold and silver are mere trinkets; their value lies in use, not hoarding.”
Zhou Chen was not stingy, barely a few dozen taels.
There is an old saying about the four iron bonds of life:
Went to school together.
Visited prostitutes together.
Regardless of whether this man was Li Changfeng, he was undoubtedly a powerful ally. Better to cultivate this relationship first.
The two men clinked glasses amid the lively chatter and the flirtatious whispers of the women in their arms.
The mingling scents of wine, perfume, feminine charm, and raw desire stirred the most primal urges deep within.
Zhou Chen made no attempt to probe his companion’s identity; if he didn’t reveal it, Zhou Chen would not ask. They spoke not of grand ideals or patriotism, but of romance, local gossip, and strange tales.
Li Changfeng’s extensive knowledge widened Zhou Chen’s horizons, revealing much about the outside world.
Their conversation was lively and lasted long into the night.
“I notice your arms are long and your waist strong—perfect for archery!”
Li Changfeng studied Zhou Chen’s physique with subtle meaning.
“Master Li is truly perceptive!”
Miao Tong’s soft, voluptuous body leaned against Zhou Chen’s chest as she smiled brightly:
“Master Zhou is the number one marksman in our county office—Captain Yuan speaks highly of him!”
“I’d say Brother Zhou is not just the county’s top archer, but Qinghe County’s finest!”
Li Changfeng chuckled.
Zhou Chen’s heart skipped a beat. Was Li Changfeng testing him, or what was the meaning behind this?
Not wanting to take chances, Zhou Chen laughed and gave Miao Tong a playful squeeze:
“Brother Li jokes! Qinghe County hides many talented archers—I couldn’t possibly claim that title.”
“There was once a marksman who shot down Bai Gongfeng of the Salt Gang’s Qi Refining stage six with a single arrow. The Salt Gang is still hunting him!”
“But I believe that one day I will become Qinghe County’s top archer, maybe even the best in the entire Great Qian, just like Arrow God Li Changfeng!”
Li Changfeng’s eyes flickered slightly. Unsure if Zhou Chen had recognized him and was flattering him to be taken as a disciple, but it was flattering nonetheless.
He smiled, saying,
“Your dreams are lofty, Brother Zhou. The Great Qian is home to countless warriors and prodigies. Even I dare not claim the title of the greatest archer in Great Qian!”
“But one must have dreams!”
Zhou Chen lifted his gaze to the distance at a forty-five-degree angle:
“What’s the difference between a man without dreams and a salted fish?”
“True enough!”
Li Changfeng raised his cup, laughing:
“To floating freely!”
“To that!”
They clinked glasses and downed their drinks.
Leaning closer to Li Changfeng, Zhou Chen’s voice lowered, full of mystery:
“Brother Li, to be frank, I’ve been training archery since childhood. The moment I first gripped an arrow, I knew I was destined to become the Arrow God!”
Li Changfeng’s heart stirred. “Could this kid have recognized me? Trying to reveal his talent so I’ll take him as my disciple?”
His interest piqued, he listened intently.
Miao Tong, Miao Yu, and Qiu Xiang all wore curious, expectant expressions.
“I began at five, mastered archery by seven, perfected it at ten, and reached full mastery by fifteen. Not only do my arrows never miss, and I can hit a willow leaf at a hundred paces, but I possess a talent beyond others!”
“What talent?”
“I shoot faster than anyone!”
Zhou Chen raised his right hand, fingers curling and unclenching:
“Because my hand speed is insanely fast!”
Li Changfeng was speechless.
Here I am ready to strip down, and you tell me this?
“Don’t believe me, Brother Li?”
Reading Li Changfeng’s expression, Zhou Chen nodded toward Miao Tong and Miao Yu:
“Ask them if I’m lying!”
The two women’s legs tightened, their cheeks flushing, recalling the terrifying control Zhou Chen wielded with his ‘Lu Mountain Claw.’
A mixture of love and fear.
“You really are incredibly fast!”
Miao Yu murmured shyly.
Li Changfeng stared at Zhou Chen, unable to discern how much was truth and how much bluff.
Miao Tong and the others thought Zhou Chen was just bragging.
In truth, Zhou Chen was partly boasting.
Yet he did possess the Thunder-Light Wishful Hand technique, which greatly enhanced his archery speed—where others fired one arrow, he could release four or five.
“You’re quite an interesting fellow, Brother Zhou!”
Li Changfeng laughed, and they bantered some more before parting ways, each with a beauty in their arms.
Zhou Chen remained carefree, as usual, ready to take on ten men at once.
Night fell, the moonlight like flowing water.
Zhou Chen adjusted his belt and left Snow Moon Pavilion, his face flushed with triumph and pride.
“Interesting!”
Li Changfeng appeared on a rooftop, arms folded behind his back, watching Zhou Chen stroll home with a faint smile.
“Because I got to enjoy a free ride tonight!”
A cold voice spoke, and beside Li Changfeng, a woman in black suddenly appeared.
Tall and slender, with a slim waist, ample bosom, and pert hips, she carried a pitch-black great bow on her back, exuding an aura so chilling and aloof it kept others at bay.
“How do you speak to your master like that!”
Li Changfeng raised an eyebrow and scolded,
“Do I look like that kind of person?”
Li Changhen cast a disdainful glance at Li Changfeng. You’re exactly like him.
“Is he really the marksman who shot Bai Ruyun?”
Li Changhen watched Zhou Chen’s retreating figure, not seeing anything particularly formidable.
No,
He’s just skilled with women.
They say he can handle ten at once!
“Almost certainly.”
Though Li Changfeng didn’t say it outright, after spending so long with Zhou Chen, he was sure he had trained in the Yi Archery Technique and was quite accomplished.
Zhou Chen was good at hiding himself.
But who was Li Changfeng?
A super expert who had practiced Yi Archery for decades. Zhou Chen might fool others, but not him.
“When will you take him as a disciple?”
Li Changhen knew she was about to have another junior brother.
“Observe a few more days!”
Li Changfeng shook his head, investigating Zhou Chen’s background carefully.
As his direct disciple, caution was necessary.
“Seems someone is watching me—probably Li Lang, or rather Li Changfeng...”
Zhou Chen mused as he walked.
Li Lang was the name used during the drinking, but Zhou Chen suspected it was false.
He paid no mind and remained vigilant, continuing as usual.
Slipping beneath Qin Hongyu’s covers, a thread of his consciousness controlled his body as he and Qin Hongyu studied the Secrets of Romance, while his soul entered the Romance Mirror with Liu Ruyi to research further.
At the same time, Ji Fengxia had also awakened.
Like Liu Ruyi, she had comprehended a divine technique—Nine Turns Nirvana Skill.
She smiled alluringly as she joined their study of the Secrets of Romance.
“You two play, I’m out!”
Liu Ruyi tried to escape but was caught by Ji Fengxia.
In the end,
Zhou Chen prevailed.
Hehe!
The night passed quietly.
Zhou Chen noticed his Romance Points soared; that night, with the blessings of Qin Hongyu, Ji Fengxia, and Liu Ruyi, his points surged by six thousand—more impressive than fighting ten opponents at Snow Moon Pavilion.
“As expected, quality matters!”
Zhou Chen felt deeply moved. Adding his previous accumulation, he surpassed the fourteen thousand mark.
Elated and refreshed, Zhou Chen’s spirits soared.
Meanwhile, at the Salt Gang’s Qinghe Branch, Bai Guinong and Wang Kangan had also stayed awake all night, eyes bloodshot, faces dark with worry.
The culprit hadn’t shown.
They guessed there was no hope.
Yet they still struggled, so Bai Guinong found a woman disguised to look like Liu Ruyi, and Wang Kangan took her outside the city to be executed as a warning.
Unfortunately, it failed to lure out Zhou Chen.
For three consecutive days, besides checking in at the government office, Zhou Chen stayed home studying the Secrets of Romance with Qin Hongyu and the others. His Romance Points skyrocketed, breaking through thirty-six thousand.
“Yi Archery Technique, allocate points!”
Filled with excitement and anticipation, Zhou Chen spent thirty-two thousand Romance Points.
It felt as if he had trained for ten years straight, his blood completely renewed, his vitality reaching its peak.
Pop!
A sound like a bottleneck bursting echoed inside him. Zhou Chen’s refined vitality condensed into strands of internal energy.
This internal energy surged into the middle dantian, settling there as a new home, independent yet nourishing his entire body alongside the spiritual force in the lower dantian.
With the birth of internal energy came an unprecedented surge of strength.
“Seventh level of Body Refinement!”
...