Chapter Sixteen: You Are a Good Person
Da Vinci’s legendary reputation was no mere boast; even if ten monks with internal energy at the tenth level confronted him in the temple, their only option would be to flee in panic. After all, the closer one’s internal strength is to the pinnacle, the greater the disparity between levels. A mere fifth-level practitioner like Xiao Yan was beneath Da Vinci’s notice—blinded in one eye or not, he could dispatch him effortlessly, even blind in both.
Da Vinci’s fist struck Xiao Yan squarely in the chest.
As expected—
A sharp, resounding thud echoed. Even someone with internal energy at the fifteenth level would likely vomit blood from such a blow. Yet—
Xiao Yan’s expression remained casual. He simply took two steps back and coughed lightly. “Cough... cough...”
Only then did Da Vinci realize something was amiss—the sound of his fist hitting flesh was strange, more like a hammer striking sheet metal.
“What the—” Da Vinci felt pain radiate from his knuckles, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stared at Xiao Yan. After a moment, he said, “Is this... the Iron Shirt of Golden Mountain Temple? Impossible!”
It was said the Iron Shirt technique required training from childhood, reaching minor achievement at forty, and perfection at sixty. But this young novice...
“Heh, surprised?” Xiao Yan slowly withdrew an object from his robe. “Relax! It’s just sheet metal.”
“You... shameless!” Da Vinci was furious, but then he sensed something else was wrong.
Why was walking suddenly difficult? Had he gained weight?
He looked down, and his breath caught.
What in the world?
A dog was clamped onto his crotch, hanging stubbornly from him.
Da Vinci was stunned. Where did a dog come from in these wild mountains? And how had it managed to bite him without his noticing?
Everything before him was utterly bizarre.
“Heh... actually, I need to apologize... That bit about forgetting the lime powder... was a lie.”
Da Vinci heard Xiao Yan’s matter-of-fact tone. Then he saw Xiao Yan’s hand perform an adept motion, as if tossing something.
His other eye was blinded.
“Aaah... Despicable! Scoundrel! You fraud!” Da Vinci howled, his cries tinged with the sound of tears.
His voice, loud and haunting, soon echoed back from beyond the mountain.
Da Vinci had never thought himself a gentleman; his conduct was vile, his deeds unspeakable. Yet after meeting Xiao Yan, he finally understood the saying: “I steal, I rob, I frequent brothels, but I’m still a good man!”
But clearly, he had forgotten he was no longer a man in the truest sense—and he had no idea the cause was the novice before him.
“I’ll kill you!” Da Vinci said, his words broken by sobs, each syllable forced out.
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“Heh heh... Sky-Howling Dog, retreat!” Xiao Yan, no fool, turned and bolted.
To show off and then run—what a thrill...
“Woof woof!”
The Sky-Howling Dog followed, barking excitedly.
“Hmph... you think you can escape?” Da Vinci sneered, tracking Xiao Yan’s location by sound and launching forward in pursuit.
What is the most basic skill of a great thief? Not lockpicking, but running. In terms of light-footedness, Da Vinci was confident.
Xiao Yan had already reached the tiger’s side.
Obtained crafting material: Tiger Fang.
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“Old man, what now?” Xiao Yan panted, running as he asked.
Fahai: ???
What now? What are you planning?
“To craft the Manure Removal Treasure... Didn’t you say I needed a tiger’s fang?” Xiao Yan explained.
Fahai: ...
You’re being chased, and you’re asking me how to forge something? Do you have tools? Are you out of your mind?
Clearly, those from the asylum had unusual ways of thinking.
Fahai: At the seventh inch, there’s a slot for inlay. Insert the fang directly. The key is to use internal energy above the tenth level and employ the Seven-Forging Method to hammer it in. Only then will it fully integrate.
“Got it!” Xiao Yan replied, inlaying the tiger’s fang.
Fahai: What are you doing?
“Forging!” Xiao Yan responded.
Fahai was bewildered, pondering for a moment before suddenly realizing what Xiao Yan intended. Horrified, he thought: He’s truly mad!
But it was impossible—though the Seven Forgings weren’t the most advanced smithing technique, their precision required stringent control. To rely on someone else’s hands for forging—how difficult must that be?
If he failed, all would be lost.
The Manure Removal Treasure would be forever ruined.
Only a lunatic would attempt such a thing.
---
In an instant,
The Sky-Howling Dog barked behind him. “Woof woof!”
Da Vinci was arriving?
Xiao Yan’s expression remained calm, but only he knew how sweaty his palms were.
“Hmph! Scoundrel! Let’s see you run now!” Da Vinci, pleased with his sound-tracking skills, readied his fist.
But—
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The next moment, Xiao Yan stopped moving, even holding his breath.
Now Da Vinci couldn’t pinpoint his location.
“Show yourself! What new trick are you playing... It’s useless... You’re dead today...” Da Vinci was growing frantic.
Five seconds... fifty seconds...
“Whew... whew...” Xiao Yan couldn’t hold it any longer...
A perfect opportunity!
Da Vinci swung his fist, pouring in the power of twenty levels of internal energy.
Iron plate or copper plate—his internal energy would shatter the organs within.
The air seemed torn asunder, the wind from his fist wild and fierce...
A resounding thud!
As expected, a direct hit!
The sound of fist striking sheet metal...
Da Vinci was overjoyed—internal energy would crush the organs...
But then, that strange breathing returned.
“Whew... whew...”
“Think changing positions will let you escape?” Da Vinci struck at the new location.
Thud!
Thud...
After seven changes, Da Vinci finally exhausted his internal energy.
Odd... He sensed something was off... What exactly?
That dog—was simply sitting there watching. Shouldn’t it have pounced by now?
Clang...
That was the sound of successful fusion.
Fahai: Impossible... How did you do it...
Sparks flew, and the Manure Removal Treasure finally became crystal clear, pure and flawless...
Forging complete!
Xiao Yan wiped sweat from his brow; only he knew what he had endured.
“Heh heh... Thanks, Brother Vinci, you really are a good man... May you have peace all your life...”
“Scoundrel! Address me as Da Vinci, the Grand Thief!”
To be insulted as a good man was intolerable for the infamous Grand Thief, and his fury burned even hotter.
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