At the same time.

Jiang Family.

Jiang Fei sat in the study.

The people he sent out had returned.

"Young Master, we've found out. Flying Cloud Stronghold attacked an escort team near Maple Leaf Town today."

Jiang Fei raised an eyebrow, "Did they succeed?"

"No... no, Flying Cloud Stronghold lost ten men, and the escort team escaped."

Jiang Fei's brow furrowed.

"Who did it?"

"Un... unknown. It's said there was a master in the escort team, taking down one man with each punch, all with their chests pierced through."

Jiang Fei was silent for a moment.

"Which escort agency?"

"The Iron Mountain Escort Agency in the west of the city."

Jiang Fei's eyes narrowed, recalling Zhao Tieshan.

He had studied martial arts at the Jiang Family Martial Academy over a decade ago. Later, due to changes in the Jiang Family's patriarch, he resigned from the academy and started his own escort agency.

The Iron Mountain Escort Agency, not big but not small either, and to think there was such a fierce person in the agency.

Killing ten people from Flying Cloud Stronghold, it seems there will be no small trouble in the future.

But it can be concluded that this has nothing to do with the disappearance of him and steward Wang Si.

He alone is not worthy of touching a single hair of the Jiang Family.

"Keep investigating," Jiang Fei said.

"Continue to monitor Flying Cloud Stronghold and keep an eye on the Wang Family's movements."

"Yes."

The servant withdrew.

Jiang Fei stood up and walked to the window, looking at the moonlight outside.

He had a vague feeling that something was quietly approaching, but he couldn't grasp it.

Morning.

[Ding! Sleep cultivation complete.]

[Progress of "Five-Animal Transformation Art": 83%.]

[Deer Form: Great Perfection, Tiger Form: Great Perfection. Bear Form: (90%). Crane Form: (80%). Ape Form: 50%.]

[Progress of "Demon-Subduing Pure Yang Saber Art": 0%.]

[Current Realm: Martial Apprentice Realm 7th Layer.]

Three days back and forth, although he didn't sleep as soundly as he did there.

But on the way back in the empty cart, he slept soundly all the way.

This journey still earned him a few glares from Old Sun and the others, but Jiang Chi didn't want to pay much attention to it.

Now, for him, nothing was more important than improving his martial dao realm.

Although he killed over a dozen bandits this time.

He had to admit there was an element of luck.

His Five-Animal Transformation Art, the forest terrain, and the night were like a fish in water for him.

The opponents didn't take him seriously, sending themselves to him one by one.

If it were in broad daylight, on flat ground, he would never have been able to kill ten people.

Understanding this point, even though Jiang Chi killed four bandits this time, he didn't feel proud but rather focused on his shortcomings.

Now he only wanted to improve his martial dao realm, complete the Five-Animal Transformation Art as soon as possible, and start pondering saber techniques.

A few more days of sleep.

And he could reach the peak of the Martial Apprentice Realm.

Then it would be the Martial Artist Realm.

After breakfast.

Su Qianxue took out a few embroidery pieces to show him.

"Brother Chi, look at this piece."

It was a peony picture, with petals layered and colors transitioning naturally, looking almost real.

"Beautiful, just like you."

Hearing Jiang Chi's words, Su Qianxue's ears turned red.

"That lady came again yesterday, saying this piece could sell for a tael of silver."

"A tael?"

"Yes!"

Su Qianxue's eyes sparkled, "She said she wants all my embroidery pieces in the future."

Jiang Chi nodded at her.

"Yes, but don't tire yourself out."

Su Qianxue nodded gently.

After breakfast, Jiang Chi went to the escort agency.

Jiang Chi sat in the gatehouse, watching the escorts practice their saber skills in the courtyard.

At this time, Little He came over and whispered.

"Brother Chi, about yesterday... were you scared?"

"Yes."

Jiang Chi nodded, "My legs went weak."

Little He sighed.

"Me too, although I've escorted many times, it's rare to encounter so many bandits at once like this. If it weren't for that Thunderbolt Hand Wen Tailai, we might have lost a few people this time."

Jiang Chi glanced at him.

"Thunderbolt Hand Wen Tailai."

"You don't know? Those bandits were all taken down with a punch through the chest!"

Little He lowered his voice.

"Old Sun said that person is at least a master in the Martial Artist Realm. Such a fierce fist technique could only be done by Thunderbolt Hand Wen Tailai."

Jiang Chi said nothing, thinking to himself.

"Fine, this is good. Someone else taking the blame makes things easier for me."

Little He sighed.

"Just don't know why Thunderbolt Hand Wen Tailai didn't show up. Our escort agency owes him a big favor now!"

Jiang Chi nodded.

"Yes, yes, we're really lucky to have him!"

Old Sun's leg hadn't healed yet. He leaned on a crutch, cursing in the courtyard.

"Those bastards from Flying Cloud Stronghold, don't let me run into them again. If I do, I'll chop off their heads."

At this time, other escorts gathered around.

"Old Sun, it was really dangerous this time. You seven coming back safely from over twenty bandits is no easy feat."

"Bullshit!"

Old Sun waved his hand.

"Six, okay!"

Everyone was momentarily stunned.

Old Sun glanced at Jiang Chi sitting in the gatehouse watching people practice saber skills and gave him a hard look.

"Can that one even be counted as a person? Damn it! I got my leg injured with all my martial skills, and that one who only knows how to drive a cart escaped without a scratch. It's really fucking strange."

Everyone could hear it.

This time, Old Sun was resentful towards Jiang Chi, who was a non-martial escort leader.

In his heart, if Jiang Chi were replaced with a martial-skilled escort, his leg wouldn't have been injured.

At this time, someone spoke up.

Explore the extended edition on pawread.com.

"Old Sun, was it really Thunderbolt Hand Wen Tailai who killed those dozen bandits?"

Old Sun tilted his head, his voice rising.

"Is there any doubt? How many people in this world can kill armed bandits barehanded? And didn't you see the brutality of those chest-piercing punches? Who else could it be but him? After so many years, I didn't expect his martial skills to have advanced to such a level."

"Then why didn't he show up?"

Old Sun sighed.

"Sigh! My brother has always acted low-key. Maybe he had something urgent this time. Anyway, this favor, I, Old Sun, will remember."

The escorts listening nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, we're really lucky to have your brother!"

In a corner of the courtyard.

Chen Qingyi sat quietly, polishing her saber.

Old Sun and the escorts' conversation reached her ears.

She had thought about yesterday's events for a long time.

Could the unseen master really be the Thunderbolt Hand Wen Tailai that Old Sun mentioned?

From the technique, there were some similarities.

But upon closer thought, there were significant differences.

Although Thunderbolt Hand was also a barehanded martial art, it wasn't just about piercing hearts.

Those dead bandits seemed more like a martial art that had perfected the Black Tiger Steals the Heart technique.

Chen Qingyi glanced at her saber.

If it were her, could she take down ten bandits with one punch each?

Maybe.

But she couldn't achieve "chest penetration."

That was pure power crushing.

She glanced at Jiang Chi sitting in the gatehouse.

He was talking to Little He with a smile on his face.

That night, with over a dozen bandits dying miserably behind him, did he really not see anything?

Or was it...