Chapter 38: Shang Xinlei
“Five thousand!”
Yan Qing exhaled a long breath.
He had completed five thousand wholehearted punches, his body covered in a light sheen of sweat, yet he felt mentally invigorated.
This milestone of being a Martial Arts Genius brought far greater benefits than he’d imagined.
Yan Qing had evolved from punching randomly to mastering the power techniques of his hands, arms, shoulders, and waist—so much so that his final punch even produced a sonic boom; most important, he actually found the simple act of punching fun, and was still reluctant to stop after an afternoon of training.
Anyone who had failed at losing weight knew that the hardest part of exercising was that it was “boring.”
Jogging, swimming, and fat‑burn workouts—they were tiring, sure, but the lack of fun during the process is why many couldn’t stick with it.
On the other hand, people couldn’t get enough of group sports like basketball or badminton, and—even if they were too exhausted to get out of bed the next day—they wouldn’t complain, all because they weren’t exercising for the sake of exercise, but simply for play.
Yan Qing was certain that he had never been interested in sports before; now, he readily practiced punching with unflagging enthusiasm—that was clearly thanks to being a Martial Arts Genius.
Just as the milestone described: a true Martial Arts Genius didn’t just have high aptitude, but could find joy in clumsy efforts.
This realization was monumental for Yan Qing—he had finally found a second form of entertainment!
Although he loved gaming, playing the same game day after day, with no other pastime, he began to feel he might be a serious gaming Brahmin—and it was getting to be too much even for him.
Dinner, naturally, was once again a small private serving from Ye Si—being a team leader, he now deserved the chef’s attention to his tastes.
As Yan Qing prepared to eat, in the game ‘Jiang Shi’ and her companions happened to arrive at Mansu Woodland.
Twilight had already fallen, but around Mansu Woodland it was as bright as midday, the torches ablaze like wounds in the night.
When ‘Jiang Shi’ peeked out, she saw a huge encampment stretching for dozens of miles, fences of sharpened stakes extending as far as the eye could see—seeming to encircle the entire forest.
A squad of soldiers stood at the entrance, each clad in brilliant armor and wearing purple‑gold boots; under the torchlight their armor shone spotless.
Compared to Qi knights or Zhou soldiers, Liang soldiers struck one as ornate—not tools for dirty work, but ceremonial instruments in a grand festival.
A clerk stepped forward to record guest information. Qianggong Yu and coach Lin Yuan, of course, had no issues—but he paused when he saw ‘Jiang Shi’ appear.
“Clan head Qian, you mean… she’s your bodyguard?”
His gaze flicked between Qianggong Yu and ‘Jiang Shi,’ growing ever more puzzled. Just when Yan Qing thought they’d be found out, the clerk said, “I had assumed she was your sister or a relative.”
“She’s a distant cousin,” Qianggong Yu said with a smile. “She’s begun serving the family now that her training is complete.”
“As expected of the Qian family—truly full of talent,” the clerk agreed, stepping aside. “Please enter. A floating‑cup banquet is underway inside; if you’ve not yet dined, please honor us with your presence.”
He paused. “This gathering at Mansu Woodland includes many heroes—among them, star heirs from the Shang and Jie families.”
“What? The Shang and Jie families?”
Qianggong Yu’s previous disinterest vanished; she brightened instantly. “Lin uncle, let’s hurry in!”
Yan Qing didn’t need to ask. Even in the carriage, Qianggong Yu burst with excitement, sharing the news: “Though the Shang family is merely a prominent household, their head—the Shang family master Shang Xuanwen—is the current chancellor, in high demand among powerful clans; as for the Jie family, they’re truly extraordinary: a lineage lasting a thousand years before Liang’s founding, and now one of only three purple‑ribbon nobles in Liang.”
“These scions of great houses—I’d never have a chance to meet them usually. To think we’d meet them here… if I can make even one acquaintance, this trip to Mansu Woodland will be worth it!”
“Miss, you two may go ahead to join the banquet; I’ll see to the carriage,” coach Lin Yuan said attentively.
“That would be so kind of you, Uncle Lin!”
Without waiting, Qianggong Yu pulled ‘Jiang Shi’ from the carriage. Inside the woodland it was even more lively: servants and maids ran everywhere, trays of delicacies emerging from the kitchen one after another; even through the screen Yan Qing could smell the aroma.
Guided by attendants, they soon arrived at a huge tent.
Though it was only a tent, its scale matched that of a banquet hall. Inside a silk‑and‑bamboo ensemble performed, giant chandeliers hung from the ceiling, patterned carpets covered the ground, and extravagantly dressed men and women clinked glasses.
Tables were piled with exotic delicacies—mountain treasures, sea delicacies—and even meat from fantastical beasts Yan Qing had only heard of but never seen.
This was the wilderness, open for less than half a month each year—and yet these scions enjoyed such luxury. Of course, Yan Qing, being poor, thought it ostentatious; perhaps these peers felt the environment harsh.
From here one could glimpse a facet of the refined high society of Southern‑Border Liang.
Qianggong Yu’s goal was clear: to network with the Shang and Jie families. And it wasn’t hard to find them—everyone around was thinking the same, two circles already formed, and pushing in required effort.
But Yan Qing had no interest in meeting nobles; he turned instead to the food. The beast meat looked good, the roast’s skin crisp, and there were mantis shrimp as long as a forearm—holy crap, those ice‑packed things were ice cream?
Just as Yan Qing was showing off his haul through the screen, heated arguing erupted beside him—and Qianggong Yu’s voice was among them.
“Luo Weijin, did you just say that again?” Qianggong Yu said coldly. “Don’t think I won’t dare—”
“Thought I didn’t dare bite? Oh, I never thought that,” the young man arguing with Qian Gongyu said with a sarcastic smile. “Your threats are truly powerful—I’m so scared.”
Yan Qing glanced over and saw that the youth named Luo Weijin wore a bamboo-green band, indicating his family belonged to the second tier of noble families—one rank higher than the Qian family.
Qian Gongyu flushed red with anger at Luo Weijin’s words but didn’t act out. Instead, she turned and walked away.
Seeing this, Luo Weijin raised an eyebrow and loudly said to those nearby, “Don’t underestimate the Baiyun Qian Clan. Though they’re only Blue-Banded, they can consistently produce Third-Stage Messengers—just that it costs them something. For instance, the previous Qian Family Head—”
“Luo Weijin!” Qian Gongyu pointed toward the exit. “If you want to take revenge on the Qian family, fine—we can go outside and fight right now. But you’re not allowed to slander my father!”
“As expected from the Qian Clan’s only surviving bloodline—so savage. When you lose an argument, you resort to violence?” Luo Weijin laughed. “But I’m not taking revenge—just informing my friends about your family’s legacy. Is speaking the truth the same as revenge? That makes no sense, does it?”
Qian Gongyu clenched her silver teeth tightly, but dared not leave and let Luo Weijin speak unchecked.
She stood alone among the crowd, head lowered to hide her expression, enduring the humiliation directed at her family.
She even started regretting coming to Mansu Woodland.
Ever since her father died, she had tried to reduce social contact, hoping time would erase the disgraceful history of the Qian family.
She shouldn’t have come here just for some minor rewards…
If only she’d stayed home—no one would’ve remembered the Qian family, and no one would’ve humiliated them…
I shouldn’t have…
“Ah!!”
A scream suddenly echoed through the tent.
Qian Gongyu’s head jerked up to see Luo Weijin—who had just been loudly boasting—laid flat on the ground, two teeth knocked out, blood gushing from his mouth.
The crowd scattered like startled fish, leaving only a knife-wielding young woman standing expressionless in the center.
She was like a stone dropped into a still lake—calm, fearless, unshaken.
It was ‘Jiang Shi’!
“She hit someone! She hit someone!”
“A mere bodyguard dares strike a noble? What a disgrace!”
“Wow, that punch was brutal—his teeth went flying.”
“What a shame… such a beautiful bodyguard…”
Qian Gongyu hurriedly pulled ‘Jiang Shi’ aside and anxiously said, “You—how could you hit him? You’re only a Black-Band and he’s a Green-Band. To strike above your rank is treasonous! What’s more, you crossed two ranks… even my Qian family can’t protect you!”
“Do you feel better?”
“Huh?”
“My lady, do you feel better now?”
Qian Gongyu was speechless. “Why are you saying that now? What if I do feel better… I do feel better.”
“Then that’s enough. You don’t need to protect me. That punch repays you for the travel expenses.”
Soldiers surged in from the tent entrance and quickly surrounded ‘Jiang Shi.’
An elderly man rushed to Luo Weijin’s side and seemed to be using a token to heal him.
He shot a fierce glare at ‘Jiang Shi,’ though his band was also just Black—likely another Luo family guard.
‘Jiang Shi’ pushed Qian Gongyu aside and used her left thumb to slide the blade out an inch—ready to fight.
With most of the food collected and the dungeon entrance nearby, Yan Qing wasn’t interested in abiding by local gang rules.
He’d just fight his way into the instance.
“Seize her! Arrest that treasonous wretch!” Luo Weijin shouted, still clutching his mouth and whistling slightly as he spoke.
“To dare strike a noble—she must be captured and punished as an example! As expected, the Qian family is a bunch of mongrel beasts—unfit to be called nobles!”
“No!”
Qian Gongyu rushed in front of ‘Jiang Shi’ and tightly pursed her lips. “The Qian family can pay money and apologize—there’s no need—”
“Pay money and apologize? What do you take the Yunfu Luo Clan for? Some down-and-out house you can trample with silver?” Luo Weijin was determined to save face.
“She must die!”
“Heh. You can try protecting that wretch. Let me see the Qian family’s spine—if you’re not afraid of being expelled from the noble ranks.”
The soldiers drew their weapons.
‘Jiang Shi’ gripped her blade again and pushed Qian Gongyu aside once more.
But this time, Qian Gongyu stood her ground—‘Jiang Shi’ couldn’t move her despite the force.
Tensions reached a breaking point.
Just as everyone thought a fight was inevitable, a voice as clear as a silver bell stopped the conflict.
“Stop.”
From the crowd emerged a noble girl in red robes.
Her demeanor was elegant, her expression cool.
Her voice wasn’t loud, but it rang clearly in every ear.
“Take it as a favor to me, Shang Xinlei—this conflict ends here.”