Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Spearplay

Guo Wei agreed with Chu Lingguang’s decision.

Li Yishan was just a petty bandit. He used to have the Big Saber Gang backing him, allowing him to lord it over the Wine Street area. Now, he had gathered a motley crew to rob and pillage on the main roads, causing the people of Baiyang County endless grief.

If Chu Lingguang stepped in to help Butcher Hu, it might also make Li Yishan pull back a bit, which would be a blessing for the common folk.

A martial artist should serve the nation above and protect the common people below!

Guo Wei knew very few could truly live up to that ideal, himself included. But Butcher Hu was only asking Chu Lingguang to plead with Li Yishan on his behalf. If Chu Lingguang refused, it would not only go against his original intentions but also make him seem heartless.

Guo Wei didn’t expect Chu Lingguang to charge into battle for the country and its people. However, he hoped his disciple would help where he could. A martial artist couldn’t lose their fighting spirit. Constantly backing down would only diminish one’s presence.

“Master, I’m heading out with Hu.”

Chu Lingguang first bid farewell to Guo Wei.

“Go and return quickly.”

Guo Wei offered only four short words.

“Yes!”

Chu Lingguang nodded and left with Butcher Hu. After Butcher Hu pointed out the general direction, Chu Lingguang got a rough idea of Li Yishan’s lair. He then grabbed his silver Long Spear, mounted his Little Red Horse, and charged off the main road into the mountain forest.

Half an hour later, Chu Lingguang saw Li Yishan and his men.

Unlike Big Saber Hong, he hadn’t claimed a mountain as his kingdom. They just gathered from time to time to do a bit of robbing and pillaging, only assembling at their hideout when they had a “catch.”

“Shan, there’s a young man with a Silver Spear on horseback, heading our way.”

A lookout reported to Li Yishan.

“Alone?”

“Yes, just one person.”

“On your guard.”

Li Yishan commanded. Anyone who dared to approach them alone was definitely a practitioner.

His four archers immediately took up ambush positions.

The remaining men drew their machetes and iron weapons, standing by Li Yishan’s side.

“HYAH!”

Chu Lingguang charged forward on his horse.

Li Yishan and his men were on a slope near a patch of reeds. If pursued by the Court’s soldiers, they could slip into the reeds and escape via the waterway.

“SWISH!”

An arrow flew out.

It landed three meters in front of Chu Lingguang.

Chu Lingguang pulled on the reins and called out in a clear voice, “Li Yishan, it’s me!”

He knew it was a warning not to advance further, but the arrow was weak. It only had the force of an ordinary hunter’s shot, something Chu Lingguang could easily defend against.

“Chu Lingguang.”

Li Yishan stood up on the slope. Confirming it was Chu Lingguang, he was extremely surprised.

“It’s Master Guo’s disciple. You all stay here and keep watch. I’ll go meet him.”

Li Yishan rode a donkey down the slope.

Seeing Li Yishan’s stubbled face and travel-worn appearance, Chu Lingguang knew he hadn’t been having an easy time.

“Chu Lingguang, don’t tell me you’re trying to make a name for Master Guo by capturing me and handing me over to the Government Office?”

Li Yishan was wary.

“I’m on good terms with Butcher Hu. You kidnapped his sister, and the price you’re asking is too high. He asked me to plead with you on his behalf.”

Chu Lingguang stated his purpose plainly.

“Hmph. I’m a bandit now. There’s no precedent for kidnapping someone only to let them go so easily. Even if I could agree, the brothers behind me wouldn’t. Besides, it’s not like we’re friends.”

Li Yishan snorted coldly.

He clearly still held a grudge about Chu Lingguang refusing to let him teach Liu Quan a lesson.

“Have you heard of the Weiyuan Escort Agency?”

Chu Lingguang asked unhurriedly.

“We’re all moving in the same circles, so of course I know it. I’ve never had any conflict with Leader Ma.”

Li Yishan said.

“A little over a month ago, my master and I paid a visit to the Weiyuan Escort Agency. We ran into Liu Quan there.”

Chu Lingguang said.

“Why are you bringing him up?”

Li Yishan frowned.

“Leader Ma suggested that his disciple and I have a match. It ended in a draw, but Liu Quan wasn’t satisfied and challenged me to a one-on-one fight.”

Chu Lingguang deliberately kept Li Yishan in suspense.

“Did you accept?”

Li Yishan asked urgently.

“My master’s reputation was at stake, so I had to accept.”

Chu Lingguang nodded.

“What was the result? Did you win?”

Li Yishan looked on eagerly.

“It took me just over a dozen rounds to knock the Long Spear from his hands. I almost pierced his throat with a single thrust.”

Chu Lingguang said proudly.

“What?”

“You beat him in just over a dozen rounds?”

Li Yishan found it incredible.

He had crossed hands with both Chu Lingguang and Liu Quan. Although he acknowledged Chu Lingguang’s Spear Technique, he had always believed Liu Quan was a cut above. For Chu Lingguang to defeat Liu Quan, he thought it would require a life-and-death battle.

“Liu Quan has already reached the second layer of Skillful Force. Among our peers in Baiyang County, few are his match. I admit, beating him in just over a dozen rounds was a bit lucky. That day, he deliberately revealed an opening to bait me into attacking, and I seized it, charging forward relentlessly…”

“BOOM!”

Chu Lingguang dismounted as he explained.

As he spoke, he began to brandish his Long Spear. It moved like a dragon as he fully unleashed his Formed Spear Technique. Pouring all his Qi Blood into the spear, Chu Lingguang performed a set of the Basic Thirteen Spear Techniques in front of Li Yishan.

The techniques of his Spear Technique had reached Perfection.

The roar of his Formed Spear Technique was particularly explosive at the foot of the slope. The bandits on the hill were all captivated by Chu Lingguang’s unstoppable spear. Even the archers hiding in the reeds peeked out to watch.

These men were just ordinary hunters, gathered together by Li Yishan because of their ruthless streak. They had basically never practiced any Kung Fu and were all stunned by Chu Lingguang’s powerful display of Spear Technique.

Even Li Yishan was dumbfounded.

He knew Chu Lingguang’s aptitude was considered dull and his progress in cultivation was slow. He never expected that in just a few short months, his Spear Technique would reach such a level. The sheer power of his Qi Blood was overwhelming. Even if his own arm had healed and he had mastered Skillful Force, he wouldn’t be able to block more than a few of Chu Lingguang’s strikes.

Knowing Liu Quan’s temperament, if he had deliberately revealed an opening and Chu Lingguang had seized it, with Chu Lingguang’s current Spear Technique, it was indeed possible to defeat him in just over a dozen rounds.

Besides, the incident had happened at the Weiyuan Escort Agency. He could easily investigate to see if it was true. Chu Lingguang couldn’t possibly fool him.

“CLANG!”

Chu Lingguang retracted his spear, striking the ground with its shaft and shattering a rock to pieces.

“When I fought Liu Quan, he had not yet achieved Formed Spear Technique. My master said that Formed Spear Technique is the foundation for Great Success in Spear Technique. Liu Quan thought his second layer of Skillful Force could defeat me, but he never imagined that my foundation was so solid and my techniques had reached Perfection. I crushed him using only the power of the first layer of Skillful Force.”

Chu Lingguang added.

“I believe you. With your strength, even if Liu Quan hadn’t deliberately shown an opening, he wouldn’t be your match in a prolonged fight.”

Li Yishan was completely convinced.

“Old Yang, release Mrs. Hu. Consider it a favor for a future Martial Arts Scholar.”

Li Yishan shouted to the men behind him.

“Yes.”

Immediately, a man ran into the reeds and dragged out a woman. He untied her ropes and pointed her toward a path out of the woods.

The woman scrambled and crawled, fleeing for her life down the path.

“Thank you.”

Chu Lingguang knew the woman was Butcher Hu’s sister. He immediately turned back to his Little Red Horse, took a small cloth pouch from his robes, and tossed it to Li Yishan. After a cupped-fist salute, he rode his Little Red Horse after the woman.

Li Yishan caught it. Feeling some weight in the pouch, he opened it to find five taels of broken silver. He couldn’t help but laugh and shout after Chu Lingguang’s retreating figure, “Thank you!”

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