Chapter 50: The Art of Usury

  Qin Yun had no idea that Lin Dong would leave him alone, and it was actually to pass on his skills.

  However, Qin Yun did not show any excitement, but instead revealed a hesitant expression.

  No matter whether it's a major sect or a minor one, privately passing on skills is strictly forbidden. Unless Qin Yun is Lin Dong's true disciple, he can't accept Lin Dong's skill inheritance alone.

  But it's not about whether Lin Dong is qualified to accept a disciple, Qin Yun as a newcomer, privately teaching Gongfa is also a violation of the rules, once discovered, he will be severely punished.

  For example, new disciples can buy and learn Gongfa from the Wai Shi Tang library without any issues, but exchanging or selling what they have learned to others is absolutely not allowed.

  The major sects are extremely strict in controlling the inheritance of their skills, and apart from tampering with the secret manuals and sword scriptures, the specially set up penal halls also have corresponding severe measures.

  "Don't worry..." Lin Dong explained: "What I taught you is not the Qin family's martial arts swordsmanship, but rather a breathing technique that I unintentionally learned before."

  "It can't be considered a real skill, it's just that it can help you to gather your energy and not be easily detected by others, and also make it difficult for others to see through your true abilities."

  Blood Condensation Technique! Qin Yun suddenly became interested.

  Whether it's converging air machines or hiding real power, it's very helpful in battle. If it's not a true gong method, then being able to learn it is certainly a great thing.

  With his intelligence, he soon thought of the reason behind it.

  Lin Dong had invested in Qin Yun, so he naturally hoped that Qin Yun would become stronger and stronger.

  However, strengthening one's power is not something that can be accomplished overnight, so if you want to win a victory, you can only work hard from another aspect.

  Qin Yun had just made a breakthrough, and only a handful of people knew about it. If he could hide his true strength and feign weakness to deceive his enemies, when the time came for a swordsmanship contest, he would be able to catch his opponents off guard.

  Lin Dong's intention was clear, he had bet everything on Qin Yun, and the deeper his trump card was hidden, the better.

  "Please instruct me!" Qin Yun bowed respectfully to Lin Dong.

  No matter what his intentions are, it's not a bad thing for him, and it's only right to show him half the respect due to a teacher.

  "Hmm!"

  Lin Dong's attitude towards Qin Yun was indeed very satisfactory.

  What he taught Qin Yun was not complicated, it was a simple set of breathing exercises.

  However, the subtlety of this technique lies in its ability to prevent the flow of energy from being exposed, hiding the divine light in one's eyes, and calming the swollen Taiyang acupoints, making a cultivator at the Qi Refining stage look no different from an ordinary person.

  Lin Dong only explained it twice, Qin Yun remembered it firmly in his heart, practiced the operation method once, and immediately showed its effect.

  With his vital energy subdued, the originally bright and radiant eyes became calm and deep, and the sharp aura that was visible on him disappeared. If he were to put on a Confucian robe, he could easily pass off as a scholar.

  Lin Dong was extremely pleased: "Your innate talent is really good, it's a pity that you're not a direct disciple, otherwise within three years you would have fully qualified to challenge the First Heaven!"

  "This set of sealing techniques, as long as you practice diligently, later on, with just a bit of true energy consumption, it can operate automatically. Martial artists under the realm of the vortex are very hard to see through, of course if the opponent uses their internal energy to directly probe then there's no way to defend against that."

  This guest officer's eyes were smiling, and his attitude was gentle. Where was the cold-faced officer's sternness?

  Qin Yun expressed his gratitude again, and Lin Dong reminded him a few more times before letting him leave.

  A peaceful night.

  The next morning, while the Blue Jade City was still shrouded in a thin layer of morning mist, a convoy quietly exited through the city gates that had just been opened.

  This team is naturally the Qin's merchant group.

  Compared with when they came together, the number of carriages decreased by one-third, but the number of guards increased instead, adding more than a dozen elite swordsmen.

  Lin Dong was still the leader of the merchant group, but his attitude towards the members had changed and became more severe.

  The convoy had just set out when Lin Dong began urging them to hurry, and the horse-drawn carts carrying goods headed straight east, entering the mountains by afternoon.

  Before entering the mountain path, another team of people joined the group.

  The newly added warriors are more in number, wearing black uniforms of the Guest Hall, riding horses with strong bows and robust physiques.

  After entering the mountainous area, some of the warriors took on the task of scouting.

  And their joining made the atmosphere in the merchant group somewhat unusual.

  Lin Dong told some nervous newcomers that the merchant team was transporting rough jade this time, which is worth much more than the supplies they brought before, so it's very likely to attract thieves.

  So he demanded that everyone must be on high alert and ready for battle at all times.

  The young men of Wai Si Tong all changed into armed guards sitting on the cargo rack of the horse carriage, each with wide eyes vigilantly watching both sides of the mountain road.

  The dense forest blocked the view, and there were too many places for thieves to hide. A day of spiritual tension was enough to make people tired.

  This time Qin Yun did not practice his Thousand Mile Divine Movement again and squeezed onto the horse carriage like everyone else.

  He was still quietly practicing his breathing technique all along, because the method is simple and there's no risk of going crazy, so he doesn't have to worry about being disturbed.

  The caravan rushed on during the day and rested at night. In the early morning before dawn, they broke camp and set off, greatly increasing their speed compared to when they came.

  Two days passed, and the journey was relatively calm, but the convoy's vigilance did not relax in the slightest. The guest hall warriors who served as scouts would appear from time to time, only to disappear again into the vast mountains.

  "Qin Yun big brother, I always feel that something is off, as if something is going to happen."

  On the carriage behind, Qin Liren sat beside Qin Yun, looking around restlessly with a hint of unease.

  It's not just him, Qin Yun also has a feeling in his heart.

  In fact, from yesterday afternoon on, he had a faint feeling that in this mountain forest, there was a pair of eyes with malicious intentions staring coldly at the convoy, staring at all of them.

  This feeling was very subtle, but it wasn't necessarily an unreasonable illusion, as Qin Yun noticed that Lin Dong and several other masters of the Guest Pavilion were also on high alert, their hands almost never leaving the hilts of their swords.

  Intuition told Qin Yun that this return trip would be difficult!

  Qin Liren's voice was very soft, but it was still heard by another newcomer.

  The other party burst out laughing and said, "What are you afraid of? With Lin Zhi and so many masters from the Guest Pavilion here, if that bandit doesn't come to rob us, it would be a waste. Let's try our swords!"

  He disdainfully swept a glance at Qin Liren: "Only cowards are afraid of fighting, when the time comes you hide under the carriage and watch how we kill the enemy!"

  Others who heard it burst out laughing, Qin Liren's face turned red as he wanted to argue with them, but was pulled back by Qin Yun.

  "Don't argue with them..." Qin Yun said in a low voice, "I have the same feeling. If we really encounter danger, you must not rush up stupidly. Keeping your own life is the most important thing!"

  If there really are bandits appearing to raid the convoy, then those who come will absolutely not be weak - how would ordinary mountain bandits dare to pluck the whiskers of the Qin family?

  With the strength of new recruits like Qin Liren and others, charging forward would be tantamount to sending them to their deaths.

  Due to their experience in fighting and killing, they are still no match for ordinary thieves and horse bandits who lick blood from their knives. They face great danger when encountering opponents of the same level.

  Qin Liren was taken aback at first, then nodded silently.

  If someone else said this, he would definitely feel belittled, but Qin Yun is different.

  He now has a great deal of respect for Qin Yun and is also aware that his own strength is still very poor, so what Qin Yun said about preserving his life first was not wrong.

  "Of course, if things come to a head and can't be avoided..." Qin Yun smiled faintly: "We will certainly fight to the death, not disappointing the name of men!"

  He spoke calmly, but Qin Liren heard it in his ears, and his heart suddenly surged with hot blood, unable to help but grip the hilt of his sword tightly.

  Whoosh!

  A shrill warning whistle suddenly came from the mountain forest ahead.

  Suddenly, an anomaly emerged!

  Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

  Only on both sides of the mountain road, in the forest of trees, figures flashed by quickly, and arrows shot down from above towards the convoy!

  "Enemy attack!"

  A knight of the Guest Pavilion shouted angrily, grabbing the shield hanging from the saddle and with his other hand skillfully putting a string on the crossbow for counterattack.

  The Qin family had a mine and a foundry, producing excellent weapons and equipment. As a result, these warriors were all equipped with armor, crossbow shields, and large swords, greatly increasing their combat effectiveness.

  Scattered arrows fell down, most of which were blocked by them.

  Due to the distance being too far, these feathered arrows are not yet a threat. Once the enemy archers get close, the threat to the chariot team increases greatly. The power of the arrow rain is no joke and relying solely on shields is by no means enough for complete protection.

  To know that a warrior under natural circumstances cannot withstand the continuous attacks of strong bows and sharp arrows.

  "Wai Shi Tang guards, Ke Qing Tang strikes out, let's go up together!" Lin Dong remained calm and gave a loud order: "Be careful of their bows and arrows!"

  But in his heart, he was far from being as calm as he appeared on the surface.

  Because the scouts' warning came from ahead, and he had people stationed all around the front, back, left, and right of the troops. If the enemy suddenly appeared on both sides, it could only mean that something was wrong with the scouts on both sides.

  To know that these scouts were the elite of the Guest Pavilion, the enemy was able to silently eliminate them, and their strength was absolutely not trivial.

  But no matter what he thought in his heart, as the leader of the team, Lin Dong would absolutely not be flustered and show any signs of panic, only a calm mind could command the troops to victory over the enemy!

  He leapt from his horse's back and swooped towards the right mountain slope like a soaring eagle, charging at the bandits with his horse in the lead.

  Dozens of samurai raised their shields and jumped off their horses, dividing into two teams to face the enemy from left and right, with all the swordsmen following behind them.

  The enemy's archers must be eliminated first, otherwise the threat is too great and cannot allow the opponent to occupy a favorable position.

  But will these archers allow the warriors to charge up?

  "Ten thousand miles of heroic spirit!"

  At this moment, a loud and sonorous voice suddenly burst forth, like spring thunder rolling down the mountain path, shaking everyone's eardrums!

  Lying on the mountain slope, Lin Dong's body shook violently, his pupils shrinking rapidly.

  Majestic winds for ten thousand miles!

  Mountain wind!