Chapter 142: The Three Ultimates of the Huo Family
Chapter 142: Chapter 142: The Three Ultimates of the Huo Family
A ball of white light flew from the journal and sank into the space between Wang Xi’s eyebrows.
This was a Martial Arts White Card.
Wang Xi raised an eyebrow. He set down the thread-bound book and picked up another, flipping through its pages.
Soon, another stream of information popped up:
"You have discovered a Martial Arts Manual!"
"Do you wish to accept ’Huo Mingchuan’s’ teachings and capture this ability?"
Wang Xi once again consented in his mind.
Another mote of white light flew out.
Three journals in a row produced the same prompt, allowing him to capture a total of three White Cards.
However, Master Huo’s journals from his early years, filled with insights from sparring matches—colloquially known as Handover Records—failed to trigger a prompt from Kaos.
’Extract.’
Wang Xi set down the thread-bound book, sat on the bed, and silently issued the command.
"300 Energy consumed (2700 remaining)."
HUMMM—
"Hollow the palm, tense the knuckles. A fist like a thunderclap, momentum like a lightning strike... The fist is the body’s whip, the legs are the body’s roots. Three penetrations and seven transformations will shatter sinew and bone."
A middle-aged man’s voice, solemn and earnest as if instructing a disciple, echoed in Wang Xi’s mind.
Soon, the white light bloomed, and three Universal Cards hovered before him.
He took them for a closer look.
"Huo Family Eight Extremes Fist," "Huo Family Cloud Palm," and "Huo Family’s Thirty-Six Wind-Chasing Legs."
Simple, unpretentious names.
They even sounded a bit generic.
But Wang Xi studied them with great interest.
As the saying goes, every man has a martial arts dream of roaming the world, sword in hand. Now, legitimate Martial Arts were right in front of him. All he had to do was activate the cards to master these three techniques.
’The Quality isn’t high, but these are authentic techniques.’
A smile touched Wang Xi’s lips.
’I just wonder if this world has the so-called Inner Strength? True Qi? Or even Primordial Energy?’
He considered it. Master Huo’s three signature skills were perfect for synthesis.
Wang Xi called out to Kaos in his mind.
The three White Cards he had just drawn vanished from his hand. A moment later, a green light burst forth from the depths of his mind—
"Huo Family Eight Extremes Splitting and Hanging Palm (Skill Card/Green One Star)"
The new card fused the three signature techniques of the Huo Family. It used the Fist Technique as its foundation, leveraging the supple power of the Palm Technique to complement the fist’s ferocity, while transforming the Leg Technique into a Body Technique.
The description read: "Thirty-six paths where hard and soft meet; splitting and hanging hide in wind-chasing clouds. Fists like shattering thunder, palms like flowing clouds coiling silk, legs like wind-chasing steps that lock and bind. Three forms as one, leaving no opening in offense or defense."
"Not bad. I’m a martial arts expert myself now."
Wang Xi smiled and activated the Green Card.
Instantly, he felt he had mastered this new Martial Art developed by Kaos.
’I wouldn’t say I’m incredibly powerful, but at least I won’t blow my cover in front of my brothers and sisters at the hall...’
Wang Xi thought.
In fact, even if the "Huo Family Eight Extremes Splitting and Hanging Palm" wasn’t particularly profound, it was a different story when performed with his current Physique.
In short: brute force trumps all.
It didn’t matter who his opponent was. A palm strike backed by the power he’d gained in a single night could plaster even an old grandmaster—one who’d spent sixty years perfecting some legendary ’Five-Chain Lightning Whip’—flat against a wall.
Wang Xi peeked outside at the sky. A bright moon hung high overhead.
He got out of bed, wanting to take advantage of the dead of night to practice in the courtyard. But just as he stepped out of his wing-room, he froze.
The courtyard wasn’t large. A tree stood within it, a set of stone tables and stools resting underneath. Along the walls were potted plants, a weapon rack, stone locks, a wooden training dummy, and other sundries.
To the left was the courtyard wall; straight ahead was a double-leaf wooden gate, securely barred. To the right, past an archway, lay the wing-room belonging to his master and his wife.
Just then, Wang Xi saw a dark shadow flash past the archway. His night vision was excellent; that one glimpse was enough to see who it was.
Huo Silin.
His quiet, unassuming senior sister.
’What’s she doing, sneaking around this late?’
Wang Xi wondered.
He silently activated "Mud Howling Dark Frog" and hurried toward the archway.
Passing through the archway, Wang Xi saw that his master’s wing-room was still lit, and he could faintly hear hushed voices from within.
His senior sister, her hair in a single ponytail, was standing motionless in the shadows outside the window, apparently eavesdropping.
Just then.
It was unclear whether it was because Huo Silin sensed his gaze or because of her sharp intuition, but she suddenly whipped her head around to look at him.
Their eyes met under the moonlight.
Wang Xi saw it clearly.
His senior sister’s expression tensed. Her gaze held an inexplicable mix of surprise and confusion, but it vanished in a flash.
"..."
The silence stretched for several seconds.
Huo Silin took the initiative, stepping out of the shadows and leaving the covered walkway to head straight for Wang Xi. When she was just four or five steps away, she suddenly lashed out.
WHAP!
Wang Xi’s brow twitched. He raised a hand, parrying the fist that shot straight toward him. He then immediately flexed his fingers and pushed forward, tapping the heel of his palm against the young woman’s shoulder.
THUD!
Huo Silin winced in pain but remained silent, unleashing a torrential storm of palm strikes.
Empowered by the "Huo Family Eight Extremes Splitting and Hanging Palm," Wang Xi had already achieved a complete mastery of the three source techniques. He saw through her moves at a glance.
CRACKLE! POP!
In a flash of movement, they exchanged several more blows. The exchange ended with Huo Silin stumbling back several steps before regaining her footing.
She lifted her pale face, her expression one of utter astonishment. She seemed to be questioning how her junior brother’s injuries had healed, and how his Martial Arts had suddenly become so profound.
"Not bad."
Huo Silin finally spoke.
Her voice was cool and low-pitched, with a slightly husky finish, like water from a cold spring striking stone. It was more breath than sound; it was hard to tell if she was deliberately keeping her voice down or if this was just how she spoke.
"I don’t understand what’s happened to you... but you need to solve the trouble you brought on yourself."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Wang Xi watched her retreating back, completely baffled.
After a brief hesitation, he slowly walked over to the lit window.
The conversation between his master and mistress drifted out from inside:
"...Mingchuan, this is infuriating! You saved Captain Zhang’s grandfather’s life, for crying out loud! How can he be so dismissive!"
"Shenglan, this business with Qiao’Er isn’t that simple. Do you really think Liu Mengzi was just drunk and harassing her in the street? He’s not that stupid," the deep male voice said.
"This came from the Patriarch of the Three Rivers Gang. He’s tried time and again to get me to escort a shipment for him... Heh. He called it an escort mission, but it was really smuggling ’Dream Porcelain.’ I refused."
"He had Liu Mengzi make the first move, deliberately stirring up trouble and using the opportunity to cripple Xizhi. It was a calculated act of revenge... That thug is just a pawn. But because he’s a distant relative of the Liu Family, the Defense Bureau won’t dare touch him. We’re the ones who have to suffer in silence."
"So we’re just going to let it go? Xizhi is an orphan! He was only so badly injured because he was defending Qiao’Er..."
His mistress’s voice was filled with righteous indignation.
"If all else fails, we should ask Fuyun’s family for help. Your new disciple is the second son of the Zhang Family, and he’s doted on by Mr. Zhang Sr. With that connection, the Defense Bureau would have to think twice."
"..."
The master fell silent.
After a moment.
"I’m afraid it’s too late. Before I returned, Captain Zhang passed a private message to me... The Three Rivers Gang used their connection to the Liu Family to get the Black Eel Army to back them up. They’ll likely come to the hall in the next day or two to cause trouble on purpose."
"They’re trying to force me to sell my life to them!"
The man’s voice was thick with suppressed fury.
Hearing this, Wang Xi quietly backed away and returned to his room.
...
...
「The next morning.」
"Senior Brother, here’s some porridge I made myself. Come on, have a little."
Huo Qiao’Er sat on the edge of the bed, holding a bowl and carefully feeding Wang Xi with a spoon.
Wang Xi had just taken two mouthfuls when his junior sister picked up a steamed bun, broke it in half, and meticulously tore it into strips to feed him.
"Thank you, Junior Sister."
Wang Xi chewed the bun, washed it down with a couple of spoonfuls of porridge, and thanked the girl.
"Senior Brother, there’s no need to be so formal."
Huo Qiao’Er smiled, blew on the hot porridge in the spoon, and then, as if just noticing something, said in amazement:
"But now that I mention it, your complexion is so much better today, Senior Brother... The neighbors all say Father is a miracle doctor, but our family knows best. His medicine isn’t *that* miraculous."
"I’m not sure what happened, but I do feel a lot better. Who knows, maybe the injury helped me open my Ren and Du Meridians," Wang Xi said with a laugh.
Huo Qiao’Er just assumed he was joking and chuckled along.
Just then, a set of hurried footsteps echoed from outside, accompanied by a boisterous young man’s voice:
"Senior Brother! Senior Brother Wang! I heard you took down eighteen brutes from the Three Rivers Gang all by yourself! Is it true?"
As he was speaking, a young man in his early twenties strode into the room. He wore a white mandarin-collar shirt and a long black skirt-like robe, with a Jade Pendant hanging from his waist and his hair neatly parted.
Wang Xi had already heard about this junior brother from Qiao’Er yesterday. He was Master Huo’s newest disciple, taken in just two months ago: the second young master of the Zhang Family, Zhang Fuyun.
This young master had despised scholarly pursuits and adored martial arts since he was a child. Despite being born into a literary family, he had zero interest in the Four Books and Five Classics, spending his days dreaming only of wielding spears and staves. After his family elders failed to dissuade him, Mr. Zhang Sr. finally gave in to his begging and fulfilled his wish, sending him to the Huo Family Martial Arts Hall to study under a master.
Although Zhang Fuyun had grown up in the lap of luxury, his enthusiasm for martial arts was commendable. He was willing to work hard, but his talent was lacking, and his fundamentals were still a mess.
"Junior Brother! What are you yelling about so early in the morning!"
Huo Qiao’Er shot to her feet, her delicate brow furrowed.
"Senior Brother needs to rest! Keep your voice down!"
"Er..." Zhang Fuyun froze in place, then slowed his pace and said sheepishly, "My apologies, my apologies. Senior Sister, Senior Brother, please forgive my rudeness. I was just too excited."
As he drew near the bed, his cheeky grin returned.
"Senior Brother Wang, I’ve heard the rumors spreading all over. They say you used the Thirty-Six Paths of Wind-Chasing Legs that Master taught you and kicked those Three Rivers Gang hooligans until they were crying for their mamas..."
"Junior! Brother! Zhang!"
Huo Qiao’Er was furious. She slammed the porridge bowl down with a CLACK.
Talk about rubbing salt in the wound!
Her senior brother was lying in bed with both legs broken. Wasn’t Junior Brother Zhang just trying to humiliate him?
She shot a careful glance at her senior brother’s face.
However, the handsome young man just kept smiling, apparently unbothered. He even gave Zhang Fuyun a friendly wave.
"Sit down, Junior Brother."
"Okay!" Zhang Fuyun shot a few nervous glances at his senior sister before shakily pulling over a stool and sitting down. "Did I, uh... interrupt a nice moment between you and Senior Sister?"
"You?!"
Huo Qiao’Er’s face instantly flushed red.
In truth, she was actually a few years younger than Zhang Fuyun. A wave of shyness washed over her, leaving her speechless. She could only sit back down, her cheeks puffed out in a silent huff.
"I heard from Qiao’er that you’re getting married to the fifth Miss Zhao of the Zhao Family from the Provincial City? Is that right?"
Wang Xi smoothly changed the subject.
Zhang Fuyun immediately broke into a goofy grin, nodded, and said:
"Yeah, Senior Brother. It’s an arranged marriage... The fifth Miss Zhao is very beautiful and virtuous. I-I’m quite happy with it."
"That’s why I wanted to ask you to teach me a few leg techniques, so I can show off for her, hehe... I even had someone go to a foreign goods store in the Provincial City to buy a bunch of nice things for her."
Looking at the blissfully idiotic young man, Wang Xi silently wrote him off.
’A simp will simp, but a simp gets nothing in the end.’
The two chatted for a little while.
Suddenly, a clamor erupted outside the room, punctuated by faint gasps and angry roars.
The voices of Senior Brother Yu Ruiyang and Master Huo could be heard among them:
"Three Rivers Gang! You’ve gone too far!"