"We can't stay here long."
Bai Ziyue thought briefly and then his heart tightened.
This place is close to the center of the battle, and someone will inevitably come to investigate.
If the ones coming were from the government or other people from Qinghe Town, it wouldn't be too bad. Although he would inevitably get caught up in the turmoil, at least his life could be preserved. But if it were the people from the Ghost Head Stronghold... Despite this being unlikely because in the distance, sounds were gradually emerging, clearly indicating people from various factions were approaching here.
But he didn't dare to gamble.
He only had one life, and he naturally wanted to hold it in his own hands.
Leaving the cave, Bai Ziyue first saw the decapitated body of a Ghost Head Stronghold bandit.
Perhaps after witnessing the slaughter at the butcher shop many times, now he didn't feel as nauseated as he initially did when he saw the corpse.
Carefully navigating around it, a collapsed wall appeared in front of him.
He knew this wall was broken by Li Xu.
Suddenly, he stepped forward quickly and picked up a black, flat package from the fallen bricks of the wall, which felt like some sort of book from the touch.
It was obvious that this was dropped by Li Xu when he was knocked away earlier.
Not daring to check it now, Bai Ziyue carefully placed it inside his clothes and quickly left.
...
Along the way, Bai Ziyue moved cautiously, the slightest disturbance would make his heart race.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and Bai Ziyue returned to the Ming Pearl Restaurant.
"Little Yue."
Just as he was about to step inside, a voice suddenly sounded behind him.
Startled, Bai Ziyue turned around quickly, only to see it was Sunx Neng, Uncle Sunx, who was with him earlier.
He also returned safely.
However, considering Sunx Neng's running speed and his past Jianghu experiences, it was evident that his strength was not weak when he escaped from the Ghost Head Stronghold bandits.
But, his action of escaping alone during the critical moment still left Bai Ziyue cold-hearted and made him realize more that in this world, besides himself, there was no one truly reliable. Only by being strong could one face everything with ease.
"Are you planning to go back like this?"
Sunx Neng looked at Bai Ziyue and said, "If you say you encountered the people from the Ghost Head Stronghold and escaped back, it won't work. If anyone asks, trouble will follow."
"Then, what should I do?"
Bai Ziyue calmed down, understanding that Sunx Neng was right.
The matter with the Li Family was extremely significant, and it was a whirlpool; getting involved could mean getting trapped.
With his small strength, he couldn't bear it.
Not to mention that he was hiding the package that fell from Li Xu.
He didn't know if Li Xu had escaped, but he definitely didn't want to give up the thing he had in his possession.
"Go back and normally get the meat from the butcher shop, and say you don't know anything if anyone asks."
Sunx Neng said directly.
"But over there..." Bai Ziyue hesitated.
"At this time, the people from the Ghost Head Stronghold have already left, and everyone's attention is on the Li Family mansion. No one will pay attention to us."
Sunx Neng interrupted.
Hearing this, Bai Ziyue nodded and returned with Sunx Neng once more.
On the way, Sunx Neng didn't ask Bai Ziyue how he escaped, and Bai Ziyue didn't mention Sunx Neng abandoning him to escape alone. The two remained silent and soon returned to the place where they had left the handcart.
Inside the Li Family mansion, lights were bright, and some arresting officers and other government personnel were going in and out, not caring about the two of them.
Half an hour later than usual, Bai Ziyue and Sunx Neng pulled the pork and beef back from the butcher shop.
On the way, Sunx Neng said in a low voice, "I heard you like to practice martial arts? Have you started with the Zen Meditation Posture?"
Bai Ziyue was taken aback; he practiced martial arts diligently, which everyone at the Ming Pearl Restaurant knew about.
With Li Ergou's talkative nature, some regular customers at the restaurant were aware of it and would sometimes tease him about it.
He was surprised by Sunx Neng's question.
"I just started."
Bai Ziyue said without showing any emotion.
Zen Meditation Posture Small Success would turn into the Living Posture, and Zen Meditation Stance Great Success would revert it back to the Zen Meditation Posture.
The outward appearance was similar to the beginning, motionless, but the internal difference was significant, primarily reflected in the word 'lock.'
Locking the outer skin preventing sweat from seeping out, locking the internal blood vessels ensuring the surging blood wouldn't break the vessels, locking the internal power making it more solid and tough.
Therefore, although Bai Ziyue practiced diligently every day, no one noticed that his Zen Meditation Posture had already achieved Great Success.
Of course, this was also because he always practiced in his room.
"It's only been ten days since you started 'transmission,' if you were an Outer Disciple of our Sunburst Gang, this speed would be enough to make you an Inner Sect Apprentice. It's a pity.
How about this, when you reach Small Success with Zen Meditation Posture, I will teach you a set of sword techniques as compensation."
Sunx Neng sighed and said.
"Thank you, Uncle Sunx."
Bai Ziyue's eyes brightened, and he thanked repeatedly.
Although he knew it was out of guilt that Sunx Neng was compensating him, he was still very excited.
From the beginning to the end, he had a strong desire to master martial arts.
Soul energy could speed up his training, but without someone teaching martial arts, he couldn't make bricks without straw, and his strength would not improve.
"By the way, Uncle Sunx, I've often heard people talk about External Forging and Inner Cultivation, but what exactly is External Forging, and what counts as Inner Cultivation? If Zen Meditation Posture reaches Small Success, does it count as External Forging?"
Taking advantage of Sunx Neng's interest, Bai Ziyue asked hurriedly.
"Zen Meditation Posture is just the most basic strength cultivation technique. Even if you achieve Great Success or Perfection, it doesn't count as External Forging level.
External Forging trains the physique, bones, and skin.
The force cultivated in Zen Meditation Posture is just the foundation for practicing External Forging techniques.
As for Inner Cultivation, it's still too far away for you; don't aim too high."
Sunx Neng said blandly.
"Then what are the External Forging techniques? How can they be practiced?"
Bai Ziyue asked curiously.
"External Forging techniques require you to use your power. The subcutaneous muscles will move like this..."
Perhaps out of guilt, he didn't hesitate to demonstrate to Bai Ziyue, extending his arm.
Bai Ziyue saw that on Sunx Neng's skin, a bump about half a finger's height suddenly popped up, moving back and forth under his control, as if a little mouse was running around inside.
"Generally, once you achieve Great Success in Zen Meditation Posture, you can do this. Naturally, you can also start practicing External Forging techniques."
As he said this, Sunx Neng paused and continued, "Techniques like Zen Meditation Posture are basic cultivation techniques; they aren't hard to find on the streets.
But External Forging techniques are rare in the entire Qinghe Town.
Like our Sunburst Gang's Vajra Lock Jade Technique, Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall's Iron Cloth Shirt, and Head Wuu's Six and Seven Cross, are all techniques that can take you straight to the peak of External Forging.
Some External Forging techniques that can't reach the peak aren't worth mentioning."