EFB Chapter 27 Black Stone Army
Chapter 27 Black Stone Army
With the money in hand, Su Yu was no longer stingy and refilled the medicine with more silver, then began to focus on practicing martial arts.
A few days later, I had a day off.
Today happens to be the day the Qian family's fishing team sets off again. Although Su Yu doesn't plan to go out on the boat, he doesn't want to lose his identity as a member of the fishing team.
After all, the Azure Wave Fishbone Technique has always been very useful for improving underwater abilities, and it is still necessary to obtain the matching stance training from the Qian family.
After leaving the martial arts school, we headed towards the Qian family compound.
Along the way, the streets were still bustling with traffic and lined with vendors.
Blue cloth wine flags fluttered in the wind, and the tavern owners shouted, "Big wine! Big wine! Fire-brewed liquor made from green rice, one gulp and you'll collapse in three steps!"
Su Yu smelled the rich aroma of the wine and looked at the bustling street, feeling a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing feelings, thoughts, and reflections).
Outside the city, who would be willing to brew such wine? They'd be lucky to have enough food to eat.
"Boom!"
The ground suddenly trembled slightly.
The crowd on the main street ahead scattered in panic, and a troop of heavily armored cavalry swept in like a black torrent.
"Blackstone Army!"
Warhorses neighed, their iron hooves clanged.
Each knight was completely clad in jet-black iron armor, the black gilded patterns gleaming with a cold light, revealing only a pair of icy eyes. Long spears stood like a forest, exuding a suffocating, murderous aura.
The leader was as tall as an iron tower, riding a magnificent black-scaled horse. His face was covered with a hideous demon mask, but his eyes were like icy pools, and when he looked down, they instilled in people a sense of dread, as if they were being stared at by a ferocious beast.
"These are the elite Black Stone Army, the Black Stone Cavalry! Look, the leader is Huyan Ba. I heard he charged into the enemy lines single-handedly and beheaded a Black Lotus Army general!"
Has the Blackrock Army been mobilized? What happened?
Su Yu was puzzled. He heard that most of the Black Stone Army was stationed at the pass north of Black Stone City to fight against the increasingly rampant Black Lotus Sect rebels, leaving only the elite Black Stone Cavalry to guard the inner city.
Now that even the Blackrock Riders have been mobilized, something must have happened.
However, he is now just a commoner at the bottom of society, and he knows nothing about the news, which makes him feel a sense of crisis.
The information supply is too limited!
If the Black Lotus Cult were to attack one day, they might not even know it and could easily become cannon fodder.
And there's the Water Snake Gang! Cao Bin!
Thinking of this, a strange sense of anxiety rose in his heart.
However, there isn't much of a good way to deal with this now. Apart from becoming stronger as quickly as possible, there's very little else I can do.
After the Black Stone Army left, the streets returned to calm, and Su Yu continued on his way to the Qian family's residence.
After entering the compound, Su Yu found Qian Wenhu, who was shirtless and giving a lecture.
This voyage was quite large, with many new faces joining in addition to familiar names like Bai Shun, Gao Xiaoshuang, and the Zhou brothers.
Upon seeing Su Yu, Qian Wenhu's eyes lit up, and he waved with a loud laugh:
"Su Yu, you little rascal, you didn't come on the boat last time, which really disappointed me. Come on, this time we're going deeper into the Blackwater River, maybe we'll find some rare treasure fish! We can't do without your net-casting skills!"
Su Yu clasped his hands in apology and said, "Captain Qian, I'm so sorry. This time... I'm here to ask for leave again."
Upon hearing this, Qian Wenhu frowned and said, "Although the Qian family has not made any mandatory demands, if you continue not to go out on the boat, you will probably have to leave the Qian family's fishing team. You have learned five moves of the Qian family's Azure Wave Fishbone Skill, so you will have to pay some extra money."
The expressions of the people around him varied.
The Zhou brothers gloated, Gao Xiaoshuang sneered, and Bai Shun's eyes flashed with disappointment.
Su Yu remained calm and composed, saying neither servile nor arrogant:
"Captain Qian, I don't want to leave the fishing team, but I'm at a critical juncture in my martial arts training and plan to break through to become a martial artist. I really can't get away from it."
"Huh? A martial artist who has reached the peak?" Qian Wenhu was immediately surprised upon hearing this, and his loud voice rang out a few degrees.
Everyone in the group was startled and stared intently.
"Yes, Captain Qian. I've already broken through the barrier twice, and I plan to go all out to break through it three times."
"Good lad, you actually have martial arts talent! Come on, let's test your skills!" Qian Wenhu seemed a little skeptical, waving his hand to disperse the crowd, and getting into a fighting stance, intending to test Su Yu's level.
Su Yu knew that if he didn't reveal his strength, it probably wouldn't work, so he immediately got into a fighting stance.
"Captain Qian, I am currently on my second attempt at the challenge, but I have never learned any fighting techniques and only know some basic stance training. Please go easy on me."
"Haha, don't worry, I'll go easy on you! Go ahead and attack!"
"Excuse me!"
Su Yu immediately mobilized his internal energy and blood, and with a burst of strength in his feet, his body shot up like an arrow and instantly appeared in front of Qian Wenhu.
The onlookers were immediately taken aback. Such speed was undoubtedly the work of a half-step martial artist, and they immediately showed envy on their faces.
"The Angry Ape Hangs on the Rock!"
This stance can be used to cultivate qi and blood, and can also be transformed into a practical fighting technique.
Su Yu clasped his hands together like a heavy hammer and slammed them down from above, the powerful force striking Qian Wenhu's shoulder.
"good!"
Qian Wenhu was not afraid at all; instead, he was overjoyed. He neither dodged nor retreated, and suddenly struck out with one palm.
"Layered Wave Palm!"
"Bang!"
Su Yu's fists transformed into hammers, striking Qian Wenhu's palms with a loud bang. However, the imagined scene of cleaving through the palms and charging forward did not materialize.
The blow seemed to hit a tough piece of cowhide, having no effect whatsoever.
The next moment, before Su Yu could hesitate, Qian Wenhu struck with his other hand. Su Yu felt the whistling wind in his ears and realized that he was powerless to resist.
This Qian Wenhu is at least a martial artist at the Skin Tempering Realm!
Su Yu quickly retreated to avoid it.
Fortunately, Qian Wenhu did not pursue them; instead, he stopped.
"Not bad, as expected of someone who has passed the second level of the barrier! You're quite something, kid. With this kind of strength, your future is limitless."
Qian Wenhu looked at Su Yu with admiration in his eyes.
Those around them were even more shocked; the sheer force of their exchange had chilled them to the bone. This meant that Su Yu had indeed successfully broken through the barrier a second time.
The pride that once graced Bai Shun's dark face was gone. He had joined the Qian family fishing team as the top member and always looked down on the others.
Not only is he an excellent swimmer and a master fisherman, but he has also studied martial arts, making him a formidable opponent!
They easily crushed Su Yu and his group with their strength!
On his first voyage, Su Yu distinguished himself, which fueled a burning desire within him.
Last time he went out on the boat, he went all out and fought a precious catfish in the water, helping Qian Wenhu successfully catch the precious fish. He made a great contribution and made a name for himself!
After that, he was highly regarded by Qian Wenhu, who promised him that he could become the deputy captain of the fishing team in the future, with a bright future ahead of him.
However, his physical constitution could only support him until he passed the first test; the hope of passing it a second time was too slim. He didn't dare to hope any longer and resolved to serve the Qian family well, become the deputy captain of the fishing team, and bring his family to live in the city.
He was a little disappointed that Su Yu didn't come last time, and he was thinking of having a good competition with him this time.
But upon seeing Su Yu today, he actually failed to pass the gate twice, which completely dealt him a blow.
It's ridiculous. I was thinking of having another competition with him when we set sail, but I didn't expect him to break through the second barrier directly.
"Captain Qian, I'll take my leave now. If I break through to the next level, I will definitely come back to serve the fishing team again."
"Haha, then I'll wait for your good news." Qian Wenhu personally escorted Su Yu to the door, leaving everyone with mixed feelings.
Just a while ago, everyone was just an ordinary team member, but in the blink of an eye, Su Yu has received such attention from Captain Qian.
Is this the bright future of learning martial arts?
Many people who originally lacked natural talent are now filled with fighting spirit, thinking, "Perhaps I should give it my all."
Gao Xiaoshuang's expression was the most resolute. Damn it, no wonder Su Yu looked down on her; it turns out he's always had martial arts talent!
No, I want to give it a try too. My physical attributes are below average, so I already have a chance!
If it weren't for wanting my younger brother to learn martial arts, I could have saved enough money over the years to have him become an apprentice!