Chapter 48: Investigating Zhou Zheng’s Background!

“I don’t know what you mean by meridians,”
Su Ruan said, “But the so-called ‘jing’ is actually quite similar to your physical strength, except it’s divided into external and internal strength.”

“External strength comes from your body, but it has a limit!”
“And internal strength is…”
Su Ruan hesitated for a long time, seemingly unsure how to explain it.

She then grabbed a handful of snow from the side.
After melting the snow, she took Lu Chuan’s hand and said, “It’s like this: imagine this water is the medicinal herbs or external force. You absorb these forces into your body.”

“It’s like a kind of sedimentation, and the stronger the force, the stronger your own power naturally becomes!”

Su Ruan spoke with clarity.

At this moment, Lu Chuan finally understood, nodding with some realization, his expression turning serious.
Now he understood.

There wasn’t really anything like meridians or internal force, after all. It was more like the difference between external martial arts and internal martial arts.

But clearly, this method was more special!
It was about absorbing medicinal substances and natural forces into one’s body.

It was a very natural form of tempering!
No wonder they say “rich in martial arts, poor in culture.”

Who would normally gather so many medicinal herbs to temper their body?

“Master!”
At this moment, Su Ruan hesitated before speaking, “If you want medicinal baths, we will need to earn more silver. I do remember a formula!”

“However, most of the ingredients in the formula are quite rare and very expensive!”

At this point, Su Ruan spoke somewhat awkwardly.

“Don’t worry about it for now.”
Lu Chuan gently patted Su Ruan’s head before turning to look at Chen Miaomiao.

His eyes narrowed.
He could feel that at first, that man had murderous intent toward him. After all, he had been paid to do a job, and naturally, he would carry it out!

But what made him change his mind?
Was it just because he was a martial artist?

That didn’t seem right!
Lu Chuan furrowed his brow deeply.

Among the three people, if it came down to status and identity, both Bai Siyu and Su Ruan had high positions. But would they let him go just because of them?

Or was it…
Was it because of Chen Miaomiao?

Her background was the most mysterious.

“You—why are you staring at me?”
When Chen Miaomiao noticed Lu Chuan staring at her, she became flustered, lowering her head and stammering.

Lu Chuan smiled.

“It’s nothing, just thinking you should go to sleep.”

…

Later that night, after a passionate and intense battle (37567 words omitted here!).

Lu Chuan lay on the bed, holding both Su Ruan and Chen Miaomiao.

With a smile, he asked, “Did you feel like the third leader of Heishui Mountain looked a little familiar?”

“What?”
Bai Siyu looked up, puzzled, and asked, “Do you know him, Master?”

“No, I don’t know him. I just thought he looked familiar.”
Seeing that neither Su Ruan nor Bai Siyu reacted, Lu Chuan understood.

It seemed the person was indeed after Chen Miaomiao.

At this moment, Chen Miaomiao was tossing and turning in her room, unable to sleep.

There was a trace of confusion in her eyes, but also some sadness.

Was it him?
How could it be him?
He became a mountain bandit?

Chen Miaomiao hugged her knees, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

“Father, Mother…”
“Are you really protecting me from the heavens?”

At this moment, Chen Miaomiao closed her eyes.

…

The next morning.

Lu Chuan arrived outside the brick kiln.

Sun Laizi was already waiting there.

“Master, your methods really work! In the past, when I did a little bit of work, I’d wake up the next morning totally exhausted!”

“But now!”
“I can get up full of energy, even though there’s some pain, it’s completely bearable!”

“Master, you’re a genius!”

Sun Laizi spoke rapidly, his words coming out as fast as beans popping from a pot.

Lu Chuan couldn’t help but feel speechless.

“Follow me!”
“Do the same moves I do!”

Sun Laizi nodded eagerly.

Then, as if sensing something, he asked, “Master, why does it smell like blood?”

“Oh!”
Lu Chuan smiled, “It’s the bandits from Heishui Mountain!”

“Last night, they came to rob my house, and I ended up killing three of them!”

“Their bodies are still in the yard!”

“Hurry up and practice. After we’re done, we’ll go report it to the authorities!”

Lu Chuan said nonchalantly.

“What?”
Sun Laizi was shocked.

“Master, you killed someone?”

He swallowed nervously.

“You killed someone, and you’re here calmly practicing your fist techniques?”

Sun Laizi was a little stunned. Though he often boasted about killing, most of the time, it was just to scare people.

What kind of master had he actually found?

Sun Laizi took a deep breath, his eyes filled with admiration.

This was a ruthless person!
Having such a master meant his future was boundless.

He realized he had really hit the jackpot.

Without hesitation, he carefully followed Lu Chuan, starting the practice.

Although the process was a bit clumsy, Sun Laizi surprisingly managed to keep going!

By the end, Sun Laizi was drenched in sweat. Lu Chuan nodded in satisfaction and said, “Not bad, you did better than I expected. I thought you wouldn’t be able to last!”

“Now it seems I underestimated you!”

Sun Laizi scratched his head, feeling awkward.

“Master, I almost didn’t make it.”

“But Master, your body is weaker than mine, and if you could last through it, I just gritted my teeth and kept going!”

Sun Laizi said.

Lu Chuan stared at him, speechless, but didn’t comment further.

“Let’s go, to the county office!”
“Report to the authorities!”

Lu Chuan’s eyes narrowed.

“Let’s ask our honorable magistrate to take action!”

Lu Chuan smiled coldly.

Zhou Zheng!

Since you’ve already attacked me,
Don’t blame me. I want to see who you really are!

Originally, if Zhou Zheng hadn’t come after Lu Chuan,
Things would have ended with Lu Tong’s death, and that would’ve been the end of it!

But now,
Zhou Zheng had appeared in front of Lu Chuan again, and most importantly, Lu Chuan wanted to probe Zhou Zheng’s background,
So that he wouldn’t run into trouble in the future!