Three generals gathered in front of the dense forest. When they looked at the unconscious Ou Yangming on the stretcher, the anger that they felt was clearly shown on their faces.
They had heard the whole course of the incident from Yu Hailiang and also found out the identity of the Yang Grade powerhouse who killed the soldiers from the military.
Nonetheless, that was the exact reason the generals were drowned in the tidal surge of rage.
Zhang Yinli was the elder brother of Assistant Supervisor Zhang Yinfan from the Provision Camp and was also a well-known Yang Grade powerhouse. Besides, the man was also an official in the capital and was considered an important figure in every aspect.
That said, he sneaked into the military camp and decided to ambush Ou Yangming, so much so that he did not hesitate to kill the other soldiers.
Judging from his actions, did he even respect the generals at all?
The general would not be this furious if a passerby had committed those deeds instead, but a targeted attack meant that the man was simply slapping them in their faces, and he slapped them hard.
Fang Yihai chuckled and said, “General Deng, this incident was caused by me, so I’d like to kill the scum in the military to avenge our brothers’ deaths. What do you think?”
Deng Zhicai asked with a dark face, “Does this head really belong to Zhang Yinli?”
Chen Yifan answered coldly, “This was definitely Zhang Yinli. I worked with him for a year in the past, so I won’t be mistaken!”
“Alright!” Deng Zhicai nodded and said, “General Fang, do as you wish. If anything happens, I’ll bear the responsibility with you!”
“General Fang, count me in!” Chen Yifan expressed in a cold manner.
“Okay, since I have your word, I feel assured.” Fang Yihai laughed out loud. He turned around and waved, then led his men back to the military camp at the speed of light.
Deng Zhicai turned to ask, “General Chen, why did you tread on this muddy water too?”
Fang Yihai was the one who invited Ou Yangming, hence he was bound to bear the responsibility no matter what. As for Deng Zhicai, he was the Middle Camp’s commanding general, so he would be too ashamed to hold his head up in the camp if he shrunk from this. However, Chen Yifan did not need to stick out for Ou Yangming at all. After all, the Zhang family was not to be messed with. Although they did not have a strong foundation in the prefecture, they were famous in the capital.
The Fang family’s head was a formidable ancestor at the peak of Extreme Grade.
Chen Yifan smiled plainly. “General Deng, you may not know this, but I’m the one who taught Ou Yangming martial arts. Heh, we’re not a master and a disciple, but there’s some sort of relationship between us, so I can’t just sit by idly if he’s bullied, right?”
Deng Zhicai was stunned. He could not help but cast an unusual look at General Chen.
‘Is he the one who taught Ou Yangming martial arts?’
“Oh? You taught Master Ou martial arts?” Xiaoxiao Sheng raised his eyebrows and asked in astonishment.
Chen Yifan answered proudly, “That’s right!”
Xiaoxiao Sheng looked at Chen Yifan from head to toe, then furrowed his eyebrows when he recalled the few blows he had exchanged with Ou Yangming. “General Chen, how long have you taught him?”
Chen Yifan answered after some thought, “Around 3 to 5 months.” “3 to 5 months?” Xiaoxiao Sheng widened his eyes and remarked, “General Chen, can you please not joke around?”
Chen Yifan was mad, but he dared not fall out with Xiaoxiao Sheng because the elder was prestigious and had a cultivation base at the peak of Yang Grade. Thus, the general responded, “What can I joke about?” Xiaoxiao Sheng could not help but laugh. “I’ve seen countless people in my life, but I’ve never heard of anyone who can advance to Yin Grade after cultivating martial arts for just 3 to 5 months.”
“What Yin Grade?” Chen Yifan was stunned for a while, then he pointed at the sleeping Ou Yangming. “Are you saying that he has the cultivation base of Yin Grade?”
“That’s right,” Xiaoxiao Sheng replied. “Though there are some flaws in the way he uses essential Qi… Apart from the Yin Grade cultivation base, his techniques are quite odd
too.”
He did not fight Ou Yangming for long but was able to sense in the short span of time that Ou Yangming’s techniques were different from normal techniques. Nevertheless, he could not link it with the integration of Heaven and man.
“Impossible!” Chen Yifan shook his head and commented, “How can he have the cultivation base of Yin Grade? He should be in Force Grade Class Four!”
‘The young fella has only battled Liu Zhengye a while ago, how did he suddenly advance to Yin Grade?’
Xiaoxiao Sheng pulled a long face and said, “I’ve exchanged a few blows with him, and I’m definitely right!”
Chen Yifan’s face changed. ‘Since it’s Xiaoxiao Sheng who said it, he must be telling the truth, but how could a fella who didn’t know the martial-art squat and hasn’t cultivated martial arts for more than half a year break through to Yin Grade?’
Deng Zhicai suddenly asked after studying the men’s expressions. “General Chen, what techniques did you teach him?”
Xiaoxiao Sheng pricked up his ears right away. If Ou Yangming’s martial arts skills were really taught by Chen Yifan, the secret technique that could bring up a Yin Grade powerhouse seemed very attractive. Even though Xiaoxiao Sheng did not expect Chen Yifan to teach him the technique, it would be good to gain some experience from listening to it.
Chen Yifan’s face twitched, and he forced a smile. “Hehe, I actually didn’t teach him much…” “Not much means how much?” Deng Zhicai questioned and looked like he wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Cheng Yifan cleared his throat and answered, “The… Martial-art squat.”
“What?” Xiaoxiao Sheng asked impatiently.
He cursed, ‘If you say that you’re not going to share it, nobody will force you to, but you look nothing like a man if you’re stammering.’ Chen Yifan blushed. “Didn’t I answer already? Did you not hear me!”
“What did you say? What does the martial-art squat mean…” Xiaoxiao Sheng was furious. “Are you saying that you only taught him the martial-art squat?”
Deng Zhicai frowned too because he was disappointed in Chen Yifan. ‘This fella usually carries out his tasks efficiently, why is he suddenly letting me down during a crucial moment?’
However, Chen Yifan giggled and put his hands behind his back to show that he no longer wanted to comment on this.
Xiaoxiao Sheng’s eyebrows twitched as he was mad. He could not believe that he would be teased like that. If it was not because Chen Yifan was a general in the military, he would definitely slap him to show him what it meant to be at the peak of Yang Grade.
Deng Zhicai suddenly raised a question, “Brother Chen, you didn’t really just teach him the martial-art squat, did you?”
Xiaoxiao Sheng glanced at him unhappily and thought, ‘Even if you want to cover up for Chen Yifan, you shouldn’t do it so obviously…’
That being said, just as he thought so, Chen Yifan nodded and responded, “That’s right, I only taught him the martial-art squat!”
Deng Zhicai and Xiaoxiao Sheng looked at each other as they found it funny.
“Brother Chen, if you only taught him the martial-art squat, how dare you say that you taught him martial arts?” Xiaoxiao Sheng asked in disbelief.
Chen Yifan replied to him proudly, “The martial-art squad may be simple, but it’s the foundation of all martial arts. Heh, I was the one who taught him the first martial arts foundation, and I planted his roots, so is it not considered my legacy!”
Deng Zhicai and Xiaoxiao Sheng exchanged glances again and cursed, ‘You’re twisting words and forcing logic, how shameless!’
“Other than that, someone from the West Camp also taught him some martial arts techniques,” Chen Yifan added as he was embarrassed too, and he continued after a pause. “This is probably why Ou Yangming’s skills have arrived at the state of the integration of Heaven and man.”
“The integration of Heaven and man?!” Deng Zhicai and Xiaoxiao Sheng exclaimed.
Countless thoughts crossed their mind at that moment, and they eventually came to a sudden realization.
Deng Zhicai recalled Ou Yangming’s stunning performance at the end of the smithing challenge that day. Although it was hard for someone with a certain profession to understand something from a different profession, Deng Zhicai was finally enlightened. ‘So that’s the integration of Heaven and man.’
On the other hand, Xiaoxiao Sheng recalled the strange feeling he had when he battled Ou Yangming earlier. They only exchanged a few blows, but he felt like his hands and legs were tied. He initially thought the feeling was a result of Ou Yangming’s odd techniques, but it turned out to be the integration of Heaven and
man.
It would be hopeless to contend techniques with a powerhouse who had the state of such an integration. ‘But how did Ou Yangming achieve the state?’ Xiaoxiao Sheng wondered.
He inhaled deeply and said in all seriousness, “Brother Chen, which mighty being in your camp taught Master Ou the martial arts techniques? Can you please inform him that I’d like to pay him a visit?”
“Wow, Chen Yifan, there’s actually a hidden talent in the camp. Hehe, is he an elder from the Chen family?” Deng Zhicai had a stern look on his face too. He quickly thought about every elder from the Chen family, but could not remember anyone who had achieved the integration of Heaven and man.
Chen Yifan smiled awkwardly. “You’ve misunderstood, it was an ordinary soldier who taught Ou Yangming those techniques. Uhm, the techniques taught aren’t unparalleled techniques, they’re the most basic fist art and blade technique in the military.”
Deng Zhicai and Xiaoxiao Sheng suddenly held their breaths and looked at Chen Yifan hatefully. If it was not because of various concerns, they would have pressed down on Chen Yifan and beat him into a pig’s head. After a long time, Deng Zhicai remarked, “I understand now. Master Ou is able to break through to Yin Grade and achieve the integration of Heaven and man because of opportunity and talent. It has nothing to do with you, not even a-single-thing!”
Chen Yifan panicked so he said, “How does it have nothing to do with me! Without the martial-art squat, the basic blade technique, and fist art, how could he have pursued the martial arts path?”
Deng Zhicai and Xiaoxiao Sheng rolled their eyes at the same time and turned a deaf ear to him.
‘You only taught him the martial-art squat, the basic fist art, and blade technique. How can you claim credit for grooming an absolute genius who advanced to Yin Grade within half a year and even comprehended the integration of Heaven and man?
‘How can there be such a good thing in the world? In your dreams!’
While the three of them were deep in their thought, hurried gallops were suddenly heard in the military camp.
Fang Yihai rode his horse into the camp and headed straight to the Provision Camp. His eyes burned with rage as he let out a deafening roar, “Zhang Yinfan, you damn murderer! Get your *ss out here now!”
