Zhang San, please behave yourself!

That night, Zhang San departed with his companions, leaving Jingyang County behind.

Though traveling by day was not impossible, Zhang San felt that the Heavenly Punishment Sect's mission this time, to seize the plans for the Seven-Star Repeating Crossbow from the Dragon Serpent Gang, was a matter of great secrecy that naturally couldn't be approached with a bluster.

The previous encounter with Yu Daoning had compelled action due to the presence of undeniable grievance and injustice, as dictated by the tenets of the Heavenly Punishment Sect.

However, the journey ahead required more caution, in keeping with the Sect's style.

Hence, they had chosen to travel by night.

Inside the carriage, Zhang San found himself unable to sleep.

Reflecting on how the Tiger Demon hadn't actually eaten anyone, and that it was the deceased's brother who had killed his own kin, Zhang San felt this world was full of irony.

Man eating man was, after all, far more common than animals eating humans.

Naturally, Zhang San's sympathy for the troubles of others was merely an expression of his feelings; after all, he himself was mired in complexities.

Even now, Zhang San did not know who it was that sought to target him.

And so, he proceeded with the utmost caution, as if treading on thin ice.

When the identity of the enemy was unknown, the best strategy was to enhance one's own strength.

Therefore, unable to sleep, Zhang San in the carriage began to review his recent enhancement in strength and contemplated which areas still required improvement.

Meanwhile, standing with his hands behind his back on a small mountain peak near Mingzhi Mountain outside Jingyang County, Zhao Siyang contemplated.

After a day, the headache symptoms from his drinking had finally eased considerably.

He had even suspected that the fellow who called himself "Qin Wuyang" had tampered with the wine, especially since the other hadn't had a single drink while he himself had guzzled two jars.

Later, after going to the tavern specifically to ask for Yellow Glutinous Rice Wine, and drinking some more, then questioning the tavern owner, Zhao Siyang realized he had been overthinking it.

The wine Zhang San had invited him to drink had no issues at all.

It was merely that he usually drank the cheapest kind of Green Ant, and was not accustomed to good quality wine like Yellow Glutinous Rice Wine, coupled with suddenly drinking too much, that had overwhelmed him.

Although the misunderstanding had been cleared, Zhao Siyang felt even more irritated!

Watching the receding silhouette of Zhang San's carriage in the moonlight, its shadow elongating, Zhao Siyang suddenly thought it wouldn't be bad to choose him as his successor.

However, after all, Zhang San was a member of the Heavenly Punishment Sect, and his practice was too diverse; he might not withstand the karmic consequences of inheriting his lineage.

Better to continue searching for a successor and complete this mission of descending the mountain!

With this thought, the Great Sword on Zhao Siyang's back unsheathed and floated horizontally a yard above the ground.

He had tried before to let the Great Sword float close by his feet, but carelessness led to a nick on his ankle.

It wasn't much of an issue for him, but it did waste trouser legs and stockings.

Whoosh—

Under the moonlight, Zhao Siyang, with his youthful face, flew away on his sword.

Only Jingyang County was left with a tale of a Tiger Demon attending court and the City God's resurrection.

Upon the carriage, Zhang San furrowed his brows after his review.

His current situation was that he was very fast.

His cultivation speed was fast!

Because he had the Tyrant Body Three Pills Technique.

His movement speed was fast!

Because he had the Xun Wind Breathing Technique.

His interrogation effectiveness was fast!

Because he knew the Name Punishment Technique.

And then… there was no "and then."

As a transmigrator from a modern society, Zhang San knew that any RPG character attributes only boiled down to two things.

One was offense, the other was life.

Life could be broken down into Health Points, defensive power, Resistance, Dodge, etc. The effect of these attributes or abilities was to increase the likelihood of one's survival.

Offense could be broken down into physical attack, elemental attack, magic attack, special effects like stun control, etc., all of which enhance one's offensive power, allowing one to eliminate enemies quickly to survive.

But now, although he had Thunder Method to compensate for his offensive side, with his Qi, he couldn't use the powerful Thunder Method many times. Once his Qi was nearly depleted and the enemy still hadn't perished, he would be doomed.

Though he could take his enemies by surprise, he still needed some other means of attack.

Attack is the main pursuit I should focus on next.

As for self-preservation methods, with my current realm, it's simply a matter of the opponent easily chopping me to death with one strike, with damage overflow. Then, after my own efforts to improve, it becomes the opponent's strike just managing to kill me, with zero overflow.

All that hard work just for a zero? Why bother.

Therefore, Zhang San decided to enhance his attack power, especially when his Qi was insufficient.

Ling watched Zhang San frown in thought on the carriage for quite a while, not knowing what he was pondering over.

"If you really like her, I'll go and tell them to pick up the widow when we return to Jingyang County," she said.

Zhang San grinned and said, "Sister Ling, I'm thinking about serious matters. I'm contemplating how to improve my close combat abilities. Sister Ling, do you understand close combat?"

Ling thought for a moment and said seriously, "I've heard of the Dragon Claw Hand that goes like this; you should be interested, right?"

Zhang San, seeing Ling's mischievous gesture, just wanted to flip the table (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻.

"Or... monkey steals the peach?"

Zhang San didn't feel like talking and after pondering for a moment, finally spoke up, "Sister Ling, please go and call Big Head Wang over."

Big Head Wang soon entered the carriage, instantly making the previously spacious carriage feel a bit cramped.

Even Ling had to sit down next to Zhang San.

Zhang San also felt a bit embarrassed, because it seemed like his elbow might accidentally touch Sister Ling. Would she suspect I'm trying to practice Dragon Claw Hand with my elbow and chop me to pieces?

Forget it, let's discuss serious matters first.

Zhang San began to ask Big Head Wang about the cultivation of Blade Techniques.

Big Head Wang was naturally very generous, telling Zhang San about all the Blade Techniques he had learned.

He even demonstrated them a few times.

This made the already tight space in the carriage even more crowded.

Ling watched Zhang San earnestly learning Blade Techniques, and she couldn't help feeling happy as her face flushed from being too close to him.

Since then, she gradually developed the habit of enjoying making others blush and their hearts race. The more they did, the happier she became.

Just like now.

After consulting with Big Head Wang, Zhang San let him off the carriage and then lay down inside to sleep.

Ling looked at the still blush-faced sleeping Zhang San and smiled happily.

At that moment, Zhang San was in his dreams, learning Blade Techniques from an old man.

This sleep lasted until noon the next day before he woke up.

Ling saw Zhang San sleeping soundly, so she didn't wake him up for breakfast.

In the morning, Officer Bai, who was skilled in Swordsmanship, suddenly sensed a trace of Blade Intent inside the carriage.

Others might not feel it, but for Bai Yucheng, who was skilled in Swordsmanship, his sensitivity to such Intent learned through weapons was extremely acute.

He immediately came to the carriage curtain and asked, "Is something happening inside the carriage?"

"Nothing, Zhang San is sleeping," Ling replied while still watching Zhang San sleep, not understanding why Bai Yucheng would come over to ask such a question.

"Really nothing?" Bai Yucheng was sure that he wasn't mistaken in his perception.

What exactly was happening inside the carriage?

"What else could it be? Could Zhang San possibly be dreaming about me?" Ling joked.

Bai Yucheng excused himself.

Sister Ling was too fierce, even for an Officer like Bai Yucheng, who didn't dare to act too rashly in front of her.

But Bai Yucheng was curious about what had actually happened inside the carriage recently that caused a sudden emergence of Blade Intent.

He decided to ask Ying about it later.

At that moment, Zhang San had just finished eight years of Blade Technique training in his dream and woke up rubbing his eyes.

The caravan soon stopped beside a small grove, and everyone got off to start cooking.

Zhang San also got down from the carriage and approached Wang Ziteng, who was earnestly trying to fit in with the group but kept on burning his dishes and was hence sent to collect firewood.

"Wang Ziteng, I want to have a try with you tonight!" Zhang San said.

Wang Ziteng instinctively covered his backside, looking at Zhang San warily.