CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: WANTED (PART 1)

As soon as Instructor Lin finished speaking, many leaves had already fallen to the ground, scattered in every direction.

Some remained, still swirling in the air, others continued to drift down unhurriedly.

Lou Yi pondered the word ’complete’ in his mind.

It meant he had to break every leaf before it hit the ground.

Given his current axe skill, it wasn’t hard to cover most of the leaves.

But to not miss a single one might be beyond his ability, since axe skill focuses more on damage.

Every tool has its shortcoming and advantage.

Instructor Lin picked up the wine jug and tilted it slightly towards his mouth, then exclaimed with a sigh, "Good wine indeed."

"It’s a pity I won’t have the chance to drink it again in the future."

Seeing Instructor Lin talking to himself as if no one else was around, Lou Yi politely bade farewell.

He had just left the yard when the black-clad Housekeeper Wu appeared, looking sombre.

"How’s the situation?"

Seeing the concern on his face, Lou Yi explained Instructor Lin’s trial to him.

"Still not good enough, huh?" Housekeeper Wu showed a trace of regret, then added, "However, it’s not without gain. The real skill Instructor Lin spoke of differs from before, certainly extraordinary, and it must be learned."

Housekeeper Wu frowned, "Not missing a single leaf, that’s quite difficult. Moreover, given his style, he’ll only give you one chance, miss it, and it’s gone."

"What is Instructor Lin’s background?" Lou Yi asked curiously.

"Even among martial artists, he’s considered extraordinary. If it weren’t for the fortuitous encounter when the old master was young... he wouldn’t have come to our Jia Family Manor..." Housekeeper Wu was reluctant to reveal too much but gave Lou Yi advice, "I also practiced martial arts when I was young. If you trust me, focus on practicing your spear technique."

"There’s a move in spear technique called the Sweeping Spear Technique, which can break the situation."

’Sweeping Spear?’

Lou Yi had learned spear techniques from Cui Yuan, so he naturally knew this move.

Besides the basic techniques like block, thrust, and stab, moves like thrust, lift, chop, and sweep are common.

Sweeping Spear involves drawing a circle in place, with a spear length of over three meters, coupled with arm span, a full rotation covers an attack range of seven to eight meters, indeed the most likely method to meet Instructor Lin’s requirements.

Previously, he chose to advance his boxing skills, not expecting to delve into spear technique in the end.

"Don’t easily reveal matters regarding Instructor Lin to others." Housekeeper Wu warned Lou Yi before leaving.

"Understood." Lou Yi nodded in agreement.

As soon as he returned to the courtyard, several people approached him.

"So, did Instructor Lin agree to teach you his ultimate skills?"

Old Master Wang En, Cui Yuan, Tiger-Striped Man Shi Zhan, and others showed concern.

"No, it’s not that easy." Lou Yi shook his head.

"A pity!" Cui Yuan and the others appeared regretful but didn’t inquire further.

Only Wang En’s eyes shifted, he went for a walk and then returned to Lou Yi, carrying a pot of wine and a piece of salted meat.

"Ah Yi, did Instructor Lin really not teach you anything? Share something with your brother in private, and I promise not to tell anyone else." Wang En said sincerely, his face full of pockmarks.

"Really didn’t."

"Why did Housekeeper Wu chat with you for so long then?"

"The old man was concerned about my living conditions."

Lou Yi deflected while becoming wary of this person.

In his past life, such behavior was called lacking boundaries.

"Hey, then you missed a big opportunity, Instructor Lin is no ordinary martial artist." Wang En felt sorry for Lou Yi, but his eyes never left Lou Yi’s face.

Lou Yi remained calm and fearless.

Realizing he couldn’t get anything out of Lou Yi, Wang En left despondently.

He naturally took back the meat and wine he had brought.

...

Erhe Village, Qi Family.

The young man with the surname Qin darted back and forth inside the house, courtyard, and outside the walls, continuously checking for traces.

"There are footprints here!"

With a low shout, everyone rushed over.

The young man stood on the nearly four meters high enclosing wall, bending down to check closely, then confidently repeated, "Someone stepped here."

Then, he lightly leaped from the wall, landing without making a sound.

"The grass here can’t stand up, obviously it’s been stepped on by the perpetrator jumping down from a height.

The opponent’s leap was amazing, shame their control over strength was somewhat lacking. If it was an ordinary person, they might have concealed it, but it’s a shame they encountered me, Qin Yun." He said casually, his tone quite proud.

Qin Yun continued to analyze the traces from here to the main gate, finally concluding: someone climbed over the wall into the Qi Family, opened the courtyard gate, allowing the beast to enter.

If Lou Yi were present, he would be greatly impressed by this person, as they almost perfectly recreated his actions that night.

"Indeed, someone has plotted against us." Qi Hu’s face was so dark it seemed it would drip water.

He swept his tiger-like eyes over everyone present; all avoided eye contact, not daring to meet his gaze.

The villagers from Erhe Village, who had been outside watching the spectacle, dispersed quickly, afraid of being caught in the storm.

"An ordinary person couldn’t climb onto my home’s wall." Qi Hu’s voice was frighteningly calm, "But there’s one person with a grudge who could easily do it."

"Lou Yi, he’s definitely the culprit."

"Oh, why are you so sure?" Qin Yun showed interest, "The wall is over a meter tall; ordinary people can’t climb it."

"This Lou Yi is no ordinary person." The village head, who had been slapped by Qi Hu earlier, eagerly chimed in, "He killed two wolves and flipped a cow! With such strength, what’s climbing a wall?"

"Flipped a cow? Are you sure it’s not just gossip?" Qin Yun asked.

"Absolutely true, many people saw it with their own eyes!" The village head asserted.

"Besides, he previously had a conflict with your family and beat up your father and big brother!"

"What!" Qi Hu suddenly grabbed the village head by the collar, "Why didn’t you say so earlier?"

The village head was lifted off the ground by Qi Hu, his collar strangling him, making his face turn red due to lack of oxygen.

After being tossed aside by Qi Hu, he lay on the ground, coughing persistently, with snot and tears flowing.

’Bang!’

Qi Hu strode out of the courtyard, kicking open Lou Yi’s locked door.

"Where is this rascal Lou Yi?" Qi Hu shouted angrily.

Kicking and pushing around, he trashed Lou Yi’s house.

"Heard he went to Jia Family Manor to be a guard." Someone in the crowd responded.

"Let’s go! Follow me to Jia Family Manor to get him!"

Qi Hu led a group of people, making their way to Jia Family Manor with great vigor.

...

"Bad news, bad news!"

Lou Yi was in the middle of practicing with a long stick at the martial arts training ground of Jia Family when Tiger-Striped Man Shi Zhan, looking flustered, ran towards him.

"What’s the matter?" Cui Yuan, who was teaching spear techniques to everyone, frowned upon hearing the commotion.

"A lot of people from the Inspection Bureau have come to arrest Brother Yi! They claim Brother Yi is a murderer! That he killed ten members of the Qi Family!"

"What!?"

The guards were in uproar, all turning to look at Lou Yi, with some even discreetly stepping a few paces away from him.

"Brother Yi, you should run!" Shi Zhan urged.

Lou Yi furrowed his brows, not expecting to be found out so quickly.

He thought he had acted quite meticulously, but the investigative capabilities of this world obviously surpassed his expectations.

Turning to look at the others, their expressions varied, most were indifferent.

Having spent too little time together, it was hard for them to empathize with Lou Yi.

But one person stood out; he walked forward with a smile: "What’s the panic? I believe in Ah Yi; he could never be such a person."

The pockmarked man showed concern outwardly but subtly blocked Lou Yi’s departure route, making his heart grow cold.

...