Grinding to the Martial Sage from the White Ape Fist-Chapter 56: A Grim Snowstorm

In the Inner Courtyard’s tearoom, sandalwood incense curled through the simple and tranquil space. Outside, the sky was a heavy, leaden gray, so oppressive it felt hard to breathe.

Qin Fangqiong was slumped in the Grandmaster’s Chair, unhurriedly peeling a golden orange. As the peel came off, a crisp, citrusy fragrance filled the air.

Nearby, Qin Yu was fidgeting, unable to sit still, polishing her precious sword again and again.

"Dad, in a little while... I plan to break through the bottleneck of the Flesh Refining Realm."

Qin Fangqiong tossed a slice of orange into his mouth and chewed it with relish. "Mm," he mumbled indistinctly. "Go ahead and break through."

Seeing her father’s nonchalant attitude, Qin Yu’s brows shot up in anger. She slammed her sword on the table. "Dad! This is a major bottleneck in the Flesh Refining Realm! Shouldn’t you explain the crucial points to me in detail?"

"What’s there to explain?"

Qin Fangqiong swallowed the orange and rolled his eyes. "It’s just flesh refining. I’ve already prepared the best medicinal pills for you. With your talent, it’ll happen naturally. Just put your mind at ease."

"Oh..."

Qin Yu pouted. Though a little unhappy with her father’s dismissive attitude, her tense nerves began to relax.

Though Qin Fangqiong acted as if it was all a matter of course, he secretly glanced at his daughter. Seeing her relax, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

’This girl is a bit too wound up.’

’When it comes to breaking through a Martial Arts bottleneck, once you have all the external aid you need, the only thing left is confidence. Only by firmly believing you can succeed can you break through the barrier in one go.’

’Worrying about success and failure is the easiest way to fail!’

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Master Qin, your disciple Su Yu requests to see you."

"Come in." Qin Fangqiong composed himself, his expression once again becoming profound and inscrutable.

Su Yu pushed the door open and entered, his expression grave as he bowed respectfully.

"What is it?"

Su Yu took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, "Master Qin, my family has been kidnapped by a Water Snake Gang leader, Cao Bin, and taken to their stronghold in Qingxi Market. Their lives hang by a thread. I intend to rescue them, but I fear it will lead to conflict with the Water Snake Gang, so I have come to report it."

Qin Fangqiong’s hand paused as he reached for an orange slice. "What realm is this Cao Bin?" he asked.

"He just became a Martial Artist."

Qin Fangqiong picked up the orange slice and continued eating nonchalantly.

"He holds an old grudge against my older brother..."

"Enough." Qin Fangqiong waved his hand, cutting off Su Yu’s explanation. "I don’t care about personal grudges. You’re a member of our White Ape Martial Arts Hall. If someone bullies you, you hit them back. Just have Xu Feng go with you."

His tone was indifferent, as if he were discussing a trivial matter.

Su Yu’s expression froze. The entire speech he had prepared was now caught in his throat.

He suddenly understood. ’Perhaps now that I’m a Martial Artist, many problems are no longer so difficult to solve.’

"Yes."

Su Yu pushed aside his stray thoughts, cupped his fist in a salute, and turned to leave.

"Wait!"

A clear, melodious voice called out.

"Senior Sister Qin, what is it?"

Qin Yu shot to her feet. Dressed in fiery red, her eyes blazed with fury. She ignored Su Yu and glared at her father, her pretty face contorted in anger.

"Dad! I’m going too! Who the hell does that Cao Bin think he is, daring to run wild over a disciple of our White Ape Martial Arts Hall? If word of this gets out, what will happen to our reputation?"

Hearing this, Master Qin felt a headache coming on. "What do you mean, you’re going? You don’t know how to hold back. Even I find the Water Snake Gang’s leader, Hong Lei, and his Black Water Profound Python Skill to be a handful. Don’t let this escalate."

"I know what I’m doing! He’s just a minor leader. I promise I’ll only kill him and no one else!" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Qin Yu ignored him completely. She strode to the door in a few steps, grabbed Su Yu’s arm, and dragged him out. "Let’s go! Senior Brother Xu isn’t at the hall. We’ll find him at his house! I’ll lead the way!"

Su Yu was dragged along at a rapid pace. He saw the excited look on her pretty face and didn’t know what to think, but ultimately, it was a good thing. ’With Senior Sister Qin here, this trip should be no problem at all.’

The two of them stepped outside the martial arts hall, and a bone-chilling wind swept over them. A few icy crystals landed on Su Yu’s cheek, instantly melting into cold water.

It was snowing!

...

「Qingxi Market, at the Water Snake Gang’s stronghold.」

The first snowflakes began to fall, dotting the scarlet bloodstains and melting into a swirl of red and white.

Cao Bin had one foot on Su Hong’s hand, grinding his boot sole into it with force.

CRUNCH.

The sound of shattering bone was exceptionally grating in the silent snowfall.

"Su Hong, you were just a fledgling who’d barely begun his training, yet you dared to sever my finger and kill my only brother. Now... I’ll let you have a taste of that same pain."

He stared savagely at Su Hong, wanting to see him scream in agony.

But Su Hong just clenched his jaw, refusing to make a sound. He simply stared death at him as snowflakes landed on his blood-and-grime-covered face.

"Good! You’ve got guts!"

Cao Bin sneered, pulling out a silk handkerchief to wipe the blood from his blade. The pristine white silk was instantly stained red. He tossed it aside, and it fluttered to the ground, gradually disappearing under the thin blanket of snow.

He hefted his saber and walked toward the other bound members of the Su Family. He knew Su Hong cared about his family most of all.

Su Manjiang shivered uncontrollably from the cold, looking like a withered tree root barely clinging to life in the snowstorm. "Young man... be merciful where you can... My grandson is about to become a Martial Artist..."

Nearby, Mrs. Chen shrieked, "You bastard, let me go! My son, Can’Er, is about to have his breakthrough! If you dare touch me..."

"Su Can? That piece of trash? Him, become a Martial Artist?"

Cao Bin threw his head back and roared with laughter, his hot breath turning to mist in the cold air. "HAHAHA! I’m waiting for Su Can! The moment he shows up will be the moment the entire Su Family is wiped out!"

"You bastard, you animal! You’re full of shit! My son is a genius! When he gets here, he’ll kill you!" Hearing her son called trash, Mrs. Chen flew into a frenzy.

Cao Bin’s expression turned icy. "Crazy bitch. Since you’re asking to die, I’ll deal with you first!"

SHLICK!

The blade flashed down. Blood sprayed from Mrs. Chen’s body as she let out a piercing scream.

The snow began to fall even harder.

Just then, a woman’s lustful moan drifted from inside a room. "Ah... Brother Luo... you’re so strong..."

Hearing this, Cao Bin stood amidst the swirling snow and laughed aloud. "Brother Luo is so amazing."

Outside the stronghold, the wind and snow were blinding.

Su Da Wen and Su Can hid around the corner of the nearby Fuxian Building, their bodies covered in snow.

"Dad... let me go save Mom!" Su Can’s eyes were red, and his whole body trembled, though it was hard to tell if it was from the cold or from rage.

Veins bulged on Su Da Wen’s hands as he gripped his son’s arm tightly. "You can’t go! He’s a Martial Artist! Wait... wait for your Second Brother, Su Yu!"

"What good would Second Brother be? He’d just be throwing his life away! ...If Mom dies, I don’t want to live either..."

"Calm down! As long as you don’t show yourself, Cao Bin will have his reservations and won’t kill your mother and the others!"

Just then, another of Mrs. Chen’s agonizing screams came from the courtyard.

The thread of reason in Su Can’s mind finally snapped.

BANG!

He flung his father’s hand off, kicked the courtyard gate open like a mad bull, and charged inside, a flurry of snow swirling in with him.

Su Can charged into the courtyard, his vision filled with a world of interwoven red and white.

White from the snow, red from the blood.

His mother lay in a corner, hair disheveled, her face covered in blood.

"Go save your mother!"

His father’s roar from behind snapped him out of it. He gritted his teeth and charged toward his mother alongside his father.

Cao Bin stood in the center of the snow-covered yard. Watching the two of them charge, the corner of his mouth twisted into a savage grin.

With just a look, he ordered his men to intercept Su Da Wen. As an ordinary man, Su Da Wen was instantly blocked by two gang members and slashed to the ground.

"DAD!!!"

Su Can turned his head, and his heart seized.

Though he had just cursed his father for being a burden, he knew in his heart that they had already done their best. ’I’m the real burden here!’

With his mother waiting to be rescued and his father injured, the murderous intent in his heart finally erupted.

"KILL!!!"

He erupted with all his Qi and Blood. The force of his punch scattered the falling snowflakes as it slammed viciously into the head of the enemy before him. With a wet "THUD," blood splattered everywhere.

One punch! Another! And another! He quickly beat down several enemies and reached his mother’s side. ’I can do this! I can kill these enemies! I can save my mother!’

Her face a mask of blood and grime, Mrs. Chen watched her son’s ferocious eruption as he killed several men in quick succession. A shocking glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes. "My son, my son has come to save me!"

In the distance, Su Manjiang shakily raised his head, hope filling his cloudy old eyes. The grandson in whom he had placed all his hope had come to save the Su Family!

But in the next second, a sudden gust of wind whipped up the snowflakes.

A black shadow appeared like a phantom behind Su Can. Cao Bin’s Ghost Head Long Saber was raised high, its blade reflecting the endless falling snow.

SHLICK!

The blade fell.

Su Can’s outstretched fist froze in midair.

Then, the right arm that carried all their hopes was severed cleanly at the elbow. It spun through the air before landing in a thick snowdrift, instantly creating a deep, red crater.

Blood splattered across Mrs. Chen’s face.