Chapter 24: Night Visit to Little Bamboo House

When the two arrived at Wind God Commerce in the city, they didn't spend much time browsing around.

Liang Yi only needed a common sword, and under Su Youyi's selection, he bought a white-quality fine steel sword and a blue-quality Yunlan Sword. The two swords made Liang Yi's wallet considerably lighter, leaving him with only a few hundred spiritual coins.

Liang Yi put away both swords. However, the fine steel sword was stored in the storage ring, while the Yunlan Sword was kept in the player's bag. To retrieve something from the storage ring, one must project their Divine Sense into it, lock onto the item, and finally extract it, whereas retrieving something from the player's bag only requires a thought. In emergencies, this slight difference in time could be life-threatening.

Thus, experts in the game store less important equipment in the storage ring to mislead enemies, keeping crucial items in their bag for quick access.

They chose not to stay at Little Bamboo House. After consulting Su Youyi, Liang Yi opted for a small courtyard situated on the opposite side of the city from Zhiqing's lodgings.

If something unusual happened, the chances of them being searched would be relatively smaller.

"Senior brother, your swordsmanship is so standard!" Su Youyi exclaimed as she watched Liang Yi practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard.

In her view, the swordsmanship her senior brother was displaying was the most standard Immaculate Sword Technique, exactly matching the description in the sword manual.

[Immaculate Sword Technique proficiency +100]

Having just completed the first execution of the sword technique, Liang Yi looked at the system panel's notification, nodding to himself and thought:

The proficiency setting indeed hasn't changed; one point of proficiency equals the same amount of skill experience points.

Skills, unlike cultivation techniques, are not fixed. In "Mystical Mechanism", skills emphasize variability according to the individual, producing different effects for different users.

Not everyone who has practiced the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms can be as invincible as Xiao Feng, right?

The same goes for skills; the experience gained when players level up and learn is just the most basic and standard. How to utilize them afterward is entirely up to the player to explore and practice.

Two players of the same character level, equipment, and skill level would have drastically different outcomes in a royal city PK if one has explored the skill capabilities, they could easily defeat a player who only follows a routine skill deployment.

Thus, while Liang Yi had no issues executing his skills, his aim was to refine the sword moves, integrating them into the varied and complex situations of real combat—that's the difference between an expert and an ordinary player.

"We've just reached the point where we can execute it, it's not nearly enough," Liang Yi shook his head as he took a water gourd handed to him by his junior sister and took a sip.

"Senior brother, are we just going to wait here?" Su Youyi asked.

"Of course not. After a bit, when the sky turns completely dark, we'll head to the other side of the town to find senior brother Zhiqing. Tonight, together we will explore Little Bamboo House!" A sharp light flashed in Liang Yi's eyes.

Reflecting on the conversation during the day, he always felt that "Zhang Feng" looked at him with a somewhat odd gaze.

"Senior brother, should we wear a set of night outfits like those described in the tales, to act as a fearsome duo?"

"What are you thinking about all day? No need for disguises, I have my own cunning plan," Liang Yi lightly tapped Su Youyi's head and chuckled.

Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the sky had completely darkened.

Liang Yi and Su Youyi activated their movement techniques, blending into the night, silently moving from the south of the city to the north, avoiding the bustling crowd and city guards.

"Thump, thump!"

As soon as the knocking sounded, the wooden door in front of them opened by itself without any wind.

Liang Yi and Su Youyi exchanged glances, it seemed that senior brother Zhiqing already knew they were coming.

They quickly entered, closed the door behind them, and made their way to the hall.

He Zhiqing, dressed in a black Stealth Suit, was already waiting.

"Brother He, what is this?"

Liang Yi was dumbfounded upon seeing He Zhiqing's outfit.

What is this??

Beside them, Su Youyi was also scrutinizing He Zhiqing's clothes, thinking to herself:

"This must be a night operations outfit, right? Just like the ones described in the stories, all black."

"Hmm? Isn't junior brother Liang going to investigate the Little Bamboo House tonight? I have quite some experience in this area." He Zhiqing patted his Stealth Suit, signifying his professionalism.

Liang Yi's mouth twitched, it wasn't surprising that He Zhiqing could guess his plan. But you, the chief of the Complete Heaven Sect, the top among the young generation, and the idol in players' hearts, have such rich experience in this area?

What exactly do you do during your usual cultivation journeys!

"Don't misunderstand, I often encounter unfair situations. Unless a life is at stake, I choose not to intervene directly."

"I would investigate the matter afterward to determine who's in the wrong and decide whether to help, so I inevitably have to use these outfits during the investigation."

Seeing the skeptical looks from the two, He Zhiqing chose to explain, otherwise his reputation might suffer.

"I see." Liang Yi and Su Youyi were convinced by his explanation.

"Brother He didn't directly use the Divination Skill?" Liang Yi knew that He Zhiqing was adept in divination.

"Divination is useful but not omnipotent. I haven't reached Master's level of predicting everything yet, and..." He Zhiqing, usually straightforward and generous, seemed a bit embarrassed as he spoke.

"When I was young, I read several chivalric stories in the Book Collection Pavilion of Complete Heaven Sect, and those tales of the jianghu deeply influenced me." He Zhiqing revealed this personal secret that he had never shared with his master.

"Ha ha ha, then Brother He should really go to the Sword Cleanse Heavenly Pool instead. 'See injustice on the road, draw your sword to help'!" Liang Yi laughed heartily; he really didn't know that He Zhiqing's willingness to help others had such a background.

"Brother He is indeed a chivalrous man now," Su Youyi also laughed. After hearing that He Zhiqing had also read these stories when he was young, she felt less intimidated. It was like finding out that the school's top ranking nerd also played online games after school, dissolving any barriers instantly.

However, He Zhiqing shook his head, he never considered himself a chivalrous man. He was merely on a journey towards that direction, a goal that was arduous and long, worthy of his lifelong pursuit.

"It's getting late, let's set off," Liang Yi looked out the window and said.

"Okay!"

"Alright!"

The trio departing from He Zhiqing's place didn't head directly to the Little Bamboo House; instead, led by Liang Yi, they caught a fat man with a wealthy appearance and dragged him into a deserted alley.

Only then did He Zhiqing realize that the young man in front of him was not the person rumored to be without any cultivation talent. Nevertheless, he didn't ask further, since everyone has their own secrets.

"Mercy, kind sir! I will give you any amount of money you ask, just please spare my life!" Yu Wei had no idea whom he had offended, especially since he had just changed into his new disguise.

"A second's heroism or a lifetime's cowardice," he decisively chose the latter.

His father had said, once captured, no matter what, immediately kneeling and begging for mercy is never wrong!