The Strange Painting

Huo Xuan didn't hold back. He stepped forward and delivered a solid kick—no internal energy used, but the sheer physical force sent Xu Dongliang flying with a pained yelp. The man crumpled to the ground, face pale and forehead beaded with cold sweat.

The kick had aggravated the hidden injury at his lower back, sending waves of excruciating pain through his body. To make matters worse, Huo Xuan had struck with precision—Xu Dongliang was certain there'd be a dark bruise in the shape of a footprint on his backside.

With the deed done, Huo Xuan said coolly, "We're even." He then pressed two fingers against Xu Dongliang's waist, subtly channeling the golden light of his Buddha's Eye to heal the damage.

A warm sensation spread through Xu Dongliang's kidneys, instantly dulling the pain. His eyes widened in shock—Could this man's martial arts have already reached the Transforming Force level? Only then could one harness internal energy not just to harm, but to heal.

Those at the Hidden Force stage could only wield rigid, destructive energy. But at the Transforming Force stage, practitioners achieved mastery over soft and hard energies alike, allowing them to both injure and mend.

"Thanks," Xu Dongliang muttered awkwardly as he sat up.

Huo Xuan ignored him, turning to Xu Dongsen instead. "Dongsen, I need a quiet room for meditation."

Relieved the conflict had passed, Xu Dongsen grinned. "Of course! Right this way."

Night fell by the time Huo Xuan emerged from his trance. He hadn't slacked in his training—now, he could channel internal energy not just through his limbs, but also through his chest and back.

This marked tremendous progress. If an enemy struck his torso, he could instantly mobilize energy to mitigate damage—a far cry from when he could only defend with his arms and legs.

Reaching the Transforming Force stage is no easy feat. Not a single day of slacking is allowed, he mused.

Then his thoughts turned to the King of the Central Plains, sending a chill down his spine. The man's influence was terrifying—with a single word, he'd resurrected Zhou Ba's career, transformed Zhou Ziqiang from murderer to victim, and toppled an entire county's leadership, even implicating Tong Haichuan, a senior newspaper executive.

There truly is a King in the Central Plains—no wonder he outranks even Master. But since I've stepped into this, I won't back down.

Master tasked me with finding Longtou's notebook for a reason—it must hold the key to his lifelong wealth and connections. Once I have it, perhaps then I'll stand a chance against the King.

Deep in thought, Huo Xuan's phone rang. The caller ID showed Shen Rong.

A woman calling a man late at night? Either she's bored or lonely, Huo Xuan mused as he answered.

"Shen Rong, what's up?"

Her voice sounded drowsy, as if she were curled up in bed.

"I can't sleep," she said. "You still awake?"

"Mm. Stargazing," he replied.

"Liar. It's overcast—no stars tonight," Shen Rong teased.

Huo Xuan chuckled. "I've got X-ray vision."

"If you could really see through things, you'd have ogled every pretty girl by now," she fired back, already imagining what a peeping-tom Huo Xuan might look like.

His ears burned—she wasn't wrong. Since gaining the Buddha's Eye relic, he'd certainly...appreciated his fair share of feminine charms. Grinning, he said, "You'd be first on my list."

A strange flutter ran through Shen Rong. "Try it and I'll gouge your eyes out!" she huffed.

Too late for that, he thought, though he wisely kept that to himself. "Any big cases lately?"

The question sobered her. "Huo Xuan," she said seriously, "that investigation with Tong Haichuan—what's going on? He got fired, and Tianyun County's in chaos. Something feels off about this whole thing. Be careful."

Warmth spread through his chest. "Don't worry. I know what I'm up against."

"Good." Relief colored her voice before she brightened again. "Oh! I just cracked a drug ring—six suspects arrested. Pretty impressive, huh?"

"Very impressive," he agreed dutifully.

Shen Rong's conversation hopped from cases to life philosophies, even veering into risqué topics that left Huo Xuan's pulse racing. Just as he considered reciprocating her teasing, she yawned.

"G'night," she mumbled, and hung up.

By noon the next day, Huo Xuan administered another treatment to the Xu patriarch. The previous session's effects were remarkable—after just one night of recovery, the old man could already walk unaided, leaving the Xu family both astonished and deeply grateful for Huo Xuan's miraculous medical skills.

Following the same procedure as before, the patriarch sat up on his own afterward. With a warm smile, he said, "Young man, thank you. It's been ten years since I've felt this energetic."

Huo Xuan replied modestly, "Your robust constitution did most of the work. I merely assisted."

The old man nodded, silently praising Huo Xuan's humility. "I heard about yesterday's incident. Dongliang has a terrible temper—please forgive him. Also, send my regards to your master."

"There's no conflict between us anymore," Huo Xuan assured him. "And I'll certainly convey your greetings."

In high spirits that afternoon, the patriarch played two rounds of chess with Huo Xuan before personally guiding him through his collection. A connoisseur of antiques and calligraphy, the old man owned few pieces but each was a masterpiece, leaving Huo Xuan in awe.

In the study, the patriarch showcased item after item before offering, "Young Huo, you've been admiring them long enough. Pick a few to take home."

Huo Xuan declined politely, "I couldn't! Dongsen told me these are your treasures."

The old man chuckled. "Take them. I'm not that stingy."

Tempted, Huo Xuan finally conceded, "Then I won't stand on ceremony." His gaze swept the room until landing on an oddly crude ink painting.

Noticing his focus, the patriarch remarked, "That one's rather amateurish. Do you fancy it?"

Huo Xuan had already used his X-ray vision to peer beneath the surface—what he saw startled him. "Sir, why would you collect this? The technique seems mediocre, the mounting shoddy... hardly a master's work."

"I kept it because of its infamous creator—Hideki Tojo. Surely you've heard of him."

Huo Xuan froze. The Imperial Japanese Army's supreme commander during WWII?

The patriarch added, "Tojo painted this right before his attempted suicide. It was displayed in Japan's military museum until our operatives... acquired it. I merely preserved it afterward."