The Martial Saint of Humanity, I Have Transformed Low-Level Martial Arts Into Immortal Martial Arts - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Tendon Protection Pill! The Missing Blacksmith!

“I can use my savings to buy some secret medicine for Transforming Tendon, but getting a Tendon Protection Pill is quite difficult. I previously asked Gongsun Xiu about it; this pill isn’t something the major families or forces would sell easily because, to some extent, a single Tendon Protection Pill can create a Transforming Tendon martial artist.”

The only thing that gave Su Hao a slight headache was that breaking into the Transforming Tendon Stage is not as straightforward as Forging Bones. The tendons are fragile, and even a slight misstep can result in damage or even rupture during the Transforming process. Given the medical standards of this era, if the tendons were damaged, it would likely result in becoming disabled. Thus, many Forging Bones martial artists reach a point where they can advance no further and stop at the Forging Bones stage, afraid that a moment of carelessness could lead to incapacity.

The Tendon Protection Pill, when taken during the Transforming process, can protect the tendons and drastically reduce the risk of injury. The major forces and sects, when obtaining Tendon Protection Pills, reserve them exclusively for their most talented disciples to help them break through to the Transforming Tendon Stage!

“I currently have nearly a thousand taels of silver saved up, but that might not be enough to purchase a Tendon Protection Pill. No need to rush; I’ll take my time.”

Although Su Hao was confident in his talent and potential, believing that even without the Tendon Protection Pill, he could likely complete this step in Transforming Tendon, he didn’t want to leave anything to chance. If, in the unfortunate event that his tendons were damaged, the consequences could mean becoming disabled.

Over the years, countless exceptionally talented martial artists have faced mishaps at this stage of Transforming Tendon, ruining their future! Confidence does not equal arrogance; if there’s a way to mitigate risks, Su Hao naturally wanted to have a hundred percent certainty to keep his fate in his own hands. He wasn’t anxious; he was still young and had plenty of time.

A month had passed since Su Hao completed four rounds of Forging Bones, and today he headed to the Forging Weaponry Workshop for work as usual. Upon arriving, however, he noticed a group of blacksmiths huddled together, whispering.

“What’s going on?”

Su Hao approached and asked in confusion.

“Master Su… yesterday, Master Chen Yuan Zheng didn’t come, and we thought he was ill. Today, some of us went to his home to look for him, but he was nowhere to be found.”

One blacksmith respectfully explained. Although Su Hao was young, he was a blacksmith, holding a position of considerable importance in the Forging Weaponry Workshop.

“Master Chen is missing?”

Su Hao’s brows furrowed slightly upon hearing this. Chen Yuan Zheng was the one who had guided him when he joined the Forging Weaponry Workshop, and as a fellow blacksmith, they shared a good relationship. The two often discussed forging techniques together. It was indeed strange for someone like Chen Yuan Zheng to suddenly go missing without a word, as he usually informed others if he had to take leave for any matter.

“What about Master Wang and Master Wu? They’re also missing. What on earth is going on?”

It wasn’t just Chen Yuan Zheng; other apprentices of blacksmiths were also worried, as their masters had vanished too.

“Shopkeeper Xu.”

At this moment, the crowd, which had been buzzing with discussion, suddenly stood up respectfully as they saw the burly Xu Huanzhen approach.

Xu Huanzhen’s expression carried a hint of seriousness as he said, “I’m already aware of the situation. I’ve reported it to the authorities as soon as possible and asked acquaintances to help gather information. Master Chen and the others will certainly be fine. Now, please return to your positions.”

“Yes.”

The crowd responded in unison.

As the head shopkeeper of the Forging Weaponry Workshop, Xu Huanzhen commanded great respect among the workers. With his reassurance, everyone settled down.

“Who could have abducted Master Xu and the others? Most of them have training in martial arts, and while they may not engage in combat often, they are still at the Forging Bone Stage. To make them disappear without a trace, the person behind this must be formidable.”

While calming the crowd and ensuring the Forging Weaponry Workshop continued to operate normally, Xu Huanzhen felt far from tranquil beneath the surface. He contemplated inwardly, feeling a throbbing headache.

There was no doubt that the sudden disappearance of several blacksmiths was not a mere coincidence; it was the result of someone secretly plotting. And anyone capable of making three Forging Bone Stage martial artists vanish without a trace was no ordinary person. Xu Huanzhen had no choice but to deploy all resources to investigate!

“Master Chen and the others have gone missing? Could it be that the Forging Weaponry Workshop has offended someone?”

As Su Hao headed to the forging room to work, he pondered the recent events. The Forging Weaponry Workshop did business without getting involved in disputes. It had been almost two years since he joined, and nothing had happened until now, yet several blacksmiths had disappeared recently, making Su Hao suspect that someone was targeting the workshop’s business.

At the same time, he hoped that Chen Yuan Zheng and the others were safe. With no concrete information, Su Hao felt there was little he could do but wait patiently for news.

Two days later, Su Hao left the Forging Weaponry Workshop and returned to his residence.

In the stillness of the night, Evergreen City lay shrouded in darkness, as busy people retired for the day, resting to welcome the new dawn. But tonight, the courtyard was far from peaceful.

In his simply furnished bedroom, Su Hao suddenly awoke, sensing something unusual. He opened his eyes wide, a chill flashing briefly in the depths of his gaze. “Someone is trying to infiltrate my home. Could it be the same group responsible for Master Chen and the others’ disappearance targeting me as well?”

Having undergone Forging Strength four times and Forging Bones four times, Su Hao’s senses were incredibly sharp; he could detect even the slightest disturbances within a twenty to thirty-zhang radius. He could hear not just one but multiple breaths lingering outside the courtyard wall, as if watching for something, which ignited a surge of killing intent within him.

A few days earlier, when Chen Yuan Zheng and the others went missing, Su Hao had suspected that this group was targeting highly skilled blacksmiths. Was he now also on their radar?

And now, just a few days later, someone had come knocking. It was highly likely that they were the ones behind Chen Yuan Zheng and the others’ disappearance!

“Let’s see who dares to intrude!”

Su Hao leapt from the bed, his eyes flickering with a ghostly light in the darkness.

“Catch that Su kid as soon as possible. It’s said that the shopkeeper of the Forging Weaponry Workshop is a Transforming Tendon Stage martial artist, but as long as we monitor his movements, we should be fine if we avoid direct conflict.”

“Capturing a brat like him should be easy enough for me alone. Why did you bring the three of us for this?”

At that moment, three figures in black whispered outside the courtyard wall, observing the activities within.

Among the Forging Weaponry Workshop, the only one they feared was the shopkeeper Xu Huanzhen, but as long as they kept an eye on him and didn’t provoke him, dealing with the other blacksmiths would be straightforward.

After a brief observation, the three of them skillfully climbed over the high courtyard wall and landed inside the yard.

However, as soon as their feet touched the ground, they felt a jolt of shock upon seeing a young man in black standing by the flowerbed, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at them.

“Gentlemen, are you always this slow in your work? I, Su, have been waiting for you for quite some time.”

Su Hao stared intently at the three, his expression calm.

“Discovered? This kid is quite sharp!”

The three figures in black exchanged glances, both astonished. They were all at the Forging Bones level, each suppressing their presence, yet it seemed that before they even flipped over the courtyard wall, the other party had already been waiting for them!

After collecting themselves, a tall man in the center spoke, “Su Master, we’ve heard that your forging skills are exceptional. Our employer would like you to lend him a hand. Why not come with us? We have no desire to harm you.”

“They’re looking for me? Who is he, and what does he want with me?” Su Hao questioned in confusion, realizing that the disappearance of Chen Yuan Zheng and the others seemed to also be connected with these individuals.

“Su Master, when we’re out in the world, we should adhere to the code of conduct; naturally, we cannot tell you who our employer is. However, if you come with us, you will find out.”

The dark-haired man on the right with a chilling demeanor chuckled lightly.

“In that case, let me see if your bones are stronger than your words!” Su Hao replied coldly. He intended to subdue these three and interrogate them to uncover who was behind the schemes against the blacksmiths of the Forging Weaponry Workshop, and especially himself!

“Arrogant! You don’t know your place!”

The tall, slender figure on the left suddenly had his expression turn chillingly cold. Those among the Forging Weaponry Workshop were mostly weak in terms of combat power, and the only one they truly feared was the shopkeeper Xu Huanzhen. While this kid might have enough resources and some martial foundation, he was still not a match for them in their eyes.

As soon as he finished speaking, the slender figure suddenly moved, and in an instant, he dashed forward, creating an afterimage that flickered left and right, making it difficult to discern his position, dazzling to behold, as if he split into multiple shadows!

“His lightness skill is indeed remarkable,” the other two silently nodded, agreeing that this slender figure was the most adept among them in terms of movement technique.

Su Hao stood rooted in place, seemingly mesmerized and bewildered by the bewildering movement of the slender figure’s afterimage.

However, in an instant, Su Hao, without turning around, reached back with his right hand. This motion appeared slow, but in reality, it was so speedily executed that it created an illusion to the naked eye, as quick as lightning!

“Swish!”

The afterimage dissipated, leaving the slender figure’s face showing shock and terror as Su Hao effortlessly caught him by the neck, as if he were seizing a chick.

“Release…“Let go…”

The slender figure struggled desperately, yet he was like a child as Su Hao grasped his neck, lifting him effortlessly with one hand, his feet dangling off the ground thrashing helplessly, unable to budge Su Hao’s powerful grip even a little, his face turning red from choking.

“I’ll ask you only once, who sent you?”

Su Hao slightly tilted his head, his eyes flashing with a chilling light that could pierce through the soul.

“Y-You can’t tell you…”

The slender figure, filled with fear, managed to squeeze out a few words but was reluctant to betray his employer right away.

“Crack!”

Su Hao was too lazy to waste words with him. He tightened his five fingers, accompanied by a series of excruciating bone-cracking sounds; the slender figure’s cervical vertebrae and flesh were crushed into a mess by brute force, the arms and legs that had been struggling now limply falling to his sides.

His eyes widened in shock; Su Hao really had only asked him once before cleanly and decisively killing him!

Casually throwing aside the slender figure’s corpse, as though discarding a trash bag, Su Hao didn’t believe that these hired hands would all be tough and unwilling to betray their employer. By killing one, he set an example for the others—after all, there were still two left!