[Martial Arts Longevity Points: 39]
Before dawn, Xu Yang woke up. The first thing he did upon opening his eyes was to check his panel. Yesterday's reward was thirty points.
He had reached the Entry Level of the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture and learned the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist the day before.
[Root Bone: 30]
Without a moment's hesitation, Xu Yang allocated all thirty points to improving his Root Bone, rather than to the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture or the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist.
He had reached the Entry Level for the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture just one day after Lu Ren, yet no one believed he could become a Martial Artist. Beyond the issue of resources, the main reason was that his Root Bone was inferior to Lu Ren's.
In other words, at this stage, Root Bone was more important than Comprehension.
And since Comprehension determined the cultivation speed of a technique, using points to advance a technique's progress wouldn't be of much help for Breaking Through.
Instantly, Xu Yang felt a wave of heat wash over him, and a tingling sensation spread through his muscles and bones.
His body grew increasingly hot, and he began to sweat.
He had experienced this sensation three times before.
The first was when his Root Bone reached 5, the second when it hit 10, and the third at 20.
And this time, his Root Bone had reached 30.
'My Root Bone should be C-class now, same as Zhang Yong's.'
After a while, his body gradually returned to normal. He was completely soaked in a sticky sweat that was black in color and carried an acrid stench.
He could feel that his muscles and bones were stronger and his power had changed. His entire body felt significantly lighter.
Xu Yang decided not to use the remaining points for now. 'Even if I want to improve my Fist Technique, I have to do it slowly.'
'I just learned the Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist yesterday. If I'm going to improve it, I should wait a couple of days. It's best to add points one by one, day by day, so it doesn't seem so sudden.'
Leaving his room, Xu Yang fetched a few basins of water to wash the sweat from his body. He was so hungry he could barely stand it.
In truth, it was hunger that had woken him. The food he had eaten last night at Weiyuan Hall was already completely digested. Now that he had reached the Entry Level of the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture, a small bowl of rice and meat was no longer enough to support his training.
Back in his room, Xu Yang ate two large bowls of brown rice with the chicken Xu Qing had stewed the night before, but he could have easily eaten more.
If he had let himself eat his fill, he could have devoured the entire chicken, but he had to leave some for Xu Qing.
The little girl was at a crucial age for growth and needed the nutrients just as much.
Xu Yang began practicing the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture. With his Root Bone now at C-class, the effects of his training had improved significantly.
By dawn, the food he'd eaten was nearly digested, and he immediately hurried to Weiyuan Hall.
He hadn't just been trying to scare Xu the Second last night. On his way, he told everyone he met that he and his sister had severed all ties with Xu the Second.
Xu the Second had been desperate for money lately. Xu Yang's biggest fear was that if he resisted Li Hu, Li Hu would go directly to Xu the Second instead.
Knowing Xu the Second's character, he might really sell Xu Qing to Yang Jun to be used for his martial arts training. Yesterday's events had given Xu Yang the perfect opportunity to sever his father-son relationship with the man.
Before long, everyone in Bai Shi Workshop knew about it.
"The little brat is surprisingly sharp!" A strange look crossed Li Hu's face.
He had come to Bai Shi Workshop today intending to buy Xu Qing through Xu the Second, but was met with the news that they had already severed ties. He concluded that Xu Yang must have anticipated his scheme.
"Master Hu, what do we do? Now that they've severed ties, Xu the Second no longer has the right to sell her," one of his men asked.
A vicious glint flashed in Li Hu's eyes. "The ungrateful brat. Since he's so eager to die, I'll grant his wish. Isn't he working in the mines? Arrange for a few men to go in and finish him off directly.
"I wanted to do things the proper way, but he's forcing me to kill. In that case, he'll only have himself to blame."
...
Weiyuan Hall!
Zhang Yong still wasn't speaking to Xu Yang, but the hatred in his eyes was less obvious than it had been the day before.
"Do you know why Liu Guangfa isn't eating with us either?" Qian Jiaxing sidled up conspiratorially.
"Why?" Xu Yang asked.
The two of them lived outside the city and walked home together every day. Qian Jiaxing always used this time to ask Xu Yang for pointers on the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture.
Xu Yang wasn't stingy and would freely share what he knew.
They were all struggling in the same mire, so he didn't mind helping out when it cost him little. As a result, if you had to say who among the ten of them was closest to Xu Yang, it was undoubtedly Qian Jiaxing.
However, while at Weiyuan Hall, they had a tacit agreement not to let anyone else notice.
Qian Jiaxing lowered his voice. "He sold his meat rations to Zhou Yang, so he doesn't dare eat with us."
Xu Yang was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head. "Looks like he's given up."
He wasn't particularly surprised. Liu Guangfa had been out of the running for a long time. Even though he had eventually memorized the Turtle and Snake Grand Posture with Lu Ren's help, his will for the Martial Dao was shattered. A choice like this was to be expected.
Qian Jiaxing glanced around, and once he was sure no one was listening, he lowered his voice again. "It's not just him. What happened with you yesterday has made others waver, too.
"He asked me to pass a message to you. He also wants to sell his meat rations for cash, but he doesn't want to sell to Zhou Yang and that pack of dogs. If you're willing, he'll sell them to you."
Xu Yang's interest was piqued. "Who is it?"
Three hundred coins a month. For just ten coins a day, he could get an extra three bowls of beef. It was definitely a bargain; otherwise, the brothers Zhou Yang and Zhou Yuan wouldn't be watching them like hawks every day.
If he had an extra three bowls of meat each day, the rate at which he accumulated qi and blood would increase significantly.
Qian Jiaxing shook his head. "He actually approached me first, but I couldn't afford it. He wants one tael of silver, all at once. I told him I'd ask you, and I promised I would only reveal his name if you agreed to buy."
Xu Yang considered it carefully, then shook his head. "I can't risk it."
He could afford the one tael of silver, and it was a great deal.
But doing this was tantamount to stealing from the Huang Family, and the chances of being discovered were high.
The moment he and Lu Ren had their breakthroughs, the Huang Family had received the news. Clearly, there were Huang Family eyes and ears among them.
If he paid the money and the Huang Family found out about the secret sale, they would kick the seller out of the Martial Arts Hall. His money would go down the drain, and he would likely get on the Huang Family's bad side. The risk wasn't worth the reward.
Yesterday's events made it clear that the Huang Family was only interested in cultivating Lu Ren. They had wanted to kick the rest of them out for a while, held back only by concerns for their reputation.
If he were discovered, the Huang Family might use it as an excuse to cut off his support. The risk and reward were not proportional.
"Go ask him if he can wait a few days," Xu Yang finally added. "If nothing happens to Liu Guangfa, we can discuss it again."
But before Qian Jiaxing had a chance to ask the person, Liu Guangfa was found out during lunch.
Huang Jin came personally. He hauled Liu Guangfa out of the dining hall, announced that his sponsorship was terminated, and expelled him from Weiyuan Hall.
Huang Jin didn't press the matter further with Liu Guangfa, but Zhou Yang, who had bought the beef, was out of luck.
Zhou Yang had paid Liu Guangfa one tael of silver in a single payment. After being expelled from Weiyuan Hall, Liu Guangfa vanished, and Zhou Yang had no way to find him to get his money back.
"Damn it!"
Zhou Yang's face turned ashen. He had finally managed to persuade someone, only to lose a tael of silver for nothing.
"Brainless fool!"
Xu Yang and the others found the scene deeply satisfying. Every single one of them detested the two brothers, and seeing Zhou Yang suffer such a loss made them want to applaud.
"Listening to them talk so eloquently and order people around with such arrogance, I actually thought they were smart. I can't believe they never even considered the Huang Family would find out," Zhang Hong said, doubled over with laughter.
"They're just idiots. If it were that easy to take advantage of the situation, they wouldn't be the only ones trying. They really think they're the only clever ones here."
Even the usually silent Zhang Yong chimed in because of this.
In fact, the few disciples with Upper D-class Root Bone had all considered selling their resources for cash. They were just worried about being discovered and held accountable by the Huang Family. It was unbelievable that the Zhou brothers hadn't even considered that.
"Do any of you know where Liu Guangfa lives?" Zhou Yang demanded, storming over with his brother.
Having suffered such a huge loss for nothing, they naturally wouldn't let it slide. They were determined to find Liu Guangfa and get their money back.
No one said a word. Speaking up now, unless you were willing to give up Liu Guangfa's address, would only draw Zhou Yang's ire.
Zhou Yang's gaze swept past Lu Ren, whom he knew better than to provoke. His eyes then landed on Xu Yang, who was standing beside Lu Ren. He pointed a finger. "You. Tell me!"
Xu Yang's brow furrowed, his eyes turning cold. "Who do you think you are? You think I'll talk just because you tell me to?"
With that kind of arrogant, commanding tone, even if he did know where Liu Guangfa lived—which he didn't—he wouldn't have said a thing.
"Are you trying to protect him? Or are you all in on it together? Did all you mud-legs team up to cheat me out of my money?"
Hearing Xu Yang's response, Zhou Yang immediately assumed he was refusing to tell, completely oblivious to the fact that his own arrogant attitude was what had provoked Xu Yang in the first place.
"Zhou Yang, you've gone too far!"
That single word, "mud-legs," was too much even for Lu Ren to bear.
"Oh, so you're not a mud-leg? Trying to score some cheap points?"
"Fuck your mother! Say that again if you've got the guts!"
...
It wasn't just Lu Ren; everyone was enraged. If Weiyuan Hall hadn't forbidden infighting among disciples, fists would have already started flying.
"Fine, fine, fine," Zhou Yang threatened. "You mud-legs practice your Pile Skill for a few days and think you're somebody. You cheated me? Just you wait."
"Zhou Yang, how impressive you are, throwing your weight around with junior brothers who entered after you!"
Suddenly, Sun Tao's voice rang out.
Zhou Yang's expression changed. He saw that Sun Tao had appeared behind him at some point. He hastily cupped his fists. "Sen... Senior Brother Sun..."
"You blame others for your own stupidity? Get over to the Meihua Posture and stand there for two hours. Don't you dare come down before your time is up. If I hear you bring this up again, you're out," Sun Tao snorted coldly.
"Yes!" Zhou Yang replied, hastily cupping his fists.
He might act tough in front of Xu Yang's group, but before Sun Tao, who was in charge of the Outer Courtyard, he was as docile as a lamb. He immediately hurried off toward the Meihua Posture.
Zhou Yuan kept his head down, inwardly relieved that he hadn't spoken up.
"You too. Get over there and stand for two hours. Clear your head."
Sun Tao hadn't let him off the hook. After muttering a "Yes," Zhou Yuan also hurried away.
"Xu Yang, Lu Ren, with me."
With that, Sun Tao turned and walked toward the Inner Courtyard.
Lu Ren and Xu Yang exchanged a look and quickly followed. Upon entering the Inner Courtyard, they saw Huang Jin sitting in a gazebo, sipping tea.