Entering the Inner Courtyard

Tiger Martial Arts Academy.

A young man squatted beneath a tree, looking utterly dejected.

He had just received a piece of news.

Qin Ming had become a Martial Artist.

He vaguely remembered how Qin Ming had knocked on the Tiger Martial Arts Academy's doors half a month ago, seeking a master. He had recognized Qin Ming and, unable to keep his mouth shut, mentioned it to Huo Lan. In the end, Qin Ming's identity had been exposed, and he had been swept out the door.

For days afterward, they had laughed about it over their meals. A pig butcher had actually dreamed of becoming a Martial Artist! What wishful thinking!

Who would have thought Qin Ming would join the Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy instead and break through to the Skin Refining Realm in just half a month!

"Zhu Aoyu, why aren't you practicing your stance? Is something on your mind?"

A young man walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

"Brother Little Hu, did you know? Qin Ming broke through to the Skin Refining Realm."

"Who's Qin Ming? Why does that name sound familiar?"

Wang Hu scratched the back of his head, then his eyes suddenly lit up.

"I remember now, that pig butcher who got kicked out!

Wait, what did you just say? He became a Martial Artist?"

Wang Hu's eyes widened.

He pressed a hand to Zhu Aoyu's forehead. "Has your brain been fried by a fever? We've been training for a month and a half without any results, and he managed it in half a month?"

"It's true. The whole town is talking about it now."

Zhu Aoyu gave a bitter smile.

"That pig butcher became a Martial Artist?"

Huo Lan strode over on her long legs, her delicate brows knitting slightly. "Where did you hear that?"

"Senior Sister, I heard the townspeople talking about it."

"Is it reliable?"

"It should be true."

Huo Lan's expression shifted, and she turned to find Huo Zheng.

"Father, do you know Qin Ming broke through and became a Martial Artist?"

"I do. I also know he raided the yamen's jail. I heard he crippled two yamen constables at the Late Skin-Refining Realm."

"What?!"

Huo Lan's eyes widened, her mouth falling slightly open.

Although the yamen had done everything it could to suppress the news, quite a few people had seen it happen. It was impossible to keep word from spreading.

"I thought he had only become a Martial Artist. I didn't expect..."

Huo Lan seemed to think of something, and her expression changed. "Father, doesn't that mean we have little chance of winning the Two-Academy Martial Arts Contest on the seventh day of the first month?"

"Why panic? Do you really think a pig butcher has that kind of ability?"

Huo Zheng was quite calm. "It's mostly rumors growing in the telling. Maybe that old dog Pei Heng deliberately stirred them up. Pay them no mind.

"All right, go and focus on your cultivation. You're close to breaking through to the late stage yourself. When the time comes, bring glory to our Tiger Martial Arts Academy in the ring."

Huo Zheng waved a hand.

"I understand, Father. Once I break through to the late stage, I'll be sure to test myself against Qin Ming in the ring. I refuse to believe he really has that kind of ability!"

Huo Lan took a deep breath, a flicker of fighting spirit flashing in her eyes.

Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy, rear courtyard.

Embroiderer lay in bed, dressed in new padded clothes and covered by bedding that had been aired in the sun that very day. The academy had provided it all as special treatment after Qin Ming became a Martial Artist.

"Apply the medicine twice a day, changing it morning and night. Brew the herbs morning and night as well. They're only superficial wounds, nothing serious."

Only after seeing the physician off did Qin Ming breathe a sigh of relief.

"Junior Brother, come here."

Lu Liu, wrapped in bandages, beckoned to Qin Ming.

"Master wants to see you."

"Got it."

Qin Ming carefully closed the door and followed Lu Liu to the inner courtyard.

"Qin Ming has broken through to the Skin Refining Realm and formally joins the inner courtyard!"

Just like Ye Wei before him, Qin Ming went through the formalities and received the Eight Trigrams Palm, the martial art that accompanied the Eight Trigrams Stake Skill, as well as a packet of Qi-Blood Powder worth five taels of silver.

"Junior Brother Qin, work hard from now on. Don't let Master's expectations of you go to waste!"

Yan Yangtian said with a smile.

For some reason, Yan Yangtian's seemingly warm smile gave Qin Ming an extremely chilling feeling, tinged with a trace of hostility.

Qin Ming trusted his instincts completely, and a measure of wariness rose in his heart. He found it strange: he had never offended this eldest senior brother, so why was the man hostile toward him?

"Qin Ming, if there's anything you don't understand in the future, you can come and ask me."

Pei Heng smiled.

With the addition of Ye Wei and Qin Ming, the inner courtyard now had ten inner disciples in total.

There were still four core disciples.

Because Embroiderer had yet to recover from her injuries, Qin Ming stayed at the Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy for the time being.

"Junior Brother Qin, now that you've entered the inner courtyard, you're one of us. You can choose a room and stay here," Lu Liu said.

Qin Ming nodded. He had trained so desperately precisely so he could bring Embroiderer here. At least then he could cultivate away from her without worry, and she would not be abducted by Yan Yue-Ren's men.

"In the coming days, some of the town's families and factions will try to curry favor with you and promise you benefits. Consider them carefully, and don't rush to accept their terms. Remember, the most important thing for you now is to improve your strength. Once you're stronger, your status will rise with the tide. With your talent, it would be a waste to stay in Qingshan Town. You should at least go to Qingyang County. That's where you belong."

Lu Liu gave him a few more careful reminders.

"I understand, Senior Brother. Your injury..."

Qin Ming pointed at the bandages wrapped around Lu Liu's chest.

"It's nothing. Half a month of rest and I'll be fine."

Lu Liu smiled. "All right, get some rest early. I'll head back first. If you need anything, just come find me. I live in that courtyard up ahead."

Watching Lu Liu walk away, Qin Ming silently committed the favor to heart.

"Brother Qin."

Embroiderer woke up. "I'd like some water."

"Here you go."

Qin Ming poured her a cup of warm water.

Seeing Qin Ming safe and sound, Embroiderer spoke in a choked voice. "Brother Qin, I thought I'd never see you again."

"How could that happen? I had another fortuitous encounter in the mountains, so I was delayed for a few more days."

As Qin Ming gently comforted her, Embroiderer gradually calmed down.

"Brother Qin, when are we going back?"

"We're not going back for now. We'll stay here first."

Qin Ming smiled, a cold glint flashing deep in his eyes.

Unless Yan Yue-Ren was dealt with, they absolutely could not return to the shantytown now.

After all, Qin Ming still did not know whether Yan Yue-Ren's men had come to Qingshan Town.

"Embroiderer, get some rest. I'm going out for a while."

"All right."

Embroiderer asked no further questions.

Qin Ming quietly slipped away while no one was paying attention.

"What is Junior Brother Qin going out for so late?"

Li Shengnan, who had come from the escort agency, happened to see Qin Ming walking away and wondered about it.

Wang Family Butcher Shop.

Wang Shi looked at the twenty taels of silver in her bundle, her eyes full of hatred.

It was everything she had saved over so many years by scrimping and saving.

"Damn Qin Ming! That little beast actually managed to turn things around and become a Martial Artist!"

Wang Shi gnashed her teeth. "If I'd known, I would have killed that little slut Embroiderer and slashed her face to ribbons, so that brat would regret it for the rest of his life!"

"And that good-for-nothing Wang Bo! A useless thing who can't accomplish anything but is more than capable of ruining it!"

Wang Shi muttered as she packed her bundle, preparing to flee.

She would rather die than hand over all twenty taels of silver!

She planned to take the silver to the county seat and lie low. It would be enough for her to eat and drink well for quite some time.

With the silver on her back, Wang Shi had just turned around when she suddenly discovered that someone was standing behind her. She had no idea when he had gotten there!