Back at the dormitory.
Tian Yang, overflowing with gratitude toward Xu Yuan, rushed over to help him make his bed and settle his luggage.
This even drew a surprised look from Li Shan beside them.
Back when they slept on the communal kang bed, their relationship hadn't been bad, but it certainly hadn't been that good either.
How had they become as close as blood brothers after Xu Yuan had only been gone for a few days?
It was only after Li Shan returned to the rear courtyard that he learned the full story, and he could not help praising Xu Yuan lavishly.
Once he had finished dealing with the miscellaneous matters, Xu Yuan headed straight out through the gates of the Shangyang Family.
After becoming an official martial artist, he had far more freedom. There were not so many rules anymore; he could stay out overnight, but unless there was something urgent, he could not remain outside for more than two days.
Xu Yuan stopped at a butcher's stall and bought two strips of premium pork belly and three smoked fish, wrapping them in oiled paper and carrying them in his hand.
He made his way to the outer city, and from afar, he spotted that familiar little alley.
Xu Yuan felt a surge of emotion. He could now be considered well-paid. As long as he kept climbing higher, better days would soon arrive.
The outer city was still somewhat chaotic. If he got the chance, it would be best to move his elder brother and the others into the inner city.
With that thought in mind, Xu Yuan subconsciously looked up. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened.
A figure emerged from the alley ahead. Sneaking about so furtively, the man was obviously up to no good.
"Is that him?"
Xu Yuan recalled that this man was one of the hooligans who had followed Li Daqiang here to cause trouble last time.
After pondering for a moment, Xu Yuan stepped aside and concealed himself. Once the man had left, Xu Yuan followed from a distance.
They passed through all manner of pleasure quarters and winding alleys before finally arriving outside a small courtyard.
Xu Yuan's eyes flickered as he silently thought, He's already living in a courtyard. Looks like Li Daqiang has been sucking people's blood for quite some time.
The hooligan strode up and banged on the door with great swagger. Once it opened, he slipped inside.
Xu Yuan's gaze flickered. He moved to the back of the courtyard, and seeing no one around, he controlled the muscles throughout his body and leaped upward. Light as a feather, he grabbed the courtyard wall and craned his head over to look inside.
Li Daqiang sat upright in the middle of the courtyard while a maidservant served him tea at his side. He looked utterly at ease.
The hooligan walked up to him and said with a grin, "Brother Qiang, I checked just now. That kid still hasn't come back."
"Laborers only get one day off a month. That was long ago. Of course he isn't in his room." Li Daqiang snorted coldly.
"But that just proves the kid still hasn't broken through to become a martial artist... As soon as Niu Er's nephew sends word, we'll act immediately!"
"Once he can't drape himself in the Shangyang Family's tiger skin, let's see what the hell he can do!" Li Daqiang said sharply.
"But Brother Qiang, that kid has learned martial arts." The hooligan seemed somewhat worried.
"So what if he has? As long as he hasn't broken through to become a martial artist, he merely has a little more strength than ordinary people. I can still crush him in my hand!"
"Is my, Li Daqiang's, turf really so easy to smash?"
Li Daqiang sneered twice, utterly unconcerned.
He knew the ins and outs of martial artists well enough. When the time came, if he called a few more people, would he still be afraid of not handling the matter?
"With Brother Qiang making a move, everything will surely be perfectly arranged."
Seeing that there was no danger, the hooligan immediately revealed his true nature and let out a lewd chuckle.
"Speaking of which, I saw that Xu family sister-in-law before. Tsk, tsk, she was really tender and lovely, nothing like a woman who often does rough work."
Li Daqiang shot him a glance. "Madam Zhang came from a fallen wealthy family, so naturally she carries herself differently. But when the time comes, she has to be handed over to the gang leader. What makes you think it'll be your turn?"
"Yes, yes, naturally the gang leader comes first. We were only talking about it." The hooligan rubbed his hands together and laughed apologetically.
"Mm. Go. Come back when you have news." Imitating the gang leader's manner, Li Daqiang kept an indifferent expression and waved his hand as though swatting away a fly.
As Xu Yuan listened to the words drifting from the courtyard, his eyes gradually turned cold.
He had not expected Li Daqiang to be so vindictive and malicious.
Not only had he specifically sent people to keep watch, but he had also painstakingly tried to confirm whether Xu Yuan had broken through to become a martial artist, intending to cut off his future. He even wanted to lay hands on his elder brother and sister-in-law!
"What a fine loan-sharking thug..."
Xu Yuan rolled those words around in his mouth as a killing intent quietly took root in his heart.
In this world, the kind were bullied, and the gentle horses were ridden.
If he were still that little Laborer struggling bitterly in the outer courtyard, the outcome was easy to imagine!
With that thought, Xu Yuan no longer lingered. He lightly dropped from the wall and hurried back to the alley where his elder brother's home stood.
But before he even reached the door, he suddenly heard his sister-in-law's shrill voice.
"Did Big Brother get scolded again?"
Xu Yuan could be smooth and tactful with others, but he felt exceedingly awkward when he came home. He could only steel himself and enter the house.
As he drew nearer, his sister-in-law's voice became clearer.
"This morning, that scoundrel came to deliver a message, saying that next month we have to repay them half a tael of silver... Damn him to hell, we only borrowed one tael altogether!"
"You really have mud for brains, borrowing this kind of debt owed to the King of Hell. Now let's see what you'll do!"
Xu Zheng refused to yield. "The Wild Wolf Gang had their eyes on our family long ago. Everything they did was premeditated."
"If you hadn't borrowed from them, would they have watched you after eating too much?"
Xu Yuan gave a soft cough.
Only then did the two turn to look at him.
Madam Zhang glared at him but did not say anything further.
When Xu Zheng saw Xu Yuan, a trace of embarrassment flashed across his face. Deliberately sounding surprised, he said, "Ah Yuan, didn't you say last month that you would devote yourself fully to martial arts this month and not come back?"
"Big Brother, I've become an official martial artist." After sitting down and drinking some tea, Xu Yuan did not beat around the bush and spoke directly.
"I see... Wait, you said you broke through and became a martial artist?" Xu Zheng had just been about to breathe a sigh of relief when he suddenly froze.
Madam Zhang also stood rooted to the spot.
Xu Yuan lowered his head, picked up a wooden board, and held it in his hand. Then he directly kneaded it into a pile of splinters.
"This..." Xu Zheng's eyes widened. He immediately believed him completely. How could an ordinary person possibly wield such strength?
He could not help standing up and carefully examining his younger brother.
The sky was somewhat dark, and the room's lighting was poor. Now that he looked closely, he could not help being startled.
Compared to a little over a month ago, Xu Yuan had grown more than half a head taller. The cotton clothes that had once fit him now looked somewhat tight, and even his trouser legs had become a section too short.
His rather dark complexion had become much smoother and fairer. His eyes shone brightly, and he now carried a hint of vigorous heroic bearing.
"Good, good! Ah Yuan has made something of himself! Thank Father and Mother in Heaven for blessing us. Our Xu family can stand back up again!"
Xu Zheng was overwhelmed with emotion. He heavily patted Xu Yuan on the shoulder, then began pacing back and forth through the room from time to time, unable to contain himself.
Madam Zhang's eyes were filled with astonishment. After staring blankly for a long while, her lips moved, but she said nothing.
"Sister-in-law, Li Daqiang's people came this morning to demand repayment, didn't they?" Xu Yuan asked again.
Madam Zhang nodded subconsciously.
Xu Yuan nodded and set the pork and smoked fish on the table. "Big Brother, give me the promissory note. I'll go pay him back now... Don't worry, I have money. The Shangyang Family just issued my monthly pay."
"You..."
Xu Zheng had wanted to scold him, but upon seeing the ability Xu Yuan had displayed earlier, he somehow handed over the note instead. At the end, he did not forget to remind him, "They aren't easy people to deal with either. Just repay the money. Don't stir up any more trouble."
"Eat before you go."
While the two spoke, Madam Zhang had already carried the meat and fish into the kitchen. She now came out and called to them.
Xu Yuan glanced at the sky. He had intended to leave, but he could not withstand the urging of his brother and sister-in-law, so he could only sit down and wait for the meal.
"You rest first. I'll go help your sister-in-law."
When Xu Zheng went out, even his back had straightened a little. Before long, his strong, full voice rang out.
"Alright, time to eat!"
Things would certainly get better and better in the future.
Xu Yuan's expression remained calm as he silently told himself this.
When he had first transmigrated here, he had never shown it, but a sense of unease and apprehension had always lingered in his heart. This tranquil feeling in his mind was something he had not experienced in a long time.
He touched the quilt on the bed, covered in patches, then swept his gaze across the empty room. Leaning against the wooden beam, Xu Yuan sighed. "Big Brother hasn't had it easy either!"
When the Xu family fell into ruin, the original owner had still been studying. Later, he had gone to work as a Laborer, while Xu Zheng and Madam Zhang had slowly repaid the family's debts.
They had gone from having no worries over food or clothing to being buried in debt. Even in their twenties, there was not a single decent furnishing in the house, and his sister-in-law had suffered greatly alongside them.
"Everything will get better..."
Xu Yuan took a deep breath and once again sensed the changes in his body.
[Skill: Tai Chi Exercise (Major Accomplishment 1%) Stone Platform Stance Practice (Minor Accomplishment 1%)] [Aptitude: 8 (Extraordinary Bones)]
Ever since his aptitude had broken through, Xu Yuan's ability to comprehend all kinds of martial techniques had improved considerably.
And after becoming a martial artist, his qi and blood circulated endlessly through his meridians. His physique and strength were also far superior to those of ordinary people.
But he alone lacked the ability to fight others in actual combat.
"Li Daqiang..."
Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes. He would use this man to test himself.
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