One Go

Around noon, Yang Jing felt a bit tired from his training. He walked to the courtyard wall to rest, his gaze sweeping over the front yard where he saw many unfamiliar faces sparring. A slight emotion welled up in his heart.

Over the past half-year, many familiar faces had departed. Most disciples who had trained for a long time without seeing hope of breaking through to Bright Strength had packed their bags and left.

The path of martial arts was inherently like this; very few could persevere to the end.

Sometimes, knowing when to give up and cut losses was actually wise. However, such an abandonment was undoubtedly a huge blow to the heart of a martial artist.

Yang Jing, despite his poor root bone, still trained so fanatically. Thus, in many people's eyes, they either found Yang Jing's effort and diligence admirable and worthy of respect, or they thought Yang Jing was too stupid, too foolish.

While he was resting, Fourth Senior Brother Liu Maolin entered through the martial arts school's main gate. His gaze swept across the front yard, quickly finding Yang Jing, and he walked over with a somewhat mysterious smile on his face.

"Junior Brother, I have something to show you."

He took out a scroll from his embrace and unfurled it. Inside was a meticulously painted portrait of a beautiful woman. The woman in the painting wore a martial arts uniform, her eyes clear and bright. Though she wore no makeup, she possessed a natural heroic spirit.

"Senior Brother, what is this?" Yang Jing asked, somewhat confused and bewildered.

"This is the third young lady of the Zhao Clan Escort Agency, Zhao Yuman," Liu Maolin explained, pointing to the painting. "Her family's escort agency often does business with our Liu family's medical clinic, so I know her. Although this girl is female, she is more capable than most men. Many of the escort agency's businesses are currently managed by her, and she has a straightforward personality."

His voice paused, then he leaned closer and whispered, "The key is, she's still single. I was thinking you two might be a good match, and I wanted to set you up. What do you say?"

Yang Jing looked at the woman in the painting and was stunned.

He had originally thought Liu Maolin's words last night were just drunken ramblings, but he hadn't expected him to be serious. He was momentarily at a loss.

"She's the daughter of an escort agency, I'm afraid she won't think highly of me," Yang Jing scratched his head. He was currently penniless, owning nothing more than a small courtyard in Tongyi Ward. He truly felt he wasn't good enough.

"Junior Brother, you're underestimating yourself," Liu Maolin patted Yang Jing's arm. "You're about to touch the peak of Bright Strength. Regardless of whether you can break through to Hidden Strength later, a master at the peak of Bright Strength is very rare. Among the younger generation, you are already considered outstanding."

Liu Maolin continued, looking at Yang Jing, "Moreover, you are down-to-earth, diligent, and hardworking. What are you lacking? Besides, no matter how good the third young lady of the Zhao family is, she is still a woman. The escort agency's business will not be handed over to her. The Zhao family will just give her a dowry when she marries out, which makes her a perfect match for you."

Yang Jing fell silent for a moment after listening.

He recalled the instructions from his grandfather, grandmother, and mother during his last visit home. He also knew that getting married was something he would eventually have to face; he couldn't avoid it.

He finally looked up and said, "Senior Brother has put in effort for me. Then... please arrange it. Whether it works out or not is fine; it all depends on fate."

Seeing Yang Jing agree, Liu Maolin immediately smiled. "That's the spirit! You wait, I'll find an opportunity in the next couple of days to speak with the Zhao family. I'll guarantee you a definite answer. Just wait for your brother's good news, hahaha."

Saying this, he rolled up the scroll, tucked it back into his embrace, and said enthusiastically, "Since we have some free time, let's spar a few moves? Consider it practice for you, so you'll have more confidence when you meet the young lady!"

Yang Jing smiled and agreed.

Liu Maolin took off his outer robe, and the two walked to the empty space in the courtyard, assuming their stances.

At this moment, before the two could exchange blows, Qi Yun was seen standing not far away, waving and calling out to Liu Maolin, "Fourth Junior Brother, Master is calling for you."

Liu Maolin heard this, retracted his fist, and said to Yang Jing, "Junior Brother, you practice first. I'll go take a look and we'll spar later."

After speaking, Liu Maolin quickly walked towards the inner courtyard.

Yang Jing nodded and began practicing Mountain Collapse Fist on his own.

Not long after, Third Senior Brother Zhao Wenzheng also arrived, entering from outside the main gate and hurrying towards the inner courtyard.

Yang Jing didn't pay them much mind. He settled his mind and continued practicing his fist technique. The wind of the Mountain Collapse Fist whistled, isolating him from the surrounding noise.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the moon gate of the inner courtyard opened.

Sun Yong walked at the very front, followed by Xu Hong, Qi Yun, Zhao Wenzheng, Liu Maolin, Lin Yue, and two other Bright Strength disciples.

All eight were dressed in martial arts uniforms, their expressions solemn, clearly preparing to go out.

"Are they going to spar with other martial arts schools?"

"They're all the core elites of our martial arts school!"

"I wish I could be one of them, representing the school in battle. Just thinking about it is so glorious!"

The disciples practicing martial arts in the front yard all stopped their movements, watching the receding figures of the eight with eyes full of envy.

The disciples who could accompany the school master out to spar with other martial arts schools were undoubtedly the core and pride of the Sun Clan Martial Arts School.

Yang Jing also paused to watch for a moment, then, with a clear mind, continued practicing his fist.

The glory of others had nothing to do with him. Only the fist in his hand and the strength within his body were the reliance for himself and his family!

He was getting closer and closer to the peak of Bright Strength. Once he reached the peak of Bright Strength, he would naturally break through to Hidden Strength.

For him now, nothing was more important than breaking through to Hidden Strength!

Two nights later.

In the small courtyard in Tongyi Ward.

Moonlight spilled into the courtyard, illuminating Yang Jing's agile movements.

The wind from the Mountain Collapse Fist stirred the night, seeming more urgent than usual.

A moment later, Yang Jing slowly stopped, regulating his breathing.

He slowly opened his eyes, and with a thought, the system panel appeared before him—

[Mountain Collapse Fist: Minor Accomplishment (486/500)] [Surging Wave Leg: Beginner (177/200)]

Looking at the data on the panel, Yang Jing's heart burned with excitement.

For months, he had diligently practiced, consuming fierce beast meat daily and spending an unknown amount of silver. Finally, the time to break through to Hidden Strength was approaching.

The desire to break through to Hidden Strength burned in his heart like a raging fire.

These past few days, he had deliberately taken a detour through Guang'an Ward. He often saw members of the Righteousness Gang patrolling the streets and alleys, their gazes fierce and sharp, as if searching for clues.

He didn't need to think to know that the Righteousness Gang was still investigating the whereabouts of the Great Fortune Gang's treasure.

Every time Yang Jing passed by, he held his breath, wanting to gather more information, to see how far the Righteousness Gang had investigated, and whether there was any possibility of them discovering him.

This hidden threat felt like a thorn stuck in his heart.

Only by breaking through to Hidden Strength as soon as possible could he completely escape this life of constant anxiety.

Hidden Strength and Bright Strength, though only differing by a single word, were worlds apart.

A master of Hidden Strength could project their internal energy outward, making them resistant to ordinary blades and swords. Even if the Righteousness Gang had two peak Bright Strength experts, they would be like clay figurines and pottery dogs in his eyes by then.

Moreover, in the entirety of Yuhe County, Hidden Strength experts were few and far between. They were all core members of major martial arts schools or pillars of powerful gangs.

Once he reached that realm, his status at the Sun Clan Martial Arts School would undoubtedly rise. At the very least, his Master would give him twice as much guidance each day.

After breaking through to Bright Strength, the reason Yang Jing was able to reach the peak of Bright Strength so quickly, with his progress even faster than before reaching Bright Strength, was primarily due to sufficient food intake, followed by Sun Yong's guidance about once or twice a day.

Before breaking through to Bright Strength, Yang Jing could barely afford to eat horse meat. After breaking through, he first became affiliated with the Liu Family Medical Hall, and then he had a stroke of luck. He fully replenished himself with large amounts of fierce beast meat. Such potent nourishment was something ordinary people could not withstand. It was only because Yang Jing trained so diligently, and he even suspected it might be related to his System Panel.

As far as he knew, Liu Maolin once ate three catties of bear meat in one sitting and got a nosebleed, his body unable to handle such significant nourishment.

Yet, Yang Jing consistently ate at least three catties of fierce beast meat daily, including more potent tiger meat. Every day, he felt full of vigor and vitality, never experiencing the inability to absorb nourishment like Liu Maolin.

Of course, this was just Yang Jing's speculation. Whether his ability to consume so much was truly related to his System Panel would require further experimentation later.

And in the path of martial arts, the guidance of predecessors was equally crucial.

If a martial art could be learned without a Master's instruction, martial arts would be too simple.

There were times when Sun Yong was away from the martial arts school, and Yang Jing, even when encountering doubts while practicing his fists, could not resolve them. This led to inefficient practice and a significantly lower progress record for the day.

"After breaking through to Hidden Strength, even within the martial arts school, I will be a core disciple. I don't expect my Master to teach me like he does Lin Yue, but just a little more guidance each day would greatly help my cultivation progress."

Yang Jing slowly clenched his fist. He could feel the surging Blood Essence within his body, seemingly nearing a limit.

Under the moonlight, his figure began to move again. His fist techniques were even more ferocious and rapid than before.

Pingkang Ward.

It was late at night, but a study in the backyard of the Zhao Clan Escort Agency was still lit.

Zhao Yuman, the third young lady of the Zhao family, sat at a rosewood desk, her fingertips tracing over an open ledger, her brow furrowed.

The escort agency's losses from escorts this month were twenty percent higher than last month, and she needed to calculate carefully.

She wore a plain-colored silk dress, having shed the sharp, fitted attire of the day, which added a touch of quietude to her demeanor.

Beside her, the maid Qing He held a freshly brewed cup of pre-Qingming Longjing tea and said softly, "Miss, please rest for a while. You've been looking at it for almost an hour."

Zhao Yuman closed the ledger and rubbed her temples, taking the teacup. "Mm, just leave it there."

Qing He put down the tea tray and hesitated before speaking, "Miss, young master Liu's family sent someone to ask this afternoon. It's about that Yang Jing he mentioned. What do you think?"

Zhao Yuman's hand, holding the teacup, paused. Her expression was calm, and she said lightly, "Tell them I'm not interested."

"Is there something unsuitable?" Qing He asked curiously. "I heard he's also a Bright Strength expert, quite outstanding at the Sun Clan Martial Arts School."

"A Bright Strength expert is good," Zhao Yuman gently blew on the tea foam, her tone indifferent. "But his Talent/Aptitude is fixed. I heard he has low-grade root bone? With such aptitude, peak Bright Strength is his limit. It will be difficult for him to advance further. The escort agency needs people who can handle responsibilities, not just martial artists who can only go a few steps."

After speaking, she put down her teacup and her gaze fell on the night outside the window. "Let's wait a while longer. If I can't find anyone more suitable in a few years, he might be a backup option. For now, he's not enough."

Qing He quickly nodded, "You're right, Miss. Low-grade root bone indeed doesn't match you. I'll go back to the Liu family first thing tomorrow morning."

Zhao Yuman said no more, picking up the ledger again. Her fingertip lightly tapped on the word "losses," and her thoughts returned to the escort agency's business.

As for the name Yang Jing, it was merely a gust of wind that brushed past her ears, leaving no trace in her heart.

The next day, in the afternoon.

Liu Maolin hurried to the Sun Clan Martial Arts School in Chengping Ward. He found Yang Jing, who was practicing post stance training in the front yard. He had an apologetic look on his face, rubbing his hands, and found it difficult to speak. "Junior Brother, regarding the third young lady of the Zhao family, I asked. She... she doesn't think it's suitable."

He paused, as if afraid Yang Jing would be upset, and quickly added, "Don't take it to heart. She didn't agree, which only means she has high standards, or rather, she's blind. It's not necessarily your fault."

Liu Maolin was somewhat tongue-tied. He moved to Yang Jing's other side and continued, "Besides, there are plenty of good girls in our Yuhe. I'll keep an eye out for you. I guarantee I'll find someone more suitable than her!"

Yang Jing stopped his fist. Sweat dripped from his forehead down his cheeks. He wiped his face and smiled, "It's alright, Senior Brother. It was always meant to be a matter of fate. If it's not suitable, then so be it. Senior Brother doesn't need to worry about it."

"It's good that you can think that way," Liu Maolin said, relieved. He immediately patted his chest and guaranteed, "Don't worry, this matter is on me. I'll definitely find you a good one!"

Yang Jing smiled and didn't dwell on the topic. After chatting with Liu Maolin for a few sentences, he turned back to the wooden post.

For him, this matter was neither here nor there. His mind was still focused on his fist techniques. The Hidden Strength he was about to touch was what concerned him the most.

In the blink of an eye, two more days passed.

Tongyi Ward, Yang Jing's small courtyard.

It was late at night, and the courtyard was quiet, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Yang Jing sat by the stone table, having just swallowed the last piece of tiger meat.

The warm meat juice flowed into his abdomen, and the familiar warmth quickly spread to his limbs and bones, as if every inch of his muscles and bones was being soothed and stretched.

He stood up and flexed his wrists, clearly feeling the Bright Strength within him coiled like a drawn bow, ready to be unleashed.

This feeling was peculiar, like a pot of water about to boil, just needing that final touch of heat. Yang Jing had a vague sense that he might break through to Hidden Strength tomorrow, and if he stayed up all night, he might even achieve it tonight!

Then, with a thought, Yang Jing's System Panel appeared before his eyes.

[Mountain Collapse Fist: Minor Accomplishment (499/500)]

[Surging Wave Leg: Novice (193/200)]

To break through to Hidden Strength as quickly as possible, Yang Jing had temporarily put aside his training of Surging Wave Leg during this period, focusing all his energy on cultivating Mountain Collapse Fist.

Now, he felt as though he could reach the peak of Bright Strength at any moment, and once he reached that peak, the next step would be to break through to Hidden Strength!

Ordinary martial artists would get stuck at the peak of Bright Strength for three to five years, or even a lifetime, struggling to glimpse the threshold of Hidden Strength. But Yang Jing was different!

Yang Jing's cultivation path had no word for "bottleneck." As long as he pushed the current realm to its limit, he could naturally break through.

These past few days, the Righteousness Gang's investigations in Guang'an Ward and the surrounding market districts had been relentless. Although they hadn't found him, it still weighed heavily on his mind.

Yang Jing clenched his fists, a plan forming in his heart.

Tonight, he decided, he wouldn't sleep. He would use the abundant effects of the tiger meat to push through in one go.

Once he entered Hidden Strength, those people from the Righteousness Gang would be no threat at all.