Chapter Summaries

Yang Jing learned more about reaching hidden strength from Liu Maolin, who offered him a retainer position with the Liu Family Medical Hall; Yang Jing accepted. Meanwhile, his family remained worried about the Ning Family’s unexpected gift of a plow ox when Yang Lao San arrived with a letter.

• Liu Maolin sparred with Yang Jing and taught him how stable footwork and recovering force contributed to the Mountain Collapse Fist’s second level.
• Yang Jing told Liu Maolin that the households offering him retainer positions were only willing to pay seven or eight taels a month.
• Liu Maolin offered Yang Jing ten taels of silver and ten jin of bear meat each month to escort the Liu Family Medical Hall’s shipments, and Yang Jing accepted.
• Liu Maolin arranged for Yang Jing to meet his father that afternoon and join a shipment heading to the outskirts the next day.
• Yang Jing’s family worried that the Ning Family’s gift of a plow ox might conceal an ulterior motive.
• Yang Lao San called from outside the Yang family courtyard to announce that a letter had arrived.

Yang Jing's family learned that he had reached bright strength and become a formal disciple, explaining the Ning Family's gifts and easing their fears. Two months later, Yang Jing continued training in Chengping Ward, satisfied with his steady progress despite needing more money for nourishing food.

• Yang Lao San delivered Yang Jing's letter, and Liu Cuiling, Old Master Yang, and Madam Qin read that he had reached bright strength, become a formal disciple, and no longer needed their money.
• Old Master Yang and Madam Qin realized Yang Jing's success explained the Ning Family's goodwill and the plow ox, and they praised Old Master Yang's decision to send him to train.
• Yang An read the letter aloud to Madam Xue and understood that Yang Jing had become a true entering strength martial artist, which could transform the Yang Family's fortunes.
• Two months later, Yang Jing left the Martial Arts Hall after training and checked his Mountain Collapse Fist progress, reflecting that bear and horse meat helped him improve but that he lacked money for more nourishment.
• Yang Jing returned to Datong Ward and frowned as he neared his courtyard gate.

Yang Jing confronted two Great Fortune Gang enforcers over the original owner's usurious debt and refused to repay them. He deliberately antagonized the gang by asking for another loan, and the tall, thin thug attacked him.

• Yang Jing remembered that the original owner had borrowed eight taels from the Great Fortune Gang and owed sixteen taels after six months.
• Yang Jing refused to repay the debt, reasoning that he had no money and would not pay the gang's illegal interest.
• The two enforcers threatened Yang Jing and closed in with daggers, while he judged them to be ordinary fighters.
• Yang Jing considered the gangs in Yuhe County and believed his bright strength and master Sun Yong could protect him from serious trouble.
• Yang Jing asked the enforcers to lend him more money, and the tall, thin man cursed and threw the first punch.

Yang Jing defeated two Great Fortune Gang thugs who came to threaten him, then worried about how the gang might retaliate. The injured men returned to headquarters and reported that Yang Jing had trained in martial arts and might have entered the realm of strength.

• Yang Jing blocked the tall, thin man's punch and struck him in the ribs, then broke the short-haired man's arm and drove him off.
• Yang Jing returned to his room, cooked horse meat, and decided to ask Fourth Senior Brother about the Great Fortune Gang.
• Yang Jing considered the danger of the gang's retaliation and resolved to stay cautious, possibly moving to the Martial Arts Hall if needed.
• Brother Shun and the tall, thin young man arrived at the Great Fortune Gang headquarters injured, and the short-haired man suspected Yang Jing had entered the realm of strength.

After the Great Fortune Gang learned Yang Jing might have reached bright strength, its leader Xu Tai ordered an investigation and threatened to deal with him. At the Sun Clan Martial Arts School, Yang Jing improved his Mountain Collapse Fist under Liu Maolin’s guidance, then asked about the gang and learned its leader was a bright strength martial artist surnamed Xu.

• The injured gang members told Xu Tai that Yang Jing had defeated them and might be a bright strength expert, so Xu Tai sent Heizi to investigate him and vowed to handle him himself if necessary.
• Yang Jing trained at the Sun Clan Martial Arts School, where Sun Yong noted that his bright strength had stabilized but his lower body remained unsteady.
• Sun Yong gave Lin Yue special instruction as the other disciples discussed Lin Yue’s talent and likely attempt to break through to hidden strength.
• Liu Maolin sparred with Yang Jing and taught him how hidden strength differed from bright strength, helping him better understand Mountain Collapse Fist.
• Yang Jing asked Liu Maolin about the Great Fortune Gang, and Liu Maolin said its leader was a bright strength martial artist surnamed Xu.

Yang Jing continued preparing for the Great Fortune Gang’s threat while training toward hidden strength, then learned the gang had been badly weakened in a clash with the Righteousness Gang. He went out at night to investigate the gang’s ruined headquarters and spotted Scarface Li leaving with a sack of valuables.

• Yang Jing asked Liu Maolin to investigate the Great Fortune Gang and kept watch on the gang while training at the Sun Clan Martial Arts School.
• Lin Yue broke through to hidden strength, and Liu Maolin reassured Yang Jing that he could still reach the same level through steady effort.
• Liu Maolin told Yang Jing that the Righteousness Gang had defeated the Great Fortune Gang, wounded Xu Tai, and crippled many of its members.
• Yang Jing decided to deal with the weakened gang, ate bear meat, changed into Night-Traveling Garb, and went out after dark.
• Yang Jing watched the ruined Great Fortune Gang compound as injured members and looters came and went.
• Scarface Li emerged from the compound carrying a heavy sack, and Yang Jing watched him hurry away.

Yang Jing followed Scarface Li, killed him, and took the Great Fortune Gang’s hidden wealth before tracking Xu Tai to a secluded courtyard in Xinghua Ward. He found Xu Tai badly injured and guarded only by Zhang Kui, while Xu Tai sent Zhang Kui out to look for Scarface Li.

• Yang Jing tailed Scarface Li north from Guang'an Ward, concluding that Xu Tai had sent him to retrieve the gang’s wealth.
• Yang Jing ambushed and killed Scarface Li in a dark alley, took his loose silver, and hid the sack of valuables.
• Yang Jing followed his memory to Xu Tai’s secluded courtyard in Xinghua Ward and saw Zhang Kui keeping watch while Xu Tai coughed inside.
• Zhang Kui entered the main room and asked Xu Tai whether Scarface Li had returned; Xu Tai worried that the Righteousness Gang might have spotted him.
• Xu Tai told Zhang Kui to search Fengle Ward for Scarface Li and return quickly, then spat out blood after Zhang Kui left.

Yang Jing killed the wounded Xu Tai, stole a martial arts manual, and set fire to the courtyard to hide the evidence. After recovering the sack from the rubbish heap and returning to his room, he prepared to open it, hoping its contents would help him reach hidden strength.

• Yang Jing waited until Zhang Kui left, then slipped into Xu Tai’s courtyard and attacked him while he rested.
• Yang Jing recognized Xu Tai as a dangerous opponent and killed him with repeated strikes to his existing wounds.
• Yang Jing found the Surging Wave Leg manual on Xu Tai, set fire to the bed and corpse, and escaped as residents gathered to fight the blaze.
• Yang Jing recovered the sack Scarface Li had hidden in Fengle Ward and concealed his bloodstained knife and disguise inside it.
• Yang Jing returned to his room in Datong Ward and looked forward to opening the sack, which he hoped would help him break through to hidden strength.

Yang Jing discovered that the Great Fortune Gang’s sack contained 450 taels of silver in gold and silver, plus valuable aged ginseng, then used his new wealth to buy tiger meat and advance his martial arts practice. After Liu Maolin hinted that he suspected Yang Jing had killed Xu Tai, the two left the matter unspoken, while Lin Yue passed Yang Jing at the martial arts hall without acknowledging him.

• Yang Jing counted 20 taels of gold and 250 taels of silver, found ginseng estimated to be at least 50 years old, and hid the windfall beneath his bed.
• Yang Jing heard rumors that Xu Tai had burned to death, bought two jin of tiger meat, and felt its nourishing effects as he practiced Mountain Collapse Fist.
• Yang Jing checked his system panel and saw his Mountain Collapse Fist progress had reached minor achievement (371/500).
• Liu Maolin questioned Yang Jing about Xu Tai’s death and his early departure the previous night, but both men left their suspicions unspoken and agreed to exchange moves.
• Lin Yue passed Yang Jing at the martial arts hall, then turned away without speaking to him.

Yang Jing decided he needed a private courtyard to practice martial arts and bought a small home near the Sun Clan Martial Arts School, where he began training Surging Wave Leg alongside Mountain Collapse Fist. The chapter ended with Sun Yong offering Yang Jing a pointer on gathering momentum, while privately believing Yang Jing’s poor root bone would prevent him from advancing beyond bright strength.

• Yang Jing decided his cramped rented room and need to safeguard his valuables made finding a private courtyard worthwhile.
• Yang Jing studied the Surging Wave Leg manual and found his room too cramped to practice its movements properly.
• Yang Jing listened for news of his father and eldest uncle in Caozhou, then visited the Stallholder/Agent to look for a courtyard.
• Yang Jing bought a courtyard beside a stream for thirty-five taels of silver and felt secure having a home and a place to train.
• Yang Jing practiced Mountain Collapse Fist late into the night at the martial arts school, and Sun Yong advised him to gather momentum before striking.
• Yang Jing applied Sun Yong’s advice to his Mountain-Splitting Form and felt the bright strength in his body gather more solidly.

Yang Jing settled into his new courtyard, advanced his martial arts practice, and returned to Yang Family Village with money for his family. He was welcomed as a village celebrity, and his aunt and cousin arrived to greet him.

• Yang Jing moved into his new courtyard, ate tiger meat, and practiced the Mountain Collapse Fist and Surging Wave Leg under the moonlight.
• Yang Jing saw that his Surging Wave Leg progress had appeared on the System Panel and thought he might reach hidden strength within a month.
• Yang Jing carried most of his gold and silver home to hide it safely, then traveled to Yang Family Village.
• Villagers praised Yang Jing for his martial arts and the Ning Family's changed attitude toward his family.
• Yang Jing gave his mother ten taels of silver, and his grandfather praised how much he had grown.
• Yang Jing hid his remaining money above a beam, then greeted Madam Xue and Yang An, who brought him a chicken.

Yang Jing returned to Yang Family Village, taught Yang An basic leg exercises, and shared a meal with his worried family. On his way back to Tongyi Ward, he saw refugees fleeing Caozhou and learned the Righteousness Gang was searching the Great Fortune Gang’s old ruins, raising fears that they were after the valuables he had taken.

• Yang An gave Yang Jing a hand-carved wooden token, and Yang Jing taught him basic kicking form and breathing exercises while deciding to investigate Surging Wave Leg before teaching it.
• At lunch, Old Master Yang urged Yang Jing to consider marriage because his father and eldest uncle had been missing for over half a year after escorting provisions to the Caozhou Frontline.
• Yang Jing said goodbye to his family and left Yang Family Village, determined to grow strong enough to protect them as the world grew more chaotic.
• Yang Jing saw emaciated refugees fleeing Caozhou and hurried toward Yuhe County, worried about his father and eldest uncle.
• In Guang'an Ward, Yang Jing heard that Righteousness Gang members were searching the Great Fortune Gang’s old ruins for hidden loot.
• Yang Jing suspected the Righteousness Gang wanted the gold, silver, aged ginseng, and Surging Wave Leg he had taken from Xu Tai and Scarface Li.

Yang Jing refined his Mountain Collapse Fist through training and sparring with Liu Maolin, nearing the peak of bright strength as the Parade Ground Trial approached. When the school’s senior disciples chose representatives for upcoming interschool matches, Lin Yue and Qi Yun opposed Yang Jing’s inclusion, but Sun Ningxiang spoke up in his defense.

• Yang Jing trained steadily for half a month, improving his control of Mountain Collapse Fist and progressing quickly in Surging Wave Leg.
• Liu Maolin sparred with Yang Jing and taught him to shed and redirect force, deepening his understanding of bright strength.
• Sun Yong told his disciples the Parade Ground Trial was one month away and arranged sparring matches with the Weiyuan Martial Arts School and Iron Fist Hall.
• Xu Hong, Qi Yun, Zhao Wenzheng, Liu Maolin, Lin Yue, and Sun Ningxiang discussed the team; Lin Yue and Qi Yun rejected Yang Jing as a candidate because of his poor aptitude.
• Sun Ningxiang argued that Yang Jing’s dedication deserved a chance, noting that he trained from before dawn until after dark.

Yang Jing refused to join the martial arts hall’s sparring team so he could focus on reaching hidden strength, then escorted herbs to Jinshan County and returned to the hall for training. After Sun Yong corrected his technique, Yang Jing continued practicing, convinced he was close to the peak of bright strength.

• Liu Maolin invited Yang Jing to join sparring matches against other martial arts halls, but Yang Jing declined to protect his training time, prompting Qi Yun and Lin Yue to criticize him.
• Yang Jing escorted medicinal herbs to Jinshan County with the Liu Family Medical Hall guards and returned to Yuhe County late that night.
• Liu Maolin told Yang Jing that he planned to take a concubine because his family wanted an heir, then offered to help Yang Jing find a suitable woman.
• Sun Yong corrected Yang Jing’s fist-retraction technique and gave more intensive instruction to Lin Yue, while Yang Jing stayed focused on his own practice and felt close to the peak of bright strength.

Yang Jing neared the peak of bright strength while training obsessively to escape the threat of the Righteousness Gang, and Liu Maolin’s attempt to arrange a match with Zhao Yuman ended in rejection. After eating tiger meat and reaching the limit of his Mountain Collapse Fist, Yang Jing decided to train through the night and force a breakthrough to hidden strength.

• Liu Maolin showed Yang Jing a portrait of Zhao Yuman and offered to arrange an introduction, which Yang Jing accepted.
• Sun Yong led Liu Maolin, Zhao Wenzheng, and other senior disciples out of the school, while Yang Jing stayed behind to practice.
• Yang Jing trained under the moon and watched his Mountain Collapse Fist approach its limit as he worried about the Righteousness Gang’s search for the Great Fortune Gang’s treasure.
• Zhao Yuman rejected Yang Jing as a potential match because she believed his low-grade root bone limited his future prospects.
• Liu Maolin told Yang Jing about Zhao Yuman’s refusal, and Yang Jing calmly returned to practicing his fist technique.
• After eating tiger meat, Yang Jing saw his Mountain Collapse Fist at 499/500 and decided to forgo sleep to push through to hidden strength in one surge.

Yang Jing broke through from bright strength peak to hidden strength after sensing a suspicious visitor at his gate, then set out to tell Sun Yong and assess the Righteousness Gang. Meanwhile, Ning Xuezhi learned that Ning Wenbo had entered bright strength and celebrated the Ning Family’s new martial artist.

• A suspicious man asked Yang Jing for Instructor Li’s home, and Yang Jing suspected the visitor was scouting for the Righteousness Gang.
• Yang Jing practiced the Mountain Collapse Fist through the night, reached bright strength peak, and then broke through to hidden strength.
• Ning Xuezhi learned that Ning Wenbo had entered bright strength and ordered gifts and supplies sent to the Weiyuan Martial Arts School.
• After a restful night, Yang Jing ate bear meat and headed for the Sun Clan Martial Arts School to report his breakthrough to Sun Yong and request the later methods of the Mountain Collapse Fist.
• Yang Jing calmly observed Righteousness Gang members in Guang'an Ward, while a man in a crooked hat secretly watched him from beside a tea stall.

Yang Jing reported his breakthrough to hidden strength to Sun Yong, who verified it and began teaching him the advanced methods of the Mountain Collapse Fist. Meanwhile, Zhao Meng and Qian Bao suspected Yang Jing of killing Xu Tai and planned to search his courtyard before confronting him.

• Zhao Meng and Qian Bao ordered two men to scout Yang Jing's courtyard in Tongyi Ward and prepare to seize him if they found no stolen valuables.
• Yang Jing practiced the Mountain Collapse Fist at the Sun Clan Martial Arts School, using hidden strength to penetrate the wooden post without marking its surface.
• After hearing that Lin Yue had defeated three hidden strength opponents, Yang Jing entered the Inner Courtyard and told Sun Yong he had broken through to hidden strength on his first attempt.
• Sun Yong watched Yang Jing strike a sandbag and confirmed that he could project hidden strength into it.
• Sun Yong praised Yang Jing's potential and taught him the advanced Mountain Collapse Fist methods of restraint, penetration, and entwining.

Sun Yong rewarded Yang Jing for entering Hidden Strength, then shocked his disciples by proposing that Yang Jing marry Qi Yun. After Qi Yun rejected the idea and the disciples reacted to Yang Jing’s breakthrough, Sun Yong reprimanded Lin Yue for neglecting training and privately weighed Yang Jing against Lin Yue as a potential match for Sun Ningxiang.

• Sun Yong gave Yang Jing Foundation Cultivation Pills and encouraged him to train toward Transforming Strength.
• Sun Yong summoned the core disciples and asked Qi Yun whether she was betrothed, then suggested she and Yang Jing were a suitable match.
• Qi Yun rejected the match, and Yang Jing also refused; Sun Yong revealed that Yang Jing had entered Hidden Strength the day before.
• The disciples reacted with shock, while Qi Yun and Lin Yue privately resented the attention Yang Jing received and Liu Maolin congratulated him.
• Sun Yong warned Lin Yue to focus on training and told the disciples to support one another.
• After the disciples left, Sun Yong considered whether Yang Jing might suit Sun Ningxiang, but concluded that Lin Yue was the better choice because of his talent and feelings for her.

After Yang Jing broke through to Hidden Strength, he tested his new power at the Sun Clan Martial Arts School and drew the attention of his fellow disciples. On his way home, he killed the Righteousness Gang’s leaders Zhao Meng and Qian Bao in an ambush, then concealed their identities and took their valuables.

• Yang Jing sparred with Liu Maolin, withstanding most of his Hidden Strength attacks through the Mountain Collapse Fist’s Entwining principle.
• Liu Maolin left for the Medical Hall, while Xu Hong and Zhao Wenzheng congratulated Yang Jing and invited him for drinks; Yang Jing declined to keep training.
• Two Righteousness Gang leaders, Zhao Meng and Qian Bao, ambushed Yang Jing in an alley, but Yang Jing killed Qian Bao with three punches and then defeated Zhao Meng.
• Yang Jing identified the dead men as Zhao Meng and Qian Bao, searched them, and took 117 taels of silver and a porcelain bottle containing a medicinal pill.
• Yang Jing smashed the bodies to conceal how they had died, removed evidence from the alley, and left believing the Righteousness Gang would trouble him less.

Yang Jing survived the Righteousness Gang’s attempt to search and capture him, then advanced his martial arts by bringing Surging Wave Leg to bright strength. With Zhao Meng and Qian Bao dead and their gang collapsing, he returned to the Martial Arts Hall, where the disciples treated him with newfound respect for reaching hidden strength.

• Yang Jing found his courtyard ransacked, confirmed his hidden valuables were safe, and decided not to risk raiding the Righteousness Gang’s headquarters.
• Yang Jing studied the pills taken from Zhao Meng and Qian Bao, burned their money pouches, and practiced Mountain Collapse Fist and Surging Wave Leg through the night.
• Yang Jing broke through to bright strength in Surging Wave Leg, improving his speed and combat ability and combining it with his hidden strength punches.
• News of Zhao Meng’s and Qian Bao’s deaths spread, the authorities dismissed the case as gang conflict, and the leaderless Righteousness Gang was looted and dispersed.
• Yang Jing arrived at the Martial Arts Hall and received respectful greetings from disciples who recognized his status as a hidden strength martial artist.