Knowing Neither Heaven's Height nor Earth's Depth

Ping Yang Town, Lang Yun Wine Shop.

The surroundings were filled with boisterous voices. South Stone Bridge stood right outside the entrance, water rushing noisily beneath its arch.

Every nearby stall had lanterns hanging from it, warm, luxurious light wrapped in red gauze.

One group after another emerged from the wine shop. All of them were half-drunk, arms slung over one another's shoulders, their faces glowing with delight.

"I really envy Senior Brother Hu for becoming a Martial Master so quickly. I've only just Break Three Barriers; I still have such a long road ahead."

"Lang Yun Tower, Junior Brother Hu, you're generous! That Drunken Immortal Brew was truly incredible."

Hu Qi, surrounded by the crowd, was red-faced and exceedingly pleased. "Hahaha, if Senior Brother Xu likes it, I'll buy two more jars and send them over to you. I'll bring a few jars for Master too."

"What about us? We all heard that. Senior Brother Hu can't bring some only for Senior Brother Xu and Master while leaving us out, can he?" Xiang ChangSong had shed his usual gentle image before the apprentices and was being quite lively.

"Ahahaha, I'll bring some for everyone, all right?"

Hu Qi laughed heartily. Today was the day he had broken through the fourth barrier and become a Martial Master. Without his Master's and senior brothers' help, he could never have achieved this, so naturally he had to hold a grand feast to show his gratitude.

Standing beside Hu Qi at the center of the group, a short, wiry old man stroked his white beard. "There is no need to spend so much. Your Master has grown old in recent years and drinks much less now."

This man was Yang Dongxiong, the true master of Yang Martial Hall and the Master of everyone present.

A true Master was not like the chance acquaintance and transactional relationship one had with Martial Arts School apprentices.

"Hey, Master, there's no need to save money for Senior Brother Hu. He's a bona fide Martial Master now. Once he registers and gets entered into the records tomorrow, he'll be someone who eats Imperial Grain!"

"Senior Brother Zai supports justice!"

"With Junior Brother's strength, it was only a matter of time. I'm merely a few years older than him." Hu Qi spoke modestly while teasing them. "Go ahead and butcher me now, but don't blame me when I butcher you back later."

"Nothing could be better, nothing could be better! Hahaha."

Yang Dongxiong glanced at the moon climbing high overhead. Calculating the time, he realized it was already Xu Time. Seeing that everyone was still eager to talk and showed every sign of continuing, he spoke up to stop them.

"Enough, enough. Today was originally the day we were supposed to teach at the Martial Arts School. It was moved to the evening because Hu Qi was breaking through and then held a feast to celebrate. It would not be right to keep them waiting any longer. You should hurry back. Hu Qi can just come to the Martial Arts School with me."

Xu Zishuai looked from side to side and shook his head. "How about I come along and take a look too? It's not like I have anything important to do."

"Yeah, we can listen in on the lesson too."

Yang Dongxiong was surprised. "Why are you all so diligent today? Have you changed your nature?"

Xiang ChangSong smiled. "Master, Just Now at the wine shop, we were too busy drinking and celebrating. We never asked Senior Brother Hu about his experience with this successful breakthrough. After sleeping through the night, we might not remember it as clearly as we do today."

Xu Zishuai swayed his head as he spoke. "I don't particularly care. It's mainly that everyone hasn't gathered in a long time. We're rarely this happy, and everyone's here, so why not go over and have some fun?"

"Then let's all go to the Martial Arts School. Master can instruct the apprentices, while we can spar with one another and verify what we've learned."

Yang Dongxiong had no objections. After all, every person's breakthrough differed in subtle ways. The more one could learn, the better; it would benefit both oneself and one's future teaching of disciples.

"Fine, we'll go together. No One is watching over the place today. I wonder whether anything might go wrong."

Hu Qi said, "Before this disciple entered seclusion, I had Lu Shaohui teach in my place. Junior Brother Lu is also a Martial Artist who has broken through two barriers. There Should Not be any problems."

"Lu Shaohui?" Yang Dongxiong frowned.

Not everyone was qualified to become his Personal Disciple. First came talent, and then character. Even if some people had passable talent, he would not accept them.

In Yang Dongxiong's memory, Lu Shaohui did not leave a very good impression. He was a very aloof person.

"Master, Lu Shaohui's temperament is a little cold, but he is not a bad person. There Should Not be any trouble with him watching over things for one day."

"Since that is the case, let's go!"

The group crossed South Stone Bridge and headed for the Martial Arts School.

The Martial Arts School, bustling during the day, had few passersby at night.

Yang Dongxiong led his Personal Disciples quietly through the corridor, about to enter the Martial Arts Field.

"Shut up, you fucking idiot!"

Yang Dongxiong's expression changed in surprise, and he swiftly raised a hand.

The disciples stopped in their tracks.

"I alone am enough! I alone can defeat every last one of you, every last one of you!"

A suppressed voice poured into their ears, its savage emotion surging toward them like a tide.

Even the weakest among them had broken through two barriers and were Martial Artists with keen eyes and ears. They heard every word clearly.

Hu Qi's whole body tensed.

Something had happened! Xiang ChangSong thought. "That sounded like Junior Brother Liang's voice?"

"Junior Brother Liang?" Some of them had not seen Liang Qu before.

"He's an apprentice who came at the beginning of the month, a fisherman from Yi Xing City. He's a very handsome young man and quite polite. Every time he leaves, he and his friends sweep the floor once." At the end, Xiang ChangSong added, "Oh, three people from Yi Xing City came to learn martial arts this month. They are on good terms."

After explaining, Xiang ChangSong turned and apologized. "I'm sorry, Master. I should have stayed at the Martial Arts School today. I never expected trouble to arise. This is my fault."

Hu Qi stepped forward to take the blame. "If anyone is to blame, it should be me. After breaking through, I became too carried away and insisted on dragging everyone along to celebrate. Otherwise, Junior Brother Xiang would not have abandoned his post."

"Enough. Now is not the time to discuss who was right or wrong." Yang Dongxiong waved a hand, unconcerned by such a minor matter as abandoning one's post. "We'll go around through the back and find someone to ask what happened."

The group quickly withdrew from the corridor.

Martial Masters walked without a sound. No one noticed their arrival.

On the Martial Arts Field.

Everyone stared at Liang Qu in stunned disbelief, as though they were looking at a brat who knew neither heaven's height nor earth's depth.

He had only been at the Martial Arts School for barely a month, yet he wanted to fight seven burly men who had been there for more than four months by himself. If that was not knowing neither heaven's height nor earth's depth, what was? Lu Tingcai and the others had failed to break through for three months, then paid to stay on as "repeat students."

No matter how poor one's talent, with a fourfold gap in training time, their qi and blood would still be far more robust than that of a newcomer who had trained for only one month!

"A Shui, are you crazy?!"

Ignoring their pain, Li LiBo and Chen Jiechang staggered from the corner by the flower bed to the center of the Martial Arts Field. They grabbed Liang Qu's clothes, trying to drag him back.

Had Li LiBo and Chen Jiechang not launched a sneak attack, Lu Tingcai and Xue Dingyi would not even have been injured. Li LiBo and Chen Jiechang would suffer far worse afterward.

If someone stripped the two of them, they would discover that their bodies were already covered in bruises. Even standing upright was exceptionally difficult.

After being rebuked and scorned like this, Lu Tingcai's fury soared to the heavens. He shouted, "Even if all three of you come at me together, it'll be the same! I alone am enough!"

"No need. Just me."

Liang Qu fixed his gaze on Lu Tingcai. Supporting Li LiBo and Chen Jiechang by their shoulders, he slowly backed away and returned the two of them to the side.

The two clutched Liang Qu's clothes tightly. "A Shui, what are you trying to do? If you really don't have money, the two of us will help pay. Don't go!"

"I'm not crazy, and I'm not trying to do anything." Liang Qu gripped their hands in return, the light in his black eyes fierce and piercing. "I only want to smash their teeth, one by one!"