Perhaps because he had finally found someone who wanted to study after waiting half a month, Song Shi grew excited. He grabbed a wooden saber in front of Lin Shuguang and demonstrated a set of saber moves. "This is our Storm Martial Arts School's basic saber technique, the Tiger Roar Saber Technique!"
As his words fell, the wooden saber in his hand rose.
A powerful aura instantly surged through the wind cut by his saber. Cleaves and sweeps-every move seemed to carry the furious roar of a tiger.
Wherever the blade pointed, fierce gusts lashed out, blasting dust off the ground. The force struck everyone's hearts with a thunderous impact, leaving them shaken.
"Our Storm Martial Arts School has a history of one hundred and nine years. Generation after generation, Saber Technique Geniuses have emerged among us. You could say our school's saber techniques have become a system of their own. This Tiger Roar Saber Technique was created and refined by several generations of our school's saber Great Grandmasters!"
"I often remind everyone never to look down on it just because it's a basic saber technique. Since we have this opportunity, all of you watch closely-
"This move is Tiger Roar!
"Master it, and you can cleave seas and split mountains!"
As he spoke, everyone saw the dust at Song Shi's feet tremble and float around him as though defying gravity, seemingly held in thrall by a powerful force.
The muscles in his saber arm trembled rapidly, as though gathering all the strength in his body. In an instant, a peculiar rhythm ran through Song Shi's entire body, as though he were a tiger about to erupt.
He slashed down!
Boom!
It was like a sudden thunderclap. Everyone jumped in fright, and a powerful gust struck them head-on, stinging their faces.
The members who had practiced the Tiger Roar Saber Technique were especially astonished. After practicing for so many days, they had never produced anything like Song Shi's stunning display. They supposed they had underestimated it too much, and their desire to gain such power grew even more urgent.
As for Lin Shuguang's shock, there was even less need to describe it. This was the power he wanted!
"Well? Want to learn saber techniques at our Storm Martial Arts School?" Song Shi withdrew his saber and looked over.
Lin Shuguang took a long look at the mark the wooden saber had carved into the ground without touching it. Astonished by the technique's power, he was also quite curious. Was this the strength of a martial artist?
Hearing Song Shi's question, he said bluntly, "I don't have any money right now."
Song Shi: "..."
Fortunately, Lin Shuguang added, "I'll bring the money tomorrow. By the way, what time do you open?"
Song Shi hurriedly smiled. "We open at six in the afternoon and stay open until eight thirty at night... Um, young man, are you really coming tomorrow?" Watching Lin Shuguang walk away, Song Shi couldn't help calling after him.
"I am!"
"Good, good..."
After returning home, Lin Shuguang still couldn't calm the shock in his heart.
He was desperate to grow stronger, but those eight thousand yuan... His family might have owned a restaurant, but just breaking even was far from easy. The main problem was the expensive rent in that area, which was also the family's greatest financial burden.
Sitting silently on the living room sofa, Lin Shuguang wondered how to bring it up. He couldn't even muster a response to his younger sister Lin Xiaoxi's provocations.
"Something on your mind?" His father, Lin Haiyang, glanced up from his newspaper at his preoccupied son and asked with feigned casualness.
Lin Shuguang was silent for a moment before saying, "I want to join a Martial Arts Hall!"
Those words alone made Mother Lin look over on the spot. She had heard martial arts schools were expensive...
Lin Haiyang's expression remained unchanged. Holding his newspaper, he asked steadily, "How much?"
"...Ten thousand." Lin Shuguang told a lie.
The living room fell silent. Even his mischievous younger sister sensed the oppressive atmosphere and shrank into a corner, too frightened to move around.
Mother Lin hesitated for a long time. "Shuguang-"
"Give him the money," his father, Lin Haiyang, suddenly interrupted.
Mother Lin glanced at him and rose in silence. Before long, she came out of the room with a stack of cash and handed it to Lin Shuguang. "Here's ten thousand yuan."
The sentence was crisp and direct.
Lin Shuguang was about to speak, but Lin Haiyang had already put away his newspaper. He said unhurriedly, "Do what you want to do. Whatever happens, your dad is still here to back you up!"
As he spoke, Lin Haiyang stood. "It's getting late. Go get some rest!"
He patted Lin Shuguang's shoulder.
Lin Shuguang said in a low voice, "Dad, I won't let you down."
Lin Haiyang said nothing more, but his smile deepened a little.
Late that night, when everything was quiet, Lin Shuguang still hadn't fallen asleep. Feeling a little thirsty, he went to the living room for water, only to unexpectedly overhear his parents talking in their bedroom.
"Next month's rent has gone up again... And there's Little Wei and the others' wages... I'm not saying Shuguang shouldn't go to a Martial Arts Hall. We could wait until next month, after we get through this rough patch, and send him then..."
After a long while, Father Lin's voice rang out. "It's nothing we can't handle. I'll work a little harder starting tomorrow. If that doesn't work, I'll talk to the landlady!"
"Is she that easy to talk to? Have you forgotten what happened before?"
Standing in the living room, Lin Shuguang heard those words and suddenly felt as though his heart had taken a heavy blow.
So this ten thousand yuan matters that much...
Creak-
The bedroom door opened a crack, letting out a faint sliver of light.
Mother Lin came out with reddened eyes. Seeing Lin Shuguang standing in the living room, she froze, then forced a smile. "Shuguang, you're still awake?"
"Mom, this ten thousand yuan..."
Mother Lin cut him off. "Keep it! You don't need to worry about things at home. Your dad and I are here. Everything will be fine."
In the end, Lin Shuguang returned to his room with a jumble of feelings.
In his previous life, he had struggled unhappily as a migrant in Beijing, hoping he could one day return home in glory and let his parents enjoy their later years in comfort. In the end, he had accomplished nothing.
Yet in this life, he was still strapped for money.
Get stronger! Even stronger!
The following afternoon, Lin Shuguang arrived at the Storm Martial Arts School as promised.
Eight thousand in total!
He didn't ask why the Storm Martial Arts School's tuition was so much cheaper than other Martial Arts Halls, nor did he have the time to concern himself with it. As long as it could help him grow stronger quickly, that was enough.
Song Shi happily accepted the money, his expression easing somewhat. "The Tiger Roar Saber Technique looks simple, but its variations in force, advances and retreats, and most importantly, its vibrating force all require daily practice over time. You won't master it right away. I'll teach you the movements first. Get familiar with them, then ask me about anything you don't understand."
Clearly, although Song Shi held the privileged status of a martial artist, he was very conscientious after taking payment. Without holding anything back, he explained every point Lin Shuguang needed to pay attention to in the Tiger Roar Saber Technique.
Lin Shuguang listened attentively, following his explanations and going through the movements with a fair semblance of form.
Only when Song Shi finished explaining did he finally receive that exhilarating notification he had been waiting for.
[Acquired Martial Skill: Tiger Roar Saber Technique. Long-term practice can unlock the human body's potential and increase strength.] [Tiger Roar Saber Technique LV1: Requires 100 Wealth Value. Recharge?]
Yes!
With a thought, a vast amount of knowledge flooded his mind. In an instant, Lin Shuguang's understanding of the Tiger Roar Saber Technique went beyond that of a beginner.
[Tiger Roar Saber Technique LV2: Requires 200 Wealth Value. Recharge?]
Yes!
The Martial Skill upgraded again, and Lin Shuguang's understanding of the saber technique deepened another level.
[Tiger Roar Saber Technique LV3: Requires 300 Wealth Value. Recharge?]
Yes!
His understanding deepened once more. At this point, Lin Shuguang's command of the Tiger Roar Saber Technique was already on par with someone who had practiced it for five or six years. Such a terrifyingly fast rate of improvement left even Lin Shuguang himself exhilarated.
He looked again at the requirements for upgrading the Tiger Roar Saber Technique to LV4.
[Tiger Roar Saber Technique LV4: Requires 400 Wealth Value! Warning! Unable to upgrade at present. Practicing this Martial Skill at LV4 requires a Blood Energy Value of 180 cal.]
There are limits on upgrading too? Suppressing his agitation, Lin Shuguang raised the wooden saber he had been holding for some time and began to try it out.
"Huh?" Sensing the subtle change in Lin Shuguang's aura, Song Shi stopped what he was doing and turned his head...
The next second, his eyes widened as he stared at Lin Shuguang as though looking at a monster.
Before you continue