Moving House

A moment later.

Hong Zhengdao finished his demonstration and asked, "How many moves did you remember?"

Zhang Lingshan said, "Reporting to Master, this disciple remembered eighteen moves."

"Not bad. The Red Thread Fist has thirty-six moves in all. Remembering half of them is already quite impressive." Hong Zhengdao nodded in satisfaction.

Zhang Lingshan said, "These eighteen moves resemble the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture, which is why this disciple was able to remember them in one go."

Hong Zhengdao was even more satisfied. "You could see the connection. As expected, you have an affinity with the Red Thread Fist. Good, very good. Then I'll perform it once more, and you should carefully memorize the remaining eighteen moves as well."

"Yes!"

Zhang Lingshan secretly checked his Panel.

He found that the Red Thread Fist had not yet been recorded among its martial arts. Evidently, the Panel would only record it once he had completely memorized the Cultivation Method of the Red Thread Fist.

And indeed, just as he expected.

Only after Hong Zhengdao demonstrated it several times in succession and personally guided Zhang Lingshan through a full set did Zhang Lingshan finally memorize the Cultivation Method of the Red Thread Fist.

And at that moment.

The Panel changed.

Name: Zhang Lingshan

Martial Arts: Red Thread Fist (Not Entry Level), Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture (Greater Accomplishment)

Energy: 0

"Alright. I think you've learned enough today. Go back tonight and reinforce it a little. By tomorrow, you should have it down. After that, practice diligently. Before long, you'll be able to perform this entire fist routine smoothly. At that point, you'll have reached Entry Level."

Hong Zhengdao waved his hand, telling Zhang Lingshan to rest and join him for an afternoon meal.

Very soon.

The servants brought over the food.

A plate of meat, a plate of vegetables, and two bowls of rice.

It looked rather meager.

But the moment Zhang Lingshan swallowed the meat, an intense feeling of fullness surged through him.

When he took a bite of vegetables, he instead felt a coolness like water.

The two sensations merged without burdening his Stomach. On the contrary, they ground against each other, making both the meat and vegetables easier to digest.

In the short time it took to eat.

Zhang Lingshan checked his Panel and found that he had already accumulated 0.5 Energy!

That's way too fast, isn't it?

He could hardly believe it.

It was simply unbelievable.

If he could eat food like this every day, why would he ever worry about not accumulating enough Energy?

"How does it taste?"

Seeing Zhang Lingshan wolfing down his food without lifting his head, Hong Zhengdao asked with a smile.

Zhang Lingshan nodded repeatedly.

Only after he had eaten every last morsel did he ask curiously, "Master, what kind of meat is this?"

"Heh heh. You can't get this outside. If I told you, you might not even be willing to eat it."

Hong Zhengdao gave a mysterious smile.

Zhang Lingshan thought that there was no chance of that. As long as it could wildly increase his Energy, even if it were shit, he would savor it as sweetly as Old Eight.

"It's getting late. Xiao Shan, you should head home too. If you leave any later, you might run into danger."

Hong Zhengdao waved his hand.

Zhang Lingshan said, "Master, this disciple has an unreasonable request."

"Speak."

"This disciple feels that traveling back and forth wastes too much time. I wish to move to Hongwu Street. Could Master help find a residence? This disciple wishes to move his mother and younger sister there as well."

"Certainly."

Hong Zhengdao had thought it was going to be some difficult request. It was merely such a trivial matter—he could settle it with a single finger.

"Thank you, Master. But as for the rent, for now I..."

"I can give you three months' grace. If you can train the Red Thread Fist to the Upper Arm within three months, I'll waive your rent for those three months."

Hong Zhengdao said calmly.

In truth, he was not short on money. Three months' rent was not worth more than a few taels of silver. But in order to encourage Zhang Lingshan, he deliberately put it that way.

"Thank you, Master. This disciple will certainly work hard."

Zhang Lingshan was overjoyed.

With the Panel, let alone three months, he could accomplish it in one month.

If he could have more chances to eat with Hong Master, he would not even need a month.

Unfortunately, such opportunities could be encountered but not sought.

After bidding Hong Zhengdao farewell.

The moment Zhang Lingshan stepped out of the courtyard gate, he saw an acquaintance.

It was Tie Feng, whom he had met when he first joined the Hong Clan Martial Hall as an apprentice.

He still remembered how Tie Feng had swindled him out of two taels of silver with Tiger Meat Jerky.

But it was also thanks to Tie Feng swindling him that he learned Tiger Meat Jerky could replenish Energy. Afterward, he had been busy cultivating and had not taken the matter to heart.

Tie Feng hurried over, bowing and scraping. "Senior Brother, these are the two taels of silver I earned by selling you Tiger Meat Jerky back then. I never dared spend them. I always knew Senior Brother was no ordinary creature trapped in a pond, so I saved them for you."

As he spoke, he stuffed the silver into Zhang Lingshan's hand.

Zhang Lingshan weighed it and said in surprise, "This is more than two taels. You gave me too much."

"Aiya, it earned interest, didn't it? Just keep it, Senior Brother. This Junior Brother will be going now."

Tie Feng was afraid Zhang Lingshan might say something else, so he hurriedly left.

Zhang Lingshan rolled the silver around in his hand, secretly delighted.

Who would have thought that money he had spent could return to his hands—and even generate its own interest?

And the reason was simply that he had broken through and become a formal disciple.

This was the wealth brought by a change in status.

With more than two taels of silver suddenly in hand, Zhang Lingshan did not spend it recklessly. He only bought some Spirit Root Grass to accumulate Energy.

He saved the rest to hire a cart for the move the next day.

That night.

Zhang Lingshan did not sleep. Afraid that something unexpected might happen, he kept watch all night.

The next day, they moved to Hongwu Street without incident.

"Brother, I never thought you'd really pull it off. You got us moved to Hongwu Street so quickly. The sunlight here is so much better than on our old street, and the yang energy is strong. Everyone living here is a martial artist who came out of the Hong Clan Martial Hall."

Upon arriving at their new home, Zhang Lingyu excitedly bounced around and thoroughly wiped the window frames and tables.

Zhang Mother also said with relief, "In a place like this, even if Li Fu's family of three is filled with resentment, they won't dare come easily. We can finally live in peace. It's only the rent..."

"Mother, don't worry. Rent isn't a problem. I'm now Master's prized treasure. This is only the beginning—the good days are still ahead."

"Mhm, mhm. My son has truly made something of himself."

Zhang Mother was deeply gratified in her old age.

Over the following days.

Just as Zhang Mother and Zhang Lingyu had said, Hongwu Street's yang energy was indeed strong. At night, the family of three could all sleep soundly, and nothing strange happened again.

Meanwhile, Zhang Lingshan's Panel Energy steadily accumulated amid those peaceful days.

Although he did not have much money on hand and could no longer buy Tiger Meat Jerky or Medicinal Ingredients.

Fortunately, after becoming a formal disciple, his meals had improved. Two meals could accumulate 0.4 Energy, and every four days he received a bowl of Four Harmony Soup.

This Four Harmony Soup was the medicinal broth Shi Lei had previously brought him, except it was thicker and more potent than what Shi Lei had served.

It was clear that Shi Lei had drunk the remaining broth himself, then diluted it with water before giving it to him. One bowl could only increase Energy by 0.2.

But now, one bowl of Four Harmony Soup could increase Energy by 1 point. The gap could not be called small.

Adding in the few points of Energy he had accumulated from eating with Master on the first day, along with the leftover Medicinal Ingredients and Tiger Meat Jerky he still had.

On this day.

The Panel finally changed once more.

Name: Zhang Lingshan

Martial Arts: Red Thread Fist (Not Entry Level+), Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture (Greater Accomplishment)

Energy: 9.6

Finally, I can use Stat Points again...