Gale Wind Leg! Hong Master Summons

Song Lian was filled with anger. After all that talking, it had been like playing music to an ox.

If it had been anyone else, she would already have cursed them out and told them to get lost. They simply did not know what was good for them! But considering that Zhang Lingshan's talent was rather good, she suppressed her displeasure and steadied her emotions. "You don't need to decide immediately. Go back, take another look, and think carefully about the road ahead. Some opportunities, once missed, are gone for a lifetime!"

"Fifth Sister is right."

Song Dazhuang chimed in, then said, "Then we'll be going, Fifth Sister. I'll try to persuade Xiao Shan some more."

"Mm, go on."

Song Lian waved her hand.

Song Dazhuang immediately pulled Zhang Lingshan away.

On the way back to Hong Clan Martial Hall, Song Dazhuang did not say a word.

After a long while, Zhang Lingshan broke the silence and asked in surprise, "Didn't you promise your Fifth Sister that you would persuade me? Why aren't you trying?"

"Hehe, I figured it would be useless even if I tried, so there was no point wasting my breath."

Song Dazhuang smiled. "Actually, I was completing a task today. My Fifth Sister had heard of you and specifically told me to bring you over. If I didn't bring you, I wouldn't be able to answer to her. So I didn't explain things clearly and just dragged you along. That was my fault. I'll treat you to a good meal at Du Family Restaurant."

As he spoke, he hooked an arm around Zhang Lingshan's shoulders and prepared to take him out for a feast.

Naturally, Zhang Lingshan did not refuse. As they walked, he said, "Even your Fifth Sister has heard of me. Am I really that famous?"

"Of course! Do you think going from a martial arts novice to Skin Grinding in three months is a joke?"

"If I'm that impressive, shouldn't all the major martial halls be fighting over me?"

"In your dreams!"

Song Dazhuang explained, "My Fifth Sister can bring you into Hongying Martial Hall because Hongying Martial Hall is also affiliated with the Yuan Family. That isn't poaching you—it's helping Hong Zhengdao lighten his burden. If other martial halls dared to open their mouths, they would be breaking the rules and looking for trouble."

Zhang Lingshan was speechless. "You think that's helping Hong Master lighten his burden too?"

"What I think isn't important. That's what everyone says outwardly."

"I understand."

Zhang Lingshan nodded. This was called having a proper justification.

When roaming the martial world, reputation was important. More importantly, one had to understand the rules.

The martial world was not merely about fighting and killing. It was also about human feelings and worldly dealings.

With rules set by the Four Great Families of the Inner City, anyone who dared break them had to weigh whether they had the ability to bear the consequences.

For the rest of the day, Zhang Lingshan and Song Dazhuang ate and chatted at Du Family Restaurant.

They talked quite a lot this time, giving Zhang Lingshan a certain understanding of the power distribution throughout Jin City.

He felt that as his strength grew, he would naturally encounter these forces sooner or later. Learning more about them could only help.

"By the way, Brother Da Zhuang, I want to learn to read. Does your family have a tutor?"

Zhang Lingshan suddenly asked.

He could not be bothered to search everywhere himself. Since Song Dazhuang was a walking encyclopedia, it was most convenient to have him solve the matter of literacy directly.

"Yes. You want to learn to read?"

Song Dazhuang was initially surprised, then nodded approvingly. "That's a good idea. As your strength rises, your status will change as well. You should learn some characters. Otherwise, you'll forever just be a guardhouse martial brute who can't take the stage."

What surprised him was that Zhang Lingshan had thought of learning to read so quickly.

This brother truly was extraordinary. Though his origins were humble, his horizons far surpassed those of ordinary smallfolk.

"However, the year-end is approaching. After the new year, I'll take you to meet my family's tutor. That old man is pedantic and rigid, but he teaches quite well. I studied under him when I was young."

Song Dazhuang added, "Oh, right. My full name is Song Zhu. Da Zhuang is my childhood name. Brother Shan, you can keep calling me Da Zhuang."

"Alright."

Zhang Lingshan nodded.

At first, the name Song Dazhuang had made him think that Song Dazhuang came from an illiterate family like his own, which had brought them closer.

This was probably the name Song Dazhuang often used when speaking with ordinary people like them. It carried a natural sense of familiarity.

"Brother Shan, head back to Hong Clan Martial Hall yourself later. I won't be returning. My family has already arranged for me to join Hongying Martial Hall. If Brother Shan decides to come, we can continue being fellow disciples. If you don't come, we'll still be good brothers. If you ever need anything, come find me. As long as I can help, I will never refuse!"

After saying that, Song Dazhuang bid Zhang Lingshan farewell at a fork in the road.

When Zhang Lingshan returned to the martial hall alone, he saw everyone hanging their heads in dejection. They looked listless, either staring blankly at the sky or wearing expressions as though their parents had died.

After asking around, he learned that Zhu Wei and Pan Mingzhong had already gone to request an audience with Hong Master, only to be stopped outside. They had not even been allowed into the main residence.

Clearly, the rumors were true.

Hong Master had been seriously injured!

"What should we do now? Hong Master has suffered such severe injuries that he doesn't even have the strength to see us."

Someone let out a worried sigh.

Another said, "What's the big deal? Everything will continue as usual. Hong Master didn't come back for a while before, and didn't we get along just fine?"

"Sigh, you don't understand. If he hadn't returned, we could still hold onto hope. Now that he has returned, the dust has settled instead. I think it won't be long before someone comes looking for trouble. Listen to me—hurry and find your own way out."

"Bastard! Hong Master is badly injured, and you want to run? Do you have no conscience at all?" someone roared.

Another sneered. "Conscience? Can conscience feed you? If someone comes looking for trouble, they won't target the Flesh Refining Senior Brothers, nor will they go after ordinary disciples and apprentices who haven't reached Skin Grinding. They'll specifically use people like us as knives to test Hong Master's response. If you get crippled then, let's see how you keep talking tough."

"It can't be that terrifying, can it?" A timid disciple's face turned ugly.

"Terrifying? This is just the appetizer. The cruel part is still to come. If Hong Master still doesn't show himself over the next few days, then don't blame me for finding another path. My whole family is waiting for me to support them."

With that, he strode out of Hong Clan Martial Hall.

Several disciples exchanged glances and quickly followed after him.

"Sigh."

Pan Mingzhong sighed. "Old Zhu, stop waiting. Come back another day. Does your slaughterhouse still need people? Take me in too."

"Cut the crap. Where can't you go?"

Zhu Wei snorted.

The two of them were both at the peak of Copper Hide, only one step away from breaking through to Flesh Refining, officially becoming Hong Zhengdao's Inner Disciples, receiving Hong Master's guidance, and learning the martial arts beyond Red Thread Fist.

Who could have expected something like this to happen?

They were simply too unlucky!

Still, it was not entirely a bad thing. At least they still had time to jump ship.

Compared to Hong Master's six Inner Disciples, they were the truly unlucky ones. They could only sink with Hong Zhengdao's ship unless they were willing to throw away their dignity and reputation.

"Everyone's gone?"

Zhang Lingshan looked around the courtyard. There were not many people left, all ordinary commoners like himself.

Some were even worse off than him.

At least he had the reputation of a genius, and he had joined Feng Family Pharmacy. These ordinary disciples had nothing. Looking at the empty courtyard, every one of them seemed dumbfounded, not knowing where to go next.

Zhang Lingshan sighed inwardly.

The cruel reality made him hunger even more for strength.

Thus, he left as well, heading to Feng Family Pharmacy to find Wu Zheng.

After Song Lian had kicked him earlier, he realized that although the woman was not as robustly built as he was overall, the force in her legs was truly not weak.

Clearly, leg techniques had tremendous potential.

Once mastered, they would also be a killing move. He needed to start training them quickly.

"Thought it through?"

Wu Zheng was gnawing on chicken feet. When he saw Zhang Lingshan approach, he immediately smiled.

Zhang Lingshan asked in surprise, "Thought what through?"

"Didn't you come to ask me to be your sparring partner?"

"No. I came to learn the later leg technique."

Zhang Lingshan took out a thirty-tael Silver Note.

Wu Zheng casually wiped the grease from his hands on his clothes, took the Silver Note, and said, "Fine. Just as we agreed before, I'll only teach you the Cultivation Method routine. Whether you can master it is your own problem. No refunds."

"Naturally. Give me the IOU and written agreement as well."

"Alright."

Wu Zheng did not waste words. He was in this for the long haul, so he was not afraid that Zhang Lingshan would not return to ask him for sparring practice later.

First, Wind Stabilizing Posture was difficult to train in the first place. Second, the Gale Wind Leg technique he taught also emphasized real combat. Moreover, he had not taught Zhang Lingshan the Combat Technique. Even if Zhang Lingshan mastered it, it would be of little practical use. In the end, he would still have to come back and seek Wu Zheng's instruction.

With such a steady stream of income, he could harvest at least several hundred taels.

After all, Wu Zheng had already used this routine on five or six people, and there had never been any problems. He had earned quite a bit from it.

Martial arts were every family's secret treasure. Spending several hundred taels to buy a leg technique was not actually a loss.

Anyone who managed to master it would never say a single bad word about Wu Zheng.

"As the saying goes, an arm cannot twist past a thigh, because the lower body is naturally stronger than the upper body.

"Strength is the foundation of flexibility, and flexibility is the foundation of agility.

"Our Gale Wind Leg trains agility and belongs to the Third Layer. Wind Stabilizing Posture trains First Layer strength and Second Layer flexibility.

"Remember this! Before Wind Stabilizing Posture reaches Entry Level, do not blindly cultivate the leg technique, or you will injure yourself."

Wu Zheng earnestly warned him.

Zhang Lingshan nodded heavily. "Understood."

Next, under Wu Zheng's instruction, he completely memorized the routine and Cultivation Method of Gale Wind Leg.

Thus, the fifty taels Zhang Lingshan had spent with Wu Zheng were completely settled.

The two lessons together had taken Wu Zheng less than an afternoon.

It was a business with ten thousand profits from one investment.

That was the benefit of possessing a unique skill. There was never any need to worry about making money.

"Once you've thought it through, come find me for sparring anytime. Same old price: twenty taels for twenty hours."

Wu Zheng smiled.

"Alright."

Zhang Lingshan cupped his fists and took his leave.

Before mastering both Wind Stabilizing Posture and Gale Wind Leg, he would have no dealings with Wu Zheng for the time being.

As for whether he would come here later to practice the Combat Technique of Gale Wind Leg, that could be discussed later.

After returning home,

Zhang Lingshan did not waste a word. He immediately opened the Panel.

Name: Zhang Lingshan

Martial Arts: Gale Wind Leg (Not Entry Level+), Wind Stabilizing Posture (Entry Level), Mountain Splitting Axe Technique (Entry Level), Red Thread Fist (Minor Accomplishment), Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture (Perfection)

Energy: 23

Gale Wind Leg reaching Entry Level should require about the same energy as Red Thread Fist. Ten points should be enough.

Zhang Lingshan calculated that twenty-three points of energy were more than sufficient.

Thus, without further hesitation, he directly added Stat Points.

Whoosh.

Just as he expected, ten points of energy vanished in an instant.

Then he felt the muscles in his Legs begin to thump and twitch, as though they were reorganizing themselves and undergoing an indescribable transformation.

Very quickly, in fewer than a few breaths, the change came to an abrupt end.

Zhang Lingshan immediately rose to his feet and hopped around the room. His body felt much lighter than before.

But it differed from when Wind Stabilizing Posture had first reached Entry Level.

When Wind Stabilizing Posture reached Entry Level, it increased the strength of his leg muscles. Gale Wind Leg, however, made his reactions underfoot swifter, allowing him to turn sharply while sprinting.

When Song Lian bullied those six burly men before, she relied on this ability to change direction so easily. But she has trained it more deeply than I have. Her changes of direction are faster, and her strength is greater.

Zhang Lingshan silently analyzed the matter.

Although he was temporarily inferior to Song Lian, once he mastered both Wind Stabilizing Posture and Gale Wind Leg, he should be able to utterly crush her.

I have fist techniques, leg techniques, and axe techniques. What I still lack are grappling techniques and an internal cultivation method.

Wasn't there a set of verses that went something like this?

Shoulder joins hip, elbow joins knee, hand joins foot.

Seize is Death Branch, capture is living. Fists first, legs second, grappling third. Only after grappling is mastered does one advance to weapons. Weapons are extensions of the limbs—the so-called unity of man and weapon.

Heart joins intent, intent joins qi, qi joins strength. Inner yin and outer yang, within and without run through as one qi. If one form is not smooth, it is difficult to train another form!

Zhang Lingshan thought, Because I have energy and Stat Points, I skipped grappling and went straight to weapons.

But grappling should still be trained. It is an excellent method for subduing enemies. I need to find a way to get a grappling martial art too.

As for an internal cultivation method, I wonder whether Hong Master has one. Since he could cultivate to the peak of Tendon Changing, he should possess some hidden trump-card internal cultivation method, shouldn't he?

The next day,

Zhang Lingshan went to the martial hall, but still did not get to see Hong Zhengdao.

What delighted him, however, was that the martial hall had not stopped distributing Four Harmony Soup. Since fewer people had come, he simply drank several extra bowls, and the servant responsible for handing out the soup said nothing.

"Four Harmony Soup is still being distributed, and everything is continuing as usual! It seems our martial hall won't collapse after all. Those people were just talking nonsense."

Some disciples became encouraged as well.

As word spread, more and more people gradually returned.

But none of this had anything to do with Zhang Lingshan.

Other than continuing to have Tie Feng inquire whether any Herb Gathering Guards were willing to teach martial arts like Wu Zheng, he continued cultivating day after day according to his routine.

Naturally, he trained Red Thread Fist, because his other martial arts were difficult to practice and offered relatively poor value.

In truth, even Red Thread Fist at Minor Accomplishment improved very slowly.

The best-case scenario was to find someone to hone his Combat Technique against, leaving all improvements in martial arts realm to the Panel's Stat Points.

But with the New Year approaching, no one was willing to fight and kill.

Zhang Lingshan could only abandon the idea, adjust his mindset, and peacefully enjoy these two days of tranquility.

"Young Master Shan, the master invites you."

One day, Hong Zhengdao's steward suddenly came calling.

Zhang Lingshan could not help but ask in surprise, "Hong Master wants to see me? Did something happen?"

"The master wishes to speak with his disciples. He specifically instructed me to make sure Young Master Shan attends."

"Alright, I'll change my clothes."

"There's no need to hurry, Young Master Shan."

A moment later.

Zhang Lingshan had not only changed his clothes, but also brought several packets of Medicinal Ingredients and dried meat.

As for whether these little things could be of any help, they certainly could not. Even if Hong Zhengdao was injured, his family fortune remained; what could he possibly lack?

But even if they were of no help, he still had to bring them. Courtesy had to be observed.

The steward said nothing when he saw what Zhang Lingshan was carrying.

On the way, Zhang Lingshan asked, "Have the other disciples arrived?"

"They have all been invited. They should be on their way."

"Who's coming?" Zhang Lingshan asked curiously.

"Besides the six Inner Disciples, Young Master Shan, Young Master Zhu Wei, and Young Master Pan Mingzhong were invited."

Zhang Lingshan's heart stirred, and he formed a guess.

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