The next morning, Chen Yuan awoke from deep meditation feeling refreshed. His qi and blood flowed vibrantly through his body, and the newly formed toughness beneath his skin had become even more distinct.
He gently loosened his muscles and bones. The thread of qi and blood within him surged along like a docile tide, moving with perfect ease.
He pushed open the wooden window, and crisp air poured inside, invigorating him.
In the courtyard, his mother, Lin Sanniang, had already begun lighting the fire to prepare breakfast, while his younger sister, Xiao Li, obediently helped feed the chickens nearby.
Everything was peaceful and tranquil, no different from before. But Chen Yuan knew that since last night, everything had already changed.
After washing up, he was just about to formally tell his family the good news that he had broken through to the Skin Grinding Realm when a burst of noisy footsteps and shouting suddenly came from outside the courtyard. Several crude bellowings were mixed in, shattering the fishing village's morning tranquility.
"Old Chen! Is Old Chen home? Come out and have a word!" a rather overbearing voice called from outside the courtyard gate.
Chen Yuan frowned slightly and walked to the window to look outside.
He saw five or six burly men standing outside the gate. Their leader was a strong man in a black short jacket, his chest bared. He appeared to be around thirty-five or thirty-six, with a face full of coarse flesh, a scar at the corner of one eye, and a vicious gaze. A short blade wrapped in copper was hanging from his waist.
The lackeys behind him were also mostly in the prime of life, their qi and blood vigorous. Every one of them looked languid and unfriendly.
"It's Scarred Liu from the Black Tide Gang!" Chen Dahai, who had been chopping firewood, suddenly stopped. His expression darkened as he said quietly to Chen Tie Mao, who had come out of the house upon hearing the noise, "Father, why has that scoundrel come here?"
Chen Tie Mao's expression was grave. He lowered his voice. "He must have smelled blood.
"Yesterday, we caught a Golden Thread Sea Bream. Though we warned our own people not to spread the word, there's no wall without a crack in this fishing village. He's probably here for that fish." The old captain's experience was deep; he saw through the visitors' purpose at a glance.
The Black Tide Gang was a small gang entrenched in Iron Clothes Village and several nearby fishing villages. On ordinary days, they collected "protection fees," forced fishermen to buy and sell catches at their prices, and lent money at usurious interest.
Their leader was said to be an expert who had completed the Skin Grinding Realm. He had more than a dozen enforcers in the Qi and Blood Realm under him. In this impoverished backwater, they still counted as a force to be feared.
Scarred Liu was one of the gang's minor leaders, with cultivation at the great completion of the Qi and Blood Realm. He was overbearing and ruthless, while the villagers mostly dared to be angry but not speak out.
Worry and fear appeared on Lin Sanniang and Grandmother Zhang Shi's faces. Xiao Li was so frightened that she hid behind her mother.
Second Uncle Chen Dajiang also poked his head out from the house. When he saw Scarred Liu, his expression changed, and he instinctively shrank back, pressing down Chen He's head as the boy was about to look out as well.
Chen Tie Mao took a deep breath, signaling for his family not to panic. He straightened his clothes and put on the helpless smile he usually wore when dealing with people like these. Then he stepped forward and opened the courtyard gate. "So it's Lord Liu gracing us with your presence. What brings you here so early in the morning?"
Scarred Liu cast Chen Tie Mao a sidelong glance and said with a smile that did not reach his eyes, "Old Chen, I heard you had a stroke of dog-shit luck yesterday and netted a Golden Thread Sea Bream?"
"Such a fine thing would only be wasted in a household like yours. Our gang leader needs some nourishment for his recent cultivation. If you know what's good for you, bring it out. The Black Tide Gang will pay you the market price... ten copper coins!"
Ten copper coins? It was worth at least ten taels of silver at market price! This was blatant robbery! Chen Dahai's face turned livid with anger, his fists clenching with sharp cracks. But mindful of the other side's power, he forcibly held himself back.
Chen Tie Mao's expression also stiffened. He forced a smile. "Lord Liu must be joking. We have no Golden Thread Sea Bream. It was merely a larger Golden Sea Bream, and we already stewed it into soup last night..."
"Bullshit!" Scarred Liu impatiently cut him off and shoved Chen Tie Mao aside, moving to barge into the courtyard. "My information is reliable! You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit? Brothers, go in and search!"
The lackeys answered with a roar and prepared to charge inside.
"Stop!" Chen Dahai could no longer restrain himself. He stepped across the gate, glaring furiously. "What do you think you're doing? In broad daylight, you're trying to rob us by force?"
"Hey! Old Chen, I've been too nice to you, haven't I?" Scarred Liu snarled and rolled his wrist. "I heard you've learned a few moves. What, you want to trade blows with your Lord Liu? My hands are itching anyway!" He did not take Chen Dahai, who was merely physically strong, seriously at all.
Just as the conflict was about to erupt, a calm voice came from inside the courtyard. "Father, Grandfather, what happened?"
Chen Yuan slowly walked out of the house, his expression calm as his gaze swept over Scarred Liu and the others.
After breaking through overnight, Chen Yuan had deliberately restrained himself. Yet upon entering the Skin Grinding Realm, his qi and blood had become one, his skin tough and supple, and his vital essence, spirit, and energy were contained within. Even his steps carried a steady bearing. He was worlds apart from the somewhat sullen youth he had been before.
Scarred Liu was a martial artist at the great completion of the Qi and Blood Realm, and his eyesight was far sharper than an ordinary person's. When his originally arrogant gaze landed on Chen Yuan, it suddenly focused. The vicious smile on his face froze, replaced by a trace of uncertainty.
As someone who practiced martial arts, he could sense the faint pressure emanating from Chen Yuan even more clearly.
In particular, Chen Yuan's eyes were calm and without ripples, yet they inexplicably sent a chill through him.
"You..." Scarred Liu looked Chen Yuan up and down. His tone unconsciously became more restrained, carrying a hint of probing. "Boy Chen? It hasn't been a few days, but you've... changed quite a bit, haven't you?"
He faintly sensed that Chen Yuan might have made a breakthrough, but he did not dare be certain. After all, the gang leader had said that even after reaching the great completion of the Qi and Blood Realm, a martial artist would need another three to five months of replenishing qi and blood before breaking through to the Skin Grinding Realm. How could it possibly happen all of a sudden...
Chen Yuan did not answer his question. He merely said coolly, "Head Liu, my family has no Golden Thread Sea Bream. Please leave."
Normally, Scarred Liu would have exploded by now. But at this moment, he was uncertain and forcibly suppressed his anger, squeezing out an ugly smile. "Brother Yuan, I heard you study under a master at Blackwater Martial Arts School. Looks like your cultivation has advanced greatly? May I ask, what realm are you in now..."
Before he could finish, a foolish lackey behind him tried to show off. Seeing that a mere youth dared to step forward, he immediately cursed, "You little brat, who said you could speak here? Get lost!"
As he spoke, he reached out to shove Chen Yuan.
Chen Yuan's gaze turned slightly cold.
Before the lackey's hand could touch him, Chen Yuan casually swept out his right hand. His movement was as fast as lightning, and his hand landed precisely on the lackey's wrist.
He did not appear to use any force, yet the lackey seemed to be struck by an invisible, tremendous power. With an "Ow!" he staggered backward and fell onto the ground, landing hard on his backside. His wrist had already been fractured and was completely immobile. He stared at Chen Yuan in shock and fear.
Lifting a great weight with ease—power born from within!
Scarred Liu's pupils contracted sharply, and his expression changed completely.
He saw it clearly. That move from Chen Yuan had not been powered by qi and blood alone. It had condensed true "force"!
"Skin Grinding Realm! You... you really broke through to the Skin Grinding Realm?!" Scarred Liu cried out, his voice changing pitch. His face was filled with disbelief and horror.
The Skin Grinding Realm! In Iron Clothes Village and even the nearby towns, such a person already counted as someone of standing.
It meant that Chen Yuan was no longer an ordinary martial arts student, but had truly stepped across the threshold of martial dao.
He was qualified to seek a formal post at the County yamen as a street patrol constable, tax clerk, or even a constable.
He could also be hired by the large merchant houses, shipping companies, or fish markets in the county town as a guard captain, with generous treatment.
He could even establish a small gang like the Black Tide Gang, just as their gang leader had done.
Scarred Liu relied on his great-completion Qi and Blood cultivation to throw his weight around in the village. But before a true Skin Grinding Realm martial artist, he was utterly insignificant.
If the other party wished, three punches and two kicks would be enough to knock him flat.
The thought that he had just tried to forcibly rob something from a Skin Grinding Realm martial artist made cold sweat break out on Scarred Liu's body. His back was drenched in an instant.
The other lackeys behind him were also scared witless. They fell silent as cicadas in winter and hurriedly helped their companion up, not daring to make a sound.
Chen Yuan neither admitted nor denied it. He simply watched Scarred Liu calmly, yet his gaze carried more weight than any words. "Head Liu, can you take your people and leave now? My family still has a meal to eat."
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Scarred Liu shuddered. The ferocity vanished from his face, replaced by fawning reverence. His waist bent several degrees without him realizing it.
"Oh, my! Look at these blind eyes of mine! I actually failed to see that Lord Chen had already achieved great mastery! I deserve to die! I truly deserve to die! Lord Chen, you're magnanimous. Please don't stoop to the level of crude men like us!"
He hurriedly fished a small money pouch from his robes. Judging by its bulging shape, it contained far more than ten copper coins. He respectfully offered it with both hands. "Lord Chen, this is just a small token, nothing worth mentioning. Consider it compensation for frightening the old master and an apology to the brothers! We'll leave now! We'll leave right now!"
Chen Yuan did not even look at the money pouch. He merely said, "From now on, no one from the Black Tide Gang may set foot inside my courtyard without permission. Do you understand?"
"Understood! Understood! Completely understood!" Scarred Liu nodded and bowed as though pardoned. "Rest assured, Lord Chen! From now on, your family's affairs are the Black Tide Gang's affairs! If anyone dares cause trouble, I, Scarred Liu, will be the first to refuse! Farewell! Farewell!"
With that, he put down the money pouch and did not dare linger another second. He led the group of terrified lackeys away at a brisk pace, their speed more than twice what it had been when they arrived.
Outside the courtyard gate, several villagers who had been drawn over by the commotion were watching from afar. When they saw the previously overbearing Scarred Liu treating Chen Yuan with such respect—or rather, fear—and finally fleeing in disgrace, they were all stunned. They stared at one another and began whispering among themselves.
"What happened? Why did Scarred Liu run away?"
"Didn't you hear? Brother Yuan... seems to have broken through to that... Skin Grinding Realm!"
"The Skin Grinding Realm? My heavens! Isn't that the same as the constable lords from the County yamen?"
"The Chen Family is going to prosper!"
Inside the courtyard, the Chen Family was also in a state of immense shock. They stared blankly at Chen Yuan as if they were meeting him for the first time.
They knew only that Chen Yuan had broken through yesterday. But their understanding of martial dao was shallow. They knew it was impressive, yet they had never imagined it could be impressive to this degree.
Just by revealing his cultivation, he had frightened the Black Tide Gang's leader—normally as fierce as a baleful spirit and a constant headache for the entire village—into fleeing in panic and bowing and scraping!
"Yuan... Yuan'er... you..." Lin Sanniang covered her mouth, her voice trembling. Her eyes were filled with shock, joy, and a trace of helplessness.
Chen Dahai abruptly returned to his senses. He strode over to his son and gripped his shoulder tightly, his voice trembling with excitement. "Good lad! You... you didn't merely stabilize your realm... you directly broke through to the Skin Grinding Realm?!"
Seeing his family's astonished yet ecstatic expressions, Chen Yuan smiled faintly and nodded. "Mm. I was lucky enough to break through. I've reached the initial completion of the Skin Grinding Realm, and it was also thanks to that Golden Thread Sea Bream."
"Good! Good!" Chen Tie Mao slapped his thigh, his beard trembling with excitement and immense relief. "The Skin Grinding Realm, a true Skin Grinding Realm! My Chen Family... our Chen Family has finally produced a true martial artist. Blessings from our ancestors, blessings from our ancestors!"
Grandmother Zhang Shi was even moved to tears, repeatedly chanting the Buddha's name.
Second Uncle Chen Dajiang and Second Aunt Zhou Shi also ran out of the house, their faces filled with disbelief and wild joy.
Chen Dajiang was so excited that his words became incoherent. "The Skin Grinding Realm! It really is the Skin Grinding Realm! Brother Yuan, you really... you've truly brought honor to our old Chen Family! Wonderful! Let's see who still dares bully our Chen Family now!"
At that moment, he was immensely glad that he had insisted on keeping the Golden Thread Sea Bream yesterday. This investment had been worth every bit of it!
His younger cousin also gazed at Chen Yuan with admiration.
Chen Yuan soothed his excited family and explained, "Only after entering the Skin Grinding Realm can one be said to have truly stepped onto the path of martial dao. The skin becomes tough, ordinary clubs can hardly injure it, and the condensed qi and blood force far surpasses that of the Qi and Blood Realm."
"According to the Imperial Court's regulations, Skin Grinding Realm martial artists are qualified to participate in County yamen recruitment. After passing the assessment, they can serve as street patrol constables, tax officials, or even village militia captains. Their annual salary is at least twenty taels of silver, not counting other benefits."
"Even if one does not enter public service, the major merchant houses, shipping companies, fish markets, and even martial arts schools in the county town will compete to hire them as guards, instructors, or attendants. The treatment is even more generous."
He paused, then continued, "Take the county town's 'Sihai Shipping Company,' for example. It hires Skin Grinding Realm martial artists year-round to escort its ships and guard against River Bandits and Sea Beasts. 'Zhangji Fish Market' needs skilled hands to hold the fort and prevent people from snatching its sources of fish or causing trouble. Then there are the 'Hundred Refinements Iron Shop' and the 'Green Spirit Medicine Hall.' Even if one merely lends one's name to them, one can receive several taels of silver in attendant fees every month."
"The Black Tide Gang fears me precisely because of this. Their gang leader is also only in the Skin Grinding Realm. He would not dare offend another martial artist of the same realm lightly, let alone one as young as me."
The family was left speechless with astonishment. They knew only that the Skin Grinding Realm was formidable, but they had never imagined it brought so many tangible benefits and such lofty status.
An annual salary of several dozen taels, even for merely lending one's name! That was a fortune their entire family could not save after fishing hard for a year. And there were all sorts of prestigious positions that inspired awe just by hearing them mentioned...
This meant that from then on, the Chen Family would completely escape the fate of lowly fishermen. They would truly have a path upward and the confidence to walk it.
"Good! Good! Good!" Chen Tie Mao repeated the word three times, tears glimmering in his eyes. "Brother Yuan, you've won unprecedented dignity for the family!"
Watching his family's excitement and delight, Chen Yuan's heart also filled with accomplishment and responsibility. He knew very well that this was only the beginning.
Though the Skin Grinding Realm already made him a person of standing in the county town, on the vast road of martial dao, he had only just taken his first step.
At the same time, the silent Tidal Stele in his Sea of Consciousness trembled faintly once more. Tide Luck Points +10 (Initial Display of the Skin Grinding Realm, Expelling Evil Guests)
Realm: Skin Grinding Realm · Initial Completion (5/100) Tide Luck Points: 35/100
This Tidal Stele in his Sea of Consciousness was his true reliance.
He would accumulate Tide Fortune and await the next Ebbing Tide to obtain more resources and opportunities.
The Chen Family's little courtyard was immersed in unprecedented joy and hope. Chen Yuan wore a smile as he dealt with his family's ecstasy, but his heart gradually grew calm.
The Black Tide Gang... had retreated today, but that did not mean they were truly convinced. His experience from his previous life had taught him the principle of eliminating evil to the very roots. He also knew that with the nature of these ruffians, intimidation alone might not be reliable.
"Grandfather, Father, Mother," Chen Yuan said steadily, "there's no need to make this too public for now. I need to return to the martial arts school first and report to my instructor, registering my cultivation officially. That way, it will be legitimate, and I can enjoy the school's benefits for Skin Grinding Realm disciples. As for what we do afterward, we can discuss it at length."
"Exactly, exactly! That's the right way!" Chen Tie Mao nodded repeatedly. "Brother Yuan has thought this through carefully. Quickly, Sanniang, prepare some dry rations for Brother Yuan to eat on the road..."
"Grandfather, there's no need to trouble yourselves. I'll be back soon." As Chen Yuan spoke, he hurried out of the courtyard, but he did not head straight for the county town.
His figure flashed. Using the houses as cover, he listened closely, then quickly followed Scarred Liu and his group.
His Skin Grinding Realm cultivation made his steps light and his hearing keen. He trailed them from afar without being discovered.
He heard Scarred Liu quietly berating his men. "...Shut the hell up, all of you! The Skin Grinding Realm—is that someone we can afford to provoke? How old is he? He's going to become an official lord in the future. Even the gang leader will have to treat him courteously! If anyone dares cause trouble at the Chen Family's home again, I'll cripple him first. Hurry up, move! Did you hear me?"
"We heard you, we heard you..." The lackeys hurriedly answered. Not a trace of their earlier arrogance remained, only lingering fear.
Another man whispered, "Head Liu, that... that money pouch we left on the ground..."
"You idiot! You're still thinking about the money pouch?!" Scarred Liu was so angry he nearly jumped. "That was a life-saving payment, understand? He didn't take it because he was magnanimous. Do you think we can go ask for it back? Are you tired of living? Hurry up! Once we get back, all of you keep your mouths shut!"
The group did not dare say another word. They quickened their pace and slunk toward the Black Tide Gang's hideout outside the village, as if a ferocious beast were chasing them from behind.
Chen Yuan concealed himself beside a house corner and heard every word clearly.
It seemed that the other side truly feared him. They should not cause trouble again in the short term. He weighed the matter in his heart. If he followed them and struck now, he could eliminate the threat, but he would inevitably alarm everyone around them. If that drew a counterattack from the Black Tide Gang's leader, the gain would not be worth the loss.
It was better to let them go for now. His own strength and status were the foundation. Once his cultivation was higher, dealing with them would be as easy as raising a hand.
His killing intent subsided, and he turned and hurried straight toward the county town.
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