Tiger Subduing Fist

The next morning.

Fang Chen hurriedly gulped down a few mouthfuls of porridge, tucked the silver close against his body, and headed out.

Most of the pedestrians on the street wore coarse hemp shirts, and quite a few had patches piled atop patches.

He hurried to the agreed-upon tree.

Zhang Tao had been waiting there for some time. The moment he saw him, he rushed over excitedly, talking all the while:

"Brother Fang! Ling Hu... Ling Hu became a leader! The other brothers are all following him now!"

Fang Chen raised an eyebrow at that.

A leader? How could he have become one so easily?

This turn of events was somewhat beyond Fang Chen's expectations. He had originally thought—

Even if Ling Hu and the others had truly cornered the Green Robe Gang members yesterday,

At most, they would have joined as slightly higher-ranking gang members.

How had he suddenly become a minor leader now?

Confusion appeared on Fang Chen's face.

Seeing this, Zhang Tao hurriedly explained:

"It was yesterday! Ling Hu and the others really did block those Green Robe Gang men!"

"Guess what happened? Ling Hu led the brothers in a brutal beating and actually knocked several of them down!"

Even after hearing that, Fang Chen still found it strange.

But Zhang Tao caught his breath and continued excitedly:

"Ah, I'll just say it outright. Ling Hu and the others ran into a benefactor!"

"I heard those Green Robe Gang men didn't know whether they were dead or alive and actually killed the daughter of an officer from the Three Rivers Gang!"

"That officer spoke up on the spot: whoever killed those bastards could take over one of the vacant leader positions under him!"

"That credit naturally went to Ling Hu! That officer saw that Ling Hu looked mighty and fierce, and with his promise already made, he promoted him directly to leader on the spot!"

After Zhang Tao finished speaking, the envy in his eyes was impossible to conceal.

It was as though he could already see Ling Hu and the others living it up, eating rich food and drinking fine wine.

"Brother Fang... how glorious do you think they are now?"

Hearing that, Fang Chen looked at Zhang Tao and understood what he meant.

"If you had stayed with them yesterday, you'd probably be under Ling Hu now. With him protecting you, you'd be better off than an ordinary gang member no matter what, right?"

He looked Zhang Tao straight in the eye, with a trace of probing in his gaze.

"What? Regret following me?"

Zhang Tao froze, then gave an awkward smile.

"Brother, I do think what you said makes sense, but I asked around. Learning Martial Arts takes a lot of silver!"

"Leaving aside the fact that it costs two taels of silver a month, if you can't reach the First Realm after three months, then your aptitude is extremely poor and you're basically fated to have no connection with the martial path."

"By that calculation, people like us are very likely to waste six taels of silver for nothing!"

Fang Chen smiled at Zhang Tao, then suddenly asked:

"Ling Hu came looking for you, didn't he? Did he also tell you that as long as you were willing to follow him, you would still be good brothers in the future, and he wouldn't exclude you over yesterday's escape?"

Zhang Tao was completely stunned, surprise on his face.

"Brother, how did you know...?"

Fang Chen shook his head.

"Ling Hu already used the silver matter to persuade you yesterday, yet you were still willing to follow me. That meant the problem probably wasn't the silver."

"Besides, you usually don't have much of an opinion of your own, yet now you're speaking so systematically, as if you have plenty of your own views."

"I figured Ling Hu must have persuaded you and even taught you this set of words as an excuse."

"Did he also tell you..."

Fang Chen paused, then continued:

"Forget it. Everyone has their own choice. I won't say more. If there's a chance, we'll meet again someday."

Then, beneath Zhang Tao's astonished gaze,

Fang Chen directly turned and left at a brisk pace, heading toward the martial arts school.

Zhang Tao stood beneath the tree, watching Fang Chen's retreating back.

He could not help recalling Ling Hu's words from the previous night.

"You can keep following us, but Fang Chen can't. He betrayed us and even wanted to pry you away from us. I simply can't accept that!"

"From now on, we'll be people walking two different roads from him."

"Since he thinks joining a gang is no good, then let's wait and see. Let him see who can go farther in the end!"

"I, Ling Hu, will never lose to Fang Chen!"

Everyone had their own choice.

If Fang Chen had not possessed his golden finger, perhaps he too would have joined a gang.

As for why Ling Hu had not invited him,

It was very simple.

Because the brothers had once recognized Fang Chen as their leader, Ling Hu could not possibly tolerate his presence.

Fang Chen arrived at the martial arts school's entrance and knocked on the door.

A man wearing training clothes poked his head out. "Here to take a master?"

Fang Chen nodded. "Yes."

The man sized Fang Chen up. "Did you bring the money?"

Fang Chen answered, "I did."

Only then did the man open the door and walk inside.

"Fine. Follow me."

They arrived at a spacious courtyard, where Fang Chen saw many burly men stripped to the waist.

Some were practicing fist techniques, while others were lifting stone locks.

The crowd merely glanced at Fang Chen and showed no reaction, continuing to focus on their training.

Fang Chen followed the man onward, arriving at the rear courtyard of the martial arts school.

The man stepped forward a few paces and bowed.

"Master, a newcomer has arrived."

An elderly man lounged lazily in a rattan chair. He opened his eyes and gave Fang Chen a brief look.

"Bring the money over."

Fang Chen took out the silver from inside his clothes and respectfully placed it on the small wooden table beside the old man.

The old man weighed the bundle a few times and nodded.

"Come here. Let me feel your bone structure."

Fang Chen stepped closer.

The old man rose and swiftly swept both hands over Fang Chen's limbs, back, and chest.

Wherever the old man's hands passed, Fang Chen actually felt a faint numbness.

The old man showed no expression as he lay back in the rattan chair.

"Your bone structure is ordinary, even somewhat poor. Your silver will only cover two months of training."

"You may receive one serving of Qi Replenishing Soup every day. After two months, you will need to pay tuition again."

Fang Chen felt no ripples in his heart. After all, this was not what he relied on.

Seeing that Fang Chen showed no reaction, the old man instead found it rather interesting.

"You brat, your temperament is quite steady. Those disciples in the past all wondered whether they might be Martial Arts prodigies."

"When they eventually discovered that they weren't, they often looked deeply disappointed."

"Young people must learn to accept their own mediocrity. Don't waste your time for nothing on things that are impossible."

The old man considered it, then continued:

"Three months! Generally speaking, if someone hasn't reached the First Realm within three months, I advise them to leave the martial arts school."

"After all, once you've learned Martial Arts, finding work as a guard or a household protector and earning a little money won't be a problem."

"Looking at what you're wearing, you should come from a poor family as well. If you truly want to succeed, you must work harder than others! Do you understand?"

Fang Chen nodded, showing just the right amount of agreement and gratitude.

"Thank you for your instruction, Master. Your words have benefited me greatly."

Hong Decheng was extremely satisfied with this disciple's performance.

He said with a smile, "I personally give every new disciple some initial guidance. You are no exception."

"Our Tiger Subduing Martial Arts School naturally practices Tiger Subduing Fist."

"Watch closely!"

Fang Chen focused and watched carefully.

Hong Decheng lowered his body, bent his knees slightly, and held one fist suspended at his waist.

The fingers of his other hand spread angrily, curling into hooks to form a tiger claw before his chest.

"The palm of the claw must face forward. Your gaze must blaze like torches as you stare ahead, as though a fierce tiger lies crouched on a mountain ridge, gathering power and ready to strike!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Hong Decheng's waist and stance suddenly exerted force, his hips turning and his waist twisting...

Claw thrust! Pounce! Raking grab! Block and strike!

Hong Decheng demonstrated one incomparably fierce movement after another!

"Take the form and spirit of a fierce tiger. The movements must be hard and sharp, crushing others through sheer momentum!"

At the very end, a tiger's roar that shook the heart suddenly rang out!

Fang Chen looked at Hong Decheng in surprise. That tiger's roar had actually come from his mouth.

After finishing the demonstration, Hong Decheng looked with satisfaction at the astonished Fang Chen.

"Forget about the sound of tiger and leopard for now. You'll have to train Tiger Subduing Fist to perfection before you can achieve that effect."

"I was merely demonstrating just now. In an actual fight, this tiger roar can shake the mind and spirit."

Fang Chen understood. In battle, even a momentary lapse of concentration could easily cost one's life!

Hong Decheng continued:

"Once Tiger Subduing Fist reaches minor accomplishment, you can attain the First Realm of Martial Arts, the Skin and Muscle Realm. This realm mainly involves nurturing qi and blood, circulating it to nourish the skin, membrane, and muscles."

"Tiger Subduing Fist places the greatest emphasis on fists and claws. Thus, by cultivating this fist technique, the skin, membrane, and muscles of our fists and claws will become more powerful and more resistant to blows."

Hong Decheng paused, seemingly waiting for Fang Chen to digest the information, before continuing:

"The Second Realm of Martial Arts is the Sinew and Bone Realm. With vigorous qi and blood nourishing the sinews and bones throughout the body, Unleashed Power rises greatly. Tiger Subduing Fist can reach it upon major accomplishment."

"If you want the sound of a tiger's roar, however, Tiger Subduing Fist must reach perfection. At that point, you will be at the third realm of Martial Arts, the Viscera Realm, and must temper your internal organs!"

Skin and Muscle Realm! Sinew and Bone Realm! Viscera Realm!

Fang Chen's memory was fairly good, and he memorized every key point.

He listened carefully to Hong Decheng's explanation.

Hong Decheng was quite pleased by Fang Chen's attitude and could not help adding:

"Every realm of Martial Arts differs greatly from the next. Take the tiger's roar, for instance. Although it has little effect on those in the same realm, to those below that realm, it is simply a nightmare."

After Hong Decheng finished speaking, he had Fang Chen demonstrate the routine himself.

Fang Chen immediately assumed the stance and began practicing.

Lowering his waist, twisting his hips, swinging his claws...

The few postures looked simple enough, yet Fang Chen found them extraordinarily difficult. Sweat continuously seeped from his forehead.

The same fist technique had looked powerful and seamless when Hong Decheng performed it.

Yet Fang Chen's stance was halting and broken, utterly lacking in momentum.

The fist technique he performed might have been more appropriately called "Tiger Subduing Cat Fist."

Seeing this, Hong Decheng could not help shaking his head.

He had thought this earnest youngster might bring some surprise.

After some time, Fang Chen was drenched in sweat.

Under Hong Decheng's repeated corrections, he finally managed to complete the fist technique once.

Seeing that Fang Chen seemed to have no potential, Hong Decheng instantly lost interest.

He took out a fist manual and handed it to Fang Chen.

"This is the fist manual. Refer to it again if there is anything you don't understand. Return it in three days."

"Every few days, I will demonstrate Tiger Subduing Fist several times for everyone in the courtyard. Remember to observe carefully then."

Hong Decheng waved a hand, telling Fang Chen to leave on his own. He lay back down in the rattan chair, too lazy to concern himself with Fang Chen any further.

Fang Chen accepted the fist manual, bowed respectfully, and withdrew.

He did not feel downcast because of Hong Decheng's attitude.

On the contrary, he was now eager to give it a try!

Because at this moment, a change had finally appeared on his panel!

Tiger Subduing Fist Proficiency +1

Martial Arts: Tiger Subduing Fist (Not Initiated 1/10)