Repayment

As dusk settled, the mountain wind howled.

Chu Ning pushed the empty cart, his steps kicking up gravel, each stride seemingly crushing the shackles of fate. The cold wind lifted the hem of his clothes, revealing unhealed whip marks on his back—the "interest" left by the Wang Family thugs.

Before long, the outlines of the village appeared in the twilight. Low, dilapidated thatched huts stood scattered about, and a chill permeated the muddy alleyways. The villagers had long grown accustomed to their heavy lives. Poverty had left its deep imprint here; almost everyone was crushed by the times, struggling to survive.

But ironically, precisely because they knew the difficulty of survival so well, they were even more harsh towards those in their own class.

If a family ran out of food, there were always people who watched with cold eyes, even snickering; if a family fell into debt, the neighbors would whisper, afraid of bringing bad luck; if anyone showed the slightest improvement, it would instead invite jealousy and ostracization. It was as if, on this barren land, no one was willing to see others live better than themselves.

A few figures darted a glance from under the eaves, muttering a few words in low tones before shrinking back into their dilapidated homes, as if Chu Ning's presence was merely a gust of cold wind, carrying no warmth away.

He gave a sudden push, and the cart slid forward a few feet, coming to a steady stop at the village entrance.

Chu Ning paused for a moment, exhaling a breath of warm air, then turned and hurried towards home.

A faint candlelight flickered within the house, swaying unsteadily through the cracks in the door, as if it might extinguish at any moment.

"Creak—"

Chu Ning pushed the door open and saw his sister, Chu Yun, sitting at the table. The dim candlelight reflected on her thin, sallow face, her eyes carrying a trace of exhaustion.

"Brother Ning, you're finally back."

Chu Yun looked up, a flicker of relief in her eyes, mingled with unconcealed worry.

Ever since they were young, Chu Ning had always been like this, carrying everything himself and unwilling to let her worry. After their father passed away, he had become like an adult, shouldering the entire family alone. Though he wasn't yet eighteen, he already lived with a weight heavier than many adults.

A pang of bitterness welled up in Chu Yun's heart. How she wished her brother could one day stop working so desperately, stop letting the burdens of life crush him until he couldn't breathe...

"Elder Sister, I'm just a little late. You don't need to worry about me!"

Her gaze fell upon Chu Ning. His clothes were torn, stained with blood, and his face immediately darkened.

"Why do you look so disheveled?"

She knew Chu Ning suffered a lot outside, but he never spoke of it, only smiling as usual, as if he could endure anything.

"Did you... go into the mountains again?"

Chu Ning nodded, trying to keep his tone light. "I was lucky, I hunted a wild boar and sold it for twelve taels. I've already paid off the debt."

"Really? Don't tease me." Chu Yun's eyes widened slightly, as if she couldn't believe it.

"It's true." Chu Ning grinned, placing the remaining silver on the table. "I bought medicine and winter clothes for you too. You won't be cold this winter."

Chu Yun stared blankly at the silver on the table, her eyes reddening slightly. She lowered her head and gently wiped them.

"Brother Ning, this family has made you suffer so much..."

Her voice was a little choked, but ultimately, her heart ached for him.

Chu Ning smiled, pulled over a stool, and sat down. He casually broke off a piece of coarse grain biscuit and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing with a crunch.

"Elder Sister, we're family. What's there to talk about suffering? Our days will only get better."

He spoke with certainty, with an undeniable firmness.

Afterward, he brewed medicine for his sister, gently helped her sit down, and handed her the warm bowl of medicine. He then draped the newly bought winter coat over her shoulders.

Chu Yun watched her brother's busy figure, her eyes full of heartache. Her voice was soft as she said, "You earned money, and after paying off the debt, you spent it all on me. You need to take better care of yourself."

In this world, family ties were merely a fragile thread swaying in the wind, easily and ruthlessly severed by reality if not careful. Children from poor families were either sold into servitude or seized by creditors. Kinship seemed incredibly fragile in the face of a barren life.

Chu Yun wouldn't realize that Chu Ning wanted to learn martial arts at the martial arts school. Chu Ning also had no intention of telling his sister; he didn't want her to spend her days consumed by guilt.

As night fell, Chu Ning lay on the worn wooden bed, gazing at the dim ceiling, his thoughts churning.

He knew that relying on hunting, he could never change his current situation.

To turn his fortunes around, he could only become stronger!

In his mind, the cold text of the Chaos Divine Order appeared.

[Repayment Condition: Successfully complete one thousand deep squats with a hundred-jin boulder. Upon completion, the next advance payment will be unlocked!]

Chu Ning took a deep breath, sat up from the bed, and pushed the door open.

He lifted the bluestone in the courtyard, its surface mottled like the patterns of the Divine Order. In a daze, he seemed to hear whispers around him: "To bear its power, first bear its weight."

He braced the stone against his shoulder, his spine arching like a drawn bow.

The boulder was heavy as a mountain, pressing down on his shoulders until they ached, his knees almost exploding.

With the first repetition, sweat instantly broke out.

With the second, the muscles in his legs trembled wildly.

With the third, his bones creaked faintly.

As he squatted, he felt as if he could hear the clang of bones being forged on an anvil. Sweat splattered onto the ground, splashing tiny blood droplets. His skin tore and healed, like rough stone being repeatedly ground.

With the hundredth squat, he suddenly remembered his father's hand clutching the Rough Stone Hardening Technique on his deathbed. His hand was withered and thin, yet he had squeezed the pages until they cracked.

"Ning'er, this technique... can save your life."

He finally understood then that to protect his life, he had to hone it into a blade.

In the distance, torchlight flickered, and the sound of hooves shattered the silence.

Several martial artists carrying torches galloped past the village. The leader flicked his whip, sending the old beggar huddled by the roadside flying, and his laughter pierced the night sky: "Do lowly commoners dare block the way?"

He gritted his teeth and didn't stop.

In the darkness, only his heavy breathing could be heard, along with the low thudding sound of the massive stone rising and falling.

As he completed his thousandth squat, the moonlight suddenly turned a ghastly white.

The bluestone cracked with a "ka," and debris rained down, revealing blood-red jade-like patterns within.

Boom...

In an instant, a surge of heat swept through his body. His muscles felt tempered by fierce flames, his blood boiled, and it rushed through every part of him.

He opened his eyes, and a spectral flame ignited within them.

He could even hear the roar of blood surging through his meridians.

"Is this... the feeling of achieving minor success in the Rough Stone Hardening Technique?"

He murmured softly, slowly releasing the massive stone from his shoulders. What was once an incredibly heavy weight now felt as light as nothing.

He clenched his fist, feeling his skin as hard as iron. Every muscle in his body contained an unprecedented explosive power.

His gaze fell upon a thick wooden stake standing in the courtyard. He lunged forward, his fist striking out abruptly.

"Bang!"

The wooden stake exploded inch by inch, wood chips scattering everywhere. The ground cracked under the force of his punch, and a gale swept through the surroundings.

Chu Ning slowly retracted his fist, the blood-red hue in his eyes yet to fade.

Beneath his tattered clothes, his newly formed skin emitted a cold, stone-like sheen. He lifted his foot and crushed the stone fragments on the ground, looking ahead.

"Wang Family... my father's blood debt..."

Amidst the hooting of the night owl, he bared his blood-stained lips:

"Sooner or later, I'll make you pay."

The next morning, as the sky began to lighten.

Chu Ning practically struggled to get out of bed. Every inch of his muscles felt as if it had been torn apart, as if he had been crushed by a heavy hammer. Even his breathing carried a dull, aching sensation. The exhilaration gained from overexertion came with a brutal price.

However, he didn't hesitate in the slightest. If he wanted to increase his hunting efficiency, he had to be faster, more accurate, and stronger. He would not hesitate to endure the same pain again.

Gritting his teeth and forcing himself to stand, he walked towards the courtyard with firm steps. The morning breeze brushed past, bringing a hint of coolness, but his gaze was colder than the breeze.

The next moment, the Chaos Divine Order materialized from the void, its faint light flowing, calm and majestic.

[Current Order Master is attempting to rely on a body-refining technique: Hundred Steps Penetrating Willow. Advance use of Hundred Steps Penetrating Willow successful.]

[Repayment condition: Hit fifty arrows consecutively while moving to achieve success. After repayment, the next advance use effect will be unlocked!]

[Current available advance use techniques, martial arts: Zero]