Iron Wire Fist, Borrowing Strength to Beat the Dog

"You want to take a master?"

In the courtyard, a gaunt old man scrutinized Su Chen.

His eyes seemed to see through fire, as though they could pierce Su Chen completely.

Su Chen nodded, his expression earnest.

The old man said, "The apprenticeship fee is five taels. I'll only teach you for three months, and you'll count as a registered disciple. If you still haven't entered the path by then, you'll have to keep paying. Have you thought it through?"

Su Chen cupped his hands. "This disciple has thought it through."

The old man showed no reaction and added, "You're already rather old, and your bones have taken shape. Even with diligent study and bitter practice, you may not achieve much. If you insist, then pay up."

Hearing this, Su Chen handed over the money he had prepared long ago.

Before long, the old man called over a burly man. "Li Mo, you'll be responsible for guiding him these next few days."

"Yes, Master Hong." Li Mo nodded and looked at Su Chen. "Junior Brother, come with me."

Li Mo took Su Chen to collect the Martial Hall's clothes and, along the way, introduced the old man's identity.

The old man was named Hong Ming, the founder of the Hong Family Martial Hall.

Li Mo was Hong Ming's seventh official disciple and was usually responsible for teaching several disciples in the outer courtyard.

"We usually train in this courtyard. You've just arrived, so first stand as they do and temper your arm strength. After some time, I'll teach you fist techniques."

Li Mo brought Su Chen into the courtyard and spoke to him, then prepared to teach him how to stand in stance.

Su Chen frowned slightly after hearing this. He had not come here to practice stance training; he planned to start learning martial arts directly.

So he spoke up at once. "Senior Brother, could you teach me fist techniques directly?"

Li Mo chuckled. "Junior Brother, I understand what you're thinking. Everyone who comes to the Martial Hall is as impatient as you, wanting to learn martial arts."

"But you must understand that practicing martial arts is not something accomplished overnight. If you want to master martial arts, you must first lay a solid foundation. Once you've practiced your stance work well, I'll naturally teach you fist techniques."

He advised Su Chen, hoping the other man would not aim too high and end up with nothing but an empty basket.

Yet Su Chen did not answer. Instead, he took out a silver ingot from his robes and handed it to Li Mo, his voice sincere and earnest. "Could I ask Senior Brother to demonstrate the fist techniques a few times for me?"

"You..." Li Mo stared blankly at Su Chen, not knowing what to say for a moment.

He stared at Su Chen for a long while. Su Chen did not avoid his gaze. Seeing how determined he was, Li Mo sighed. "Fine. Since you want to see it, I'll demonstrate it once."

"Thank you, Senior Brother. Please accept this small token of my appreciation."

Su Chen thanked him, then handed the silver in his hand to Li Mo. Li Mo said nothing more and accepted the money expressionlessly.

At once, Li Mo began demonstrating the fist technique for Su Chen.

"This is the Hong Family Iron Wire Fist. It has thirty-six forms. Watch carefully!"

As he spoke, Li Mo demonstrated the fist technique. His movements flowed like drifting clouds and running water, completing the sequence in one unbroken breath.

In less than the time it took an incense stick to burn, he had displayed the entire fist technique before Su Chen.

"Did you see it clearly?"

After finishing one round, Li Mo asked.

Su Chen shook his head. Li Mo did not mind, as though he had expected that answer. "One last time. This time, I'll slow down."

With that, he began practicing again.

However, he did not notice that Su Chen's pupils had become slightly unfocused.

Name: Su Chen

Martial Art: Iron Wire Fist (Beginner 1%)

Easy Mode: Iron Wire Fist 0 times (1 tael of silver/time)

In his mind, the transparent panel changed. The Iron Wire Fist had already appeared under the Martial Art section.

"Easy Mode? One tael of silver per time?"

Su Chen had been rather happy after obtaining a Martial Art, but the moment he saw that it required spending money, his joy vanished at once.

He had paid to learn martial arts and bribed his Senior Brother. The money on him was already less than one tael of silver.

"All right, Junior Brother. I've already demonstrated the fist technique for you. Now I'll teach you stance work."

After the second demonstration ended, Li Mo had no intention of demonstrating it again.

Though he would teach Su Chen fist techniques later, that would be after some time. For now, Su Chen should practice his stance work properly.

This time, Su Chen did not refuse and simply allowed Li Mo to teach him.

Li Mo spent half a day teaching Su Chen the essentials of stance work.

Then he left, allowing Su Chen to practice by himself.

There were more than a dozen disciples in the courtyard. Naturally, he could not waste all his time on Su Chen.

After Li Mo left, Su Chen practiced his stance work while deep in thought.

I thought that after awakening my golden finger, I'd be able to master Martial Arts quickly. Looks like I was too naive. Not only have I completely offended the Black Water Gang, I barely have any money left.

This made Su Chen's heart sink slightly.

"No, there is still hope. The panel shows progress values for Martial Arts. Although it is not a point-allocation panel, it may be a proficiency panel. I can try increasing my Martial Art progress through practice."

No sooner said than done, Su Chen no longer cared about Li Mo's attention and secretly hid in a corner to practice his fist technique alone.

However, half an hour passed, and the Martial Art progress on the panel did not change in the slightest.

An entire afternoon passed, and Su Chen's progress had only risen by one percent. The speed was disappointingly slow.

During that time, Li Mo observed Su Chen several times. But seeing that Su Chen refused to heed his advice, he let it be.

"It's getting dark!"

Su Chen looked at the sky. Most people in the Martial Hall had already left, and only Li Mo remained in the courtyard, packing things away.

He pursed his lips, walked over to Li Mo, and helped him tidy up.

Li Mo glanced at him and asked, "Junior Brother Su, I can handle such small matters myself. Go home."

Su Chen smiled and continued helping. Li Mo seemed to guess something and said nothing.

A moment later, Li Mo finished packing and asked, "Junior Brother Su, is there something you need?"

Su Chen hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands. "Senior Brother, could I trouble you to escort me home?"

Li Mo was startled upon hearing this. He looked deeply at Su Chen, then nodded under his gaze. "All right. Wait for me a moment."

Ping Shi Street.

Chen Ergou stood with two lackeys, his expression dark. They had waited outside Su Chen's home for half the day, yet Su Chen still had not returned.

Thinking of how Su Chen had frightened him into fleeing in a sorry state earlier, Chen Ergou burned with rage and wished he could kill Su Chen.

This time, the three of them had brought enough weapons. They waited outside Su Chen's door like stumps waiting for a rabbit.

"Big Brother, look! That kid has appeared!"

The furious Chen Ergou immediately rose to his feet, tightening his grip on the Iron Rod as he looked over.

Under the dim starlight, two figures slowly approached.

Chen Ergou led his two lackeys toward Su Chen, their footsteps slow and heavy, carrying a chilling menace.

"Hong Family Martial Hall!"

Before he could get close, his steps halted and his expression froze. Seeing the style of clothing Li Mo wore, his heart shuddered.

"Damn it, when did this brat get involved with a disciple of the Hong Family Martial Hall?"

Chen Ergou spat lightly, a trace of hesitation flashing across his face.

They were merely low-level thugs of the Black Water Gang, nowhere near qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as an official disciple of the Hong Family Martial Hall.

Though the Hong Family Martial Hall was not a top-tier Martial Hall, its reputation was well known. Its official disciples were stronger than them by an unknown measure.

"Let's go. We'll let him off this time and teach him a lesson next time. I refuse to believe the Hong Family Martial Hall can protect him for a while and protect him for a lifetime!"

After his expression shifted between light and dark for a while, Chen Ergou gritted his teeth and spoke.

Facing Su Chen, who had escaped time and again, he had a ball of fire pent up in his heart.

That fire would gradually build with time, and when it finally erupted, it would take Su Chen's life completely.

Watching Chen Ergou leave, Su Chen let out a breath of relief. Then he looked at Li Mo and cupped his hands. "Thank you for this, Senior Brother."