After pointing out a few mistakes in Lu Qi's fist technique, Lu Lin let him continue practicing there on his own.
As for himself, he went farther away and began practicing the Mad Ox Strength Fist.
There was no helping it. After it was simplified, he had to moo like an ox while practicing the fist. It was far too embarrassing. Lu Lin didn't want Lu Qi finding out about it.
Perhaps because the Mad Ox Strength Fist was a basic martial art, even though Lu Lin practiced it in the most ordinary way, its proficiency still rose slowly, bit by bit. It wasn't like the Sky Breaking Thirteen Slashes and the Thousand Layered Breathing Technique, whose proficiency could rise sharply as Lu Lin's understanding deepened.
After practicing for a while, Lu Lin saw Lu Qi sit down to rest again. His anger flared at once.
He walked over and said with a dark expression,
"Get up!"
Although Lu Qi was extremely reluctant, under Lu Lin's piercing gaze, he still got up sluggishly.
"Lu Qi, do you think your talent is pretty good, so you can slack off whenever you want?"
Lu Qi said nothing, but his eyes made it clear that he did.
His talent was not only better than Lu Lin's, but also among the best at school. While others had to practice a dozen times, he only needed to practice once.
If Lu Lin hadn't suddenly become a Martial Artist, Lu Qi had long been sure that he would be the first Martial Artist in the family.
"Hmph. Put those little thoughts of yours away, Lu Qi. You've got only a little talent, and you're already this proud. Do you know that people with real talent become Martial Artists before the Martial Arts Examination?"
"Take our own Dongshan City, for example. It's just a little satellite city, but more than fifty people who'll be taking this year's Martial Arts Examination have already become Martial Artists."
"What about you? Can you guarantee you'll become a Martial Artist before the examination?"
"Brother, that's different!"
Lu Qi had grown impatient with the lecture and shouted. But then he wilted under Lu Lin's gaze.
"Brother, I'm not like them. They're all from Martial Artist families, with plenty of money and resources for training. My talent isn't bad; I just lack resources."
"If I had enough resources, I could definitely become a Martial Artist before the examination!"
"Bullshit!"
When Lu Lin heard him stubbornly insist on this, he punched Lu Qi in the chest.
There was no way Lu Qi could withstand Lu Lin's strength. Although Lu Lin had held back, Lu Qi still staggered backward until he couldn't keep his balance and landed hard on his backside.
"You think having resources means you can become a Martial Artist?"
"If it were that simple, why would Martial Artists be revered throughout Huaguo?"
"Martial Artists have to go out and seize resources, slay Monster Beasts, explore the world, and keep growing stronger. Someone like you would be a parasite on the nation, a useless good-for-nothing, even if you did become a Martial Artist one day."
"And so what if you're a Martial Artist!"
"The four battle blades I brought back that night came from killing a Martial Artist. Lu Qi, Martial Artists are people too. They can die."
"Once you become a Martial Artist, you'll face dangers far greater and more complicated than the ones you face now. Your enemies won't just be the Monster Beasts you can see. Some will be people you can't see coming."
"Grow up. Grow up as quickly as you can."
"I'm going out of the city to hunt Monster Beasts before long. How am I supposed to support you on the meager salary the Martial Arts School pays me?"
"If one day your big brother dies outside the city, you have to help me take care of Mom and Dad. Don't let them grieve. Understand?"
At that, Lu Lin suddenly felt a little dispirited. He patted Lu Qi on the shoulder, turned, and disappeared into the darkness.
Standing beneath the dim yellow streetlight, Lu Qi stared blankly into space, lost in thought.
After Lu Lin became a Martial Artist, he and their parents had all chosen to ignore the dangers Martial Artists faced. Perhaps their parents had thought about it, but in the end they'd kept those thoughts to themselves. Lu Qi, however, had truly been lost in Lu Lin's strength, his benefits, the Monster Beast meat he brought home, and the feast they had that night.
He hadn't realized that although Martial Artists enjoyed society's respect and admiration, they faced Monster Beasts of unimaginable terror. One careless mistake could leave them dead in the Wilderness, their bones never found.
Looking into the darkness in the distance, Lu Qi suddenly felt a heavy knot in his chest that he couldn't release.
He wanted Lu Lin to stay safe, working as a sparring partner, never encountering danger for the rest of his life.
But he knew that was impossible.
If Dongshan City ever faced danger or received an urgent mission, all the Martial Artists in the city would be mobilized. When necessary, even disabled Martial Artists and Advanced Martial Disciples would be called up.
That was a Martial Artist's duty.
Any Martial Artist who didn't dare fight would be dealt with under military law before ever seeing a Monster Beast.
"Ah—"
Lu Qi let out a shout. He wanted to vent.
He assumed the stance of the Mad Ox Strength Fist and began practicing it over and over.
In his fury, he forgot everything. The fist technique was all that filled his mind.
He didn't know how much time passed before he suddenly felt his body grow much lighter.
The Mad Ox Strength Fist had advanced to the first layer!
Watching Lu Qi's breakthrough, Lu Lin nodded to himself in the darkness.
Sooner or later, he would venture into the Wilderness, travel to larger cities, and fight Monster Beasts and Martial Artists. If there was no one to protect his family, he wouldn't be able to feel at ease even when he was away.
Lu Qi, I hope you can grow up soon.
The next morning, Lu Lin's family hired a truck to help them move.
There was no need to hire a moving company. The brothers, Lu Lin and Lu Qi, were both immensely strong, and Lu Ping's strength was on the level of an Advanced Martial Disciple. With three men moving the household, they made incredibly quick work of it.
"Hey, Lu Ping, what's going on with your family? Are you moving away?"
"Xiao Chen, you've been living here just fine. Why are you suddenly moving?"
"Lu Lin's mom, you found yourselves a nice place, huh?"
They'd lived in the neighborhood for decades, and all their neighbors were familiar faces. Seeing Lu Lin's family running up and down carrying things, they couldn't help asking what was going on.
At that moment, Chen Xiaoyan, who wasn't responsible for the moving, began her performance in earnest.
"Hello, Sister Li! Yes, we're moving."
"Exactly! It's all because of that boy Lu Lin. He never says a word, and then suddenly he becomes a contracted Martial Artist at Liu's Martial Arts School. And it's one thing for them to support him, but they just had to give him an apartment too. Honestly, we feel so embarrassed accepting it."
"What? Oh, you're asking which complex?"
"It's nothing special, just a large apartment in Qingyun Garden. A mere two hundred and ten square meters. It'll do for now. If they'd given us a villa, the two of us would have nothing to do every day except clean it for him."
Among all the women gathered to watch, Chen Xiaoyan finally had a chance to hold her head high.
Every word she said was self-deprecating, but her boastful pride could probably be felt all the way outside the neighborhood.
The women watching felt sour inside, one and all, but outwardly they kept praising her.
Hearing their words, Chen Xiaoyan felt sweeter and happier than if she'd eaten honey.
Even her silly second son looked bright-eyed and handsome to her now—actually quite a fine-looking boy.
Fortunately, they didn't need to move any of the large items. They only had to carry some clothes, and the move was done in less than half an hour. When Lu Ping came over to tell Chen Xiaoyan it was time to leave, she even complained that they'd moved too quickly.
Once they arrived at Qingyun Garden, with its elevator, property management, and gardens, Chen Xiaoyan immediately forgot her earlier displeasure and threw herself into organizing their new home with great enthusiasm.
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