Why Did You Have to Push Me?

Fang Mo had no idea Yue Jian had secretly stood up for him, inadvertently drawing Hu Yuehua's attention and exposing his whereabouts.

At that moment, he was staring eagerly at the case Ding Zhiyuan had brought.

"Twenty bottles of medicinal bath solution and ten pounds of Exotic Beast Meat!"

Ding Zhiyuan set the case on the table and opened it. Twenty green bottles sat in a foam tray on top. Beneath it were several bags containing vacuum-packed pieces of Exotic Beast Meat, along with ice packs that still gave off a chill.

"Fresh Exotic Beast Meat is hard to come by. Use this for now. I've already asked my father to see if his connections can get us more!"

Ding Zhiyuan sounded helpless.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Ding. This is already more than enough!"

Fang Mo spoke with gratitude.

Ding Zhiyuan patted his shoulder. "You need to find a reliable source. As you start using more, an uncertain supply will slow your cultivation."

Fang Mo gave a rueful smile. "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." He took some money from a drawer and handed it to Ding Zhiyuan.

Ding Zhiyuan accepted it without ceremony. "I'll take this, then. The next batch might not arrive until next month."

"That's fine. With what the Martial Hall provides, I should have enough to last until then." Fang Mo locked the solution in a cabinet and put the Exotic Beast Meat in the refrigerator so it would not spoil.

Then they headed to the front courtyard together.

There, Fang Mo asked Ding Zhiyuan about underground boxing gyms in Yunyang.

"What do you want to know for?"

Ding Zhiyuan gave him a puzzled look.

"I'd like to see what they're like!" Fang Mo said quickly.

Ding Zhiyuan smiled. "If you want to watch, try the Iron Stone Boxing Gym in City God District. You only need to buy a ticket. The matches aren't very high-level, though. Most fighters are below Bright Force, with only the occasional Bright Force bout!"

"I'll go take a look when I have time!"

Fang Mo thought the place suited what he needed.

He began considering when to give it a try.

They reached the front courtyard and each found a place to train.

In the rear courtyard, Guan Lie was instructing his disciples.

His phone rang.

He walked to the table and picked it up. His brows drew together slightly when he saw the screen, but he answered.

"What instructions does Vice President Bai have for me?"

A booming laugh came from the other end. "Ha! You're too polite, Hall Master Guan. I wouldn't dare give you instructions!"

Guan Lie smiled faintly. "You're a busy man, Vice President Bai. You wouldn't call me without a reason."

"Nothing gets past you, Hall Master Guan!"

Vice President Bai gave an awkward laugh. "Then I'll get straight to it. Has your Martial Hall taken in a student named Fang Mo?"

"Fang Mo?"

Guan Lie raised an eyebrow, then said,

"We have. Has this student caused some kind of trouble?"

The students in the rear courtyard had heard him. Many turned to look, and some pricked up their ears.

"He hasn't caused trouble, exactly!"

The voice on the phone paused and dropped slightly. "I've heard this student isn't suited to martial arts. Aren't you worried keeping him at the Martial Hall will damage its reputation?"

Guan Lie raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you take an interest in whom we admit, Vice President Bai?"

The caller was Bai Hongsheng, vice president of the Yunyang Martial Arts Association and the man in charge of its day-to-day affairs.

The Martial Arts Association mainly coordinated matters between Yunyang's Martial Halls and did not wield much authority.

Even so, it was not wise to offend them. If the association held up the annual review, a Martial Hall could have trouble renewing its license.

Bai Hongsheng lowered his voice. "Hall Master Guan, you're a sensible man. I wouldn't be calling without a reason. He's just one student. Why invite trouble for his sake?"

Guan Lie smiled faintly.

"Can you tell me who's behind this, Vice President Bai?"

"Sorry, I can't tell you that."

Bai Hongsheng's voice rose a little.

"But I can tell you this: every Martial Hall in Yunyang will be notified not to admit Fang Mo. That should give you some idea of the power behind this, Hall Master Guan!"

"I'm saying this for your own good. There's no need to make things unpleasant for yourself!"

Guan Lie's eyes narrowed slightly. The news had surprised him, but his voice remained even.

"I understand, Vice President Bai. I'll give it some thought."

Guan Lie hung up, frowning. He left the rear courtyard and went to the pharmacy.

Inside, Xie Changmin was reading a book on chess while arranging pieces on a Chinese chessboard. Without looking up, he said,

"I heard. Who do you think is putting on the pressure?"

"Hard to say. It could be the Yang Family, or it could be the Qin Family."

Guan Lie shook his head, his expression grave.

"Tang Xiong told me last night that both the Yang Family and the Qin Family had stepped in over the Great Wind Gang. He can't do much from his end anymore!"

"He also suggested that Fang Mo leave. He doesn't want the boy caught in the struggle between Yunyang's powers. There may even be factors within the Fang Family at work. Tang Xiong may not be able to help us withstand the pressure!"

"That boy's in a tight spot. Quite a few people want to get at him!" Xie Changmin said with a smile.

"Are you really planning to take him as your disciple, Senior Brother?"

Guan Lie asked the question without looking at Xie Changmin.

Xie Changmin put down his book and looked into the courtyard, where Fang Mo was practicing his punches. "In all these years, I've rarely met a disciple with such talent for Alchemy. I can't take everything I've learned into the grave with me!"

Guan Lie followed his gaze, his brow furrowing. "Senior Brother, with his aptitude, Dark Strength may be his limit. If he can't break through to Dan Jin, can he inherit your Alchemy?"

"Pawn forward!"

Xie Changmin pushed a pawn one step ahead and said evenly,

"A pawn may be weak, but once it crosses the river, who knows? Perhaps he can work a miracle!"

Guan Lie looked at the board. That one move had brought the whole game to life, and his eyes flickered.

Fang Mo knew nothing of what had happened in the rear courtyard. He only sensed something was off during lunch.

Everyone from the rear courtyard kept looking at him strangely, as if they were talking about him.

He paid it no mind. After eating and resting for a while, he went back to training.

He was still practicing when Ding Zhiyuan hurried over.

"Fang Mo, stop for a moment!"

"What is it?"

Fang Mo stopped and looked at him in confusion.

Ding Zhiyuan pulled him aside and spoke quietly.

"Fang Mo, who on earth have you offended?"

"What happened?"

Fang Mo was baffled. Ding Zhiyuan had rushed over just to ask him that?

Sweat covered Ding Zhiyuan's forehead. He said urgently,

"Chen Minzhong from the rear courtyard just told me that the Martial Arts Association wants the hall master to expel you!"

"Expel me? Why?"

Shock jolted through Fang Mo, and his expression changed.

He recalled the strange looks from the rear-courtyard students at lunch. Now he understood why.

His heart clenched.

Unease took hold of him. Leaving the Martial Hall now would be a dead end. Without its protection, those gangs might not let him go.

Ding Zhiyuan looked anxious.

"I don't know. He said the notice came from someone at the Martial Arts Association. And no Martial Hall in Yunyang is allowed to admit you!"

Fang Mo's heart sank again. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He knew who was behind this.

It was either Qin Lang, who hated him with a passion, or his stepmother Hu Yuehua, who wanted him dead.

But Qin Lang probably lacked the means, and the Qin Family was unlikely to bother with something like this. That left his dear stepmother, Hu Yuehua. With her influence and the Fang Family's wealth and power, she could do it.

Why did you have to push me?

Anger rose in Fang Mo's chest. He had already left the Fang Family, yet Hu Yuehua still refused to let him go.

First, word had leaked that he had taken five million, drawing the gangs' attention to him.

Now she had played this card. Did she want to leave him with nowhere to turn?

Ding Zhiyuan caught the anger in Fang Mo's eyes and felt a chill himself. Junior Brother Fang's gaze was so cold it made his heart quiver.