Senior Brother Wang

Li Yu was deeply moved. Her little brother had truly changed; he was sincerely thinking of her.

But Chen Hu's elder brother was a Martial Master. What could her little brother possibly do?

She did not want to drag the family down either.

"Little Brother," Li Yu said, wiping away her tears. Her voice carried a trace of a sob, yet was unusually calm.

"How about... I just agree to it?"

Li Xiao abruptly stopped moving and turned to look at her, his brows knotted tight. "Eldest Sister, what nonsense are you talking about? What kind of person is Chen Hu? Would you have any good days if you married him?"

"But... but his elder brother is a Martial Master." Li Yu lowered her head, her voice as light as a feather. "Our family cannot contend with his. If you and Dad are implicated because of me, I will never have peace of mind for the rest of my life."

She raised her head, her eyes red-rimmed as she struggled to force out a smile. "Actually... whoever I marry, I marry, don't I? Chen Hu's family is well-off. Perhaps... perhaps once he is married, he will become sensible. Besides, there is the bridal gift. It can pay for Dad's treatment and let you find yourself a wife as well. This way... this way is quite good too."

"Not good!" Li Xiao cut her off, his tone sterner than ever before. "Eldest Sister, don't be foolish! Who does not know Chen Hu's reputation? Marrying him would be like jumping into a pit of fire! I can earn money. I can find a way to treat Dad's illness. We do not need to trade your entire life for it!"

He walked up to Li Yu, looked into her tear-filled eyes, and spoke each word distinctly:

"Dad, Eldest Sister, I went to the Martial Arts Hall today to take a master. As long as I become a Martial Master too, Chen Hu will not dare act recklessly..."

Li Youde suddenly raised his head, his eyes full of shock. "You... you took a master? Taking a master at a Martial Arts Hall costs quite a lot of silver, doesn't it? Where would our family get that kind of money...?"

Li Yu froze as well, tears still hanging from her lashes, her voice trembling.

"Little Brother, don't lie to us. I heard the fee for taking a master at a Martial Arts Hall is dozens of taels. We..."

"I went up the mountain to gather herbs some time ago. It happened to be just enough for the fee. As long as I train hard, I will definitely become a Martial Master!"

Li Xiao said in a deep voice.

Li Youde's lips trembled. He wanted to say something, but Li Xiao pressed a hand to his shoulder.

"Dad, Eldest Sister, once I become a Martial Master, no one will dare bully our family again."

"Little Brother, I... I believe you..." Looking at Li Xiao's calm and steady manner, Li Yu felt an inexplicable sense of reassurance rise in her heart.

Li Youde nodded as well.

They finished dinner quickly. Li Xiao had been hungry all day and had also been practicing his fist techniques continuously, so his appetite had grown tremendously. He ate several bowls of rice in a row.

Lying in bed, Li Xiao felt a sense of urgency well up inside him. Chen Hu's elder brother had become a Martial Master long ago.

But as long as Eldest Sister stayed in the Laundry Room for this period, once he became a Martial Master, there would be no need to fear Chen Hu anymore.

"And that matchmaker..." A flash of fury passed through Li Xiao's eyes.

An old hag on the verge of the grave dared swagger around his home. If he got the chance, he would not mind...

When dealing with evil people, backing down would only make them press their luck. Only by baring one's fangs could one protect oneself and one's family.

The matchmaker, Granny Wang, had taken Chen Hu's silver and dared come to their door to threaten and tempt them. Clearly, she had not taken the Li Family seriously.

In his mind, the Iron Wire Fist experience value on the Panel—(7/100 Entry Level)—stood out with exceptional clarity.

The next day.

Just as the sky began to pale with the white of a fish's belly, Li Xiao gently pushed open the black-lacquered gates of the Martial Arts Hall.

The Martial Arts Training Ground was empty, and a thin layer of frost still clung to the Blue Stone Slab paving.

He took a deep breath. The cold air flooded his lungs, yet it made his mind even clearer.

With no one else to disturb him, Li Xiao simply began practicing in the middle of the grounds.

It was still the twelve forms of Iron Wire Fist. He deliberately slowed down, striving to make every movement precise as he felt the coordination between his waist and abdomen, shoulders, and arms.

Though he was still stiff and inexperienced, he had gained a little more method than yesterday.

Iron Wire Fist Experience +1

Li Xiao became more and more absorbed in his practice. Fine sweat soon seeped from his forehead, driving away the morning chill.

Just as he finished, the creak of a door opening sounded behind him.

Li Xiao withdrew his stance and turned around. A plump young man was walking in with a food box in hand, eating as he went.

His face was round and fleshy, and when he smiled, his eyes narrowed into slits.

"This Junior Brother, you are new, right? Quite diligent, I see."

The fat man had a booming voice. Seeing Li Xiao stop, he strode quickly over.

"My name is Wang Hai. I am your Senior Brother. I am usually the first one here, but I did not expect you to arrive even earlier than me today."

Li Xiao cupped his hands. "Greetings, Senior Brother. My name is Li Xiao. I joined the fist school only yesterday."

"No wonder you look so unfamiliar." Fatty Wang patted his shoulder, his hand meeting solid muscle, and could not help praising him. "Not bad, Junior Brother. You came this early to practice fist techniques—far better than those who sleep in. Your Iron Wire Fist forms look quite steady too."

"I only just learned it, so I am not familiar with it yet," Li Xiao said modestly.

"You are not familiar with it, yet you practice this earnestly. Not bad, not bad."

Fatty Wang smiled even more broadly and opened the food box in his hand. Inside were several steaming meat buns.

"I just bought these at the street corner. They are still hot. Junior Brother, want something to fill your stomach?"

Li Xiao was indeed a little hungry, but he did not feel right accepting them rashly.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, but there is no need. I will eat after I finish practicing."

"Hey, you have to eat your fill to practice fist techniques, don't you?" Fatty Wang forcibly stuffed two buns into his hands. "Take them. They are not worth much. Let me tell you, this Iron Wire Fist looks fierce and forceful, but it consumes the most stamina. How can you have the strength to practice if you do not fill your belly?"

Li Xiao accepted the buns. They felt warm, and his heart warmed a little too.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

"What are you being polite for?"

Fatty Wang picked one up for himself and took a bite, saying through a mouthful of food, "You seem quite diligent to me. If there is anything you do not understand in the future, just ask me. Although my practice is not top-notch, I do understand some of the tricks to getting started."

Li Xiao nodded and bit into a bun. The fragrance of meat mingled with the scent of dough in his mouth. It was indeed filling.

Seeing Fatty Wang's easygoing manner, the taut string in his heart relaxed slightly.

"By the way, Senior Brother, when do most of the disciples here arrive?" Li Xiao asked.

"The early ones come at Mid-Mao Hour. The late ones do not arrive until Chen Hour." Fatty Wang wiped the oil from his mouth.

As the two spoke, the Martial Arts Hall gates were pushed open again. Three young men in short training clothes entered and greeted Wang Hai one after another.

"Morning, Senior Brother Wang."

Wang Hai raised the bun in his hand.

"Just bought these. Want a taste?"

"No, we already ate."

One of the tall young men waved his hand, his gaze falling on Li Xiao. "And this is?"

"A new Junior Brother, named Li Xiao. He joined yesterday."

Wang Hai introduced them. "Li Xiao, these are Zhang Qing, Liu Shi, and Zhou Ming. They are all your Senior Brothers."

Li Xiao quickly cupped his hands. "Greetings, Senior Brothers."

The few of them smiled and nodded. Zhang Qing said, "Junior Brother, judging by your spirit, you seem like good material for practicing fist techniques. We have not taken masters for long either. We will look after one another from now on."

As they spoke, another four or five disciples arrived one after another. They were all around the same age as the others and appeared to have only recently entered as well. They gathered in one corner of the Martial Arts Training Ground, stretching their limbs in twos and threes as they waited for the hall to open.

As Li Xiao ate his buns and listened to their idle chatter, he learned that the Iron Wire Martial Arts School was divided into front and rear courtyards.

The front courtyard was where disciples like them, who had only recently entered and had yet to touch the threshold of Martial Dao, practiced.

The rear courtyard was another world entirely. Only Martial Master-level disciples who had reached the Skin Refining Realm could enter.