Chen Long, the Brother-Doting Demon

But at this point, returning the money was impossible, and they could not afford to offend Chen Hu either.

Granny Wang gritted her teeth, her gaze gradually turning vicious. Since the soft approach would not work, then she would use force!

She was only a maid from the Laundry Room—could she really turn the heavens upside down?

As for the Li Family, there was nothing she could do about them. Though Li Xiao had joined a martial arts school, Martial Arts was not so easy to master. Otherwise, the streets would be packed with Martial Masters.

After leaving, Chen Hu heard that Li Xiao had taken a master to learn Martial Arts, but he did not think much of it.

Poor scholars, rich warriors—those were no empty words. Besides, without long periods of training, breaking through to Martial Master was no easy feat.

Li Xiao had only just entered the martial arts school. Whether he could even become a Martial Master was still uncertain. As long as he was not one, the Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School would not stand up for him.

And his elder brother, Chen Long, had long been one of the best among First-Turn Martial Masters.

He was even valued by the Gang Leader, and his future prospects were boundless.

As Chen Long's own younger brother, he was merely marrying a village girl, yet she had actually dared refuse him. She truly did not know what was good for her.

The Chen Long and Chen Hu brothers had lost their father early in life. It was only because Chen Long had joined a gang and fought fiercely and fearlessly that he had caught the gang's attention and become a Martial Master.

Chen Hu swaggered home, still scoffing inwardly at Li Xiao's apprenticeship.

When he returned to the residence they had acquired through his elder brother's influence, Chen Long was sitting in the courtyard, wiping down a rust-speckled iron blade.

He wore a faded, well-washed short outfit, and several savage scars on his arms stood out sharply beneath the sunlight—marks left behind from battles in his younger days.

"Brother." Chen Hu moved closer and picked up the teapot on the table to pour himself a cup of cold tea.

Chen Long glanced up at him. There was no warmth in his eyes, but neither was there reproach.

"How did things go with the Li Family?"

"That girl is hiding in the Laundry Room, and she has some brother who doesn't know the height of heaven or the depth of earth. He joined the Iron Wire Martial Arts School."

Chen Hu curled his lip.

"But don't worry, Brother. He's just a snot-nosed brat who's barely entered the school. He can't turn the heavens upside down."

Chen Long set down the iron blade, his brows drawing together slightly.

"Someone from the Iron Wire Martial Arts School?"

"Yeah. I heard he spent dozens of taels of silver to take on a master. I'd say he's slapping his own face to look fat."

Chen Hu was unconcerned.

"In a few days, I'll have Granny Wang tie her up and bring her over. Once the raw rice is cooked into cooked rice, let's see what that Li Family can do."

"Nonsense!" Chen Long barked in a low voice.

"Even if someone from the Iron Wire Martial Arts School hasn't become a Martial Master, you cannot openly use force against them. The Master of the Hall is famously protective of his own. Don't bring trouble upon the gang."

Chen Hu shrank his neck after being scolded, but he was unconvinced.

"But I've taken a liking to that girl. Are we just supposed to let it go?"

Chen Long fell silent for a moment. Remembering how their parents had died early, and how he had taken his younger brother begging as a child, his heart eventually softened.

All these years, he had fought and struggled in the gang only so that his younger brother could live more comfortably. Who would have thought that he had spoiled him into becoming more and more lawless?

"I know you want to marry a wife and settle down."

Chen Long's tone softened somewhat.

"But you cannot use force. When I have time, I'll personally pay the Li Family a visit. For my sake, they may not necessarily refuse."

Chen Hu's eyes lit up. "You're still the best, Brother! With you stepping in, no matter how arrogant that Li Family brat is, he'll have to weigh things carefully."

Chen Long said nothing more and picked up the iron blade again to continue wiping it.

How could he not know his younger brother's nature? Idle and lazy, fond of drink and women—his body had been hollowed out by wine and lust over the years. Never mind practicing Martial Arts; even walking a little faster left him gasping for breath.

Back then, he had wanted to send his younger brother to a martial arts school as well, but Chen Hu had returned after only three days, saying he could not endure the hardship. Chen Long had no choice but to let the matter go.

In the end, it was because he, as the elder brother, had failed to teach him well. He had always felt he owed his younger brother and indulged him in everything.

If you can't find it by searching the book title, try searching for the author instead—it may simply have been renamed!

"But I'll keep it in mind. You must promise me not to let Granny Wang run wild again."

Chen Long said gravely.

"Got it, Brother." Chen Hu agreed aloud, but inwardly he remained dismissive.

Once he got his hands on her, he would definitely have his way with Li Yu.

At the thought, a flash of lecherous greed crossed his eyes.

Early the next morning, Li Xiao headed for the martial arts school at daybreak.

As expected, he was once again the first to arrive.

The morning was still somewhat chilly. After eating a few steaming buns, Li Xiao began practicing his stance.

Stance training could not really be considered a martial art, yet it was the foundation of all fist techniques.

What it emphasized was "steady as a boulder, unmoving as a pine."

Li Xiao stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, back straight, and both arms held in a circle before his chest, as though embracing a ball of invisible qi.

The morning chill had yet to disperse, yet he wore only a single layer. Before long, warmth rose from his body and spread through his Limbs and Bones.

Gradually, he felt as if roots had grown beneath his feet, binding him tightly to the Blue Stone Slab.

That was the wonder of stance training: it could temper the stability of one's lower body while cultivating the composure to remain unflustered even if Mount Tai collapsed before one's eyes.

After an unknown length of time, the doors of the Martial Arts Hall were pushed open. Wang Hai ran in, panting heavily, with a food box in hand.

"Junior Brother Li, you're here this early again!"

He had not gone to Yihongyuan last night. Instead, he had continued practicing his fists at home. He was far more diligent than before, but he still could not compare to Li Xiao.

Li Xiao slowly withdrew his stance and exhaled a breath of Stale Breath, a thin sheen of sweat covering his face.

"Morning, Senior Brother Wang."

"Quick, I just bought some hot soy milk and fried dough sticks. They're still steaming."

Wang Hai handed over the food box.

"I'm telling you, I specifically took a detour to buy these today. That shop's soy milk is the richest."

Li Xiao accepted it and immediately caught the rich fragrance of soybeans. He took a sip, and warmth slid down his throat, leaving his entire body feeling comfortable.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

"Why be so polite?" Wang Hai picked up a fried dough stick himself and took a huge bite. "Oh, right. My dad had someone send over some injury medicine yesterday.

He said it works wonders for getting your breath knocked out while practicing fists and for muscle strains. Want me to give you some?"

Before Li Xiao could refuse, he took out a small paper packet from his robes and stuffed it into his hand.

"Take it. I won't need much of it anyway.

"You train so hard. It wouldn't be good if you got hurt."

Li Xiao pinched the paper packet. The ointment within gave off a faint herbal scent, and warmth rose in his heart once more.

Though this Fat Senior Brother always claimed that his talent was poor, he was consistently thoughtful in such little matters.

"Then I don't have anything good to give Senior Brother in return..." Li Xiao said, somewhat embarrassed.

"Hey, now you're treating me like an outsider. We're fellow disciples." Wang Hai waved a hand.

"When you become a Martial Master someday, just teach me a couple more moves."

As the two spoke, Zhao Hu and the other disciples arrived one after another.

Zhao Hu glanced at Li Xiao. Seeing that his aura after stance training was much steadier than yesterday, a trace of approval flashed through his Eyes.

"Today, we'll continue practicing the 'Silk Twisting Force' of the Iron Wire Fist. Watch carefully."

Li Xiao watched Zhao Hu demonstrate without blinking.

Wang Hai had already told him that Fourth Senior Brother Zhao Hu was also a Second-Turn Martial Master and deeply trusted by Master.

As for Senior Disciple Brother and Second Senior Brother, both were Third-Turn Martial Masters.

No wonder Zhao Wenfeng made so many people wary. He was the son of the Golden Sand Gang's Vice Gang Leader, and a Second-Turn Martial Master himself. Naturally, there was no shortage of people eager to cling to his coattails and ride the dragon to the heavens.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.