Learning Martial Arts

"Hey, don't look at the Lu family's boy acting so majestic today; if he doesn't kneel on the ground and beg for mercy in a few days, it'll be a miracle..."

Hearing this, a sense of ominous foreboding welled up in Lu Chuan's heart.

He furrowed his brows and immediately looked toward the source of the voice.

It was Aunt Wang from the east end of the village and another unfamiliar woman; the two of them were lowering their voices and whispering about something.

Lu Chuan caught up in a few strides, blocking their path:

"Aunt Wang, I just heard the two of you mention me. 'If I don't kneel on the ground in a few days, it'll be a miracle...' What does that mean?"

The two women froze, a trace of embarrassment flashing across their faces.

Aunt Wang sighed:

"Chuanzi, it's not that your aunt is cursing you. You were quite capable today, but do you know that that girl Xinghua... has already been betrothed to a young man from the Liu Family in Liulin Village!"

The woman beside her couldn't help chiming in, her voice even softer:

"That young man from the Liu Family is named Liu Biao, and he's learning his craft at a martial arts hall in town! I heard his master holds him in high regard, and Xinghua's Mother has been bragging to everyone she meets these past few days... You beat up Xinghua today and stripped her family of their dignity. Once that Liu Biao finds out..."

Aunt Wang patted Lu Chuan's arm, her tone carrying admonishment:

"Chuanzi, listen to your aunt: these next few days... avoid trouble wherever you can. A young man who practices martial arts is not someone ordinary people can stand up against..."

With that, the two women hurried around Lu Chuan and left.

Lu Chuan stood in place, his expression grave.

The momentary satisfaction he felt earlier was now shattered to pieces by this news.

Martial arts hall... Liu Biao...

Having arrived in this world for several days already, what made him the most curious were the martial artists mentioned in his memories.

They seemed to be an entirely different breed of creature.

Legend had it that true martial artists had surging qi and blood, strength enough to lift tripods, could leap across roofs and vault over walls, and could even injure people with qi.

The county constables, the bodyguards of great lineages, and even the elites in the military all had some connection to the martial way, making them existences beyond the reach of ordinary people.

He never expected that today he would provoke someone who might be a martial artist.

To say he wasn't panicked would be a lie.

Although he had Eagle Eye and extraordinary reflexes, his physical fitness was far too poor.

Just like dealing with Lu San earlier, he still had to resort to some unseemly methods.

If he were to go up against someone who truly practiced martial arts, relying solely on quick reflexes would probably be far from enough.

However, he wasn't scared out of his wits by this yet-unmet Liu Biao.

He still had bows and arrows in his hands.

If that Liu Biao really came looking for trouble, he had the power to fight back.

Minor Success in Basic Archery combined with the precision brought by Eagle Eye was his greatest source of confidence at the moment.

It was just that passive defense was never the best solution.

"Martial arts hall, practicing martial arts..." Lu Chuan muttered these two words under his breath, his gaze gradually growing firm.

The encounters of the past two days made him understand a bloody truth: in this world, whoever had the bigger fist made the rules!

He could indeed rely on memories of his past life to figure out soap, paper, or distilled liquor after saving up a bit of capital...

Any one of these things, if brought out, could change the destiny of this family and bring enormous wealth.

But so what?

If he wasn't strong enough himself, tomorrow some "Zhou Biao" or "Zhao Biao" would come knocking and rob him of these businesses, formulas, and even his very life!

An ordinary man is innocent, but a treasured jade becomes a crime.

Wealth without the power to guard it was a death warrant!

Of course, the most important point was that he still possessed that strange Golden Finger!

By recording weapons, he could gain corresponding martial insights!

With this cheat hanging on him, no matter how poor his bone root was or how late he started, he could still make something of himself.

Thinking of this, Lu Chuan's heart settled completely. He took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

Inside the room, the firelight flickered.

Father and Mother looked at him with extremely complex gazes.

There was relief, unbelievable shock, and a trace of... unfamiliarity.

"Chuanzi..." Lu Danian's voice was hoarse. "When... when did your combat skills get so good?"

Mother Lu followed right after, her eyes still red:

"Mother was watching through the door crack just now, and my heart jumped right into my throat! Lu San's fist... how did you dodge it? And you even knocked him down?"

Though the two hadn't gone outside, Mother Lu, unable to set her mind at ease, had kept glued to the door crack to watch the fight.

Originally, seeing that her son was about to be beaten, she had been so anxious she almost rushed out, never expecting the turnaround to come so swiftly.

At this moment, looking at the calm and fierce-eyed young man before them, the exact same thought arose in their minds:

Could... could this still be their own honest-to-a-fault son?

Lu Chuan knew he couldn't hide it, but he couldn't explain the matter of Eagle Eye either, so he simply replied vaguely:

"Dad, Mom, I used to be timid, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid. Lu San looks fierce, but his movements are actually slower than a wild boar, and he has plenty of flaws..."

Lu Danian remained silent without speaking, except that his gaze held a few more things than before.

Mother Lu wiped the corners of her eyes, feeling a mix of lingering fear and relief. "As long as you're safe, as long as you're safe... You scared Mom to death."

Taking advantage of the slightly relaxed atmosphere in the room, Lu Chuan walked over to the fire pit, sat down, and suddenly spoke:

"Dad, Mom, I want to go learn martial arts."

As soon as these words were spoken, the room instantly quieted down.

Lu Danian and Mother Lu raised their heads simultaneously. "L-Learn martial arts? Chuanzi, you..."

"I've thought it through." Lu Chuan's tone was resolute.

"Today's incident won't be the first, and it definitely won't be the last. Grandpa can come snatch, and Lu San's Family can come make a scene. If I don't learn martial arts... I can't protect this family."

He paused. "Besides, Xinghua's family has now latched onto a Liu Biao who is learning martial arts at a martial arts hall. They will never let today's matter rest."

Upon hearing this, the old couple's faces turned pale as paper.

A martial artist? Their family had actually provoked someone who might become a martial artist?

"H-How can this be..." Mother Lu's voice trembled, her eyes filled with panic.

Lu Danian was relatively calmer, but his brows were also knitted into a dead knot.

"Dad, Mom, I don't want to wait until someone beats their way to our door to regret not having any skills."

Lu Danian smoked his dry tobacco in sullen silence. After a long while, he said in a hoarse voice:

"Learning martial arts... that costs a lot of money. Master-acknowledgment gifts, monthly dues, food and expenses... Where would our family still have money?"

"I'll figure something out for the money," Lu Chuan said immediately.

"That golden pheasant should fetch some silver coins, and I can continue hunting. Once I step through that door, there will always be a chance."

Mother Lu panicked. "But... I heard practicing martial arts is terribly bitter, and you get hurt easily. What if..."

"Mom," Lu Chuan interrupted her, "farming and hunting at home—isn't that bitter? Isn't it dangerous? How did Dad get this injury of his?"

This sentence instantly left Mother Lu speechless.

Lu Danian looked at the firm light in his son's eyes, recalled his crisp and decisive skills from earlier, and finally let out a heavy sigh.

"You... really thought it through?"

"Thought it through." Lu Chuan said it with absolute certainty.

Lu Danian closed his eyes, opening them a moment later.

"...That golden pheasant, have your mother take it to town tomorrow and try to sell it for a good price. The rest... Dad will figure something out."

A weight lifted from Lu Chuan's heart.