My Path Is Not Solitary

"Junior Brother Cui."

Cui Hao was bent over, wiping the dust-covered bluestone slabs beneath the weapon rack, when Fourth Senior Brother Sun Cheng walked over.

"Tomorrow is the last day of the two-month deadline. How are you feeling about your qi and blood accumulation? Do you want to... try breaking through tonight? If you need it, I can stay by your side and guide you."

The academy didn't forbid disciples from trying to break through on their own before the deadline. But with a senior brother there to lend a hand if their qi and blood went awry, it would be much safer.

Cui Hao put down the rag. His tone was so calm that he sounded as if he were talking about something that had little to do with him. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. Last night... I already managed to break through on my own."

The expression on Sun Cheng's face froze. First came shock and surprise, followed by deep admiration and relief. Then he brought his hands together with a loud clap that made several nearby disciples pause and glance over.

"Good! Attaboy!" Sun Cheng's voice rose a little with genuine delight. He stepped forward and clapped Cui Hao hard on the shoulder. "I knew you could do it!... You didn't use that stuff, did you?"

Knowing Sun Cheng meant the Qi and Blood Powder, Cui Hao shook his head. "No."

"Good!" Sun Cheng's smile widened, and he regarded Cui Hao with newfound respect. "Tomorrow, in accordance with the academy's rules, I'll formally teach you the Broken Fist Stance Training Method."

"It includes the complete follow-up techniques for the Broken Fist, along with the advanced stance training that goes with them. They're the foundation for tempering your qi and blood and honing your force in the Mortal Martial Realm. Now that you've taken your first step, you'll need to train hard. Don't slack off."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Cui Hao cupped his fists and bowed solemnly. This meant he had officially crossed the threshold to the core techniques taught by the academy.

Sun Cheng offered a few more words of encouragement, then turned and left with a satisfied smile.

Almost the instant Sun Cheng left, the atmosphere around them seemed to shift.

The senior and junior brothers who had been minding their own tasks—some hard at work, others staring blankly into space—all stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to Cui Hao.

"Junior Brother Cui! Congratulations! The clouds have parted, and the moon has come out!"

"Junior Brother Cui—no, I should call you Senior Brother Cui now! Please look after us from now on!"

"I knew Senior Brother Cui could do it! I heard magpies chirping just now. Turns out they were singing of Senior Brother Cui's breakthrough!"

"..."

Congratulations rang out one after another, warm and enthusiastic, as though Cui Hao were their long-lost brother.

Yet beyond this sudden swell of "warmth," the mood in certain other corners was entirely different.

Some disciples who had entered the academy only a few days after Cui Hao and were still struggling outside the threshold of the Mortal Martial Realm looked deeply conflicted.

They understood all too well what those two words—"Mortal Martial"—meant. They meant escaping the lowest status.

They meant getting the chance to learn more advanced martial arts.

They meant gaining at least a sliver of a foothold in the academy, and in this world.

And... they meant a widening gulf between those who had broken through and those who hadn't.

Dusk had fallen. After a day of training and finishing their last chores, Cui Hao and Lin Da walked side by side through the snow toward Willow Tree Village.

"Brother Hao..."

On the way back, Lin Da's face looked especially pale, and his voice wavered with tears. "You worked on your strength every day, trained your stance, sparred, and practiced without the slightest letup. You pushed yourself to the limit, and only... only managed to break through on the very last day."

"I... I'm lazier than you, and I'm not as smart... My dad gave me all the money he'd saved over half his life. I... I'm afraid... I'm afraid I won't make it. I'll let my dad down, and I'll let you down too..."

Cui Hao stopped and looked at his childhood friend. His voice was steady and firm. "Lin Da, you might not have noticed it yourself, but you have excellent coordination and a keener sense of your qi and blood than most people. You're a one-in-ten-thousand martial arts prodigy. You just need a little time and confidence."

"A one-in-ten-thousand... martial arts prodigy?" Lin Da stared at him. It was the first time anyone had ever described him that way.

"That's right," Cui Hao said with absolute certainty. "You're different."

Reassured and encouraged, Lin Da found his confidence and courage again. He drew in a deep breath of cold air and straightened his slightly hunched back.

As they neared the village entrance, Lin Da suddenly remembered something. "Nobody in the village knows you joined the academy to learn martial arts. My dad specifically warned me not to tell anyone—not a soul."

"He said... when a poor family suddenly has someone learning martial arts, it's easy to invite envy. Someone might even sabotage you in secret so you can't keep training. So... at the academy, I try not to mention Willow Tree Village. I just say I'm from a farming family outside the city."

Cui Hao nodded. Old Man Lin was a man who understood how things worked. In this world of scarce resources and brutal competition, envy and malice often came quicker than help.

The next day, Cui Hao stepped through the gates of Zhanhong Martial Arts Academy. Exactly two months had passed.

It was late in the Chen hour. The sky had brightened, and the snowfall had eased a little. Sun Cheng found Cui Hao while he was loosening up.

"Junior Brother Cui," Sun Cheng said, his expression turning more serious, "by the rules, since you claim to have entered the Mortal Martial Realm, you need to demonstrate the Broken Fist on the posts, using all your strength, so we can confirm it."

This was a necessary part of the academy's staged instruction. It verified his breakthrough and also served as a kind of "public announcement," letting everyone in the academy know another disciple had crossed that threshold.

Cui Hao nodded, walked over to the row of cold plum-blossom posts, and lightly leaped onto the highest one, landing steadily.

He settled into a horse stance, lowering his waist and hips.

The next instant, his fist shot out!

He held nothing back, but he didn't try to show off either, using about eighty percent of his strength.

Yet with the support of the Mortal Martial Realm's qi and blood and a stronger physique, the Broken Fist now carried a momentum utterly unlike before!

His movements flowed together like water and clouds. His fists roared through the air, faintly breaking the sound barrier. Every punch seemed to hold enough power to snap a wooden post in half.

The post beneath his feet creaked softly and rhythmically under his steady, forceful steps.

The noise immediately drew the attention of many people in the yard.

Not far away, Tu Yan, who was in the Clear Force stage, glanced at Cui Hao practicing on the posts. Her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, then relaxed.

She casually asked the maid-like girl beside her, "That one... what's his name again? Cui Hao, right? He waited until the two-month deadline was almost up, but finally managed to squeeze through."

"Yes, Miss," the maid replied softly. "He made it just under the two-month mark."

"Someone who gets through by grinding away at it and only makes it at the last moment by luck won't get far. How boring." After speaking, Tu Yan, born into a lineage, went back to her own business.

Not far from Tu Yan, Xiao Li noticed Cui Hao, and his eyes flickered.

Cui Hao remembered him, and he remembered Cui Hao too. The young man from the Cui Clan shoe shop had slightly better origins than he did, but unfortunately, his aptitude was mediocre. He had only just entered the Mortal Martial Realm.

On the post, Cui Hao's mind was calm and focused. After completing the set, he settled into the final stance, steadied his breath, and leaped down.

"Not bad." Sun Cheng smiled and walked over. "Your qi and blood flow smoothly, and your punches are steady and powerful. You're undoubtedly in the Mortal Martial Realm. Congratulations, Junior Brother Cui."

Just then, a woman in pale green training clothes, with a tall, straight posture, walked over.

"Junior Brother Cui," Xu Liqing said gently, handing him a small bundle. "This is a packet of Qi and Blood Powder. You've just entered the Mortal Martial Realm, so you'll need to consolidate your foundation. I hope this will help."

A packet of Qi and Blood Powder cost two taels of silver, or three taels for two packets. It was a valuable supplement that helped disciples in the Mortal Martial Realm build up their qi and blood more quickly.

Until then, Cui Hao had only ever seen Xiao Li use it, and only from afar.

Sun Cheng made the introductions at the right moment. "Junior Brother Cui, this is Senior Sister Xu, our eldest senior sister and Master's daughter."

Cui Hao took the packet in both hands and bowed solemnly. "Thank you for the medicine, Senior Sister."

Almost at the same time, Xu Dian strolled over from the inner courtyard. He walked up to Cui Hao, gave him a once-over, then patted him on the shoulder with moderate force.

"Your foundation is fairly solid. Good that you've broken through. From now on, you'll have to train even harder and never slack off."

"Yes, Master!"

Just then, from the plum-blossom posts near the wall on the other side of the yard, came the sound of fists tearing through the air—more intense than before, almost ferocious!

Right after it came the clear crackle of bones and tendons popping like beans in a hot pan!

Everyone's attention was instantly drawn over!

On the highest post, a lean, dark figure was practicing the Broken Fist with astonishing speed and power!

His fists blurred into a single mass. The fierce gusts they stirred sent the surrounding snowflakes swirling in every direction, while the wooden post beneath his feet groaned under the strain! It was Li He!

The crowd's gaze pinned Li He in place like a spotlight.

The area around Cui Hao fell quiet in an instant.

Just as the crowd's attention shifted, a figure silently edged over to Cui Hao and lightly nudged his arm.

Cui Hao turned around. It was Wang Nian, a fellow disciple from his intake.

Wang Nian's expression was complicated. He seemed relieved, yet deeply weary, with a trace of gloom that was hard to notice.

"Junior Brother Cui," Wang Nian said in a voice so low only the two of them could hear, "I... I tried to break through last night too."

Cui Hao's gaze sharpened slightly. He cupped his fists and quietly said, "Congratulations."

Wang Nian gave a bitter smile and shook his head. There wasn't much joy in it. "There's nothing to celebrate. I used Qi and Blood Powder."

After a pause, Wang Nian lowered his voice even further, speaking with self-mockery. "Breaking through with medicine is like... like a woman forced into a second marriage. It's shameful, so you have to keep it under wraps. Nobody makes a public announcement about it."

As they spoke, Li He finished his set and jumped down from the post with crisp, clean movements. His breathing was somewhat ragged, but his eyes shone brightly. Even from a distance, one could sense his surging qi and blood.

Xu Dian stepped forward, unable to hide his delight, and gave Li He a firm pat on the shoulder. "Good! Very good! Your qi and blood are powerful. Excellent!"

Li He's face flushed with excitement. He bowed deeply. "Thank you, Master! Your disciple will train hard and never disappoint you or betray your efforts on my behalf!"

"Good! Come to the back courtyard at noon. We'll eat together." Xu Dian beamed. This was an extremely high honor.

"Yes!" Li He's voice trembled faintly with excitement.

Xu Dian offered him a few more words of encouragement, then left, entirely satisfied and with a noticeably lighter step.

As soon as their master was gone, the crowd surged over, surrounding Li He as congratulations and flattery rang out from every side.

Tu Yan moved fastest, squeezing through to Li He first. She wore a warm smile that was perfectly measured. "Junior Brother Li, congratulations on entering the Mortal Martial Realm! On behalf of the Tu Family, I'll sponsor you ten packets of Qi and Blood Powder and five taels of silver every month, to help you charge ahead and make rapid progress!"

Ten packets of Qi and Blood Powder were worth twenty taels, and with another five taels in cash, the monthly contribution came to twenty-five taels—a fortune for an ordinary family!

This generous offer made the Tu Family's wealth and determination clear.

Li He was evidently surprised, but quickly regained his composure. He cupped his fists toward Tu Yan and said solemnly, "Thank you for your generosity, Senior Sister Tu! I'm deeply grateful. I'll remember this kindness!"

Xiao Li also walked over. He was half a head taller than Li He, and now patted him on the shoulder with an air that was faintly condescending yet still friendly. "Junior Brother Li, well done. From now on, we'll train under Master together, spar with each other, and improve side by side."

Although Li He was confident, he hadn't let his recent breakthrough go to his head. He showed due respect to this senior brother, who had already made a name for himself and earned the approval of both their master and the Tu Family. He returned the gesture with a cupped-fist salute. "This junior brother is slow-witted. I hope Senior Brother will guide me."

"Don't say that. We're cut from the same cloth. We're destined to go farther than the rest." Xiao Li's tone was casual, but his words clearly drew a line, welcoming Li He into his own "circle" and setting him apart from all the "others" around them.

The crowd listened, envy plain on their faces.

Li He had won their master's favor, gained the support of the local great family, the Tu Family, and earned recognition as one of their "kind" from the talented Xiao Li. His future was bright.

Cui Hao calmly looked over Li He, surrounded by admirers; Tu Yan, smiling with composed reserve; and Xiao Li, full of confidence. He felt no envy.

The weak huddled together in flocks. The brave walked alone.