Chen Feng rose reluctantly and walked toward the shopkeeper standing by the door.
Sun Qiang watched secretly through narrowed eyes. Only after he saw the shopkeeper let Chen Feng leave did he slowly get up. He didn't look drunk at all; he was clearly sober.
"Hmph, you want me to pay? Keep dreaming for another five hundred years."
Sun Qiang whistled as he strolled toward the exit.
"Hold it!"
A young waiter stopped Sun Qiang just as he stepped outside.
"Sir, you haven't paid your bill yet."
"Paid the bill? The guy who came with me settled it already!"
Sun Qiang was stunned.
The waiter shook his head. "He left without paying a single coin. One table of dishes and two pots of wine come to two hundred and twenty wen. Please settle the bill, sir."
"You let him leave without paying?"
Sun Qiang stared at the shopkeeper inside, unable to believe it.
Seeing his reaction, the waiter's expression darkened. He called over several others, and they surrounded Sun Qiang.
"Are you trying to dine and dash?"
"W-wait! There must be some mistake. Are you sure you've got the right table? Are you sure he didn't pay? Don't—don't!"
Far away from the restaurant, Chen Feng had already left, his sleeves clean and empty.
He had nearly spent all his savings on learning martial arts. Where would he get the spare cash to treat someone to a meal and wine? If he kept throwing money around, he wouldn't even be able to afford food.
"So Lin Yan joined the Dragon Walk Martial Arts School too... I'd better prepare early." Chen Feng's thoughts raced as he considered his options.
At noon, at the Dragon Walk Martial Arts School.
As the final group finished training, Chen Feng felt a new wisp of power form inside him. It was as thin as a strand of hair, yet unmistakable. It settled quietly in his Dantian, like a ray of light in the dead of night.
Qi Blood Power.
It meant he was now a Quasi Martial Artist.
When Zhao Shanyue heard, he praised him without end.
"I didn't expect you to develop Qi Blood Power in just a few days."
"I have Senior Brother Zhao to thank for your guidance. I'm deeply grateful."
The other youths in the courtyard were filled with envy.
"How long has it been? Not even half a month, and he's already made it? What have I been training for all this time?"
"Didn't you say his Gen Gu was Zhong Xia? At this rate, even an Upper Grade Root Bone might not be any better!"
"I-I heard right. Senior Brother Zhao said his Gen Gu was Slightly Superior."
"Oh no. We've been ignoring him these past few days. Is he going to hold it against us?"
"He just got lucky. He probably studied the Breathing Method more deeply, so he broke through quickly. Just wait until he starts tempering his Qi Blood. Let's see if he can still progress this fast. Maybe even when you become a Martial Artist, he'll still be stuck at this level."
"That makes sense. I guess I was worrying for nothing. He's only Zhong Xia Gen Gu, after all."
Their looks of respect toward Chen Feng shifted to pity and disdain. His aptitude was set in stone, an impassable hurdle he could never cross.
Still, for all their contempt, they put on a good show, offering their congratulations one after another. The courtyard was filled with warm cheer as everyone celebrated Chen Feng's progress.
"Congratulations, Brother Chen."
"Congratulations, Brother Chen."
Chen Feng responded to each of them.
[Fellow Disciples' words ring hollow... experience +66]
Chen Feng: "..."
The system sometimes chimed in at the most inopportune moments.
"Good. Don't get conceited. Developing Qi Blood Power doesn't guarantee that you'll become a Martial Artist. From now on, you'll need to work even harder."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Come with me. Now that you have Qi Blood Power, there's no need to keep building strength here. You can start learning the real thing."
Zhao Shanyue spoke as he walked, while Chen Feng followed beside him, listening closely.
"Our Dragon Walk Martial Arts School teaches two arts: the staff, the Subduing Dragon Staff Technique, and the fist, the Five Elements Fist Technique. Which one do you want to learn?"
"The fist. I want to learn fist techniques."
Chen Feng answered without hesitation.
He had his reasons for choosing to learn fist techniques—
First, once a Martial Artist lost their weapon, they lost most of their strength. But a Fist Cultivator was different; all they relied on was their own two hands.
Second, the path of martial arts was about honing oneself. A weapon was ultimately an external object.
And finally... weapons were too expensive. He couldn't afford one.
"Good. Only the master can teach Martial Arts. When we see him, I'll call him Master and you'll call him Hall Master. You haven't become a Martial Artist yet, so you're not a Formal Disciple. Don't address him incorrectly. Remember that."
"Chen Feng understands."
They passed through a corridor and reached a Training Ground.
It was much larger than the stone-paved courtyard they'd come from. As soon as they entered, they saw a group of bare-chested men practicing their punches, their blows making the wooden dummies clang.
Under the eaves to the north, an imposing old man sat in a Grand Tutor Chair. A young man stood beside him, holding a staff, his sharp gaze sweeping over the courtyard from time to time.
Two maids waited quietly nearby, ready to serve tea.
"Master."
As Zhao Shanyue crossed the courtyard threshold, he bowed to the old man. Chen Feng lowered his head as well and respectfully greeted him. "Hall Master."
The Hall Master, Zhou Bingzhong, was a renowned martial arts expert in Pingcheng, famed for his mastery of both staff and fist techniques. He had made a name for himself in his youth. The Dragon Walk Martial Arts School he founded had also become one of Pingcheng's top powers.
Zhou Bingzhong's eyes swept over them. Chen Feng stiffened, feeling as if a ferocious tiger had fixed its gaze on him. The pressure was almost tangible, nearly choking him.
Even so, he kept his head respectfully lowered, daring not to overstep.
[Enduring the pressure of an Enlightened Martial Artist... experience +1000]
"Hm?"
A glimmer of surprise flashed in Zhou Bingzhong's eyes.
"Good lad. You've got guts to withstand that. Not bad. What's your name?"
Chen Feng froze, then realized he was being asked. He hurriedly replied.
"Reporting to the Hall Master, I'm from the Chen Clan. My given name is Feng."
"Chen Feng... not bad."
At their master's praise, both the Staff-Wielding Youth and Zhao Shanyue looked at Chen Feng with a new glint in their eyes. The apprentices practicing below also watched with quiet interest.
"Shanyue, is this a new disciple?"
"Reporting to Master, he joined seven days ago."
Seven days... The Staff-Wielding Youth's eyes lit up with delight.
Zhou Bingzhong nodded. "To develop Qi Blood Power in seven days, he must have an Upper Grade Root Bone. Shanyue, why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"...After feeling his bones, I judged him to have Zhong Xia Gen Gu. Perhaps my cultivation is lacking. Please examine him yourself, Master."
Zhao Shanyue answered awkwardly.
At the mention of Zhong Xia Gen Gu, some of the delight faded from Zhou Bingzhong's eyes. A trace of regret also crossed the Staff-Wielding Youth's face.
Judging Gen Gu by feeling someone's bones was hardly prone to error. Since Zhao Shanyue had felt Zhong Xia, he must be right. Even if he wasn't, Chen Feng could at most have an average Gen Gu.
Nowhere near an Upper Grade Root Bone.
When the other apprentices heard he had Zhong Xia Gen Gu, they stopped paying attention and focused on their training.
"Are you learning staff or fist?" the young man asked.
"Reporting to Senior Brother, he's learning fist."
Zhao Shanyue answered for Chen Feng before he could speak.
The young man's delight dimmed further, and he looked uninterested.
Zhou Bingzhong rose from his chair, drawing all his pressure back into himself. He now looked like an ordinary old man.
"Chen Feng, listen carefully. I'll only explain this once."
The other disciples also stopped what they were doing and watched the Hall Master in silence.
Only Formal Disciples who were already Martial Artists were entitled to receive personal instruction from the Hall Master. The rest could only listen in when a newcomer was taught, and they weren't allowed to ask questions.
Chen Feng's eyes shone brightly, his gaze sharp as a torch.
"This disciple understands."
Before you continue