After Yang Ning's match, the bouts at the Martial Arena continued. Two new Wood-Rank Fighters were facing off.
Their match, however, was nowhere near as exciting as the clash between the Through-Arm Fist and Tiger Soul Fist just moments ago—not in terms of either their strength or their techniques.
"After seeing that Wood-Rank Fighter who practiced Tiger Fist, I thought this batch of newcomers under your command, Brother Gong, would be full of surprises. Now it seems that 'Wood Seventy-Nine' was just an unexpected delight. He deserves a reward, and a fine one at that!"
In a luxurious private room overlooking the Martial Arena, a man dressed in brocade had sent down a reward for Yang Ning. Watching the dull match below, he turned to the man beside him and spoke.
Gong Tian, owner of the Martial Arena on East Third Street, smiled faintly. "You jest, Brother Qin.
"Though East Street is full of hidden talents, the martial arts prodigies are few enough to count. Most are carefully nurtured by their respective families and hold high positions. Few are willing to risk their lives at my place just to earn a little pocket money.
"His appearance was a surprise to me, too."
"So you've really taken a shine to this promising young fellow and are planning to do something for him?"
"Mm. His Tiger Soul Fist was decent enough, and he's young, so I'd say he's a little prodigy. I don't mind giving him a push. What comes after that, though, depends on his own fortune."
"Oh? Since when did you, Bright Jade Hand Gong Tian, start calling anyone in the Outer City's East Street a prodigy? Everyone knows that when you were young, you swept through the Seven Gangs and Four Sects with nothing but your fists. What happened to make you so modest?"
"You jest, Brother Qin. I was just young and arrogant back then. It takes seeing the world to learn that beyond the man, there is always another man; beyond the heavens, another sky."
Gong Tian finished speaking, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a small sip, as though he were drinking down all the arrogance of his youth.
"Let's not talk about that anymore. Aside from the match just now, today's bouts have been terribly dull. I came all the way from South Second Street, which isn't easy. As the head of this Martial Arena, you'd better show me some proper hospitality."
"Of course, of course. Since you've gone to the trouble of coming, Brother Qin, I'll make sure you're well taken care of. Please join me at Jinghua Pavilion on East Street. We can also discuss the protection of your family's businesses on East Street in detail there."
Seated alone at the settlement counter, Yang Ning closed his eyes and rested, calming the surging qi and blood within him. At the same time, he carefully recalled the details of the fight.
It was his first time fighting someone head-on in this world, and he had won.
In that fight, he had kept his qi and blood between the Dragon Bone Barrier and Blood Garment Barrier while facing the Through-Arm Fist fighter.
His powerful, forceful strength had kept him from suffering any serious injuries against an opponent whose Through-Arm Fist was poorly mastered.
And besides...
At that thought, Yang Ning opened his eyes and examined his body. The qi and blood he had just spent, along with the slight injuries from the Through-Arm Fist, had already recovered.
Over the past few days, he had begun to fathom another mystery of his Destiny System.
If Heaven Rewards Diligence was the most obvious aid to his progress in martial arts, then Destined Martial Saint was like a hidden hand at his back, quietly strengthening him—hard to sense, impossible to find, yet present everywhere.
Whether it was absorbing medicine, subduing artifacts, recovering from injuries, or his astonishing stamina and endurance, Yang Ning had sensed its mysteries in countless little details.
With a thought, Yang Ning checked what he had gained from the fight.
[Yang Ning] [Destiny: Destined Martial Saint, Heaven Rewards Diligence] [Realm: Body Tempering Realm] [Techniques: Tiger Soul Fist (Tendon Changing 143/1000)]
Seeing the pleasing progress on Tiger Soul Fist, Yang Ning nodded slightly.
So practice didn't just mean studying and training hard. Using Tiger Soul Fist in a fight counted as practice, too, and its experience had shot up.
"Looks like coming to the Martial Arena was the right choice. I can earn money, hone my skills, and gain real combat experience."
After checking his martial arts progress, Yang Ning slowly took out the strange White Jade Mask he wore.
According to Steward Liu, the gorgeous white jade mask was a "man-eating ferocious beast." Its malicious interference had caused many martial artists to die in the Martial Arena.
But when it encountered him, his powerful destiny had overwhelmed it completely, and it had become obedient and well-behaved.
Yang Ning had encountered other objects with similar supernatural properties before.
For instance, when he used to work with the Porter Guild, Old Wu had once told him about a locust-wood cart in the guild's storehouse.
Once pulled, it would sound just like a horse neighing.
Even if it was loaded with goods far too heavy for a person to pull, it would still move at a brisk pace, as if a fine steed were galloping.
But if someone used it for too long without stopping, they would lose their wits and become foolish and vacant. So it had been sealed away and never used.
Not all supernatural objects were so terrifying, though.
His older brother had told him about a Medicine Shovel owned by an inner-courtyard steward at Hundred Herb Hall.
Herbs dug up with it retained almost all their medicinal properties. Even without careful storage, they could stay fresh and lively for days, as if they had just been picked.
But after each use, the shovel had to be soaked in the user's blood. Otherwise, it would draw blood on its own.
Such implements were known as... Secret Artifacts.
From what Yang Ning could tell, the White Jade Mask in his hands was no ill-omened object that brought people misfortune. It was an unknown Secret Artifact!
Yang Ning placed the White Jade Mask over his face once more. The cool sensation returned, invigorating his spirit. His senses sharpened, and the distracting thoughts in his mind vanished.
This is the feeling!
Yang Ning thought to himself.
In the fight just now, the greatest help the tamed Secret Artifact had given him was that cool sensation, which cleared his mind and heightened his perception.
It had allowed him to remain calm and focused as he faced his opponent, unaffected by the distractions of the arena.
As he sensed the first Secret Artifact he had ever obtained, a figure arrived at last.
"Brother Yang, do you like this White Jade Mask?"
Steward Liu approached Yang Ning with a bag, paper, and a writing brush, a smile on his face.
"Mm, I like it. Can the Martial Arena give it to me?"
Steward Liu choked for a moment, then smiled gently. "Of course. The White Jade Mask has sat idle for years, and now it's finally found a worthy master in you, Brother Yang. I'm happy for it, too."
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a gust of sinister wind pass by. Yang Ning simply brushed a hand over the mask, and the next moment, the wind died down and the malice vanished.
The wind gave Steward Liu a chill. He looked around but saw nothing unusual. Thinking no more of it, he handed over the paper and brush.
"Brother Yang, you've passed your trial bout. Our Martial Arena hereby presents you with a Bronze-Rank Fighter Contract. From now on, your base pay will be twenty taels for each match, and you'll receive eighty percent of any tips!
"This is the highest-ranking contract in the arena. One of the bigwigs here has taken a liking to you, Brother Yang. Keep up the good work!"
Yang Ning skimmed the contract. It was indeed far more generous than the previous one, so he signed his name without fuss.
When Steward Liu saw Yang Ning's signature, he let out a long breath of relief.
Having completed the task assigned by his superiors, he spoke more casually. "Brother Yang, we'll be colleagues from now on. I'll be your point of contact for matters concerning the arena. I look forward to working with you."
"Likewise. I hope you'll look after me, Brother Liu."
"Don't mention it, don't mention it."
Hearing Yang Ning address him differently, the short, stout man smiled faintly and held out the money pouch.
"Here's what you earned today, Brother Yang:
"Ten taels of silver as your base pay, fifteen taels of silver as a reward for your trial bout, and ten... ten taels of gold in tips!"
"Oh?"
"You're lucky, Brother Yang. You ran into a real high roller on your very first match!"
Yang Ning was taken aback, too. Ten taels of gold was worth at least a hundred taels of silver, and perhaps even more on the black market.
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