Kindness Repaid, Apprenticeship Begins

As these words were spoken, a playful expression appeared on Gong Tian's face, while a smile surfaced in Elder Song's only remaining eye.

"Blood Ape Gang?"

Elder Song tapped his withered fingers lightly against his cane:

"Ten years ago, what was the name of the largest gang in this area again?"

Gong Tian stood with his arms crossed and said indifferently:

"Replying to Martial Uncle, it was called the Black Wolf Sect."

Elder Song then looked at Yang Ning:

"A-Ning, what kind of business do you call this?"

He raised a finger and pointed at Gong Tian beside him:

"Back in the day, this kid was a true Devil King.

When he was young and had just achieved success in Body Tempering, he beat up every single Body Tempering expert from the so-called 'Seven Gangs and Four Sects' in the outer city, not missing a single one."

"Because of that,"

Elder Song paused, a trace of reminiscence flashing through his eyes:

"He caught the attention of my junior martial brother, who took him into the Jingan Bureau. And the result?

The Black Wolf Sect felt they had lost all face and gathered their members to try and surround and kill him."

Gong Tian took over the conversation, his tone as flat as if he were speaking of a trivial matter unrelated to himself:

"And then, the Black Wolf Sect was gone.

From that day on, the outer city of Kuishan County had a Blood Ape Gang."

He looked at Yang Ning, his gaze carrying the calm of someone who had weathered many storms:

"Little Brother Ning, you need to broaden your vision and perspective.

The outer city is a pond-sized place; it cannot stir up heaven-shaking waves, nor can it raise a true dragon.

The likes of the Blood Ape Gang will be nothing more than a group of noisy ants to you and me in the future."

"Since you have painstakingly mastered the Tiger Soul Fist and earned the qualifications to join my Jingan Bureau, these troubles..."

Gong Tian's lips curled upward.

"Will no longer be problems."

He said no more and gestured to the side:

"Since you intend to join today, hurry and follow me to see Master.

Originally, Master wasn't supposed to arrive for a few more days, but after receiving the message from Elder Song, he rushed over early.

All for the sake of meeting you, this 'successor of the Tiger Fist'."

Yang Ning felt a sense of awe in his heart, knowing that a true opportunity was right before his eyes.

He no longer hesitated, nodded, and then bowed solemnly to Elder Song:

"Elder Song, this junior will take his leave first."

Elder Song chuckled and waved his hand: "No need to be so nervous; my junior brother is not a strange person."

"Take care, Elder Song!"

Yang Ning turned and followed in Gong Tian's footsteps.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the two arrived once again at the Martial Arena on East Fourth Street.

Gong Tian led Yang Ning not toward the ring area, but straight through a hidden corridor to a secluded courtyard behind the Martial Arena.

Pushing open an inconspicuous wooden door, they entered a secret chamber with simple furnishings.

The walls were built of bluestone and provided excellent soundproofing, completely blocking out the clamor of the outside world.

In the center of the chamber, an old man with simple clothing and a ruddy complexion, looking like any ordinary elder, sat on a grand armchair, reading a letter in his hand with great interest.

On the table beside him lay the latest issue of the Kuishan Top Hundred Ranking.

Hearing the door open, the old man looked up.

"Master." Gong Tian bowed respectfully.

Yang Ning immediately understood the identity of the person before him and followed suit with a bow: "Junior Yang Ning greets you, Senior."

Sun Nian's gaze first fell on Gong Tian, and he nodded, his voice gentle:

"You haven't been lax in your cultivation while staying in Kuishan County all these years.

Bone Forging is complete, and you are on the verge of Organ Refining.

I arrived early, which is perfect; I shall guide you properly.

I have read the points you mentioned in your letter regarding the key nodes of Organ Refining.

Your ideas are a bit rash, but the path is not wrong. I will explain it to you in detail later."

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Master."

Gong Tian replied with his hands hanging at his sides.

After speaking, Sun Nian finally cast his gaze toward Yang Ning.

His gaze was not sharp, but as it landed on him, Yang Ning felt as if an invisible hand were gently brushing over his entire body's blood, energy, tendons, and bones, leaving no secrets hidden.

"Your name is Yang Ning?"

Sun Nian spoke, his words going straight to the core without any polite pleasantries:

"Your internal force is surging beneath your skin, yet you always fail to grasp or touch it. Your patience is about to reach its limit, isn't it?

You are only one step away from Tendon Changing."

Yang Ning's heart shook violently!

Since the battle at Chunhua Restaurant, his blood and energy had been surging, and he had indeed touched the threshold of Tendon Changing, with the embryonic form of his internal force beginning to appear.

However, he had never spoken of this to anyone, and others were unaware of it.

This old man before him had seen through it at a single glance!

Yang Ning took a deep breath, suppressed the waves in his heart, and nodded candidly:

"In reply to your words, Senior, the junior has indeed felt it, but I have yet to find the opportunity."

Sun Nian nodded slightly, quite satisfied with Yang Ning's honesty.

But he did not offer any words of recruitment; instead, his gaze fell upon Yang Ning's wrist:

That was exactly where the black bracelet gifted by the little girl he had saved was located.

Sun Nian's tone was casual, as if he were making small talk:

"Is this a family heirloom?"

Yang Ning was startled and answered truthfully:

"In reply to your words, Senior, this item was a gift of gratitude I received some time ago on East Fourth Street, after I stepped in to help a wandering little girl who was in danger of being bullied."

A trace of imperceptible approval flashed in Sun Nian's eyes.

"Saving someone in distress without seeking a reward, only to receive a gift in return.

Because of a single thought of kindness, you have obtained quite a good treasure.

This is a blood-energy weapon, though it is an official item; the restrictions must be opened, and I will teach you how later.

Consider it a reward for the kindness and moral bottom line that still exist in your heart."

He paused, his tone turning profound:

"Yang Ning, this world is collapsing, and human hearts are as treacherous as ghosts.

The ancient teaching of 'when poor, cultivate your own virtue; when prosperous, benefit the world' is seen by many as a pedantic joke.

To be able to extend a helping hand to the weak while struggling yourself is a rare virtue in these chaotic times."

"I dare not accept such praise; there are simply some things that one cannot shirk."

"You have not joined those gangs that exploit the common people and are riddled with evil deeds, nor have you fully committed yourself to the seemingly glamorous but internally complex aristocratic clans; instead, you have always relied on your own fists to make your way. This shows,"

Sun Nian's gaze was like a torch, looking deep into Yang Ning's eyes:

"Your heart does not merely seek stability and wealth; you are thinking, and you are choosing."

"Tell me,"

The old man's voice carried a strange penetrating power, knocking directly against his heart:

"What are you considering?

Or rather, what is it you seek by practicing martial arts and becoming stronger?"

Yang Ning fell silent...

He began to recall, recalling everything he had seen and felt since transmigrating: the kindness of his brother and sister-in-law, the humiliation from Fei Yan, the coercion of the Blood Ape, and the struggle at the bottom of society...

Various images flashed through his mind.

Finally, he raised his head, his gaze clear and firm, and spoke slowly:

"In reply to your words, Senior, what the junior seeks is actually simple."

"In this chaotic world where people are like blades of grass, I want my family to no longer worry about tomorrow's food, and no longer have to tremble because of the whims of the strong.

I want myself, and those I care about, to be able to live with more dignity and a greater sense of existence."

"And I know that to achieve these things, there is only one path to take..."

Yang Ning's voice rose suddenly, carrying a resolute determination:

"Become stronger! Become even stronger!

Strong enough to shatter the injustices imposed upon me, strong enough to protect everything I want to protect, strong enough that...

My fist is the truth!"

As the words fell, the echoes lingered faintly within the secret chamber.

A brilliant smile appeared involuntarily on the face of Gong Tian.

Sun Nian watched Yang Ning quietly for several breaths, a genuine smile slowly blooming on his face as well.

That smile diluted the invisible air of authority about him, adding a touch of the kindness and appreciation of an elder.

Sun Nian sighed softly:

"To possess such a will of the strong that points directly to the heart, combined with an indomitable perseverance, and even more rarely, to still harbor an unextinguished kindness and a moral bottom line..."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze locked onto Yang Ning, and asked clearly, enunciating every word:

"I am Sun Nian, a Banner Officer of the Jingan General Bureau in Nanning Prefecture, Guixi Province of the Great Yue Dynasty!

Yang Ning, are you willing to take me as your master?"

"From this moment on, you shall enter my tutelage and also become a member of our Jingan Bureau."

Yang Ning did not hesitate in the slightest; he stepped back, lifted the hem of his robe, and performed a standard, respectful apprenticeship kowtow toward Sun Nian.

"Disciple Yang Ning pays respects to Master!"