Those Who Walk Different Paths Cannot Make Plans Together

A mother and daughter sat in a commoner's eatery, watching the entrance closely as though waiting for someone.

"Mother, why haven't Sister-in-law Liu and her brother-in-law arrived yet?

"I only begged Miss Qin for leave for quite a while. I have to go back soon—Miss is still waiting for me!"

The young woman's face was full of impatience as she anxiously questioned her mother.

"No rush, no rush. That Yang Family boy is surely tidying himself up before coming to see you.

"You've met Sister-in-law Liu before. She is gentle and dignified.

"This Yang Ning cannot be much worse!"

The mother and daughter were waiting precisely for Yang Ning and his sister-in-law. It appeared to be a matchmaking meeting.

Just as the mother and daughter spoke, two figures finally stepped into the eatery.

"Sister-in-law Qi, Little Sister He."

Liu Ying greeted the waiting mother and daughter.

"So Liu Ying has arrived. This must be Yang Family's second son, Yang Ning, right?"

Hearing her mother call out, the young woman glanced over impatiently.

Yet when He Xiang, who had originally intended merely to humor her mother, looked at Yang Ning, her eyes lit up!

The Yang Family had never been lacking in looks.

The original Yang Ning had long been constrained by his family circumstances and mixed among the common folk. Years of hardship had gradually worn away the youthful spirit about him, making it increasingly ordinary.

But after his golden finger arrived some days ago, Yang Ning's martial path once more had a guiding beacon.

Now that he had achieved modest success in martial arts, his back was straight as he walked, his stride carried the bearing of a dragon and tiger, his eyes shone brightly, and his Martial Gall was clear and flawless.

More importantly, his fists had grown fiercer, his body stronger, and the confidence in his heart naturally deeper. His entire bearing had become ever more confident and high-spirited.

With such a temperament, one could tell at a glance that he was no ordinary person. Even amid a crowd, he stood like a crane among chickens!

Seeing his sister-in-law's friend and her daughter before him, Yang Ning also cupped his hands in greeting.

"Greetings, Sister-in-law Qi. Greetings, Little Sister He."

After they sat down and chatted for a few moments, Sister-in-law Qi looked at Yang Ning with satisfaction. She then found an excuse to leave with Yang Ning's sister-in-law, leaving only He Xiang and Yang Ning seated opposite each other.

"Sister He Xiang truly is beautiful, just as Sister-in-law said."

As the man, Yang Ning was the first to start a conversation.

But he was only speaking the truth. On the way over, Sister-in-law had mentioned that Sister-in-law Qi and Liu Ying were both weavers. Her husband, Mr. He, drove a horse carriage, but after catching someone's eye while carrying a passenger, he had been hired as a coachman.

Sister-in-law Qi had also climbed that connection and become an exclusive weaver kept by a wealthy household. But the most remarkable one was their daughter, He Xiang.

Because of her beauty, she had won the favor of the household's young lady and ultimately became her personal maid.

Only then had the He Family gradually flourished.

Supporting an entire family through beauty and favor, He Xiang's looks were plain for all to see.

Yang Ning sighed faintly.

From Sister-in-law's tone, Yang Ning could tell she was deliberately trying to match him with He Xiang. But a girl who had experienced wealth and luxury would likely seldom look favorably upon someone of his family's circumstances.

Hearing this, He Xiang smiled slightly and said generously, "Brother Yang Ning, you flatter me. I am merely a willow by the roadside.

"Still, I see that Brother Ning's steps are steady and his blood and qi vigorous. You must practice martial arts, I presume?"

Yang Ning called to the waiter at the front for a pot of tea, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.

He had not expected a girl like He Xiang to possess such discernment. But then he recalled that she was a servant in a wealthy household and had seen much more than most, so his doubts eased somewhat.

"Sister He Xiang has sharp eyes. I do practice martial arts!"

Upon hearing Yang Ning's words, He Xiang's eyes brightened further.

"May I ask which martial hall you train at? And who is your master?"

Yang Ning slowly shook his head.

"I merely explore on my own and climb the martial path. I have no martial hall or master."

"Ah?"

The moment those words were spoken, the disappointment spilling across He Xiang's face was visible to the naked eye.

In most people's minds, the most important thing in martial cultivation was one's lineage.

As the saying went, "A master leads you through the door; cultivation depends on the individual." Yet entering that door had always been the most important step in martial cultivation, and no one would deny the importance of a master.

Not everyone was like Yang Ning, carrying the Destiny System. For most people who practiced martial arts alone, the final outcome would be that they failed to amount to anything.

At the same time, one's lineage and status as a martial hall disciple were also symbols of social standing and prospects for future advancement.

At this moment, He Xiang already felt somewhat deceived, so her words were no longer as gentle as before.

"I truly had not expected Brother Ning to be such a martial arts genius, able to practice martial arts without a master. This little sister admires you."

Yang Ning was not deaf to the barbed mockery hidden in the young woman's words, yet he continued drinking his tea calmly.

Still, she was the daughter of his sister-in-law's friend, and he did not wish to lose his manners. Besides, in these times, girls like this who chased status and wealth were simply too common.

"You flatter me. Yang is merely somewhat interested in martial arts; I am no scion of a lofty household.

"I have truly disappointed Miss He!"

He Xiang knew she had misspoken, but she was nineteen this year, at the age of youthful rebellion and stubborn temperament. She continued, "Brother Ning is already twenty. I imagine you are not far from Body Tempering, are you?"

"Body Tempering? I have not yet reached that realm."

He answered calmly.

"Not even Body Tempering?"

Hearing Yang Ning's reply, He Xiang wore a teasing expression, while the disappointment in her grew even stronger.

Because of certain experiences in her childhood, the He Family had spent a period without a fixed home, drifting like duckweed on the water.

Those days had left a profound impression on He Xiang's young heart, causing her to yearn desperately for stability and safety.

Thus, she greatly admired martial arts experts, because they possessed absolute strength and could protect her. In her heart, she also deeply hoped that her future partner would be a martial artist.

When she had first seen Yang Ning's steady, confident demeanor, she had thought he was already an expert.

Yet who would have thought he was a silver spear with a wax tip—impressive to look at, useless in practice! He did not even have the status of a martial hall disciple or a lineage!

If he wanted to achieve Body Tempering and undergo his first transformation of blood and qi, would he not have to wait until he was forty or fifty?

But by then, his blood and qi would already be declining. What use would Body Tempering be even if he attained it?

She was a servant of the Qin Family, a wealthy household, and she had seen countless martial artists. Those young talents had already laid their martial foundations early on, each one bearing an extraordinary presence.

As for Yang Ning's sister-in-law and her own mother wanting to bring the two of them together, He Xiang found it truly difficult to accept.

Without her realizing it, her horizons had already been raised too high by Miss Qin. She had long since stopped looking twice at ordinary men.

She believed that there was no longer any possibility between herself and Yang Ning, so there was no need to waste more time.

Afterward, the two reluctantly exchanged a few more words before falling silent once again.

"This afternoon, my lady has some matters for me to attend to, so I cannot speak further with Brother Ning.

"I shall take my leave first."

He Xiang rose to her feet. Though she still looked down on Yang Ning, basic courtesy had to be maintained, so she spoke with feigned warmth.

"Alright. Take care."

Yang Ning had not the slightest intention of asking her to stay. He did not hate this status-conscious young woman, but that did not mean he did not mind.

After sending off this matchmaking prospect, he called the waiter over to settle the bill, then immediately returned to his training room.

Upon returning to this little world of his, Yang Ning could not help revealing a sincere smile.

The tangled affairs of sons and daughters, love and romance, were inferior to tempering oneself. Besides, time waited for no one. If he diligently improved his martial arts, then everything else could be sought from his fists.

His gaze sharpened, and a panel appeared before his eyes.

[Yang Ning]

[Realm: None]

[Technique: Tiger Soul Fist (Body Tempering 60/100)]

Over these past days, Yang Ning's martial arts had improved further, and he had broken through the third minor barrier—the Lumbar Vertebra Barrier.

Next came the fourth barrier, where blood and qi surged forth along the spine—

The Dragon Bone Barrier!

As usual, Yang Ning assumed the stance of the Tiger Soul Fist.

The instant he began the form, he could feel the stiffness in his spine growing increasingly obvious.

Whenever he circulated his blood and qi, his entire body felt uncomfortable, as though all his strength were stuck there.

That was the sign that the Dragon Bone Barrier had yet to be opened!

"My spine is a little stiff. My strength is stuck at the lumbar vertebrae and cannot rise any higher. I can try moving my spinal bones!"

Yang Ning planted all four limbs on the ground, imitating a fierce tiger stretching after waking from sleep.

Even he had not realized that what he was doing now was the secret inheritance of the Tiger Soul Fist's orthodox direct line—

The Lazy Tiger Spine-Opening Technique!

To outsiders, it was an utterly secret transmission.

Yet Yang Ning had made those movements completely unconsciously. Following his own understanding of this fist technique, he had carried out this act of breaking through the barrier and advancing realms.