Yu Kan's words were not entirely polite formality. Looking at the aftermath in the courtyard, he had no doubt that if he had arrived a moment later, Chen Yue might really have killed someone. By then, those lying here would not merely have been injured—they would have been corpses.
He studied Chen Yue carefully, trying to find in this face, now carrying a few more traces of cold, murderous intent, the shadow of the Diver boy from the martial hall twenty-odd days ago, who had taken out one tael of silver and said he wanted to learn a complete set of martial arts.
At Yu Kan's words, Chen Yue fell silent for a moment. He looked at the bloodstains on the ground, then toward the alley where the Sea Shark Gang members had disappeared, and said quietly:
"Master Yu, have I caused trouble for the martial hall and Master Zhou? I had no choice but to fight just now. They made no effort to explain and went straight to seize my parents, so I had to act. I also told them that Master Zhou had sent someone to mediate, but they..."
Chen Yue had held back from killing anyone just now because he did not want to make things irreparable. Besides, the County Examination had just ended. If he had a murder on his hands, the results of the examination might be annulled outright.
But if he had not spoken with Zhou Jingfeng earlier, the moment the County Examination ended, Chen Yue would have intercepted Zhou Qi in the city and secretly killed him.
Yu Kan looked at the wreckage in the courtyard, then glanced toward the alley, his brows drawing together slightly. But there was no blame in his voice. "The Sea Shark Gang has always been used to throwing its weight around. They only believe in fists and know nothing of reason. You were forced to fight back to protect your parents. You did nothing wrong.
"But now that things have come to this, there may be trouble down the line. Come back to the martial hall with me and explain everything to Master in detail. Let him decide what to do."
Chen Yue nodded and looked at the closed door to the inner room. His voice was low and firm. "Master Yu, I have to bring my parents with me. I injured so many people from the Sea Shark Gang today. They definitely won't let this go. If I leave my parents here, it'll be like sending sheep into a tiger's den."
"Of course." Yu Kan nodded without hesitation. "Your parents' safety comes first. Bring them to the martial hall. Master will make the arrangements."
Chen Yue pushed the door open. In the cramped inner room, Father Chen and Mother Chen sat pressed close together on the edge of the bed, their bodies still trembling uncontrollably.
The brief but violent clashes of metal outside, along with the screams, still rang in their ears.
They could not see what was happening outside. All they could do was imagine, from the sounds, the perilous fight their son was going through. Every passing breath felt as long as an ordeal in a boiling pot of oil.
Now, when Chen Yue came in, his clothes stained with blood but his steps steady, the hearts lodged in their throats finally settled a little. Mother Chen's legs even gave way, and she nearly collapsed; Father Chen barely managed to catch her.
"A-Yue... y-you're not hurt, are you?" Mother Chen asked in a trembling voice, looking her son up and down.
"Father, Mother, I'm fine. The trouble outside has passed for now." Chen Yue soothed them gently, but the deep fear on his parents' faces did not fade.
They had lived half their lives and knew all too well how the Sea Shark Gang never let a slight go unanswered. Their son had injured so many of them today. This feud was now settled in blood.
They were no more than Diver folk, whose lives were as cheap as grass. What could they do to resist the revenge that might come at any moment?
Yu Kan waited in the courtyard. When he saw Chen Yue supporting his still-shaken parents, his gaze swept over their weather-beaten, aged faces and their coarse cloth garments, and he sighed inwardly.
They were the most ordinary Pearl Household imaginable, their backs bent beneath the weight of life. Yet this couple had raised a son like Chen Yue, whose character and talent were both of the highest order. Truly, the world was full of surprises—dragons and serpents could rise from the marshes.
He said little, simply leading Chen Yue and his family through the streets and alleys to the Iron Mountain Martial Hall.
Unlike the imposing Nantong Martial Hall, the Iron Mountain Hall made no show of grandeur. Its black-lacquered gates, gray bricks, and tiled roofs exuded a quiet dignity of their own.
Zhou Jingfeng stood with his hands behind his back beneath an old locust tree in the courtyard, apparently waiting for them.
When he saw Yu Kan bring Chen Yue and his parents inside, he calmly swept his gaze over Father Chen and Mother Chen, showing no surprise.
Ma Jun was highly efficient. Before Zhou Jingfeng had returned, he had already investigated Chen Yue's background and family situation thoroughly. He had also reported that a broker had brought Chen Yue's parents to the county seat.
Chen Yue let go of his parents and stepped forward. He bowed deeply to Zhou Jingfeng, his voice sincere.
"Your junior, Chen Yue, pays his respects to Master Zhou. Thank you for stepping in to help me before and sending Master Yu to mediate. It's just that I was incapable of handling things properly and caused another mess. Sorry for the trouble, Master Zhou."
Seeing their son bow, Father Chen and Mother Chen hurried forward too, their backs bent as they stammered, "Greetings, Hall Master Zhou... Thank you for your great kindness, Hall Master. Thank you..."
They had spent their entire lives at the bottom of society. When had they ever dealt with someone like Zhou Jingfeng, a man who was a figure of some importance even in the county seat? They felt both grateful and anxious, unsure what to do with their hands and feet, their faces full of unease.
Zhou Jingfeng gave Father Chen and Mother Chen a slight nod, indicating that they need not stand on ceremony, then turned his gaze to Yu Kan.
Yu Kan understood and stepped forward. Lowering his voice, he quickly reported to his master what he had witnessed in the small courtyard.
As Zhou Jingfeng listened, his customary warm smile gradually faded. His brows lifted slightly, and clear surprise flashed in his eyes. What surprised him was not the Sea Shark Gang's arrogance, but Chen Yue's practical fighting ability, which far exceeded his expectations.
"This boy... has truly been practicing martial arts for less than a month?"
The question surfaced in Zhou Jingfeng's mind once more, but he quickly pushed it aside. Yu Kan had witnessed it firsthand; there could be no mistake. That left only one explanation: Chen Yue's martial arts talent and fighting instincts were even more terrifying than Zhou Jingfeng had previously judged.
After a moment of silence, Zhou Jingfeng looked once more at Chen Yue, who stood respectfully before him. His gaze grew more penetrating.
Chen Yue felt the scrutiny and deliberation in that gaze. He took a deep breath and bowed again. "Master Zhou, everything that happened today was because of me. The Sea Shark Gang is powerful, and they certainly won't let this go. I'm not afraid for myself, but I fear my parents will be dragged into it.
"May I ask what I should do next to break out of this predicament? Please guide me, Master Zhou!"
Against the behemoth that was the Sea Shark Gang, Chen Yue's own strength was indeed meager.
Looking into Chen Yue's clear, resolute eyes, Zhou Jingfeng smiled. He stopped beating around the bush and spoke plainly, his voice calm but solemn. "Chen Yue, would you be willing... to become my disciple and join my school?"
At these words, not only Chen Yue but also Yu Kan and Ma Jun, standing nearby, were taken aback. They had expected their master to take Chen Yue on as a disciple, but not so directly.
Chen Yue was genuinely surprised. He had heard that when a master took on a disciple, it usually involved trial after trial, observing the disciple's character and examining his roots. Such a decision was not made in a day.
He had wanted this, of course, but had also prepared himself to prove his worth over a long period. He had not expected Zhou Jingfeng to act so decisively, extending an invitation just as Chen Yue's situation had become most troublesome.
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