After arranging their lodgings, Zhou Jingfeng looked at Yu Kan and continued giving instructions. "Yu Kan, make another trip. Go fetch the sandalwood medicine box from the side room where I'm staying at the Zhou Family.
"There are several doses of Tendon-Strengthening and Bone-Forging Powder inside. Over the next ten days, have Chen Yue begin medicinal baths. Before the Life-Death Arena, make sure his body and vital energy are in peak condition and his foundation is firmly established. That should give him a better chance of winning."
"Strong tendons and forged bones powder?"
Yu Kan's heart jolted at the words. He quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, Master! I'll go fetch it right away!"
As he turned, a trace of envy inevitably flashed through his eyes.
Those medicinal ingredients were exceptionally potent, highly effective for tempering the body and strengthening vital energy. Ordinarily, disciples like them had to gather such things themselves. Yet Master had taken them out without hesitation for his newly admitted junior apprentice. Just how much Master valued him was plain to see.
Still, when Yu Kan recalled how Chen Yue had stepped forward to accept the Life-Death Contract in the face of the Sea Shark Gang's threats, showing such courage and a willingness to shoulder the burden, that little envy in his heart turned into a complicated sigh.
This junior apprentice was not only frighteningly talented; he was also so decisive and resolute.
Knowing full well how vicious his opponent was and that the outcome could mean life or death, he had chosen to bear it himself. That courage, that strength of character, truly deserved Master's wholehearted cultivation. If he could weather this calamity, his future prospects would be limitless.
Before long, Yu Kan had tidied up the room, and Ma Jun returned from filing the paperwork at the government office.
Zhou Jingfeng spoke gently to Chen Yue again. "Chen Yue, you're tired today, and you've just been through a lot. Go rest and settle your mind. There's no need to rush into learning Eight-Step Cicada Chase right away. I'll teach you tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Master. This disciple takes his leave." Chen Yue knew his master had his best interests at heart. He brought his parents, and with Yu Kan leading the way, went to the clean guest room in the west wing.
The room was simply furnished, but far better than their shack in Pearl Village. At that moment, however, Father Chen and Mother Chen had no mind to notice such things.
The moment the door shut, the composure they had forced onto their faces crumbled, replaced by unhideable worry and fear.
Father Chen sat on the edge of the bed, both hands gripping his knees tightly, his brow knotted into a deep frown.
"Father, Mother, don't worry. I'll train as hard as I can under Master over these next ten days." Chen Yue's voice was firm as he tried to give his parents some confidence.
But he knew that any words of comfort would ring hollow just then. Only walking off the arena alive ten days later could dispel their fears for good.
After comforting his parents for quite a while, Chen Yue finally returned to his own room next door. Once he closed the door, the composure on his face eased slightly, and he let out a quiet breath.
The Life-Death Contract had been signed. There was no turning back.
Chen Yue went to the table, took a coarse-cloth money pouch from his robes, and poured all the silver onto the tabletop.
The silver added up to just over four taels, including the three taels the Broker had returned as agreed.
"Four taels of silver... Simplifying Mountain-Crushing Art cost two taels. Eight-Step Cicada Chase should cost about the same, so this ought to be enough." Chen Yue calculated silently.
The panel's fee for simplifying a technique seemed to depend directly on its level. He wasn't worried about coming up short. If worse came to worst, he could see whether his parents had any spare money.
"Still, to be safe, I'll wait until I've formally learned Eight-Step Cicada Chase tomorrow and confirmed the simplification fee."
Chen Yue put the silver away again and gazed at the unfamiliar rafters. Xiong Wu's face flashed through his mind, then the bright red fingerprints on the Life-Death Contract, then his parents' tearful, worried eyes...
The images tangled together, until at last they became a flame, burning quietly in his chest.
Ten days. The Life-Death Arena. He had to win.
Meanwhile, the Sea Shark Gang's main hall blazed with lamplight.
Xiong Wu gave Tang Qizheng, who sat on a tiger-skin chair, a detailed account of everything that had happened at Iron Mountain Hall.
When he heard that Zhou Jingfeng had actually announced he would take Chen Yue, a Pearl Diver, as his personal disciple, Tang Qizheng's narrow eyes suddenly narrowed further. The rhythm of his fingers tapping on the armrest faltered slightly.
"Zhou Jingfeng... has taken on a disciple?" Tang Qizheng repeated quietly, surprise and contemplation in his voice.
He knew the master of Iron Mountain Hall quite well and understood that Zhou Jingfeng set a strict standard for accepting disciples, preferring none over an unworthy one. That was why Iron Mountain Hall had so few core disciples.
But Zhou Jingfeng did have an exceptionally sharp eye for talent. Several disciples he had taught in the past were now thriving out in the world, serving as Iron Mountain Hall's support and connections.
His willingness to take in that Pearl Diver meant the boy had shown him something that moved him.
"Hmph, so what if he took him as a disciple? The boy's already a dead man!"
A vicious-looking leader sneered disdainfully. "Zhou Jingfeng may have a good eye, but this time he's bound to be wrong! His precious new disciple is going to be beaten to death by Brother Xiong in the arena ten days from now. Let's see where Iron Mountain Hall's face will be then! Hahaha!"
Tang Qizheng ignored his subordinates' chatter and looked at Xiong Wu. "Why was the Life-Death Arena set for ten days from now? Did you suggest it, or did Zhou Jingfeng?"
Xiong Wu hurriedly bowed. "To answer the gang leader, Zhou Jingfeng suggested it. But the Pearl Diver himself stepped forward and accepted the Life-Death Contract."
Tang Qizheng's brow furrowed even more deeply. That Pearl Diver had dared to accept the Life-Death Contract himself. Either he was a fool, or he had tremendous confidence in his own abilities.
After a moment of thought, Tang Qizheng looked at the eager Xiong Wu and said gravely, "Xiong Wu, this fight concerns the Sea Shark Gang's honor. You must win, and you must not lose! There must not be the slightest mishap!"
He raised his voice and ordered the steward below, "Go. Take a Blood-Vitalizing Pill from the storeroom and give it to Xiong Wu!"
Xiong Wu froze for a moment, then delight surged across his face. He clasped his fists and replied loudly, "Thank you for this generous gift, Gang Leader! I won't let you down. Ten days from now, I'll tear that little bastard apart in the arena and bring glory to the Sea Shark Gang!"
Tang Qizheng nodded slightly. "Good. Spend the next ten days absorbing the medicine's effects and tempering your body further. Remember, I want you to crush him. I want everyone to see what happens when they offend the Sea Shark Gang!"
"Understood!" A vicious glint flashed in Xiong Wu's eyes, and a cruel grin spread across his face.
The sun rose, its morning light spilling across Iron Mountain Hall's training ground. Chen Yue stood full of energy, facing Yu Kan.
"Junior apprentice, watch closely. The essence of Eight-Step Cicada Chase lies in the words 'burst' and 'change.' It's completely different from the fluid, nimble Roaming Mountains and Rivers." Yu Kan's expression was solemn. Before he had even finished speaking, he was already in motion.
There was no lengthy windup. Yu Kan's feet struck the ground in quick succession, following a strange rhythm. His first step was still right before Chen Yue, but by the second, his figure had blurred; by the third, he seemed to leave a streaking afterimage.
More astonishing still, as Yu Kan surged forward at tremendous speed, he didn't move in a straight line. Instead, he made tiny, unpredictable shifts, like a cicada spreading its wings, his path impossible to read.
A moment later, Yu Kan came to a stop and looked at Chen Yue. "That's the essence of Eight-Step Cicada Chase: explosive acceleration over a short distance and changing direction in midair. Junior apprentice, is there anything you don't understand? I can demonstrate it more slowly."
Chen Yue looked at the panel.
[Eight-Step Cicada Chase (Not Yet Initiated)]
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