Surprise

At dusk, cooking smoke carrying the warm fragrance of firewood and food drifted in wisps through the courtyard.

Fang Han pushed open the courtyard gate, his steps no longer as heavy as before, but light and brisk.

The massive boulder weighing on his heart had finally been smashed to pieces by his fist today.

"Brother!"

A little figure in a red padded jacket came wobbling over. Fang Han broke into a smile, crouched down, scooped his younger sister Fang Ying into his arms, and tossed her high into the air.

The little girl's brief shriek was instantly replaced by tinkling laughter, her two skyward braids tracing joyous arcs through the air.

"I'm flying! Higher, Brother!"

Hearing the sounds in the courtyard, their father Fang Zheng and mother Lin Wan came out of the house.

Their faces carried their habitual, barely perceptible worry, but the sight of the siblings laughing and playing in the courtyard dispelled much of it.

Seeing the long-absent brightness in Fang Han's smile, so heartfelt and clear, the couple exchanged a glance and both caught the look of relief in each other's eyes.

They dearly hoped Fang Han could pass the clan assessment and bring forth a martial artist from their family.

But if he failed the assessment, they could accept that too. They only hoped Fang Han would not put too much pressure on himself.

"Xiao Han, you... seem especially happy today?"

Lin Wan wiped her hands, her voice carrying a cautious note of inquiry.

Fang Han set down his little sister, who was still squirming in his arms. His smile deepened as he met his parents' concerned gazes and took a deep breath.

"I broke through to the Flesh Refining Realm!"

"What?!"

The ledger in Fang Zheng's hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

Lin Wan abruptly covered her mouth. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, yet could not form a complete sound.

Overwhelming delight, like a warm tide, instantly flooded the ordinary little courtyard.

"Good... good!"

Fang Zheng crossed over in several strides, his large, heavy palm landing forcefully on Fang Han's shoulder.

"I knew it. My son... my son would make it!"

All the deeply buried hope and worry had now turned into indescribable excitement.

"Heaven bless us, Heaven bless us!"

Lin Wan finally found her voice, and the brightest smile she had worn in months blossomed across her face.

She pulled the bewildered Fang Ying into her arms, her voice trembling.

"Xiao Ying, did you hear that? Your brother has made something of himself! Our family... our family is going to have a martial artist!"

That night, the lamps in the little side courtyard remained lit until late, and the atmosphere around the simple dining table was more festive than ever before.

Fang Zheng even made an exception and brought out a small flask of his treasured wine.

By the next morning, the news had sprouted wings and flown through the area where the Fang Clan's branch families lived.

"Have you heard? Fang Han from the side courtyard next door broke through to Flesh Refining yesterday!"

"Really?"

"Absolutely true! Quite a few people at the Martial Arts Arena saw it!"

"Ah, Fang Zheng and his wife have finally made it through the hard times!"

When Fang Han stepped out of the courtyard to head for the Martial Arts Arena, familiar and unfamiliar faces alike kept smiling and congratulating him along the way.

"Fang Han, congratulations!"

"Kid, you've really done your parents proud!"

"Don't forget us when you make something of yourself!"

Fang Han smiled and thanked them, warmth flowing through his heart.

His parents stood at the courtyard gate to see him off, their backs straight and their faces glowing as they basked in envious gazes and congratulations.

The joy of finally holding their heads high was written plainly in every relaxed wrinkle on their faces.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

The atmosphere in the vast Martial Arts Arena was stagnant. The afterglow of the setting sun once again gilded the bluestone slabs, yet it could not dispel the grave solemnity.

Several dozen Fang Clan youths stood in formation, rigid and silent. The air seemed frozen, leaving only the steady, iron-like tap, tap of Fang Zhen's footsteps on the stone slabs.

He stepped onto the high platform, his gaze sweeping over the faces below—some excited, some hanging their heads in dejection.

"Today is the final deadline for the clan's annual assessment."

Fang Zhen's voice was not loud, yet it clearly suppressed every other sound, like a verdict being pronounced.

He unfolded the roster in his hand and read without the slightest ripple of emotion.

"Those who have passed the assessment and are permitted to enter the Inner Hall: Fang Han, Fang Lin, Fang Yue... eight in total."

In the end, Fang Han alone had broken through to Flesh Refining during that final month and passed the assessment.

At that final pronouncement, some turned pale and swayed as though about to collapse.

Others clenched their fists so tightly that their nails nearly dug into their flesh.

Still more youths could no longer contain themselves. Suppressed sobs sounded softly, and large tears struck the stone slabs beneath their feet.

Gazes mixed with unwillingness, jealousy, and deep envy focused on Fang Han and the other seven like prickling thorns.

Those gazes weighed heavily upon them.

They were the lucky ones who had been chosen, but also the targets upon which every disappointed person's emotions were projected.

Fang Han could clearly feel the weight of those gazes. He was not proud, merely standing there calmly.

Had the System Panel not appeared, his outcome would have been no different from theirs.

The following morning, before dawn had broken, the cold was biting.

Led by Fang Zhen, Fang Han and the other seven youths who had passed the assessment crossed through layer after layer of courtyards in Fang Mansion, heading toward a secluded, heavily guarded area—the Inner Hall of the Fang Clan's Martial Hall.

The Inner Hall's buildings were clearly more ancient and imposing than those of the Outer Hall. The air was thick with the deeper, settled scent of medicine, along with an intangible pressure that made one's heart faintly tremble.

An old man with white hair and beard, though without the slightest stoop in his frame, had long been waiting at the entrance.

He wore a green robe, with a lean face and gentle, placid eyes. At first glance, he looked like a schoolteacher.

But when his gaze swept over them, Fang Han felt an invisible sharpness bearing down on him, as though it could pierce through flesh, skin, and bone, straight into his organs.

His heart shook violently.

Was this the Inner Hall elder?

Anyone able to serve as an elder had surely reached the Inner Qi Realm above Bone Refining.

As someone from a Fang Clan branch family who had never encountered such people, Fang Han had no understanding at all of just how powerful Inner Qi Realm martial artists were.

Now, at last, he had gained some sense of it.

That unfathomable aura far surpassed Instructor Fang Zhen's. If the other man wished to crush him to death, it would likely be as easy as crushing an ant.

"Elder Yuan, there are eight youths entering the Inner Hall this year. They are all here."

Upon seeing the old man, Fang Zhen spoke respectfully, then gestured for Fang Han and the others to step forward.

"Those who enter my Inner Hall are the seeds of the Fang Clan's martial path. I hope you will cultivate diligently without cease and live up to the clan's expectations."

Elder Fang Yuan's gaze slowly passed over the eight of them, calm and unruffled.

He paused. His tone was mild, but his words made Fang Han and the others' hearts race at once.

"By custom, those newly entering the Inner Hall shall be granted thirty taels of silver. Thereafter, each month, you may receive an allowance of five taels and ten Blood Vitality Pills."

Thirty taels?!

And five taels of silver and ten Blood Vitality Pills every month?!

Even though Fang Han had been prepared, the treatment, so generous it far exceeded his expectations, left him somewhat dazed.

Thirty taels of silver equaled several months of his father's wages!

And the monthly Blood Vitality Pills were something even better than Blood-Qi Soup.

Immense delight battered against his chest. He could almost hear his heartbeat quickening and his blood surging through his veins.

The other seven were breathing heavily as well, unable to hide the excitement on their faces.