Refusal

Three days later, at the Subduing Tiger Martial Hall.

Having just downed the Blood Replenishing Powder, Li Yun immediately stood into the Tiger-Subduing Stance.

With feet shoulder-width apart, shoulders dropped, elbows tucked, chest slightly hollowed, and back straight, he planted himself firmly in the Tiger-Subduing Stance.

A warm, gentle current rose from his dantian, carrying the rich medicinal potency as it surged through his meridians.

An hour later, Li Yun slowly withdrew from the stance, exhaling a breath of stale air.

[Tiger-Subduing Stance (Entry): 151/5000]

[Tiger Subduing Fist (Entry): 327/5000]

With the support of the Blood Replenishing Powder, his Tiger-Subduing Stance gained over thirty experience points a day.

Unfortunately, this stuff could only be taken once a day.

Whenever the accumulation of blood and qi from the Tiger-Subduing Stance slowed down, Li Yun would immediately find fellow disciples at the martial hall to spar.

His Tiger Subduing Fist experience was also growing rapidly.

Just as he was preparing to find a senior brother to spar with, Yu Qingqing sought him out.

"Junior Brother Li, I have something to discuss with you. Could we talk?"

"Please, Senior Sister, speak your mind."

Hearing her voice, Li Yun withdrew his stance and cupped his hands toward Yu Qingqing.

"I heard you come from a family of hunters in Mountain-Back Village?"

"That's right," Li Yun nodded in response.

There was no need to hide that.

"I'm going hunting at Crow Mountain tomorrow and need a guide familiar with the mountain paths. Could you do me a favor?"

She paused, fearing that Li Yun might refuse because he wanted to train, and quickly added:

"I won't have you help for nothing. It's just for one day, and I'll give you two taels of silver as payment."

Upon hearing this, a flicker of doubt crossed Li Yun's eyes.

"Senior Sister, I saw a similar task at the Bounty Pavilion a few days ago. Was that posted by you?"

Mentioning this, Yu Qingqing curled her lips, her tone carrying a hint of imperceptible disdain.

"No, that must have been posted by that hussy from the White Crane Martial Hall."

"Oh?"

Yu Qingqing took a deep breath, her expression gradually becoming serious.

"Actually, this trip is mainly to accompany Miss Huang from the Inner City. This Miss Huang is the most favored daughter of the Huang family. She manages the family's cloth and spice businesses. If I can gain her favor, my family's cloth business could open up new channels. Only Lin Biling from the White Crane Martial Hall and I are accompanying her, which is why I wanted to find a reliable guide."

A favored family daughter who also managed two businesses—someone like that was certainly no ordinary person.

With the Outer City in such chaos, she wanted to go hunting for fun? No matter how he heard it, it sounded strange. This money was not worth earning.

"Senior Sister, look at my age. How much could I possibly know about Crow Mountain? In Mountain-Back Village, there are plenty of old hunters. You can just hire someone there when the time comes."

Seeing that Li Yun was not joking, Yu Qingqing did not press the invitation further. Over the past few days, she had watched Li Yun spar with other junior brothers in the Inner Courtyard, and she truly admired his persistence and willpower. That was why she had intended to use this opportunity to support him. But if Li Yun really wasn't familiar with Crow Mountain, then so be it; she couldn't afford to waste this chance to curry favor with Miss Huang.

"Alright, then I'll find someone in the village when the time comes. You continue your training."

After Yu Qingqing left, Li Yun prepared to find a senior brother to spar with. He didn't expect someone to approach him first.

"Junior Brother Li, let's spar."

Li Yun recognized the senior brother speaking; he was one of Yu Qingqing's many admirers, Chen Bin.

Is it just two sentences?

Simps never end well.

Li Yun cursed under his breath, but he didn't refuse; it didn't matter who he sparred with.

Besides, in the Martial Hall, the other party wouldn't use lethal force.

Otherwise, Fu Huaixing wouldn't let him off.

"Come."

Before the other party could even set their stance, Li Yun launched a Fierce Tiger Pounces on Prey, rushing forward.

The result was as expected.

Days passed one by one.

Li Yun's wallet slowly emptied, but the progress on his panel was very gratifying.

Especially for the Tiger Subduing Fist.

Whenever someone wanted to spar, Li Yun never turned them away.

It was just that some people lacked martial virtue.

Relying on their thick blood energy, they used raw strength to suppress Li Yun.

But Li Yun discovered that the stronger the opponent and the harder they pressured him, the faster his understanding of the Tiger Subduing Fist deepened.

Because of this, Li Yun often went to get close to Yu Qingqing.

He did it just so they would be annoyed by him and hit a little harder.

While chatting, he also received news that after the previous hunt at Crow Mountain, she had gained the approval of Miss Huang, who granted her a small opening for her cloth shop business.

Having missed out on a bit of extra income, Li Yun didn't regret it.

Safety was more important, after all.

Who knew? If he had gone back then, a butterfly effect might have occurred and caused trouble.

"Congratulations, Senior Sister. Now that you're cooperating with the Inner City Miss Huang, I imagine the cloth shop business will reach new heights."

"You've already congratulated me five times."

"Ah, is that so?"

"If you want to spar, why not just go find them directly? Why must you do this?"

At first, Yu Qingqing didn't understand what Li Yun was up to.

She thought he was like the others, lusting after her.

After observing him, how could she not understand?

He only acted this way to provoke others so he could find someone to spar with.

Names can be wrong, but nicknames never are.

Martial Fanatic.

Li Yun smiled and didn't answer her question.

How could Li Yun tell Yu Qingqing that when a "simp" was resentful, they hit harder, allowing him to improve faster?

Yu Qingqing didn't intend to make Li Yun answer her anyway, waving her hand to let him leave.

Li Yun walked away tactfully, waiting for a Flower Protector to seek him out automatically.

Within a few breaths.

"Junior Brother Li, I see you're practicing slowly on your own. Let's spar."

"Come."

Facing Chen Bin's invitation, Li Yun did not refuse.

As soon as the words fell, he stomped hard on the ground, his figure pouncing out like an arrow from a bow, right fist clenched, striking straight at Chen Bin's face.

A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit.

Chen Bin was well-prepared; his feet firmly ground into the earth, anchoring his figure like an old tree with deep roots.

He dropped his shoulders and elbows, tucked his chest and straightened his back, quickly guarding his chest with both hands to set up the authentic defensive posture of the Tiger-Subduing Stance.

"Bang!"

Li Yun's fist collided solidly with Chen Bin's forearm, a muffled sound echoing out.

Chen Bin didn't budge an inch, using the force of the block to sink his weight and skillfully deflecting most of Li Yun's rigid force.

He grinned:

"Junior Brother, continue."

Li Yun's offensive didn't stop, launching dozens of fierce attacks in a row, yet he was unable to break through Chen Bin's defense.

At this moment, Chen Bin suddenly let out a loud shout.

His waist twisted violently, his blood surging like a rushing tide toward his arms as his defensive stance shifted abruptly.

His left fist drove straight at Li Yun's chest, while his right fist swept across his ribs, the assault fierce and overbearing.

Li Yun could not dodge in time and was sent stumbling back seven or eight paces by a punch.

Though he hissed in pain, he couldn't help but reveal a joyful expression as he looked at the proficiency points jumping in his mind.

[Tiger Subduing Fist: +1]

[Tiger Subduing Fist: +1]

[...]

Seeing Li Yun grinning and grimacing despite being struck, Chen Bin felt his anger flare up.

Laughing?

You'll have plenty of time to cry later.

"Junior brother, are you coming for more?"

"Yes."

Chen Bin vented his resentment, pummeling Li Yun relentlessly.

Yet, he couldn't help but feel a shred of admiration.

From being completely suppressed during their first bout, Junior Brother Li had gradually learned to dodge.

Now, he could even occasionally land a sneak attack or two.

His progress was visible to the naked eye.

But that was no reason for Junior Brother Li to get close to the person he adored.

Thinking of this, Chen Bin's strikes grew even heavier.