Buying a House

The next afternoon.

After his usual stake training and boxing practice, Li Yun went to find a real estate broker to look at houses.

Mainly, it would be more convenient for him to practice the Blood Blade Technique and Bone Shifting Technique.

Besides, the further he progressed, the more secrets he was bound to have.

It was near the Subduing Tiger Martial Hall, two streets away.

"Master Li, this way, please."

A wiry, capable old man in a short hemp jacket led Li Yun to view the house.

"As you requested, it's close to the Subduing Tiger Martial Hall, and there's a courtyard where you can practice martial arts."

Li Yun followed behind him and took a quick look around the two-courtyard residence.

Overall, it seemed pretty good, so he asked the price:

"How much?"

The broker's eyes shifted. He swiftly held up two fingers, grinning:

"Two hundred taels of silver."

Li Yun furrowed his brow.

"That's too expensive.

I'm buying this house because it's close to the Martial Hall and has space to practice. Lower the price."

The broker immediately put on a troubled look, rubbing his hands together as his brows knitted into a knot.

He put on quite a performance. It was his usual trick when selling a house:

"Master Li, you don't understand. Since it's close to the Subduing Tiger Martial Hall, there aren't that many ruffians around here.

Houses here are in high demand.

Since you're truly sincere, I'll take the liberty of making the call: one hundred and ninety taels. I can't go any lower."

Li Yun wasn't swayed. He turned toward the courtyard gate and kept walking.

The broker panicked and hurried forward to block him. Some of the distress faded from his face, replaced by a rueful smile.

"Ah, Master Li, at least name your price! You can't just leave without saying a word.

All right, one hundred and seventy taels. Any less, and I'll really be taking a loss."

"One hundred and fifty taels."

Li Yun looked back, his gaze firm. There was no room for negotiation.

Naturally, he'd done some research before buying a house.

A "school district house" like this generally cost around one hundred and thirty or forty taels, but the seller had to make something too.

Now the broker was genuinely flustered. He grabbed Li Yun by the sleeve, gritted his teeth, and stamped his foot.

"Fine, fine!

You're a straightforward man, Master Li.

I'll take a loss today just to make a sale. One hundred and fifty taels. Deal."

His face still wore a pained expression, but inside, he was delighted.

That price was still above his bottom line.

When Li Yun received the deed, he felt momentarily dazed.

But he quickly put it out of his mind.

In the morning, he practiced his stance. In the afternoon, he sparred with his fellow disciples.

After dinner at the Martial Hall, he went home to practice his blade technique and Bone Shifting Technique.

Before bed, he read Introduction to Poisons for a while.

Two days passed in this fulfilling routine.

The Subduing Tiger Martial Hall.

"Senior Brother Li."

"Senior Brother Li, could you give me some advice on this move? It always feels awkward when I do it."

As he passed through the Outer Courtyard, the apprentices greeted him one after another.

Some even asked Li Yun to give them pointers.

Li Yun answered each of them, took a little time to offer some advice, then returned to the Inner Courtyard to stretch and prepare for training.

He straightened up and bent forward, loosening his muscles and regulating his breath.

He sank into a horse stance to stretch his legs, extending his back and steadying his body.

He bent sideways to stretch, strengthening his legs and stabilizing his stance.

Then he began his stance training.

His feet were shoulder-width apart, toes pointing straight ahead.

He bent his knees and lowered himself until his thighs were parallel to the ground, keeping his knees behind his toes.

He raised his hands to chest level, palms facing down.

His fingers spread as if pressing down on a tiger's head. He kept his back straight, drew in his chin, and looked ahead.

His blood and qi flowed within him, warming his limbs and bones.

The effects of Blood Replenishing Powder tripled the speed at which he accumulated blood and qi.

That was the benefit of having money.

One day's training was worth three days for someone else.

After finishing his stance training, Li Yun planned to find a senior fellow disciple to spar with.

At a glance, he picked out his favorite opponent, Chen Bin.

"Senior Brother, want to spar?"

Chen Bin looked up, the corner of his mouth curling as his knuckles cracked.

"Just don't start crying."

"Then you'd better hold back a little."

Before Li Yun had even finished speaking, he had already stepped forward, his body darting out like an arrow.

He wasn't about to observe martial virtue with this guy. He'd attack before he even finished talking.

"Enough talk. Come on."

Chen Bin twisted at the waist, lowered his shoulder and elbow, and settled into his fighting stance.

"Come on."

Before the last word had even left his mouth, Li Yun had closed in.

Instead of retreating, he pressed forward. His left shoulder dipped, and his right fist shot out like a fierce tiger probing with its claws, cutting through the air as it drove straight at Chen Bin's face.

The two traded blows, their fists flashing as the moves of Tiger Subduing Fist alternated.

[Tiger Subduing Fist: +1]

[...]

Li Yun's Tiger Subduing Fist advanced by leaps and bounds. His mastery improved several more notches, and his moves grew ever more fluid and forceful.

As the exchanges continued, Chen Bin gradually fell behind.

His Tiger Subduing Fist was steady, but he couldn't withstand the growing speed and weight of Li Yun's punches. Moves he used to deflect with ease now forced him back again and again.

Seeing that he was about to lose, Chen Bin neither dodged nor backed away. He sank into his stance, planted his feet, circulated his blood and qi, and tensed his muscles, taking one of Li Yun's punches head-on.

He followed with a "Black Tiger Digs at the Heart," striking toward Li Yun's abdomen.

Li Yun's heart tightened. He instantly pulled back his fist and changed moves, bending and crossing both arms to guard his stomach.

Thud!

Li Yun was knocked back by the punch.

"Let's take a break."

Li Yun was already used to Chen Bin fighting dirty.

But he was such a good sparring partner that Li Yun didn't say anything about it.

He went to sit in a corner and rest.

Chen Bin followed him over.

Although he'd won their sparring match again, just as expected, he still felt a little uneasy.

Three or four months ago, he had watched Li Yun enter the Inner Courtyard.

Chen Bin hadn't liked him from the start, especially after seeing Li Yun constantly hanging around Yu Qingqing. It felt like a thorn in his heart.

Who was Yu Qingqing?

She was beautiful, with a statuesque figure.

Even he could only admire her from afar. Li Yun was just a newcomer who'd entered the Inner Courtyard, yet he dared to dream of a swan while being a toad?

So Chen Bin had taught him a lesson.

But that guy had remained as stubborn as ever, refusing to learn his lesson.

Yet after Chen Bin beat him up, Li Yun hadn't gotten angry. He'd just grinned and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."

Chen Bin's fists had felt like they were striking cotton, leaving him with a bellyful of fire and nowhere to vent it.

After that, Chen Bin often sought Li Yun out for sparring. On the surface, it was practice, but deep down, he also wanted to humble the kid again.

But he'd never imagined Li Yun would improve so frighteningly fast.

At first, Chen Bin had completely overwhelmed him. Li Yun could barely defend himself, and every punch was clumsy.

Before long, Li Yun could take two or three of his moves, and sometimes even counterattack when he spotted an opening. His punches lacked power, but his angles were tricky.

Later, they were able to trade blows evenly. Li Yun's punches grew more and more forceful, his moves more and more fluid.

Until today, Chen Bin could clearly feel that Li Yun's boxing had surpassed his own.

If he hadn't had the advantage of stronger blood and qi, he might have lost.

This kid was clearly his potential rival in love.

He was coveting the person Chen Bin held dear.

Chen Bin should have hoped he'd make a fool of himself, hoped he'd stop improving.

But, frustratingly, he couldn't help admiring him.

He admired Li Yun's grit in taking a beating and still smiling as he asked for advice.

He admired his almost obsessive focus on boxing.

And he admired how visibly and rapidly he'd grown over the past few months.

"Damn it..."

Chen Bin cursed inwardly.

The "toad" Li Yun he'd once looked down on had now surpassed him in boxing.

The conflicting emotions pricked at him like a tiny thorn, making him uncomfortable all over.

He'd made up his mind.

Starting today, he would practice boxing as hard as Li Yun.

He would strive to defeat him again, fair and square.

Then perhaps Yu Qingqing would look at him differently.

Perhaps she'd secretly give him her heart...