Buying a House

The next day, afternoon.

After finishing his usual stake training and boxing practice, Li Yun sought out a property agent to look at houses.

The main reason was to have a convenient space to practice the Blood Blade Technique and the Bone Shifting Technique.

Furthermore, as time went on, he would surely have more and more secrets to keep.

The location was just two streets away from the Subduing Tiger Martial Hall.

"Master Li, please, this way."

A lean, capable old man wearing a linen short jacket led Li Yun to view the property.

"As per your request, it's close to the Subduing Tiger Martial Hall and has a courtyard suitable for martial arts practice."

Li Yun followed behind, taking a rough tour of the two-courtyard residence.

Overall, he felt it was quite decent, so he asked about the price:

"How much?"

The agent's eyes darted around, he quickly held up two fingers, and a grin spread across his face:

"Two hundred taels of silver."

Li Yun's brows furrowed slightly:

"Too expensive.

I'm only buying this place because it's near the martial hall and allows for practice; make it cheaper."

The agent immediately put on a troubled expression, rubbing his hands together with his brows knitted into a knot.

He was putting on a full act, as this was his usual tactic for selling houses:

"Master Li, you don't know, but because this is close to the Subduing Tiger Martial Hall, there aren't many hooligans or ruffians around.

It's highly sought after.

If you are truly sincere, I'll take the liberty of making a decision: one hundred and ninety taels, not a penny less."

Li Yun remained unmoved, turning around and walking toward the courtyard gate without stopping.

The agent panicked, hurriedly stepping forward to block him, the feigned trouble fading from his face to be replaced by a bitter smile:

"Oh, Master Li, at least make an offer! You can't just walk away without saying a word.

How about this: one hundred and seventy taels. Any lower and I'd really be losing money."

"One hundred and fifty taels."

Li Yun turned back, his gaze firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Before buying the house, he had naturally done his homework.

This "school district housing" was generally worth about one hundred and thirty or forty taels, but one had to let the man make a profit.

The agent was truly flustered now, grabbing Li Yun's sleeve and gritting his teeth as he stomped his foot:

"Fine, fine, fine!

Master Li, you are a straightforward man.

I'll take a loss today just to make a sale. One hundred and fifty taels, it's a deal."

Though he still wore a pained expression on his face, he was secretly overjoyed.

This price was already above his bottom line.

When he received the deed, Li Yun felt a momentary sense of daze.

But he quickly shook it off.

He practiced stake training in the morning and sparred with his fellow disciples in the afternoon.

After finishing dinner at the martial hall, he would return home to practice his blade technique and the Bone Shifting Technique.

Before bed, he would spend some time reading the Introduction to Poisons.

He spent two days living this fulfilling life.

Subduing Tiger Martial Hall.

"Senior Brother Li."

"Senior Brother Li, could you give me some pointers on this move? I always feel like I'm not quite getting it right."

As he passed through the outer courtyard, the apprentices greeted him one after another.

Some even wanted Li Yun to give them some guidance.

Li Yun responded to each of them, spending a bit of time offering pointers before returning to the inner courtyard to stretch and prepare for his training.

He straightened his body and bent at the waist, loosening his tendons and regulating his breath.

He moved into a crouching stance to press his legs, stretching his back and stabilizing his frame.

He performed side stretches, strengthening his legs and steadying his stance.

Then, he began the stance training.

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

He bent his knees into a squat until his thighs were parallel to the ground, ensuring his knees did not extend past his toes.

He raised his hands to his chest, palms facing downward.

His fingers were splayed as if pressing down on a tiger's head, his back straight, chin tucked slightly, eyes fixed forward.

The flow of qi and blood within his body brought a wave of warmth to his limbs and bones.

The medicinal power of the Blood Replenishing Powder increased the speed at which he accumulated qi and blood by threefold.

This was the benefit of having money.

One day of training was worth three days for others.

After finishing the stance training, Li Yun prepared to find a senior brother to spar with.

He locked eyes with his favorite opponent, Chen Bin.

"Senior brother, care for a spar?"

Chen Bin raised his eyes, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he cracked his knuckles:

"Just don't go crying about the pain."

"Then you should hold back your strength."

Before Li Yun's words had even faded, he stepped forward, his figure darting out like an arrow.

He wasn't about to worry about martial etiquette with this guy; he struck before he had even finished speaking.

"Less talk, come on."

Chen Bin twisted his waist, dropped his shoulders and elbows, and assumed his stance.

"Come."

Before the last word had even landed, Li Yun was already upon him.

Instead of retreating, he advanced, dropping his left shoulder slightly as his right fist executed Fierce Tiger Probes with Claws, whistling through the air as it struck straight for Chen Bin's face.

The two traded blows, fists flying as they cycled through the techniques of the Tiger Subduing Fist.

[Tiger Subduing Fist: +1]

Li Yun's Tiger Subduing Fist was progressing rapidly, advancing further within the Minor Mastery realm, his movements becoming increasingly fluid and fierce.

As the exchange continued, Chen Bin gradually began to fall behind.

Though his Tiger Subduing Fist was steady, he couldn't withstand the increasing speed and weight of Li Yun's strikes; techniques he had once parried with ease now forced him to retreat repeatedly.

Seeing defeat imminent, Chen Bin didn't dodge; he planted his feet, circulated his qi and blood, tensed his muscles, and took Li Yun's punch head-on.

He immediately followed up with a Black Tiger Digs at the Heart, aiming for Li Yun's abdomen.

Li Yun felt a jolt of alarm, instantly retracting his fist to change tactics, crossing his arms downward to guard his stomach.

Bang!

Li Yun was knocked back by the punch.

"Let's take a break~"

Li Yun was already accustomed to Chen Bin's lack of martial etiquette.

However, since he was such a good sparring partner, he didn't say much more.

He walked to the corner and sat down to rest.

Chen Bin followed him over.

Although he had won the spar as expected, he felt a lingering sense of unease.

Three or four months ago, he had watched Li Yun enter the inner courtyard.

Chen Bin had looked down on him from the start, especially seeing Li Yun constantly hovering around Yu Qingqing, which felt like a thorn in his side.

Who was Yu Qingqing?

She was beautiful and possessed a stunning figure.

Even he could only admire her from afar; how dare Li Yun, a mere newcomer to the inner courtyard, act like a toad lusting after a swan?

So, he had stepped in to teach the guy a lesson.

Yet, this fellow remained as incorrigible as ever.

Whenever he beat him up, the guy wouldn't get angry, instead grinning and saying, "Thank you for the guidance, senior brother."

This made Chen Bin feel as if his punches were landing on cotton, leaving him full of suppressed rage with nowhere to vent.

Since then, Chen Bin had frequently sought out Li Yun for sparring—ostensibly to practice, but secretly hoping to crush the kid's spirit.

But he never imagined that Li Yun's progress would be so terrifyingly fast.

At first, he was completely crushed by him; Li Yun could only barely parry, every punch revealing his lack of experience.

Not long after, he was able to catch two or three of his moves, occasionally finding gaps to counterattack; though lacking in force, the angles were tricky.

Later on, the two were already trading blows back and forth, Li Yun's fist momentum becoming increasingly fierce and his techniques more fluid.

Until today, Chen Bin clearly felt that Li Yun's fist technique had already surpassed his own.

If not for relying on his robust vitality, he might have already lost.

This kid was clearly his potential romantic rival.

Coveting the person he held dear in his heart.

He should have been hoping for the other party to make a fool of himself, hoping for him to stagnate.

Yet, he couldn't help but admire him.

Admire the resilience of Li Yun, who could still smile and ask for pointers even while being beaten.

Admire his near-obsessive focus on pugilism.

And admire even more the rapid, visible growth he had shown over these past few months.

"Damn it..."

Chen Bin cursed inwardly.

Li Yun, the "toad" he had once looked down upon, had now surpassed him in fist technique.

This contradictory emotion was like a thin thorn, pricking him until he felt completely uneasy.

He had made up his mind.

From today on, he would train his fists diligently, just like Li Yun.

He would strive to defeat the other party fair and square once more.

When that time came, perhaps Yu Qingqing would see him in a new light.

And secretly pledge her heart to him...