Ghost Market

After resting for a while, Zhuang Tao brought Chen Jing to the wooden stakes and began to demonstrate the basic techniques of the River-Breaking Martial Hall.

Fists rose and fell like shadows, striking like a tiger pouncing on a deer, or the river tide crashing against the shore.

Chen Jing felt a jolt in his heart as he watched, immediately beginning to practice along with him.

And so, the entire afternoon passed for Chen Jing in a cycle of standing on stakes, throwing punches, resting, standing on stakes again, and throwing more punches.

Over and over again.

Sweat dripped in streams from his chin, soaking his clothes through. His arms felt as heavy as if they had been filled with lead, making them difficult to lift, while his legs trembled as if branded by fire.

When he finally looked up, the sunset had faded, and Chen Jing was the only one left in the bustling courtyard. Only then did he reluctantly stop, retract his fists, and drag his weak legs toward home.

As dusk fell, the people of the slums returned home from their various labors.

These houses were nothing more than shacks built from a few broken wooden boards; it was a stroke of luck that they could block the wind and rain, let alone provide any soundproofing.

Thus, before Chen Jing even reached his doorstep, he saw quite a few people standing there.

Chen Sanwu was inside the courtyard, washing clothes in a daze, his movements mechanical.

Beside him, several neighborhood matrons were gathered, their tongues sharper than a boiling pot, their words stinging and irritating.

As soon as Chen Jing approached, he heard their voices clearly: "Brother Chen, wouldn't it be better to use that money for something else? Even starting a small business would be better. Why think of sending Little Jing to practice martial arts? Is martial arts something we poor people can touch?"

"Exactly! Brother Chen, my son is a minor foreman at the docks. Why not let him take Little Jing under his wing? I guarantee that would be better than practicing martial arts!"

"Practicing martial arts is a life-risking trade. One careless move and you'll bring disaster upon yourself!"

"Oh, right, Brother Chen, if Little Jing really can't learn, my family is a bit tight on cash lately... do you think you could lend us some silver to tide us over?"

The chattering sounded like flies buzzing in his ears, and even from a distance, Chen Jing felt his temper flare.

Seeing this, Chen Jing took a deep breath and quickly called out, "Father, I'm home!"

Hearing this, Chen Sanwu quickly looked up and said, "Jing'er, you're back."

The matrons all turned to look at Chen Jing, their eyes filled with the schadenfreude of someone waiting to see a joke.

Feeling their gazes, Chen Jing said directly, "Father, I succeeded! I have already been accepted into the River-Breaking Martial Hall!"

As these words fell, the expressions of the matrons in the courtyard changed instantly.

Chen Sanwu's eyes lit up, his entire face seeming to brighten as he hurriedly said, "You succeeded?! That's good! That's good, Little Jing!"

Chen Sanwu was so excited he nearly wrung the clothes in his hands to shreds, completely ignoring the fact that the matrons' faces had turned the color of liver.

Chen Jing didn't even glance at them, saying only, "Auntie Li, Auntie Wang... we have things to attend to, excuse us."

With that, he helped Chen Sanwu inside their dilapidated wooden shack.

Watching the figures of Chen Sanwu and Chen Jing depart, the matrons stood frozen, looking at each other in dismay.

After a long while, Auntie Wang looked at Auntie Li with a dark expression: "Auntie Li, didn't you say Little Jing was kicked out of the martial hall? What is going on now?"

Auntie Li trembled with guilt and stammered, "I... I heard it from my son... he saw with his own eyes that he couldn't even get through the door... maybe Little Jing just didn't want Brother Chen to lend money to..."

Hearing Auntie Li's blunt words, Auntie Wang glared at her fiercely and flicked her sleeves, storming off.

Now that she couldn't borrow money and had lost face, how could she possibly stay here any longer?

As Auntie Wang left, the others quietly dispersed, and the courtyard returned to silence.

"Little Jing... did you really succeed?"

Back inside, Chen Sanwu had been suppressing his excitement the whole way, but now he could no longer hold it back, his voice trembling slightly.

"Of course I did."

Chen Jing nodded with a smile, "Master has already taught me the stake techniques and the fist forms. As long as I break through to Blood Creek within three months, I will be an official disciple!"

After saying this, Chen Jing gave a rough summary of the martial hall's rules and training methods.

The more he heard, the more the worry between Chen Sanwu's brows dissipated, and he kept saying, "Success is good! Success is good! Little Jing, from now on, just focus on your training. Don't worry about food or anything else."

Chen Jing hurriedly shook his head: "Father, I can still pull a cart at night. You should rest more."

Chen Sanwu immediately waved his hand: "No! You expend so much energy training during the day; if you go to work at night, what will you do if you collapse? I'll just find some other work to do in the evenings."

At this, Chen Jing had no choice but to mention that his eldest sister had also given him some silver: "Father, Eldest Sister gave me some money too. After paying the tuition, there is still some left, enough for my food and expenses for three months. You don't need to worry."

Chen Jing had originally intended to return the money, but the situation was different now; he could only use some for the time being and repay his sister double in the future.

Chen Sanwu was silent for a moment, then sighed softly: "You... sigh, your sister is truly kind-hearted. Little Jing, once you make a name for yourself in the future, you must help her well."

"Mm, I know."

Immediately after, as if suddenly remembering something, Chen Sanwu reminded him: "Oh, right, Jing'er, even though you are practicing martial arts, don't get involved with those gangs. There are many gangs now, and the hearts of men are complex. If you can avoid trouble, avoid it."

"Mm."

Chen Jing nodded heavily in response.

Afterward, Chen Sanwu brought out the warmed grains and beans, and the father and son sat side by side, eating in silence.

The next day.

Before dawn had even broken, Chen Jing arrived at the martial arts hall to begin his stance training and boxing practice, following the essentials taught by Fei Feng.

Although Chen Sanwu covered the food at home and the martial arts hall provided lunch, Chen Jing used his remaining silver to buy meat pies to replenish the massive physical expenditure and the vital energy absorbed by the Exemption Bead, stuffing a few bites in whenever he took a break.

As time slipped by, sweat poured off him by the bucket, and his blood and qi condensed inch by inch.

Just like that, a month passed; Chen Jing's frame had grown noticeably broader, his boxing stance had steadied, his horse stance had deepened, and his breathing gradually carried a vibrant, heated intensity.

Furthermore, the Exemption Bead deep within his mind was gradually being filled, its light becoming increasingly rounded and solid.

Now, Chen Jing no longer needed Zhuang Tao to remind him while practicing his stances or throwing punches; his movements were clean and crisp, flowing as naturally as water through a channel.

During these days, he and Zhuang Tao had also gradually grown closer.

From simple questions and answers at the start to talking about everything under the sun, their relationship was closing the distance at a speed visible to the naked eye.

At first, Zhuang Tao's attitude toward Chen Jing had been no different from how he treated other newly initiated junior brothers—nothing more than a routine formality.

However, after several interactions, Zhuang Tao discovered that whether it was the sheer tenacity Chen Jing showed while holding his stances, his steadiness and sense of loyalty in daily tasks, or even the occasional insight he voiced, all of it made Zhuang Tao feel that this new junior brother was different.

Consequently, Zhuang Tao's treatment of Chen Jing shifted from mere supervision to a genuine desire to befriend him.

Chen Jing, naturally, did not refuse Zhuang Tao's goodwill.

The two traded words back and forth, and soon enough, they became friends.

One afternoon during a break in training, Zhuang Tao walked over to Chen Jing's side and asked casually, "Junior Brother Chen, you've been here for a month now, right? How are you feeling?"

"I feel like my body and strength are much stronger than before."

Chen Jing wiped away his sweat and said, "But as for Blood Creek... I still can't quite find the way in."

Zhuang Tao nodded and smiled, "Master mentioned before that your aptitude is average; it would be considered quite good if you can break through within three months."

"But if you want to reach Blood Creek, the density of your blood and qi is one aspect, yet your comprehension of the River-Breaking Fist also accounts for a large portion."

"It took me a whole month to break through to Blood Creek, so don't be in such a rush."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhuang Tao suddenly changed the subject and lightly nudged Chen Jing's arm, "By the way, are you free tonight? Do you want to go to the Ghost Market with your senior brother and take a look?"